1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 331



Only Krnovel

1592 The Empire Everyone Dreamed of (331)

One more step

It rained at Jeongneung Palace.

Someone was blankly staring at the rainwater running down the roof tiles.

“What are you looking at?”

“I can’t see even an inch ahead of me. What are you talking about?”

Yoon Geun-soo pretended to be impressed by Jeong Hyeon-ryong’s answer, which was like a wise question.

“Your scholarship is truly amazing. I can’t believe you’ve spent your entire life wandering the countryside and dealing with barbarians.”

“… … .”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong’s eyes were dead as he turned around.

“A general who loses a war is beheaded. But why don’t the civil servants who failed to prevent the flood apologize?”

“How can humans stop a disaster sent down from heaven?”

Yoon Geun-soo grumbled as he flinched at the moment’s unknown energy.

“Stop it. I will ask for forgiveness for my unpreparedness.”

“If it were an invasion by an outsider, I would burn this whole body down, but there is no way to deal with a natural threat.”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong turned around after saying words that were neither comforting nor lamenting.

In the meantime, unemployed officials were moving about among the gathered factions.

“Your Majesty, please come here.”

Those who had gathered by party line to discuss countermeasures retreated in confusion. Then Gwanghae entered and crossed Daejeon.

After a while, he sat on the throne and opened his mouth.

“It’s fortunate that the rain seems to be subsiding. The official should report quickly.”

“They say the rain stopped in Gimpo this morning.”

“Thank goodness. How was the damage?”

“As of yesterday, 69 people have died and the number of missing people is currently being counted.”

One after another, unemployed officials relayed news from all over the place.

“The flood damage in Suwon has come up. They say 52 people died and over 100 livestock were washed away. And they say 5 towns were submerged in water.”

“Okay.”

Gwanghae struck down the armrest.

“It was the fault of the overseer. He should have been more proactive in building the main road and checking the drainage.”

“I am ashamed to say this, but how can this be Your Majesty’s fault? It is the job of the local officials to nurture and manage the district.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that they are also officials appointed by Jim.”

The ministers were silent. If the king was a sinner, then the only way to survive was for them to first apologize for making the king a sinner.

“I am so sorry, Your Majesty. Please rebuke the gods.”

“Please punish me for not being able to assist Your Majesty.”

“stop.”

Gwanghae raised his hand and calmed the ministers.

“What about the Samnam region?”

“In Chungcheong Province, the Geumgang and Baekma Rivers have overflowed, and the number of casualties has reached 102. Fortunately, there are reports that the rain is subsiding.”

“The Honam death toll is still being tallied, but it appears that 128 people have died and the number of missing people is multiples of that number.”

“In Gyeongbuk, the Nakdong River overflowed, and Andong, Seonsan, and Gyeongju were submerged. In Gudam Village, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, 42 bodies were said to have floated down the river.”

Daejeon was enveloped in a heavy silence.

What you see on the outside is always only a part of the story. It was difficult to guess how many people had been sacrificed, as the damage control had not yet been even considered.

It was Heo Gyun’s report that broke the silence.

“Your Majesty, I have a petition from Andong, Gyeongbuk.”

It was surprising that local administration was functioning properly even in the face of a national disaster.

“Heh, now is not the time to listen to mere rumors.”

“Your Majesty, please keep your wits about you.”

When Gwanghae raised his hand, the crowd became quiet again.

“Despite this chaos, there must be a reason why the Office of the Royal Secretariat passed it. The Royal Secretariat should report it without hesitation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Heo Gyun unfolded the scroll.

“I, Kim Se-yeol, a village elder from Andong, bow down and report. I gave up taking up government service because my studies were shallow, so please forgive my lack of formality. A heavy rain fell in the village, uprooting trees and washing away houses. Children who had lost their parents and old people who had lost their children cried out in despair. At that moment, the local leader Lee Hyeop coveted the timber floating down the river, so he coerced about ten slaves and commoners into setting sail on a boat. The boat capsized in the rough waters, and we do not know the life or death of the people. As a fellow nobleman, I feel utterly ashamed and report Lee Hyeop’s crimes.”

Heo Gyun, who had folded the scroll, stepped back without saying a word.

“Uh, uh. Tsk tsk tsk.”

“If it’s Toho, then it’s not a middleman?”

“You called him a country bumpkin at the beginning, but seeing as you mentioned he was also a nobleman at the end, I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Oh, this is so embarrassing.”

In the year of Imjin, noblemen of good character died as volunteers and protected the country. On the other hand, it was a well-known fact that those who were not of high caliber as nobles survived by amassing wealth.

In some ways, it was a belated aftereffect of the previous war.

“I want to make this matter clear. The Office of the Inspector General should dispatch an official to confirm the whole story.”

“I will obey your command.”

Gwanghae, with his elbows resting on the throne, rested his forehead on it.

“What about the damage north of the city?”

“The raindrops became weaker as they passed through Hanyang. It is said that the fields in Uijeongbu were submerged in water, but no other damage has been reported.”

“Your Excellencies, please ensure that the relief for the displaced people is being provided properly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Minister of Public Works.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Minister of Public Works Lee Deok-hyeong, Colonel.”

“You should go down to the position of Gyeongchagwan. Go and command the shepherds and save the people. Is there anything the Minister of Taxation can do?”

“I am sorry to inform you, but there is no relief rice to be sent down from the central government… … .”

“I will release the grain from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

The merchant ship that had been parked next to Gwanghae bowed.

“I am very sorry. I understand that the royal treasury is running low due to the relief rice provided this spring.”

“I see.”

Gwanghae, unable to continue speaking, turned his gaze outside the Daejeon gate.

“… … .”

As the rain began to fall steadily, the ministers simply kept their mouths shut and bowed as if they were ashamed of their faces.

“Your Majesty, I am ashamed to say this.”

“Are you the Minister of War? Whatever you want, just tell me.”

“Please collect taxes in advance from each household. Pay all taxes due this year and, if possible, next year’s taxes in a lump sum.”

The ministers’ condemnation continued.

“Ugh, even so, that’s it.”

“Your Majesty, isn’t that an abuse of power by the government?”

“How can you save face when you are just a top official?”

“Please, please collect the salaries of the third-rank officials and above. In this way, let them atone for some of their sins of not being able to prepare for this calamity.”

“No, that’s a bit.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

The ministers became quiet in an instant. And they regretted provoking Jeong Hyeon-ryong.

“The opinion of the Minister of Taxation is indeed appropriate. Even if an immoral person is a little bit poor, what does it matter? I will do my best to save even one of the people. Minister of Taxation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Call the highest officials of the country to the palace and convey my will. Then, each department should cooperate to expedite the process as much as possible.”

“I will obey your command.”

“Do Seung-ji.”

“Yes, Colonel Heo Gyun, the Chief State Councillor.”

“As soon as the rain stops, send a boat to the Namhae naval base. Tell the military commander to secure as much rice as possible.”

“I will make sure to follow through without any deviation.”

Gwanghae stood up from the throne.

“You, my ministers, look and look again. Check again to see if there is anything you have missed, and to see if the damage is being properly repaired. Remember that this is an apology to the people who died.”

“Your kindness is truly infinite.”

“I am so sorry.”

The ministers who had finished their duties flowed out like the ebb tide.

Gwanghae, left alone in the empty palace, buried himself in the throne.

He rested his chin on his hand and looked at the falling rain.

Even though he had established a royal family in a hellish situation, he was miserable because he could not even take care of the country he had inherited.

“I guess I should write a letter to my brother.”

The sound of the frequent rain was miserable.

* * *

After finishing his late afternoon work, Jiwoo headed to the mansion.

Someone approached Kim Myeong-seop, who was performing a task a step away, whispered to him, and then disappeared.

“Your Majesty, it is paid.”

“Really? That’s good, I’m on my way home from work.”

The headquarters of Solbin was located next to Jiwoo’s mansion. It was located across the street from the central government building.

“Two carts in one piece for the village, the deadline is one month.”

“200 seok of white rice as payment for black coal in Orutka, shipped on a transport ship arriving in two days.”

“Ah, it is good to see you, Your Majesty.”

Those who had been moving around busily exchanged brief greetings and focused on their work.

Jiwoo nodded and walked slowly.

“Welcome, Your Majesty. How would you like some tea?”

“Black tea with half a spoon of sugar, please.”

A female employee in her 30s smiled and disappeared.

After entering the building and climbing the stairs, many employees bowed their heads to greet me, but there was no courtesy. They just kept mumbling about their work and seemed absorbed in their work.

The place where his steps stopped was a wide space that took up half of the second floor.

“As of the 15th day of July (August in the solar calendar), the Geumgang and Baekma rivers have flooded, with 102 deaths and 455 missing.”

“128 dead in Naju, Damyang, and Jeongeup.”

“Nakdong River floods, 42 dead, damage continues to increase.”

In the spacious room, long tables were lined up, and people came and went, placing their bags on them and then leaving.

As documents poured out of the bag, those sitting at the table read them out loud and then sorted them.

“The rain has subsided starting from Hanyang.”

“There is no special damage north of Uijeongbu.”

Jiwoo took another step and climbed the stairs. The stairs were connected to a railing that surrounded the interior at two stories high. On one side of the railing, a man in a choro was receiving a report.

“The rainy season is over. Let’s start moving up again.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Uncle Dolsoe, you called me?”

“Welcome, Your Majesty. I am always sorry.”

“Your Majesty, I greet you.”

The employee turned around, bowed to Jiwoo, and went down the stairs.

“I’m joking. You shouldn’t be revealed publicly.”

“Hehehe, please sit over here.”

He was a leader of smuggling trade between Onsong, Hamgyeong Province and the city of Imjin after that year, and he was also a colleague who had engaged in smuggling with Jiwoo before the war.

“I stopped by on my way home from work. Is something serious?”

“Joseon is in a state of water crisis. The damage to the lower classes is particularly severe.”

“Phew.”

Jiwoo glanced down at the railing. Dozens of people were sitting there sorting through information.

“I heard the gist of it. It’s frustrating and infuriating.”

Here in Goryeo, we need at least one more Joseon person, but Joseon seems to be turning a blind eye to the deaths of hundreds and thousands of its own people, which really makes me angry.

“Isn’t the weather ultimately determined by the will of heaven?”

“So, shouldn’t we have paved roads and dug drainage ditches to facilitate the movement of people and water? Isn’t that the job of the government?”

Of course, dimensions are not that simple.

Since ancient times, many rulers have tried to control the waters, but few have achieved anything, and the people who had to do the hard labor were always resentful.

“How can people overcome nature? It is common for people and livestock to die from the cold.”

“Ugh.”

After a while, the fragrant scent of tea rose.

Slurp.

“I can confidently say that you, Solbin, are the best at making black tea.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The female employee responded with a smile, turned the bag on her back, and took out the documents.

“Here is the letter you mentioned. This is the final document.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Go and do your work.”

The sergeant who sent the staff down, Im Pan-seok pushed the document.

“This is a letter from the King of Joseon delivered through my investigation.”

“Your younger brother?”

Jiwoo opened the letter.

[My younger brother from the South sends his greetings. I heard that you had a son last spring, following the founding of the country early this year. With this, the foundation of Goryeo has been firmly established, and I am deeply moved. I am reluctant to write this, but last summer, a flood occurred in the country, killing thousands of people and submerging rice paddies and fields. Hundreds of thousands of the displaced people are surviving on miscellaneous grains, but even that is about to run out. I will now put down my pen, praying for your help. May your noble body and dignity be at peace.]

Jiwoo put the letter down with a displeased expression.

“You’re asking for rice.”

“In the name of the upper class, I paid 10,000 seok of white rice and 40,000 seok of mixed grains. Yes, this is for three years’ worth of taxes.”

“The current stock of Segok is, hmm. Should I call the Prime Minister?”

Jiwoo’s eyes were turned towards Uncle Dolsoe.

“80,000 seok from Solbin, 100,000 seok from Haeranbu, and 500,000 seok from Seogyeong (Beijing) to Guknaeseong just recently. Oh, and.”

Mr. Dolsoe scratched his head and flipped through the documents.

“Here it is. There are 150,000 seoks of military rations left in Mukden (Seonyang).”

“How much is available?”

Mr. Dolsoe calculated on an abacus.

“Since the three grains will be coming in in two months, it will be possible to withdraw up to 70% of the reserves.”

“Send it down right away.”

“Without any conditions?”

Jiwoo nodded.

“Aren’t we the people who will one day be together under the skies of Goryeo? Let’s push forward quickly, with Solbin at the forefront.”

“Umm… … .”

The old man, frowning, tapped his fingers on the desk. It was a rudeness that only Jiwoo’s comrades could enjoy.

“After two months, as soon as the three songs arrive, we will send 1,200,000 more seok.”

“There is more support than in the year of Gye-sa (癸巳年).”

“I have to save them and see, I have to save them and make them all my people.”

“How about doing it this way?”

Dolsoe Uncle, Im Pan-seok’s eyes lit up with a different color.