Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Reviving the Corvée
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I'd been waiting a moment, tilting my head in confusion. What was taking so long? I called for the Finance Minister to report. Had he been assassinated or something?
"Your Majesty, by tradition, the Knight Commander reports first."
That explained why the Finance Minister hadn't stepped forward yet. The Knight Commander had to go first. And I remembered meeting that very Knight Commander this morning.
"The Central Knight Order hasn't even been around that long. What kind of 'tradition' is this?"
The organization itself hadn't existed originally. Even being generous, it had only been around for less than a century.
Before the Central Knight Order was established, reports always came from the State Council first.
But now the State Council functioned more like an advisory body, so naturally, the Finance Minister should report first.
"That is..."
The Finance Minister dragged his feet. I glanced quietly at my ministers, let out a small sigh, and spoke.
"Very well. Have the Knight Commander step forward first."
At my words, the Knight Commander strode out, bowed, and began.
"Here is today's report. The kingdom's routine census is underway. Three knight orders are in regular training, scheduled for one week..."
The Knight Commander's report continued steadily until it concluded.
"The walls in the Seonheon region need repairs?"
"Yes. Specifically the earthen rampart's embrasures. Parts of the western wall and the eastern curved gate need fixing. Estimated cost is around 45 million won."
The budget included materials and labor for the overhaul. After some thought, I spoke up.
"I intend to revive the corvée system."
Corvée, in simple terms, meant dragging healthy folks out of their lives to work on national projects without a single penny in pay.
"But Your Majesty, the previous king, Lee Se-eun, abolished the corvée system."
I knew that. That's why I was reviving it. That sister of mine was brilliant, but too damn nice for her own good.
More precisely, Lee Se-eun thought like any conscientious modern Korean citizen would.
Even so, wasn't it unreasonable to force people into hard labor without pay?
"The people of Seonheon have a duty to perform necessary work for Seonheon's sake."
I didn't buy that. This was an era where you could use people for free. Why pay when you didn't have to?
"It's been centuries since the corvée was abolished. Reviving it now might stir the people's resentment."
Truth be told, most hunters thought like Lee Se-eun. That's why no one had brought it back. But modern Korean common sense applied in modern Korea.
This was Seonheon, a kingdom where everything in the land belonged to the king. All rights lay with the king, not the citizens or subjects.
And I had no intention of turning this country into some earthly paradise with tiled roofs, meat stew, and rice.
"Households with someone serving in the military are exempt from corvée duty."
If they didn't want to be conscripted as slave laborers, they could enlist. What I needed was a strong army and sturdy walls.
"Your Majesty, the previous kings of Seonheon are watching. I implore you to reconsider and make a decision truly beneficial to Seonheon."
One of the ministers tried to dissuade me. Then the Finance Minister spoke.
"In truth, reviving the corvée would save us a great deal in expenses."
It was a fact that treasury spending would drop. Labor came free. Why did Korea always mobilize soldiers for every crisis? Cheap labor.
The Finance Minister, tasked with squeezing every coin from the national purse, didn't strongly oppose my proposal.
I continued.
"Substitutes are allowed only for those subjects utterly unable to perform corvée themselves. In principle, they must serve in person."
This meant imposing irreplaceable corvée that couldn't be bought off with money. The ministers' gazes grew complicated.
They'd hoped I was a sage king, like the other hunters who'd ruled Seonheon before.
This was the realization I'd had just before the morning council—what I had to do upon ascending the throne.
Seonheon's very purpose.
I'd wring this country dry for the next ten years, down to the last drop, to prepare for the Onsallok invasion.
"Ministers, discuss what’s needed to revive the corvée system and draft the underlying regulations."
If Seonheon was livestock, the other hunters had been diligent ranchers fattening it up.
And as the final king, I was the butcher who'd slit its throat and sell the meat. Livestock existed to be eaten in the first place. Someone had to slaughter the well-raised beast.
"Your Majesty, mobilizing the people for corvée may bring short-term gains, but it'll poison us in the long run."
"I said discuss the requirements and regulations for reviving the corvée."
Reviving it was already decided. I had no intention of changing my mind.
"Your Majesty, I never wished to commit such impertinence, but..."
One minister dropped to his knees before me.
"I cannot in good conscience serve Your Majesty's will. Consider Seonheon's 900-year history and make the right judgment, I beg you."
The fact he could speak so boldly showed his conviction and loyalty. Assuming his loyalty matched his competence, I'd have valued him in normal times.
But sorry. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
To those unaware of the approaching end, anyone acting on foreknowledge of doom looks insane.
Just look at Noah in the Bible. His actions could only seem mad to others.
"If that's your stance, so be it. State Council, nominate a replacement."
The prostrated minister looked up at me in shock. I turned to the Knight Commander.
"Come to think of it, you mentioned someone you'd recommend."
Now even the Knight Commander looked flustered. He'd been sizing me up, planning his moves, but the king before him seemed a bit unhinged. No wonder he was dumbfounded.
"Yes."
"Make it quick."
Sorry, but you can't stay with us.
"Your Majesty!"
I watched him call out desperately and spoke.
"Wouldn't it look better if you walked out on your own?"
"I'd rather die! I stand ready to do anything for this nation and Your Majesty. I beseech you to heed my loyalty and reconsider the corvée!"
It stung a bit. I had no intention of executing him, even if it was by the book. Nor did I plan to exile him.
He'd done nothing wrong beyond ignoring Seonheon's fated end and aiming too far afield. And even that wasn't truly a fault.
"No choice, then. Drag him out."
He kept pleading as he was hauled away by the guards. Once he was gone, silence blanketed the court.
"Continue."
The rest of the morning council wrapped up swiftly. Who'd feel like chattering eagerly after watching a man get fired on the spot?
"If there are no more reports, we'll adjourn today's council. Knight Commander, stay behind."
Once the other ministers left, only the Knight Commander remained. I stood and said,
"Let's walk a bit."
"Yes."
He'd decided to play it safe for now. He'd been eager for a power play this morning, but my actions today had given him plenty to ponder.
I led him to the garden behind the palace—a spacious pond with a pavilion, perfect for a quiet talk.
What followed here was crucial. There was a fundamental gap between me and Seonheon's ministers.
They drew grand, distant visions unaware of the fixed end.
I focused on the short term, knowing that end all too well. And I planned to exploit that.
"Knight Commander, I'm going to build an army."
"An army, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. A properly trained one. Elite soldiers sharp with spear and sword, swift on horseback, unerring with the bow."
I finished and eyed him.
"I'll put you to great use. I know you've already done much for me and Seonheon. But I plan to entrust you with even more. What say you?"
Power in Seonheon was gradually shifting to the Knight Commander. But my power as king still dwarfed his.
It was power he'd normally wrest from me bit by bit over years. He'd likely planned as much.
"To think Your Majesty would value someone like me so highly—it's a heavy responsibility. But for Seonheon's sake, I'll gladly bear it."
The response came quick. Just as I'd thought, an ambitious one. He wouldn't settle for just Central Knight Commander.
In 20 or 30 years, he'd strip the king's power bare, pocket it all, and leave me on the sidelines.
The problem? Seonheon had only ten years left. And he didn't know that.
"You'll have to bear it. And steel yourself. Great tasks come with great authority and responsibility. Keep that in mind."
Words alone wouldn't convince him. I intended to grant him real authority.
One example: oversight of the corvée I'd mentioned this morning.
"Mobilizing and supervising corvée laborers falls to the knight orders."
His eyes widened at my words.
"We'll focus on repairing defenses like walls and moats. Knights leading makes more sense than bookish scholars."
From his perspective, no reason to refuse. Snatching power from the kingdom's top authority wasn't easy—failure meant literal beheading and public display.
It was fruit atop a sheer cliff, requiring mortal risk to claim. Now it dangled, ripe to fall on its own.
No needless risks—just wait.
"Indeed. Knights possess far superior insight for maintaining Seonheon's defenses compared to scholars."
"I think so too. However."
Here, I dropped a key caveat.
"If the knight orders wish to mobilize corvée, they'll need your approval first, then submit a formal request to me for permission."
The final sign-off stayed with me.
"Of course. We'll check thoroughly to avoid any issues troubling Your Majesty."
I could guess his thoughts.
Earn trust through diligence, and eventually I'd rubber-stamp requests without scrutiny. Then the Central Knight Order could monopolize corvée management.
Further still, someday he'd handle it all without even submitting paperwork. Sweet dreams indeed.