He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 121

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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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Breaking the Cartel (6)

Doctors sometimes say this.

It’s easy to kill a person, but saving them is extremely difficult.

A doctor listens to a patient’s symptoms, diagnoses the illness through various tests, and prescribes medicine, but during treatment, other medications may be administered, or the dosage or method may differ from the medical records, resulting in the patient’s death.

In the case of myocardial infarction patients, when symptoms occur, there’s what’s called the golden time – if emergency measures are taken within the time frame that can save the patient’s life and they’re transported to the hospital, they can survive, but patients who miss the golden time and arrive at the hospital without receiving emergency treatment will die.

The policies I develop and promote as a Joseon official are not much different from this.

The difference would be that the scale of the disasters that unfold is much larger.

One wrong policy could drive thousands of household heads to jump into the Han River, and push tens of thousands of family members they supported into extreme poverty.

Similar things would have happened if Lee Bang-won and King Sejong had pushed through their currency policy.

That’s why I risked my life to submit that written memorial.

If I wanted to, I could submit a petition exposing the Market Guild merchants who have been manipulating rice prices during the spring famine and annihilate them, but I didn’t.

‘Because profiteering from food in Joseon would be considered treason.’

If Ryu Jeong-hyeon were alive, no, if Lee Bang-won found out about this, he’d call it treason and grab his iron mace to beat those Market Guild merchant bastards.

However, the problem is that the aftereffects would be too severe, causing innocent people among Hanyang’s population of over 100,000 to suffer from Great Depression-level economic hardship.

“Gapseok, where are the great merchants from the Market Guild now?”

“They’re all waiting in the sarangbang.”

“I see. Then let me give you one instruction. Until I say it’s okay to let people in, you must never open the door even if officials from the Royal Investigation Bureau come, and you must not let anyone eavesdrop on what I’m saying.”

“Yes, My Lord. To repay your grace for saving my daughter who was sold to that bastard Ryu Jeong-hyeon, I will stake my life to ensure no one enters and no one eavesdrops.”

It’s not like I gathered these great merchants because I find them endearing and want to save them.

I’m just saving them because if they were all killed, Joseon would have difficulty handling the aftermath.

“I heard that your eldest son is getting married next year, Gapseok.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I’ll provide plenty of the necessary items, and I’ll also find a house for your eldest son to live in and fields to cultivate.”

“Oh my, My Lord… you don’t need to do that. Just feeding our family well and taking care of us from time to time already makes me not know what to do with myself…”

“There’s no such thing as loyalty without conditions. If someone shows loyalty, it’s human duty to provide compensation accordingly. When your children get married, I’ll continue to support them like this, so keep doing as you are now.”

I believe that treating those around me who serve me well is the same as protecting myself.

If I treat them carelessly just because I command them, they’ll abandon me and flee when a crisis comes, and when a situation arises where they can profit, they’ll sell me out.

Was it some company chairman, or some chaebol bastard? I can’t remember exactly who it was.

When he was about to be arrested by police, facing the crisis of having all his assets confiscated and rotting in prison for life, he prepared to flee the country illegally…

But because he didn’t give his driver even a penny of hazard pay, the driver was so outraged that he turned himself in, leading to the bastard’s arrest.

Also, there’s that three-generation hereditary pig bastard living up north who supposedly treats his close associates really well.

Because he’s afraid of getting stabbed in the back like that otherwise.

After encouraging Gapseok, I went to the Sarangbang.

As soon as the great Merchants saw me, they handed me Fortune Pouches and lacquered boxes.

Inside the Fortune Pouches was what appeared to be silver, and inside the boxes were extremely precious items like ginseng.

To survive as a merchant in Joseon, you must be good at giving Gifts, so I plan to accept them all for now.

If I don’t accept them, they’ll think I’m planning to kill them all.

Later, I’ll offer all of these to the Royal Court.

If I just pocket them without saying anything, I might end up like Jo Mal-saeng.

“We Sijeon leaders have never forgotten for even a moment the grace of My Lord, who threw himself into danger to save the Common People of Hanyang and greatly developed commerce.”

“I merely stepped forward for the Common People of Joseon. I think there’s no need for your gratitude since I only did what was natural.”

The Bible has perfect words for times like this.

“No Servant in this world demands praise from his master for completing his duties. Likewise, what I did was something any ‘subject of Joseon’ should do, so there’s no need for gratitude.”

“… Are you saying it’s natural to save the Common People even when you might be swept up in flames and burned to death?”

Actually, it’s not really natural.

Running around near flames without a fire suit, swinging a hammer and getting light burns all over your body – that’s not ordinary work.

“Soldiers drafted for military service in Hamgyeong Province and Pyeongan Province live shivering in the cold every day. Sometimes they lose fingers and toes to frostbite. Furthermore, countless die fighting the Jurchen barbarians. Yet they receive no compensation whatsoever, nor are they given any honor. But because it’s their duty, they fulfill their responsibilities at their posts.”

When the Royal Court budget increased, the first thing I requested was to increase military supplies for soldiers at the front lines.

Even if we couldn’t give them proper wages, I stubbornly insisted that we must at least provide them with full meals, since that’s the best welfare in the Joseon era.

Thanks to King Sejong immediately approving it, the soldiers serving there have been able to eat rice meals three times a day instead of mixed grain meals ever since.

Of course, even doing this, I don’t think we’ve given them adequate compensation and honor.

“The difference between them and me is just one thing. I passed the civil service examination. But those who suffer indescribably in the Northern Region are considered lowborn, so it’s natural for them to work so hard, while everyone thanks me for just dedicating myself to work for one day. Can this really be called right?”

There’s a reason I’m suddenly saying this.

Since those guys offered me flattering bribes, now it’s about time for them to make requests…

I’m doing this to prevent them from bringing up anything like requests.

It’s an important topic, but what I just said has nothing to do with the conversation I need to have with them, so let’s stop here.

“Sorry for bringing up useless talk. I suddenly thought of the soldiers enduring the cold while serving military duty in Hamgyeong Province and Pyeongan Province.”

“Not at all, My Lord. We too will follow your noble intentions and gradually collect wealth to offer to the Royal Court so that the soldiers in Hamgyeong Province and Pyeongan Province can at least eat their fill.”

“His Majesty will be truly pleased.”

A warm atmosphere formed for a moment, but I immediately cooled it down.

I’m not here to have warm, grateful, and encouraging conversations with them right now.

“Then while we’re at it, let’s do one more thing.”

“Yes, for the Royal Court, we’ll do anything. We Sijeon Merchants have shown our loyalty by supplying necessary goods for the country according to King Taejo’s orders since Joseon’s founding, so what couldn’t we do for the country?”

Since I’m trying to give them one more task, these guys are also subtly trying to match me by bringing up ‘King Taejo.’

Yes, that’s what merchants should do.

Don’t merchants have an unwritten rule that they shouldn’t do losing business even if their heads roll?

Good, I’ll let this much slide without saying anything.

But if they try to make deals after hearing what I say next, I don’t know what I might do.

I might pick up a scalpel for surgery, but instead of a 0.1mm error by mistake, I could slash 10cm and cut a passing artery, committing murder.

“For the country, disband the Sijeon guild.”

“… What did you just say, My Lord…?”

“Disband the Sijeon guild and give up the Hanyang commercial monopoly rights that Sijeon held.”

“The rights we possess were recognized by King Taejo…”

Instead of responding to his words or cutting him off with a sharp rebuke, I spoke toward the door.

“Hey there, bring me the axe that I always keep carefully sharpened.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Before long, Gapseok brought the axe into the room.

“Ah, this axe is the one I used when I submitted my written memorial. Since I never know when I might have to risk my life again to submit another written memorial, I always keep it maintained like new. Do you know why?”

“Why is that?”

“In case my petition isn’t accepted and His Majesty uses this axe to cut off my head. I keep it well-sharpened so it can be finished in one blow. If I’m going to die anyway, it’s better to die with less pain.”

The great merchants gaped and stared at me like I was a madman.

Then they all started trembling.

“I know that you’re trying to profit by exploiting the great project the nation is about to undertake. I’m not saying that’s necessarily bad. But I think you’ve crossed the line. To put it bluntly, what you’re doing is no different from the Powerful Noble Families that devour the dynasty, is it not?”

Indeed, what these bastards are trying to do isn’t much different from the Powerful Noble Families.

The Powerful Noble Families tried to devour all of Goryeo’s land through land annexation, while these bastards tried to become a chaebol cartel by monopolizing Joseon’s commerce.

“Since there was no law in Joseon prohibiting such actions, I’ll specially give you a chance to repent of your wrongdoing.”

In the past, those who melted down 10-won coins and made over a billion won were acquitted because there was no punishment clause in the Republic of Korea’s criminal law.

They got out after paying a small civil fine.

Joseon could punish the great merchants of Sijeon for insubordination, but if I kill them all for insubordination, it would be satisfying… but the aftermath would be difficult to handle.

So I’m giving them a chance.

If they don’t accept it even after being given a chance, well, what can I do?

I’ll have no choice but to sweep them all away.

And that void will be filled by small-scale Sijeon merchants including Lee Bong-sang.

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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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