Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 719

Episode 719: Sun Wei (1)

Fall of the 10th year of the imperial calendar (1458).

Kim Jeom passed away at the age of 90.

Compared to the history before the intervention of incense, he lived one year longer.

* * *

Still, there was the problem of old age, so he asked for his resignation in February of the 10th year of the imperial calendar, and the county had no choice but to accept it.

“I truly apologize for allowing the disloyalty of resigning. However, the small body cannot follow the heart. “Please forgive me for not being with you, Your Majesty.”

When his resignation was accepted, Kim Jeom politely bowed to Hyang and Wan.

“I also feel sorry for Jim. But who can stop the decline of the body? I am truly grateful for this time.”

Hyang, who hurriedly came down from the temple, bowed to the prostrate Kim Jeom and expressed his gratitude.

Kim Jeom, who bowed to Hyang with gratitude, could not hide his tears.

“Your Majesty thinks so much of this old man, I have no regrets even if he dies!”

“I am truly grateful for all this time.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Following the incense, all the large and small officials and eunuchs present at Geunjeongjeon bowed deeply to Kim Jeom and expressed their gratitude.

“Thank you so much for congratulating this old man who used to pick me up every day!”

Kim Jeom looked at the ministers who had shared hardships with him and expressed his gratitude.

When Kim Jeom, who was allowed to resign, left Geunjeongjeon, Hyang supported him and headed towards Geunjeongmun. When the emperor himself moved, all the ministers followed and saw off Kim Jeom as he left. The ministers who came out to see him off were full of envy for Kim Jeom, who was supported by the emperor.

And the officer who recorded all of this added:

-…So the Emperor, who had permitted the resignation of Vice Admiral Uichon, personally supported him and escorted him to Geunjeongmun, and many of his subjects expressed envy at this.

Uichon Kim Jeom served four generations of monarchs, so there are few who can follow his leadership.

He was the first envoy to visit Beijing after Ming moved the capital to Beijing, and he was also in charge of entertaining Ming envoys thereafter.

If Sang Sang favored Hwang Hee, it is safe to say that the Emperor of Danggeum favored Kim Jeom. The relationship between the Emperor and Kim Jeom is long and deep, dating back long before the Emperor ascended the throne. He was the one who argued with the Emperor over the management of finances, reconciled with them, and sought to enrich the country and strengthen its military, so it is natural that the Emperor regarded him with special regard.

The officer says:

i envy you. Will I ever be able to leave and be treated like that?

“Whoa~. Now all that’s left to do is go. “This is so refreshing.”

Finally, after finishing his work and leaving the Prime Minister’s Office, Kim Jeom looked at Yukjo Street and Gyeongbokgung Palace with mixed emotions.

* * *

After resigning, Kim Jeom prepared for the end by organizing the things he had recorded while working and distributing his family assets.

Meanwhile, the government was also busy trying to fill the void left by Kim Jeom.

The township appointed Park Jong-woo as Prime Minister and Kim Jong-seo as Left Deputy Prime Minister.

There was no one who opposed this appointment.

Both Hwang Hee and Kim Jeom were very well-versed in government affairs. Therefore, Park Jong-woo, who served as Minister of Finance and Economy and then became Left Deputy Prime Minister, was considered suitable.

This was the same for Kim Jong-seo. Since the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of General Affairs were part of the left deputy prime minister’s work area, it was appropriate for Kim Jong-seo, who knew this well, to sit in that position. And Kim Jong-seo was evaluated as the best person to mediate disputes between ministries.

However, officials and celebrities always added a sentence after it.

“The problem is his love for Seoul.”

And Hyang added a sentence to it.

“If it weren’t for that love for Seoul, I would have dragged him to Shinji, so it’s a shame.”

Meanwhile, after this personnel change, there were people who secretly sought out contemplatives.

The questions they asked the contemplatives were almost the same.

“Do you think I will live a long life?”

The people who asked these questions were those who were on the verge of becoming high-ranking officials in the government.

The reason they asked this was because not only Hwang Hui but also Kim Jeom had worked in government positions until they were nine years old, and the people who were now sitting in their place were also quite old.

“It may sound like self-praise, but I have some abilities, right? If so, shouldn’t we aim for the position of number one or universal person? But look. If you look at the people sitting in the chair, they are all well past their 60th birthday. “I have to endure and live a long life in order to be rewarded!”

* * *

After hearing the news of Kim Jeom’s death, Hyang stopped working for a day according to etiquette and went to Kim Jeom’s house with Wan.

Kim Yu-son, the eldest son of the merchant, was thrilled by Hyang and Wan’s visit and bowed deeply.

Hyang visited Kim Jeom’s house to pay condolences with Wan, comforted Kim Yu-son, and returned to the palace.

Meanwhile, while the funeral was taking place, Kim Jeom’s house was filled with mourners.

According to the newly established imperial law, the funerals of all people except the emperor were unified into three days, and during those three days, the funerals were full of mourners.

These words were circulated among the local people who were watching the scene.

“There is an old saying, ‘When the dog of the Jeongseung family dies, there will be a crowd of mourners, but when the Jeongseung dies, not a single dog will come.’ I guess that’s also true?”

In any case, Kim Jeom’s death had several symbolic meanings.

The first of these was that those who had been serving as officials since the Goryeo Dynasty no longer existed.

Finally, Goryeo existed only in records, and its connection with the empire was completely severed.

The second was that the first-generation bureaucracy, excluding founding contributors, disappeared and the second-generation bureaucracy took its place as the leading role.

In other words, once Hyang ascended to the throne of Wan, from then on, the speed at which Joseon’s shadow faded would become faster and faster.

* * * In the spring of

the 11th year of the imperial calendar (1459),

King Sejong returned from Sinji.

While Sejong and his group were waiting at the quarantine center, Hyang and Wan, who received a call, arrived in Wonsan and prepared to welcome Sejong.

“It’s been a while. “It’s great to see you so strong.”

“I am truly relieved to see you in good health.”

After saying hello, Hyang and Sejong walked towards the station with Wan behind them and talked.

“I heard that Captain Uichon passed away. “It’s truly a shame.”

“That’s right. “He was someone I could rely on a lot.”

In response to Hyang’s response, King Sejong looked at the distant sky with a face full of regret.

“Jang Yeong-sil also went there just before leaving Shinji.”

“Oh my! “It is truly a waste of talent.”

“I feel like my time is almost coming to an end.”

Hyang quickly responded to Sejong’s words.

“no. “He’s still in full swing.”

Sejong responded to Hyang’s words with a small smile.

“Thank you for seeing it that way.”

* * *

Upon returning to Seoul, King Sejong immediately settled into Suganggung Palace (now Changgyeonggung Palace).

As King Sejong took his place, Hyang began to prepare for the royal ceremony in earnest.

The first thing Hyang did was call Wan and announce his intention to ascend to the throne.

“…You already expected this, and the ministers also expected it. So, don’t do useless things like plaster.”

“His Majesty is still strong…”

“Tsu…”

As Hyang’s expression became fierce, Wan had to immediately lower his head and change his words.

“yep! “I will follow Your Majesty’s orders!”

“There is a lot of work to do when we go to Shinji, so let’s not do anything that takes up each other’s time. got it?”

“yes.”

Hyang, who conveyed his will to Wan in this way, officially announced his seniority at a gathering of ministers the next day.

“Prince Wan has already grown up and is skilled in taking care of state affairs, so I will ascend to the throne.”

Prime Minister Park Jong-woo immediately opposed the Hyang’s declaration.

“However, Your Majesty is still strong, so I think it is premature to make a decision.”

“Tsk!”

The scent immediately filled his tongue, but Park Jong-woo did not back down.

“I’ll say it again. Your Majesty is still strong, but your honor is not deserved. Of course, the crown prince has grown up and is adept at taking care of state affairs, but what is too early is too early.”

“Then who will manage Shinji?”

Park Jong-woo kept his mouth shut at Hyang’s point.

None of the ministers knew that Shinji was of a size not only sufficient to establish a nation, but also to establish an empire.

Therefore, the safest way was to control Shinji when the situation arose.

Still, the reason he opposed Seonwi was because of what happened during the reign of King Taejong.

When Grand Prince Yangnyeong was crown prince, Taejong declared his ascendancy whenever he had the chance. However, this was not because he truly wanted to be senior. It was the foundation for killing the crown prince and carrying out a political purge.

That is why they are still opposed to the seonwi.

Hyang, who was looking at the ministers who were unable to do either this or that, persuaded them.

“I’ll say it again, the crown prince has already grown up and is skilled at taking care of state affairs. No, even if there are some shortcomings, the crown prince will not be in trouble now that the situation is back. That is why I intend to take the throne.”

“Haona….”

“Stop.”

Hyang, who interrupted Park Jong-woo, threatened the ministers.

“Everyone who opposes the election, please submit your resignation. I’ll take care of it right away. And come with me to Shinji and work. “There is no need to recruit additional people since they already have a lot of experience, and the crown prince can appoint fresh talents to carry out state affairs as the crown prince. Isn’t it really a good thing?”

“….”

“What do you think? Hmm… Go and prepare for the civil servant’s visit.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

While the eunuch was preparing for the civil service, the ministers were grumbling inwardly with their faces scrunched up.

‘I can’t believe you go to Shinji and suffer at this age! ‘Even if I die, I can’t!’

‘Leave Seoul? ‘Even if I die, I can’t leave!’

‘Isn’t this what everyone expected anyway? Just have to accept it.’

In the end, the ministers accepted the will of the incense.

“I will follow your Majesty’s will.”

“Thank you.”

After finishing the meeting and leaving Geunjeongjeon, the ministers looked up at the sky and sighed.

“Whoa~. “What a situation!”

The middle-level officials who heard the story also grumbled with similar expressions.

“What a situation!”

The young officials tilted their heads at the sight of their superiors.

“Isn’t it true that you won’t be directly involved in political affairs anyway?”

“You know very well how your Majesty handles things and his disposition, right? Was it easy?”

“Not at all.”

“The person who raised that emperor like that is Sang-Gang. “Like you said, you won’t be directly involved, but if you show even the slightest sloppiness, the nightmare will begin immediately.”

“Huh….”

* * *

Meanwhile, King Sejong was looking at the list of people going to Shinji with his head together with Hyang.

“Hmm… Are you saying that these are the people who will go to Shinji with the emperor?”

“That’s right.”

“Let’s see…”

Sejong looked at the list and coordinated his opinions.

“I think it would be better to send this money to Suez rather than Shinji. What do you think?”

“Looking at Shinji’s situation, I think it would be a good idea to increase the number of council members. If possible, let’s add more people with enough experience to run a medical center.”

“Let’s add more artisans to Area 52.”

Sejong, who was mixing seasoning like this, saw a person’s name and looked at the incense.

“Jinpyeong? Are you planning to lay a railroad in earnest in the new area? Or is it for the prince’s safety?”

At Sejong’s point, Hyang looked at him with surprised eyes.

“Did you know that?”