He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 129

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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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King Sejong’s Enlightenment (4)

A world where everyone lives with the duty to learn.

To create such an ideal nation, one must find ways for even young Common People to learn easily.

This was a concept that Joseon had never dared to imagine until now.

However, since Joseon breathes with Neo-Confucianism and seeks to follow the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, this is an ideal that must be achieved.

“A nation where all the Common People of Joseon learn and understand the principles found in Elementary Learning, where everyone knows proper conduct and the etiquette one should have as a human being. A nation where anyone can taste the joy of learning.”

What Kim Dae-bung had said contained exactly the ideal he had only vaguely imagined.

That’s why he wanted to immediately send a Palace Official to his House and tell him to quickly return to the palace, sit him down in front of him, and urge him to reveal everything he was thinking.

But to dare run away (leave work) after only throwing out such a clue.

This was like a beauty of unparalleled charm untying her jeogori, and just when you could see her naked body with not a thread on if you just removed her pure white mourning clothes (this was underwear in the Joseon Period).

Suddenly Japanese Pirates appear saying ‘Hello, we’re Japanese Pirates!’ and completely overturn the situation.

Since Kim Dae-bung had committed such an utterly disloyal act, he would definitely have to work him steadily like Jiang Taigong to repay his sins.

Since Jiang Taigong was said to have lived 160 years, he could think of working him for exactly that long.

“A nation where the Four Classes of People become gentlemen through learning. Truly beautiful words.”

Intoxicated by the enlightenment Kim Dae-bung had given him, King Sejong began writing down his insights without even noticing that Lee Bang-won had come to visit.

He felt he needed to record all his insights and inspiration before he forgot even a little of what he had gained.

Lee Bang-won smiled contentedly as he watched King Sejong in that state.

When he arrived, the Court Eunuch had announced his presence loudly several times, and even though he had come to sit within arm’s reach, his son still hadn’t noticed.

Seeing him concentrate so intensely, King Sejong must have gained tremendous enlightenment through this royal lecture.

Lee Bang-won had never read martial arts novels, so he didn’t know the concept that disturbing someone during meditation could lead them to fall into Qi Deviation…

But from his own experience studying for examinations, he knew that when a blocked section was about to break through, interference from someone could result in failure.

“I will wait quietly without making any sound until Do finishes organizing his thoughts, so you should do the same.”

“Yes, His Majesty.”

King Sejong maintained his concentration for over one si-jin (2 hours) like that.

When King Sejong maintained his concentration, with a bit of exaggeration, even if someone drew a sword and pointed it at his throat right in front of him, he wouldn’t notice.

Having organized all the insights he gained and the goals he would pursue going forward, King Sejong finally put down his brush.

Then he caught his breath and spoke.

“This should be enough.”

As King Sejong let out a sigh of relief, Lee Bang-won suddenly appeared in his sight.

His father was looking at him with a very pleased smile.

“Ah, His Majesty? How long have you been here?!”

“I’ve been here since one si-jin ago.”

“Oh, how could that be. I am truly sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Watching you work so diligently to make what you learned from the royal lectures your own, I felt truly joyful as a father.”

In Lee Bang-won’s eyes, King Sejong was already a perfectly complete ruler.

Even if he were to take the unfair civil service examinations from the Former Goryeo era now, his academic achievements were so outstanding that he would inevitably place first.

Moreover, his physical strength and martial arts skills were now also excellent.

Furthermore, he had very deep knowledge of commerce, which he himself found very difficult to understand.

He also seemed to handle soldiers better than himself now.

So Lee Bang-won acknowledged that ‘you are now better than me’ and had almost completely withdrawn from all affairs.

The reason he hadn’t completely withdrawn was that his son was also human and could make mistakes, and he only wanted to help when that happened.

“I heard words that made my heart race. As a ruler, as a Confucian scholar, I have found a goal worth risking my life for, no, worth giving my life to achieve.”

“What is that?”

“I want to create a nation where all the common people learn the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, conduct themselves properly, and know the joy of learning.”

Lee Bang-won burst into hearty laughter upon hearing those words.

When his child spoke before his father about having a goal worth giving his life to achieve, he was somewhat angry at first, but upon hearing what the goal was, he immediately understood.

In current Joseon, only the wealthy learn, and only the wealthy pass the civil service examinations to hold official positions.

“You are right. In former Goryeo, one could not pass the civil service examination unless they were from aristocratic families. In today’s Joseon, not only yangban but also some commoners pass the examinations, so the situation has improved considerably. However, even those commoners, when you look closely, are only those who are considered wealthy in their neighborhoods. Truly poor people never pass the examinations.”

“What would be the reason for this? Isn’t it because the threshold for learning is too high for the poor?”

“The threshold for learning is too high?”

Lee Bang-won could not understand those words.

Because to him, learning was inherently difficult by nature, and he thought this was natural.

It was like how people living in a world without washing machines find hand-washing laborious but don’t think of it as inconvenient, or how people living in a world without indoor toilets naturally accept outdoor toilets.

“Sanskrit can write all the words they use with combinations of just 43 characters. Also, the Japanese use characters called hiragana, which number only 50. However, Chinese characters require knowing at least tens of thousands of characters to write properly, and even idu, which is considered somewhat easier, has thousands of characters… How could this possibly be easy?”

“Indeed, that is so. It would be difficult.”

“I envy those who use Sanskrit and the Japanese in this regard. Having such easy-to-write characters, how much easier it must be for them to approach learning?”

Sanskrit actually has a grammatical system that is mind-bogglingly complex and its notation system is also a complete mess.

Even in Japan, while they do use hiragana, they only use it in extremely limited applications.

“Therefore, I will create easy-to-understand characters like those used in Japanese and Sanskrit. Characters that can be written as they sound.”

“Do you think you’re Cangjie or something?”

“I intend to become so for Joseon’s sake. Even Kim Dae-bung, a mere subject, did not spare his life and offered loyal counsel for Joseon, and countless other loyal subjects are dedicating themselves to Joseon… How could I, as king, hesitate before such a small obstacle?”

“You are right. Creating new characters will certainly be difficult and arduous work. But this father believes that you will be able to accomplish it.”

King Sejong wanted to focus on creating characters for the time being.

Because if new characters were created, learning would become easier, the people would understand proper conduct, and Joseon would become healthier.

“From now on, I will use the time remaining after completing my duties to dedicate myself to creating characters.”

“That intention is truly admirable. Then from tomorrow, let’s increase your exercise by about half. A person must sleep for three and a half time periods (7 hours) to maintain a clear mind, so after leaving court, you can spend about one time period daily on creating characters, and exercise during the remaining time.”

King Sejong’s pupils shook greatly.

What kind of terrible words were these?

What connection could there possibly be between creating new characters and exercise…

“When I studied for the civil service examinations in the past, I learned that those with weak bodies find it difficult to pass the examinations no matter how intelligent they are. The reason is that studying well requires physical strength above all else, but they had difficulty concentrating on their studies because of their weak bodies.”

This is exactly what 21st-century civil service exam passers and professional qualification holders unanimously say.

Only when the body is healthy does one have the stamina to concentrate on studying, enabling them to pass civil service exams or professional qualifications.

“Creating new characters will be several times more difficult than passing the civil service examination. So wouldn’t you need even more physical strength?”

“…”

“Instead, I won’t take you hunting. My only pleasure in my old age has been taking you hunting every fortnight, but since you harbor such great ambitions, I cannot have you waste time for my amusement, can I? Of course, while I’m away, I’ll have the Merchant Ship and the Naegeum-wi captain watch whether you exercise or not.”

Lee Bang-won decided not to take King Sejong hunting.

Instead, he decided to use the ultimate technique only grandfathers could employ: taking his grandchildren out to play.

How delicious would it be to take his grandsons and personally roast the game he shot with his bow over a fire, then sprinkle it with salt and black pepper to eat?

His grandfather’s dignity would be restored and he could grow closer to his grandsons – there could be nothing better than this.

The justification was also clear.

He could say it was for his grandsons to run around outside, cultivate their Heroic Spirit Cultivation, and take care of their physical health.

“A healthy body is necessary to achieve great learning. Even Confucius was said to have a large build and strength greater than a strongman. Isn’t this the greatest proof that the body must endure for one to study? Well then, sleep comfortably tonight. From tomorrow, you’ll need to exercise even harder.”

Lee Bang-won said this and went outside, laughing heartily.

It was Father’s victory.

**

“Did you send word home that my departure from court would be delayed?”

“After hearing from a palace slave that My Lord might suddenly attend the royal lecture, I immediately ran to your residence and informed the lady.”

“Well done.”

How worried Gyeoul-i would be if her husband suddenly came home late without reason.

So I had to let her know in advance.

But I was suddenly dragged to the royal lecture myself and couldn’t think that far ahead, so it’s fortunate this fellow handled it well.

“I should go home and rest soon. And when is your child’s wedding day? On that day, I’ll write an emergency leave request to attend the wedding…”

In the middle of speaking, I saw a young master and a yangban family’s daughter hurriedly fleeing outside before my eyes.

From inside the house, a drunken man was shouting loudly.

That house is definitely County Magistrate Kwon Je of Jincheon’s residence, and if that’s the young master who came out from there… is it Gwon Ram?

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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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