Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Hall of Worthies GPT (5)
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The closing time in Joseon government offices is determined by the departure of the highest-ranking official in that office.
In the Ministry of Finance, everyone leaves when the Minister of Finance heads out; in the Ministry of Rites, when the Minister of Rites does; in the Ministry of Defense, when the Minister of Defense goes. That's how it works.
Arriving before the minister is just common sense.
Finally, the bells and drums signaling You Hour (5-7 p.m.) rang out across the Ministry of Finance.
For the officials, that sound was as good as permission to clock out...
From the Second Deputy Minister of Finance at the top down to the ministry's public slaves at the bottom, everyone was united in watching Minister Hwang Hui's every move.
If he stayed late for overtime, the entire ministry would have to follow suit. But if he left on time, everyone else could join him and enjoy a life with evenings free.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Hwang Hui stood up and spoke.
"What are you all waiting for? Thanks to Junior Secretary Kim (Kim Dae-bung), we've got guidelines for the most urgent issue. Why stay late? Everyone except the on-duty staff, clock out."
A broad grin spread across the officials' faces. They'd come in at dawn, slaved away without a break except for the lunch delivered by household slaves midway, and thought they might just drop dead from exhaustion.
Getting to leave without overtime was like a refreshing rain in a drought—precious and joyous.
Everyone silently thanked Kim Dae-bung. Of course, in a few minutes, they'd remember he was the reason for their overtime in the first place and curse him under their breath.
"We'll clock out, my lord."
"Rest well and be here on time tomorrow. I'll arrive just before Myo Hour ends, so keep that in mind."
Joseon officials' arrival times vary by season, but usually happen during Myo Hour (5-7 a.m.). If work is urgent, they come right at the start; if not, toward the end.
So what Hwang Hui just said was a declaration of no overtime tomorrow either... The officials cheered inwardly.
"Yes, understood."
"Don't overdo it at the pleasure houses just because you're leaving on time."
With that, Hwang Hui headed straight out.
Why hold up the officials on a rare on-time departure? He had plenty to do at home just resting comfortably.
As Hwang Hui climbed into his palanquin to leave, he spotted Minister of Rites Heo Jo.
"Isn't that the Minister of Rites, my lord?"
Heo Jo replied gladly.
"Is the Minister of Finance leaving on time today as well?"
"Thanks to Junior Secretary Kim, we figured out how to distribute markets to every town and village nationwide. The ministry won't need overtime for a while."
"Ha ha, I was puzzled lately about why Civil Service Exam passers were only coming from Hanyang, so I asked him, and he gave a crystal-clear answer right away. That's why I can leave on time too."
"Something like that happened? So what answer did you get, Minister of Rites?"
A smile lit up Heo Jo's face.
He was recalling the joy of finding answers thanks to Kim Dae-bung, that all-purpose consultant who solved problems in seconds—like Zhuge Liang reborn in this era.
"These days in Joseon, for irregular exams outside the regular triennial ones, we don't announce the dates nationwide. So only Hanyang residents or those connected to officials can take them."
"Hearing it now, that makes sense."
"So from now on, even for national celebrations or urgent needs for more officials, we'll post announcements across all counties and districts with three months' notice unless absolutely necessary. That way, provincial scholars can come too, and we won't have only Hanyang elites passing the exams, right?"
"Junior Secretary Kim indeed. That eliminates scholars missing exams because they didn't know about them. As for me..."
Hwang Hui shared the question he'd asked Kim Dae-bung and the answer he'd received. Heo Jo nodded in agreement throughout.
"...Junior Secretary Kim is truly a genius like a wild goose in flight. Proposing to add 364 ranked officials at once—who has that kind of audacity?"
"He says collecting more taxes benefits the people... Honestly, it sounds mad."
"Madman—that's what I overheard low-ranking Ministry of Rites officials calling him behind his back. They said he's a disaster for piling on the work like crazy."
"Ha ha, he does have that side."
"Not wrong, but low-rankers gossiping about senior officials? Unthinkable. So I took time to give them a brief lesson in etiquette."
Hwang Hui just laughed. Given Kim Dae-bung's antics, some backtalk was inevitable, but giving them a "brief lesson" (at least two hours of scolding)...
The whole ministry must know by now—they probably got reamed out all day.
Hwang Hui pitied them. Seemed like excessive punishment for the crime.
"Go easy on them."
"I've mellowed a lot. Just one sichen (two hours) of scolding. That's me holding back."
"...Watch what you say. Anyway, Junior Secretary Kim's in for a harsh scolding from Chief State Councillor Ryu (Ryu Jeong-hyeon) soon."
Chief State Councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon, the usurer at the forefront of Joseon's "unconditional tax cuts" policy.
Even Hwang Hui, who amassed vast wealth through shady but legal tricks, stuck out his tongue at this money-grubbing prime minister.
His beliefs were the polar opposite of Kim Dae-bung's policies. In short, Kim Dae-bung was someone Ryu had to grind his teeth over.
If not for watching King Taejong and King Sejong... Ryu had disliked him from the start. More taxes for the people's sake?
From a stuffy Confucian viewpoint, utterly wrong.
"Do you oppose Chief State Councillor Ryu's policies, Minister of Finance?"
"I agreed before, but not anymore."
Hwang Hui had shifted his thinking after hearing Kim Dae-bung out.
Blindly collecting too much tax is bad, but skimping too much just nibbles away at the people—he understood that now.
So collecting appropriately and spending rightly was the way to serve Joseon.
No need for anything else—hadn't Kim Dae-bung shown it as Jinhae County Magistrate?
Tax intake up 40%, yet the people voluntarily raised a Stele of Merit and petitioned to keep him (all classes included).
"I regret not joining at Joseon's founding."
"Same here."
"I just went when called, craving power. You're different, Minister of Rites—you lent strength right at founding. I waited for a higher post."
Hwang Hui was a greed-driven minister bordering on corruption, yet he stuck to his principles after taking office.
Thus, during King Taejo's reign (Yi Seong-gye), he was dismissed multiple times for upholding them.
"If the Chief State Councillor tries to take down Junior Secretary Kim, I'll submit a memorial to stop it. He's undeniably vital to this nation. Unlike me, he has no selfish desires—just a loyal servant forever thinking of the ancestral temple and state altar."
Heo Jo chuckled at his words.
"I think the same. On that note, since we're both off early, how about a drink?"
"Sounds good. Your place, Minister of Rites?"
"I'm poor. Unlike some."
Heo Jo was a clean official—even a full audit by the Three Offices would find no dust. Hwang Hui was speechless.
If it bothered him, just refuse the massive gifts pouring in from everywhere. But since Hwang Hui couldn't...
"......I'll buy."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "At least I dodged overtime. Damn, do they think I'm some search engine or what?"
It's only my first day on the job, and they're dumping all this work on me.
Ministry of Finance's Hwang Hui rushes in asking how to distribute markets nationwide.
Ministry of Rites demands solutions for why exam passers are all from Hanyang.
Ministry of Public Works pesters for advice on building embankments everywhere...
I'm no GPT—what the hell is this?
Still, rolling with it let me skip that awful face-showing ceremony.
More precisely, the Hall of Worthies Chief Scholar subtly hinted to prepare for it, but Deputy Chief Scholar Jeong In-ji quietly handled things...
"I'm dying. Seriously dying."
They'll keep bombarding me like this—can I handle it?
Forget everything; right now, I just want to wash up and crash.
Only then can I tackle tomorrow.
"Welcome home, my lord."
"Yeah, Dol-soe. Tell them to bring dinner."
"Yes, my lord. Oh, and Miss Gyeol is inside."
"......That Kim Man-deok bastard..."
Kim Man-deok rode my coattails to secure a spot in the semi-mob-like merchant guild.
Normally, joining mid-guild requires massive cash, but since they acknowledged his ties to a future prime minister candidate (me), he got in almost free.
Since then, Kim Gyeol often comes to help with housework.
Honestly grateful... No, such a pretty girl showing up to help? I'm thrilled. But I should consider her feelings.
"Sigh, gotta talk to Gyeol. If she's coming reluctantly because of her dad, I'll make excuses and turn her down nicely."
Plenty of ways to refuse without hurting Kim Man-deok's feelings.
"Is this an event too?"
I muttered to myself, enjoyed the dinner they brought, then called for Kim Gyeol.