or Cancerous Growth?
(14) 21: Sprouting…
or Cancerous Growth?
(14) ***ANNOUNCEMENT*** New Novel Event for the entire week.
“There is a difference between acting with understanding and acting without understanding.
The ministers currently creating and implementing policies may clearly understand why those policies exist, but after merely one or two generations pass, most people will no longer know the reasons.
They will simply continue doing things because they are ‘customary practice.’ Is that not true?” ‘Goddamned customs.
Bureaucracy.
Endless desk administration.
I’m sick of it.’ Back in the twenty-first century, those very things had driven Hyang into depression.
Still, the ministers’ resistance remained fierce.
“That may happen.
However, properly constructed policies will continue functioning correctly whether one hundred years pass or one thousand.” “They say even mountains and rivers change over ten years.
There is also the phrase ‘mulberry fields becoming seas.’ The world continuously changes, yet you claim the same policies should continue unchanged for centuries?
That does not mean the policies are excellent.
It means the entire nation has stopped moving.
If the world changes while you alone remain motionless, that is no different from decline.” “The changes of worldly trends are fleeting and shallow.
If one merely chases trends, depth disappears, and eventually even fundamental principles are forgotten.
In that sense, policies maintaining consistency from beginning to end are far more ideal than drifting like floating duckweed upon changing currents.” At the Left State Councillor’s deeply Neo-Confucian answer, Hyang’s voice rose sharply.
“It is not the changes of the times that are shallow.
It is people failing to keep pace with them.
If you insist otherwise, then why were so many laws and institutions from the previous dynasty changed in the first place?
Some existed for hundreds of years.
Others traced all the way back to the Three Kingdoms era.” “That is…” “Let us use warfare as an example.
According to your logic, generals should still determine battles through single combat alone.
Yet what is reality?
Different military branches now move together as one body, while entirely new weapons such as cannons appear constantly.
Therefore your argument does not represent the virtue of steadfast consistency.
It represents merely the foolishness of a frog trapped at the bottom of a well.” “Your Highness!
Those words go too far!” As the Left State Councillor’s voice rose angrily, Sejong intervened.
“Enough!
Nothing the Crown Prince said is incorrect!
Just as mountains and rivers change with time, people and customs change as well!
Therefore discussing appropriate responses is entirely proper!
Crown Prince, explain your solution!” Once Sejong openly sided with Hyang, the ministers fell silent.
Backed by Sejong’s firm support, Hyang explained his proposal.
“All Six Ministries governing state affairs must maintain records.
Every policy must be documented without exception, whether implemented, rejected, or postponed.
Records should be organized monthly and yearly.
Each policy must include why it was proposed, what results followed implementation, or if rejected or delayed, the precise reasons why.
All of it must be preserved carefully.” The Left State Councillor immediately challenged him.
“Everything is already recorded within the historians’ draft annals and the Royal Secretariat diaries.
This merely duplicates unnecessary work.” “The draft annals and Veritable Records cannot even be viewed by the king.
And while the Royal Secretariat diaries contain everything, nothing is properly categorized.
Wait only ten years.
Simply searching for records related to a single policy could consume several days.
But if each ministry separately categorizes and preserves its own policies, how much time could be saved?” “The Crown Prince’s proposal is correct.” “I agree completely.” After hearing Hyang’s explanation, ministers from the Six Ministries all voiced support.
With the majority now in favor, Sejong nodded firmly.
“Since ancient times people have spoken of ‘reviewing the old to learn the new.’ Yet human lives are finite.
As years pass, people return to dust, making it inevitable future generations may lose understanding of why things were done.
Therefore it is only natural for us, the current generation, to labor so future generations do not lose their way.
Let each ministry adopt the Crown Prince’s proposal and carefully preserve such records.” “We obey Your Majesty’s command.” “And next…” “Father, I still have another petition.” Just as Sejong prepared to move on to another agenda item, he stopped.
After studying Hyang’s face briefly, Sejong smiled faintly and granted permission.
“Very well.
Speak.” “While discussing expansion of the Hyangyak Jipseongbang, I realized something.
Across all of Joseon there must exist many farmers who have already passed sixty or even seventy years of age.” “That is certainly true.” “We must seek them out, question them about farming, and record their knowledge.” At Hyang’s proposal, Sejong stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“Question them about farming and preserve the results…
hm…” After pondering briefly, Sejong’s expression brightened.
“I see!
The longer they have lived, the greater their experience!
Many must know secret methods for abundant harvests!
Just as Soedol possessed knowledge of cowpox inoculation!” At Sejong’s words, Hyang nodded firmly.
“Yes.
And not merely farming methods.
They likely also know signs preceding natural disasters such as droughts.
Individually those signs may seem insignificant, but if collected together into case records…” “Then we could prepare beforehand!” Sejong interrupted excitedly, already finishing Hyang’s sentence.
Hyang lowered his head respectfully.
“Exactly.
Flood damage can be reduced through reservoirs and dredging projects, but droughts bring catastrophic destruction unless preparations begin beforehand.” “You are correct!
Minister of Personnel, order the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendrical Science to organize all such information into books the moment reports arrive!” “We obey Your Majesty’s command!” “There is more.
Whenever spring famine, drought, or flooding occurs, epidemics inevitably follow.
But if warning signs become known beforehand…” Sejong struck his knee again, cutting Hyang off.
“Then medicinal supplies could be prepared in advance!
Excellent!” ‘As expected of Sejong.
His brain really works fast.
But please use your turn signals before cutting people off.
And maybe stop slamming your knees so hard.’ Suppressing emotions that were half admiration and half irritation, Hyang nodded.
“Exactly.
If the Hyeminguk, Jesaengwon, and East-West Relief Clinics can prepare in advance, and if local government offices prepare beforehand as well, then the number of people suffering from disease can be greatly reduced.” “The Crown Prince is absolutely correct!
Minister of Personnel, implement this as well!” “We obey Your Majesty’s command!” No ministers opposed the order.
In an agrarian state, few things mattered more than abundant harvests, while relieving the people from disease aligned perfectly with Neo-Confucian ideals.
Sejong felt extremely pleased.
Every petition proposed by Crown Prince Hyang seemed worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Even the ministers who normally opposed every proposal from the Crown Prince now offered almost no objections at all.
Smiling brightly, Sejong looked toward Hyang.
“Do you have yet another petition?” The moment Sejong finished speaking, Hyang immediately answered.
“Yes.
Not only Joseon, but even the previous dynasty lacked any proper geographical survey.
Compared to Ming our resources may seem limited, but in absolute terms Joseon possesses far from little.
Therefore we must thoroughly survey Joseon’s territory and compile a true geographical record.” “A geographical survey…
such a project would require enormous labor.” “That is true.” At Sejong and the ministers’ concern, Hyang nodded.
“Of course.
However, if properly completed, it will greatly reduce the suffering of the people.” “How would a geographical survey reduce the people’s suffering?
Explain further.” “With accurate geographical records, we can identify precisely which products each region produces.
That will reduce the burden of tribute taxes.
The suffering caused by tribute obligations has remained one of the greatest problems inherited from the previous dynasty.
To solve it, we must first know exactly what every region actually produces.” “That is true, but…” As Sejong trailed off uncertainly, the Vice Minister of Taxation, currently attending in place of the minister away with the envoy mission, spoke up.
“I also agree the Crown Prince’s proposal is correct and necessary.
However, the labor costs involved are enormous.” At the vice minister’s objection, Hyang pointed out what everyone else had overlooked.
“That is true.
However, we are already dispatching personnel nationwide in order to expand the Hyangyak Jipseongbang and collect agricultural knowledge from farmers.
Since the central government is already sending people across the country, we simply assign them one additional task.” ‘What’s wrong with a little one-plus-one efficiency?’ “Ah!” At Hyang’s observation, Sejong and the ministers all exclaimed simultaneously.
“We completely overlooked that!” “Even I failed to consider it!” “The costs can be drastically reduced!” As Hyang watched their expressions of sudden enlightenment, Teacher Samcheonpo’s words echoed in his mind.
‘People of the past weren’t all idiots, and modern people aren’t all geniuses.
The difference is simply access to information.
Modern people see more because they receive vastly greater amounts of information.
Let me give you an example.
Even multitasking, which seems basic now, only became truly common after the mid-1990s.
Before that, even mighty computers handled only one task at a time, and people were perfectly satisfied with it.’ As Sejong and the ministers underwent what felt like collective enlightenment, Hyang’s petitions quickly became official national policy.
And from that day onward, the famous “Six Ministries Street That Never Slept” truly began.
That same night.
“The historians will not follow.” “But Your Majesty…” “This is merely a private conversation between father and son.” At Sejong’s firm words, the historian retreated.
Leaving the historians behind, Sejong headed toward the Eastern Palace accompanied only by eunuchs.
“He is still awake.” Looking toward the brightly lit rooms of the Eastern Palace, Sejong spoke quietly.
The chief eunuch following behind answered.
“I have heard the earliest the Crown Prince sleeps is sometime between the second and third night watches.
There are also many nights when he remains awake until the fourth watch.” “He is still only a child…
why does he push himself so hard?” Unable to hide his concern for Hyang, Sejong continued walking.
“His Majesty approaches!” The eunuch standing outside Hyang’s chambers immediately announced Sejong’s arrival before opening the doors.
The moment the announcement sounded, Hyang rose from his seat and stepped respectfully aside.
As Sejong entered, Hyang bowed deeply.
“What brings Father here so late at night?” “I was taking a walk and saw your lights still burning.
More importantly, why are you still awake at this hour?” “I was reading for a while.” “I see.
Sit down first.” After taking a seat, Sejong’s eyes landed upon the open book resting on the desk.
“A Western barbarian text?
What subject?” “It is titled Reflections on Alchemy.
As the name suggests, it criticizes alchemy.” “What exactly is alchemy?” “It is research concerning methods of turning metals such as lead or iron into gold through various additions and processes.” At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong’s eyes sparkled.
“Is such a thing truly possible?” “According to the author, Westerners themselves researched it for centuries without success.
In the opening passage he writes, ‘Turning metals into gold is impossible.
However, further study may instead produce useful alloys that improve daily life.
That alone is true alchemy.'” “‘Creating useful alloys is true alchemy’…” After quietly reflecting on the statement, Sejong reached a short conclusion.
“A wise man indeed.” “I believe so as well.” Smiling faintly at Hyang’s answer, Sejong picked up the alchemy text and began reading it himself.
“There is a translated version if Father would like to read together.” “No.
I merely wish to observe the writing system of the Westerners.” Yet even after considerable time passed, Sejong still had not put the book down.
By the time Hyang’s back slowly began aching from standing beside him, Sejong finally lowered the book and opened his mouth to speak.