He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 41

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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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Daedong Law (6)

Ryu Jeong-hyeon ground his teeth as he left the Ministry of Taxation.

The reason was quite simple. A mere 6th rank official had dared to talk back to him point by point.

Just the fact that he talked back was enough to make his stomach churn and his head feel like it would explode.

What made him even more seriously angry was the fact that he had been unable to say anything in response, overwhelmed by that young brat Kim Dae-bung’s logic.

“What an insolent bastard.”

When he had submitted the written memorial to block the currency, he had secretly felt a bit grateful to that fellow.

If the currency system were implemented, it would deal quite a blow to him, who had been accumulating wealth with rice.

Using rice to buy silk, livestock, land, and even slaves was how money begot money, making his wealth snowball and grow.

If rice transactions were blocked by national law, he could no longer increase his wealth with rice, and rice would become nothing but a burden piling up and rotting in warehouses.

Actually, strictly speaking, those who cracked down on transactions were blind when it came to ‘nobles” transactions… So even if strictly prohibited by national law, they could trade in black market form, so it wouldn’t necessarily become a burden.

However, if previously one seom of rice could buy one bolt of silk, once black market trading began, you’d have to give one seom and three mal of rice to buy it. A 30% markup.

This was far too harsh for Ryu Jeong-hyeon, whose life’s pleasure was increasing his wealth. But that fellow had risked his life to block this, so he had felt grateful.

If that fellow was someone with upright intentions like Jeong Chang-son, he had even thought of greatly promoting him.

“Many people like Jeong Bu-jeong-ja, young but with righteous intentions, should be appointed to government positions.”

He let out a deep sigh and waited for someone.

“To think I must join hands with such a person… How truly cruel the world is. Even after getting rid of the rotten Former Goryeo, there are still so many treacherous subjects in the Royal Court…”

While grumbling to himself, the man Ryu Jeong-hyeon had been eagerly waiting for finally appeared.

“I never thought the Chief State Councilor would seek me out.”

“I never thought I would meet Cheonggang and discuss state affairs either.”

“Haha, when you think about it, aren’t we both the same crows? So why does the Chief State Councilor pretend to be a white heron?”

“I haven’t done anything as horrific as embezzling stolen goods like you. Jangri (loans with interest rates over 50%) and gapri (100% interest rates) are strictly permitted by national law.”

Kim Jeom is trash that will be remembered in history, having been accused of taking massive bribes during his tenure as Pyeongan Province governor.

Usually, sending someone who had served as Minister of Taxation to be Pyeongan Province governor was both a demotion and a consideration that he could take several trillion won as retirement funds…

Kim Jeom, that bastard, is trash who embezzled so enormously that even in Joseon where bribes are considered natural, he caused shock, terror, and chaos. How else would he have received petitions for his ‘execution’ despite his wife having blood ties to a concubine of Ming Dynasty’s Emperor Yongle?

That’s why Ryu Jeong-hyeon disliked Kim Jeom. Like himself, if one just engaged in honest usury within the bounds of what the law allows, money would multiply endlessly, and slaves would multiply as well.

Why was a person who was supposed to be a Joseon official so greedy that he embezzled so much?

‘I should live with integrity like myself. What a filthy bastard!’

“So what business does the Chief Minister have in seeking me out?”

“Won’t you even exchange greetings?”

“Are we on such terms, Your Excellency and I?”

It was precisely Ryu Jeong-hyeon who had very actively stepped forward to impeach Kim Jeom for taking bribes while serving as Pyeongan Province inspector. So their relationship couldn’t be good.

“That’s true. Fine, I’ll speak directly. Work with me on something.”

“What kind of work?”

“That bastard Kim Dae-bung is trying to implement the Bangwon Law to ruin Joseon’s economic order.”

“Kim Dae-bung. You mean that crazy dog-like bastard who came forward with something called a written memorial and stirred up public sentiment. I heard he’s a treacherous villain pretending to be a loyal subject and trash like Zhao Gao.”

When Kim Dae-bung was serving as Jinhae County Magistrate, he had made maximum efforts not to accept bribes and always strived to maintain integrity.

Therefore, from any perspective he was a loyal subject itself… but such objective facts weren’t important to them.

This is a case where Confucius’s words apply directly: ‘Since humans cannot be loved by everyone, become a person who is loved by good people and hated by evil people.’

The evil humans are naturally Kim Jeom and Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

“What will happen to Joseon if that bastard implements the Bangwon Law?”

Kim Jeom chuckled.

“There’s no one here except you and me, Your Excellency. That means we can speak with complete candor and lay out all our thoughts. Don’t bother speaking in circles.”

“… It means the Common People will no longer need to borrow from usurers. Then starting with me, I won’t be able to increase my wealth like I have until now. Aren’t you in the same situation, Cheonggang?”

“Yes, that’s true. I also have quite a few complaints about Kim Dae-bung’s policies. If that bastard implements the Bangwon Law, the gifts that local governors and nobles send out of respect for me will likely decrease greatly.”

“You’re quite greedy.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Thanks to Your Excellency, after losing my government position, I came to realize that money is ultimately the best thing.”

Kim Jeom loved money more than anyone. Because he loved money, while serving as Pyeongan Province inspector, he took bribes so excessively that people cursed him with all manner of insults.

“If you promise to help me, I’ll submit a petition saying that you are absolutely necessary for implementing the Bangwon Law. Then you’ll be able to return to your position as Minister of Taxation.”

“How generous of you.”

“If Cheonggang serves as Minister of Taxation and just holds out until Retired King passes away, we win. And we’ll torment Kim Dae-bung by finding all sorts of reasons to harass him ‘without giving him grounds to complain.’ Anyway, that guy is crazy about wanting to become a minister, so he’ll endure just about anything.”

In reality, Kim Dae-bung was only thinking of creating a good implementation plan for the Bangwon Law, then submitting a resignation petition and returning to his hometown.

Because he didn’t want to be caught by King Sejong and end up like Hwang Hee, Maeng Sa-seong, and Jang Yeong-sil.

However, through extremely common-sense thinking, they concluded that Kim Dae-bung was a guy who was dying to become like ‘Hwang Hee’.

“How should we help?”

“Gather information from the Hanyang Sijeon merchants within your and my influence, and encourage those idle nobles who sit around in Hanyang guarding only their parlors to submit petitions day and night.”

“There must be something to find fault with?”

“That bastard Kim Dae-bung is very close to Kim Man-deok, who heads the Ten Major Guilds. So we’ll impeach him with ‘reasonable grounds’ that if the Bangwon Law is implemented, he’ll collude with that Kim Man-deok to handle Jinhae’s tribute taxes and rake in enormous profits.”

“The guys who submit petitions might die.”

“So we’ll only select and use those who are expendable.”

Both Kim Jeom and Ryu Jeong-hyeon were human trash. So they didn’t care whether the idiots who submitted petitions on their behalf lived or died.

What mattered was their family’s glory, and more importantly, making money. Only that was important.

“We must block the Bangwon Law. By any means necessary.”

And a few days later, petitions impeaching Kim Dae-bung, who had submitted the written memorial, came up from all over Hanyang.

The content was very simple.

‘Kim Dae-bung has a very intimate relationship with Kim Man-deok of the Ten Major Guilds, and also has a close relationship with Kim Man-deok’s daughter. So if the Bangwon Law is implemented, he intends to entrust Jinhae’s tribute taxes to that Kim Man-deok and gain great profits!’

**

Joseon is a nation of impeachment.

When someone does wrong, the Saheonbu impeaches them.

If I say it like this, you might ask why one government office does it when the Three Offices should impeach…

The Three Offices roughly perform the function of the press, but they’re not an institution that impeaches wrongdoing politicians (officials) and reports news like the press in modern nations.

Therefore, so many petitions coming up means that the Saheonbu will also impeach me.

“Listen here, Kim Soo-chan.”

“Yes, Minister of Taxation.”

Hwang Hee came to where I was and comforted me by patting my shoulder.

Is this really the same person who until 1 gak (15 minutes) ago was cursing at the 6th rank Ministry of Taxation official who was working overtime and struggling to death, saying his work was slow and telling him to do even half of what Kim Dae-bung does?

“When you work as an official, being impeached is quite common, so don’t worry too much about it. How great is the favor that His Majesty and Retired King show toward you. You won’t be dismissed over something like this. Just recently, Kim Bongsa from the Ministry of Finance Market Office with the daughter of Left Assistant Ji-jeon…”

When we think of the Ministry of Taxation, we commonly only think of the Ministry of Finance Main Office… but that’s actually an incorrect distinction.

Just as there are various offices including the Statistics Office under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, there are an enormous number of subsidiary offices under the Ministry of Taxation as well. So the number of officials working in the Ministry of Taxation is surprisingly large.

“So don’t worry about it. Now, today we’ll leave the office especially early…”

… I’m not sure who led this impeachment. But there’s one thing that’s certain.

The Bangwon Law will definitely be implemented, and I’ve almost finished everything I aimed to do.

The day I leave to find my freedom is not far away.

“Due to my lack of virtue, I have been subjected to this impeachment, so how can I remain in office after committing such disloyalty?”

Hwang Hee made an expression as if the world had ended.

“Though it is deeply regrettable that I cannot repay Your Majesty’s grace, I cannot commit further disloyalty to His Majesty. After establishing the foundation of the Bangwon Law, I shall properly submit a resignation petition.”

It’s retirement time, retirement!

After retiring, I’ll go down to my hometown and take a wife from a noble household there, and I’ll take Kim Gyeoul as a concubine. It’s like holding flowers in both hands.

This is exactly the Joseon-style paradise on earth.

I should tell my parents not to worry about the household and to choose someone with outstanding beauty from among the daughters of noble families.

Since I have the merit of greatly elevating the family’s reputation by placing first in the state examination and even submitting a written memorial, they should grant me this much.

Hwang Hee seemed completely unprepared for my words about resigning and was greatly surprised.

“Kim Soo-chan, Kim Soo-chan!! Where are you saying you’re going! You can’t leave! What crime do you have that you would submit a resignation petition and return to your hometown! Absolutely not!! You are a talent who is like a pillar of the Ministry of Taxation!”

Yes, I’m going to return to my hometown and live happily. This is why I practiced good governance in Jinhae County.

If you’re envious, you should have lived virtuously too.

And after completely establishing the framework of the Bangwon Law, I submitted my resignation petition without delay.

I am now a free man.

**

Originally, it was customary for the king to approve a high-ranking official’s resignation petition by stamping the royal seal without even reading it.

Therefore, Kim Dae-bung thought that he would naturally be able to resign as soon as he submitted his resignation petition.

But there was one problem.

The fact that Lee Bang-won liked Kim Dae-bung too much.

“… Do-ya.”

“Yes, His Majesty.”

“Kim Dae-bung is an upright and incorruptible man with no personal greed or desire for power. He will surely become a minister who serves as a pillar of the nation.”

Lee Bang-won felt good just thinking about Kim Dae-bung. Even if Jeong Do-jeon and Jeong Mong-ju came back to life, they probably wouldn’t be better than Kim Dae-bung.

Such a Kim Dae-bung was devoting his loyalty to the Joseon he had created – what a beautiful thing this was.

“Why do you think Kim Dae-bung submitted his resignation petition?”

“Isn’t it to give all the credit for the Bang-won Law solely to His Majesty?”

If Kim Dae-bung had heard this, he would have answered, “That’s a misunderstanding. I just want to return to my hometown because I love it there.”

However, Lee Bang-won and King Sejong, who had already come to think of Kim Dae-bung as “the most loyal of loyal subjects” through his written memorial, could not understand Kim Dae-bung’s true feelings.

“But since petitions impeaching him have been submitted, it seems he submitted his resignation petition thinking it would harm the Bang-won Law.”

“My thoughts are the same as yours. However, this time I intend to approve his petition.”

King Sejong tilted his head. He wondered if he really intended to let Kim Dae-bung go.

“Kim Dae-bung devoted himself solely to state affairs without any personal greed, but his heart must be deeply wounded from being impeached by treacherous subjects who are like ghosts of Goryeo. So we should allow him to rest briefly in his hometown.”

King Sejong perked up his ears. The word “briefly” carried great significance.

“And by showing how much you and I favor him, we’ll help him save face before his family, and only then will the pain in his heart finally be washed away.”

Lee Bang-won had started his official career as a civil official after passing the state examination in Goryeo.

Because Lee Seong-gye was a military official, he had endured harsh Myeonsillye, and those who didn’t look favorably upon the newly rising Lee Seong-gye had used every method to torment him.

Just thinking about those times made Lee Bang-won shudder.

“My official life was truly arduous as well, but when I first passed the civil service examination during the Former Goryeo period, King Taejo was truly delighted. Thanks to that, I was able to endure all the harsh Myeonsillye and such.”

Lee Seong-gye disliked Lee Bang-won until his death, but Lee Bang-won respected and loved Lee Seong-gye as a father.

In that process, he killed several of his own brothers and even killed Jeong Mong-ju and Jeong Do-jeon, completely ruining their relationship.

“That fellow Kim Dae-bung is also human, so when his heart aches, he’ll want comfort from his family. So if I write a Royal Decree to his mother and father, praising their merit in raising their son as a pillar of the nation and asking them to comfort him since Joseon desperately needs him… wouldn’t that fellow Kim Dae-bung be able to get back on his feet?”

Comfort for the heart was one thing, but in truth, there was another scheme behind this.

“When the king honors the parents’ dignity, and the parents encourage their child to advance in government service… what official would dare think of resigning?”

Joseon is a country of filial piety.

If a father commits a crime, it’s even encouraged as ‘part of filial duty’ for the son to take the beating stick in his place.

In such a country of filial piety, to reject the earnest advice of one’s father and mother?

That’s impossible.

A smile also formed on King Sejong’s face.

On the other hand, when Ryu Jeong-hyeon heard that Kim Dae-bung had submitted his resignation letter and returned to his hometown, a chill ran down his spine.

“…Is my body getting weak? Why is it so cold?”

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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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