Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 725

Episode 725: Jang Yeong-sil’s Legacy (2)

The reaction of Seoul upon receiving the plan to rebuild Shinji Temporary Palace was almost similar to what Hyang had expected.

“Whoa~. “How can you start such a large-scale project as soon as you leave?”

Wan sighed, holding the report in his hand. Wan looked at the report several times and sighed again.

“The Board of Audit and Inspection is going to be in an uproar. But since it is absolutely necessary, I will have no choice but to ignore whatever the Board of Audit and Inspection says this time.”

* * *

And as Wan expected, an appeal was filed by the Board of Audit and Inspection criticizing the reconstruction of the temporary palace.

The main point of the Board of Audit and Inspection was as follows.

-We acknowledge the need to support natives and immigrants in new areas so that they can easily settle down. However, it is not right to focus on the reconstruction of Shinji Temporary Palace when there are many other alternative projects, including railways and roads.

-From ancient times, it was said that the Sangjeo Okbae (????) was the beginning of the fall of a nation. Simple ivory chopsticks and jade bowls are like that, but what about an excessively huge palace?

-Even if you look at all the precedents of ancient times and modern times, the palace of the subordinate kingdom has never been larger than the palace of the upper kingdom. This is a huge disrespect.

Wan, who received and read the Board of Audit and Inspection’s appeal, refuted it point by point.

-In addition to the reconstruction of the temporary palace, it is also a good idea to provide settlement support through large-scale civil engineering projects such as the construction of railroads and roads. However, among those who immigrated to the new area, only a small number are familiar with civil engineering, and the natives do not even know how to use iron tools. The reconstruction of Haenggung Palace is the best place for them to learn skills and gain experience.

-Like the famous jade pear, it is natural to be wary of extravagance. However, most of the wood used in Haenggung Palace is from trees cut down nearby, and the same goes for the stone.

Gold and silver are rarely used, so it is difficult to say that it is extravagant.

-Shinji is not an inner city, but a stronghold of the empire. According to the imperial law, discrimination between the main branch and other regions is prohibited, so what is the spirit of discussing internal affairs?

-Lastly, Shinji is the palace where circumstances reside. Just as parents raise their children with respect, it is also natural for children to treat their parents with respect. That is filial piety. Are you trying to make me into an unfilial person?

The last two items of Wan’s answer left the Board of Audit and Inspection and its officials dumbfounded.

-He violated the First Law, the biggest law of the empire, and attempted to make the emperor, the supreme being, an unfilial person.

If Wan, the emperor, was determined, a cause was created that could cause a bloody storm.

In the end, the Board of Audit and Inspection had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“The thoughts of the minor gods were short-lived. “Please forgive me.”

“Tsk! “I wish I knew.”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, who flinched at the sound of Wan clicking his tongue, continued speaking.

“It is true that the finances going into Sinji are considerable.”

“Tsk! “Have you forgotten who is currently staying in Shinji?”

At Wan’s point, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection made an expression of regret and bowed his head.

“God’s thoughts were short-lived. I just made a mistake because I was blinded by the huge budget. Please forgive me.”

“Jim also knows very well what the duties of the Board of Audit and Inspection are. The finances for running the empire are taxes paid by the people, so it is the duty of the ministers to make sure they are not wasted. Sir, you know better than anyone else the importance of the budget as well as the duties of the ministers. So, the officials’ comments are just groundless.”

“I apologize.”

“If you apologize, don’t create something to apologize for. What kind of waste of time is this? Tsk!”

The auditor general, who flinched at the sound of Wan clicking his tongue, simply bowed his head.

The funny thing was that every time Wan clicked his tongue, all the subjects in Daejeon flinched.

‘Ah-oh! ‘The sound of that guy clicking his tongue!’

‘I thought you wouldn’t listen anymore!’

‘Well, who raised the emperor of Tanggeum… And who raised him…’

Forcing down the goosebumps that appeared every time they clicked their tongues, the ministers aimed at the main character in question, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection. I saw.

‘Why on earth do you say such useless things!’

‘Did you properly look at the plan the situation sent you?’

‘I think I’ll send you some tonics or a big bowl!’

Perhaps knowing how the ministers felt, Wan looked at the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection with a grumpy expression.

“Since you are so worried about Shinji’s business, how about going to Shinji and help the situation?”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, whose face turned white at Wan’s suggestion, answered in a trembling voice.

“So Sosin is too old to take on such heavy duties.”

“I understand that among the ministers and vice-ministers currently sitting in Geunjeongjeon, Kyeong is one of the youngest.”

“I have been sick since I was young…”

“Tsk! That’s it! “There’s nothing we can do if you’re sick!”

Hearing Wan’s words, the Auditor General sighed inwardly.

‘The crisis is over.’

But Wan’s attack was not over.

“By the way, isn’t it the job of the Board of Audit and Inspection to look at everything in government affairs and find mistakes? But if you are that sick, will you be able to see it properly? “My indifference could lead to something unfortunate, so it would be better for you to step down.”

Hearing Wan’s words, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection closed his eyes tightly. But it was already an irreversible situation.

In the end, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection had no choice but to ask for his resignation.

“Please accept me as I am about to step down from my position due to my poor health.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After hearing Wan’s answer, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection politely bowed and quietly left Geunjeongjeon.

The ministers swallowed dryly inwardly as they saw the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection retreating with slumped shoulders.

‘I forgot! Emperor Tang Jin is also a child of the dragon!’

‘The person who inherited the blood of Sang Sang and Tae Sang Sang and grew up watching Sang Sang’s achievements is the emperor! It should never be underestimated!’

‘I forgot that there is no one from that family who has no end!’

It was Wan whose presence had been weak until now, overshadowed by Sejong and Hyang. Because of this, the ministers were easily looking at Wan at some point.

However, seeing the scene where the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection was blown off, the ministers had no choice but to become very nervous again.

* * *

‘The Emperor has cut off the Auditor-General!’

This rumor spread throughout Gyeongbokgung Palace and Yukjo Street faster than the wind.

“This is His Majesty’s outrage!”

“The channel must not be blocked!”

“We need to file an appeal right away!”

The officials of the Board of Audit and Inspection were energized and stood up immediately. The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection saw the commotion, saying they were filing an appeal or a sit-in protest, and shouted.

“What a disgrace! “Stop right now!”

“Director Haona!”

“Your Majesty’s decision in this matter is right! On the contrary, even if I bowed hundreds of times (bowing with my head to the ground countless times) for accepting my resignation without asking me for a crime, it would not be enough!”

The auditors asked with an expression of uncertainty at the words of the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection.

“A major crime? “What crime have you committed?”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection answered the auditors’ questions with a bitter expression.

“It is a crime of failing to keep words and actions consistent. “A public official who has to risk his life to give advice has abandoned his duties for the sake of his own comfort. This is a mortal sin.”

“Ah…”

The auditors nodded slightly at the words of the auditor general.

Wan’s order, ‘If you’re that worried, go directly to Shinji and control it’ – of course, it was a suggestion – the Auditor General made an excuse and refused, and Wan laughed at it. And as the Auditor General said, even if Wan was accused of this, he had nothing to say. No matter how much time had passed, their ideological basis was Neo-Confucianism, and consistency in words and actions was one of the guidelines that noblemen must follow.

After organizing his desk, the Board of Audit and Inspection gave final orders to the auditors.

“Don’t forget to keep your words and actions consistent! “It’s our job to do it, even if it means risking our lives!”

* * *

That night.

“Whoa~.”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, sitting alone in the living room, sighed as he looked at the moon in the night sky.

“I feel at a loss after suddenly resigning.”

As I was struggling to sort out the emotions that had become overwhelming after suddenly becoming unemployed, a servant came up to me and said something.

“A guest has arrived.”

“Guest? this time?”

The auditor general expressed doubts about the servant’s words. Since serving as the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, the number of customers visiting his house has decreased significantly. They deliberately prevented guests from visiting because they could be caught up in a scandal related to infidelity. And now that he had resigned from his position, there were very few people who could find him, who was in a lonely state.

“I don’t know. “Where did you come from?”

“They say you came from the palace.”

“In the palace? “Please take us inside.”

“Yes, Nari.”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, who sent the servant, looked at the clothes again and left the living room.

‘Why in the palace? wherefore?’

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, who was waiting for a guest on the veranda of the sarangchae with a face full of curiosity, went down to his feet and prostrated himself as soon as he saw the guest in question.

“I come to see your Majesty!”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection guided Wan to the head table in the Sarangbang.

“I’m sorry for suddenly coming to you in the middle of the night.”

“Oh no.”

Looking at the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Wan first apologized.

“I came to apologize for what happened during the day.”

“Oh no. The crime of inconsistent words and actions. As the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, this was a serious sin. “Now that he has put an end to this by resigning, I can only appreciate it.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

“No.”

“It’s not that you don’t know how much you care about the empire and the people. But this time I was unlucky.”

“What do you mean by bad luck?”

Wan answered the auditor general’s question right away.

“Recently, the discipline of the government has become very lax. Well, it’s natural. The empire’s affairs are running smoothly and the Ming Dynasty does not need to worry about it for the time being. But if you let go of that, won’t all problems start from then?”

The Board of Audit and Inspection responded immediately to Wan’s question.

“That’s right.”

“That’s why I did what I did today with the intention of punishing one and punishing others.”

“Well done. “If it is for the well-being of Your Majesty and the Empire, what does your well-being matter?”

“Thank you so much for thinking that way.”

Wan, who had relieved the burden on his mind, got up and left the room.

“I will call you again in a few days, so until then, consider it a vacation and rest comfortably.”

“Hasn’t God’s resignation already been decided?”

“It hasn’t been documented yet.”

“Ah…”

Wan smiled as he looked at the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, whose expression was a strange mixture of all kinds of emotions.

“Do you think it’s easy to fill empty seats? There are already people who are good at their jobs, so why kick them out? This is the first thing I learned from Tae Sanghwang and Sanghang. ‘Those who are good at work should use it to the end.’ “Have you forgotten Captain Hwang Hee and Captain Jo Mal Saeng?”

“Ah…”

At Wan’s words, the Auditor General nodded without realizing it. Both Hwang Hee and Jo Mal Saeng were caught in connection with a power-related corruption case. And Sejong and Hyang pampered them until they died.

Seeing the Board of Audit and Inspection nod like that, Wan did not forget to warn him.

“Please keep in mind that, as the saying goes, one punishment does not mean that there are no sins. If Jim had made up his mind, it wouldn’t have ended in resignation. I put it in the record office right away. Please keep this in mind.”

The Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection immediately bowed down and responded to Wan’s words.

“I will keep this in mind!”