Chapter 813

Episode 813: The stars fall. (7)

As the envoys stayed in Seoul for a long time, a problem arose.

It was a question of living expenses.

The empire operated guesthouses for envoys visiting the empire.

Banquets held by the envoys and diplomatic gatherings held in separate rooms, etc. were paid for with the money the envoys brought, but all costs of maintaining the guesthouses where the envoys stayed were paid out of the budget set by the empire.

First of all, since it was like the face of the empire shown to envoys from other countries, the ingredients, dishes, bedding, and furniture were all of the highest quality.

In addition, all of the receptionists working at the guesthouse were highly qualified and properly trained professionals.

Thanks to this, the budget allotted for the guesthouse was a considerable amount. However, when looking at the year-end settlement every year, we were narrowly avoiding a deficit.

This was because there were quite a few envoys visiting the empire for one reason or another.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sighed and muttered as they received the balance sheet of the guest house at the end of each year.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t receive tribute...”

If the Ming Dynasty had done tribute diplomacy like it did in the past, the expenses would have been several times higher.

However, due to the seriousness of King Sejong’s death, the visiting envoys broke records in every way.

The number and number of people visiting the empire also reached the highest, and the period of stay also recorded the longest.

Thanks to this, the yearly budget allotted for the guest house disappeared within less than three months, and the emperor ordered the Ministry of Finance to allocate an emergency budget.

“I guess it’s fortunate that the people who came with Shinji’s tribal leaders were able to use management-only accommodations.”

Kim Jong-seo shook his head in response to Hwang Bo-in’s complaints as he accepted Wan’s order.

“We almost exhausted our budget there too. “A report full of complaints will be posted soon.”

“Haa~.”

Hwang Bo-in took a long sigh and quenched his appetite.

“Tsk. “I’ll have to prepare for that in advance as well.”

Kim Jong-seo responded to Hwang Bo-in’s words with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“This guy or that guy is only interested in jet food rather than ancestral rites...”

* * *

Hyang quickly returned to his hometown, and about a month later, a large number of tribal leaders from Shinji also came to the headquarters.

Most of them were people who had a relationship with King Sejong during the expansion of his territory.

-Those who did not enjoy Taesangtae and Shinjigyeokbang should not go anywhere and say they are the chiefs.

As soon as the chiefs, who had such a close relationship with King Sejong that a rumor like this circulated, heard that King Sejong was in critical condition, they packed a bundle containing all kinds of medicinal herbs and talismans and boarded a ship returning to their hometown.

It wasn’t just the chiefs. Those who were likely to become the next chief, shamans, and native officials who were likely to rise to high positions in the new land all boarded the ship and headed to the headquarters.

Except for the chiefs, everyone had their own goals.

The candidates for the next chieftain were to receive a face painting from the emperor of the province and at the same time establish relationships with high-ranking officials of the province who were in power, and the shamans were to obtain the latest medical knowledge.

The purpose of the native officials was to learn how to manage the ever-expanding territory smoothly and efficiently, while at the same time making their presence known to high-ranking local officials.

The purpose was to highlight their enthusiasm and abilities to slightly increase their chances of rising to high-ranking officials in Shinji.

Kim Jong-seo was grumbling when he saw the amount of envoys who were hell-bent on stealing the empire’s secrets, including Jeon Do-rok, and the Shinji natives who were busy trying to improve themselves.

* * *

In this way, King Sejong’s death was announced amidst a swarm of human beings busy working to fulfill their own interests.

News was delivered immediately to the main and northern districts, which were connected by land, using a light-emitting communication network, and to areas that had to cross the sea, such as Jeju Island and Daeseol Island, news was delivered over a period of one to five days.

Government offices and military units that received the news of King Sejong’s death immediately posted a notice announcing King Sejong’s death on the bulletin board and changed their clothes.

All officials working in government offices wore white official uniforms, black belts without official cap patterns, and black leather shoes without patterns.

The imperial army wore uniforms rather than combat uniforms, and wore an armband made of hemp with the word ‘Gijung (忌中)’ engraved on their left arm.

Don’t expect anything in return but pass on your experiences to others!

Using your experiences as fertilizer, future generations will create an even bigger and more beautiful empire!

This is the proper expression of loyalty to Tae Sang-tae!

Former officials who read the township’s proclamation, especially those who worked in the central government, nodded.

“If the situation is right, you can do that. No, he is someone who can do that and still live.”

“That sound of clicking your tongue... Ugh! Even now, I have goosebumps all over my body...”

In the end, the announcement of the incense was issued and no more deaths were reported.

Instead, people began to put their names on the ‘advisory committee’ newly established by Hyang-i Wan.

* * *

The last day of the 15-day funeral period.

The bier carrying King Sejong’s remains left Sugang Palace and headed to Dongjaegi.

In the 21st century, when Hyang lived, the Imperial National Cemetery was located in Dongjaegi, which was called Dongjae-dong (incorporated into Sadang-dong).

With Gongjakbong Peak at the foot of Mt. Gwanak as the main peak, a ridge surrounds three sides and the Han River flows past, a huge cemetery was created at the famous site of Baesan Imsu where those who died fighting for the empire or while working as imperial officials, as well as the emperor and empress, would be buried.

* * *

When Hyang first presented the agenda regarding the National Cemetery and the Imperial Cemetery, King Sejong’s reaction was cautious.

“I like your opinion. They died while working hard for their country, so it is an extremely beautiful thing for the country to honor them. However, there will be many who are opposed to burying the king and queen together with them. “It would be better to build a separate royal tomb.”

Hyang responded firmly to Sejong’s point.

“Without the people, there is no king. Since we were with the people while alive, isn’t it natural to be with the people even when we die? And no matter how much of the land belongs to the king, he makes it difficult for the people by finding and building a good place to build the royal tomb. “I don’t think this is right.”

“You’re right!”

This is how the National Cemetery was born.

* * *

“Oh my gosh~”

“Oh my gosh~”

As the bier left Sugang Palace and walked along Jongno Street, all the people gathered by the side of the road sat down on the ground and cried.

As the bier gradually moved forward, the people got up from their seats and followed behind the bier.

As the bier crossed the bridge over the Han River and headed toward the National Cemetery, a huge procession of people followed behind the bier.

“Chuung~!”

As soon as the soldiers guarding the entrance to the National Cemetery saw the bier, they all saluted.

As the bier passed through the entrance to the National Cemetery, the people gathered in front of the entrance and cried.

In this way, the funeral of Emperor Wen of the Korean Federal Empire was held.

When the title was established as an empire, the posthumous title and era name were abolished due to the justification that it was impossible to follow Chinese etiquette, and he became ‘Emperor Yuan’.

* * *

After King Sejong’s funeral, the empire slowly began to return to daily life.

Hyang also began preparing for Shinji’s return.

“The problem is this...”

Hyang looked at the book in front of him with a very nervous face.

It was a letter that King Sejong left behind just to look at the incense.

“It’s hard to guess what on earth is written inside...”

Hyang’s worries were due to the miscellaneous records left behind by King Sejong.

This was because King Sejong, who used his free time to meditate and created Japsangnok, a work of art that made one feel all kinds of extraordinary things, even fear, asked Hyang to look only at himself.