Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Kwon Ram and Han Myeonghoe (6)
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Han Gi tilted his head at my words and asked back.
"I am truly grateful that you think so highly of my inadequate son. But even at twelve years old, the boy can't even fully memorize the Classic of Filial Piety. How can you call him exceptional?"
Those who pass the civil service exams usually have the Classic of Filial Piety memorized before they even turn eleven.
By seventeen, they commit the Four Books and Three Classics to memory completely.
Among them, the ones called geniuses are said to have them all memorized by twelve.
After that, they start memorizing key passages from books like Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian while steadily preparing for the exams.
"Even among those with exceptional minds, some memorize the Four Books and Three Classics before they turn twelve. But can we judge a person's innate brilliance solely by how quickly or slowly they memorize the words of the sages?"
"That's true, but even I, who passed in the third class, had the Four Books and Three Classics memorized by sixteen. I learned the Analects and Classic of Filial Piety at ten. Surely you, who took first place, did it even faster?"
"After experiencing official life myself, I've realized that who memorized the Four Books and Three Classics faster isn't all that important. After just ten years in office, isn't it common for even a first-class graduate to be outpaced in promotions by someone who passed in the third class but possesses outstanding administrative talent?"
It might sound like boasting, but since I was born with the intellectual capacity of an adult, I could recite the Thousand Character Classic at two years old.
Around thirteen, my tutor even said, 'You'll pass the exams whenever you take them.' But I kept making excuses about lacking scholarship and only sat for them at eighteen.
Back then, I had deliberately aimed for the third class, so I have no idea how I ended up taking first place...
It's all because of that meat-loving, people-loving Great Demon King.
"My father-in-law started at the lowest ninth rank and, in less than two years, has risen to junior eighth rank. He's set to be promoted to junior seventh next month. That's the same pace as those who passed the second class in the literary exams. If I had to guess, in another three or four years, he'll likely enter the ranks of the junior sixth rank or higher."
"So even though my son falls short in scholarship, you believe he has some extraordinary quality that will more than make up for it?"
"My disciple Ram said it himself. His friend Myeonghoe may be short and scrawny, but he has an exceptional talent for seeing through things and making predictions."
Strictly speaking, among yangban, calling each other by name is seen as an insult only when limited to 'adults'—meaning those with official courtesy names.
If they don't have a courtesy name yet, it's fine to just use their given name casually.
What choice do they have otherwise?
Of course, if a commoner or slave did it, they'd get an earful.
"Let's call him in and test him. And if I see that outstanding insight in the boy, I'll take him as my disciple."
"It's an offer I never even dreamed of, but I'm not sure if my son is worthy to learn from you."
"We'll find out soon enough."
Not long after, Han Myeonghoe entered the room.
A seven-month preemie.
Having spent only seven months in his mother's womb, his build was considerably smaller than that of his peers.
Because of that, he seemed extremely withdrawn, likely from being bullied a lot at the place where he studied.
His half-hearted approach to studies was probably a rebellion against his surroundings.
"So, you're Myeonghoe?"
"Yes. But who might you be, sir?"
"I'm Kim Dae-bung, a scribe in the State Council. Feel free to call me Scribe Lord."
"Yes, Scribe Lord."
"I want to take you as my disciple, but first, I have a few questions for you. As long as you don't suggest rebelling against the throne, say whatever you like freely."
For young children like this, telling them 'do whatever you want' is often more burdensome.
The scope of 'freely' confuses even adults, so how could a twelve-year-old grasp it?
That's why child-rearing experts say you should give children freedom within defined limits rather than telling them to do exactly as they please, which leaves them flustered and unable to act.
By drawing this line, he'll answer within it.
"Recently, the biggest rice merchant in Hanyang bought up every single sack of rice coming into the city. What do you think happened as a result?"
Han Gi tilted his head at my words and began to think.
In Joseon, even adults—no, officials—hadn't noticed this.
So it must seem strange to test a child on it.
It's a perfectly natural doubt.
But throughout history, geniuses who leave their mark usually start showing their talent around ten years old.
Han Myeonghoe convinced Grand Prince Suyang with his 'clever tricks,' and even got him to launch the Princely Uprising.
A man who never passed the exams yet became Chief State Councillor and father-in-law to two kings.
His potential must have been evident from the start.
Even if he fails to answer properly here, I've got plenty of excuses ready to take him anyway.
After quite a long time pondering, Han Myeonghoe finally spoke.
"In a bad harvest year, rice prices rise, and in a good harvest year, they fall. That's because rice is scarce in bad years and abundant in good ones. But if a merchant with bad intentions monopolizes the rice, he could arbitrarily control how much he sells and make prices as high as in a bad year, even during a good harvest."
His words made me laugh.
Even Joseon people vaguely understood the concept of supply and demand.
They knew rice prices rose in bad harvests and fell in good ones, just as Han Myeonghoe said.
That's basic supply and demand theory.
But predicting the harm that comes from monopolizing rice beyond just bad or good harvests is another matter entirely.
"You're right. That's why the wicked merchant who monopolized rice from Incheon charged three times what he paid for it when selling in Hanyang, raking in enormous profits. Just as you saw through it."
"Thank you for the praise."
"Your father says you're slow to learn your studies, but with your talent for seeing through the world like this, if you pass the exams, you'll surely rise to the ranks of prime minister someday."
Han Gi's wife had already passed away due to postpartum complications.
And Han Gi himself wouldn't live much longer due to illness.
As a father, how worried he must be about his child.
I haven't held my own child yet, but as someone about to become a father, I understand his heart.
I can't control life and death, but at least I can ease Han Gi's worries...
By showing him his son's objective abilities and helping him develop them.
That's the duty of a teacher entrusted with another's precious child.
Whether he grasped my intent or not, Han Gi smiled proudly at his son, watching him with evident delight.
"Good. Now one more question. His Highness has declared such monopolies on rice akin to treason and strictly forbidden them. Is that enough? Speak your mind freely."
Han Myeonghoe pondered briefly, then answered confidently this time.
Emboldened by the praise, his eyes sparkled as he spoke fluently.
"The state has only blocked merchants from buying up all the rice outright. If I were a merchant with enough money, I could dodge the regulations by making contracts to buy up an entire county's rice harvest."
"Promise to buy up all the rice from one county?"
"No matter if it's a bad or good harvest this year, promising to buy every grain from the county's fields for a hundred bolts of cotton cloth—how could the state police that?"
It could be policed if they tried.
They could simply make pre-purchase contracts for staple grains like rice illegal outright.
And there are plenty of other ways to prevent it beforehand.
"You're right. You've pinpointed a loophole even the Ministry of Finance overlooked."
I couldn't stop smiling.
"One censor and the boy instantly thought of something the Ministry of Finance missed. Worrying that a child like this is slow in his studies... What difference is that from fretting that your son might fall just short of Zhuge Liang or Zhang Zifang?"
"My lord."
"Let me take this child as my disciple. I'll cherish him like my own son."
"Really?"
"Just as a disciple should serve his master like a parent, shouldn't a master cherish his disciple like his own child?"
Han Myeonghoe is already being ostracized among his fellow students.
After Han Gi dies, the family circumstances will worsen even more.
Anyone raised in such an environment could easily go astray.
To prevent that, I need to teach him with love and attention.
If even that doesn't straighten out his twisted nature...
Well, since he's got a knack for villainy anyway, sending him to China or Japan could turn it into patriotic action, right?
"I'll teach your precious son well and make him a pillar of the state in the future."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Rest now. You shouldn't overexert yourself when you're not well. I'll send a skilled physician, so take your medicine and recover fully."