He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 82

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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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King Sejong’s Trap (3)

King Sejong, who wanted to work Kim Dae-bung to death, gathered his ministers to hold a royal court session.

The ministers had only heard news that a court session would be held, but since they didn’t know what business it was for, they were all extremely curious about the reason.

While everyone was curious, Chief Minister Hwang Hee opened his mouth.

“Minister of War, do you know the reason why His Majesty suddenly gathered us ministers to hold a court session?”

“I attended without knowing the reason, but does the Chief Minister know that reason?”

“I don’t know the exact reason either. But I think it’s because the education of the Japanese who have been undergoing reformation at Gyeonggi Naval Base is almost finished, so His Majesty suddenly held this court session to widely spread methods of ocean navigation to the navy based on the Navigation Skills they possess.”

“Indeed, the Navigation Skills of the Japanese Pirates from Tsushima Island were incredibly miraculous. They knew the sea routes very well, so they weren’t afraid at all of going out to the open sea.”

The Gyeonggi Naval Commander had recently taken those who were formerly Japanese Pirates from Incheon to Chungcheong Province to test their level of Navigation Skills.

Those who boarded the ships guided them not along the coast but to fairly distant seas, leading comfortable navigation, and thanks to this, the Joseon navy came to specifically understand how inefficient the coastal navigation they had been doing until now was.

“Even though they’re Japanese Pirates, they have skills too valuable to kill, so even if no official positions are given, wouldn’t His Majesty arrange marriages for them to form families and live as Joseon people?”

“If the naval soldiers become accustomed to ocean navigation, one major concern of the Ministry of War will be resolved.”

Road development and managing various civil engineering projects and technical positions is the role of the Ministry of Public Works, and collecting and managing taxes is the role of the Ministry of Taxation.

However, grain transport in this era strictly belonged to military duties…

For Jo Mal-saeng, the Minister of War, if the spread of ocean navigation reduced the incidents of Jounson sinking, it would be nothing short of a great blessing for the Ministry of War.

While the ministers waited for King Sejong and speculated wildly about ‘what agenda could it be?’, the doors of Pyeonjeon Hall opened.

“His Majesty enters!”

With King Sejong’s appearance, the noisy hall instantly became quiet.

“The reason I have called you ministers here today is to discuss effective methods of guidance so that the Common People of Joseon can wash frequently.”

King Sejong did not mention reasons like why they should wash.

This was because he thought that among the Royal Court ministers, there would be no one who didn’t know the fact that soldiers of the Ten Guards could be safe from infectious diseases and various illnesses by washing their bodies frequently and maintaining cleanliness.

As he guessed, among the ministers present here, there was no one who didn’t know why the Common People should be encouraged to wash.

Anyone stupid enough not to know would be impossible to rise to the ranks of chief minister unless they used something like ‘Won Gyun’s Hypnotic Arts’.

“Minister of War, what do you think would be the best approach?”

“I think the most effective method would be to give shamans small amounts of Rice and Cotton Cloth while having them encourage the Common People to wash frequently.”

King Sejong frowned.

If he had suggested using Buddhist monks who dealt with strange powers and chaotic spirits, it wouldn’t have caused such resistance.

Because when Queen Wongyeong had fallen ill and faced a life-or-death crisis, Lee Bang-won had judged it unavoidable and had the Head Monk of Hoeamsa Temple perform Buddhist rituals.

At that time, by coincidence, the prayers had been effective, so Lee Bang-won had made quite a large donation to Hoeamsa Temple.

However, shamans and fortune-tellers demanded a lot of money from poor people to perform their noisy rituals, but unlike Buddhist sutras, they had no scholarly foundation that could be helpful after reading…

They were thought to be nothing more than people who deceived the common people and extorted money from them.

“Why did you think of mobilizing such lowly people like shamans and fortune-tellers?”

“Foolish common people have such difficult lives that they have no choice but to rely on such superstitions. So unless those people commit very serious wrongdoings, the people will generally try to protect them. In this situation, if the Royal Court only oppresses superstitions like shamans and fortune-tellers, they will gradually hide in damp places and become even more corrupt.”

What Jo Mal-saeng said was not unreasonable.

As he said, if they only oppressed superstitions, those people would hide in places where they couldn’t be seen and would become even more corrupt.

That would be true for superstitions, and Buddhism as well.

King Sejong didn’t like his words, but he agreed with the intent.

“So instead of unconditionally oppressing them, it would be good to govern them while strictly warning against deceiving the people in bad directions. Furthermore, since the people rely heavily on superstitions, if they preach that one must wash their body clean to drive away evil spirits and pray for blessings, the people will follow better than using any other method.”

“Just like how monks speak of strange powers and chaotic spirits like the six realms of reincarnation, and recommend accumulating good deeds and staying away from evil acts. You’re suggesting we advise the people who believe in superstitions to wash their bodies.”

“As a Confucian scholar who upholds Confucianism, I honestly find it reluctant to use superstitions. However, since this is for the people’s sake, please think of it as similar to how local governors perform rain rituals during droughts and grant permission.”

“I grant permission. And all military camps and naval bases shall likewise have their soldiers wash their bodies, and the governors of each county must also step forward to strictly advise the people to wash their bodies clean. From now on, for the next two years, ensuring that people wash well and reducing deaths from plague and various other diseases will be reflected in performance evaluations.”

Unless they were special individuals like Kim Dae-bung, government officials were all desperate for promotion.

So when a division commander visited a battalion, that unit would be completely turned upside down.

Because to get promoted to battalion commander, one had to look good to the division commander.

So from the moment King Sejong reflected “proper washing” in personnel evaluations, all county governors would nag the people until they washed their bodies properly.

“Minister of Personnel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Military Affairs Assistant Director Kim Dae-bung has achieved truly tremendous accomplishments, but hasn’t there been agreement yet on what reward to give him? Why haven’t you reported it yet?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. However, Kim Dae-bung increased gunpowder production several times over, and by having the soldiers of the Ten Commands wash and maintain cleanliness, he saved the soldiers from plague. The accomplishments he achieved are so great that not only the Ministry of Personnel but also the State Council are just suffering headaches over how to properly reward him.”

King Sejong sighed.

“It is only natural that someone who has achieved great merit like Kim Dae-bung should receive a reward, but how can the granting of his reward be so delayed? Therefore, I shall personally decide the reward to be given to him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Kim Dae-bung has made tremendous contributions to Joseon’s development, starting with the Bangwon Method until now. Thanks to him, tax revenue has increased by more than three and a half times compared to before, and the poor common people no longer have to go hungry and are singing songs of praise. Moreover, he has greatly increased the production of gunpowder needed to punish the evil Japanese Pirates and Jurchen tribes, and has even provided measures to save the people of Joseon from plague.”

Hwang Hee and the other ministers felt slightly dizzy as they listened to King Sejong’s words.

Could such achievements really be accomplished by a mere junior third-rank official?

“The Office of Censors and Office of Inspector General still say that his promotion is too rapid, but I do not think so. This level of promotion is too slow compared to his achievements. Therefore, I would like to promote Kim Dae-bung’s rank to senior fourth rank this time and bestow many precious items to commend his merit… What do you ministers think?”

When considering the logic, it was difficult to object.

Therefore, Hwang Hee, Jo Mal-saeng, and Maeng Sa-seong exchanged glances that seemed to say ‘That sounds reasonable since it’s Kim Dae-bung, right?’ and nodded to each other in agreement, but…

“This minister, Minister of Rites Heo Jo, humbly reports. No one can deny that Kim Dae-bung’s achievements are truly great. However, he himself is reluctant to accept excessive promotion in order to maintain the Royal Court’s laws and order. Would not Your Majesty promoting him like this be ignoring Kim Dae-bung’s will? Please consider this for the sake of the Royal Court’s laws and order, Your Majesty.”

“Is the Minister of Rites saying my words are wrong?”

“Kim Dae-bung is only 23 years old. He will work for the Royal Ancestral Shrine and State for at least 30 more years, so why are you in such a hurry?”

King Sejong inwardly smiled coldly upon hearing Heo Jo’s opposition.

This was merely bait from the beginning, nothing more than a feint proposal.

If he proposed promoting Kim Dae-bung to senior fourth rank, which Kim Dae-bung wouldn’t want, regardless of anyone else.

He had spoken thinking that Heo Jo would certainly oppose it, and since things went as expected…

It became very easy to bring up the next proposal he had prepared.

“Those words are correct. Then how about this? Kim Dae-bung has no wife, and it has been a long time since the father of his concubine Kim Gyeoul received an official position and became a nobleman. Therefore, I would specially elevate Kim Dae-bung’s concubine Kim Gyeoul to the status of wife, and to specially commemorate his achievements, the Royal Palace would like to bestow some Royal Gifts, so ministers should know this and prepare accordingly.”

Suddenly promoting Kim Dae-bung to senior fourth rank involved issues of Royal Court order.

Moreover, since there was a clear justification that Kim Dae-bung didn’t want it, they could firmly express opposition, but…

Kim Dae-bung had no main wife and only a concubine, but since that concubine’s father had become a nobleman, there was no particular justification to oppose elevating her to wife status.

This meant it would be difficult to oppose unless one was someone like Song Si-yeol who strictly adhered to propriety.

However, the matter of the Royal Palace giving Royal Gifts was clearly a case that violated precedent.

The principled stickler Heo Jo was about to open his mouth to oppose immediately, but.

“I will end the court session. Ministers should know this and prepare accordingly. This is also specially commanded by Retired King, who saw the affectionate relationship between Kim Dae-bung and Kim Gyeoul and was reminded of the youthful days of Queen Mother and Retired King, so know this as well.”

And this news was delivered to Kim Dae-bung very quickly.

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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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