He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 34

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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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Currency and Direct Petition (5)

‘Since ancient times, losing one’s convictions means death itself.’

This saying is absolutely correct. People are beings who find meaning in life when they live according to their convictions.

Since implementing currency in Joseon goes against my convictions, if currency is implemented, there would be no reason to continue living…

Well, it’s not quite that extreme. But still, if I bend my convictions here and stand by while currency is implemented, I think I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.

This might be a strange analogy to make. Even if confessing fails in your freshman year of college and you end up ‘running away to the military,’ if there’s a girl you like, shouldn’t you still confess to her?

That way, even if things get awkward with that girl for a while, and staying at university becomes somewhat uncomfortable… you won’t regret it for the rest of your life later. Regretting after confessing is temporary, but regretting not confessing lasts a lifetime.

“If anything stood in the way of the path I wanted to take, I destroyed it all. I personally killed Poeun (Jeong Mong-ju) at Seonjuk Bridge, whom King Taejo sometimes regarded as a teacher, sometimes as Zhuge Liang. I destroyed Former Goryeo, of course, and also my younger brother, and even Jeong Do-jeon, who was like a pillar of Joseon.”

The influence Jeong Do-jeon left on Joseon was truly tremendous. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he created the foundation of Joseon.

Although Lee Bang-won killed Jeong Do-jeon during the Prince’s Rebellion, he couldn’t touch the ideology and systems that Jeong Do-jeon left behind. His eldest son currently serves as Minister of Justice.

As for Jeong Mong-ju, well, he was such a great figure that he would have naturally become ‘Chief State Councilor for life’ if he had just participated in Joseon’s founding, so I won’t give a lengthy explanation.

So there’s no reason why Lee Bang-won couldn’t deal with a young fool like me prostrating with an axe to prevent currency implementation. He’s someone who eliminated even Jeong Do-jeon and Jeong Mong-ju.

“Even if I die, I will have no regrets, but I will offer one final remonstrance.”

“… I shall permit it.”

The ministers and councilors including Hwang Hee standing behind Lee Bang-won sent me signals. They were telling me to prostrate myself even now and declare that I would change my mind.

However, contrary to their expectations, I intend to say everything I need to say in this place.

I’m absolutely not some eternal loyal subject, but as someone who already knows that innocent Common People will die because of currency. I’m not heartless enough to turn away from that suffering.

“When I was serving as County Magistrate of Jinhae County, I opened a Market and benefited countless Common People. Poor widows rejoiced that they wouldn’t have to let their children starve, and some who had only been tenant farmers dreamed of a hopeful future, saying they would save money to buy their own land. Although I contributed not even a hair’s worth to Joseon’s founding and never lived through the moment of founding, Retired King told me, a mere County Magistrate of Jinhae, these words.”

“Yes. I remember too. I told you that your benefiting the Common People and giving them hope was precisely Joseon’s founding ideology.”

“After receiving those gracious words beyond my merit, though I am inadequate, I worked even harder. To uphold Retired King’s sacred will to enable Joseon’s Common People to dream of a slightly better tomorrow.”

Joseon dynasty nobles praise the king anytime as naturally as breathing to survive. Even during conversations, they suddenly say it’s all thanks to the king and give unexpected praise to the king.

I also casually used ‘king’s praise’ in that context to persuade Lee Bang-won.

However, apart from the king’s praise, I 100 percent agree with Lee Bang-won’s words that ‘benefiting the Common People is Joseon’s founding ideology and the right value.’

Don’t countless successful people, from ordinary family heads, all say this?

Though the years of living with nothing but sincerity alone were terribly arduous, he said that all those times were happy because his children grew up well in the process.

Just as it should be for families, I think the country should be the same. King Sejong also lived his entire life that way and created Hunminjeongeum.

Though I am neither the eternally loyal General Yi Sun-sin (who by 21st-century modern ethical standards has nothing to criticize except taking one concubine), nor do I have the capacity to sacrifice my entire life for the Common People like independence activist Lee Hoe-young who gave up all his wealth…

If I could prevent a crisis where people are dying right before my eyes – a great catastrophe where all the poor Common People of Joseon would perish – but I don’t act because I want to save only myself, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

Because of guilt, perhaps like that bastard Jeong Chang-son who saw ghosts in his later years, I too might spend my life seeing the vengeful spirits of those who were sacrificed by currency policy. Because I would regret not even trying to save those I could have saved.

“But now the Royal Court is trying to mint Copper Coins and force the Common People to use them. Yet when the Common People pay taxes with Copper Coins to the Government Officials, the Government Officials say they won’t accept them. If the Government Officials who issued the Copper Coins won’t accept or recognize them, how can the Common People trust and use them? I wouldn’t use them.”

The reasons and logic for opposing currency that I wrote when submitting my direct petition would have already reached Lee Bang-won’s ears. There’s no longer any need for pedantic, lengthy theoretical discussions.

What I need to say now should be very simple yet strike at the core with brevity.

‘You’re going to kill all the Common People!’

Like a doctor firmly telling a patient, ‘Quit smoking. Unless you want to get lung cancer and die.’

“The Common People will continue using Five Seung Fabric and Rice as they have until now, and the Royal Court will use public authority to severely punish those who don’t use Copper Coins. You will order that those who don’t use Copper Coins be captured, beaten with Beating Sticks, have their property confiscated, and be sent to the navy.”

Lee Bang-won flew into a rage upon hearing my words.

“Are you truly insane?”

I am indeed insane. If I weren’t insane, how could I submit a direct petition before Lee Bang-won? Frankly speaking, what I’m saying is no different from asking to be killed immediately.

But everything I’m saying, from one to ten, is all truth.

The tragic story I just told is an actual event recorded in the Annals of King Sejong.

When Ryu Jeong-hyeon became Chief State Councilor and concurrently head of Gyeongsi-seo to oversee currency usage, he discovered that a Leather Craftsman (leather artisan) – who among craftsmen was treated almost like a lowly person – had bartered instead of using currency.

Ryu Jeong-hyeon requested severe punishment for the Leather Craftsman, and eventually he died from being beaten with Beating Sticks.

His and his remaining family’s property was confiscated, and all the men in the household were dragged off to serve in the navy.

To put it in terms we can easily understand by applying it to modern society, the head of household who committed the crime was executed, all property was confiscated, and the surviving men of the house were dragged to places far worse than Cheongsong Prison to work themselves to death for life.

Of course, those who suffered such injustice appealed to King Sejong with tears, saying it was unfair that they suffered such treatment when they had done nothing wrong. They said it was already unjust that their father was killed, but how could confiscating all property and sending the entire household to the navy make sense?

King Sejong heard these words and regretted his mistake, pardoning the property confiscation and navy service, so the family avoided complete ruin. But could a family that lost its head really have been fine?

What’s even more terrifying is that while only this one incident was recorded in the Annals, it’s difficult to even count how many people must have experienced similar situations.

There must have been magistrates who confiscated property according to law and then kept their mouths shut.

I can’t even imagine how many Common People suffered in such ways.

I must prevent this terrible disaster at all costs.

“Then the Common People will fear trading itself and will stop using not only the Sijeon but also the markets. Since these are Copper Coins that only cause losses to those who use them, no one will want to use them, and they’ll know that if they’re caught trading with Five Seung Fabric and Rice as a last resort, their households will be completely destroyed.”

“…”

“The Common People in Jinhae County who barely found a way to survive through the markets will become impoverished again. The impoverished heads of households will starve, and starve, and starve, then become tormented by their dying wives and children and either sell themselves into slavery, or become bandits. This is an inevitable result caused by currency… I do not wish to witness such tragic affairs of the Common People during my lifetime.”

Tears flowed from my eyes. As someone who knew history, I could picture how terrible the events that would unfold would be.

The Common People would resent heaven and curse reality when they had no way to feed their starving children. Eventually, children would die of starvation.

Unlike the 21st century, pre-modern society was one where famine and starvation were common.

Those who couldn’t bear that situation would borrow money at high interest from people like Ryu Jeong-hyeon and eventually become his slaves.

Lee Bang-won raised his Iron Mace.

“…”

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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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