Chapter 20

< Chapter 20: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (13) >

Chapter 20: Germination... Carcinogenesis? (13)

After about ten days, Hyang had fully recovered her health. Sejong summoned Seodol, who had been confined in the palace.

"Hyang has recovered her health. Do you truly believe that the Crown Prince will not contract smallpox?"

"I am certain. It is something I have experienced, and those who live with me have also not contracted smallpox."

"I am still uneasy. Therefore, I will have the cowpox vaccine administered to all those in Hanyang who have not had smallpox. Is it possible to prepare for everyone to receive it?"

Sejong's question made Seodol do a quick calculation before answering.

"To do that, we will need at least fifty cows infected with cowpox."

"Use the royal cows you raise. How long will it take?"

"The preparations will be complete within half a month. However, even if a cow is infected with cowpox, it will recover in a week at the shortest and ten days at the longest, so we need an exact date for the implementation."

"When I send word from the Royal Medical Institute, be fully prepared to act immediately. And... "

Sejong paused, glancing at Hyang standing beside him, and continued.

"I appoint you as the head of the royal pasture on Nabeul Island."

"Your grace is boundless!"

Sejong's words made Seodol bow deeply on the spot. Although he was a commoner, he was close to a low-ranking official, and being given an official position was a significant step.

"Prepare immediately."

"Your command will be followed!"

Seodol, greatly excited, left the palace.

Meanwhile, Sejong, returning to the main hall, glared at Hyang.

"First, to the Crown Prince. Congratulations on your recovery."

"Your grace is boundless, Father."

"However, I will not tolerate such an incident again. You must report in advance and obtain my permission."

"I will remember this, Father."

Hearing Hyang's words, Sejong muttered to himself.

"The kid answers well... Huh!"

Realizing his mistake, Sejong looked at the scribes. However, seeing their brushes already moving enthusiastically, Sejong cleared his throat and continued.

"When I send word from the Royal Medical Institute, be fully prepared to act immediately. And... "

Sejong paused, glancing at Hyang standing beside him, and continued.

"I appoint you as the head of the royal pasture on Nabeul Island."

"Your grace is boundless!"

Sejong's words made Seodol bow deeply on the spot. Although he was a commoner, he was close to a low-ranking official, and being given an official position was a significant step.

"Prepare immediately."

"Your command will be followed!"

Seodol, greatly excited, left the palace.

Meanwhile, Sejong, returning to the main hall, glared at Hyang.

"First, to the Crown Prince. Congratulations on your recovery."

"Your grace is boundless, Father."

"However, I will not tolerate such an incident again. You must report in advance and obtain my permission."

"I will remember this, Father."

Hearing Hyang's words, Sejong muttered to himself.

"The kid answers well... Huh!"

Realizing his mistake, Sejong looked at the scribes. However, seeing their brushes already moving enthusiastically, Sejong cleared his throat and continued.

"You and this Seodol seem to be confident that the cowpox vaccine will prevent smallpox, but I am still uneasy. Therefore, I will conduct an experiment on the people of Hanyang. What do you think, Crown Prince?"

"It is a wise decision. However, I have a few suggestions to add."

"Add? Speak."

"First, the ones who will receive the cowpox vaccine should be the doctors and nurses of the Royal Medical Institute. If the vaccine spreads smallpox during the process, the infected doctors and nurses should be dismissed. This way... "

"We can more clearly determine if Seodol's words are true?"

"Yes, Father."

"Hmm..."

Sejong, considering Hyang's suggestion, looked at the Minister of Personnel.

"Once Seodol's preparations are complete, have the cowpox vaccine administered to half of the doctors and nurses of the Royal Medical Institute."

"Half, not all?"

"At least half a month is needed for recovery, as seen in the Crown Prince's case. Therefore, it is appropriate to divide them into two groups."

"I understand."

Hearing the Minister of Personnel's response, Sejong looked at Hyang.

"Is there anything else you want to add?"

"Yes. When administering the vaccine, it would be better to visit each household directly rather than calling people to a central location."

"Why?"

"Because the cowpox vaccine is unfamiliar. People are afraid of smallpox, but they might be hesitant to receive a vaccine they have never seen before."

"That makes sense. So, we should visit each household to ensure no one is missed. That's a good point."

"Additionally, when visiting to administer the vaccine, send officials from the Ministry of Personnel to conduct a census."

"Good idea! That's a brilliant move!"

Sejong, impressed by Hyang's suggestion, slapped his knee. Conducting a census was a difficult task, as many people fled to avoid taxes and labor. As a result, even the capital, Hanyang, lacked an accurate census.

"A two-for-one deal! Is there anything else you would like to add?"

Sejong, pleased with Hyang's suggestions, asked with a smile.

In response to Sejong's question, Hyang answered promptly.

"Father, while you may not be confident, I am certain that the cowpox vaccine will succeed. Therefore, it will be natural to implement it nationwide, not just in Hanyang."

"That could be."

"If so, accept gifts from the officials and the gentry in the regions."

Sejong's expression turned serious at Hyang's suggestion.

"Accept gifts from the gentry?"

"Yes. Cows infected with cowpox do not get reinfected. Therefore, we need to continuously find new cows to infect, which is a costly process. Additionally, sending doctors, nurses, and officials to conduct the census will also incur expenses."

"That's true."

Sejong and the ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang's point.

"However, it is difficult to ask the people for money. Most of them are not even prepared to survive the spring famine."

"Sadly, that is true. It is all due to my lack of virtue."

Sejong's self-reproach made the ministers bow their heads.

"Not at all! Your Majesty's virtue is known to all the people! This is an unavoidable natural disaster, so please do not worry!"

"Do not worry!"

Hearing the ministers speak in unison, Hyang inwardly rolled her eyes.

'They always blame the king's lack of virtue... Is it case by case?'

Hyang, inwardly grumbling, continued when the ministers' voices died down.

"How can we ask the people for money in such a situation? However, the local landlords and gentry are different, are they not? In my opinion, if we collect the price of half a cow from those with a hundred bushels of land, three cows from those with a thousand bushels, and twenty cows from those with ten thousand bushels, we can easily cover the costs."

"Hmm..."

Sejong and the ministers began to calculate the costs. After a moment, the Right Minister spoke.

"While the Crown Prince's plan is sound, will they willingly contribute?"

"We must make them contribute. If they offer it voluntarily, we can erect a stele or grant a plaque. If they refuse, we must collect it by force. If they refuse to the end... "

Hyang's eyes glinted coldly as she paused.

"Their village will not receive the vaccine."

"That seems a bit harsh."

The Right Minister's objection was met with a loud protest from the Minister of Personnel.

"It is not harsh! Even those with a hundred bushels of land are the elders of their village! It is only natural for them to step forward! To refuse is to lack the qualifications of a gentry! What kind of gentry recites classics but does not act on them? They must practice what they preach!"

The Left Minister then joined the debate.

"But the cost is a concern, is it not?"

"Even if cows are expensive, can those with a hundred bushels of land not afford half a cow? They simply refuse to pay!"

The debate between the ministers and the Minister of Personnel escalated, dividing the ministers into two camps.

"Of course, as gentry, they should contribute!"

"But the state cannot force them to pay!"

Watching the debate, Sejong looked at Hyang with tired eyes.

"You have a talent for stirring up trouble."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Does it sound like a compliment to you?"

Hyang smiled enigmatically, and Sejong clicked his tongue.

"Tsk!"

Sejong, watching the ministers' debate, clicked his tongue again.

"Tsk tsk tsk!"

"Ah! Ahem!"

Sejong's tongue-clicking made the ministers clear their throats and straighten up.

"I have heard your arguments. Let's discuss the cost issue again after seeing the results of the cowpox vaccine in Hanyang. The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Finance should thoroughly verify the census and the costs during the vaccination process and report back. It would be better to discuss further after seeing the results."

"Your command will be followed."

Seeing the issue of "cowpox vaccination for Hanyang residents" being resolved, Hyang quickly spoke up.

"I have a petition to make to Father."

"Pet