As March began, a strange rumor started to spread in Hanseong.
Upon hearing the rumor, Gwon Jin, the Chief Magistrate of Hanseong, immediately reported it to Sejong.
"Your Majesty, there is a slanderous rumor spreading throughout the capital."
"Slanderous rumor? What is it?"
"The words are so despicable that I hesitate to repeat them..."
"It's fine. Speak up."
At Sejong's command, Gwon Jin cautiously recounted the content of the slander.
"'Crows are cawing in the pine trees of the royal shrine, the sky is capricious, and black clouds drift as rain falls. This is the time for the dynasty to change.'"
Before Gwon Jin could finish, Sejong slammed his armrest and shouted.
"How dare they!"
Sejong's outburst silenced the officials, who only watched for his reaction.
"Did you find the source of this despicable rumor?"
"We are investigating with all our might."
"Find and punish the one spreading such slander!"
"Understood."
After issuing orders to the Chief Magistrate of Hanseong, Sejong turned to the Minister of Justice.
"Is it true that there are still those attempting arson?"
"Your Majesty, it is regrettable to report, but there are still such wicked individuals."
"How dare they!"
Sejong slammed his armrest again, his anger boiling.
After the great fire in February, arsonists appeared in Hanseong, attempting to loot during the chaos. However, their attempts often ended with only houses being burned, thanks to the deployment of military forces throughout the city to maintain security and rebuild the affected areas.
Not only were soldiers deployed in large numbers, but residents of each neighborhood also formed groups to guard their rooftops. Night curfews were strictly enforced, and anyone found outside after dark, except those with special permission, was immediately arrested and imprisoned.
Despite these measures, there were still those who attempted arson for quick gains. Their actions resulted in over fifty houses burning down after the great fire, causing casualties and displaced residents. However, those who committed arson were quickly caught by the constables and soldiers and executed.
* * *
While the investigation into the rumor of "the dynasty will change" was underway, another rumor began to circulate.
"This fire was caused by Minister of War Cho Mal-saeng! Cho Mal-saeng, the Minister of War, ordered someone to set fire to weapons when the king left the capital, and Lord Yeon Sa-jong of Goksan did not follow the king's procession and plotted to cause trouble. Additionally, Cho Mal-saeng's son Cho Seon and his relative, Lord Yi In of Gongnyeong, set fire on the day of the fire and rode to attack the palace."
When this rumor spread, Cho Mal-saeng prostrated himself before Sejong and cried out his innocence.
"Your Majesty! I did not commit such a wicked act! Please believe in my loyalty!"
"Of course. You have held important positions since the reign of the previous king."
While consoling the aggrieved Cho Mal-saeng, Sejong issued an order.
"Find and punish the one spreading such slander!"
A thorough investigation of the entire city eventually led to the arrest of a suspect.
"We have caught the suspect."
"Who is it?"
"A man named Kim Yong-saeng, who once held the position of vice-magistrate."
Sejong was puzzled by the Chief Magistrate's answer.
"Vice-magistrate is at least a third-rank official. Why would such a person spread such slander?"
"We are currently investigating the reason."
"Hand him over to the Office of Special Inspection and find out the truth as quickly as possible."
"Understood!"
A few days later, the head of the Office of Special Inspection reported the findings to Sejong.
"Kim Yong-saeng harbored deep personal grudges against Minister of War Cho Mal-saeng and Lord Yeon Sa-jong of Goksan, which led him to spread this slander."
"Indeed."
Sejong sighed at the explanation.
"What kind of grudge could lead to such actions? Whether the slander is believed or not, one side will face complete ruin."
Sejong's question was valid.
Reporting treason was a life-or-death gamble for both the accuser and the accused. If the accusation was true, the accused would face the destruction of their entire family. If false, the accuser would face the opposite fate.
"That is..."
"Speak."
At Sejong's command, the head of the Office of Special Inspection explained the situation.
"Kim Yong-saeng harbored a grudge over a bribery issue, which led him to spread the slander."
"Indeed..."
Sejong was speechless, his eyes fixed on Cho Mal-saeng, who was prostrate on the floor.
"Minister of War."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"I remember what the previous king said to you: 'I want to appoint you as a prime minister, but I will do it gradually, so do not refuse.'"
"Your Majesty..."
Sejong's voice grew colder.
"For now, you are to be under house arrest. Chief Censor, listen."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Investigate the bribery issue related to the Minister of War."
"Understood!"
The Chief Censor's voice was filled with excitement.
Not only the Chief Censor but also the officials of the Office of Censors, who had not had a chance to investigate for a long time, were eager to conduct a thorough investigation.
As a result, one of the largest bribery scandals in the Joseon Dynasty was uncovered.
The scandal, recorded in the Annals as the "Kim Do-ryeon Bribery Case," revealed that Kim Do-ryeon had bribed high-ranking officials, including the Minister of War and Lord Yeon Sa-jong of Goksan, to manipulate a lawsuit.
"According to the investigation, Kim Do-ryeon bribed current and former officials, including the Minister of War and Lord Yeon Sa-jong, to manipulate a lawsuit. As a result, he took away the property and slaves of the Kim Song and Kim Jin brothers in Hongwon County, Hamhung, and turned hundreds of their relatives into slaves."
"Indeed..."
Sejong was speechless at the Chief Censor's report.
The case, as described by the Chief Censor, was a stark example of "human face, beast heart."
The case began when Kim Do-ryeon coveted the wealth of Kim Saeng. Kim Saeng, a friend of Kim Do-ryeon's grandfather, had moved to Hamgyeong Province and, after many hardships, became a wealthy man with vast farmland and over a thousand slaves.
Desiring this wealth, Kim Do-ryeon fabricated documents claiming that Kim Saeng was originally a slave of his family who had fled to Hamgyeong Province and initiated a lawsuit.
To win the lawsuit, Kim Do-ryeon bribed high-ranking officials with large sums of money.
Thanks to these bribes, Kim Do-ryeon won the lawsuit and took possession of 426 descendants of Kim Saeng, over a thousand slaves, and the farmland.
"Thus, the list of those who received bribes from Kim Do-ryeon is as follows."
Sejong unrolled the scroll submitted by the Chief Censor and read the names.
"The names of the Minister of War and Lord Yeon Sa-jong are at the top."
At Sejong's words, Cho Mal-saeng prostrated himself and cried out.
"Please execute me!"
Ignoring Cho Mal-saeng's plea, Sejong ordered the Chief Censor.
"Chief Censor and Chief Remonstrator, immediately investigate how much each person on this list received and report back."
"Understood!"
The voices of the Chief Censor and Chief Remonstrator were filled with determination.
Meanwhile, Hyang, who had heard the rumors while working at the research institute, quickly organized her documents.
"I can't just sit by and watch. This is the chance to root out the practice of bribery!"
The Office of Censors and the Office of Remonstrators were like fish in water, working diligently.
According to the report from the inspector sent to Hamgyeong Province, 132 slaves were bribed to 19 current and former officials.
The one who received the most was Cho Mal-saeng, with 36 slaves.
After submitting the list to Sejong, the Chief Censor, Gwon Do, argued.
"The value of the slaves received by Cho Mal-saeng alone is 780 guan. According to the law, up to 40 guan can be overlooked, but over 80 guan is punishable by execution!"
"Is that so?"
"Even if he was a trusted official of the previous king, if we forgive such a person, who will follow the law?"
"Indeed."
Seeing Sejong's hesitation, the Chief Censor and Chief Remonstrator prostrated themselves and raised their voices.
"Please consider our request!"
"He must be executed! Please consider our request!"
As the Chief Censor and Chief Remonstrator loudly demanded execution, Sejong looked at the Minister of War with a resentful gaze.
Seeing Cho Mal-saeng, who was trembling on the floor, Sejong was lost in thought.
Cho Mal-saeng had been a trusted official since the reign of the previous king, recognized for his abilities and contributions.
He was one of the few who followed Sejong's policies well and offered good advice.
While executing him according to the law would be the right course of action, the problem was that accepting bribes was a common practice among officials.
If all officials who accepted bribes were punished according to the law, the court would be left with inexperienced officials who only followed orders.