It was an unexpected situation, so they were flustered, but they could not withdraw like this.
“We acknowledge that he has merit. However, the reward for that merit is far too excessive. Therefore, please withdraw the appointment as third-rank Compiler-Scholar.”
“Then what rank could you understand?”
“We could understand up to fifth-rank Junior Compiler.”
Zhu Seogi looked around and said,
“Very well.”
At those words, the Hanlin Academy scholars’ faces brightened.
But the expressions that had brightened were soon twisted out of shape.
“You say the Hanlin Academy cannot accept Sir Jeok Wigang, so there is no choice. Jeok Wigang, hear me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I appoint you as first-rank Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. From now on, lend your abilities to me and this country.”
“Your Majesty?”
First-rank?
Even Jeok Wigang was surprised.
“If I had my way, I would give you more, but I am told this is the highest office, so there is no helping it.”
“Your Majesty. This is far too much.”
“This is an imperial order.”
There was firm resolve in him, a resolve that showed he would never yield on this alone.
“Please accept it. You are the only one who can stabilize this chaotic imperial palace and put me at ease.”
At Zhu Seogi’s desperate words, Jeok Wigang had no choice but to accept in the end.
“I will serve with all my heart.”
When Jeok Wigang accepted, Zhu Seogi smiled brightly.
“You accepted just now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Hahaha! How could I be any happier?”
Zhu Seogi spoke to the Hanlin Academy scholars.
“Go at once and draft the imperial edict exactly as you heard it.”
“You must not!”
“You have gone too far! We can never accept this!”
“We shall resign at once!”
“Did I not say this was an imperial order?”
“We cannot accept it!”
All the Hanlin Academy scholars sprang up from their seats.
At that moment, Ye Yahyeon clapped his hands.
Clap, clap.
Then Embroidered Uniform Guards appeared from every direction and surrounded the Hanlin Academy scholars.
“Wh-What is the meaning of this?”
“Are you trying to threaten us now?”
At the scholars’ shouts, Ye Yahyeon laughed as if he found it absurd.
“You have just defied an imperial order. You should know better than anyone how grave a crime that is.”
“Th-That is....”
“You acted however you pleased because you believed His Majesty had no power. But now the situation has changed. His Majesty has the power to punish you at any time.”
“We did not defy him with that intent.”
“That is right! We defied him because the imperial order made no sense.”
“Regardless, is it not true that you defied an imperial order? What are you all doing? Bind them all at once!”
No sooner had the order fallen than the Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed toward the scholars.
The scholars resisted desperately to avoid being caught.
But they could not overcome the strength of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and one by one, they began to be bound.
The Grand Secretary’s scream rang out.
“Your Majesty! How can you do this? Please understand our hearts!”
At that, the other scholars shouted as well.
“Your Majesty! This is contrary to propriety!”
“Please reconsider!”
Ye Yahyeon spoke firmly to the shouting scholars.
“Shut your mouths! If you truly cared for His Majesty, you should have stayed by his side in the first place when he was lonely and alone! When he actually needed you, none of you served His Majesty!”
“Is that not true of you as well? Do you think I do not know that you killed scholars to seize the Imperial Seal?”
“Yes. I was wrong then. But now I have repented of my crimes and am protecting His Majesty like this. I am far better than you bastards throwing tantrums here. Weren’t you the ones wavering between Noble Consort Man and the Empress? Outwardly, you pretend to care for the country and act pure, but inside, you are filthy beyond measure.”
At the mention of Noble Consort Man, Zhu Seogi’s expression turned sorrowful.
“Release them.”
At Zhu Seogi’s words, Ye Yahyeon asked with a startled face,
“They defied an imperial order and harbor treasonous thoughts. If you release them like this, they will look down on Your Majesty even more and run even wilder.”
“That is enough.... They too were struggling to survive.... How could I blame them? All of this happened because I was lacking. They are not at fault. Release them.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He did not like it, but it was an imperial order.
“Release them.”
At Ye Yahyeon’s command, the Embroidered Uniform Guards released the scholars they had seized and withdrew as one.
“Go. I will accept your resignations.”
At the words that he would accept their resignations, the scholars were instead flustered.
This was merely a method of protest.
Until now, no Emperor had ever accepted the resignation letters of Hanlin Academy scholars.
If the Hanlin Academy scholars disappeared, there was no way the other officials who came from scholarly backgrounds would remain still, and they too would resign as a group.
If that happened, the entire system would collapse.
Then Zhu Seogi added one more thing.
“However, I will give you a grace period of one week. If your hearts change within that time, come to me. Then I will return your resignations. Once one week passes, I will accept every resignation here.”
“Your Majesty! How do you intend to run the country if we disappear?”
“That is not something for you to worry about.”
At Zhu Seogi’s firm words, the scholars were flustered.
Then they all hardened their expressions and said,
“Understood. Then we shall withdraw.”
“Do so. One week. Keep that in mind.”
“We will keep it in mind.”
With those words, they all withdrew.
Only after all the Hanlin Academy scholars had disappeared did Zhu Seogi let out a sigh.
“Your Majesty. D-Do you truly intend to approve their resignations?”
“What else can I do? They say they dislike it. But I also do not wish to change the office I granted Sir Jeok Wigang.”
“However, Your Majesty. Without them, all administration in the country will be paralyzed and eventually collapse! I will try to persuade them! Please consider it!”
“They are not people who will be persuaded. Right now, they are engaged in a contest of will with me. If I back down here, I cannot move forward from now on. If I cannot establish my position, the people will suffer hardship. It does not matter if I alone come to harm, but if the people suffer because of me, I will not be able to bear it.”
“Your Majesty! If all of them resign and the administration is paralyzed, the people will fall into even greater suffering! Please give me a chance!”
At the Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy’s desperate plea, Zhu Seogi nodded.
“Very well. Try to persuade them.”
“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”
Zhu Seogi did not look very hopeful.
Seeing that, the Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy bowed his head to the floor and said,
“This subject will withdraw first.”
“Do so.”
After the Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy withdrew, only the remaining people were left.
The Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue wore troubled expressions.
“Do you two also think my decision was wrong?”
“Y-Your Majesty....”
The two men watched Jeok Wigang’s expression.
At that, Zhu Seogi asked Jeok Wigang,
“Do you also think my decision was wrong?”
At Zhu Seogi’s question, Jeok Wigang shook his head.
“No. You did well. Since it has come to this, why not try starting anew?”
“Anew?”
“The court is useless whether it exists or not anyway. Transforming it anew will be no different from founding the country again. Try changing it completely with the mindset of establishing a nation.”
Unlike the other ministers, who were negative, Jeok Wigang smiled as he spoke of hope, and Zhu Seogi’s expression eased.
“Do you have an idea?”
“There are many talented people in the world. Among those talented people, many are geniuses. If you select such people from throughout the Central Plains, they will fill the palace and still leave plenty to spare.”
“However, will such people truly seek office and fame? With all the Hanlin Academy scholars gone, would the scholars truly take the imperial examination?”
“You should not use the imperial examination. You should appoint them directly.”
“Even so, would the scholars truly come?”
“Your Majesty. This country does not consist only of scholars. It has all its people. I am saying you should appoint talented people based on their ability, regardless of status.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, the Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue stood there with shocked expressions.
Appoint talented people by looking only at ability and ignoring status?
That meant shaking the very foundation of the country.
They wanted to say it could not be done, but they could not.
Because the one who had suggested that method was the terrifying Jeok Wigang.
“Oh! Why did I not think of that? While staying here, I too had become no different from them. To think I was discriminating against the people.”
“In Your Majesty’s situation, you had no time to think of such things, so please do not take it too much to heart.”
“Thank you. But even if we appoint such people, will they truly be able to do the work properly?”
“You need not worry. They have experience built through long years of practical work. They will handle matters far faster than ministers who do nothing but argue theory from their desks.”
“If it goes as you say, that would truly be wonderful.... Then how do you mean to appoint those talented people? To appoint such talent, would we not need officials for that as well?”
“If you entrust it to me, I will select people suited to the right places.”
“Can it be done within one week?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. I will entrust you with full authority, so please do your utmost. Let us use this chance to change this country for certain.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
Jeok Wigang earnestly instructed Taecheon and Chu Sohwan again and again.
“Protect His Majesty well while I am gone.”
“Yes!”
*****
After finishing his meeting with Zhu Seogi and coming out, Ye Yahyeon asked Jeok Wigang,
“How are you going to find talented people? And how will you tell whether those people are suited to that work?”
Jeok Wigang grinned.
“That is not my job.”
“What?”
“I am going to have the Lower Gate do it. Their martial arts may be weak, but there should be many among them with genius-level talent in practical work.”
“The Lower Gate? Are they not the ones living the lowest lives? If you bring those people into the imperial palace, even the remaining ministers will quit, saying they cannot work under those conditions.”
“We have to clean everything out once anyway.”
“There will be people who resort to force.”
“That would be good for me. It would be easier, in fact.”
“Ah.”
Because he was wearing official robes, Ye Yahyeon had forgotten for a moment.
Forgotten the strength of the man before his eyes.
“No, the Lower Gate people have lived vulgar lives. If those people wear official robes and act vulgar, that could backfire instead.”
“Then we just need to train them thoroughly in etiquette so they cannot act vulgar. Don’t we?”
“Hmm. I do not know whether this will go well. It is such an unprecedented situation....”
“If anything, this is good. Because only a small number of people with high status run state affairs, they do not pay much attention to matters unrelated to them, and instead boast that the country will collapse without them. We need to use this opportunity to show it clearly. This country has many more talented people than just them.”
“I do not know. Big Brother may be the only one who suffers.”
“True. It does make my head hurt. Using strength is the easiest work.”
“That is true.”
“Well, somehow it will work out. Come on, let’s go.”
“Yes.”