“While it is good that the people are eagerly examining the law, it is problematic that there are too many citizens waiting to review the law books. If we’re not careful, this could interfere with people’s daily lives.”
At Hwang Hui’s observation, Sejong nodded.
“Your point is well made. How many copies are currently distributed to each government office?”
“Five copies, Your Majesty.”
“Would adding another five copies be sufficient?”
“That should be adequate, Your Majesty.”
When Hwang Hui agreed with Sejong’s suggestion, Kim Jeom, who was standing nearby, raised an objection.
“Since examining the Foundation Law cannot be done in just an hour or two, even ten copies would not be enough. However, distributing too many copies also presents problems. While people are crowding in now out of curiosity, once that curiosity fades, these books could become burdensome relics.”
At Kim Jeom’s point, Sejong nodded with a slightly troubled expression.
The current interest in the Foundation Law was likely to be a temporary fever. Even children knew that Joseon would soon declare itself an empire. Therefore, it was only natural for people to be curious about the content of the law that would become the empire’s foundation.
Moreover, the notice posted at government offices clearly stated “Discuss the problems.” This was an order to point out any issues found and present alternative solutions.
If my suggestion gets selected here, it could be a shortcut to success!
Among those who knew the precedents, those with ambitions for official positions had gleaming eyes, and some even laid out mats in front of the law books to claim their spots.
As a result, reports were coming in from everywhere about arguments turning into fistfights between those who had staked out positions and those waiting in line, with some situations ending with “everyone joining hands on their way to prison.”
“Hmm… what should we do about this?”
As Sejong contemplated the best solution, his eyes naturally turned to Hyang. Simultaneously, the ministers’ eyes also turned to Hyang.
I knew this would happen. Sigh…
After internally sighing, Hyang gathered his thoughts and spoke.
“If we use the printing method used for textbooks supplied to the Public Learning Schools and use yellow paper, we can greatly reduce costs. Although we would be printing the nation’s laws on cheap paper, right now it’s more important to make the law books easily accessible to more people.”
“That’s a good idea. Minister of Finance, allocate the budget.”
After nodding at Hyang’s answer, Sejong gave orders to Park Jong-wu.
“I receive your command.”
Watching Park Jong-wu forcibly smooth out his instinctively furrowing brow, Hyang muttered internally.
Everyone becomes like that when they go to the Finance Ministry. Indeed, the world is ruled by budg… Wait?
Suddenly struck by inspiration, Hyang hurriedly addressed Sejong.
“Father, what do you think about adding this proposal?”
“Do you have something new to add?”
“Yes. Do you remember the Tripitaka Koreana printing blocks we sold to Japanese lords?”
At Hyang’s words, Sejong and Kim Jeom’s eyes glinted dangerously.
“Are you suggesting we sell limited editions of the Foundation Law?”
“Yes. While most of those gathering now are merely curious, some truly wish to study the Foundation Law. If the price is reasonable, such people will buy the law books.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
As Sejong and Kim Jeom nodded at Hyang’s explanation, Hyang internally breathed a sigh of relief.
Whew… I thought I’d be criticized for trying to sell law books for money, but thankfully everyone’s gotten used to capitalism! Viva! Capitalism!
Encouraged by Sejong’s response, Hyang spoke with more confidence.
“We should divide the Foundation Law books for sale into two types. One would be mass-printed on yellow paper, and the other would be printed on the finest Korean paper, hanji, with covers made of quality sheepskin or cowhide following the Western style. Naturally, the latter would be limited in number… say, about 100 copies for sale. For the former, we would sell them with just a small profit margin added to production and transportation costs, while the latter could command a much higher price.”
“Oho~”
“What an excellent idea! Truly excellent!”
At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard with gleaming eyes, while Kim Jeom enthusiastically agreed.
However, Park Jong-wu, the actual person in charge, tilted his head skeptically.
“No matter how ornate the cover or fine the paper, and despite being a limited edition, it would be difficult to justify a high price. The Tripitaka woodblocks we sold to the Japanese were valuable as heirlooms because they were limited editions of the complete Buddhist canon, but the Foundation Law is different.”
“He has a point.”
Nodding at Park Jong-wu’s words, Sejong turned back to Hyang. However, Hyang responded without hesitation.
“We’ll have Your Majesty’s personal signature[1].”
“Oh? My signature?”
Sugyeol was a type of signature where one wrote their name by hand instead of using a seal on documents.
After contemplating Hyang’s words briefly, Sejong smiled and asked.
“Would writing my two-character name create such great value?”
“It would be Your Majesty’s personal signature. A priceless treasure.”
At Hyang’s words, all the ministers nodded. However, Sejong didn’t immediately grant permission.
“Just scribbling my name seems insufficient.”
“Then, Your Majesty could add words of wisdom for the book’s owner. However, writing everything by hand would be excessive. The words of wisdom could be printed, with only the signature being handwritten.”
“Hmm… What does the Minister of Finance think?”
At Sejong’s question, Park Jong-wu immediately answered.
“It’s the best solution! Price won’t be an issue at all! Quantity will be the problem!”
Hyang quickly added a finishing touch to that statement.
“Please don’t forget this is a limited edition. And would you have His Majesty continuously writing signatures?”
At Hyang’s point, Park Jong-wu’s face turned pale as he quickly bowed his head.
“This humble one momentarily lost his senses! Please forgive my unseemly behavior!”
“Well, these things happen. It’s fine.”
At Sejong’s forgiveness, Park Jong-wu prostrated himself again and raised his voice.
“Your grace is boundless!”
Eventually, Hyang’s proposal was accepted. However, Sejong added a slight modification.
“For the limited editions, let’s make 100 copies with my signature and 150 with the Crown Prince’s signature.”
“What? You mean my signature too, Father?”
To Hyang’s bewildered question, Sejong smiled.
“The more the better, wouldn’t you say?”
“…Yes, I shall follow your command.”
***
Within days of Sejong’s decision, notices were posted at government offices and retail shops across Joseon.
“They’re selling Foundation Law books? At two silver nyang?”
“Hmm… seems like a reasonable price.”
“Bah! The law book won’t put food on my table – I’ll just look at the one at the government office!”
People’s reactions varied, but those who genuinely wanted to study the law nodded in agreement that the price was fair.
However, when people saw the subsequent notice, their eyes widened in shock.
“Limited edition law books? The price… good heavens!”
“Did they gild the covers in gold? Why so expensive!”
Those who were shocked by the price nodded as they read the further explanation.
“They really did use gold leaf. And… what? His Majesty’s personal signature! And the Crown Prince’s personal signature!”
“Thirty gold nyang for ones with His Majesty’s signature, twenty-five gold nyang for the Crown Prince’s signature? And fifty gold nyang for copies with both signatures?”
Upon hearing the news, Joseon’s wealthy immediately sprang into action.
“We must buy this!”
“This is the best opportunity to acquire a priceless treasure for just thirty gold nyang!”
“Go to the treasury and get the money right now!”
“If we can obtain one, it will become a family heirloom!”
Hearing these reactions, Hyang smiled and muttered.
“In about 300 years, if nothing else, these will drive collectors absolutely mad.”
And Hyang’s prediction would prove true.
Amidst all this commotion, petitions pointing out problems with the Foundation Law began flooding into Hanseong.
“These are petitions regarding the Foundation Law, Your Majesty.”
Receiving the tray full of scrolls, Sejong asked the Chief Royal Secretary.
“Why are these petitions divided into two groups?”
“Since Your Majesty ordered that all petitions regarding the Foundation Law be submitted regardless of their nature, we divided them thus. One group contains those we deemed to have merit, while the other contains those we considered worthless but set aside just in case.”
“Is that so? Well done.”
“You are too kind. It was simply my duty.”
After commending the Chief Royal Secretary, Sejong looked at the divided petitions.
“Which should I read first?”
After brief consideration, Sejong picked up the petitions classified as worthless.
“Let’s see just how bad these are.”
Before long, Sejong tossed the problematic petitions aside.
“What a waste of paper and ink!”
-The Joseon National Code and Great Ming Code already exist, making a new law book unnecessary. -Writing the law book’s contents in Hangeul diminishes the law’s gravity; it should all be changed to Classical Chinese.
“After all this time, there are still people with such outdated thinking? Chief Secretary! From now on, send back all petitions with such content!”
“I receive your command.”
After giving orders to the Chief Royal Secretary, Sejong picked up the other stack of petitions.
“Let’s see…”
As he examined the contents of the petitions, Sejong nodded and muttered.
“Indeed, there are many good points here.”
There were several worthwhile suggestions, including proposals to add Chinese characters and definitions alongside words to resolve homonym issues.
Nodding and recording the identified problems separately, Sejong clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“They’re all pointing out similar things. Most focus on surface matters. Aren’t there any fresh perspectives that strike at core issues?”
As Sejong searched for eye-catching innovative opinions, his eyes soon sparkled.
“This is it!”
-Applying the three-trial system to lawmaking clearly shows your great intention to prevent laws from becoming tools serving only a minority’s interests. However, there is a problem with the first trial. If all authority for the first trial is delegated solely to officials, they will think only of their own convenience and interests, corrupting the people’s will. Therefore, the Emperor must participate in the first trial process. Because the Emperor already knows the content, officials will be maximally deterred from manipulating the bill.
“Good. Very good.”
Nodding, Sejong handed the petition to the Chief Royal Secretary.
“Bring this person to me and also bring a copy of their household registry.”
“I receive your command.”
Ordering a copy of the petitioner’s household registry meant that if they passed the interview properly, they would be immediately specially appointed.
Receiving Sejong’s order, the Chief Royal Secretary quietly muttered.
“So the fishing begins? I wonder what big catch we’ll land this time?”
While some petitions received such high praise, others provoked Sejong’s anger.
The clearest example concerned voting rights.
-Even among freemen, there are differences in depth of learning and wealth. The greater one’s learning and wealth, the greater their influence on those around them – it’s too idealistic for everyone to have the same single vote. Votes should be distributed differently according to reality.
Upon receiving petitions with such content, Sejong became furious and issued a royal response.
“By your logic, how many votes should we give to teachers at Public Learning Schools who nurture future talent, and how many votes would be appropriate for soldiers and police officers who protect the people’s lives and property? And how many votes should the Empire’s Emperor have? If we follow your words, why do we need examiners and the three-trial system? No matter how deep your learning or great your wealth, there is always heaven above heaven! This deserves no further consideration!”
After the official document containing Sejong’s response was posted at government offices, no more petitions with similar reasoning were submitted.