Chapter 28

< Chapter 28: Gapsin Jeongchang (6) >

28 Chapter Gapsin Jeongchang (6)

The next day, as Sejong and Hyang had anticipated, petitions began pouring in from the early morning.

"Truly diligent."

Seeing the stacks of petition scrolls growing higher, the Left Chief Secretary grumbled, and the other secretaries nodded in agreement.

"I thought we would have at least two days of respite..."

"Did they stay up all night? Their energy is truly remarkable. I'm afraid to even step over the threshold of the inner quarters."

As the secretaries were grumbling about the petitions, the Chief Secretary stepped forward.

"Will the work decrease just by complaining? Let's start sorting them."

"Sorting them, sir?"

"You saw them yesterday, didn't you? Some criticize the Crown Prince, while others support him. So, we can sort them into two categories."

"Shouldn't we also consider those who stand in the middle?"

"Would those in the middle write petitions?"

"Ah..."

The secretaries nodded in agreement with the Chief Secretary's words. Though they didn't say it, they themselves belonged to the middle group. And none of the secretaries had written a petition.

* * *

In any case, by the time the morning assembly in the side hall had been going on for half a day, trays piled high with sorted petitions were brought to Sejong.

"Truly many."

Seeing the stacks of petitions before him, Sejong glanced at the ministers and commented.

"Truly diligent, indeed."

Sejong's pointed remark made the ministers bow their heads in silence.

"Let's see them anyway."

Sejong untied the ribbon of the petition scrolls and began reading their contents. As the stack of read scrolls grew, Sejong's expression became increasingly grim. Finally, he put down the scroll in a fit of temper and ordered the chief secretary.

"Go and bring the Crown Prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A short while later, Hyang entered the side hall, following the chief secretary.

"Did you call for me?"

"Yes, sit there."

After Hyang respectfully bowed, Sejong began flipping through the petition scrolls. After a moment, he spoke, holding one of the scrolls.

"Crown Prince, it seems many still do not fully understand what you said yesterday. Explain it to them again. Prime Minister!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Read your petition in front of the Crown Prince."

"Your Majesty!"

Prime Minister was taken aback by Sejong's order, but Sejong continued.

"Wouldn't it be better for the person involved to read it to avoid misunderstandings? Read it!"

Prime Minister began reading his petition.

"I, Prime Minister Ryu Jeonghyeon, humbly bow and take up my brush. Indeed... "

"Skip the flowery language and read the main content!"

Prime Minister paused briefly at Sejong's harsh command and then continued reading.

"The Crown Prince's opinion may seem correct at first glance, but it is filled with many foolish ideas. First, our Joseon follows the principles of Neo-Confucianism. However, the Crown Prince follows the style of Legalism. Legalism is harsh, inevitably leading to the suffering of the people and harm to the state and its rulers. This is proven by the examples of Shang Yang's downfall during the Warring States period and the fall of the Qin Dynasty.

Second, you propose to abolish the ban on the descendants of concubines. This ban was established by King Taejong, our revered ancestor. How can we abolish it so easily? It would be a sign of filial impiety. Moreover, if the descendants of concubines are allowed to enter government service freely, they will manipulate the state affairs privately, as seen in the previous dynasty. This would be an act of unrighteousness.

Third, you propose to increase the number of officials. The more officials there are, the greater the burden on the people. Why do we have the saying 'cruel governance is fiercer than a tiger'? The court only needs to set the broad framework. The affairs of the villages can be handled by the local magistrates and the scholars of the local Confucian schools."

Prime Minister's petition ended with these three points. Hyang, who had been listening quietly, looked at Sejong.

"May I respond, Your Majesty?"

"Permission granted."

With Sejong's permission, Hyang began to counter Prime Minister's points.

"Prime Minister, you said that Neo-Confucianism is the national policy of Joseon, but the true national policy of Joseon is the Confucian ideal of benevolent governance and people-oriented rule. Neo-Confucianism is merely a tool to achieve this."

"Crown Prince!"

Before Prime Minister could counter, Hyang continued.

"Neo-Confucianism is just one school of Confucianism. Insisting on only one branch of a great tree is narrow-minded, is it not? To reiterate, the national policy of Joseon is the benevolent governance advocated by the ancient sages, and Neo-Confucianism is a tool for this. Let me give an example: when a dish is prepared, it must be served in a bowl. Can you just scatter it on the ground? If we consider the national policy of benevolent governance as the dish, then the ideologies, systems, and laws are the bowls. In implementing benevolent governance, is it necessary to distinguish between Neo-Confucianism and Legalism? It is said that in the far west, a ruler taught his heir:

'Act like a bee that seeks the sweetest honey from the flowers in the fields.'

I believe this is the fundamental attitude a ruler should have."

Prime Minister, with a red face, tried to speak, but Hyang did not give him a chance.

"Furthermore, you said that abolishing the ban on the descendants of concubines is wrong and that it would be filial impiety to defy King Taejong's decree. However, it is well known that the ban has many problems. If we do not address these issues, they will only grow, and the people's grievances will rise. If this happens, all the grievances will be directed at King Taejong, who issued the ban. As descendants, is there anything more unfilial than causing our ancestors to be blamed? You also mentioned that the descendants of concubines manipulated state affairs in the previous dynasty. But were they the only ones? Did the aristocrats, regardless of their lineage, not also corrupt the state? It is unfair to blame only the descendants of concubines. Lastly, do you think the descendants of concubines chose to be born as such? If we must blame someone, should we not blame those who sowed the seeds?"

Hyang paused briefly and then glared at the ministers gathered in the side hall.

"According to the law, any magistrate who sleeps with an official courtesan is subject to impeachment, and even the ministers who enter the palace are impeached if they keep concubines. But how many of you here do not keep concubines? Is it the way of the scholars to ignore their own sins and discriminate against the descendants of concubines?"

"Ahem! Ahem!"

"Ahem!"

In response to Hyang's rebuke, the ministers, regardless of their rank, coughed uncomfortably.

Prime Minister, with a red face, tried to speak, but Hyang did not give him a chance.

"Finally, you cited the saying 'cruel governance is fiercer than a tiger.' Is it the officials of the court or the local scholars who are more terrifying than tigers to the people of Joseon today? Since I have been sitting beside Your Majesty, I have heard countless reports of the powerless people starving and becoming vagrants in every corner of the eight provinces. But I have not heard many reports of local scholars opening their granaries to help the people or dying of hunger. Prime Minister, do you really think those who do not help their neighbors in need will handle affairs fairly?"

"That... that is just a few..."

"Adding a few to a few, and continuing to add a few, eventually makes a whole!"

Prime Minister was silenced by Hyang's outburst. Hyang continued to press him.

"Who are those who, seeing their neighbors in distress, take the opportunity to lend them money at exorbitant interest rates, forcing them to sell themselves or become vagrants, and then swallow the abandoned land into their own bellies? They are the local scholars you spoke of! Prime Minister, I ask you, who is more terrifying than tigers to the powerless people? The officials of the court, or the local scholars?"

"That... that is..."

"Speak up!"

Under Hyang's pressure, Prime Minister looked at Sejong. Sejong, meeting his gaze, calmly replied.

"I, too, am curious about your answer. Prime Minister, respond."

With Sejong's support, Prime Minister's face turned even redder.

"Why are you silent, Prime Minister?"

Sejong pressed again, and Prime Minister, gritting his teeth, answered.

"... The local... scholars."

"Exactly!"

Sejong slapped his knee in agreement, and the anti-Crown Prince ministers, including Prime Minister, closed their eyes tightly.

'It's over!'

* * *

"Do you need further explanation, Prime Minister?"

The ministers remained silent in response to Hyang's question. Sejong, watching this, searched through the stack of petitions and pulled out another one, handing it to Hyang.

"The petitioners are all different, but their contents are as if they were copied from a single source, which is truly ridiculous. However, this one is at least different. Read it."

"Yes."

Hyang took the petition, unrolled the scroll, and began reading it carefully.

"Phew~."

After finishing the petition, Hyang sighed, straightened his back, and Sejong spoke.

"This is a petition from the Office of Censors. Should we summon the petitioner?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Then, what do you think?"

"'There is no such thing as healthy consumption. Encouraging consumption will spread a culture of luxury, which merchants, who seek profit, will further fuel. Artisans will only produce luxury goods, and farmers will seek quick riches instead of farming. Ultimately, society will value wealth over virtue. This is why the ancient sages differentiated between scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.'..."

After pausing to think, Hyang spoke.

"It may seem correct at first glance, but I believe the person who submitted this petition should be punished."

"Why?"

"First, you said that the ancient sages differentiated between scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, but I have never read in any classic that the sages advocated such a distinction. They mentioned these groups to refer to 'all people.' Misleading the king in this way is a disloyal act that blinds Your Majesty's eyes and ears! Such a person must be strictly punished!"

Hyang's call for punishment made not only Sejong but also the ministers in the side hall widen their eyes. Hyang had made many arguments and rebuttals, but he had never before suggested punishment.

"Even if luxury spreads, it is better to have luxury. We can tax luxury goods. But look at the scholars of Joseon today! They boast of frugality while wearing hemp clothes, but their granaries are filled with rotting grain and fabric. Is virtue found in not wearing silk? Is it virtuous to ignore the cries of the starving people during famine and lean years, wearing hemp clothes and reading classics? The petitioner claims that 'contentment and frugality, even with scarce resources, is the true way.' I dare to say, Your Majesty, that this is not contentment and frugality, but self-abandonment! I earnestly request that you immediately remove this sycophant who disguises his treachery with clever words!"

Prime Minister, greatly alarmed by Hyang's strong words, hastily interjected.

"Crown Prince! The petitioner is a censor from the Office of Censors. It is their duty to offer advice. Punishing them because their words are displeasing would be closing the channels of free speech!"

"What this person has submitted is not advice but treachery! Our Joseon has already established by law that there is no distinction between scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, only between commoners and low-born. What right does this person have to discriminate against the people by such distinctions? How can a censor, who should speak the truth to the king, be so wicked? They must be punished immediately!"

< Chapter 28: Gapsin Jeongchang (6) > End

ⓒ National Pride

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