Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 603

Episode 603: Opening of Heaven – Controversy over the First Law (6)

King Sejong, who had accepted the appeal in question, looked like he had been defeated.

“It’s the formation of an external knowledge department... something I never thought of.”

At King Sejong’s words, the government and ministers all nodded.

* * *

The background for the creation of those with a business named Oejibu was a funeral home. The job of the funeral home was to manage slave documents and handle lawsuits over ownership of slaves.

Even though their number was greatly reduced through Gyeongjang, slaves were important property. Therefore, lawsuits regarding this continued.

In the meantime, the job that was created was the foreign branch office. Those who were not managers of the funeral home but were familiar with the relevant legal provisions were those who would proceed with the lawsuit on their behalf and benefit if they won. These people were called external branches because they were branches located outside the funeral home. (Note 1)

The problem with these external branches was not because they were replacing lawsuits. This was because it was common for people to forge documents to win lawsuits or to take advantage of themselves by inciting unnecessary lawsuits.

* * *

The contents of the appeal submitted to King Sejong were summarized as follows.

– In the meantime, our Joseon Dynasty is on the verge of becoming an empire, just as a young tree overcomes the storm and grows into a giant tree.

Judging by the beauty of its meaning, the newly introduced law is worthy enough to become the foundation of the empire.

And the subsidiary laws can also be said to be truly beautiful as they spread out in all directions like stems extending from the roots and help the people feel comfortable.

However, its branching and lushness can be a problem.

The legal provisions related to all matters are detailed, but this makes it difficult for the people to easily access them. No, it is impossible for officials in charge of litigation to memorize all the provisions of the law.

Because of this, the number of people taking on foreign branches as a business will increase significantly. It would be good if they sincerely moved to help the people’s case, but the problem is that they do not.

Looking at the current situation, most of those who do overseas branch work are robbers. These people are inciting people to file lawsuits, using petty writing skills to make a mockery of the law, changing right and wrong, and creating chaos. This is truly a big problem.

As our Joseon Dynasty progresses toward becoming an empire, there will be conflicts of interest as many as the number of people, and lawsuits will increase. It would be a great harm to leave the foreign affairs departments alone.

Also, since the people do not know all the laws in detail, they will find lawsuits and disputes difficult. In the end, they will try to solve it using their own power, so it will be a legal but lawless situation.

As an alternative to this, we propose a plan to train foreign branches.

Those who pass the standards set by the country by testing their knowledge of new laws, including the first law, as well as economic and secular warfare, and the law of discussion, will be given the qualifications of an external branch and will act on their behalf in litigation. It gives authority.

Also, in litigation cases, if external branches debate right and wrong on behalf of the complainant and the accused, and the judge listens to their opinions and makes a decision, disputes over the outcome of the case can be reduced.

* * *

“Hmm... I think it’s okay, but what do you think of the crown prince?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang organized her thoughts and answered.

“I think it’s a good idea. The most common phrase among authors when a dispute arises is, ‘Let’s do it according to the law.’ In reality, most of the documents submitted by the Tribunal report decisions on lawsuits.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers, especially Minister of Justice Hwang Bo-in, who is in charge of all judicial affairs, nodded vigorously. After quenching her throat for a moment, Hyang continued speaking.

“It is something that should not be prevented from causing lawsuits among the people. This is because filing a lawsuit means believing in the fairness and severity of the law. “If lawsuits are prohibited, a lawful but lawless situation will result, as described in the appeal, and this will cause the empire to collapse from its roots.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer. As Ina-Hyang, who submitted the appeal, said, there was a law, but if the situation became unmanageable, it was certain that the influential person located closest would control the people.

It was said that people like the local nobles before the Giyu Rebellion would appear again, and this was a situation that King Sejong never wanted.

Seeing that Sejong’s reaction was positive, Hyang added more force to her voice.

“Also, if those with specialized knowledge file a case, we can prevent the foreign branches from holding meetings or giving speeches with little knowledge like the current foreign branches.”

But Hyang had given up on this.

“You didn’t even mention it at all? “Is it still too early?”

Hyang couldn’t erase the feeling that it was premature even after looking around, so he kept his mouth shut, waiting for the future.

However, seeing King Sejong and the ministers showing no particular resistance to bringing the foreign branches to the sunny area, Hyang decided to take on the challenge.

“Entrusting the defense work to a foreign branch?”

“yes. “We can look at it from a different perspective, so we can make a more fair ruling.”

“Hmm... And since it’s a jury...”

“It will reduce the burden on the judge. “And ensure fairness.”

After hearing Hyang’s answer, King Sejong looked back at the ministers.

“I think it’s a pretty good idea, but I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

In the end, after a rather fierce war of words, the jury system and lawyer system were added.

* * *

After such intense labor, the first law and subsidiary laws were finally completed.

And the law codes that completed this revision process were reprinted and distributed throughout the country.

Among them, Minister of Finance and Economy Park Jong-woo visited Kimjeom.

“This is causing a bit of trouble.”

“What’s the problem?”

“The limited edition of the first law is the problem.”

“Didn’t you say from the beginning that the limited edition is a printed copy of the revised first law?”

“That’s not the problem.”

“huh?”

When Kim Jeom expressed his doubts, Park Jong-woo sighed.

“Whoa~. There are too many people willing to buy it. “Even if you look at it roughly, the number of people who came forward to buy it was more than 20 times the number of copies sold.”

“huh? “It’s worth 30 gold coins?”

“That’s right.”

“Huh~.”

At Park Jong-woo’s words, Kim Jeom looked helpless.

Although prices had risen a lot, the average income of an ordinary person a month was 2 nyang of silver. 30 gold coins was enough for a year’s salary for a ministerial official.

Kim Jeom muttered without realizing it.

“There are so many rich people in this land.”

* * *

Note 1) Korean Classics Translation Institute

https://m.itkc.or.kr/bbs/boardView.do?id=75&bIdx=31916&page=1&menuId=125&bc=6