The debate between Lim Sun-wook and Shin Sukju was so fierce that the historians and scribes were screaming internally.
The other ministers watched their debate with troubled expressions. Since both opinions were reasonable, it wasn’t easy to take either side.
Meanwhile, on the throne platform, Wan watched their debate with a deliberately serious expression. However, his true feelings were entirely different.
‘Rice cakes! I need rice cakes! Lots of them!’
Wan had come to appreciate the charm of debates—not the kind where two factions hurled insults at each other, but debates between a few people armed with logic and justification.
‘So this is what Grandfather meant when he said watching was thoroughly entertaining! This is what he meant when he said it’s sometimes more fun than acrobats’ performances or courtesans’ songs and dances!’
Finally understanding the meaning of what Hyang had told him, Wan watched their debate with a fascinated expression.
‘And what else did he say? Right! He said to cut it off before it overheats with inquiries about each other’s parents’ well-being or civil service exam rankings? Hmm… When would be good?’
Looking for the right time to stop the debate, Wan looked toward where the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers sat.
Hwangbo In and the Left Deputy Prime Minister had their hands on their foreheads, sighing softly, while the smile was slowly disappearing from Kim Jong-seo’s face, who had been grinning just moments before.
‘Right now!’
“Both of you, stop speaking.”
When Wan raised his hand to order a halt after seeing Kim Jong-seo’s expression, Shin Sukju and Lim Sun-wook stopped mid-sentence.
Looking at them both, Wan continued.
“While it’s good that you two engaged in debate, you’re increasingly straying from the main point. This is not good. I know well that your dispute arose from loyalty to me and the Empire. Since it came from loyalty to me and the Empire, what fault could there be? However, you two have now forgotten your original intent and are only trying to suppress each other—this is the fault.”
At Wan’s criticism, Lim Sun-wook and Shin Sukju prostrated themselves on the floor.
“Please forgive this minister’s disgraceful behavior!”
“Before I knew it, I was seeing only trees, not the forest! Please forgive this minister’s disgraceful behavior!”
“Since your dispute arose from loyalty, I have no intention of punishing you. However, if you show such disgraceful behavior again, I will certainly impose severe punishment.”
“We will keep this in mind constantly!”
Having stopped their debate, Wan turned toward Hwangbo In.
“Prime Minister. I ask you.”
“Please inquire, Your Majesty.”
“As I said, it’s not that only one of their opinions is right or wrong. I think both opinions have right and wrong aspects. I believe coordination is necessary—what do you think?”
At Wan’s question, Hwangbo In bowed and answered.
“I think Your Majesty’s words are most appropriate. Both of their words came from loyalty to Your Majesty and the country and are extremely reasonable. Rather than choosing one and discarding the other, mixing and coordinating both is truly appropriate.”
“Then how should we coordinate? Let’s deliberate once.”
“Your ministers will deliberate and present to you.”
“No, since it’s rare for everyone to gather like this, let’s put our heads together and deliberate now.”
“…Yes.”
Both Hwangbo In answering and the ministers listening behind all made slight grimaces and grumbled internally.
‘Present opinions before His Majesty? He’s trying to catch us!’
Presenting opinions in the Emperor’s presence was break-even at best.
It was especially dangerous right after notably exceptional opinions like Lim Sun-wook’s and Shin Sukju’s had just caught the Emperor’s eye.
As mentioned above, break-even was the best outcome, and if one made a mistake and heard tongue-clicking, the future would become arduous.
However, since the Emperor had commanded it, they were in an inescapable situation.
But there was someone who saw this as an opportunity.
Han Myeong-hoe, who had risen to the position of General Affairs Minister, lit up with burning ambition.
‘This is my chance! If I do this right, one of the two positions above me is definitely mine!’
Traditionally, the Left Deputy Prime Minister position was held by the Finance Minister, and the current Finance Minister Lim Sun-wook was called ‘another money addict.’
Therefore, Han Myeong-hoe was aiming for either the Right Deputy Prime Minister position held by Kim Jong-seo or the Prime Minister position held by Hwangbo In.
However, since he lacked in various ways to take the Prime Minister position, Han Myeong-hoe was aiming for the Right Deputy Prime Minister position.
‘Of course, I must eventually rise to Prime Minister! For that, now is crucial! Come on! Think! Think!’
Han Myeong-hoe began racking his brain while reviewing the debate between Lim Sun-wook and Shin Sukju.
***
While reorganizing their positions, Wan and the ministers took a brief break.
Even while going to the restroom or stepping outside the hall to stretch their stiff bodies, the ministers’ minds were racing frantically.
‘The differences between the two opinions are…’
‘What can be discarded from this opinion… No, what must be discarded…’
‘Ah! Why can’t I think of anything! Maybe some brain tonic… Tonic? Ugh!’
‘This break isn’t really a break… I really want to cry!’
When the break ended and all ministers returned to the hall, Wan also returned and sat on the throne platform.
“Now, let’s begin.”
“Yes.”
Though they answered thus, no one easily opened their mouths. While the ministers were watching each other cautiously, the first to speak was Han Myeong-hoe.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Han Myeong-hoe rose from his seat and began speaking while bowing to Wan.
“Your Majesty, something was missed in their earlier conversation.”
“Missed? What?”
“Time, Your Majesty.”
“Time?”
“Yes. And I believe that time is the most important answer.”
“Explain in more detail.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
To summarize Han Myeong-hoe’s words:
- It’s impossible for Florence to act immediately. Therefore, our Empire won’t be drawn into conflict right away either.
- The reason is military training.
Turning men who know nothing about guns and artillery into proper soldiers isn’t something that happens in a day or two.
Especially if Florence wages war, they’ll have to stake their national fortune, which will require even more time.
- The Empire can use that time.
Barring unusual circumstances, as time passes, the Empire’s economy will grow larger and stronger. Using that growing and strengthening economy to make the Imperial Army larger and stronger, we can respond more comfortably even if we encounter contingencies.
“…That’s all.”
“Interesting.”
Stroking his chin with an interested expression at Han Myeong-hoe’s words, Wan asked him.
“Then, how much time does the General Affairs Minister estimate?”
“I believe we should count on at least 10 years.”
“10 years… Plausible. Finance Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Would 10 years be somewhat feasible?”
After briefly calculating at Wan’s words, Lim Sun-wook answered carefully.
“With the current budget allocated to the Defense Ministry, it’s insufficient.”
“Why?”
“If we must deploy Imperial forces to Italy in earnest, we’ll need many more ships than now. Ships are extremely expensive items, and considering the cost of training soldiers to operate those ships, it’s insufficient. But if we increase the Defense Ministry’s budget, budgets allocated to other departments will decrease. To solve this by increasing the overall budget, we’d need to collect more taxes. Then the people’s dissatisfaction will grow.”
“Is it impossible to increase taxes to an appropriate level?”
“Even now, petitions saying taxes are excessive are coming up.”
At Lim Sun-wook’s answer, Shin Sukju interjected.
“Haven’t such petitions always existed? Can’t we ignore them to some extent?”
“If the people’s dissatisfaction accumulates excessively, the country could be shaken.”
“So moderately…”
“Justification is the problem, justification. Italy is far from the Empire. And war hasn’t broken out yet. We’ll increase the military because war will break out in a place far from the Empire, and collect more taxes for this? Do you think the people will accept it? And you haven’t forgotten the Empire’s founding principle, have you?”
“…”
At Lim Sun-wook’s final question, Shin Sukju fell silent.
The founding principle Sejong proclaimed when establishing the Empire was ‘Hongik Ingan’[1]. Within the principle of ‘broadly benefiting humanity’ was included not using force carelessly.
Having silenced Shin Sukju, Lim Sun-wook bowed to Wan and continued.
“To succeed without forcibly increasing taxes, 10 years is a bit, no, very insufficient.”
“Insufficient… I see. Then what if we release the gold and silver we’re continuously accumulating?”
***
Starting with the reforms, they had developed gold and silver mines throughout the Korean Peninsula. And together with Ouchi, they had developed the Iwami silver mines.
Most of the gold and silver secured this way was steadily accumulating in the Imperial government’s secret vaults.
When unexpected natural disasters or large-scale epidemics paralyzed the people’s economic activities, the Imperial government implemented various financial policies for the people.
In most cases, they used the contingency funds budgeted for this purpose. But when larger finances were needed, they took gold and silver from these secret vaults. The same applied when wars staking the nation’s fortune broke out.
***
At Wan’s suggestion, Lim Sun-wook shook his head.
“If done wrong, too much money will flood the market and we’ll lose control of prices.”
At Lim Sun-wook’s words, Kim Jong-seo, who had been silent, interjected.
“Then what should we do? Don’t just say it can’t be done—if you have an alternative, speak up. What His Majesty wants now isn’t to hear ‘it can’t be done,’ is it?”
At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Lim Sun-wook immediately answered.
“We must extract as much as possible from Florence. If we can extract it, we must get everything from the costs of training their army to payment for weapons sales.”
At Lim Sun-wook’s words, Shin Sukju spoke again.
“Isn’t weapons sales a bit much? Among their requests was also to let them manufacture weapons themselves. Isn’t it because they don’t want too much money going out for weapons purchases? Finance Minister, have you forgotten they hold a very important hostage? Suez.”
“Then how about also pursuing a plan to receive royalties for each weapon manufactured?”
At Lim Sun-wook’s suggestion, Shin Sukju nodded. While the two were finding common ground, Jang Hang-seon stepped forward.
“I oppose transferring Imperial weapon production technology to them. It’s just Florence now, but over time all of Europe will be armed with weapons of similar performance to our Imperial Army. That would truly become a troublesome problem.”
With the Defense Ministry opposing, the discussion fell into a maze again. Each party’s interests had become entangled with one another.
While everyone was troubled trying to solve this difficult problem, an official from the Royal Secretariat entered and reported to Wan.
“Items sent from the New Frontier have arrived in Wonsan. Among them is a list that came with a letter saying Your Majesty should see this before anything else.”
“Bring it.”
After checking the letter Hyang sent, Wan unfolded the list.
“Florentine rifles?”