"Hmm... The recovery can proceed like this, and let us think of ways to prevent such a tragic event from happening again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Even as they answered, the ministers' heads turned automatically.
Their expressions were all filled with anxiety, and at the end of their gazes sat Hyang.
As expected, Hyang's mouth opened first, causing the ministers to let out small sighs.
"We must create an organization that can respond to fires, floods, and other disasters as a priority."
"Create an organization?"
Hyang explained in more detail, piquing Sejong's interest.
"While managing District 51, I operated a disaster response team. As Your Majesty knows, District 51 uses a lot of fire, but it also contains many hazardous materials like gunpowder."
"Indeed."
"The disaster response team from District 51 played a significant role in controlling the fire that spread to the southern area of the capital during this incident. Considering this, I believe we need to establish an organization that can handle disasters for the entire capital."
"Bring me the fire report."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sejong nodded as he reviewed the report detailing the damage from the fire.
"Indeed, it seems so. Is this the result of training?"
"While training played a part, there are also specialized equipment."
"Specialized equipment? Let us take a look."
The ministers following behind murmured softly.
"Drum and gongs."
"Ah, what now..."
"Do they know the rhythm, or are they just following along without understanding?"
Following Hyang's contact, carts carrying the disaster response team's equipment from District 51 headed towards the palace.
"Hmm... The helmet is quite unique."
The helmets worn by the disaster response team had a long visor extending from the back rather than the front, and instead of iron plates, they were made with thick leather on the outside, with thick cotton inside to protect the head from impact and heat.
The clothing was similar, filled with thick cotton to protect the wearer from impact and heat.
However, what caught Sejong and the ministers' attention was the water-dousing cart.
"Will this cart extinguish the fire?"
"Indeed."
Sejong examined the cart closely.
At the back was a large water tank, and in front was a bronze device shaped like a round cylinder lying on its side.
A thick bronze pipe connected the water tank and the bronze device.
"How does it operate?"
"I will show you."
At Hyang's command, the disaster response team members connected a cloth tube to the bronze device on the cart.
Two members held the bronze handles at the end of the tube firmly, while two others positioned next to the bronze device began to turn the handles.
Whoosh! A thick stream of water burst forth from the bronze nozzle at the end of the cloth tube, causing Sejong and the ministers to applaud.
"Oh!"
"This will be truly effective in extinguishing fires!"
"Indeed!"
Hyang explained to Sejong and the ministers.
"If we deploy special forces equipped with such devices in designated areas, we can control fires in their early stages and prevent them from spreading significantly, even if they are larger than expected."
"That makes sense."
Sejong and the other ministers nodded in agreement, while some officials sighed in relief, as if to say, 'Not us!' Their gazes subtly shifted.
Among them was one man whose face was growing pale.
It was Minister Kim Jeom of the Ministry of Finance.
"Y-Your Majesty... How many designated areas are you considering?"
Seeing the pale face of the Minister of Finance, Hyang calculated for a moment before responding.
"The fewer the number of districts, the safer it will be, but considering the budget, we need at least two in each district. And in those designated locations, there should be at least three water-dousing carts."
Upon hearing Hyang's explanation, the Minister of Finance hurriedly calculated.
"In Hanseong, there are 52 districts, so at least 104 locations, and with a minimum of three carts each... that makes 312 carts... The budget..."
As the calculations became complicated with various variables, the Minister of Finance's expression grew troubled, prompting Hyang to add,
"Creating and equipping new teams will require a significant amount of resources, and maintaining them will also cost a lot. However, if we have prepared personnel, we can respond quickly when incidents occur. This will reduce damage and lower the costs of reconstruction."
Hearing Hyang's words, the Minister of Finance let out a long sigh.
"Haah~. I understand that well. But the budget is the issue."
At the Minister of Finance's lament, Hwang Hee stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, it seems we should release some of the silver we obtained from selling the scriptures and the silver stored from the mines."
Sejong nodded at Hwang Hee's suggestion.
"It seems we should do that."
At Sejong's decision, the Minister of Finance bowed deeply on the spot.
"Your grace is boundless!"
His voice was truly filled with emotion.
Although the responsibility for the reconstruction of the area destroyed by the fire fell to Hyang, the court was not idle.
First, they announced the list of those who passed the state examination held before the fire.
"... According to precedent, we would have held a congratulatory feast for those who passed, but the current situation is not favorable, and I apologize for the cancellation. Following last year..."
As the Minister of Personnel read Sejong's words, expressing regret while encouraging the successful candidates, he smiled slyly at them.
"Now, the situation is urgent, so practical training will follow quickly! So, follow me! Anyone who falls behind from here will have their passing canceled immediately and will be sent back home!"
Just half a shichen after the cheers of joy from the successful candidates, they began to scream.
Next came the orders regarding soldiers.
- Investigate and report any families who lost their homes due to the fire and have committed crimes that led them to military service.
- Among those living in the affected areas, allow those who wish to quit their jobs to do so immediately, and grant two months of leave to those who volunteer to continue working to rebuild their homes.
Many chose to stay instead of resigning.
- Grant seven months of leave to those serving in the palace and various government offices, such as the Bureau of Civil Affairs and the Office of State Affairs.
- Those who came from the provinces to Seoul for duty this month and are living in rented accommodations should be sent back to their hometowns immediately.
- For artisans who must come out despite having homes in the affected areas, consider their families as working and pay them their wages.
At the last command, Hyang whistled.
"This gentleman is quite generous with his spending, isn't he?"
This was a measure taken in the original history as well, but thanks to the funds that had been steadily collected and set aside over time, there were no complaints.
In the subsequent reconstruction efforts, policies that would change the landscape of Hanseong were decided.
Hyang submitted the approval documents to Sejong.
"The reason the fire spread so widely this time is due to various factors, but one of the biggest reasons is that the houses are too closely packed together. While we have resolved this to some extent through zoning during reconstruction, we need Your Majesty's approval to address another issue."
"What is it?"
"Except for the official residences and some buildings, most of the roofs are thatched. We need to replace them with tiles."
Sejong nodded at Hyang's request.
"I see. Minister of Finance, Minister of Construction."
"Yes! We are at your service, Your Majesty! Please share your thoughts with us."
Thus, within a day, the three practical officials drafted a proposal and submitted it to Sejong.
After reading the proposal, Sejong immediately stamped it with the royal seal.
"I grant permission."
"Your grace is boundless!"
Sejong's decision brought the heads of Hyang, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Construction down in gratitude.
Hyang bowed his head while secretly being astonished.
'What is this! They are moving faster than 21st-century civil servants!'
In the original history, Sejong had made the same decision.
However, the difference after Hyang's involvement was that the tiles, which were traditionally made, were now made from the quicklime created by Hyang.
"Gather the tile makers, collect the soil, recruit new labor, and building the tile kilns will take a lot of time. Let's make them from quicklime."
"But quicklime also needs to be fired in a kiln, doesn't it?"
"There are kilns in District 51, and we have labor available. All we need are limestone and coal for the kilns. We can use the sand that has been dredged and piled up along the Han River for the past two years."
"That's a good method!"
The Minister of Finance was delighted by Hyang's words.
'We can reduce the budget! The budget!'
However, the Minister of Finance's joy did not last beyond a day.
This was because Hyang submitted a proposal for construction funding support for the common people to Sejong.
"Should the state support construction funds?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Where would those who lost their homes and property in this fire find the resources to rebuild? They might gather mud and straw for the walls, but where will they find the timber for rafters, beams, and columns? And where will they get the money for the tiles for the roof? They will have to resort to loans. However, if the court provides loans at low interest, they can avoid the harsh realities of debt."
"Hmm..."
Sejong stroked his beard, lost in thought.
The suffering of the people from loans was not a recent issue.
"Then what interest rate do you think would be appropriate?"
"Twenty percent per year."
"Twenty percent per year... It is not a small amount when building a house."
"Indeed. Therefore, I considered a 'grace period'."
"Grace period?"
At Hyang's words, Sejong and the ministers perked up their ears.
After a lengthy explanation from Hyang, Sejong clapped his knees.
"That's a good idea! We should do that! Minister of Finance, listen!"
As soon as the Minister of Finance was called, he immediately responded.
"I-I will prepare the proposal right away..."
"Indeed, Minister of Finance! I feel reassured with your expertise!"
"Your grace is boundless!"
The Minister of Finance bowed his head humbly at Sejong's praise, but inside, he was shedding tears.
'I, Kim Jeom.
I might just save my own life with this!'
However, Hyang's statements were not over yet.
"Your Majesty. During the investigation of the owners of the houses lost in this fire, I discovered something new that I had not known before."
At the same time, cold sweat began to flow down Kim Jeom's back.
His expression was filled with a silent plea of 'Please stop!'
"What did you discover?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered briefly.
"There are many tenants living in Hanseong."
Hyang's expression while answering was quite complex.
'In the Joseon era, tenants! I could understand landlords, but tenants!'
The housing crisis in Hanseong was quite famous.
Those who came from the provinces to serve as soldiers or officials, and those who had just passed the state examination and entered office, had no homes in Hanseong, so they had to rent houses or live in rented rooms.
As a result, many stories of the hardships of living in rented accommodations can be found in the history of Joseon or the writings of famous figures.
Thus, Hyang was astonished to learn this fact.
"Renting a house..."
While Sejong mulled over the words, many ministers nodded their heads.
Many of the high-ranking officials and those with higher ranks had their own houses in Bukchon, but there were still quite a few ministers living in rented accommodations.
In particular, the low-ranking historians looked at Hyang with shining eyes, eagerly awaiting his words.
"Indeed, I have heard that living in someone else's house brings much sorrow. It is said that having your own thatched roof house is far better than living in a tiled-roof rental."
"Indeed, Your Majesty!"
Many ministers responded loudly to Sejong's words.
"Are you all living in rented accommodations?"
"..."
"Oh dear... So what do you propose?"
"To eliminate rented accommodations immediately would be deemed unjust, as renting a house is not a crime."
"That's true."
"Therefore... once this reconstruction is complete, how about building official residences?"
"Official residences? Like those for local magistrates?"
"Something similar. I will submit a proposal later."
"I understand. I look forward to it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The historian recording the conversation between Sejong and Hyang noted the following:
- Thus, His Majesty commanded the Crown Prince to submit a proposal.
The historian commented:
The sorrow of living in rented accommodations knows no rank or class, so how can one not feel sorrow? In this situation, we can only hope for the wisdom of the Crown Prince, and those ministers and officials must be held accountable.