"During this time, the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that he 'has not confirmed the efficacy' and that 'establishing laws and regulations is the priority,' thereby preventing the nationwide implementation of cowpox vaccination. So, what happened? A tragedy unfolded in Geumcheon County where smallpox broke out. Look at this tragedy in Geumcheon County. So far, 25 people have died, and over 60 have become mentally disabled, blind, or otherwise incapacitated. And even worse, we don't know how many more will die or become incapacitated. Ministers, think carefully. If we had not delayed and implemented the cowpox vaccination nationwide, this tragedy in Geumcheon County could have been prevented. By preventing this, the Prime Minister has caused unnecessary sacrifices under the pretense of 'upholding the law' to protect his own authority!"
The Prime Minister, prostrate on the ground, raised his voice.
"Your Majesty! I did not do this to protect my own authority! The efficacy of cowpox was not definitively proven, and it was improper to enforce it!"
"Silence! Are you still trying to manipulate the situation with your cunning words! Look here! Bring the Chief of the Royal Secretariat immediately!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! Please show mercy!"
As soon as Sejong's order was given, the ministers and the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector immediately prostrated themselves to plead for leniency. However, Sejong did not back down.
"Mercy? You should have shown mercy when you had the chance!"
"Your Majesty! Although the Prime Minister's words were somewhat excessive, they came from his concern for the country. Please show mercy!"
"Is his concern for the country so frozen that it can't be felt?"
"Your Majesty, please show mercy!"
While the ministers and the Chief Censor were pleading, the Chief Inspector spoke with a sorrowful voice.
"Your Majesty, although the Prime Minister's words were excessive, his concern for the country is as solid as gold and stone. Please do not pay attention to his superficial words and consider his deeper intentions!"
"Shut up! Words are the vessels of thought. How can the surface and the depth be different? If they are different, that is hypocrisy, and how can such a person be called a gentleman!"
"Your Majesty, please show mercy!"
"Do not provoke my patience! If you continue to babble, I will consider you all as false gentlemen!"
Despite Sejong's fierce warning, the ministers and the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector did not back down.
"Please show mercy! It is unjust to convict an innocent person!"
"Please show mercy!"
"How can a minister stand idly by when the ruler is about to take an unjust path? It is unjust to hold the Prime Minister accountable! Please show mercy!"
Sejong, struck by the ministers' defiance, slammed his armrest.
"Unjust? Unjust, you say? What is unjust? Over the years, countless people have lost their lives to smallpox! And how many, after surviving, have become mentally disabled, blind, or otherwise incapacitated, living as beggars? We had a way to prevent this, yet why did we delay? Furthermore, those who donated their wealth and cattle for the benefit of their neighbors were blocked by someone who cited the flimsy reason of 'changing the law too frequently'! Who, indeed, is the unjust one?"
Despite Sejong's rebuke, the ministers and the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector did not back down.
"Let me advise you again, that part of the Prime Minister's words was indeed excessive! However, the conduct of the court should primarily align with the ruler and the ministers, and once decided, should not be easily changed! The Prime Minister opposed Your Majesty's decision because it violated the second principle of court conduct! The harmony between the ruler and the ministers and the stability of court decisions are the fundamental pillars of righteous governance as taught by the sages!"
The Right Prime Minister, speaking as if spitting blood, caused Sejong to slam his armrest again.
"Truly, you are the epitome of twisting the truth to suit your own ends, favoring your own interests, and using smooth words to deceive! Do you think you were following the sages' teachings by blocking my decision? You were merely acting out of your own petty desires! The desire to suppress me, your ruler! What you wanted was not harmony between the ruler and the ministers, but a court where the ministers are strong and the ruler is weak, making me a mere puppet! You are more wicked than Jeong Do-jeon! You are absolutely unforgivable!"
As Sejong mentioned Jeong Do-jeon again, the ministers immediately denied it.
"Your Majesty! We absolutely did not have such intentions!"
"Your Majesty! Please understand our loyalty!"
The court froze as the ministers, bowing deeply, tried to dissuade Sejong. The ministers already sensed a thick, bloody smell in the air.
"The Chief of the Royal Secretariat is in attendance."
Sejong, unable to hide his anger, immediately gave the order.
"Chief of the Royal Secretariat, listen! Immediately arrest those false gentlemen, the Prime Minister, the Left and Right Prime Ministers, the Chief Censor, and the Chief Inspector! And prepare the guards and the outer court to carry out my orders immediately!"
"Your orders will be followed!"
As soon as Sejong's order was given, the Chief of the Royal Secretariat called the royal guards to take the Prime Minister and his colleagues away.
"Your Majesty! Please show mercy!"
"Your Majesty! This goes against the teachings of the sages!"
"Your Majesty!"
The Prime Minister and his colleagues continued to plead until they were dragged away. However, Sejong remained resolute.
"Ministers, listen."
"Your Majesty, we will listen attentively!"
"Ministers, take today's events as a lesson and avoid rash and reckless actions."
"We will remember and follow your words!"
"Since the positions of the three prime ministers, the Chief Inspector, and the Chief Censor are now vacant, select suitable candidates and inform me. I will give you five days."
"Your orders will be followed!"
Sejong, glaring at the frozen ministers, turned his gaze to the Chief Secretary.
"Chief Secretary, order the Royal Secretariat to arrest all the families of those criminals and seal their properties."
"Your orders will be followed!"
"Let's end it here for today. Go and attend to your duties."
As Sejong dismissed them, the ministers, starting with Hyang, bowed and left the hall.
Sejong, alone in the hall, placed his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Ha~."
* * *
Hyang, returning to the Donggung Palace, summarized the situation with a serious face.
"If this were a TV drama, the ratings would have skyrocketed. The actors would have had a tough time memorizing their lines... So, is this why traditional historical dramas are being pushed aside by fusion historical dramas...?"
Hyang, muttering to himself, shook his head.
"Damn! Am I turning into Mr. Samcheonpo? Why am I going off on a tangent?"
After self-reflection, Hyang reorganized his thoughts.
"Today's events will likely quiet the noisy ones for a while. The problem is filling the vacant positions... Is it finally time for Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong to step up? Is this the formation of Sejong's Avengers?"
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
At the announcement by the eunuch at the door, Hyang stood up. After straightening his attire, Hyang bowed deeply as Sejong entered.
"Father, you have arrived."
"Indeed. What were you doing?"
"I was reflecting on today's events."
"Is that so? That's good. Sit down first."
"Yes."
Father and son sat down at the table.
"Shall I serve tea?"
"Yes. Let's have a cup. But don't bring me the willow bark tea here, will you?"
"No, Your Majesty."
Sejong's mention of willow bark tea made Hyang smile bitterly and shake his head. The willow bark tea was made from well-dried willow bark.
* * *
"Of all the problems in King Sejong's health, the most concerning are diabetes and vascular diseases..."
While searching for various methods to improve Sejong's health, Hyang recalled Mr. Samcheonpo's tangents.
While explaining the beginning of the Imjin War, Mr. Samcheonpo suddenly veered off into a tangent about Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
-When Admiral Yi Sun-sin's leg was broken during the military examination, he wrapped it with willow bark. Why did Admiral Yi Sun-sin use willow bark? Just as a splint? Or as a pain reliever?
This tangent eventually led to aspirin.
-One of the most important topics in recorded human history is the creation of a 'cure-all.' Aspirin is the closest to a cure-all. It not only reduces fever and relieves pain but also treats vascular diseases and can be used as an anti-cancer drug.
Incidentally, Mr. Samcheonpo, in Jin-ho's previous life, was one of the people his parents disliked the most.
"Forgetting the lesson and only spouting nonsense, abandoning the students!"
Regardless, Hyang, recalling Mr. Samcheonpo's words, immediately ordered the royal physicians to make tea from willow bark and present it to Sejong.
"Drinking this will alleviate headaches, thin the blood, and prevent chest tightness and stroke."
"β¦It doesn't taste very good."
"It's medicine. Is there any good-tasting medicine?"
Thus, Hyang, who presented the willow bark tea, warned the royal physicians.
"Although it is necessary to take it regularly, it should not be taken without breaks. Thinning the blood means it will be harder to stop bleeding. Give Father appropriate rest periods."
"Yes, Your Highness."
* * *
With the teacups between them, father and son continued their conversation.
"Prince, I intend to execute the Prime Minister and purge those who supported him. Do you think this is too harsh?"
"It would be a problem if done frequently, but for this case, it serves as a warning to others and is sufficient, I believe."
Sejong, hearing Hyang's words, sighed in relief.
"Is that so? I am relieved to hear you think so. I was worried I would be alone if you opposed me."
"The root of this issue lies with those old ministers."
"That's true. But tell me, what do you think of the Prime Minister's memorial on the harmony between the ruler and the ministers?"
"There is some truth to it. If the ruler's enforcement of laws becomes routine, and if a tyrant like Jie or Zhou were to ascend the throne, it could lead to the downfall of the nation. No one can predict the future."
'The representative figures who caused such controversy are Yeonsan-gun and Gwanghae-gun. While Gwanghae-gun's controversy has somewhat settled, Yeonsan-gun is a different story! ...Or is it?'
-The mainstream view is that Yeonsan-gun was a tyrant, but there are counterarguments. After Sejo, the principle of 'weak ruler, strong ministers' continued in Joseon's central politics. Although King Seongjong strengthened royal authority, it was not enough to completely reverse the trend. However, Yeonsan-gun completely reversed this. Using the pretext of his mother's demotion and forced suicide, he strengthened royal authority. But in demonstrating this authority, he committed unjust acts that lost him the support of the people and the moral high ground. This led to the coup of King Jungjong, which restored the principle of 'weak ruler, strong ministers.' Of course, King Jungjong was not an easy ruler either.
Sejong nodded at Hyang's response and sighed.
"Hmm~. It won't be easy to make them give up what they have."
"Another approach is needed. Instead of directly taking what they have, we should expand the playing field."