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Chapter 78
Chapter 78
King Sejong was accompanied by Hyang on his trip to Gangwon Province.
“It’s been a while since we father and son are traveling together.”
Sejong had been reluctant until departure, but after leaving, he enjoyed the journey.
“Indeed, Father. But, undoubtedly, the roads are the problem.”
At Hyang’s point, Sejong nodded his head.
“Indeed, that’s true. Even for the success of the reform project, the roads need attention. Who knows when the completion of the railways will be?”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately lowered his head.
“Your Majesty, I apologize. My abilities are lacking…”
“It’s not your ability that’s the problem, it’s Joseon’s capability. If there were other ways, that would be different.”
Hyang flinched at Sejong’s subtle glance.
He had prematurely revealed the concept of the railway as a shock therapy, but everyone knew they didn’t know when they could start.
However, in a situation where nobody was sure how the gradual progress of the reform project would turn out, the railway was a symbolic existence that could actually show it.
Of course, there were side effects.
From a certain point, the frequency with which Sejong subtly hinted and teased Hyang had increased.
The procession, led by Sejong, who was giving hints, and Hyang, who started to get fed up, with heavily armored cavalry escorting them, moved slowly along the narrow road.
* * *
Sejong, who had been reluctant to leave Hanyang, began to get lively as the shadow of the capital grew distant.
“It feels good to travel abroad after a long time!”
“You’ve been too absorbed in state affairs lately, Your Majesty.”
At the words of the accompanying Chief Eunuch, Sejong nodded his head.
“I did feel that way. Taking a break like this from time to time seems good.”
“That’s true, Your Majesty.”
Listening to Sejong and Chief Eunuch’s conversation from behind, Hyang clenched his fist lightly.
‘Even if I don’t like YOLO, work-life balance is essential! Yes!’
In the 21st century, Hyang, who was a self-proclaimed ‘incurable geek’, surprisingly hated the word ‘YOLO (You Only Live Once).’
‘YOLO is a waste of life!’
It was a somewhat contradictory claim, but Hyang did not particularly like YOLO or SNS.
“Why should a geek make it a livelihood or upload it to SNS if he just creates works?”
In response to the objections of his surrounding friends – not friends connected through geekery, but strictly in the dictionary sense – Hyang always answered the same way.
“There’s a difference in productivity! I’m productive and YOLO people are consumptive! What do they think of people!”
Hyang made an utterly unpersuasive argument.
* * *
As Sejong enjoyed his leisure while heading to Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, flames soared up somewhere in Hanyang.
February 15, Sejong Year 8.
It was the start of the ‘Hanyang Great Fire,’ an event that brought unparalleled damage, excluding wars, in actual Joseon history.
“It’s a fire!”
The fire started at the house of Jangryong, a male servant belonging to the Crown Prince’s office.
The flames that burned Jangryong’s house spread to the vicinity, riding on the northwest wind that happened to blow.
The thatched roofs of the commoners’ houses in Joseon were the optimal material for fire to catch.
The sparks, carried by the wind, quickly landed on the roofs of nearby thatched houses, and the number of burning houses began to increase exponentially.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! There’s a big fire! You must evacuate immediately!”
“What?”
At the urgent report of the fire, Queen Soheon rushed outside.
“Hurry and escape!”
“Quiet! Running away when there’s a fire in the capital? Summon the palace guards right away and put out the fire!”
At the time, Queen Soheon, with her swollen belly because she was pregnant with Grand Prince Geumsong1, personally started to lead the response.
“Summon the ministers immediately! And find out how far the fire has spread!”
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“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Following the Queen’s command, the court ladies and palace servants began to work diligently.
When the court ladies and the palace servants were busily moving, the summoned ministers rushed to Queen Soheon.
“You ministers, immediately command the fire-fighting force to suppress the fire!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“And send a messenger to Hoengseong to notify the King!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
However, the fire, fueled by the wind, was not suppressed but spread further and further.
“The fire is spreading, Your Majesty!”
Receiving the situation report from Hwang Hui, Queen Soheon bit her lip and made a decision.
“Mobilize all manpower to protect Changdeok Palace2 and Jongmyo shrine3! You can abandon the offices and warehouses!”
“This will leave us short of manpower to suppress the fire!”
“If the fire reaches the commoners’ houses, evacuate the people before putting out the fire.”
It was a harsh command, but both Queen Soheon, who issued it, and the ministers who received it, understood its necessity.
If Jongmyo and the palace burned, the political responsibility was secondary, but an enormous amount of wealth would go into the restoration.
* * *
“Your Majesty! There’s an urgent report from the capital!”
“What is the urgent report?”
Taking a rest near the point he had almost reached in Hwaseong, King Sejong stood up from his chair at Chief Eunuch’s words.
“There has been a great fire in the capital!”
“What? Turn the horses around at once!”
A military official who had been awaiting Sejong’s command immediately stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, the sun is about to set. The road at night is dangerous…”
“Go! While heading back to the capital, send messengers to every government post along the way! Mobilize the soldiers to light the path!”
“I accept the command!”
At Sejong’s order, the military officials selected messengers to convey his orders.
“Move!”
Receiving the orders, the messengers spurred their horses and raced away, and Sejong gave further instructions to those waiting.
“We are returning to the capital at once! Prepare!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
As Sejong urgently led his people and galloped on horseback, the sun completely set.
“This seems a bit dangerous…”
As Hyang worried about the darkening road, the path suddenly brightened.
Local officials, having received the orders sent ahead by Sejong through the messengers, had mobilized soldiers to light the way.
With soldiers holding torches on either side of the road, the horses carrying Sejong and his entourage thundered down the path.
And then Hyang realized something.
‘This gentleman, he’s good at riding?’
* * *
Thanks to the continuous riding, Sejong was able to return to the palace that night.
“Welcome back.”
“It’s fortunate that you are safe. You must have suffered greatly.”
At Sejong’s praise, Queen Soheon seemed finally to relax.
“Lead the Queen inside.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sejong, who had seen the pregnant Queen Soheon inside looking fatigued, entered the situation room without even changing his clothes.
“What’s the situation?”
“It seems the great fire is now under control.”
“How much damage has been done?”
“We’re still assessing. Fortunately, Jongmyo Shrine and Changgyeong Palace4 were spared.”
“Phew~.”
Taking a long sigh, Sejong looked into the situation further.
“What about the victims?”
“We’re still counting.”
“Strengthen the security as thieves might take advantage of the chaos to steal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“As the weather is cold, contact the military to set up tents.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After an urgent night, the report came that the great fire had been completely extinguished.
“It’s fortunate.”
As Sejong showed a sign of relief, cries of panic came from outside.
“Fire!”
“It’s a fire!”
As the cry of ‘Fire!’ rang out again, Sejong leapt to his feet.
“Where is it!”
“We’re checking right now…”
As Hwang Hui was about to give the order, an official rushed in from outside.
“Your Majesty! There’s a fire!”
“Where!”
“It’s near Jeonokseo5!”
“Suppress the fire at once!”
“Yes!”
At Sejong’s command, the officials rushed out with anxious faces to carry out his orders.
Sejong, who had taken a moment to gather himself, looked more serious.
“It’s strange that the fire that was almost under control has flared up again! Someone has set this fire! Find the arsonist!”
“I accept the command!”
Thanks to the desperate efforts of the officials and citizens, the great fire in Hanyang was finally contained.
With the smell of burning in the air, Sejong reviewed the situation.
“Report the damage we have confirmed so far.”
“Yes, first of all, excluding infants and the elderly, there are 9 men and 23 women who have died. We are comparing the household registers to identify those who were burnt to death inside their homes.”
“Phew~. What about the houses?”
“Even without considering the counted in the vicinity of the Crown Prince’s Office’s residence and the previous palaces, it’s at least over 1800 houses.”
“This… they’ve lost their homes in this winter…”
When Sejong lamented, Hyang, who was beside him interjected, “Father. The loss of houses is a big problem, but loss of food is an even greater problem. People without food are more likely to commit crimes.”
“Indeed! I must contact the grain storage in Bupyeong immediately.”
Upon Sejong’s words, Hyang pointed out a problem. “Even if you contact the grain storage, it will take a long time to bring it and prepare it. The amount of dried ration in Area 51 is considerable, so use it first.”
“Can it be done when so many have lost their homes?”
“We can make time to prepare it from the grain storage.”
“Good! Do so!”
“I will obey your command!”
When Sejong gave his permission, Hyang immediately summoned an officer and relayed the orders to Area 51.
When public security became an issue, Sejong issued orders to his deputies.
“Order the military immediately to deploy troops. Maintain order with the deployed troops and personnel from Pocheong.”
“We will obey your command!”
“Also, set up tents in the places that escaped the flames or are left vacant, and make sure those who lost their homes can rest.”
“We will obey your command!”
“Lastly, post 5 guards at the central locations of each room and building and have the patrol officers and constables inspect each district.”
“We will obey your command!”
After issuing orders concerning public security, Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts.
“I noticed something strange while experiencing this fire. We nearly put out the first big fire, so why did a second one occur? Although fires can spread with slight negligence, I do not understand. Someone must have committed arson; post the notice.”
Sejong decided on the content of the notice to catch the arsonist.
– If you catch and report the arsonist, commoners will be given an official position without distinction, and peasants will be exempted from taxes. Additionally, 200 bolts of cotton cloth will be given as a reward.
* * *
Although the great fire had reduced many parts of Hanyang to ashes, the recovery was surprisingly swift.
The first reason was the precise household information gathered through continuous inoculation campaigns.
The second reason was the great contribution of the dried ration provided by Hyang.
However, there was one side effect…
“Here, take your rice.”
“Sir….”
“What?”
“Can you give me the dried ration instead of rice?”
“Huh?”
“The side dishes were all burned.”
“…”
“All the pickled goods are overcooked and inedible? There’s no salt… Can you just give me the dried ration?”
The fatal side effect was that the taste preferences of the refugees had been unexpectedly upgraded.
Also, merchants alike all sought Hyang in Area 51.
“What’s the reason for seeking me?”
“We want to produce dried rations.”
“Huh?”
“It’s very useful as food on the road, can be stored for a long time, suitable as emergency food, and also good in taste and flavor, suitable as a special meal.”
Hearing the merchants’ explanation, the fragrance shook his head.
‘The instinct of a merchant!’
* * *
Meanwhile, many actively pursued the arsonists, following Sejong’s arrest order.
“We’ve caught the arsonists.”
“How many?”
“A total of 11.”
“They are vile wretches, aren’t they? What were they up to?”
“They are originally from Bukcheong, Gilju, Yeongheung, and most are water carriers.”
“Water carriers? Surely not!”
“It’s as you thought, Your Majesty.”
Upon hearing the answer from the Ministry of Law Enforcement, Sejong slammed his armrest.
“Have they ever seen such shameless people! Committing such acts for their gain! Execute them immediately, all male family members will be executed, and the wives and daughters will be made sl*ves!”
“We will obey your command!”
This judgment brought tragedy to many families, but few pitied them. Those who had lost wealth and family in an instant needed a target for their anger.
* * *
With the execution of the arsonists and the provision of relief grains and 300 market booths, the first phase of recovery ended.
“We need measures against fire, even if we build our houses again…”
Sejong, pausing his words, looked at Hyang.
“Crown Prince, will you give it a try? No, you’re still young; I must entrust this to someone else.”
“I will do it! Just entrust it to me!”
“Can you really do it?”
“I am confident!”
“I will trust you.”
“I will obey the command!”
With a confident reply, Hyang left the hall to prepare, and Sejong watched him go, smiling.
“Now, what will you show me this time?”
“How could I miss building a real-version of SimCity… huh?” Hyang, who had left energetically, suddenly stopped and tilted his head. “Why do I feel like I’ve been fooled?”
- Hyang’s 8th sibling[↩]
- Secondary Palace, aside from Gyeongbok Palace[↩]
- Jongmyo is a shrine housing the spirit tablets of the former kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.[↩]
- Palace for the King’s concubines and consorts[↩]
- Royal Prison[↩]
Lol. Hyang's making Joseon his playground.
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