He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 14

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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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Great Cleanup (3)

Scholar Jeong Hak-so, who was once renowned in Jinhae County for his great learning.

He is now bound before me in a wretched state.

Both ears are pierced with arrows, his topknot is undone, and his neck rests on a wooden stake.

I even thought it was too miserable an end for someone who was respected as a learned gentleman in the village.

“Seeing things like this really makes all worldly affairs seem so futile.”

But that doesn’t mean I feel guilty about killing him or anything like that.

He’s dying because he did something worthy of death.

Three years ago from now, the law prohibiting common people from filing complaints was created. It became legally forbidden for common people to accuse their county magistrate.

Though flexibility is exercised when the magistrate clearly commits crimes deserving death, or when someone suffers unspeakable injustices.

But this bastard used underhanded methods because he was afraid people wouldn’t borrow his high-interest loans once the market opened and the common people’s lives improved a little.

He deserves to die.

And what makes his death even more miserable is the reaction of the county’s common people.

“That gentleman charged exceptionally high interest rates… he’s receiving divine punishment.”

“No matter how high your learning, what’s the use? You have to be human first… human.”

Someone who was once respected as an elder in the county has now fallen to the level of human trash.

Jeong Hak-so’s name has become an object of ridicule and contempt in Jinhae County.

Now then, shall we carry out the punishment?

“Magistrate.”

“Clerk Kim, what is it now?”

“That Jeong Hak-so fellow has quite a bit of property – houses, land, and slaves. How should we handle those?”

The clerk rubbed his hands before me and also glanced at the other local clerks nearby.

He’s asking if we could share some of Jeong Hak-so’s wealth.

Since the Royal Court hasn’t mentioned whether to confiscate all of Jeong Hak-so’s assets and bring them to the government office… we can exercise some flexibility here.

Considering that I’ve been quite harsh on them since I arrived and have significantly reduced corruption… I should probably give them some leeway here.

“Among the land that Jeong Hak-so possesses, all the hidden fields (fields not reported to the government office), 30% of his land, and about half of the goods in his warehouse – there would be no way to know if these disappeared. Except for those portions, bring everything else to the government office. Also, all of Jeong Hak-so’s slaves will serve as government office slaves, and Jeong Hak-so’s family will be sent to another county as public slaves.”

“I understand and will carry it out accordingly.”

It’s quite ridiculous even as I say it myself. Knowingly tolerating corruption and adjusting it to an appropriate level being the best option.

The path that Joseon must take is truly long and treacherous.

“Execute the beheading.”

“Yes, Magistrate.”

As I gave the order, Jeong Hak-so’s head was instantly severed by our government office military instructor.

All those gathered to watch him die burst into cheers.

“The market opened and the village people’s lives became livable, but he just had to oppose it… He deserved to die…”

“Good riddance, good riddance.”

Yangban are usually treated as respected elders in counties… How lacking in virtue must he have been to hear such words?

Well, he must have been a rotten person to come to me saying that opening a market would make the common people lazy, spouting such old-fashioned nonsense, and then trying to cause me trouble by submitting a petition that circumvented the law prohibiting commoners from filing complaints against officials.

If he had been someone with common sense installed in his head, he wouldn’t have met such an end.

“Disperse everyone gathered here. And contact the scholars of the county to ask them all to come to the government office.”

“Yes, Magistrate. But why are you calling for them?”

“I want to have a somewhat serious discussion about the county’s future.”

The county’s tax system right now is quite a mess.

However, with the power I currently possess, I cannot completely overturn the tax system that bends the common people’s backs.

But I also can’t just leave this mess alone.

Since I know the problem is serious, I have to try to fix it somehow, even a little.

Even if it may seem like just a temporary measure in my eyes… it will be of great help to those involved.

**

It would be impolite to call the county scholars and send them back on empty stomachs.

In Joseon, where it’s tradition and courtesy to greet people by asking “Have you eaten?” this is even more important.

When in Rome, follow Roman law, and in Joseon, you must follow Joseon law.

I prepared quite a lavish table for the county scholars.

“After being appointed as magistrate of Jinhae County, I should have properly greeted the elders of the county first and sought their advice… but I’m still inexperienced and have been pressed by official duties, so I was late in arranging such a gathering. I apologize.”

Actually, I don’t particularly feel sorry about it.

After being appointed as county magistrate, what’s important is taking care of the common people’s circumstances and punishing corrupt monks for their corruption…

What’s so important about meeting local notables to laugh and chat while eating expensive food and holding banquets with dancing gisaeng? It’s natural for such things to be pushed far down the priority list.

Nevertheless, it’s right to make these kinds of greetings.

The position of magistrate I currently hold is like being the mayor of a small county in Korea.

To properly fulfill the role of mayor, it’s also important to maintain friendly relations with people called ‘local notables.’

Otherwise, any of them could constantly torment me like Jeong Hak-so, who died this morning.

Of course, those bastards have now learned well that if they mess with me as I fight corruption to protect the common people’s rights… they’ll become headless ghosts like Jeong Hak-so…

But it’s better not to create any potential for troublesome incidents.

In response to my words, the scholar said to have the highest reputation in this county replied.

“We are well aware that the Magistrate is very busy with official duties. We are truly grateful that you called us here despite your busy schedule and prepared such a generous feast for us.”

“Thank you for saying that. I am still young and lacking in many areas. I hope you will give me much advice.”

Normally when such conversations go back and forth, everyone should be laughing heartily together.

But right now, I’m the only one laughing here, while the other scholars are at a loss, as if sitting on a bed of thorns.

They can’t help but feel that way.

Though I didn’t directly intervene, Lee Bang-won completely exterminated Jeong Hak-so’s entire family, and watching that process, they must have thought they could end up like Jeong Hak-so if they’re not careful.

“I’ll end the greetings here. Actually, the reason I asked the wise scholars of the county to come today is because there’s something I’d like your cooperation with.”

“What kind of cooperation can we provide?”

“I’d like you to pay the same amount of tribute tax next year as you did this year. And to continue doing so going forward.”

The scholars’ brows furrowed upon hearing my words. I completely understand their feelings.

I revealed that the corrupt monks had embezzled tribute goods by lying that they bought the goods offered as tribute tax at high prices. As a result, the taxes that the common people had to pay as tribute were drastically reduced.

With a bit of exaggeration, previously even the poorest households had to pay two seom of rice as tribute tax, but now they only need to pay one seom.

For the county scholars who owned much land and many slaves, this must have seemed tremendously significant…

The common people only had to pay half of what they used to, but they still had to pay the same as before?

How unfair that must seem to them.

“Thanks to the Magistrate, the burden of tribute tax that the common people had to bear has been greatly reduced. Moreover, poor people can now sell things through the market – whether they make straw shoes, weave mats, or gather wild vegetables in their spare time – so their livelihoods have greatly improved. This humble scholar has lived for over 50 years, and this is the first time I’ve seen a Magistrate who cares for the people like this.”

“You praise me too much.”

“However, Magistrate.”

The scholar representing them stopped speaking here. Then he sighed.

“As you surely know, Magistrate, even being wealthy doesn’t make paying taxes very comfortable.”

“I agree with that statement.”

I also agree with the idea that the wealthy, being those who earn more, should pay more taxes.

However, even from a wealthy person’s perspective, paying taxes would be extremely painful.

If I earned ten million won a month, I’d have to pay thirty million won in taxes annually. That’s certainly not a small amount of money.

Though since I earn a lot of money, I’d still have plenty left after paying that amount.

The yangban must also know that I reduced taxes by cracking down on the corrupt monks, so they probably had happy thoughts about what they’d do with the money when those benefits came their way… but to have that turned back to nothing, of course they’d be angry.

“However, what is a scholar’s duty? Isn’t it to educate the people and provide food for them when they’re starving?”

“That is true. But isn’t it unfair treatment that poor people get reduced tribute burdens while we must continue to bear the same burden as before?”

What that bastard is saying isn’t entirely wrong. That’s why I’m having a conversation instead of just saying ‘Then die.’

But these guys committed one very fatal crime.

While Joseon is a country that tacitly permits things like tax evasion and tax embezzlement instead of paying officials high salaries, there are still things you shouldn’t do and things you can do.

Until now, I didn’t want to bring this up because it was difficult to handle with just my power as county magistrate. But if Lee Bang-won fully supports me… if the Royal Court supports me…

I can threaten them with this.

“Unlike the local clerks, I have never taken bribes. And what I’m holding in my hand here is…”

He pulled out a book from the wide sleeves of his durumagi and showed it to me.

“This is a book related to last year’s harvest. Reading through the contents, it says that Jinhae County experienced a somewhat poor harvest last year… Should I go around asking the common people one by one whether last year’s harvest was indeed poor?”

As far as I know, last year’s harvest in Jinhae County was ‘average level.’

Reporting it as a poor harvest means it was ‘deceiving the king with false reports.’

In other words, they deceived the king.

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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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