Sejong brought documents related to various tasks that had been carried out in the new territories.
***
The volume of documents that had been created since discovering the new territories and establishing a bridgehead was enormous.
Of course, these documents had been delivered to Hanseong through regular dispatches, and Hanseong processed them as quickly as possible before sending them back to the new territories.
However, due to the great distance between Joseon proper and the new territories, most tasks ended up being post-approval situations.
Sejong had gone to the new territories to resolve issues that might arise from this time lag.
The goal was to minimize potential problems by having the highest authority and power holder handle all matters in real-time on site.
And now, boxes full of documents from that period-exactly 248 of them-had been brought back together. All but two of these boxes were sent to the Typography Bureau. After being mass copied there, they were distributed to the Six Ministries in charge of administration.
The mainland officials, well-versed in administration, began analyzing the documents in the boxes and entering the improvement process.
***
As the number of boxes brought from the new territories dwindled, Hyang and the ministers’ attention focused on the two boxes that had entered Gangnyeongjeon.
Following Sejong’s orders, these two boxes had gone directly to Gangnyeongjeon instead of the Typography Bureau as soon as they arrived at Gyeongbok Palace.
Officials gathered in small groups to gossip about the boxes in question.
“What do you think is in them?”
“Well… maybe just His Majesty’s personal miscellaneous records?”
“But according to the records, they’re classified as public documents? If they were His Majesty’s private documents, wouldn’t they have been classified and transported separately?”
“That’s true… it’s quite puzzling, isn’t it?”
Similar conversations were taking place among the ministers.
“What do you think might be in those boxes?”
To Kim Jeom’s question, Lee Sachul picked up the conversation.
“Could it be new historical records?”
“Historical records?”
“Didn’t His Majesty request that historical records circulating in the court and countryside be collected and sent while he was in the new territories? Perhaps he’s compiled them into new historical records?”
Some nodded at Lee Sachul’s words, while others tilted their heads. Kim Jongseo, one of those who tilted their heads, pointed out the issue.
“If that were the case, they wouldn’t have been classified as public documents.”
To Kim Jongseo’s observation, Lee Sachul presented another argument.
“Couldn’t they be historical records made for study at the Four Classes Academy? Then they could be classified as public documents.”
“If that were the case, they would have already been printed at the Typography Bureau and distributed, starting with the Education Ministry. But that hasn’t happened, has it?”
“Well, that’s true…”
As Lee Sachul trailed off, running out of answers, Kim Jongseo turned to Hwang Hui.
“What does the Prime Minister think?”
To Kim Jongseo’s question, Hwang Hui gave a brief answer.
“I’m doing my best not to think about it.”
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
When all the ministers, including Kim Jongseo, showed shocked expressions at this unexpected answer, Hwang Hui let out a long sigh.
“Sigh… After all this time dealing with His Majesty, you still don’t understand?”
“Pardon?”
“Sigh…”
Sighing again, Hwang Hui continued in a gloomy voice.
“His Majesty makes us work hard enough to die, but never quite lets us die. Do you understand? And the fact that he hasn’t brought it up until now… sigh…”
As soon as Hwang Hui finished his words with a sigh, the ministers’ expressions crumpled.
“Oh, damn it all!”
“No wonder the medicine I took yesterday tasted sweeter than usual!”
“Just sweeter? Didn’t he suddenly give us royal wine a few days ago too?”
“So that was ‘Treasury’s Receiving Day’!”
***
A few days ago, Sejong had gathered all officials at Gyeonghoe Pavilion for a banquet.
“Your efforts in achieving this great work were truly tremendous. I have prepared this modest banquet as a token of gratitude.”
All officials at the feast bowed their heads and raised their voices at Sejong’s praise.
“Your grace is boundless!”
During the ensuing banquet, Sejong personally went around pouring drinks for all officials.
“Such an honor!”
“Your grace is boundless!”
Officials who received drinks from Sejong raised their voices in overwhelming emotion.
That day, by Sejong’s royal command, all officials from the Six Ministries were able to leave work on time. Not only that, but the Royal Treasury also distributed appropriate rewards according to each official’s rank. Though called rewards, the amounts were only enough to buy one or two chickens. However, the steps of officials leaving work on time carrying bags containing chicken, salami, or Western Region sausages were unusually light.
***
This was why the ministers’ expressions had crumpled at Hwang Hui’s explanation.
- Despite the related work almost being complete, not only had he not brought it out, but he’d even held a banquet.
- Looking at how His Majesty assigns work, he pushes people right up to the brink of death.
Combining these two points, the inevitable conclusion was clear.
-Inside those boxes is a task with a workload that would make death seem preferable.
“Should I just submit my resignation?”
At Hwang Bo-in’s mumble, Kim Jongseo shook his head.
“Knowing His Majesty’s nature, he’d accept it but transfer you to the Office of Records.”
“Oh shit…”
The situation was the same for Hyang.
“…There are such rumors going around, what does Your Highness think?”
To Han Myeong-hoe’s question, Hyang answered firmly.
“Don’t think about it. Use that time to process one more official document. Unless you want to end up working the bellows in Sector 51.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Hyang’s warning, the Four Ministers buried their heads in piles of documents. Watching them, Hyang grumbled internally.
A sudden banquet and bonuses? No matter how I think about it, it’s suspicious. I should escape to Sector 51 before Father drops this bomb!
Along with Hwang Hui, Hyang shuddered with an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
However, from Sejong’s perspective, this was an unfair misunderstanding.
We’ve achieved a historically momentous feat – how could we just let it pass without celebration!
For Sejong, it was a genuinely grateful banquet and reward distribution.
***
Five days later, word came from an official planted in the Typography Bureau.
-The boxes have come out of Gangnyeongjeon!
Receiving the message, Hwang Hui clicked his tongue and looked around at the other ministers.
“Tsk! Finally, it’s here.”
“Sigh…”
“Haah…”
“Now where did I put that anxiety medicine?”
At Hwang Hui’s words, the ministers either sighed or searched their sleeves for medicine.
Hyang’s reaction was the same.
“Finally, it’s here. Sigh…”
After taking a deep breath, Hyang ordered Han Myeong-hoe.
“Bring it as soon as the printing is finished at the Typography Bureau!”
“Yes, sir!”
***
Three days later, Hyang and the ministers were able to receive the items in question.
What they received were 12 thick volumes in total.
Everyone who received the books first checked the title.
“Foundation Law?”
While everyone was tilting their heads, Hyang was naturally the first to understand.
“The character for foundation (礎)… so it is a constitution after all? But it’s called Foundation Law rather than Constitution, which feels a bit unfamiliar.”
After mulling over the name that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar several times, Hyang soon reached a conclusion.
“Well, since the word ‘constitution’ was created by Japan anyway, maybe Foundation Law is better.”
This was half correct.
The word ‘constitution’[1] first appeared in the historical text “Guo Yu” written by Zuo Qiuming of the Zhou Dynasty. Japanese modern thinker Mitsukuri Rinsho used this term to express the concept of the French word ‘Constitution’. Over time, it became established as a word with a common concept throughout Northeast Asia. (Note 1)
***
That day, after work ended, Hwang Hui and the ministers sat around the conference room.
“Well! Though we weren’t looking forward to it, we’ve received it, so let’s begin.”
“Yes.”
“But do we need another law code? Don’t we already have several law codes, including the Joseon Administrative Code?”
To Lee Sachul’s point, Hwang Bo-in responded.
“The customs and norms of those living in our newly expanded territories are all different, so handling them with existing law codes would be problematic. Moreover, we’ve mostly followed the Great Ming Code until now, but we can’t continue doing that, can we?”
“Indeed, that’s right.”
“A new era has begun, so we need new preparations.”
Surprisingly, the ministers showed positive reactions to creating new laws.
“Well then, shall we begin!”
At Hwang Hui’s words, the ministers nodded and simultaneously turned the cover page.
“Let’s skip the table of contents.”
After turning past the page with the table of contents, Hwang Hui read the content in a loud voice.
“Article 1. The Great Han Federal Empire is a federal empire…”
Article 1. The Great Han Federal Empire is a federal empire.
Article 1, Section 1. The monarch of the Great Han Federal Empire is the Emperor.
Article 1, Section 2. In the national name Great Han, Han signifies unifying the legacy of the Three Han, which inherited Joseon established by Dangun.
Article 1, Section 3. Han means ‘center, middle.’ Thus, Great Han means the center of the world. Records regarding this… (omitted)
Article 1, Section 4. Han also means ‘great, wide, high, many, numerous.’ This means that anyone who follows Great Han’s national policy and laws within Great Han’s territory is a citizen of Great Han.
Article 1, Section 5. Great Han’s national policy is ‘broadly benefiting humanity’ as stated by Hwanung.
“Up to here, there doesn’t seem to be any particular problems.”
All the ministers nodded at Hwang Hui’s assessment.
***
Becoming an empire was the natural progression once they declared imperial status and established a new era. And the moment they became an empire, changing the national name was inevitable. While it was true that the current name Joseon was taken from the name of ancient Joseon, there was an issue with the selection process.
It was because it was a name chosen and bestowed by the Ming Emperor. Therefore, continuing to use it would create both issues of pride and diplomatic problems.
Thus, there was no issue with setting the national name as ‘Great Han.’ In fact, many people were still more familiar with the term ‘Three Han’ than ‘Goryeo’ or ‘Joseon.’
This was the context in which Goryeo’s unification merit subjects were called ‘Three Han Merit Subjects,’ and later appointments of Wall-Facing Merit Subjects and Posterior Wall-Facing Merit Subjects of the Three Han continued. (Note 2) As a result, ‘Best in the Three Han’ was still used as a modifier meaning the best in any field, as in phrases like ‘The Best Sword in the Three Han.’
Interestingly, there was significant mixed usage between ‘Han’ and ‘Han’ (with arae a). The upper class called it ‘Han’ (with arae a), while the lower class called it ‘Han.’
***
Following Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jeom spoke up.
“I think explaining the meaning of Han was also good. Saying it’s the center of the world means all culture and civilization enters and leaves through Joseon, so I believe it accurately clarifies the path that both present and future Joseon should take.”
Following Kim Jeom’s words, Lee Sachul continued.
“I think that part needs additional explanation. While we who are familiar with His Majesty understand it immediately, as time passes, there will surely be those who interpret it differently. While this could lead to positive outcomes, it could also lead to negative ones.”
“I agree.”
“I concur.”
Other ministers agreed with Lee Sachul’s point, and Hwang Hui made the decision.
“Very well. Then let’s report that this section needs additional explanation.”
“Yes.”
Thus, Hwang Hui and the ministers wrestled with the law code until dawn.
***
Note 1) https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%97%8C%EB%B2%95
Note 2) http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0060942
Reference) ᄒᆞᆫ -> Han with arae a