Episode 443: Pavent Stone (5)
Following King Sejong’s order, the ministers began work on adding or subtracting weight based on Hyang’s plan.
“They told to supplent it, so I guess I have to supplent it…”
However, the practitioners in charge of the actual work looked embarrassed and muttered.
“What do I need to know to improve?”
‘Federal system’ was an unfamiliar concept to them.
“This is it….”
The working-level staff, who had been pondering over and over again, eventually asked Hyang for help.
“Please give instructions!”
Hyang responded with a small sigh to the requests from working-level staff seeking help.
“Ha~. “Neither you nor I have ti, so let’s stay up all night.”
After receiving an all-night special lecture, the working-level staff gained an understanding of the concept of federalism.
“…Do you have any questions?”
“I don’t have any.”
At the question asked by Hyang on the last day of the special lecture, all working-level staff shook their heads.
“Then thank you for your hard work. “I look forward to good results.”
“I will do my best.”
After politely bowing and returning to their assigned offices, the working team sat around the conference desk and talked.
“I didn’t ntion it earlier, but if the federal system is to survive for a long ti, monopoly of power is impossible.”
“Didn’t the crown prince already say that? “Except for diplomacy and national defense, the rest will be distributed to the people of the newly acquired strongholds, regardless of whether they are provinces or provinces.”
“That’s where the problem arises. Power is distributed like that to newly acquired landless areas, but not to the mainland? “As ti passes, there will definitely be people who are dissatisfied.”
The officials turned serious when they heard their colleague’s story.
They are just overlooking it because they are used to it, but Joseon was a despotic monarchy system.
“If you look at that part, doesn’t His Majesty the Lord share power with his subjects to so extent? “Wouldn’t it be okay for provinces and provinces to do the sa?”
“It’s not sharing, it’s distribution. “Have you forgotten Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s imprisonnt that occurred when the civil war broke out?”
“Ah…”
“Look!”
When one official ntioned ‘Ryu Jeong-hyeon’, other officials quickly silenced themselves and other officials urgently cautioned the person who made the problematic statent.
* * *
Although it was not said openly, the reason why Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the senior ministers who shared his views were purged was because they attempted to share power with King Sejong.
The reason why Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s group attempted such a thing was because they thought King Sejong’s power was unstable at the ti. They thought they would compromise with themselves in order to stabilize their unstable power, but King Sejong responded with a strong attack.
As a result, Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s group was purged. And Sejong acquired absolute power, even stronger than Taejong.
Afterwards, as he entered the latter half of his reign, he transferred considerable authority to ministers. However, this was distribution, not sharing.
* * *
Despite receiving a warning, the person who made the statent in question continued to talk about it.
“Think about it! There is no need to worry about His Majesty the Lord and the Crown Prince of Danggeum, as they are incredibly talented people. We can just follow along. But… What do you think will happen to this country if a king or a tyrant ascends to the throne in the next generation, or three generations later? If you have already established a country and expect it to grow into an empire, shouldn’t you establish an empire that will last a thousand years? Just like Silla!”
“Shh! “A cancer or a tyrant!”
“Shh! “An empire!”
Fellow officials looked around and cautioned against the dangerous remark. However, so officials reflected on the remarks with bright eyes.
“It’s an empire…”
“It’s a thousand-year empire…”
“Hey guys! What are you doing! “I can’t stop you!”
While the other officials were raising their voices, the door to the conference room burst open and Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in entered.
“what! “What’s so loud!”
“Is the work finished? When you’re done, give it to . “I should review it before posting it above.”
The officials beca lost in thought as they listened to the words of Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in, the first and second ranked working-level officials.
“No, that’s not it… not yet…”
“The special lecture just ended today…”
“A special lecture is a special lecture and a task is a task!”
“You haven’t been able to go to Hwawolru for five days now since I took over this job? Are you guys going to take responsibility if the scent gets windy? yes?”
At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Bo-in glared at Kim Jong-seo and muttered.
“Why is Maehyang there…”
“That’s it! “What’s the problem? It’s an argunt, not work!”
“There was a bit of a disagreent…”
“What are you going to use your fist for?”
Hearing Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Bo-in placed his hand on his forehead and muttered.
“After hanging out with the Jurchen people, the person was completely ruined…” Hearing
Hwang Bo-in’s words, the officials all muttered the sa thing to themselves.
‘If the Jurchen people hear that sound, they will rush in to fight to the death!’
Considering the legend-like rumors heard from the Hamgil Island region, Hwang Bo-in’s words were completely different from the truth.
Anyway, once the commotion subsided, Kim Jong-seo asked the officials a question.
“Why on earth were you arguing like that?”
“That’s…”
“Stop dragging it on!”
“Ah yep!”
In response to Kim Jong-seo’s shouting, the officials explained the point of contention so far.
“Hmm…”
After hearing the officials’ explanation, Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in were lost in thought with serious faces that were completely different from before.
While he was silent and thinking for a long ti, it was Hwang Bo-in who spoke first.
“As for the quality of the successor, hasn’t sothing already been prepared since the ti of Daegam Sambong? A contest with Seja City Gangwon.”
When Hwang Bo-in ntioned the contest, subordinate officials raised counterargunts.
“Hasn’t that already beco obsolete?”
“That’s because His Majesty the Lord and the Crown Prince were so outstanding that they quickly put it aside and it still has its place in the law books. “Now that the original grandson has reached a certain level of alignnt, it will be reinstalled soon.”
“okay.”
The subordinate officials nodded to Hwang Bo-in’s explanation.
* * *
Crown Prince Gangwon and Gyeongyeon were established to prevent as much as possible the cases where an incompetent monarch ascended to the throne and ruined the country. The core intellectuals of the founding of Joseon, led by Jeong Do-jeon, expected that if only those two were properly maintained, monarchs with the minimum ability would take over the throne.
The problem was that in the late Joseon Dynasty, the royal line was cut off, collaterals often ascended to the throne, and as the power politics continued, the Crown Prince’s Gangwon and Gyeongyeon beca useless.
* * *
Following Hwang Bo-in’s explanation, Kim Jong-seo spoke.
“And the issue of ownership of power is sothing that His Majesty the Lord and the Crown Prince are already aware of and probably have a solution for.”
“yes?”
“The crown prince once announced his political views just before the public spectacle broke out. It was truly amazing.”
The officials’ eyes widened at Kim Jong-seo’s words.
“Have you seen in person the announcent of political views that you have only heard about?”
In response to his subordinates’ questions, Kim Jong-seo nodded and continued speaking.
“So people said that His Majesty the Lord spoke what He ant through the crown prince’s mouth, but that is nonsense. “Why would you go to such trouble when you could just say it yourself?”
“Ah…”
The officials nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.
“There is a person who announced his political views at the age of only 8. And the one who raised him was the Lord. “Do you think His Majesty the Lord and the Crown Prince don’t know this?”
“That’s true, but…”
Kim Jong-seo shook his head at the sight of the officials who still had puzzled expressions even though they said that.
“I trust these guys…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Okay, it’s just my personal opinion, but considering the number of bowls of rice I’ve eaten in the communal cafeteria, it’s probably close. His Majesty the Lord and the Crown Prince will share power. However, he will divide it, but he will divide it very large and very finely.”
“Do you an big or small?”
“okay. “He probably shares power with the people.”
“With the people?”
One of the subordinate officials who was pondering Kim Jong-seo’s words suddenly let out an exclamation.
“ah! Are you talking about the entire people, not just the nobles?”
“okay.”
“Is that possible?”
“I think it’s difficult.”
The subordinate officials reacted negatively to Kim Jong-seo’s answer. Kim Jong-seo snorted at that reaction.
“joy! These guys only know one thing and don’t know the other! Get rid of the idea that power can only be held by monarchs or noblen! “Have you forgotten what His Majesty the Lord has been crying out for since the beginning of the sutra?”
“Equality between citizens….”
“Yes! Also, think about why you nurture rchants and craftsn with all kinds of benefits, and why you run the Social Democratic Institute with governnt funds even though the Ministry of Finance and Economy officials are having a hard ti with nosebleeds every ti they prepare the budget! Do you think this is just to increase revenue and increase the number of people to be used as officials?”
“Ah…”
At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the subordinate officials looked like they had been hit. Looking at the expressions of his subordinates, Kim Jong-seo put a period to his words.
“I know for a fact that the more ink gets into people’s minds and the darker it becos, the more greedy they beco. The desire for power cannot be included in that greed. So, sharing power with the people makes the monarch more comfortable. Because they will bite and fight among themselves. When you have authority, responsibility also cos with it. That ans that ‘I can’t die alone’ does not only apply to officials.”
“Ah…”
Only then did the officials nod loudly as if they understood.
Kim Jong-seo scread after seeing the officials.
“So stop worrying about unnecessary things and write the report quickly!”
Fifteen days later, King Sejong accepted the supplentary plan.
“Hmm… I think most of the items conclude with ‘It is best to quickly adjust to the local situation.’”
“I’m sorry. The powers of the gods are so low…”
When Hwang Hee bowed her head and apologized, King Sejong shook his head.
“There is no need to apologize. Since we know so little about Mujuji, it is inevitable that we will co to this conclusion. But there is one thing I like. ‘In order to quickly stabilize the local area and create a strong sense of belonging, soone in a very high position must go and command the scene.’ Hmm… As expected… this is a good statent. The best form of an empire is like ‘Yeonliji(連理枝)’. Yeonjira… Yeonjira….”
King Sejong, who really liked the word ‘Yeonjira’, which refers to two trees touching and becoming one, pondered the words and looked back at Jo Mal-saeng.
“How much ti is needed to establish an agency to direct colonial policy?”
“It takes five to 10 years. The reason is….”
Jo Mal-saeng gave a similar explanation to the one he had given to the ministers before. After hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, King Sejong thought for a mont and gave an order to Jo Mal-saeng.
“Finish preparations within 5 years.”
“I follow your orders.”
After giving orders to Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong looked outside Geunjeongjeon and muttered.
“The good tis have all gone. “I have to work now, right?”
At the sa ti, while working in Area 51, the scent hit my ears fiercely.
“Aww~. “Who is going to curse at ?”
In this way, the germ of the ‘Korean Federal Empire’ was planted.
It was the beginning of an empire that would later be heard from all kinds of stories, starting with the ‘black screen of a global conspiracy’.
Other countries who looked at the Korean Empire’s actions always shook their heads with an expression of incomprehension.
“no way! Those crazy bastards!”
-Crazy people who fight among themselves whenever they get the chance, but when another country intervenes, they band together and shout ‘Do you want to go back?’ as if they had never done that before.
-Crazy guys who know very well that they are great.
-Crazy people who fought for 30 years over the foreign language spelling of the country’s na and then fixed the international language as Korean.
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