Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 602

Episode 602: Opening of Heaven – Controversy over the introduction of the law (5)

“It is a good thing that the people diligently study the law, but the problem is that there are too many people waiting to study the law. If you do it wrong, it could cause problems for the people to continue their lives.”

Sejong also nodded at Hwang Hee’s point.

“What you say makes sense. How many copies are distributed to each government office now?”

“Volume 5 is coming.”

“Then is it okay if I add about 5 more volumes?”

“I think it’ll be okay.”

When Hwang Hee agreed with King Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom, who was next to him, offered a counterargument.

“It is not possible to examine the first law in one or two visits, so even if you bring 10 volumes, it will not be enough. However, there is a problem with distributing more. “Right now, there may be a lot of curiosity, but as time goes by and that curiosity subsides, there is a possibility that it will become a place of sorrow.”

At Kim Jeom’s point, Sejong nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

* * *

It was highly likely that the current interest in the first law would be a temporary craze. Samcheok-dongja also expected that Joseon would soon regain its title. Therefore, it was natural that people would be curious about the contents of the law that would become the basic law of the empire.

In addition, there is a room attached to the government office called ‘Discuss Problems.’ It was clearly written. This was an order to point out if a problem was found and to suggest an alternative.

‘If my proposal is selected here, it will be a shortcut to success!’

Among those who knew about the previous precedents, those who had ambitions to enter the civil service had their eyes shining and even sat down on mats in front of the Buddhist temple.

Thanks to this, a situation arose that led to arguments and even fist fights between those who were sitting in the camp and those waiting, and there were reports coming from all over that a situation called ‘hand in hand and going to prison’ had also occurred.

* * *

“Hmm… what should I do with this?”

As Sejong pondered to find the optimal solution, his eyes naturally turned to Hyang. At the same time, the eyes of the ministers also turned to Hyang.

‘I knew it would be like this. Phew~.’

Hyang sighed internally, gathered his thoughts for a moment, and opened his mouth.

“If we use the printing method of printing textbooks supplied by the Social Ministries School and use yellow paper for paper, costs can be greatly reduced. Even though the law code that records the laws of the country is printed on cheap paper, the priority now is to make it easier for more people to access the law code.”

“That would be nice. “The Ministry of Finance and Economy sets a budget.”

He nodded at Hyang’s answer and gave an order to Park Jong-woo.

“I follow your orders.”

Hyang muttered to herself as she looked at Park Jong-woo, who instinctively forced his crumpled expression.

‘If you go to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, everything happens like that. Indeed, the world is ruled by budget… huh?’

Hyang suddenly lit up in his head and hurriedly told King Sejong.

“Abama. “How about adding this measure?”

“Is there anything new you’d like to add?”

“yes. Do you remember the edition of the Tripitaka Koreana that was sold to the lords of the Japanese kingdom in the past?”

Sejong and Kim Jeom’s eyes sparkled frighteningly at Hyang’s words.

“Are you planning to make and sell a limited edition of the First Act?”

“yes. Most of those who are flocking there now are probably people who gathered there out of curiosity. However, some will be those who sincerely want to look into the law. Those people will buy the law book if the price is right.”

“That’s right.”

Sejong and Kim Jeom nodded at Hyang’s explanation. Hyang sighed in relief when he saw that the reaction was not bad.

‘Whoa~. I thought I would be criticized for trying to sell a law book for money, but I’m glad I did! Everyone has gotten used to the taste of capitalism! Viva! Capitalism!’

Hyang, energized by Sejong’s reaction, added strength to her voice.

“It would be better to divide the candles for sale into two types. There is one law code that was printed in large quantities on yellow paper. The other is a code that was printed on the highest quality Korean paper (Korean paper) and then had a cover made of high-quality sheepskin or cowhide following the method of the Westerners. Of course, the latter is a limited number, so only about 100 copies are made and sold. In the former case, you can sell it at a small profit in addition to production and transportation costs, and in the latter case, you can charge a lot.”

“Hoo~.”

“What a good idea! Indeed!”

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong stroked his beard and his eyes sparkled, and Kim Jeom enthusiastically agreed.

However, Park Jong-woo, who could be said to be the actual party involved, tilted his head.

“No matter how fancy the cover is, the good paper is used, and it is a limited edition, it seems difficult to charge a high price. In the case of the woodblock printed by Japanese pirates, it was a limited edition of the Tripitaka Koreana, so it was worth considering as an heirloom, but the case of Chobeop is different.”

“He also has a point.”

Sejong nodded at Park Jong-woo’s words and looked back at the scent. However, Hyang was not embarrassed and gave an answer right away.

“There is Abamama’s handwritten handwriting.”

“huh? “My sugyeol?”

Sugyeol was a type of signature where one’s name was written in one’s own handwriting instead of a stamp on a document.

King Sejong, who pondered Hyang’s words for a moment, laughed and asked Hyang.

“Would writing two letters of my name be of great value?”

“Here comes Abamama’s handwritten report. “It is an inestimable treasure.”

The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s words. However, King Sejong did not immediately allow it.

“Just scribbling down three letters of my name is not enough.”

“In that case, I would like to add the words of gratitude that Abamama would like to give to the owner of the Dharma Book. However, it would be excessive to write down all the well-wishes in your own handwriting. In the case of a deokdam, you just print it and handwrite it.”

“Hmm… What do the Minister of Finance and Economy think?”

Park Jong-woo immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“Here comes the best solution! This way, price is not an issue! “Quantity is the problem!”

Those words immediately caught my eye.

“Please don’t forget that this is a limited edition. And are you going to make Abamama keep doing the trick?”

Park Jong-woo, whose face turned pale at Hyang’s criticism, immediately bowed his head.

“I lost my mind for a moment! “Please forgive me for my disgrace!”

“Well, that could be the case. “It’s okay.”

In response to King Sejong’s forgiveness, Park Jong-woo bowed once again and raised his voice.

“I am devastated!”

In the end, Hyang’s proposal was immediately accepted. But Sejong added some flesh to it.

“It would be better to limit the number of limited editions to 100 volumes with my gift and 150 volumes with the crown prince’s gift.”

“Yes, you mean Soja too?”

Sejong chuckled at Hyang’s puzzled question.

“Isn’t the more the better?”

“… yes. “I follow your orders.”

* * *

Within a few days after King Sejong’s decision was made, notices were posted in government offices and monopoly offices throughout Joseon.

“You’re selling the Chobeop law book? “The price is 2 nyang silver coins?”

“Hmm… seems like a good price?”

“no way! “It’s not like the law book feeds me, so I just want to look at what’s in the government office!”

The people’s reactions varied, but those who truly wanted to study the law nodded, thinking it was a reasonable price.

However, the people who saw the announcement that followed grew bigger.

“Limited edition law book? “The price is… wow!”

“Is the shell covered in gold leaf? “Why is it so expensive!”

Those who were concerned about the price nodded at the explanation that followed.

“It’s covered in real gold leaf. And… huh? His Highness the Prime Minister’s handwritten report! “It’s the Crown Prince’s handwritten verdict!”

“The one that contains His Majesty’s royal favor is 30 nyang of gold, and the one that contains the Crown Prince’s trophies is 25 nyang of gold? “Is it 50 nyang of gold that contains the gifts of His Majesty the Lord and the crown prince?”

The rich people of Joseon who heard the rumor took action immediately.

“You have to buy this!”

“This is the best opportunity to buy Mujibo for 30 nyang of gold!”

“Go to the battlefield right now and get the money!”

“If you can get it, it will become a family heirloom!”

After hearing the story, Hyang smiled and muttered.

“After about 300 years, if nothing else, these will be the items that collectors will go crazy for.”

And the incense’s prophecy came true.

* * *

Amid the uproar, appeals pointing out the problems with the first law began to flock to Hanseong.

“This is an appeal related to the first law.”

Sejong, who received a tray full of scrolls, asked Do Seung-ji.

“What does this mean when the appeals are divided into two?”

“Your Majesty said that appeals related to the first law should be filed regardless, so we divided them into two. “I chose one because I thought it made some sense, and I thought the other one was worthless, but I chose it just in case.”

“Is that so? “Good job.”

“That’s too much praise. “Of course it has to be done.”

King Sejong, who praised Do Seung-ji, looked at the appeals that were divided into two.

“What should we look at first?”

After thinking for a moment, Sejong picked up the appeals that were classified as worthless.

“Would you like to see how messed up it is?”

Soon after, King Sejong threw the problematic appeals to one side.

“What a waste of paper and food!”

-There is already the Joseon Gyeonggukjeon and the Daemyung Rule, but the new law code is useless.

-Writing the contents of the law in Jeongeum undermines the heaviness of the law, so everything should be changed to Chinese characters.

“Even after so much time has passed, are there still people left with these old-fashioned thoughts? Seungji Do! “From now on, please send back all appeals with this kind of content!”

“I follow your orders.”

Sejong, who gave orders to Do Seung-ji, held the opposing appeals in his hands.

“Let’s see…”

King Sejong, who was looking at the contents of the appeal, nodded and muttered.

“There are definitely a lot of good stories.”

There were several good opinions, including those suggesting that Chinese characters and their meanings be written side by side to solve the problem of homonyms.

Sejong, who was nodding his head and separately recording the problems pointed out, licked his lips with regret.

“Everyone points out similar things. Most of it is focused on appearances. “Is there anything that is novel and touches on deep-rooted problems?”

Sejong, who was looking for a novel idea that would catch his eye, soon began to sparkle.

“This is it!”

-It is clear that the application of the three-trial system to the enactment of the law was intended to prevent the law from being degraded to only serve the interests of a few. But there is a problem with the initial intention. If all authority from the beginning is entrusted to officials, the officials will think only of their own convenience and benefit and disrupt the will of the people. Therefore, the emperor must attend the initial deliberation process. Since the emperor already knows the contents, officials can do their best to prevent tampering with the bill.

“It’s okay. are you okay.”

Sejong nodded and presented the appeal in question to Do Seung-ji.

“Bring Lee Jae to me and at the same time bring me a copy of Lee Jae’s family register.”

“I follow your orders.”

Asking to bring a copy of the family register of the person who wrote the appeal meant that if he or she passed the interview properly, he or she would be hired as a special employee.

Do Seung-ji, who received King Sejong’s order, muttered softly.

“Is this finally the beginning of fishing? “How big of a big catch will we catch this time?”

Although there were appeals that received favorable reviews, there were also appeals that caused King Sejong’s anger.

The most obvious example was about voting rights.

-Even if they are all the same, there are differences in the depth of learning and lifestyle. The deeper the depth of learning and the greater the livelihood, the greater the influence on the world around us. It is too idealistic for everyone to have the same vote. The number of votes must be distributed differentially in line with reality.

King Sejong, who received the appeal with these contents, was very angry and made a non-answer.

“According to your logic, how many votes should be given to the teachers who teach children who are future talents at social democratic schools, and how many votes should be given to the soldiers and police officers who protect the lives and property of the people? And how many votes is it proper for the emperor of an empire to have? According to what you said, why are judges necessary and why is the three-judge system necessary? No matter how deep your learning is and how much wealth you have, there will always be a sky above the sky! “It’s not even worth thinking about anymore!”

After the official letter containing King Sejong’s reply was posted to the government office, there were no more appeals for similar reasons.