He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 91

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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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Sowing Discord in the Ming Dynasty (7)

“You must have had a hard time doing rough work you’ve never done in your life during the long diplomatic journey, Assistant Envoy Hwang.”

“Not at all. My father used to say that hardships in youth are worth buying even with money. It was naturally something I, who am only 18 years old, had to endure.”

This guy’s father is none other than Chief State Councilor Hwang Hee.

And this fellow’s name is Hwang Su-sin, who will become the only Chief State Councilor in Joseon history without a civil service examination record.

Looking back at his deeds, he’s like the dark version of Hwang Hee.

When it seemed King Danjong would lose to King Sejo, he backstabbed King Sejong, who had promoted him to high office despite never properly passing the civil examination, and supported King Sejo instead…

When sent to help with disaster area recovery, he manipulated land registers to embezzle farmland, and when caught, he shamelessly claimed it was for the country’s sake.

‘In short, he’s obsessed with money and power.’

But just listening to him speak, he sounds no different from any loyal retainer.

This is how such people later succeed and become corrupt officials who ruin the country.

“I received an official position at a young age through hereditary appointment because my father is the Chief State Councilor, and gained the opportunity to serve the country. Having received such excessive royal favor, how could I begrudge such minor hardships?”

“The Chief Minister has truly educated his son well. Assistant Envoy Hwang will surely become a great pillar of the nation like the Chief Minister.”

Corrupt officials like Han Myeong-hoe and Gwon Ram wouldn’t have even dreamed of a coup if King Sejong and Crown Prince Munjong had lived long and healthy lives.

So I will make good use of this guy’s dark abilities, who rose to Chief State Councilor despite bearing the ‘label’ of hereditary appointment and being disgustingly greedy for money.

“Let’s end the useless chatter here and get straight to the point. From now on, prepare quickly and leave the Forbidden City with one interpreter. Then find the craftsmen who worked on building treasure ships and smuggle them out to bring them to Joseon.”

Hwang Su-sin’s expression hardened completely.

Acting as a porter for the diplomatic mission until now wouldn’t have been easy work either.

However, what I’m ordering now is on a completely different level.

Going outside the Forbidden City, which has quite strict security and guards, is something that requires risking one’s life.

If he fails, his head will roll on the spot.

“Can you do it?”

Hwang Su-sin thought carefully, then answered with a resolute expression.

“Though it won’t be easy, I think I can do it sufficiently.”

“What makes you think that way?”

“The Forbidden City is heavily guarded by Imperial Guard warriors, soldiers, and eunuchs with watchful eyes, so ordinary members of a diplomatic mission could never escape unless they had wings on their backs. However, the merchants who joined the diplomatic mission are free to go outside the Forbidden City for trade.”

The Confucian nations of Joseon and the Ming Dynasty look down upon commerce.

So the merchants who joined the diplomatic procession naturally came to trade outside the Forbidden City.

Of course, even then a considerable number of security personnel are deployed for surveillance… but compared to the iron-clad surveillance of the Forbidden City, it’s quite manageable.

“So finding an opportunity for two porters to slip away shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Slipping away is one thing, but what’s really important is finding and bringing back the craftsmen who used to build treasure ships. Is that possible?”

Hwang Su-sin chuckled as soon as he heard my words.

“From what I’ve heard, the Ming Dynasty closed all shipyards nationwide and drove out the craftsmen after Emperor Yongle the Great passed away. Based on that fact, I judge that they didn’t manage the craftsmen at all afterward.”

“I’ve also heard roughly that they closed the shipyards and drove stakes into the ground where the shipyards used to be. All the fishermen who lived in coastal villages were moved to Liaodong and made into military households.”

The Ming Dynasty’s history books would only record that the ‘maritime prohibition policy’ was implemented.

However, when the maritime prohibition policy was implemented, the common people living along the Ming Dynasty coastline instantly became wandering refugees who lost their place to go, and the technology for building ships capable of sailing to Africa was completely buried.

During the Japanese invasions of Korea, Ming Dynasty warships were so terrible that Chen Lin even had to borrow and ride Joseon’s panokseon.

A wicked smile crossed Hwang Su-sin’s lips.

“It is said that common people regard food as heaven. To put it slightly differently, if Joseon gives them food, wouldn’t they come to regard Joseon as heaven?”

They say a promising tree shows its quality from its first leaves, and this guy must be a budding corrupt official because he’s quite skilled at finding ways to exploit people.

“For those without wives and children, we promise to arrange marriages, and for those with families, we tempt them by saying that if they come to Joseon, we’ll solve their family’s livelihood problems. I think there would be no particular issues. But since many people need to move, to avoid suspicion, it would be better to organize a merchant group. For that, we’ll need quite a lot of funding.”

“I’ll make sure to get plenty of money from the Minister of Personnel.”

“We’ll need to buy plenty of cattle and horses, carts, various books from the Ming Dynasty, luxury goods including silk fabric, and medicinal herbs. Plus, to cross the border including Liaodong, we’ll need to give bribes, so we’ll need at least 30 geun of ginseng.”

Even if the Emperor gives special orders to strengthen border security, as long as you give good ‘bribes,’ you can usually get through the Ming Dynasty border in most cases.

Conversely, if you don’t give bribes, you’ll definitely get caught.

So I have no intention of objecting to his talk about giving bribes, but the problem is that he didn’t specify the ‘amount of bribes.’

In other words, he could give 1 geun of ginseng as a bribe and then wipe his mouth clean and claim he spent 10 geun of ginseng, and it would be difficult for us to verify that.

‘I can’t allow that much leeway.’

“I’ll request this from the Minister of Personnel who knows about this matter and the Assistant Minister of Finance who came as Deputy Envoy to specially arrange it. And I’ll also offer the ginseng I brought for my own share. However, you must bring the craftsmen back safely, and don’t give too excessive bribes. Those people also need money to live as ministers, so they’ve prepared to accumulate some wealth through this opportunity. I’m giving you ginseng with the spirit of sacrificing for the country.”

The salary given to yangban scholar-officials in Joseon is, with a bit of exaggeration, merely decorative.

You absolutely cannot make a living with that alone.

So Joseon’s officials survive through ‘self-sufficiency’ by discreetly transferring government budget from its location to their own wallets.

Both Maeng Sa-seong and I need to make money by selling the ginseng we brought to live on in the future.

If this guy takes it all, it would be extremely troublesome.

“I’ll keep that in mind, My Lord.”

“And since this is truly important, I’ll say it once more. No matter what happens, you must safely bring the craftsmen who make cloth shoes back to Joseon. Then His Majesty will also bestow a very great reward upon Assistant Deputy Envoy Hwang.”

At the mention of a reward, Hwang Su-sin’s ears perked up.

As expected of Minister Hwang Hee’s third son, famous for being money-minded.

“You know that my father-in-law is currently managing the trade at Jeongui County Japanese Trading Post on Jeju Island, right?”

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

“Our father-in-law is receiving massive amounts of gifts from merchant groups in major counties nationwide, including Hanyang. Moreover, father-in-law’s merchant group in Jinhae County has grown to five times its previous size. From what I hear, he earns an income every year that’s no less enviable than a ten-thousand-seok wealthy man.”

As soon as he heard the words “ten-thousand-seok wealthy man,” Hwang Su-sin gulped.

He’s looking at me as if lasers might shoot from his eyes… don’t look at me like that.

I’m already overflowing with such gazes from men at the State Council and the ministers of the Six Ministries.

“But since our father-in-law is working on distant Jeju Island, how much mental anguish must he be suffering? My wife can’t even sleep from worrying about father-in-law. So as his son-in-law, I want to transfer father-in-law to a more comfortable clerical position, but I need someone who will work well there…”

I glanced meaningfully at Hwang Su-sin.

“I’ll recommend you for the position of Jeongui County Japanese Trading Post official. It’s not a prestigious post, but as an external position, it will be of great help for your future advancement. Like the Jinhae County Governor position.”

“On the level of Jinhae County Governor?”

These days, the Royal Court regards the Jinhae County Governor position like this:

‘Officials’ grave or gateway to success’

The person who took office as my successor did return after going to a local government post without accumulating much wealth, but after returning, he was appointed to the position of Jeongrang at the Ministry of Personnel…

Perhaps the Jeongui County Japanese Trading Post official position will also receive such treatment for a while.

The difference is that if a capable person enters, it’s a coveted position where they can rake in money and also build the career needed for advancement.

“His Majesty has high expectations for you.”

The next day, the envoys including myself deeply apologized to the emperor for failing to properly manage the diplomatic mission and causing missing persons.

At that time, Emperor Xuande showed us mercy and said he would not make an issue of it.

Well, in truth, when Joseon comes bowing their heads so obediently like this, the misconduct of ‘two porters’ wouldn’t be reason enough to turn it into a diplomatic issue.

**

Having safely escaped the Forbidden City, Hwang Su-sin and one interpreter began roaming around Beijing in earnest, acting like wealthy men.

They hired people to protect them and purchased everything – horses, cattle, and carriages.

To anyone watching, they looked like people running a very large merchant guild.

After setting up this facade, Hwang Su-sin went to the slums near Beijing and began gathering information.

“Do you happen to know where the craftsmen who used to build ships live?”

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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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