The ‘simultaneous marriage pursuit for the Wan-Deul brothers’ caused various discussions among officials.
“Isn’t this problematic? It’s unprecedented in both ritual precedents and historical precedents.”
“True, but they’re all the same age…”
“However, they’re legitimate and illegitimate sons. Having simultaneous weddings could cause problems later.”
“That’s true… but consider their ages. If we differentiate based on legitimacy, they’ll miss the proper timing. We’re fortunate it’s just these three now, but think about the remaining grand princes, princes, princesses, and royal princesses.”
“That is problematic…”
Similar debates occurred among ministers.
“Considering their ages, they’re certainly late. So I understand why His Majesty is rushing.”
At Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jongseo expressed opposition.
“Even so, we must prevent holding simultaneous weddings without distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate sons. If mishandled, it could affect royal authority.”
“How could royal authority be affected with His Majesty and the Crown Prince as they are?”
To Hwang Hui’s counter-argument, Kim Jongseo explained the problem again.
“That may be true for now. But we must think of the future. If a similar situation arises later, this will be used as precedent for the same treatment. The problem is that unlike now, if there’s an issue with royal authority, great chaos could arise over succession.”
Other ministers nodded at Kim Jongseo’s point.
“Certainly…”
“The Minister of General Affairs makes a valid point.”
Most present had personally experienced the transition period between Goryeo and Joseon. They had witnessed with their own eyes what tragedies—especially the Prince’s Rebellion that occurred twice—unstable royal authority and unclear succession could create.
Following Kim Jongseo’s words, Kim Jeom spoke with a troubled expression.
“The problem is that the three are now seventeen. Considering the time needed for selection and wedding preparations, in Prince Eunpyeong’s case—Seul’s princely title—he would be twenty before the wedding. This means all remaining grand princes, princes, princesses, and royal princesses’ weddings would be pushed back. The same thing that happened because of the Crown Prince would repeat.”
“Oh my… tsk!”
“Tsk tsk tsk! How vexing!”
The ministers all clicked their tongues at Kim Jeom’s words.
When Hyang’s marriage was delayed, the weddings of his younger siblings, including Jinpyeong and Anpyeong, were pushed back in succession.
It was because having younger siblings marry before Sejong’s eldest son, and legitimate heir at that, would violate proper etiquette and be considered disloyal.
And now there was a very high possibility of the same happening with the Wan-Deul brothers’ marriages.
Kim Jeom continued speaking.
“Even private families worry that twenty is late for marriage. How much more problematic is it for the royal family? No matter the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, doesn’t the royal family name carry different weight?”
The ministers silently nodded at Kim Jeom’s point.
***
Whether crown prince, grand prince, or prince, royal males married at least one to two years earlier than common people. This was to produce many healthy offspring through early marriage.
This was a paradox of the royal family. Grand princes and princes could be seen as the crown prince’s strongest competitors. Especially grand princes were the closest potential rivals.
However, they couldn’t have fewer children because of this. The royal lineage could not be broken under any circumstances. Thus arose the paradox of knowingly increasing potential competitors.
***
Kim Jeom continued speaking.
“Beyond royal matters, there are governance issues. This year already has planned government store discounts to celebrate the victory. But if we have successive weddings for the Crown Prince’s son and two princes? Then with continued weddings of grand princes, princes, princesses and royal princesses, and if the Crown Prince’s son quickly produces an heir…”
Pausing there, Kim Jeom took a drink before continuing.
“It means government store discounts almost every year. This means controlling prices will become devilishly difficult.”
Hwang Hui immediately countered Kim Jeom’s words.
“Haven’t government store discounts already been happening almost yearly? It doesn’t seem like it would be a major problem.”
At Hwang Hui’s point, Park Jong-woo, Minister of Finance and Economy, stepped forward.
“First Vice Minister Im Sun-wook has actually proposed a new plan because of this issue.”
Im Sun-wook, who had been president of the Railway Corporation, recently returned as First Vice Minister of Finance and Economy. This essentially meant he was designated as the next Minister of Finance and Economy.
Hwang Hui’s eyes sparkled at the words “new plan.”
“What is this new plan?”
“To hold government store discounts regularly. Hold discount events at fixed times for set periods each year. However, discount rates and items would vary annually. This would reduce unnecessary consumption while promoting sales of slow-moving items.”
“Hmm…”
While calculating as he listened to Park Jong-woo’s answer, Hwang Hui expressed doubt.
“It seems there’s little difference between regularizing discounts and having them for royal celebrations each year, so why would price control be difficult?”
“With regularization, we can plan by setting times and periods, but royal celebrations aren’t like that, are they? We can’t turn price control into a gambling den, can we?”
As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, Park Jong-woo continued.
“We must carefully consider having discount events for every royal celebration. Looking at the current situation, we’ll have continuous royal and national celebrations for the next few years, with multiple celebrations possibly overlapping in a single year. If discount events follow each time, people might stop normal purchasing and only wait for discount events. That would make things even more troublesome.”
“Oh dear…”
The ministers’ faces, including Hwang Hui’s, crumpled at Park Jong-woo’s explanation. Over twenty years after reforms began, the ministers’ economic sense matched Hyang’s description of them as “vanguards of capitalism.” Thanks to this, they immediately understood the problems Park Jong-woo was pointing out.
If normal purchasing doesn’t continue, the market collapses, and merchant groups collapse. Then governance will collapse too…
Then all blame will go to His Majesty, and we’ll be made scapegoats.
Reaching this conclusion, the ministers simultaneously burst out with curses.
“Damn this to hell!”
“What kind of turtle soup situation is this!”
“May three generations eat medicine!”
After venting their frustration with vigorous cursing, the ministers resumed their meeting.
“Indeed, this matter requires consideration from many angles. Let’s report these aspects to His Majesty and proceed with his decision.”
All ministers nodded at Hwang Hui’s decision.
After getting past this hurdle and while preparing the next agenda, someone grumbled quietly.
“It’s the Crown Prince again. If only the Crown Prince had married earlier…”
Hearing this grumbling, the ministers simultaneously sighed.
“Haah~”
Can’t curse him since he’s the Crown Prince…
Amusingly, while Hyang worried about the “Sejong Created Everything Theory,” among officials including ministers, the “Crown Prince Created Everything Theory” circulated even more.
It’s the Crown Prince again.
This time too, it’s the Crown Prince.
Whether good or bad, Hyang was involved in most matters that shook the nation.
“Hmm… indeed there are problems.”
Hearing the ministers’ points, Sejong nodded while stroking his beard.
“What should we do about this?”
After muttering quietly, Sejong turned to Hyang.
“What do you think?”
Oh no!
Hyang’s expression turned troubled at Sejong’s question. Though it clearly asked for Hyang’s thoughts, the meaning was different.
This happened because of you, so you provide the answer!
“Please give me a moment.”
“Very well.”
Having obtained a brief reprieve from Sejong, Hyang frantically wracked his brains.
After desperately thinking, Hyang finally found a plausible answer.
“First, having regular annual government store discount events seems like a good idea. Since even the most frugal people open their purses for discount events, it would invigorate market activity.”
“Hmm. True, true.”
Seeing Sejong’s reaction wasn’t bad, Hyang took a breath and continued.
“The problem comes with national and royal celebrations. In my opinion, it would be good to apply different levels to each category during regular government store events.”
“How would you apply them?”
“Taking royal weddings as an example, for Crown Prince or Crown Prince’s son’s weddings and births, add five days to the event period. For grand princes and princesses, three days, and for princes and royal princesses, two days. Discount rates would similarly be differentiated. This way, people would rarely wait all year just for discount events.”
“Good.”
Nodding at Hyang’s answer, Sejong turned to the ministers.
“What do you think?”
“I believe it’s an excellent alternative.”
“Having period adjustments at fixed annual times rather than events for every celebration seems truly useful.”
When Hwang Hui, Kim Jeom, and Park Jong-woo responded positively, other ministers showed similar reactions.
“Then, create a suitable plan based on the Crown Prince’s proposal.”
“We receive your command.”
“We’ll handle the government store matter thus, and for the Crown Prince’s son and princes’ weddings, we’ll do this: Avoid simultaneous weddings as that’s problematic, but hold all three weddings within the year. And as the Crown Prince suggested, handle the government store discount events together. How about that?”
“A truly fitting decision!”
The ministers all agreed in unison to Sejong’s proposal.
If it’s finished within a year, that reduces troublesome matters too!
This was the ministers’ true thoughts.
***
After resolving matters related to the Crown Prince’s son, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers began thorough reviews.
“Are compensation measures prepared for soldiers and civilians who died or were injured in this war?”
“Yes. We will compensate according to previously established laws.”
“I see. Hmm…”
While examining reports and listening to the ministers’ answers, Sejong turned to Hyang.
“The treatment center for injured soldiers that you advocated for has received excellent reviews. It will be a great help.”
At Sejong’s praise, Hyang bowed his head and answered.
“I merely did what was necessary for the security of the nation and royal family.”
At Hyang’s modesty, Sejong smiled and muttered.
“This brat…”
***
The treatment center for injured soldiers was a place primarily focused on treatment and rehabilitation of disabled soldiers injured in war or various accidents.
It was a place mainly focused on helping injured soldiers return to normal life through the development of assistive devices like prosthetic limbs, crutches, wheeled chairs—wheelchairs—and rehabilitation therapy, while also providing treatment and nursing care for severe patients like those with full paralysis.
When Hyang first advocated for establishing this treatment center, both Sejong and the ministers showed negative reactions.
“The intent is good, but is it really necessary?”
“Your Highness’s intention is truly beautiful, but considering the costs…”
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave nursing care to families and provide appropriate support?”
To these negative reactions, Hyang argued even more strongly for its necessity.
“Think about it. No matter how much the nation provides support, there are limits. This means families tasked with nursing care ultimately fall into poverty! If fighting for the country leads only to disability and poverty, who would step forward? And what citizens would want to protect a king and royal family that creates such situations? This is absolutely necessary for the security of the royal family and nation!”
“Even so…”
“Why did previous dynasties and various nations including the former dynasty fall? Because the people abandoned them! This is absolutely necessary to prevent the people from abandoning the nation and dynasty!”
Finally, following Hyang’s insistence, the treatment center was established, and it proved its worth in this war.