touchnovel Chapter 747
Chapter 747
Episode 747: Generational Change (5)
In the 16th year of the Imperial Calendar (1464),
Park Jong-woo, the Prime Minister of the Empire, died.
He was 59 years old at the time of death.
As the third Prime Minister of the Empire, he set the record as the ‘youngest Prime Minister’ at the age of 53 when he was appointed Prime Minister in the 10th year of the Imperial Calendar (1458).
At the time, there were many theories about why the Hyang appointed Park Jong-woo, leaving behind prominent officials including Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Hui.
Among many theories, this was the most influential one.
-The big picture of the emperor.
Both Hwang Hee and Kim Jeom lived to the ripe old age of 90.
And the time spent as an official was also very long.
In addition, he had excellent crisis management skills as he experienced all kinds of upheavals as a high-ranking official during the turbulent times of the end of the Goryeo Dynasty and the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty from King Taejo to King Sejong.
The problem was who would succeed those two.
They were Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in.
Both had excellent work ability and were considered the best candidates to serve as Prime Minister.
Hwang Bo-in had the personality of ensuring that once a standard was set, it was strictly adhered to. If he were to become Prime Minister, who was considered to be the leader of all people, he would be able to maintain his position and assist the emperor even in all kinds of unexpected situations and crises.
Kim Jong-seo had a different outlook from Hwang Bo-in.
While Hwang Bo-in was a stickler for his own standards, Kim Jong-seo was similar to Hwang Hee.
“You are right and you are also right. But given the circumstances, why not just back off a little?”
The person who achieved the best results by coordinating stakeholders in this way was Kim Jong-seo. However, when both sides refused to back down, he resolutely pushed ahead with his decision.
That is why the pioneering of the northeastern region was successfully completed together with Hwang Hee.
No matter which of the two became Prime Minister, they were people who could never make a wrong choice.
But the problem was their age.
Both Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in were in the 70th row.
And it was impossible to guarantee that they would live as long as Kim Jeom and Hwang Bo-in.
Therefore, it was said that the local government chose Park Jong-woo, who was recognized as the most capable among those in their 50s.
And this was half the answer.
* * *
I had been wondering whether the appointment would be optimal for the vacant position of Prime Minister.
“Either Kim Jong-seo or Hwang Bo-in would be suitable, but they are too old. And it can be seen that it is a situation where there has not been a clear verification...”
Hyang, who had been speechless, suddenly smiled bitterly and continued speaking.
“No, you probably don’t believe your eyes.”
What Hyang was worried about was whether he was overestimating Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in.
The reason Hyang was unsure of his own evaluation was because of the history he remembered.
In history before Hyang intervened, Hwang Bo-in and Kim Jong-seo were purged through the Gyeyujeong Rebellion caused by Prince Suyang.
Because of this, it became difficult for Hyang to trust his own evaluation of Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in.
– Even if you look at the annals and records of the time, it is said that Hwang Bo-in and Kim Jong-seo were outstanding people. But is this an accurate and objective record? Could it be that it is overrated simply because of its tragic end? There are very poor records of what abilities he displayed while serving as the Right and Young Councillors.
In other words, because he was a ‘loyal subject who met a tragic end in the Gyeyujeong Rebellion’, Hyang began to doubt himself as to whether he was overestimating himself too much.
“It’s definitely excellent, but I’m still anxious. Age is also an issue... You must be at an age where you can endure at least 10 years without hesitation. And Kim Jong-seo’s love for Seoul is also a problem...”
After serious deliberation, the government appointed Park Jong-woo as Prime Minister and appointed Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in as Deputy Prime Ministers.
“The person who was trained under Kim Jong-woo is Park Jong-woo. His ability has been proven, and with the help of Kim Jong-seo and Hwang Bo-in, he can make up for the lack of experience. And if it doesn’t work out, you can drop Park Jong-woo as deputy prime minister and raise one of the two to prime minister. And when the time comes, he will be promoted to Prime Minister again.”
This was not unusual. Even in history before the intervention of the Hyang, there were many cases where the positions of Young Councilor and Left Councilor were held in turns.
That is why the government appointed Park Jong-woo as Prime Minister.
However, Park Jong-woo suddenly passed away.
* * *
He had one son and two daughters, but his son, Joo Gyeon-je, died of illness at a young age.
Afterwards, he had several concubines and tried hard to have a son, but it did not bear fruit.
When Emperor Gyeong died without an heir, the Ming court was shaken.
“To whom should the throne pass...”
The ministers searched the imperial family’s family tree and desperately searched for someone suitable to succeed the throne.
But it wasn’t easy. The immediate previous emperor, Emperor Seondeok, had only two sons. One was Ju Ji-jin, who committed suicide in Liaodong, and the other was Emperor Gyeong-tae.
“Should I go higher....”
“If that happens, I will fall into a secondary world, and if I make a mistake, a civil war over the throne could break out once again.”
While the ministers were confused, not knowing what to do, someone found the answer.
“The legitimate son of the King of Liaodong is alive in Joseon!”
“The King of Liaodong’s legitimate child?”
“Oh oh!”
The ministers were delighted with the information that Joo Jin-jin’s legitimate son was alive, but they soon faced another problem.
-Although he was pushed out as King of Liaodong, Ju Ji-jin is the emperor’s legitimate eldest son.
-Therefore, there is no problem with legitimacy if Joo Jin-jin is the legitimate enemy. Rather, it is an optimal existence with no problems with legitimacy.
-But the only problem and the biggest problem was that the legitimate son was now living in Joseon.
“I lived in Joseon for almost ten years. “If this is the case, shouldn’t we be considered Korean?”
“No matter how much you think about it, it’s probably like that.”
“Will the people welcome you?”
“Then is there another alternative?”
“Among the princes of Emperor Hongxi, the previous emperor, what do you think of Pus?”
“Are you talking about Yangwang Zhou Chuanxian?”
“exactly.”
“It’s not a deficit, is it? And you’re already 64!”
“Then, as the prince of the two kings....”
“Not as a legitimate son, but as a collateral collateral? Do you think other royal family members are just watching that?”
What the ministers were worried about was the competition for imperial power among the royal family. The ministers, who had already experienced the uprising of Jeongnan, the rebellion of Zhou Hu, and the civil war waged by those impersonating Zhou Yun-wen and his son, wanted to avoid something like that happening again.
The ministers, exhausted from intense deliberation, sighed and complained.
“Whoa~. At a time like this, there should have been an elder in the imperial family....”
The ministers recalled Empress Hyogongjang, the Empress of Seondeok, who had died a few years ago.
However, the throne could not remain vacant forever. After much deliberation, the ministers came to a conclusion.
“Let’s send someone to Joseon.”
* * *
A month later, eight messengers arrived in Seoul.
Foreign Minister He Hu, who welcomed the messenger, heard Ming’s request and immediately reported it to Wan.
“Would you like Joo Gi-jin’s son back?”
“That’s right.”
Wan, who had been briefly remembering Heo Hu’s answer, looked back at the ministers with an incomprehensible expression.
“And where does your son live now?”
“Ah...”
In response to Wan’s question, all the ministers made the same expression as Wan.
‘Alas! ‘I completely forgot!’
‘I was only executing the budget and not paying proper attention!’
Since he was already in a ‘kite that fell by the strings’ situation, the person he had completely forgotten was Joo Joo-jin’s son.