# Chapter 129: Bi (婢, Female Servant)
Though he had said, "I will think deeply on it," Sejong's royal heart was already leaning toward accepting Hyang's proposal.
In the end, the next day, Sejong summoned Hyang and instructed him.
"Explain the plan you devised in greater detail to me and the ministers."
"Yes, Royal Father."
At Sejong's command, Hyang began a more detailed explanation to Sejong and the ministers.
- First, select appropriate regions among Joseon's eight provinces and commence sample construction projects.
Sejong, who had briefly questioned Hyang's words, soon nodded.
"Sample construction? Ah... I see. I too am selecting districts to implement as pilots before reorganizing local administrative institutions. It is the same concept, is it not?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty. We must verify to some extent how much construction costs vary depending on constraints such as flat terrain versus mountainous terrain, ease of obtaining gravel and sand, distance, and so forth, as well as whether it is a regular road or a bridge. Only then can we prevent merchant guilds from taking excessive profits."
At Hyang's explanation, the ministers nodded. Kim Jeom, who had been listening, raised a question.
"Since this is not construction meant for relief, wages must be paid to the workers. Shall we leave the establishment of wage standards to the merchant guilds?"
At Kim Jeom's words, Hyang hesitated briefly before answering.
"I intended to explain that part later, but since you have asked, I will convey my thoughts. By my standard, if a worker labors for half a shi (1 hour), they should receive resources sufficient for one meal, and if they work a full day (12 hours), it should be enough for a family of four to live for one day. This would be the minimum standard."
Kim Jeom, who made various calculations at Hyang's answer, nodded.
"That seems reasonable."
"Let us add one more condition there."
When Sejong interjected, the gazes of the ministers and Hyang turned toward him.
"We beseech Your Majesty to instruct us."
"Though I call it a condition, it is nothing grand. I believe it would be good to add the condition that the merchant guilds undertaking the work must provide noon meals and refreshments for free."
"The merchant guilds will strongly protest, saying their profits decrease."
At Kim Jeom's words, Sejong's expression sharpened.
"Is it acceptable for merchant guilds to pursue profit, but those working at the very bottom must not pursue profit?"
"Th-that is not what I meant......"
"If they must be content with merely filling their stomachs day by day, why would anyone leave their village? Even now, if you go to the marketplace, there are more than one or two common people doing day labor each day. Are we not proposing economic reforms so that they too can accumulate wealth and pursue better lives! If we only nurture the merchant guilds, how is that different from nurturing local tyrants!"
At Sejong's rebuke, Kim Jeom immediately prostrated himself on the floor.
"Please forgive your subject's rashness!"
"Rise. And when you speak, do so after giving it more thought."
"I will engrave it deeply in my heart."
Kim Jeom, who answered while bowing his head, let out a small sigh.
'Whew~. That was close.'
Having experienced various matters during this time, the ministers had acquired the skill to gauge crises through the tone Sejong used when speaking to them.
1. When there are no major incidents, he uses the respectful tone.
2. When ministers or the Crown Prince achieve great merit, he honors their age and uses honorifics.
3. If they fail to properly understand his intentions or oppose him at every turn, he uses the commanding tone.
4. In even more displeasing situations, he clicks his tongue and uses direct, forceful language.
5. In situations beyond that, the Royal Inspectorate is dispatched.
According to the conditions above, Kim Jeom had barely escaped the crisis.
'I really can't keep doing this!'
Grumbling inwardly, Kim Jeom turned his ears to Hyang's words.
In the chilled atmosphere from the recent incident, Hyang continued his explanation.
"Regarding the wages of those working at the very bottom, I believe Royal Father's thought is most correct.
Then, moving on, we should seek merchant guilds to take charge of construction in each of Joseon's provinces, but we must contract with at least three or more merchant guilds per province."
"Does 'three or more' mean at least three?"
At Kim Jeom's question, Hyang nodded. Then, Jo Mal-saeng, who had been listening, interjected.
"Wouldn't it be easier to manage if there are fewer merchant guilds in charge of the work?"
Just as Hyang was about to open his mouth to answer Jo Mal-saeng's question, the Chief Inspector answered.
"It is because of the monopoly problem. While the military becomes more efficient with simpler command structures, in civilian construction, if monopolies occur, only those who suffer losses increase. That is why the sages cautioned attention to commerce."
"His Excellency the Chief Inspector's point is accurate. If only one merchant guild is selected per province, ultimately that merchant guild will control everything. The money spent on construction is all tax blood from the people, so we cannot waste it recklessly."
"If that happens, we could call merchant guilds from other provinces... ah, it's an efficiency issue."
Heo Jo, who had been about to raise an objection to Hyang's words, realized the problem midway and closed his mouth.
Hyang continued speaking.
"What the government must do is prevent their monopolies and collusion, and induce competition. By doing so, they accumulate experience, and we select companies with excellent capabilities to deploy for developing the northeastern frontier. By that time, they will have sufficient experience and capability, reducing trial and error."
"I see."
As time passed, Hyang, having finished the general explanation, moved to summarize.
"Now, to summarize the construction we discussed this time and the previous market proposal:"
- The number of common people dying from disease has decreased through cowpox inoculation, medicinal herb cultivation, and active distribution of relief rice.
- The irrigation projects conducted as compensation for the relief rice and the expansion of flood control facilities through them brought about an increase in agricultural productivity and reduced the number of people starving to death.
- As deaths from disease and starvation decreased, the population continues to increase.
- Even in the existing situation using direct seeding, the labor input was in excess. With the transplanting method now being actively distributed, the labor surplus problem has grown even larger.
- Though yields increased slightly with the transplanting method, the population consumed increased even more, so not only independent farmers but also tenant farmers had no choice but to go into debt.
- To resolve this, markets are established, breaking the link between local tyrants, tenant farmers, and independent farmers.
- Starting with road expansion, large-scale construction projects are conducted to draw out surplus rural labor to the outside.
"...That is all."
Having finished all his statements, Hyang bowed politely.
The ministers, who had been listening intently to Hyang's words lest they miss anything, fell silent and sank into contemplation.
Sejong was the same.
After a long silence, Sejong spoke.
"I ask the ministers."
"We await Your Majesty's words."
"Do you remember the 'National Land Development Plan' the Crown Prince submitted previously?"
"We remember."
The ministers answered in unison. The current economic reforms were largely coordinated and being coordinated according to the contents of that plan.
"What do you think if we combine it with the proposal the Crown Prince just mentioned?"
At Sejong's question, Prime Minister I Jik stepped forward to answer.
"It aligns with the final objective of the National Land Development Plan, so I believe it is appropriate to accept it."
"Are there any who object?"
"......."
When the ministers answered with silence, Sejong made his decision.
"Then actively accept the proposals the Crown Prince has put forward and create an implementation plan to submit."
"We receive your command!"
The ministers answered with one voice.
"Every single letter of the plan you compose carries the fate of Joseon, so please do your utmost."
At Sejong's admonition, the ministers prostrated themselves together and answered.
"We will engrave it deeply in our hearts and devote our very bones!"
This was the ministers' sincere feeling.
While groaning from overwork continuing every day, occasionally declaring they would submit resignations, and being bewildered by policies that seemed to go against the Neo-Confucian perspectives they had learned and believed in, there was one reason the ministers held their positions.
'If this work is done properly, a Joseon completely different from what we knew, thought, and pursued, but far better, will be born! I want it recorded that I was part of that process!'
* * *
Five days after Sejong and the ministers united to decide on the implementation of markets and construction projects,
"Your Highness. His Majesty summons you."
Late in the evening, Hyang, who was organizing documents and preparing for a pleasant time with his second consort—Hyang had even created a co-sleeping schedule to regularly share beds with three consorts—tilted his head at the eunuch's words.
"At this hour?"
"Yes."
"I understand. Lead the way."
Guided by the eunuch, Hyang arrived at Gangnyeongjeon, located behind Geunjeongjeon.
"Your Majesty. The Crown Prince has arrived."
"Let him enter."
"Yes, please enter."
Upon entering Gangnyeongjeon, Sejong's personal office and bedchamber, Hyang discovered Heo Jo was present alongside Sejong.
"Royal Father, did you summon me?"
"Yes, sit there."
"Yes."
Once Hyang was seated, Sejong spoke.
"The reason I summoned the Crown Prince was the slave issue."
When Sejong mentioned 'slaves,' Hyang's face stiffened.
'It has come!'
Seeing Hyang's expression, Sejong spoke.
"Since the previous dynasty, regarding slaves, only same-class marriage (同色婚, marriage between slaves) was permitted, while marriage between commoners and lowborn (良賤交婚) was prohibited. However, as is the way of human affairs, marriages between commoners and lowborn increased, so the 'Law of the Lowborn Following the Mother (賤者隨母法)' was implemented."
"Yes, I have read the records and am aware."
When Hyang answered that he knew, Sejong moistened his throat briefly before continuing.
"Looking at the state of marriages between commoners and lowborn, cases of commoner men marrying lowborn women are overwhelmingly numerous. Accordingly, the late king created the Father-Following Law (從父法), which determines the child's commoner or slave status according to the father."
"Yes, I am aware of that as well."
"However, petitions continue to arrive saying there are many problems with this Father-Following Law now."
At Sejong's words, Hyang immediately replied.
"His late Majesty King Taejong created and implemented the Father-Following Law because as the number of lowborn increased and commoners decreased, problems arose in national finance and national defense. Do those who oppose this Father-Following Law think their small personal interests are more important than the nation's security? If they think so, I believe they should be severely punished."
At Hyang's hardline statement, Heo Jo answered.
"The problem is more complex than thought."
"Complex, you say?"
"Yes."
Heo Jo began explaining the problems that had arisen while implementing the Father-Following Law.
- The Father-Following Law is literally a law that determines whether a child born between a commoner and a slave is commoner or slave based on the father's status. Its purpose was to increase the number of commoners.
- Accordingly, the number of commoners increased greatly, but the number of slaves decreased absolutely. It was from this point that the dissatisfaction of slave owners exploded.
"Wasn't the Father-Following Law originally a law created to reduce the number of slaves? Then it was implemented properly, so what is the problem?"
When Hyang questioned with a face showing he truly couldn't understand, Heo Jo answered.
"In principle, that is correct. And if the decrease in slaves had been a natural reduction, it would have been something we could simply ignore. However, problems arose in the absolute decrease, and problems also arose in the customs of the rural villages."
"Pardon? Why?"
"It was due to other customs related to the Father-Following Law. To be precise, the customs regarding manumission, perhaps."
"Yes?"
When Hyang still didn't understand, Sejong stepped forward to answer.
"In principle, when a female slave (婢) bears a commoner's child, that slave is immediately granted manumission. That is where the problem arose."
"Ah!"
From Sejong's words, Hyang immediately understood the problem.
A female slave could bear children until her menstruation ceased. From the slave owner's perspective, granting manumission to such a female slave was tantamount to saying that at least ten or so future slaves would disappear.
"I understand. But what is the problem with customs?"
At Hyang's question, Heo Jo immediately answered.
"Cases are frequently occurring where, despite having a legitimate slave husband (奴) of the same class, the woman insists the child is another commoner's. Or cases where it is unknown whose baby was born are also common. In such cases, the female slave who gave birth unconditionally insists a commoner is the child's father. Because of manumission." (Note 1)
"Heoh......"
When Hyang sighed, Sejong continued.
"Do you remember what you said before you obtained the Crown Princess? The saying, 'A concubine can make even Buddha turn his back.'"
"Yes."
"It is the same principle. Even if recognized as a commoner's child and granted manumission together with the child, there are many cases where they cannot endure the legal wife's tyranny and become wandering people. It is a sad thing."
At Sejong's words, Hyang asked with a determined face.
"Does Royal Father intend to abolish the Father-Following Law?"
At Hyang's question, Sejong shook his head.
"I have no such intention. That is why I called you. You have work to do."
"Command me."
"Find a way for the manumitted female slaves to sustain their livelihood with their children!"
At Sejong's command, Hyang bowed his head and answered.
"I receive your command!"
Though he answered vigorously, Hyang was crying inside.
'Damn! Another maximum difficulty level!'
* * *
Note 1) Sejong the Great Annals Read in One Volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Ungjin Knowledge House