October 27th, third year of Sejong's reign, 1421.

Hyang was officially invested as Crown Prince.

At last, he had moved beyond the status of royal heir and become the formally recognized successor to the throne.

No one else knew it, but that very night after the investiture ceremony ended, Hyang clenched his fist tightly in delight.

"The time has finally come!"

"Let's see now... the policies His Majesty has implemented so far..."

Leaving the opened Confucian classics spread across his desk untouched, Hyang sat with folded arms reviewing Sejong's policies in his head.

"The first year of the reign was chaos because of the Kang Sang-in case, so aside from partial cabinet reshuffling, not much happened..."

Afterward, Sejong steadily continued implementing his own reforms.

He exempted starving farmers in Gangwon Province from taxes, personally met with local officials assigned to provincial posts, expanded the Hall of Worthies, and ordered military examination candidates to study the Four Books.

Then came the Tsushima expedition.

Among Sejong's policies, the ones that particularly drew Hyang's attention involved salt.

Sejong rejected petitions from salt producers asking for reduced salt taxes while simultaneously expanding state-controlled salt production.

"A salt monopoly... Well, it certainly makes money."

Just as Sejong cared deeply about improving the people's livelihoods, he also prioritized national prosperity and military strength.

And the most important foundation for both was securing revenue.

The salt monopoly existed precisely for that purpose.

To solve budgetary issues, Sejong even sent an official letter to Ming requesting that gold and silver vessels be removed from Joseon's tribute obligations.

Yet Hyang still found the policy lacking.

"Removing gold and silver products from tribute is fine, but the real problem is that the envoys extort the equivalent value anyway. How do we solve that part..."

There were many other issues Hyang considered problematic as well.

But above all else, the problems of land ownership and smuggling bothered him most.

"If laws restricting land ownership trigger backlash from major landowners and high ministers, then the tax system itself needs changing. And smuggling... before even trade, the attitude that looks down on commerce itself must change first..."

After considering various smaller reforms and their solutions, Hyang finally released a long sigh.

"I can think of plenty of solutions, but the greatest limitation is still one thing... Joseon has no money. No, more specifically, no gold."

The ultimate solution Hyang envisioned was gold itself.

To properly reform the land and taxation systems, currency circulation is essential. But every attempt at circulating currency has failed. Sejong will soon try again, but historically it fails once more.

The reason currency circulation keeps failing is because the government cannot guarantee money as a reliable means of storing wealth.

The wealthy classes, provincial landlords and high officials alike, store their wealth mostly in goods such as grain and cloth.

But grain and cloth decay over time.

Thus, the wealthy convert their accumulated assets into gold and silver for long-term preservation.

To absorb the wealth hoarded by the upper classes would require taxation and land policies radical enough to be considered extreme.

But such policies inevitably provoke fierce resistance from the wealthy.

To suppress that resistance, the central government, more precisely the king, must possess overwhelming military power.

But overwhelming military power requires enormous funding.

And how do you solve that problem?

Continuing his train of thought over and over, Hyang finally made a bitter expression.

"No matter how many times I revise my plans, if I can't solve the money problem first, everything just loops back to the beginning again. The only one capable of breaking this damned cycle is the king himself. Thankfully, if it's King Sejong, it's possible. My role is more like... seasoning added to the process?"

Hyang nodded at his own conclusion.

"I may have become Crown Prince, but I'm still only eight years old. My authority remains weak. The best approach is casually scattering bait as I pass by. And the beginning of all that is..."

Hyang looked toward the brush holder resting at the corner of his desk.

"That's where it begins."

December 10th, third year of Sejong's reign.

The Crown Prince presented a gold pen to the king. After testing it personally, the king praised it for allowing rapid writing with ease. When the Crown Prince requested that historians and officials who frequently required fast writing be permitted to use it as well, the king granted approval.

In mid-November, Hyang visited the Directorate of Military Supplies.

The moment word spread that the Crown Prince had arrived, Director Lee Chang-ho, the highest-ranking practical official of the bureau, hurried out personally.

"We greet the Crown Prince!"

"You work hard."

At Hyang's praise, Lee Chang-ho bowed even lower.

"I would like to look around for a while. Would that be acceptable?"

"It would be our honor!"

As Hyang prepared to move under the director's guidance, artisans belonging to the bureau flooded out upon hearing news of the Crown Prince's visit and immediately bowed.

"We greet the Crown Prince!"

"You all work tremendously hard. Thanks to craftsmen like you, Joseon's defenses grow ever stronger. I am deeply grateful."

At the Crown Prince's praise, the artisans prostrated themselves in emotion.

"To receive such praise from Your Highness leaves us speechless!"

"It is truly an honor!"

Moved by praise from someone as exalted as the Crown Prince, the artisans eagerly stepped forward to guide him through every corner of the bureau.

Hyang had several reasons for visiting the Directorate of Military Supplies, but the greatest reason was simple.

This was where weapons were made.

'Weapons, gunpowder... I'll be coming here often in the future, so it's best to establish relationships early. Jang Yeong-sil is tempting too, but he belongs to the Royal Tailoring Bureau, and Jeong Cho and the king himself back him.'

Suppressing his lingering regret regarding Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang toured the facilities before finally getting to the point.

"Who here is the most skilled at handling both gold and iron?"

"Gold and iron, Your Highness?"

"Indeed. There is something I need made."

"A craftsman skilled with iron and gold..."

At the question, Director Lee mentally reviewed the blacksmiths under his authority before quickly recalling someone suitable.

"There is one capable man."

A short while later, a middle-aged smith entered the director's office after being summoned.

"You called for me?"

"Yes. Master Gong, the Crown Prince has something he wishes to commission."

Hearing that the Crown Prince himself had summoned him, the blacksmith immediately bowed respectfully.

"This lowly one greets Your Highness."

"Do not call yourself lowly. How could a blacksmith responsible for Joseon's national defense possibly be low?"

"M-Mercy beyond measure!"

At Hyang's praise, Gong immediately collapsed into a full prostration in overwhelming emotion.

"Rise. I have an important request for you."

"Just give the order! I shall risk my life to create it!"

'How badly have military blacksmiths been treated for him to react this strongly...'

Amused by the smith's reaction, which far exceeded expectations, Hyang smiled bitterly before pulling a sheet of paper from his sleeve and handing it over.

"Can you create this?"

"This is..."

"A tool meant to replace the brush."

What Hyang handed him was effectively a blueprint for a pen nib.

Studying the design seriously, Master Gong finally spoke.

"It stores ink internally, then lets it flow while writing... The problem is making sure too much ink doesn't pour out at once, but also ensuring it doesn't stop flowing entirely."

"And beyond that, the grain of the paper mustn't catch and tear, which means the tiny ball attached to the tip must be smooth and round. One more thing. This slit where the ink flows. Too wide is useless, but too narrow is equally useless. How fine a slit can you make?"

Master Gong considered carefully before answering.

"If I do my utmost, as fine as one datmo."

"One datmo?"

As Hyang tilted his head in confusion, Director Lee explained from the side.

"One five-thousandth of a chon."

At the explanation, Hyang immediately calculated mentally.

'One chon is roughly three centimeters... dividing that down means around 0.15 millimeters? By hand? That's actually possible?'

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Hyang quickly composed himself and continued.

"This won't be a one-time creation. I may require dozens. And not after months of labor either. They must be produced as quickly as possible."

Master Gong thought briefly before replying.

"Since water touches it, gold or silver must be used rather than iron to prevent rust. If thin plates are hammered into shape, then provided proper molds are made, twenty per day would be possible. The true issue remains the slit."

Hyang immediately calculated again.

'A width around a 0.5 millimeter mechanical pencil lead should work.'

"The written stroke only needs to be slightly thicker than one ri."

"Then I shall first attempt it using one ri as the standard width."

"When can I see the results?"

"Give me two days..."

"I'll give you three. Show me the finest result possible."

"I obey Your Highness's command."

"I trust you."

As Hyang returned to the palace under escort from the bureau officials, he turned toward the eunuch accompanying him.

"Eunuch Jo."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Do I possess personal funds I may use freely?"

"I shall confirm with the Royal Treasury, Your Highness."

Three days later, Hyang visited the Directorate again.

Master Gong presented him with five pen nibs neatly arranged inside a finely crafted wooden box.

"I created five different thicknesses. Please select the one you prefer."

"Very well."

Testing them on nearby scrap paper, Hyang eventually chose the nib he liked best.

"Produce one hundred of these. However, ten of them should..."

After carefully listening to the additional specifications, Master Gong answered immediately.

"That is possible, Your Highness."

"And can you engrave plum blossoms upon the pen bodies?"

"That is possible as well."

"Then how long will it take?"

"Ten days should suffice."

After considering briefly, Hyang nodded.

"I shall grant you two additional days. But there must not be a single defective piece. Can you accomplish that? These are to be presented to His Majesty."

"I shall ensure not a single flawed piece exists."

"Good. I leave it in your hands. Ah, and keep this matter secret until I present them to His Majesty."

"It shall be done."

Having finished his business, Hyang departed the Directorate in high spirits.

After seeing him off, Director Lee Chang-ho turned toward Master Gong.

"He truly doesn't act his age."

"That is certainly true. I heard His Highness is only eight this year, but judging from the way he speaks and carries himself, one could mistake him for a grown man."

"Though honestly, you're the one who gained something extraordinary today."

Lee Chang-ho stared enviously at the paper in Master Gong's hands.

Just before leaving, Hyang had presented the blacksmith with a written message of gratitude.

"I hope you become Joseon's greatest master craftsman.

-Crown Prince Yi Hyang."

Beside his signature was the imprint of his palm seal.

Receiving the paper, Master Gong trembled with emotion.

"I'm going to ask Master Carpenter So to create the finest frame possible for this. This is worthy of becoming a family heirloom."

Half a month later, Hyang visited Sejong while the king was deep in discussion with his ministers.

Hyang presented the pen nibs and pen holders to him personally.

Listening to Hyang's explanation while inserting the nib into the pen body and testing it himself, Sejong became immensely pleased.

"This is truly a precious object! It writes wonderfully, and above all, it greatly eases strain on the arm and wrist! The Crown Prince has created something remarkable! He has accomplished a truly great deed! Historians, record today's events carefully!"

"Your praise is far beyond what I deserve."

Even amid Sejong's lavish praise, Hyang maintained a humble posture.

While examining the lacquer-decorated pen body and nib, Sejong noticed the floral engraving.

"Is this flower a plum blossom?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I believed it suitable as a symbol of the royal house."

"Excellent!"

After writing several more characters upon the paper, Sejong turned toward Hyang.

"I shall make excellent use of this."

"I am deeply honored. However, I do have a request."