He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 54

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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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Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (5)

 

There are too many rotten bastards in this world.

 

Everyone must have thought at least once that it’s an eternal regret that we can’t beat them all down.

 

I graduated from the History Department and while preparing for employment, I took the administrative examination with the intention of making the country a little better, and after becoming a civil servant, I worked harder than anyone else.

 

As a result, I was able to rise to the position of secretary through special promotion in my 6th year of service.

 

But that bastard director like Ryu Jeong-hyeon said he had to get promoted to deputy minister somehow, and later he would rise to minister, so he diverted welfare budget to politicians’ show-off policies.

 

He also boasted to me that if I followed him, he would give me a department head position in about 2 years, so I told him to eat taffy instead.

 

To conclude, despite my uproar, a massive amount of precious tax money that could have greatly helped countless families was spent on politicians’ show-off policies.

 

As a price for causing trouble, I ended up being stuck in some dead-end position.

 

If I had compromised slightly, I would have become a Central Government Ministry department head in my 8th year, and with high probability risen to deputy minister as an administrative exam graduate, then gone on to become executive director or managing director of a Large Corporation in my retirement.

 

‘Of course, even if I went back to that time, I would do the same foolish thing of throwing away my career advancement.’

 

All my strength was drained from that incident…

 

After being reborn in Joseon, I thought I should live more comfortably…

 

When I went to Jinhae County, I could directly help the Common People I couldn’t help in my previous life, and when I went to Jiphyeonjeon, I could draft policies that would benefit all the people of Joseon.

 

So even while thinking that living comfortably should be my priority, I kept continuing work saying just one more, just one more.

 

This is driving me crazy, really.

 

“… My Lord, you look like you’re in a bad mood.”

 

“Retired King is trying to give hope to countless Common People by establishing the Bangwon Method… but why are there so many people trying to abuse this law?”

 

Kim Man-deok nodded at my words.

 

“How could all humans be only good? I’ve seen all kinds of trash while doing business too.”

 

“… I suppose so.”

 

“But isn’t the Bangwon Method a system that just started? This much implementation is going well. Isn’t it giving direct benefits to the Common People?”

 

“I do think the Bangwon Method will be quite good if it continues like this.”

 

Humans cannot be perfect. No matter how hard I work like a dog, what doesn’t work just doesn’t work.

 

It’s impossible from the start to completely eliminate corruption from this world.

 

However, it is possible to slowly and steadily work to improve things little by little.

 

Considering that this is the Early Joseon Period, I’m the strange one for getting angry over just this level of corruption.

 

However, there are two major problems with this.

 

“The corruption and irregularities that the Common People can see don’t even amount to 10-20% of what actually happens. If you really dig into it, there would be corruption on a scale 5 or 10 times greater.”

 

“… That would be the case.”

 

“Of course, let’s say we turn a blind eye even to that extent. But the most important thing is…”

 

Even in 21st century Korea, when people think of Lee Bang-won, the ‘Iron Mace’ comes to mind first – King Taejong Lee Bang-won is regarded as a terrifying purging monarch.

 

How much more so in Joseon?

 

He’s treated like a demon who would smash your earthenware pot before even starting a conversation if you challenge royal authority.

 

Of course, when there’s no challenge to royal authority, there’s no monarch as generous as Lee Bang-won.

 

This is the king who, when all his ministers spoke common sense saying that since children playing with a Ball with the names of three princes written on it was strictly included in sorcery, it was a crime equivalent to high treason and the entire family should be killed, ordered their acquittal despite the damage to royal authority.

 

But the problem is that someone has already started using tricks on the Bangwon Method, even though it’s a law implemented by the Iron Mace Lee Bang-won with his own name on it.

 

“As 1 year, 2 years pass, the corruption will only get worse. The fact that they pulled this kind of stunt when Retired King is keeping his eyes wide open… well, I won’t waste my breath saying more.”

 

They’ll somehow pass the tax of 1 Mal 18 Du onto the tenant farmers, and the wealthy will use every trick in the book to try to reduce their increased taxes.

 

The methods of profiting through Tribute Tax will also gradually evolve.

 

Rather than watch such a spectacle, what’s desperately needed is Lee Bang-won’s usual method – establishing order through impressive punishment of one to warn a hundred. Even if my retirement gets delayed.

 

If there are people I can save, I’ll save even one more. That way I won’t have regrets.

 

When I approached the Government Office with Kim Man-deok and the group, Posol pointed his Spear at me.

 

“… It’s curfew time, so why are you trying to enter the Government Office with such a large group? Withdraw immediately. Otherwise, I’ll call the Government Office’s Posol to arrest My Lord.”

 

Even in the 21st century with freedom of assembly, you can be arrested for leading a group in front of city hall at night without reporting the assembly.

 

What more needs to be said about Joseon? Even if it’s not treason, it’s a crime that deserves at least corporal punishment.

 

If you resist for no good reason, you could really be charged with treason and lose your head.

 

Therefore, this Posol’s action is absolutely correct.

 

So I should also respond in a proper procedural manner befitting a government official.

 

I showed the Horse Token I was holding to the Posol.

 

“I am Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung. I have come to the Anseong Government Office on urgent official business.”

 

“My apologies, My Lord.”

 

“Open the government office gates immediately.”

 

“My Lord, it is currently curfew hours and the County Magistrate is also sleeping. Please return when dawn breaks.”

 

What he said was correct. So there was no need to pick a fight or get angry with that Posol who was doing his job well.

 

Instead, I sent a signal to Kim Man-deok with my eyes.

 

Then Kim Man-deok unfolded the Royal Decree I had received directly from the king.

 

“Royal command!”

 

At the words “royal command,” the Posols prostrated themselves flat.

 

When he read out all the contents, they all broke out in cold sweat like rain on their faces.

 

Even though the Posols, who weren’t at the sergeant or officer level, had nothing to worry about, they froze up after hearing that I could freely inspect this place by royal command.

 

“Go wake the County Magistrate immediately. And from now on, this inspector will thoroughly inspect Anseong County according to the royal command, so you must follow my instructions.”

 

“Yes, My Lord!”

 

Joseon had no secret royal inspector system until now. So the people who knew what a secret royal inspector was, with a bit of exaggeration, were only Lee Bang-won, King Sejong, and myself.

 

That’s why I needed a Royal Decree that clearly stated what authority I could exercise under royal command.

 

Otherwise, if a Posol tried to arrest me calling me a bandit, I’d have nothing to say.

 

However, as long as I had a genuine Royal Decree in my hands, from now on the Posols of this government office would have to die if I told them to die, and dance if I told them to dance.

 

“Mandeok, where do you think would be best to start the inspection?”

 

“In my opinion, what would be most problematic with the Bangwon Method is… the Measuring Cup that serves as the standard when collecting taxes. Just by increasing the amount of Rice that goes into the Measuring Cup by about 10 percent, they can collect over 10 percent more taxes from the Common People.”

 

“So with just one Measuring Cup, they can embezzle over 10 percent in taxes?”

 

“Yes, Inspector My Lord.”

 

I pointed to one of the Posols who had been guarding the government office gate and said.

 

“Show me where the government office Warehouse is.”

 

“Yes, My Lord. This way, please follow me.”

 

The rice sacks at the place where the Posol guided me were larger than what I had known.

 

These bastards must have cleverly deceived with the measuring cup size and collected more than the regulations.

 

“… Bring the measuring cup.”

 

As soon as I received the measuring cup, I immediately took out the Standard Measuring Rod, Joseon’s standard measurement tool, and measured the size of the measuring cup.

 

The Magistrate here wasn’t a complete fool either, so unlike what Kim Man-deok said, he didn’t go as far as increasing the measuring cup size by more than 10% compared to the actual standard measuring cup, but…

 

“Hmm, the measuring cup size differs by about 5 percent.”

 

The Common People of Anseong were unknowingly paying an additional 5% when paying taxes.

 

This doesn’t amount to much for just one measuring cup, but as they say, many a little makes a mickle.

 

When all combined, it would amount to dozens of seom of rice, maybe even hundreds of seom worth. Really impressive, truly impressive.

 

“Looking at the pears to be offered as Tribute Goods, something seems strange.”

 

This place isn’t dealing with premium pears that cost well over 100,000 won each like Mudeungsan watermelon, but still, the size seems smaller than expected.

 

“Have all the Tribute Goods already been sent up?”

 

“We haven’t yet procured all the pears to offer as Tribute Goods, so we’re still purchasing them.”

 

From the Posol’s voice, expression, eyes, and gestures, I can roughly tell.

 

There’s definitely a secret that must not be discovered.

 

“Where are you purchasing the pears? According to the newly implemented laws, they should be bought at the county’s Market…”

 

“Well, that is…”

 

The hardest thing in the world is whistleblowing.

 

That’s why they say eliminating military corruption is difficult.

 

If you can’t stand the corruption and report it, the whistleblower has to be treated like ‘human trash’ for the remainder of their military service, making it nearly impossible to endure.

 

“… Where is your hometown?”

 

“Gwangyang County, Jeolla Province. I’m here because of military service.”

 

“If you answer honestly, I will use my authority as an inspector to send you back to your hometown.”

 

Since military service is done in shifts anyway, it wouldn’t be too unfair if I sent him back a bit early just this once.

 

“We are purchasing them through the monks of Chiljangsa Temple.”

 

“… I see.”

 

While I was extracting information like that, the County Magistrate hurriedly entered the warehouse.

 

Though he didn’t know exactly what a secret royal inspector was, he considered me someone who had received ‘royal orders,’ so he came dressed very neatly.

 

“Oh my, Inspector Kim. You must be tired from the long journey. Why don’t you rest and recover from your travel fatigue first, and we can do this tomorrow when it’s bright…”

 

Hey, I don’t make compromises with criminals at crime scenes.

 

“From now on, I will lock the warehouse of the Anseong Government Office under the inspector’s authority, and I will personally handle all affairs of Anseong County. County Magistrate, you may return to your quarters and rest comfortably while you wait.”

 

… Ah, this is what they call sealing off.

 

It’s what’s called ‘search and seizure,’ which is a symbol of terror even in the 21st century.

 

And after finishing the search, I slightly abused the inspector’s authority and sent the Anseong County Magistrate to Hanyang.

 

As everyone knows, when he gets to Hanyang, a certain Lee Bang-won wearing a black Gonryongpo will warmly welcome him with an iron mace in hand.

 

“… Now then, Ibang, let’s have another constructive conversation.”

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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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