He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 135

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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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Gwon Ram and Han Myeong-hoe (6)

Han Gi tilted his head after hearing my words and asked back.

“I’m truly grateful that you think well of my inadequate son. However, despite being 12 years old, he can’t even fully recite the Classic of Filial Piety—his skills are that poor. How can you say he’s exceptionally gifted?”

Those who pass the civil service examinations usually finish the Classic of Filial Piety before turning 11.

And by 17, they completely memorize the Four Books and Three Classics.

Among them, those called geniuses are said to fully memorize the Four Books and Three Classics by age 12.

After that, they memorize important passages from books like Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian while steadily devoting themselves to exam preparation.

“Among those with exceptional minds, some memorize all the Four Books and Three Classics before even turning 12. But how can one judge a person’s intelligence solely by how fast or slow they memorize the words of sages?”

“That may be true, but even I, who passed the exam with third-class honors, had memorized all the Four Books and Three Classics by age 16. I memorized the Analects and Classic of Filial Piety at 10. Surely My Lord, who passed as the top graduate, was even faster?”

“From my experience in government service, who memorized the Four Books and Three Classics faster isn’t that important. After just 10 years or so in office, isn’t it common to see ordinary people who passed with first-class honors get surpassed in promotions by those who may have passed with third-class honors but possess exceptional administrative abilities?”

It’s not really something to boast about, but since I was born with an adult’s intellectual capacity, I could finish the Thousand Character Classic at age 2.

Around age 13, the teacher who was instructing me said, “You could pass the exam whenever you take it,” but I made various excuses about lacking in Scholarship and took the exam at 18.

Back then, I deliberately tried to enter around third-class level, but somehow I ended up passing as the top graduate…

This is all because of that meat-loving, Common People-loving great king.

“My Father-in-law started as a junior 9th rank and though it hasn’t been even 2 years, he’s now senior 8th rank. I heard he’ll be promoted to junior 7th rank next month. That’s the same promotion speed as those who passed the Mungwa with second-class honors. I predict that in 3-4 years, he’ll likely rise to the ranks of Junior Officials (junior 6th rank and above).”

“Are you saying that even if my son is somewhat lacking in learning, you think he has something exceptional that could more than make up for it?”

“My student Ram-i told me this. He said his friend Myeong-hoe may be short and small in stature, but has exceptional ability in seeing through things and making predictions.”

Strictly speaking, calling each other by name being considered a grave insult among Yangban only applies to ‘adults.’

If someone isn’t an adult and has no courtesy name or style name, it’s fine to just call them by their given name comfortably.

There’s no other way to address them, so what else can you do?

Though if ordinary Commoners or Slaves carelessly called out names, they’d get rolled up in a mat and beaten.

“Let me call him and test him once. And if I discover exceptional insight in that Child, I’ll become his teacher.”

“This is such wonderful news that I couldn’t even dare imagine, but I’m not sure if my son is qualified to learn from My Lord.”

“We’ll know when we see.”

Before long, Han Myeong-hoe entered the Room.

A seven-month baby.

Perhaps because he had only spent 7 months in his mother’s womb, his physique was quite small compared to other children his age.

Because of this, he seemed very withdrawn, perhaps having been bullied a lot at the place where he learned scholarship.

Perhaps this kid’s halfhearted approach to studying was due to rebellious feelings toward his surroundings.

“So, you are Han Myeong-hoe?”

“Yes, but who might you be, sir?”

“I am Kim Dae-bung, serving as a secretary in the State Council. You may comfortably call me Secretary My Lord.”

“Yes, Secretary My Lord.”

“I intend to take you as my disciple, but before that, I want to ask you a few things. As long as you don’t talk about starting a rebellion, you may answer however you like, so feel free to respond.”

For young children like this, the phrase “you may do as you please” is actually more burdensome.

The category of “as you please” is confusing even for adults, so how could a 12-year-old child find that boundary that even adults have trouble grasping?

That’s why child-rearing experts say you should give children freedom within set boundaries, because if you literally tell them to do as they please, they become flustered and can’t do anything.

Since I’ve drawn this line, the kid will answer within those bounds.

“Recently in Hanyang, the person who ran the largest rice shop bought up all the rice coming into Hanyang. What do you think happened as a result?”

Han Gi listened to my words and began thinking, tilting his head.

This was content that even adults, no, even government officials in Joseon failed to notice…

It would seem strange to ask and test a young child about it.

It’s a perfectly natural doubt.

However, wherever you go, geniuses who leave their names in history typically show their talents around age 10.

Han Myeong-hoe used nothing but his “cunning” to persuade Prince Suyang, and by persuading him, made him start the coup.

Despite never even passing the civil service exam, he became Chief State Councilor and father-in-law to two kings.

Surely he must have been different from the very beginning.

Even if he can’t answer properly here, I’m already thinking of making various excuses to just take him anyway.

After pondering for quite a long time, Han Myeong-hoe opened his mouth.

“When there’s a poor harvest, rice prices rise, and when there’s a good harvest, rice prices fall. The reason is that rice is scarce during poor harvests and abundant during good harvests. However, if one merchant has evil intentions and monopolizes rice, he could arbitrarily control the amount of rice he sells, making it possible to charge as much for rice during a good harvest year as during a poor harvest.”

Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but laugh.

The people of Joseon actually have a vague understanding of the concept of supply and demand.

As Han Myeong-hoe said, they knew that rice prices rise during poor harvests and fall during good harvests.

This is precisely the basic theory of supply and demand.

However, applying this theory beyond poor and good harvests to predict what harm would result from monopolizing rice is another matter entirely.

“What you said is correct. That’s why the evil merchant who monopolized rice in Incheon charged three times what he had paid for it when selling to Hanyang, making enormous profits. Just as you perceived.”

“Thank you for your praise.”

“Your Father said that you’re slow at learning Scholarship, but you have such talent for seeing through the ways of the world that if you pass the civil examinations in the future, you will surely rise to the ranks of prime minister.”

Han Gi’s wife had already passed away due to complications from childbirth.

Han Gi himself would also die from illness not long after.

So how worried must he be about his child as a Father?

Though I haven’t yet held a child in my arms, as someone who will soon become a Father, I understand his heart.

Even if I can’t do anything about life and death, I can at least ease Han Gi’s worries…

I should let him know his child’s objective abilities and even show him developing.

That would be the duty a teacher must uphold when entrusted with someone else’s precious child.

Whether he realized my intention or not, Han Gi was looking at his son with a smile, finding him admirable and praiseworthy.

“Good, then let me ask you one more thing. His Majesty declared that monopolizing rice in this manner is like treason and strictly forbade it. Would this alone be sufficient? Speak your thoughts freely.”

Han Myeong-hoe pondered for a moment, then answered quite confidently this time.

Having received praise once, he seemed excited, his eyes sparkling as he continued speaking quite eloquently.

“The country has only prevented some Merchants from buying up and monopolizing all the rice. If I were a merchant with sufficient money, I think I would evade the regulations by making contracts to buy up all the rice from one County.”

“Making a promise to buy up all the rice from one County?”

“Whether this year’s harvest is poor or abundant, how could the country regulate promising to buy all the rice harvested from the County’s fields for 100 bolts of Cotton Cloth?”

They could regulate it if they tried.

We just need to make it illegal to enter into advance purchase contracts specifically for staple grains like rice.

Besides that, there are various other ways to prevent this in advance.

“You are right. You immediately identified a loophole that even the Ministry of Taxation failed to consider.”

The smile wouldn’t leave my lips.

“Inspector Han, this child instantly thought of something that even the Ministry of Taxation couldn’t consider. To worry that such a child is a bit late in learning scholarship. Well, what’s the difference between that and worrying that your son might fall slightly short of Zhuge Liang or Zhang Zifang?”

“My Lord.”

“Let me take this child as my disciple. I will care for him like my own son.”

“Really?”

“Just as a disciple should serve their master like a parent, shouldn’t a master also care for their disciple like a child?”

Han Myeong-hoe is already being ostracized among those learning scholarship, and once Han Gi dies, his household circumstances will become even worse.

Growing up in such an environment, anyone would easily become twisted.

To prevent that from happening, I must teach him with love and care.

Even if I do that, if this fellow doesn’t correct his twisted nature.

Anyway, since he has some talent for doing bad things, wouldn’t it be a patriotic act to unleash him on China or Japan over there?

“I will teach your precious child well so that he becomes a pillar of the nation in the future.”

“Thank you, My Lord.”

“Rest now. You shouldn’t overexert yourself when your body isn’t well. I’ll send you a skilled physician, so take your medicine well and rest thoroughly to recover completely.”

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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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