He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Great Fire of Hanyang (3)

In English-speaking countries, firefighters are called ‘fire fighters’.

They are called those who fight against fire.

Just like the firefighters of 21st century Korea, all firefighters approach firefighting work with the resolve and attitude of warriors entering battle – either I die or the fire dies.

Firefighters are literally warriors who risk their lives fighting against fire.

But this is the Joseon Period without fire suits, oxygen tanks, or fire hoses, so how dangerous would it be to suppress a large fire…

“If we cannot stop the fire here, both your houses and our houses will all burn to nothing.”

If we just run away in fear of the fire, all of Hanyang will truly become ashes, and countless people will die.

Even if they survive, they will certainly lose their livelihood.

So I must drive those here into war against the fire to stop the flames as quickly as possible and save as many people as possible.

Rather than die while running away, with the resolve to die while fighting.

“Extinguishing fire is dangerous and frightening work. However, if you just follow my instructions, you will all live, and you will be able to receive plenty of Rice that I give you.”

When I, wearing Official Robes, said this in a loud voice, the confused crowd became quiet and no longer made chaotic movements.

“Right now the fire is spreading on the east wind. So we will completely destroy and clear away all flammable things in the western direction near where the fire has caught.”

“Are you really going to destroy everything, whether houses or warehouses?”

“We must destroy everything. Anyway, if the fire spreads on the wind, won’t they all burn up? In that case, it’s better to destroy that one house to prevent the flames from advancing further and save several other houses.”

When we think of firefighting work, we think of pouring water on burning places to extinguish them.

However, in a world without fire trucks or fire hydrants, procuring the amount of water needed to extinguish such a large fire is virtually impossible.

So the best strategy would be to use the characteristics of fire and completely eliminate the ‘flammable materials’ in front of where it’s going to block its path.

Sometimes backfires are set… but that’s something even professional firefighters use as a last resort.

If a novice like me did such a thing, it would just become the evil act of burning down all of Hanyang.

“For houses destroyed according to my instructions, I will compensate for the costs of rebuilding those houses, even if I have to go into debt.”

“… What?”

“As a subject who receives the nation’s salary, this much is natural.”

Anyway, if I end up in debt, I trust that the Ministry of Taxation, with its now abundant finances, will somehow rescue me and prevent me from becoming a beggar.

If the worst case scenario occurs where that doesn’t work out, Lee Bang-won the Iron Mace King will cover my losses even if he has to use the Royal private funds.

But if it comes to mobilizing the Royal private funds, I’ll end up binding myself to a lifelong ministerial position… I hope things don’t escalate to that extent.

“You able-bodied men, grab whatever tools are good for demolishing – hammers, pickaxes, whatever. We need to tear down the houses I point out and scatter and cover soil over them and their surroundings.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“This is to protect the houses, property, and families we live with. We must risk our lives right now.”

Since being born in Joseon, I have never once held a tool like a hammer until now.

However, in a situation like this, I cannot act like a yangban who protects his body and only gives orders with his mouth.

If I don’t lead by example, this firefighting operation will not proceed properly.

I picked up the large hammer we use at our house.

“I will take the lead. Everyone, let’s go!”

I’m also very scared, but what choice do I have?

If I, who am driving them into danger, don’t also enter that danger myself, the firefighting operation cannot succeed.

If people die because of something I cannot do, that’s unavoidable and I can accept it…

But I absolutely cannot stand by and watch people die because I failed to do something I could do.

I have no intention of becoming a shameful husband or father in the eyes of Gyeoul-i and my unborn child.

Steeling my resolve, I designated a house that I judged to be in the path of the fire’s advance.

“Soon the fire will spread to the houses around here too! So we must hurry to demolish them before the flames reach them! After demolishing, we must cover them with soil so the fire cannot catch! Hurry!”

After designating it, I immediately joined in swinging my hammer to demolish the walls of this house.

While doing so, I designated several more houses besides this one, and each time people rushed over in droves to begin demolishing houses.

With dozens, perhaps even over a hundred people demolishing houses together, several houses collapsed in an instant.

“Those who brought shovels, cover the collapsed debris with soil! After covering with soil, you must fetch water from nearby wells and pour it over! Hurry, hurry!”

Even as I shouted at the top of my voice like this, the fire gradually approached closer to us.

If the flames seem like they’ll reach where people are working, we should finish up appropriately and move to another location to demolish more, and keep demolishing to extinguish the flames as much as possible – that’s the best method…

“Only by taking these measures can you protect your homes, property, and families! It’s difficult, but stay strong!”

While saying this, except when giving instructions to others, I continued my clumsy hammering without stopping.

I demolished walls, and demolished more, and kept demolishing.

My Official Robes made from Blue silk that came from the Ming Dynasty, worth over 10 Seom of White Rice, were turning into tattered rags… but is this really the time to worry about such things?

Right before my eyes, Common People were dying and their homes and property were burning down.

“We must somehow contain the flames!”

Damn it, in the original history Queen Soheon concentrated all her forces to prevent the fire from spreading to Jongmyo and Changgyeonggung…

But when I’m going to this extent, shouldn’t someone come provide support?

“Inspector My Lord! Look over there, the flames are gradually weakening!”

Looking in the direction pointed out by an unknown commoner, I could see that the flames were indeed gradually weakening as he said.

As the flames passed through the areas we had demolished, covered with dirt, and sprayed with water, they gradually lost momentum because there was nothing left to burn.

This insanely difficult work was showing results.

It felt like some strength was returning to my body that seemed ready to collapse from exhaustion.

“Let’s keep going like this! If we continue this way, we can extinguish the fire!”

I continued the firefighting work without knowing how much time had passed.

During the process, I got injured and bled, and got burned by flying sparks.

Thinking of those who must have burned to death in those flames, what’s the big deal about this?

Compared to those who lost all their property when their homes were destroyed and burned, standing there in despair, this doesn’t even qualify as suffering.

So as long as I have breath in my body, I will continue to struggle to save even one more person.

While doing so, I briefly looked around and noticed a man as tall as a pole standing frozen like a statue with a frightened expression.

Someone like that needs to be removed from the scene as quickly as possible.

Fear is something highly contagious, you see.

“You there, tall one!”

The man I pointed at was startled and answered.

“Yes, yes? My Lord!”

“You run to the Royal Palace as fast as you can right now and deliver this message! Tell them that Jeonhamsa Inspector Kim Dae-bung is putting out fires in Anguk District, but we’re short on people and having difficulty containing the flames. Ask them to send some people! Now, run!!”

As soon as I finished speaking, the fellow started running like his life depended on it.

While I was continuing to lead the firefighting efforts with a do-or-die spirit, a military officer approached me.

Among the Ten Commands, Chungmu Guard is stationed closest to Hanyang, so is he a Chungmu Guard officer?

No wait, he could be from Naegeum-wi or Gyeomsabok too.

“I am Naegeum-wi Deputy Envoy Kim Sa-myeong! Her Majesty the Queen has sent me and 100 personnel as support to this location.”

Hearing his words, I could see over 100 able-bodied men following behind Kim Sa-myeong.

We were so short on people that it was extremely difficult, but this really lifted a huge burden off my shoulders.

It feels like I died and came back to life.

Well, it’s not like I was in immediate mortal danger though.

“But why are your clothes… don’t tell me you personally participated in the firefighting work?”

“Isn’t that natural? If I didn’t take the lead, could the common people have followed me to put out the fire?”

“I apologize, My Lord.”

“I became too sensitive and got angry when I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. But Deputy Envoy Kim, please relay this message to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“What message do you mean?”

Looking at the situation so far, the one who started this fire is not an arsonist who would be satisfied with just setting fires.

He’s definitely a villain trying to take advantage of this chaos to steal or kidnap people to sell as slaves.

So if there’s anyone here who’s not participating in putting out the fire but instead wandering around busy collecting valuables, that person is most likely the arsonist.

“If there’s anyone wandering around trying to collect valuables instead of joining the firefighting efforts during this chaos, that person is likely the arsonist. And issue a military order to the citizens of Hanyang that those who refuse to participate in firefighting despite being ordered to do so should be punished according to military law.”

“Yes, Inspector My Lord.”

“Go quickly by yourself. I’ll continue putting out the fire while having the support troops you brought join the firefighting work.”

When I promised to give rewards for participating in firefighting, I should follow through with giving those rewards.

However, ordinary people wouldn’t willingly risk their lives in dangerous work just to receive a reward.

Rather, using government authority to threaten that if they don’t obey orders to participate in firefighting work, they’ll face the sword at their necks would be more helpful in putting out the fire quickly.

“You’re working so hard.”

“I’m just doing what I naturally should do. You hurry and run!”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Kim Sa-myeong took my message and hurriedly ran to Gyeongbok Palace.

In the original history of Hanyang’s great fire, they barely managed to catch only some of the culprits, but this time I hope we can somehow catch all the perpetrators for certain.

Punishing those bastards won’t bring the dead back to life, and of course it won’t restore the property damage either, but…

I absolutely don’t want to see those pieces of trash, worse than the offspring of pigs and dogs crossbreeding, setting fires and then living in luxury after stealing big, enjoying the good life.

‘In this era, arson is tantamount to murder.’

I led the firefighting work like that until sunrise, grinding my whole body into it.

Due to doing physical labor I’d never done in my life, and building demolition at that, day and night, all the strength in my body had drained away, and my voice had been hoarse and barely audible for quite some time already.

But if I gave up here just because I was struggling, the firefighting work would slow down, so I had to endure somehow no matter what.

“Everyone hang in there somehow!”

While I was continuing to endure like that, someone approached me and said.

“My Lord, the fire has been completely extinguished.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

When I heard those words, I immediately collapsed.

I have no regrets.

And when I opened my eyes, I saw a very unfamiliar ceiling.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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