Chapter 14

< Chapter 14: Sprout (發芽)... Cancer (發癌)? (7) >

Chapter 14: Sprout (發芽)... Cancer (發癌)? (7)

"Secondly, we need to receive an imperial edict that prohibits the excessive demands for goods by envoys coming from Joseon."

"Hmm?"

"Ah!"

At Hyang's statement, Sejong showed a look of surprise, and the ministers turned pale.

In the frozen silence, the Minister of Rites raised his voice.

"His Highness the Crown Prince! The second request is impossible! It is not possible!"

"Why is it impossible?"

In response to Hyang's question, the Minister of Rites immediately replied.

"Joseon and Ming are in a tributary relationship. It is not proper for a tributary state to protest to the officials of a great nation."

"Why is it improper? Is it not unvirtuous for the officials of a great nation to oppress a small state? If you are true scholars, should you not point out unvirtuous acts properly?"

"The envoys are eunuchs. They are the closest confidants of His Majesty the Emperor! If they speak ill of us to the Emperor, Joseon will be in danger!"

"Is Joseon such a weak country? From what I have learned, the 100,000 Ming troops stationed in Liaodong were placed there out of concern that Joseon might invade the great nation. Is Joseon a weak country if the Ming are so wary of us?"

"That is...."

"Furthermore, do you think the Emperor of the great nation is so foolish? To the point where he would decide to go to war based on the sweet words of a eunuch?"

"That is...."

As the Minister of Rites was losing the argument, the Chief State Censor intervened.

"From ancient times, it has been the natural order for a small state to serve a great nation. Any act of defiance by a small state against a great nation is a violation of this order. If Joseon were to violate this order, we would inevitably face military conflict with Ming. This would require us to expand our military, which would not only waste human resources but also place a heavy burden on the people. This is a direct path to the downfall of the nation and a betrayal of virtue. I understand what the Crown Prince is trying to say, but at such a young age, you might be making a grave mistake of small greed leading to great loss...."

"Did you just say 'small greed leading to great loss'! I have heard that every time Ming envoys visit, the carts filled with goods they take away block a road five li (about 2 km) long! These goods are taken from our national treasury and the people's granaries! Is this a small amount? If so, from now on, the Chief State Censor should be responsible for providing all the goods demanded by Ming envoys! The ancient sages said that the duty of rulers and high officials is to ensure the people are comfortable and free from hunger! Yet, you bow and scrape to a mere eunuch, allowing the people to be plundered and the treasury to be emptied. Is this the virtue and righteousness you have learned?"

Hyang, out of breath from speaking at length, took a deep breath and continued.

"Furthermore, which of the two sages, Confucius or Mencius, ever said to submit rather than serve a great nation?"

"The Crown Prince is being too harsh! It is not submission but...."

Hyang, sensing that the Chief State Censor thought he had crossed a line, immediately cut him off.

"I have not finished speaking! It is said that a true man stands in a broad house, stands in a straight place, and walks on a broad path! How does bowing and scraping to a mere eunuch and offering him goods fit into any of these? And yet, you call yourselves true men? In ancient times, Confucius bravely confronted the state of Qi when it was bullying the state of Lu and pointed out the injustice. Do you think your actions now are the same?"

Hyang's criticism turned the ministers' faces beet red. In the presence of the king and the royal scribe, the Crown Prince had openly called them 'cowards' and insulted them.

But Hyang's speech was not over. He turned to Sejong and prostrated himself.

"I humbly request of Your Majesty! Here, among the distinguished ministers, there is no one willing to risk their life for the welfare of the people. They only wish to wear silk robes and sleep on silk beds until they reach the end of their natural lives! I will go as the envoy for this winter mission! I will petition the Emperor to stop this unjust practice. Please grant me your permission!"

"Crown Prince!"

"These ministers constantly refer to Joseon as 'Little China' and openly show their admiration for the Ming. However, when it comes to developing Joseon like the great nation, they make excuses and avoid action. Is this not hypocrisy? Father! The Ming have used paper money since the Song dynasty, and the current Ming dynasty uses coins made of gold, silver, and copper, and taxes are increasingly being paid in gold and silver! But what about us? Despite efforts to introduce paper money since King Taejo's reign, we have only failed! Why? Because our treasury is weak! This is why I want to bring merchants on the mission to strengthen our treasury! A strong treasury is essential to help the starving people, circulate currency, and make Joseon stronger! I humbly and earnestly request of Father to let me go on this mission! Though I am only nine years old, my resolve is as strong as Mount Tai!"

"The road to Beijing is long and dangerous."

Hyang did not stop his advance.

"From what I have read of the history of the Western barbarians, there was a great empire called Rome. However, Rome started as a small city-state. One day, it was said that the gods demanded a sacrifice for the prosperity of the nation. A young nobleman of Rome declared that the only suitable sacrifice was a human and rode out alone to offer himself. Was it only the Western barbarians who did this? Look at the Hwarang who unified the Three Han. Not only the young nobles but also the sons of distinguished families rushed to the front lines! The current situation of Joseon is both a crisis and an opportunity! If we use this time well, Joseon can lay the foundation for a thousand years. If we fail, we will regress to a small state on the periphery! Father, please understand!"

"Go back to your room."

"Please understand!"

"I said, go back to your room! Eunuch! The Crown Prince seems too agitated! Take him to his room and calm him down!"

"Father!"

As Hyang was led away by the eunuch, Sejong glared at the ministers standing outside the tent. His eyes were filled with anger.

"You cowards."

"Your Majesty...."

"Are you truly scholars, true gentlemen? Even a child who is almost nine years old is willing to risk his life for Joseon, and what have you been doing? Are you true men? True scholars? True gentlemen!"

"Kill us, please!"

"Kill us, please!"

"Do not just say 'kill us' with words! Find a solution immediately! If you fail, I will grant your wish and kill you all! Get out of here!"

Sejong's outburst made the ministers quietly retreat. Meanwhile, the royal scribe, who had recorded everything, added the following:

-Though the Crown Prince's words were harsh, they were not wrong. Are the current prime ministers and six ministers of Joseon serving Joseon or Ming? In a situation where they should forget their own comfort for the welfare of the nation, they wear silk robes, attend court, and sleep on silk beds. The Crown Prince's words are refreshing and just.

* * *

Meanwhile, back in his room, Hyang, having dismissed the eunuch, let out a long sigh.

"Phew~. Damn! I lost control."

After watching the ministers' behavior in Sejong's tent for a while, Hyang suddenly found himself in a 21st-century Korean mindset. This led him to lose control.

"I need to prepare for the trip to Ming... but that wasn't part of the plan..."

Hyang, anticipating the consequences of his outburst, scratched his head nervously and came to a decision.

"I lost control! Either my legs will give out, or the ministers' will! One of the two!"

Having made his decision, Hyang shouted out.

"Eunuch!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"I need to prepare for the trip to Ming!"

"Excuse me?"

"Pack my things!"

* * *

"Sejong is packing his things!" This news made Sejong jump up from his seat.

"Why is he packing his things?"

"That... He says he will go to Ming immediately... He believes that for the sake of the nation and the people, he cannot afford to delay even a moment..."

Sejong, hearing the answer, stormed out of the tent.

"I'll deal with this brat!"

In the Inner Palace.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

"Why all the commotion?"

Queen Soheon, who was reading a popular novel brought by a palace maid, looked puzzled at the Chief Lady's urgent entry.

The Chief Lady, trying to catch her breath from running, finally spoke.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is preparing to go to Ming!"

"The Crown Prince to Ming? Why? Ming is not a neighboring village, and he is only nine years old!"

"The Crown Prince says the demands of the Ming envoys are too excessive and he will stop it... The ministers say it is too risky, so he is going himself..."

Before the Chief Lady could finish, Queen Soheon jumped up and ran out.

Bang!

"Your Majesty!"

"Move out of the way!"

Before the palace maids could open the door, Queen Soheon burst through, grabbed her skirt with both hands, and started running barefoot through the palace.

"You fools! What are you doing! Quickly follow Her Majesty! Her Majesty!"

"Yes, yes!"

The Chief Lady, running barefoot after Queen Soheon, shouted at the frozen palace maids and started chasing after the queen.

* * *

"Phew~, who should I recommend for the winter mission?"

Minister of Personnel Kim Jeom was pondering who to recommend for the winter mission. Normally, he might have recommended himself, but this time it was absolutely out of the question. If things went wrong, he could lose his head to Emperor Yingzong, and if he failed to accomplish the mission, he would definitely lose his head.

"Who would be suitable..."

As he was deep in thought, the Minister of the Interior rushed in with a pale face.

"Sir! Something terrible has happened! Terrible!"

"Why are you acting so undignified?"

"Dignity is not the issue now! Something terrible has happened!"

"Are the Jurchens or the Japanese pirates moving?"

"Rather, it would be better if they were! The Crown Prince is moving!"

"The Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince is preparing to go to Ming!"

"What!"

Thud!

At the Minister of the Interior's words, Kim Jeom jumped up from his seat. The chair he had been sitting on rolled far away, but Kim Jeom, without a moment to spare, ran out of the Ministry of Personnel and headed for the palace.

< Chapter 14: Sprout (發芽)... Cancer (發癌)? (7) > End

ⓒ National Pride

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