or Cancerous Growth?
(6) 13: Sprouting…
or Cancerous Growth?
(6) Ever since he first began speaking and reading, Hyang had shown behavior unlike ordinary children.
From that point onward, he treated Sejong and Queen Soheon with impeccable formality and respect.
In fact, his manners were so flawless that they eventually began worrying about it.
“This child…
even though we are his parents, it feels as though he treats us like outsiders.” “I feel the same.
It’s as if he has drawn an invisible line and never once steps across it.
Perhaps his intelligence is simply too excessive…” The only person Hyang ever interacted with naturally was Princess Jeonghye.
“Our noona’s social skills are practically maxed out…” Just thinking about his older sister made Hyang snort with laughter.
Princess Jeonghye, the eldest legitimate daughter of Sejong and Queen Soheon, possessed a bright and clever personality, earning affection from everyone in the royal family beginning with Taejong and Queen Wongyeong.
In modern terms, she was the ultimate social butterfly.
After Queen Soheon finished drinking tea and departed, Sejong turned toward the eunuch nearby.
“Leave me alone for a while.
I wish to think.” “…Yes, Your Majesty.” Once the eunuch withdrew and Sejong remained alone, he muttered quietly to himself.
“Should I make them leave on their own…
or force them out?
No…
should I end things peacefully, or draw blood?” A chilling murderousness filled Sejong’s low voice.
“The current court is still filled only with Father’s officials.
I need officials of my own.
Men who will listen only to me…” Once Yongle’s decree arrived and Sejong made his decision, the Ministry of Taxation immediately began preparing production of the gold pens intended as tribute.
However, a severe problem emerged during preparations.
The merchant guild currently responsible for supplying the gold pens simply lacked the production capacity to complete the order before the winter solstice envoy departed.
After receiving reports that the production schedule itself might become impossible, Sejong summoned both the ministers and Hyang.
After listening to the issue, Hyang looked toward Sejong.
“Father.
I believe we need more detailed information regarding the situation.
Would it not be best to summon the guild master directly?” “Impossible!” The Chief Censor immediately shouted in opposition.
“How could lowly merchants possibly be summoned into a gathering discussing such important affairs of state?!” Sejong glared at him coldly.
“Then does the Chief Censor possess a solution?” “…” “Your duty is to remonstrate, and I do not ignore your remonstrations.
But perhaps you should learn to recognize proper timing.” “I have committed a grave offense.” After silencing the Chief Censor, Sejong issued an order.
“Summon the guild master.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” A short while later, the guild master arrived at Sejong’s mourning hut and immediately flattened himself upon the floor.
“This lowly merchant greets the king who shines like Heaven itself.” “The Crown Prince has questions for you.
Answer honestly.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Crown Prince, proceed.” “Yes.
Guild Master, how are the gold pens produced?
Does one craftsman handle everything from beginning to end?” “Yes.
That is correct, Your Highness.” “I see.” After thinking briefly, Hyang turned toward Sejong.
“I believe we may find an answer if we summon the craftsmen themselves and speak with them directly.” “Is that so?
Then summon the craftsmen.” The instant Sejong spoke, the Chief Censor leapt forward again.
“Your Majesty!
Impossible!
Summoning merchants was already improper enough, but bringing craftsmen into the sacred palace itself is absolutely unacceptable!
Please reconsider!” Sejong answered firmly.
“If it concerns the benefit of the state, I would summon even the lowest butcher if necessary!
Chief Censor, silence yourself!” “Your Majesty!” “Silence!
Otherwise I may have no choice but to reconsider your loyalty entirely!” At Sejong’s thunderous rebuke, the Chief Censor finally shut his mouth.
The atmosphere inside the court froze solid from Sejong’s fury, while the guild master remained flattened against the floor barely daring to breathe.
“Guild Master, go immediately and bring the craftsmen here.” “Yes, Your Majesty!” Having fully experienced the terrifying atmosphere firsthand, the guild master rushed back with astonishing speed and returned almost immediately together with the craftsmen.
‘Wow.
So people in Joseon actually can move quickly when their lives are on the line.’ Hyang, usually frustrated by how painfully slow people of the Joseon era seemed, felt satisfied watching the guild master move at incredible speed.
What Hyang taught the craftsmen was, by modern standards, an extremely basic concept.
Division of labor.
And rolling metal sheets.
“What do you think?” At Hyang’s question, the head craftsman stroked his chin briefly before answering.
“I believe it is absolutely worth trying.
It may take time to become accustomed to, but once we adapt, we should be able to produce far greater quantities than before.” Hearing the response, Hyang turned toward Sejong.
“Father.
The head craftsman believes it is possible.” “I see.
Then I shall expect good news from all of you.” “We obey Your Majesty’s command!” At Sejong’s words, every craftsman prostrated themselves deeply.
Five days later, the guild master visited the Ministry of Taxation with the craftsmen’s final answer.
“They say the delivery schedule can be accelerated.” “Excellent.
And the quality?” “They are confident regarding the quality as well.” “Well done!” After praising the guild master, the Minister of Taxation immediately rushed to Sejong.
Both Sejong and the ministers brightened considerably after hearing the report.
While tapping his desk thoughtfully with his fingers, Sejong looked toward Hyang.
“Dividing labor into separate tasks actually increases efficiency…
How did you come up with such an ingenious idea?” “Previously I visited the royal kitchens and observed the cooks and palace maids dividing tasks under the direction of the head chef.
Remembering that scene led me to this idea.” “You truly are no ordinary child!” Sejong burst into admiration at Hyang’s explanation.
“To discover brilliant methods hidden within things everyone else ignores is extraordinary indeed!
Ministers, what do you think?” “It truly is remarkable!” Most of the ministers nodded along enthusiastically at Sejong proudly praising his son.
Yet, as always, there were people incapable of reading the mood.
“The Crown Prince’s brilliance is certainly worthy of celebration.
However, I believe it problematic that His Highness devotes so much attention to such miscellaneous matters.
Surely it would be more proper to apply that brilliance toward studying and comprehending the teachings of the sages.” At the Chief Censor’s statement, Sejong’s face darkened instantly.
“You should visit a physician immediately and have your eyes examined.
How can you fail to see so clearly?
Did you claim the Crown Prince concerns himself only with trivial matters?
When ordinary people ignore something, yet the Crown Prince carefully investigates it over and over until discovering its underlying principles, how is that trivial?
When he sees the suffering of the people and searches for solutions, how is that trivial?
Did not the sages of old themselves study deeply in order to bring peace and prosperity to the people?
Why is your thinking so narrow?” At Sejong’s harsh criticism, the Chief Censor hurriedly attempted to defend himself.
“That is not what I meant…” “If not, then what?
As the Crown Prince suggested previously, do you perhaps believe the former kings or even I myself lack legitimacy, and thus continue speaking such reckless nonsense?” “I have never harbored such wicked and disloyal thoughts!” “Can I truly believe that?” “Please believe my sincerity!” After that uproar, court session finally ended.
Near the conclusion of the proceedings, one historian recorded the following note in the draft annals: -Though the Chief Censor’s words were narrow-minded, His Majesty’s pressure upon him cannot entirely be considered correct either.
It is natural for a father to wish to boast about his gifted child, but using royal authority to pressure those who do not agree does not suit the dignity expected of a monarch.
Ignoring the historians filling their draft annals with criticism, Sejong continued pushing the work forward together with the ministers.
Naturally, Hyang was repeatedly summoned as well to provide “additional seasoning.” Whenever Sejong summoned Hyang, it was because he needed advice.
And each time, Hyang answered to the best of his ability.
The answers consistently satisfied Sejong.
After completing another such “quest” and returning to his room, Hyang always grumbled to himself.
“No matter how I look at it, I really dug my own grave.
I only wanted to attract attention a little earlier than planned…” While Sejong remained satisfied and Hyang filled with regret, the ministers merely stared at the sky and sighed.
“Ah!
I want to resign!” “Why are that father and son both like this?!” Some of the more extreme officials sought out empty places and silently screamed into their sleeves.
“The father’s insane and the son’s the same!” Because every time Hyang provided an answer satisfying Sejong, the ministers inevitably gained even more work.
After explaining the concept of division of labor and returning to his chambers, Hyang released a small sigh.
“Hooo…
That was dangerously close.” The best solution to the merchant guild’s production crisis had obviously been division of labor.
While waiting for the guild master to bring the craftsmen, Hyang had desperately wracked his brain.
“They’ll definitely ask how I came up with division of labor.
And I absolutely cannot say, ‘I learned it in my previous life.'” “I need the most natural example possible.” The answer he finally found was the division of labor inside the royal kitchens.
“That really was a close call.” While evaluating himself, Hyang smacked his lips thoughtfully.
“Come to think of it…
so the concept of industrial division of labor still doesn’t really exist at this point.” The moment he thought about division of labor, he suddenly remembered Teacher Samcheonpo’s voice from his previous life.
“Even before Adam Smith formally discussed division of labor, it probably developed naturally on its own.
But the reason division of labor became fully applied to industry was because absolute monarchy and mercantilism became linked together.” “Absolute monarchy…” Hyang focused on those words.
Teacher Samcheonpo had once connected the concept of absolute monarchy to Joseon itself.
“And what about Joseon?
Officially it’s an absolute monarchy.
But if you examine the history closely, it’s really a struggle between kings pursuing absolute monarchy and officials dreaming of republican government.” “And after that, he said not to get excited just because of the word ‘republic.’ He said the republic Joseon’s officials wanted wasn’t democracy.
It was a republic where the king was weak and ministers were strong.” While reflecting upon those memories, Hyang grabbed his head.
“If I want my present life easier…
and my future easier too…
what exactly should I do?” After agonizing for a long time, Hyang finally reached a conclusion.
“They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?
Then I’ll build things one piece at a time too.
First…
start with what Father desires most strongly.” “The beginning is strengthening royal authority.” Hyang looked toward the main throne hall.
“The king’s authority must extend fully even into isolated local societies.
And to achieve that…
what’s needed is capital.” After deciding that strengthening royal authority required increasing state capital, Hyang visited Sejong.
“Father, regarding this upcoming diplomatic and trade mission, I believe the chief envoy must absolutely accomplish one critical task.” “Explain.” “I believe the envoy must secure direct confirmation from the Ming Emperor himself.” “Direct confirmation?” “Yes.
First, Ming must officially recognize Joseon’s exclusive rights over gold pen sales within their territory.
The emperor’s request for tribute pens alone already proves how positive the response has been.
And as I previously explained, Ming is many times larger than Joseon.” “That is true.” “Then naturally Ming also possesses merchants.
Do you believe those merchants will simply sit still?
They will absolutely begin producing counterfeit gold pens.
We must prevent that.” After considering Hyang’s point briefly, Sejong nodded.
“The Crown Prince’s reasoning is sound.” “But if handled poorly, could it not offend the Emperor…” As the Minister of Rites attempted to object, Sejong cut him off sharply.
“Are you a servant of Joseon or a servant of Ming?” “I have committed a grave offense!” The Minister of Rites immediately flattened himself upon the floor.
Glancing briefly toward him, Hyang continued speaking.
And his second proposal would shake the entire court.