Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: King Sejong the Great's Trap (3)
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King Sejong the Great, who wanted to exploit Kim Dae-bung until the day he died, gathered his ministers and held a court assembly.
The ministers had only heard that a court assembly was being held, but they had no idea what it was about, so they were all intensely curious about the reason.
Amid everyone's curiosity, Chief State Councillor Hwang Hui spoke up.
"Does the Minister of War know why His Highness suddenly gathered us ministers for this assembly?"
"I attended without knowing the reason myself. Does the Chief State Councillor know why?"
"I don't know the exact reason either. But I suspect it's because the re-education of those Japanese scoundrels from Gyeonggi Naval Command is nearly complete, and His Highness wants to rapidly disseminate advanced deep-sea navigation techniques to the navy based on their sailing skills. That's why he called this sudden assembly."
"The navigation skills of those pirates from Tsushima were truly marvelous. They know the sea routes so well that they weren't the least bit afraid to venture into the open ocean."
The Gyeonggi Naval Command had recently taken those former pirates out sailing from Incheon to Chungcheong Province to assess their skills.
Once aboard, they guided the ships away from the coast into the open sea, leading to a smooth voyage. Thanks to them, the Joseon navy concretely realized just how inefficient their previous coastal navigation had been.
"That's why they're called pirates—such talents are too valuable to kill. Even without granting them official ranks, wouldn't it be good to allow them to marry, start families, and live as Joseon people?"
"If our soldiers get accustomed to open-ocean voyages, one of the Ministry of War's biggest headaches will be solved."
Road development, civil engineering projects, and managing technical roles fall under the Ministry of Public Works.
Collecting and managing taxes is the Ministry of Finance's duty.
However, in this era, grain transport was strictly a military affair...
From Minister of War Jo Mal-saeng's perspective, widespread adoption of deep-sea navigation would mean fewer sunken grain ships—a tremendous boon for the ministry.
As the ministers waited for King Sejong and speculated wildly about the agenda, the door to the side hall opened.
"His Highness the King arrives!"
The noisy hall fell silent in an instant at King Sejong's appearance.
"The reason I summoned you all today is to discuss effective ways to encourage our Joseon people to bathe more frequently."
King Sejong didn't mention why bathing was necessary.
He assumed that every minister in the court knew the Ten Thousand Troops had stayed safe from epidemics and diseases by bathing regularly and maintaining hygiene.
As he expected, every minister present understood why the people needed to be urged to bathe.
No one that stupid could rise to the rank of high minister unless they'd fallen under 'Won Gyun's hypnosis' or something.
"What do you think would be best, Minister of War?"
"I believe the most effective method would be to give shamans and blind minstrels a bit of rice and cloth, then have them exhort the people to bathe frequently."
King Sejong furrowed his brow.
He wouldn't have felt this strong aversion if they'd suggested using Buddhist monks, believers in supernatural nonsense.
After all, even Yi Bang-won had once summoned the abbot of Hoeamsa Temple to perform a Buddhist ritual when Queen Won-gyeong was on the brink of death, deeming it unavoidable.
Coincidentally, the prayers had worked, so Yi Bang-won had made a substantial donation to the temple.
But shamans and blind minstrels demanded money from poor commoners for their noisy rituals, and unlike Buddhist scriptures—which offered some scholarly value after reading—they had no real substance...
They were seen as mere con artists fleecing the people.
"Why think of mobilizing lowly folk like shamans and blind minstrels?"
"The foolish masses are so desperate to survive that they have no choice but to cling to such superstitions. Unless they commit outright villainy, the people will protect them as much as possible. If the court simply cracks down on these superstitions in such circumstances, they'll slink into the shadows and fester even more."
Jo Mal-saeng's words were perfectly reasonable.
As he said, cracking down on superstitions would just drive them underground, where they'd rot further.
This applied not just to superstitions, but to Buddhism as well.
King Sejong didn't like hearing it, but he agreed with the intent.
"Instead of blanket suppression, we should strictly monitor and regulate those who mislead the people into harmful practices. Moreover, since the masses rely heavily on superstitions, if shamans tell them to cleanse their bodies to ward off evil spirits and pray for blessings, the people will follow better than with any other method."
"Just like monks preach the six realms of reincarnation and other nonsense, urging good deeds and shunning evil. You're saying we should have them encourage bathing to those who believe in superstitions."
"As a Confucian scholar who upholds propriety, I personally hesitate to resort to superstitions. But since it's for the people's benefit, please approve it as akin to magistrates performing rain rituals during droughts."
"Approved. All garrisons and naval bases will do the same for their soldiers. Local magistrates must step up and strictly exhort the people to keep clean. For the next two years, success in getting the people to bathe properly—and thus reducing deaths from epidemics and other diseases—will be reflected in performance evaluations."
Unless they were someone special like Kim Dae-bung, officials were all obsessed with promotions.
That's why a division commander's visit would turn a battalion upside down.
The battalion commander needed to impress him for his own promotion.
Thus, from the moment King Sejong tied 'proper bathing' to evaluations, every local magistrate would hound the people until they washed thoroughly.
"Minister of Personnel."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Kim Dae-bung's achievements are truly monumental, yet you still haven't agreed on a reward? Why no report?"
"My apologies, Your Highness. But Kim Dae-bung has multiplied gunpowder production several times over and saved the Ten Thousand Troops from epidemics by enforcing hygiene. His merits are so vast that both the Ministry of Personnel and the State Council are at a loss on how to reward him appropriately."
King Sejong sighed.
"It's only natural for someone like Kim Dae-bung, who has rendered such great service, to receive a reward. But how can it drag on like this? Very well, I will decide his reward personally."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"From the Bangwon Law onward, Kim Dae-bung has made immense contributions to Joseon's development. Taxes have increased by three-and-a-half times, the poor no longer starve and sing praises in joy. He's also greatly boosted gunpowder production needed to subdue vile Japanese pirates and Jurchens, and provided ways to save our people from epidemics."
The ministers, led by Hwang Hui, felt a slight dizziness hearing King Sejong's words.
Could a mere low-ranking official really achieve all that?
"The Office of Censors and Inspectorate still complain his promotions are too fast, but I disagree. Compared to his merits, they're too slow. Therefore, I wish to promote Kim Dae-bung to Rank 4, 6th grade, and bestow many precious gifts to commend him. What say you?"
Logically, it was hard to object.
Hwang Hui, Jo Mal-saeng, and Maeng Sa-seong exchanged glances that said, 'It's Kim Dae-bung, so it's fitting,' and nodded in agreement...
"Minister of Rites Heo Jo reports. No one can deny Kim Dae-bung's great merits. However, he himself shuns excessive promotions to uphold court law and order. Wouldn't forcing this promotion ignore his will? For the sake of court law and order, please reconsider, Your Highness."
"Are you saying my words are wrong, Minister of Rites?"
"Kim Dae-bung is only 23 years old. He will serve the ancestral temple and state altar for at least another 30 years. Why the rush?"
King Sejong inwardly chuckled at Heo Jo's opposition.
This was just bait, a feint proposal from the start.
Anyone else might be different, but suggesting a Rank 4 promotion Kim Dae-bung didn't want...
He knew Heo Jo would definitely object, and it played out exactly as planned...
Making the next prepared proposal all the easier.
"You're right. Then how about this? Kim Dae-bung has no wife, and it's been ages since his concubine Kim Gyeol's father received an official post and became a yangban. Thus, specially elevate his concubine Kim Gyeol to wife, and to specially honor his merits, bestow some royal wedding gifts. Ministers, prepare accordingly."
Suddenly promoting Kim Dae-bung to Rank 4 risked court order issues.
With the clear pretext that he didn't want it, firm opposition was possible...
But Kim Dae-bung had no wife, only a concubine whose father was now a yangban, so elevating her offered no real grounds for objection.
Unless it was a strict ritualist like Song Si-yeol, opposition would be tough.
However, royal wedding gifts blatantly broke precedent.
The principle-bound stickler Heo Jo opened his mouth to object immediately.
"Court is adjourned. Ministers, prepare accordingly. This is also a special decree from the Grand Royal Father, who saw Kim Dae-bung and Kim Gyeol's affection and recalled his own youth with the Grand Royal Mother. Take note."
And this news reached Kim Dae-bung very quickly.