# Chapter 125: Currency
Sejong 11th Year (1429, Year of Giyu)
As they entered the latter half of the Gyeongjang reforms, Sejong along with the court ministers and officials all fell into a peculiar tension.
The reason Sejong, the ministers, and the officials were all tense was that the time had finally come for a full-scale reorganization of the administrative apparatus.
For smooth progress, not only the Six Ministries but also the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon were burning the midnight oil day after day, reviewing and revising plans.
"The ultimate goal of the Gyeongjang reforms is for as many common people as possible to obtain恒産 (stable livelihood) and escape from hardship."
"Indeed."
At the explanation of Byeon Gye-ryang, the Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon, Sejong nodded. Sejong's eyes looking at Byeon Gye-ryang were filled with worry.
'Minister Byeon has become quite weakened....'
* * *
Byeon Gye-ryang, who was appointed as the Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon in Sejong's 2nd year, had completely established himself in that position as Sejong carried out the Gyeongjang reforms.
As Byeon Gye-ryang continued to guard the position of Grand Scholar, the work of Jiphyeonjeon gained clear continuity.
Although his private life was rife with all sorts of scandals and rumors, academically he was exceptionally talented, so Byeon Gye-ryang was able to serve as the Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon.
Thereafter, as Sejong's Gyeongjang reforms progressed, the Chief Ministers and ministers of the Six Ministries looked at Byeon Gye-ryang with envious eyes.
This was because when the storm of swords blew due to bribery and corruption issues, Byeon Gye-ryang, with his status as Grand Scholar, was able to avoid that storm.
He had to return the lands received from previous kings, but in a way, thanks to his position as Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon, which could be considered a sinecure, there weren't many gifts that had come in.
"If only that petty nature of his wasn't there, he would have been Chief Minister material."
"He's Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon precisely because of that petty nature."
Various backbiting circulated, but Byeon Gye-ryang did his best from his position as Grand Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon. That petty personality played a major role in being thorough without missing anything in the process of researching policies. Of course, being so petty and thorough had the disadvantage of narrowing one's视野, but he also possessed the quickness to immediately supplement when pointed out.
Of course, each time, the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon had to suffer the scolding.
For Byeon Gye-ryang with such a petty personality, the work of researching and improving Gyeongjang policies was a task that placed considerable burden on him.
Thanks to that, while other ministers of similar age were flying about energetically, Byeon Gye-ryang was rapidly weakening.
* * *
'I should start preparing Minister Byeon's successor.'
Sejong, thinking of a successor upon seeing Byeon Gye-ryang's weakened appearance, posed a question.
"The ultimate goal is as you say, but there is much to resolve before that."
"That is correct. Jiphyeonjeon and the Ministry of Taxation and Ministry of Personnel believe we must first decide the order of two problems."
At Byeon Gye-ryang's answer, Sejong looked back at the Ministers of Personnel and Taxation who were seated together and asked.
"What are the two problems?"
At Sejong's question, Kim Jeom answered immediately.
"Currency and administrative reform. The question is which of the two to implement first for efficiency."
At Kim Jeom's answer, Sejong stroked his beard and asked.
"Wasn't that part decided to proceed with administrative district reorganization first?"
"It was, but the situation has changed."
"The situation has changed?"
"Yes. When the Gyeongjang reforms were first planned, we had planned to reorganize administrative districts first and then enforce currency circulation."
"Indeed. The reason for doing so was because there had been strong resistance whenever currency use was attempted until then, wasn't it?"
At Sejong's point, Kim Jeom answered immediately.
"Yes. That was the case."
"But now you say the situation has changed?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Why? No, how? No... no... Did the encouragement of commerce and industry change the situation?"
At Sejong's question, Kim Jeom answered with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"That reason is not insignificant, but somewhat absurd things have made the people demand currency."
"Absurd things?"
"Public bathhouses and Gyeyak (fried chicken)."
"Huh...."
At Kim Jeom's answer, Sejong wore an expression of disbelief.
"Bathhouses and Gyeyak making people demand currency... no, wait... The Crown Prince mentioned bathhouses, didn't he?"
When Sejong recalled what Hyang had said while searching his memory, Kim Jeom answered immediately.
"That is correct. During the restoration after the Great Fire of Hanseong, he said that the construction of bathhouses would bring about the need for currency."
"Right, he did say that. Indeed... I thought it was highly likely, but I didn't expect to see results this quickly."
At Sejong's words, Byeon Gye-ryang joined the conversation.
"It appears to be the result of many common people responding to the 'public hygiene' that the Crown Prince advocated."
"Public hygiene?"
"More precisely, Bijo (soap)."
At the increasingly incomprehensible answer, Sejong became puzzled.
* * *
While restoring the area turned to ashes by the great fire and installing bathhouses, Hyang gathered not only the royal physicians but also the doctors in Hanseong and the military physicians of the Ministry of War to conduct explanatory sessions on the importance of 'public hygiene.'
And not just once, but repeatedly holding sessions before the rainy season began, and again after it ended.
The royal physicians and military physicians, who already knew of Hyang's actions and had read the translations of Western medical texts that Hyang had obtained, immediately accepted Hyang's claims.
As a result, as sanitary conditions in the palace and military improved, the number of people contracting infectious diseases - mainly skin diseases - in the palace and military greatly decreased.
Civilian doctors who saw these actual effects also began to take interest in 'the importance of public hygiene' and began emphasizing cleanliness to the common people.
Timed with this, as Bijo was released to the market from District 51, people began paying attention to cleanliness.
"It's a bit bothersome, but if just washing hands well like this prevents minor illnesses, where can you find such a thing?"
As people paid attention to cleanliness like this, the popularity of bathhouses gradually increased.
Although considerable time had passed, it was still the early Joseon period where traces of Goryeo remained strong, so the lack of resistance to bathing also played a part.
As bathing became popular in the redeveloped areas, tearing down buildings to build bathhouses became frequent in other districts of Hanseong as well.
And at the entrances of bathhouses established this way, along with collecting bathing fees, they also sold Bijo. Because of this, it was common for many people to bathe as well 'while going to buy Bijo.'
When Bijo was first released to the market, the people who showed reactions of 'what is this thing used for?' cheered at the various utilities of Bijo.
Not only was it useful for cleaning the body, but when dishes were scrubbed with a loofah lathered with Bijo and cleaned cleanly, many housewives treasured Bijo like a sacred jar.
As Bijo was used like this, various problems arose, and these problems snowballed, leading people to demand currency.
The first problem pointed out was the lifespan of Bijo, that is, soap. Soap's greatest enemy was moisture. In the soap production process, moisture was removed as much as possible, but since soap was an item used always close to water, the consumption rate was quite high.
So people purchased soap in bulk through bathhouses, stores, or peddlers and traveling merchants, but without packaging that blocked moisture like in the 21st century, cases where it met moisture in the air and melted - especially during the rainy season - occurred frequently.
Eventually, common people living in urban areas purchased in small quantities of 1 or 2 pieces from stores or bathhouses, but the low price was the problem.
If they offered cotton cloth as payment for 1 or 2 pieces of soap, it would be a size only good for using as a rag, so most paid with grain, but grain was equally troublesome.
The same applied to bathhouse usage fees. It was a small enough amount that ordinary people could afford once a week, so paying with cotton cloth or grain each time was a troublesome affair.
Eventually, residents of neighborhoods with bathhouses created ledgers and enjoyed baths on credit. The problem was when settling the costs processed on credit. Every time they settled at fortnightly or monthly intervals, disputes frequently arose with arguments of 'did I, or didn't I.'
Eventually, the people reached the following conclusion.
"Ugh, damn it! Let's just use that coin money, whether it's Tongbo or Gyocho!"
"That would be better!"
* * *
"Truly, the need for currency has emerged from an unexpected place."
At Kim Jeom's report, Sejong shared his impressions with an expression still showing disbelief.
At Sejong's words, the ministers including Kim Jeom also nodded.
"Then is Gyeyak for the same reason?"
At Sejong's question, Kim Jeom immediately bowed his head and answered.
"That is correct. Gyeyak also wasn't an expensive price, so there was much consumption, and because of that, people started talking about the inconvenience."
At the ministers' words, Sejong snorted and fell into thought.
"Hmm..."
Sejong, who had been organizing the situation silently, looked at the ministers and spoke.
"Listening to your words now, though you say verbally that the order must be decided, it seems you wish to proceed with currency circulation first. Is that correct?"
At Sejong's question, the Chief State Councillor stepped forward and answered.
"That is correct."
"The reason?"
"Because the people are speaking of inconvenience. Inconvenience turns into dissatisfaction, and when dissatisfaction accumulates, it easily turns into rebellious hearts."
At the Chief State Councillor's statement, Sejong tapped the armrest with his fingers and fell into thought.
After contemplating for a while, Sejong posed a question.
"I will ask you, ministers."
"Please ask, Your Majesty."
"Those who currently wish to use currency appear to be mainly people living in urban areas. Is that not so?"
"No, it is correct that most are people living in urban areas."
"How widely have bathhouses and Gyeyak shops spread?"
"They have spread to almost all urban areas with populations of 5,000 or more."
"Population of 5,000 or more... Then has it spread to almost the Gun (County) level?"
"That is correct."
"However, aren't there overwhelmingly more people living in small villages than those living in such urban areas? Are even those living in such places all agreeing to use currency? Are we not making a hasty decision based only on the words of those living in urban areas?"
Sejong could not hide his worry and continued to press.
Sejong too fully felt the necessity of currency use and desired it more earnestly than anyone. But he also knew well that the reason it failed every time when successive kings pushed for currency use was because the people did not respond.
Therefore, Sejong could not readily accept the ministers' opinion.
As Sejong continued to hesitate, Kim Jeom stepped forward and reported.
"According to reports coming up from the monopoly offices, demand for currency is gradually increasing even in small villages below the Hyeon level. Of course, it's not yet a major trend..."
At Kim Jeom's report, Sejong's face gradually brightened. But Sejong questioned carefully.
"It is welcome news that demand is increasing even in small villages below the Hyeon level. However, if we don't properly understand why such demand is increasing, it could be dangerous. Have you received a report on the reason?"
"Yes."
At Kim Jeom's gesture, an official from the Ministry of Taxation who had been waiting behind came forward holding a tray with a book on it.
After Sejong received the book through the attendant, Kim Jeom continued.
"As you will see from the book, the peddlers rotating through small village markets strongly desire the use of currency. This is because the cotton cloth or grain they receive as payment burdens them."
"Peddlers alone are not enough."
"Farmers also desire it. This is because preserving grain is not easy."
"Hmm..."
Listening to Kim Jeom's explanation, Sejong read the report carefully. After reading the report submitted by Kim Cheom from beginning to end, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"I understand your opinions well. However, I cannot make a decision immediately. The reason we pay special attention to small local towns in the process of pushing forward the Gyeongjang reforms is to break the pattern of taking lightly the authority of the King and court while submitting to the authority of local landlords or scholar-officials. Only by breaking this can we pursue public benefit so that as many people as possible can live peaceful lives. Therefore..."
Sejong paused for a moment. When Sejong paused, the ministers focused their attention on him.
Sejong, having gathered the ministers' attention, reached a conclusion.
"Hasty decisions are no better than not making them, so deliberate further."
At Sejong's decision, the ministers bowed their heads.
"We will obey your command."
"Then, let us take a short break."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After sending the ministers out and sitting alone in the main hall organizing his thoughts, Sejong called the attendant.
"Attendant."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Call the Crown Prince."
"Yes."
While the attendant who received Sejong's command went to find another court official to deliver the order, Sejong muttered quietly.
"It's not time for this child to serve as regent, but I should give him some homework. The time for him to only do what he wants has passed..."