When the ministers heard the news, they rushed into the State Council, and the Prime Minister was just finishing writing a memorial.
"Your Excellency! A memorial? What kind of reckless words are these!"
"In a situation where even prostration on straw mats and waiting for punishment is not enough, you are still in your right mind to write a memorial!"
The ministers who had gathered in a crowd criticized him one after another, but the Prime Minister's expression remained calm.
"This is a memorial that must be submitted. If we think about the future of Joseon, not the present, we must insist on this matter and make the King reconsider."
"Your Excellency! Are you really possessed by a malevolent spirit!"
As the Minister of Personnel shouted, the Prime Minister raised his voice.
"The King has forgotten how serious it is to govern the state! He has forgotten why ministers exist!"
"Your Excellency!"
Despite the other ministers trying to stop him, the Prime Minister, holding the memorial, entered the Office of the Royal Secretariat and handed it over.
"It's a memorial. Please submit it to His Majesty."
"…Understood."
Seeing the displeased expressions and voices of the secretaries, the Prime Minister added,
"Don't make such faces. This is all for the future of Joseon and for His Majesty."
The Chief Secretary, whose face had stiffened, received the memorial.
"…I will submit it to His Majesty."
"It's the Prime Minister's memorial."
"Place it there."
The memorial, passed from the Chief Secretary to the King, was placed on Sejong's desk.
Sejong, who had been silently glaring at the memorial scroll, began to read it.
"Your humble servant, Prime Minister Ryu Jeong-hyun, prostrates himself and submits this memorial to His Majesty. In essence, governance…."
The content of the memorial written by Ryu Jeong-hyun was as follows:
- Governance is, in essence, the management of the state. Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable to decide and implement policies lightly. It is a well-known fact that what must be avoided at all costs in policy-making and implementation is inconsistency and frequent changes. This is because it concerns the people's trust in the state and its policies.
- However, in the case of the nationwide implementation of the cowpox vaccination, the King has resorted to autocratic rule through unilateral decisions. This is not right.
- Initially, it was decided to vaccinate the residents of Hanyang first, confirm its efficacy, and then implement it nationwide, a decision to which the King also agreed. However, by reversing this decision simply because a few individuals submitted a memorial advocating for a rapid nationwide expansion, is this not a case of frequent changes?
- The King has criticized the majority of the literati for opposing the rapid expansion, based on the memorials and petitions submitted by a few influential figures and merchants. This is not right. The efficacy of the cowpox vaccination has not yet been proven. Most of the literati are waiting for confirmation of its efficacy. Of course, there are those who refuse their duties as literati due to their own greed, but they are a very small minority. Literati are those who study the classics, follow the teachings of sages, and understand propriety and righteousness.
- Governance, that is, the creation and implementation of policies, should only be achieved through consultation between the ruler and his ministers. Why are ministers necessary in governance? Because it is not easy for the ruler alone to see widely and make judgments. Policies can only move in the right direction when the ruler and ministers carefully examine various aspects and come to a consensus. If the ruler were to decide and implement everything in state affairs according to his own will, what would be the point of having a court and ministers? It would be enough to have eunuchs responsible for document management. This is not the way of the righteous ruler, nor is it the way of the powerful ruler; it is merely dictatorship.
- Furthermore, it is not right for the ruler's autocratic rule to become a routine practice for the future of the state. The current King possesses the qualities of a dragon among men and will not deviate from the righteous path, I believe without doubt. The Crown Prince, too, is exceptionally talented, so there is less worry. But what about after that? If a tyrant like Jie and Zhou were to ascend the throne and exercise autocratic rule under the pretext of routine, what would be the fate of Joseon? For this reason, consultation between the ruler and his ministers must be strictly adhered to, and policies decided through such consultation must be prepared and implemented with great care.
- Joseon has only been established for about 30 years. If we compare it to a house, it is just beginning to lay its foundation. Strengthening the harmony between the ruler and his ministers and the consistency in policy implementation is the way to avoid a house of cards and ensure the endless prosperity of Joseon. The previous dynasty's downfall was due to the neglect of this principle.
- In conclusion, the nationwide implementation of the cowpox vaccination through autocratic rule should be halted. We should first confirm its efficacy, as initially decided, and then decide on a nationwide implementation.
"…If it is truly effective, I, Ryu Jeong-hyun, will gladly offer all my wealth."
Sejong, who had read the entire memorial, put it down and clenched his teeth.
"What a truly cunning man!"
Holding the desk with both hands, Sejong, who had been trying to contain his rising anger, issued an order to the Chief Secretary.
"What are those capable ministers doing now?"
"They are prostrating themselves on straw mats in front of the Gyeongjeon Hall, waiting for punishment."
"Tell them to come into the main hall immediately! Not a single one should be missing!"
"As you command!"
The ministers, who had received the order through the Chief Secretary, hurriedly entered the main hall.
As the ministers took their seats, starting with the Prime Minister, Sejong handed the memorial to the Chief Secretary.
"Read it out loud so that all the ministers can hear."
"Yes."
Following Sejong's order, the Chief Secretary read the Prime Minister's memorial aloud.
As the content progressed, the ministers' faces, which had been stiff from the beginning, became even more rigid. Although the words were polite, they were criticizing Sejong's decision-making as dictatorial. The final sentence, which stated that he would gladly offer his wealth, could be interpreted in a completely opposite way.
- If you really think it will work, I will give you all my wealth!
After finishing the reading, the Chief Secretary quietly folded the scroll and placed it on Sejong's desk.
The main hall remained as quiet as a mouse. The historians and secretaries had stopped writing and were swallowing their saliva.
Sejong broke the silence.
"When I first learned about cowpox, I immediately thought of a nationwide implementation. However, the Right Minister advised that it was too hasty, and I, too, thought his words had merit and accepted them. I ask you, ministers, what autocratic rule did I exercise?"
"…."
"Did I exercise autocratic rule before and after that? I consulted with you on every matter and chose the plan that everyone agreed was right. Is this also considered autocratic rule?"
"…."
"The Prime Minister criticizes the exercise of autocratic rule as sinful, but autocratic rule is also one of the tools a ruler possesses. In governing the state, there are times when quick decisions are necessary. However, if the situation requires a quick decision but remains stagnant, the ruler will eventually have to resort to autocratic rule. A ruler who waits for his ministers to reach a conclusion and misses the opportunity is truly incompetent! Who is responsible for the creation of a routine where autocratic rule becomes the norm? The ruler or the ministers?"
"…."
As Sejong's reprimand continued, the ministers' heads sank lower and lower.
"The Prime Minister's memorial is more cunning the more I read it. The sentences are beautiful, but they are full of foul odors. Most of the literati understand propriety and righteousness? Then why do we reward the literati who open their granaries to help the people during a drought? If they follow the teachings of sages and understand propriety and righteousness, isn't it their duty to help the people? But since they don't, we reward others to set an example. Why is the Prime Minister's words so different from reality?"
"…."
"Prime Minister! Answer me!"
In response to Sejong's command, the Prime Minister bowed his head.
"…I am at fault."
"What about the cowherds on Jeo Island! They have been vaccinated for generations and have avoided smallpox. Wasn't that enough proof!"
"I repeat, the number of cowherds is too small to be conclusive!"
"Ah!"
Sejong, who had been gripping the inkstone on his desk, released his grip.
"Fine. Then I will ask you one thing. If smallpox breaks out in Gangwon Province instead of Hanyang, what will you do? Will you wait until it spreads to Hanyang? Will you ignore the suffering of the people in the meantime?"
"…."
"Is it worth sacrificing the people to avoid exercising autocratic rule and to follow the harmony between the ruler and his ministers? The people have suffered from smallpox for a long time. I believe that the sacrifice of 103,328 people in Hanyang is worth enduring to establish the proper governance of Joseon from the beginning!"
"Ah!"
Sejong's explosive statement made all the ministers stand up.
"Your Majesty! Please show mercy!"
"Please show mercy! This is impossible!"
"Moving 100,000 people is impossible to implement!"
All the ministers opposed Sejong's decision. However, Sejong's resolve was firm.
"Silence! If we follow your way, we would have to wait until smallpox spreads from another place to Hanyang, or until it breaks out in Hanyang! Who will bear the grievances of the people who suffer in the meantime! And moving 100,000 people is impossible? How does the army move, then! This is just an excuse!"
After pausing to catch his breath, Sejong glared at the Prime Minister and concluded.
"This is to firmly establish the proper governance and the harmony between the ruler and his ministers. I will not accept any counterarguments! And Prime Minister, listen well! If the efficacy is confirmed, I will hold you firmly accountable for this crime!"
Sejong, having finished speaking, stormed out of the hall.
The historian recorded everything without missing a detail.
The Prime Minister's memorial worsened the situation, as it fanned the flames of an already troubled state.
After finishing the record, the historian immediately added:
The historian says:
In realizing the politics of the righteous ruler, the harmony between the ruler and his ministers is essential. However, this harmony is a tool, not the goal. Today, the Prime Minister's memorial and statements can be described as putting the cart before the horse. It is sad to see the downfall of a respected old minister.
Upon hearing about the conflict between Sejong and the ministers, Hyang clicked her tongue.
"It's turned into a complete chicken race. Politics is about justification, but this is taking it too far, isn't it?"
As Hyang was clicking her tongue at the court's descent into chaos, her expression suddenly stiffened.
"Could this lead to a coup, something unprecedented in history?"
With a serious face, Hyang crossed her arms and fell into thought. After a long while of calculation, Hyang came to a conclusion.
"Better to start preparing just in case."
That night, Sejong visited Hyang's room.
"Prince, you must have heard about today's events?"
"Yes."
"Do you think your father was too harsh?"
"The Prime Minister's stubbornness is frustrating. Justification is important, but so is practicality."
Sejong smiled and patted Hyang's shoulder.
"Prince, I am reassured to have you."
"You flatter me."
"Phew~."
Sejong sighed deeply and complained.
"Things have come to such a pass that I now wish smallpox would break out nearby."
"You will surely achieve a good result."
* * *
Five days later, an urgent report reached the court.
"Smallpox has broken out!"
"Where?"
"In the Yeongdeungpo area of Geumcheon County!"
Upon hearing the outbreak location, Sejong and the ministers actually looked relieved. They had all been exhausted by the stress of walking on thin ice.