Chapter 83: Serving in White Clothes (2)
The 'Document Organization Punishment' was a penalty that made all officials tremble with fear the moment it was created.
When discussing Joseon on 21st century internet forums, there was even a joke that called them "recording fetishists" - that was how enthusiastic the scholar-officials of Joseon were about recording things.
For this reason, even though only a little over 30 years had passed since Joseon's founding, the records related to national administration already boasted an enormous volume.
Hyang's evaluation of this quantity was scathing.
"Idiots who staked their lives on note-taking!"
His assessment was that it was like the notebooks of students who believed only the saying "if you take good notes, you'll become an honor student," and filled their notes with colorful ballpoint pens and memory pens.
"The problem was how to organize and digest it afterward...."
Among those meticulously recorded documents, the only ones that had gone through an organization process were the Annals, and even that was the sole exception.
This was why Hyang, having solidified his position through the Crown Prince's investiture, had proposed organizing documents by each government ministry.
In truth, the problem was that they recorded things to an almost foolish extent - it wasn't that the records had no value.
However, this work was something that dried up a person's blood.
The amount of documents was enormous, and tasks that needed immediate attention kept piling up.
Just the amount of memorials, reports, and other documents submitted to court daily was massive, and the volume of royal replies was no small matter either.
It was literally a repetition of the situation where "organizing one cartload of documents brings in two cartloads of work."
In this situation, the 'Document Organization Punishment,' created to punish the Ministry of Revenue officials who performed the Face-Washing Ritual without properly grasping the situation, was the best alternative.
Because of the worst penalty - "if results are not produced within the allotted time, the period of exile is determined by calculating the remaining time and volume" - the punished officials literally had to work in a state of becoming "standing rocks of some archive."
"What if such data organization is done sloppily?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered with an expression that said it was nothing special.
"We apply the collective punishment system."
"Collective punishment?"
"Just drag in the high-ranking members of their family and school. A fellow who committed a crime and is being punished plays tricks and messes up the work? We need to call... summon the elders of his family and school."
At Hyang's words, Sejong slapped his knee.
"Ah-ha!"
* * *
With all assets confiscated, Jo Mal-saeng and his wife had to rely on their eldest son, Jo Seon, for shelter.
"Father, please come in."
"Please come in."
As Jo Seon and Princess Jeongjeong welcomed them, Jo Mal-saeng and his wife had to bow deeply and beg for forgiveness first.
"We have caused trouble to Her Highness the Princess, and we are deeply ashamed."
"We are deeply ashamed."
"It is nothing. Please, have a seat."
Thus, Jo Mal-saeng and his wife had to set up house in the annex of Jo Seon's home.
On the day Jo Mal-saeng and his wife took shelter in Jo Seon's house, Sejong sent a letter to Jo Mal-saeng through the Chief Royal Secretary.
The content of the letter was simple.
- Be prudent, and be prudent again. Do not forget whose blood We have inherited.
It was a short but powerful warning.
* * *
For Jo Mal-saeng, who had come out to undergo the Document Organization Punishment he had only heard of, a Ministry of Justice official was carefully reading down a scroll.
"'...therefore, the criminal shall do his utmost in organizing documents!' That is the extent of the royal command. Do you understand?"
At the careful words of the Ministry of Justice official, Jo Mal-saeng nodded weakly.
"I understand. And since I am a criminal, please speak comfortably."
"Well then... are you sure you'll be alright?"
"I am a criminal."
"Then I will speak comfortably... ahem. Follow me."
"Yes."
Jo Mal-saeng moved his feet following the Ministry of Justice official who still wore an uncomfortable expression, and looked up at the sky.
"What a damnably clear sky it is."
The April sky was truly dazzlingly clear.
* * *
The place Jo Mal-saeng headed to was a group of newly constructed buildings behind the Six Ministries Street, next to Gyeongbok Palace.
The government purchased the area corresponding to 21st century Jung-dong and Susong-dong, then demolished all the private houses, and enormous-scale buildings were erected on the wide empty lot.
At the entrance of the gate leading into the space surrounded by high walls hung a plaque written by Sejong's own hand.
'Joseon National Document Archive'
That was the name engravedbed on the plaque.
It was a place where a terrible legend was inscribed: 'The red color of the archive's pillars is dyed with the bloody tears and nosebleeds of the officials and criminals who worked there.'
"Heuh...."
Seeing the magnificent scale of the archive he had only heard about, Jo Mal-saeng opened his mouth without realizing it.
The scale and budget he had heard about in the Privy Council as a Minister had not felt real, but seeing it in person, the feeling was different.
"Let's go."
"Let us go...."
Jo Mal-saeng, who had been standing blankly looking at the buildings, had to hurry his steps at the official's words.
Seeing Jo Mal-saeng approaching with hurried steps, the Ministry of Justice official clicked his tongue.
"Ahem... if you have so many other thoughts... ten to one, you'll be caught by collective punishment."
"Ah, I understand!"
At the Ministry of Justice official's words, Jo Mal-saeng's face turned pale as he shook his head.
* * *
"This is where the criminal will work from now on."
"Yes."
Jo Mal-saeng arrived at one of several buildings erected in the archive. On the plaque attached to the main entrance pillar of the building was written 'Ministry of War.'
Entering the building, Jo Mal-saeng let out a sigh without realizing it.
"Haah~."
Inside the building, in the large room situated in the center, nine long desks were arranged in three rows, and officials with dark circles around their eyes were flipping through scrolls and transcribing them into books.
Seeing the appearance of the officials immersed in fatigue, Jo Mal-saeng felt complicated.
'Will I too now become that appearance, that state?'
"I will now explain the work process."
"...Yes."
Perhaps because he was told to speak comfortably, or because he recognized that Jo Mal-saeng was nothing more than a criminal, the Ministry of Justice official's words had become blunt, unlike at the beginning.
"First, receive the workload assignment from the supervisor sitting over there, then process it. Since it's the Ministry of War, you'll be familiar with it, right?"
"...Yes."
Though the words were polite, there was a slight thorn hidden in the content.
The official, who was looking at Jo Mal-saeng with a face that mixed sympathy and criticism, continued speaking.
"Since it's the Ministry of War, it will probably start with reports submitted from each region. Check the date the report was submitted, find the corresponding date in the Royal Secretariat Diary, record what discussions took place, and if a royal reply was given, check the date the reply was sent, find the copy, and record the exact content. That's the end of it."
"Then do I have to go to the Royal Secretariat...?"
"Follow me."
The official led Jo Mal-saeng to the entrance. Standing in front of the entrance, the official pointed to two large buildings situated in the center of the archive.
"Looking from here, the left is where the Royal Secretariat Diaries are stored, and the right is where copies of royal replies are stored. They are classified by year, month, and day, so if you find them properly, the work will be easy."
"Yes...."
Seeing the two large buildings, Jo Mal-saeng answered with a fed-up voice.
The official's explanation was nearing its end.
"...When the bell rings once, a rest of 1 gak (15 minutes) is given. During that time, go to the latrine, take care of business, and move your waist briefly to loosen your stiff body. When the bell rings twice, go out to the entrance and have your meal at the dining hall to the left. Meals are given once a day, at noon. Finally, when the bell rings three times, leave work. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Then, begin your work."
"...Yes."
Feeling the gaze of the Ministry of Justice official standing behind him, Jo Mal-saeng walked toward the supervisor.
"Criminal, let's start with these 10 first."
The supervisor took out 10 scrolls from the scrolls stacked on the bookshelf behind him and held them out to Jo Mal-saeng.
Taking the scrolls, Jo Mal-saeng read the date written on the top scroll without realizing it.
"Hongmu 26th year (1393, 2nd year of King Taejo)... Heok!"
Startled, Jo Mal-saeng looked at the supervisor with surprised eyes. Reading Jo Mal-saeng's expression, the supervisor nodded.
"It's a bit old, isn't it? There are hardly any people who committed crimes in the Ministry of War. Or they were illiterate... The goal is to progress to the 6th year of King Taejong within this year."
It was a total of 14 years of records.
Seeing Jo Mal-saeng frozen with a dazed expression, the supervisor urged him.
"Hurry and work! Don't forget that if work is delayed or errors occur, collective punishment will be applied! Especially for a criminal, since you committed the great crime of deceiving the sovereign, a first-grade offense, even a single mistake will result in immediate collective punishment!"
"Yes, yes!"
At the supervisor's urging, Jo Mal-saeng hurriedly found an empty seat and unfolded the scroll.
"Brush and ink... heuheu...."
Looking for brush and ink, Jo Mal-saeng's expression became one of emptiness. In the middle of the long desk were a brush holder containing several golden brushes, an inkstone filled with ink, and a pile of white paper.
He had literally become someone who had to write documents like a standing rock.
* * *
Meanwhile, at Jo Seon's house, Jo Mal-saeng's wife, Lady Shin, was pouring out her grievances to Princess Jeongjeong.
"Your Highness. Is there nothing you can do to help?"
Despite Lady Shin's plea, the Princess shook her head with a troubled expression.
"It is beyond my power. His Majesty the current King is as straight as an arrow when it comes to this matter."
"Haah~. What shall we do...."
At the Princess's answer, Lady Shin beat her chest in anguish.
In the history before Hyang's intervention, Jo Mal-saeng, whose bribery was revealed, had to go into exile. Not long after going into exile, he was pardoned, and after two years passed, Jo Mal-saeng was able to return to central politics.
However, that was the end of it.
Jo Mal-saeng never sat in the Chief State Councillor position that King Taejong had promised until he died. The evaluation written in the Annals when Jo Mal-saeng died was as follows:
-His character was good and he was capable, but a 'flaw in the jade' blocked his path.
To Sejong, who had a strong desire for talented people, Jo Mal-saeng was a decent talent but not of the same grade as Hwang Hee.
Simply put, Jo Mal-saeng was someone who was used because talent was needed, but was not a talent that completely satisfied the heart.
However, as Hyang intervened and the scale of change grew larger, and with the creation of the excellent means of disposal called 'Document Organization Punishment,' Jo Mal-saeng's return to politics became uncertain.
* * *
Meanwhile, during the one-month period set by Sejong, an enormous amount of wealth poured into the national treasury.
"Land deeds, slaves, gold, silver, horse meat and horse tack. Coral, jade, jadeite... there's every kind of wealth that can be obtained in Joseon."
At Sejong's words, the ministers could only lower their heads. Sejong, who was glaring at the ministers who had lowered their heads, continued speaking.
"To eat... to partake of all this and still have no issues... We cannot help but marvel at your skills, Ministers. Truly a wondrous talent."
At Sejong's words full of thorns, all the ministers prostrated themselves on the floor and cried out.
"Please spare us!"
"If it were up to Us, We would do exactly as you say or send you all to the Document Organization Punishment, but since We made a promise, We will let it pass this time. However, if such a thing happens again, do not expect Our mercy."
"We will engrave it in our bones!"
"Then let us get to the main point."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Thus the bribery issue was patched up, and national administration began to move along its tracks again.
Outside the palace, busy movements were underway for reconstruction work, and inside, busy with carrying out national administration, a quiet ripple spread among the officials.
It was because of Sejong's instructions regarding court women (government slaves).
"Let it be a rule to give 100 days of leave to court women of the central and local governments when they give birth."
"We receive your command."
Sejong's command had its own validity, as there were frequent cases where court women who had given birth fell ill while working without properly recovering, or babies died.
However, this command caused a ripple for a different reason.
"What! Even court women get maternity leave, but what about us!"
Exhausted officials began to grumble.
The officials' complaints reached the ears of Sejong and Hyang through the internal officials. Hearing the complaints, Hyang sneered.
"Hmph! Tell them to write resignation letters if they're so aggrieved! How many benefits are they given, yet they complain, complain! Do they think power is so easily obtained?"
Sejong went one step further.
"We hear there are many complaints about giving maternity leave to court women?"
As soon as Sejong's words fell, Hwang Hee began damage control.
"Are there not always those who complain, anywhere and anytime?"
"We would like to catch them all and make them do nothing but organize documents for about 100 days."
"Please extend your mercy as a monarch."
"Tsk! Very well! But it is truly frustrating. It's not as if We don't give holidays!"
"We are grateful!"
At that time, Joseon also had holidays. National holidays such as New Year's Day, Daeboreum, Dano, and Chuseok, days corresponding to the 24 solar terms, the King's birthday, and the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 23rd of each month were official holidays.
In addition to these official holidays, there were also days when officials took turns resting according to each agency's internal regulations, just as Hyang had given them one day off every ten days.
Therefore, when solar terms, national holidays, official holidays, and holidays by internal regulations overlapped, there were cases of resting for 4 to 5 consecutive days, and every year when the Royal Astronomical Observatory distributed calendars, officials flocked to check the holidays.
This was why Sejong became angry when officials burst out complaining. Having sent out the ministers, Sejong grumbled to the Chief Royal Secretary.
"How about We really find them all and put them through 100 days of Document Organization Punishment?"
At Sejong's question, the Chief Royal Secretary closed his eyes tightly and answered sincerely.
"Please spare us, Your Majesty!"