Chapter 109: Partnership (3)
Due to the frequent military campaigns waged by his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor, the Ming Dynasty's finances were in a severely depleted state. Because of this, the Xuande Emperor constantly advocated for frugality. And it wasn't just empty words—he actually lived a very frugal life.
However, the Xuande Emperor was also human.
'I'm supposed to be the Emperor!'
There were many times when the Xuande Emperor, exhausted by frugality, would lament alone. Of course, as the Emperor of the Empire, he could indulge in unparalleled luxury if he wished, but in that moment, he would have to endure the nagging of his ministers.
"Your Majesty! The financial situation is dire! You must forbid such extravagance!"
"I understand. It is my mistake."
It was certain that such things would happen, and if he got angry and executed someone, dealing with the aftermath would also be a headache.
In such a situation, money coming in specifically for the Emperor? The Xuande Emperor's mouth watered.
'Those glass products will certainly be big sellers. Which means the profits will be enormous. And I, the Emperor, get those profits? That doesn't sound bad. Joseon handles production, and I only manage the merchant guild... wait?'
The Xuande Emperor, calculating the numbers, posed a question to Hyang.
"What's the profit distribution ratio?"
'He moved. But considering what just happened, his greed is substantial! This is a negotiation game!'
Having assessed the situation, Hyang started with a reasonable ratio.
"7 to 3. Our Joseon gets 7, Your Majesty gets 3."
No sooner had the words fallen than the Xuande Emperor presented a revised proposal.
"8 to 2. I get 8."
'This man doesn't even know business ethics!'
Hyang adjusted the figures again, presenting reasons why that couldn't work.
"Considering production costs and transportation costs, that's unreasonable. 65% to 35%. Our Joseon gets 65%."
At Hyang's words, the Xuande Emperor busily turned his thoughts.
'Transportation costs... we're not exactly lacking in that department either!'
"Transportation... surely you know how vast the land of Ming is? But considering Joseon's situation, 7 to 3. I get 7."
'Oh my? You want to deliver it personally? Are you a fool?'
Hyang pointed out something the Xuande Emperor hadn't considered.
"Does the joint merchant guild need to deliver directly? The purchasing merchant guild can come to Shandong themselves. Therefore, this ratio is optimal."
At Hyang's words, the Xuande Emperor closed his mouth.
'That's not wrong... I took a hit there. What can I use that's reasonable? Ah!'
"Set the price of glass to cover the three outer halls and the three inner palaces at 7 taels of silver. And guarantee that you won't accept tribute women or eunuchs. And to ensure Joseon's interests are protected, let's make it 6 to 4. I get 6."
No sooner had the Xuande Emperor's words fallen than Hyang counterattacked.
"Even at 7 taels of silver, a deficit is still a deficit. And if we cover the three outer halls and three inner palaces, no additional glass will go into the Forbidden City. Therefore, if you guarantee the 7 taels of silver and the tribute women and eunuch issues in writing, I'll agree to 6 to 4. Joseon gets 6."
Seeing Hyang appear to yield while actually taking everything he wanted, the Xuande Emperor subtly applied pressure.
"You haven't forgotten that I am the Emperor of Ming, have you? How can a vassal state of the Empire make such presumptuous proposals?'
'Oh my?'
Hyang instead pushed forward firmly.
"Business is fundamentally about mutual benefit. Especially since Your Majesty is the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire. As Your Majesty said, our Joseon is a country that calls itself a subject and is in a subordinate relationship. However, is our Joseon not a feudal state? Forcing an unjust proposal is not mutual benefit."
"Hmm..."
At Hyang's words, the Xuande Emperor had a headache.
'Tch! We're losing ground in justification.'
At that moment, a minister who had been listening to the conversation between the Emperor and Hyang interjected.
"Your Majesty! The current matter is not something Your Majesty should discuss directly! If you leave it to us ministers..."
"Enough! I am discussing matters with Joseon's Crown Prince right now—who do you think you are to interrupt! Do you think you have such standing!"
At the Xuande Emperor's sharp rebuke, the minister immediately knelt and bowed his head.
"Discussing profit shares rather than diplomacy in the main hall is an act that sullies Your Majesty's dignity! Please reconsider!"
"Ha! You worry about my dignity to take over the work? If you had that mindset, you should have applied it to other tasks! Do you know how many matters are sitting on your desks right now, yet you dare say such things! Jinyiwei, drag that insolent fellow away and imprison him!"
"We receive the imperial command!"
The Jinyiwei soldiers waiting in the main hall seized the arms of the minister who had made the problematic statement and dragged him outside.
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider! Your Majesty!"
After the commotion passed, the main hall froze completely.
The ministers who had never seen this side of the Xuande Emperor stood frozen with pale faces.
'We just touched the dragon's reverse scale!'
'No matter what happens, we must not open our mouths!'
Having silenced the ministers, the Xuande Emperor looked at Hyang.
"Good! I will additionally grant one thing Joseon wants most! In return, the ratio will be 55% to 45%. I get 55%."
At the Xuande Emperor's final proposal, Hyang finally brought up what he had been thinking about all along.
"We have volunteered to be subjects, offered tribute, and fulfilled our duties. However, despite our genealogical records being incorrectly recorded, they have not been corrected. Please correct this!"
At Hyang's words, the Xuande Emperor showed a slightly troubled expression.
It occurred to him that such a thing might have happened.
Though they had pushed and pulled while offering glass, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Joseon's Crown Prince who would provide great wealth in the future.
"One more thing, our Joseon is integrating the Tumen River region. This is about reclaiming the birthplace of our founding ancestor who established Joseon. If you guarantee these two things in writing, I will accept the command Your Majesty issues!"
At Hyang's words, the Xuande Emperor called the Grand Secretary and asked about the facts.
Having received reports that 'The Yongle Emperor promised to fix it but hasn't yet' and 'Previously a Joseon envoy came and made a recommendation, but Your Majesty hasn't given a definitive answer yet,' the Xuande Emperor nodded.
"Well, if an ancestor's genealogy is wrong, it's only right for descendants to correct it. Good, I will correct the genealogical records. I will guarantee it in writing as well. The same goes for the Tumen River basin. Is that sufficient?"
At the Xuande Emperor's question, Hyang immediately performed a deep bow.
"Your benevolence is overwhelming!"
* * *
And so the diplomatic mission ended successfully. While establishing the merchant guild, Hyang demanded as an additional condition thorough crackdown on those who would imitate 'Leehwa flowers' and create fakes, and the Xuande Emperor accepted immediately.
Hyang's demand was something that had to be kept for his own interests as well.
On the ship returning to Joseon, the Deputy Envoy who had accompanied them asked Hyang with a worried voice.
"By the way... didn't we give too much benefit to Ming's Emperor? There may be talk at court."
At the Deputy Envoy's advice, Hyang answered with a grin.
"Do you really think so?"
"Pardon?"
Without further explanation, Hyang looked at the water's surface.
'I just fed poison to the Emperor. If the current Emperor or future Emperors are wise rulers, they'll use it to help the country for their own pleasure, but if they're tyrants, it will immediately become fatal poison. The pleasure felt while spending money is as intense as narcotics.'
Hyang, who had been blankly staring at the water surface, suddenly sighed.
"And a marriage proposal, of all things..."
* * *
They received official documents containing resolutions to the genealogy correction and tribute women issues, and finally signed the contract regarding the merchant guild.
There was a slight rupture during the contract drafting process, specifically regarding the profit distribution clause.
- The distribution ratio determined now shall continue to be observed, and if a demand to modify it arises, the contract is immediately terminated.
"This is a bit concerning."
At the Xuande Emperor's objection, Hyang immediately replied.
"A contract is a matter of honor. If one of the two parties cannot let go of greed and betrays honor, how can we continue the contract?"
"Does Joseon's Crown Prince not trust me?"
The Xuande Emperor's expression turned fierce, but Hyang answered in a calm voice.
"How could I harbor such disrespectful thoughts? This is merely a warning for future generations."
"A warning for future generations..."
The Xuande Emperor, pondering Hyang's words, nodded.
"That's acceptable."
'It will be useful for testing whoever succeeds to the throne.'
Having made his decision, the Xuande Emperor jokingly addressed Hyang.
"But, since you said both parties, that means Joseon could break it too. Aren't you worried?"
"We'll just have to educate properly."
Answering with a smile, Hyang muttered inwardly.
'Looking at history, the probability is much higher on your side.'
Having thus drafted the contract and stamped it with the imperial seal and a handprint—Hyang didn't have a seal—the two exchanged the contract documents.
When everything was finished, the Xuande Emperor looked at Hyang and asked a question.
"By the way, are you married?"
"Not yet. But I plan to marry soon."
"I have some fine daughters..."
At the Xuande Emperor's words, Hyang answered while breaking into a cold sweat.
"We just need to set an auspicious date and the ceremony will be held immediately. But if we break the engagement now, it would harm the royal family's honor. Your Majesty's grace is overwhelming, but I believe we must keep our word."
"That is true."
Since it was a question thrown out on the spot, the Xuande Emperor immediately accepted and withdrew.
* * *
Recalling that crisis, Hyang clicked his tongue.
"If it were a Taiwanese member from a 21st century girl group, I might have considered it..."
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the beauty of the court ladies he had seen while staying in the Forbidden City hadn't appealed to him much.
"This is something else... Should I ask Father to lower the standards a bit?"
Hyang was seriously considering changing the standards he had mentioned.
* * *
Having returned to Joseon, Hyang immediately went to the Pyeonjeon and reported on the negotiations.
In particular, when they heard that the diplomatic long-cherished wishes Joseon had so desperately wanted to resolve were settled, not only King Sejong but also the ministers could not hide their joy.
"Well done! Truly well done! The Crown Prince has resolved our royal family's long-cherished wish! This is truly a joyous occasion!"
"We offer our congratulations!"
"We offer our congratulations!"
Unable to hide his joy, Sejong ordered the Minister of Justice.
"Immediately pardon those among the imprisoned throughout the country whose crimes are light!"
"We receive your command!"
With the royal family's long-cherished wishes resolved, and even the political problems that were the biggest obstacle to Tumen River development settled at once, the atmosphere in the Pyeonjeon was incredibly warm.
However, the warm atmosphere ended there. What followed was fierce debate.
The cause of the debate was the part where some had referred to Joseon as a "vassal state" during Hyang's conversation with the Xuande Emperor.
The attack began with the Chief State Councilor.
"The results achieved by the Crown Prince are truly great, but there is a problem. Why did you refer to us as a vassal state? While our Joseon is a tributary state, it is not a vassal state."
At the Chief State Councilor's words, the Minister of Rites rebutted.
"Are a tributary state and a vassal state not the same thing? We call ourselves subjects and offer tribute!"
"They are clearly different words!"
Greatly opposed, the Chief State Councilor appealed to Sejong.
"If the Crown Prince had simply called it a feudal state, it would not have been a major problem!"
No sooner had the Chief State Councilor's words ended than Hwang Hee rebutted.
"A feudal state! Are you saying this Joseon is land of the Central Plains!"
"What kind of sophistry is that!"
"Do you not know why feudal states were created in the first place? King Wu of Zhou destroyed Shang and established the nation, then distributed Shang's territory—that was the beginning! If we calculate that way, do you not know what it means to call Joseon a feudal state? It means this Joseon's territory becomes Ming's territory!"
After that, the ministers continued their fierce war of words for a long time, citing all sorts of ancient examples.
"Stop! Stop it at once!"
At Sejong's shout, the ministers ceased their debate.
Sejong looked at Hyang and posed a question.
"Crown Prince, speak. Though they may say such things, did you actually refer to it as a vassal state?"
"Father. How could I not know the fearsomeness of the term vassal state? However, clever words must be accompanied by pleasing countenances. Just as Han Xin crawled between the legs of ruffians, for the success of the grand plan, what would I not do? They say to endure hardships to accomplish something great. In the future, I will certainly repay it."
"So, did the grand plan succeed?"
"Yes."
Answering briefly, Hyang handed the contract to Sejong through the attendant.
Sejong picked up the contract and carefully examined its contents.
"Hmm... the profit distribution is 45% to 55%? We get 45%... and the counterpart is the Emperor?"
"Yes, the Emperor."
"You did well. You did it right."
"Please look at the conditions regarding contract termination."
"Contract termination..."
Sejong traced the contract's clauses with his finger, found the relevant clause, read it carefully, and smiled.
"You really did it right! Well done! Well done!"
"Thank you. It is all thanks to Father trusting your son."
The ministers watching the conversation between the father and son all wore expressions of incomprehension.
'What did he do well? He voluntarily crawled calling it a vassal state, and when selling products they produced, they should have kept all the profits, yet they formed a partnership, and the other side takes more of the profit?'
Seeing the ministers' expressions, Sejong handed the contract to the attendant.
"Bring it so the ministers can read it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The attendant who received the contract from Sejong handed it to the Chief State Councilor.