However, Hwang Hui didn’t back down.

“Your Majesty’s intention is truly beautiful. However, it’s inevitable that not all citizens can properly understand Your Majesty’s intent. Moreover, it’s human nature that even the wisest person will be looked down upon if completely illiterate. When this is the way of the world, who would respect laws reviewed by such people?”

“That’s right.”

“The Prime Minister’s words are correct.”

As soon as Hwang Hui finished speaking, other ministers rushed to agree.

Observing the ministers’ reactions, Sejong asked Hwang Hui again.

“Speak honestly. Is this a matter of pride?”

To Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“Honestly, we too are worldly humans.”

“Sigh…”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, Sejong let out a long sigh. In this atmosphere, Hyang offered a compromise.

“No one fails to understand the beauty of Father’s intention. However, the ministers’ words also make sense. After all, we are all finite beings living with our feet on worldly ground. So, what if we set qualification standards but limit them to those who have completed the Four Classes Academy or have equivalent education?”

Sejong pointed out an issue with Hyang’s suggestion.

“How would we verify ‘equivalent education’?”

“We can have them take a qualification examination.”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong fell into thought at Hyang’s answer, Hwang Hui and the other ministers spoke up.

“We believe the Crown Prince’s proposal is reasonable.”

“Indeed. If they have education equivalent to the Four Classes Academy, problems would be greatly reduced.”

To the ministers’ words, Sejong sighed and revealed his true thoughts.

“Sigh… Don’t you know once we start setting such standards, there will be no end? ‘Not qualified due to lack of learning,’ ‘Not qualified due to poverty,’ ‘Not qualified due to deficiencies in appearance, speech, writing, or judgment.’ There would be endless things to nitpick. Then only a tiny minority would remain qualified to be reviewers, and they would monopolize those positions generation after generation. This would lead to corruption and abuse. Like stagnant water that rots.”

Hwang Hui immediately responded to Sejong’s words.

“That’s why you set terms for reviewers in the following provisions, and limited reappointment and concurrent appointments to three times. Similarly, you also restricted hereditary succession.”

“But the wider the door, the more talent will flow in.”

“While many talented people enter, thieves also enter. We well know that placing complex and strict restrictions would sully Your Majesty’s beautiful intention. However, knowing what worldly humans are like, we suggest adding at least one minimum standard.”

“Sigh…”

Letting out a long sigh, Sejong fell silent in thought. Hyang and the ministers quietly waited for Sejong’s decision. After contemplating in silence, Sejong finally made his decision.

“I will accept your proposal. We will restrict reviewer candidates to those with at least Four Classes Academy education.”

To Sejong’s decision, the ministers all bowed their heads and responded.

“Your grace is boundless!”

Once the qualification standards for reviewer candidates were set, Hyang interjected.

“Is it right to add no restrictions beyond this?”

“Are there other issues?”

“I mention it in case someone suggests barring women from applying.”

To Hyang’s words, Hwang Hui answered instead.

“Women are also citizens.”

“But some will say that handling national laws is a great matter that shouldn’t be entrusted to women.”

“Running the country is also a great matter, and educating children at academies is also a great matter. But women are already faithfully performing their duties in these places, so making distinctions would be nonsensical. Of course, assigning women to tasks like military service that strain even healthy men would be problematic, but what’s needed for reviewing laws isn’t physical strength but heart and knowledge. Rather, placing restrictions would cause bigger problems.”

“You’re right. Such restrictions would certainly cause complaints.”

Other ministers showed similar reactions to Hwang Hui’s words.

As Hwang Hui said, many women were already handling administrative and educational duties, and their numbers were growing. And at this time, no one was more familiar with ‘give and take’ than the current court ministers and Sejong.

They were the ones most faithful to the principle of ‘definitely paying the proper compensation for work done.’

Sejong added to the ministers’ words.

“This is indeed the Crown Prince’s needless worry. Women already form one pillar of the nation, so placing restrictions on them would be unreasonable.”

Hearing Sejong’s definitive answer, Hyang bowed his head.

“I was foolish.”

“Of course, as you say, some will make such arguments, but they are merely those who don’t understand the trends of the times. Those who faithfully perform their duties receive proper rewards regardless of gender, and those who don’t are punished. This is true fairness and the foundation of proper governance.”

To Sejong’s answer, Hyang bowed his head.

“I will engrave your words like gold and jade in my bones and heart.”

What era am I living in right now?

Hyang momentarily fell into confusion.

And the court historian who recorded all this added:

-… Thus when His Majesty gave this counsel, the Crown Prince bowed deeply and expressed gratitude. It was truly a fine sight to behold.

The historian says:

Fairness is not only the foundation of governing a nation but the foundation of all things. One must be as strict with oneself as with others, and as lenient with others as with oneself. Even in the saying “cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, bring peace to the world,” fairness lies at the foundation.

By the way, hearing that those who faithfully perform their duties receive proper compensation, I now understand why only vegetables appear on my table these days. But I need to leave work on time to do anything at all.

***

After the debate over reviewer qualifications was settled, Hyang raised another issue.

“There are no provisions regarding the method of selecting reviewers.”

“That’s in the supplementary code that hasn’t been distributed yet. I provisionally named it ‘Election’.”

“Election…”

As Sejong explained, the ministers interpreted the meaning and nodded. Even in this period, it was common practice to gather opinions or decide matters by raising hands when choosing group leaders.

Thanks to this, all ministers nodded upon hearing the word “election.”

“If I may be presumptuous, could we perhaps see it now?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong’s eyes sparkled and he soon nodded.

“Let’s do that. Since it’s related to selecting reviewers anyway, handling it right away would be good. Internal Officer.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, the internal officer following Sejong’s order brought a book.

“Give it to the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ministers, review it with the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After reading the book together with Hyang, the ministers reported to Sejong.

“There don’t seem to be any particular problems.”

“Since the population varies by region, I think the standards need to be adjusted more precisely. But otherwise, there don’t seem to be major issues.”

Unlike the ministers who assessed there were no major problems, Hyang reported to Sejong in a serious voice.

“There are several issues.”

I knew this would happen!

“What are they?”

“Using ballots for the election method is good. However, I think submitting ballots with the supported candidate’s name written on them is problematic.”

“Why? Isn’t it most reliable when the citizens themselves write and submit it? And since all names are to be written in Hangeul, there should be almost no errors.”

“What if among the candidates, one is named Lee Gap-dol, but there’s another candidate named Lee Gap-deul? And if Lee Gap-dol was the most likely candidate, but due to misreading the handwriting, votes flood to Lee Gap-deul instead, resulting in an unexpected outcome, who takes responsibility?”

At Hyang’s point, both Sejong and the ministers wore expressions of having been caught off guard.

“Huh?”

“Oh?”

Seeing such reactions from Sejong and the ministers, Hyang nodded slightly.

This is the tactic Japanese politicians used well in elections! Sabotage using similar names!

“Hmm… That would indeed be problematic.”

Once Sejong clearly recognized the problem, Hyang immediately proposed a solution.

“We should prepare and distribute ballots with candidates’ names pre-printed. Also, instead of marking by hand, we should use stamps with designated patterns.”

“That would require considerable budget, wouldn’t it?”

To Kim Jeom’s point, Hyang immediately answered.

“What is the purpose of entrusting reviewer selection to the citizens? Isn’t it to make those who understand the people’s hearts reviewers? When we truly want to elect those the people desire, why hesitate over a slightly larger budget?”

“That’s true, but…”

“The Crown Prince’s words are right. When selecting those who truly understand the people’s hearts, we shouldn’t begrudge budget expenditure.”

“My thinking was shallow.”

At Sejong’s decision, Kim Jeom immediately waved the white flag. Because it wasn’t wrong.

After silencing Kim Jeom, Sejong looked at Hyang with a pleased expression.

“Well then, what other problems are there?”

“There are several…”

“Oh? Tell me quickly!”

Thus urging Hyang, Sejong turned to look at the ministers. Sejong’s expression as he looked at the ministers was full of various meanings.

See that? This is how you make criticisms!

He may be my child, but isn’t he clever! Right?

And seeing that expression, the ministers inwardly sighed.

Regardless, Hyang continued speaking.

-Production of standardized ballots. This makes voting easier while preventing fraud.

-Secret voting must be strictly observed. This requires voting booths with enclosed spaces and sealed ballot boxes.

-Vote counting must also be done in a place shielded from external influence.

“Must it really be that strict?”

To Hwang Hui’s point, Hyang countered with a question.

“What if you imagine a candidate for reviewer who is evil-hearted but powerful?”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s question, Hwang Hui and the ministers all began imagining the situation. Soon after, Sejong drew the conclusion.

“They would surround people and pressure them.”

“Yes.”

“Couldn’t we handle that by having the Police Bureau’s constables and military soldiers strictly guard the polling places?”

Though Hwang Hui suggested a countermeasure, Hyang shook his head.

“But if votes are counted on the spot, it would be immediately revealed. They might hold grudges and cause trouble, or apply subtle pressure in preparation for the future. After all, reviewers’ terms are limited.”

“Hmm… Indeed…”

In this way, Hyang explained the ‘Four Principles of Elections.’ And the laws and rules related to reviewer selection were readjusted according to this method.

During this process, Hyang experienced another culture shock, due to Sejong and the ministers’ reactions to these four principles.

While they showed various opinions about the ‘secret ballot’ part, they surprisingly, no, naturally accepted the other principles.

“When selecting those who will represent their hearts, isn’t it only right that they do it directly?”

“As already written in the Joseon Administrative Code, Joseon citizens are either commoners or slaves. When all are equal commoners, one person one vote is natural.”

“Since adulthood is recognized only when one properly fulfills their share, an adult should naturally get one vote.”

At these reactions, Hyang once again muttered internally.

Really, what era am I living in?