**Chapter 166: Aftermath and Currency (1)**
At Sejong's command, the families that had joined the uprising were completely destroyed.
Since the adult men who were the center of each family and household had all participated in the uprising, it was not uncommon for boys who had just turned fifteen to become the head of the family.
However, that was just the beginning of the tragedy.
Those who participated in the uprising were executed regardless of age. In particular, those who killed relatives who refused to join the uprising were subjected to death by dismemberment.
That was not the end of the matter. According to the "Joseon Gyeonggukjeon" and its revision, the "Gyeongje Yukjeon," sons over the age of fifteen who had undergone the coming-of-age ceremony among the children of those who participated in the uprising were all sentenced to strangulation.
The fact that the participants of the uprising moved as family units brought even greater calamity.
According to the law, the scope of collective punishment extended to relatives within three degrees of the person in question. And those who fell within this scope of collective punishment were to be sentenced to exile.
Of course, depending on the will of those in power, that scope could expand even further.
However, in this uprising where all family members participated, there were virtually no such people to whom exile could be applied.
Ultimately, the noble society of the Samnam region had to suffer fatal damage due to this uprising.
Looking only at the ratio of yangban who suffered the destruction of their families due to this uprising, Chungcheong Province was 40%, Gyeongsang Province 38%, and Jeolla Province 33%. But looking at the economic aspect, about 55% of Chungcheong Province, 62% of Gyeongsang Province, and 69% of Jeolla Province's agricultural land fell into the hands of the court, or precisely, into Sejong's hands.
"This is why they had to start the uprising..."
Sejong, examining the report submitted by the Ministry of Taxation, was so dumbfounded he couldn't speak properly.
Almost more than half of Joseon's important grain-producing regions, excluding Gyeonggi Province, had been under their control.
The content of the report submitted by the Ministry of Taxation was not limited to that. As Sejong examined the latter part of the thick volume, his expression became terribly fierce.
"Is this truly true?"
At Sejong's question, Kim Jeom answered immediately.
"It is true, Your Majesty."
"These damn wretches!"
Sejong expressed his anger exactly as he felt.
What was written in the latter part of the report concerned the property confiscated from the families who participated in this uprising. Even excluding real estate such as farmland and forests, the total amount of confiscated property was equivalent to 15 years of the court's tax revenue. Simply put, it meant the court could operate state affairs without collecting taxes for the next 15 years.
"These damn bastards..."
Sejong's cheeks trembled as he spoke through gritted teeth.
"Your Majesty! Please calm your anger!"
"Please calm your anger!"
Starting with Yi Jik, the ministers advised him to calm down, and Sejong took a deep breath to subdue his anger.
After breathing deeply for a while and calming his anger to some extent, Sejong opened his mouth while looking at the ministers.
"From the late reign of the late king until the first five years of my reign, we had to hold rain-calling rituals every year. Every year, reports of people starving to death across the country poured in like rain, and local officials' pleas to resolve this continued."
"That is correct."
"In such a situation, to amass wealth like this... Do you think this could have been achieved through proper means?"
"..."
At Sejong's question, the ministers fell silent. This was because they also had quite a few things to feel guilty about. This was because a significant portion of the 'gifts' that officials had to spit out due to the Kim Do-yeon incident in the past had come from those who had amassed wealth in such ways.
When the ministers fell silent, Sejong examined the report again. Sejong, who had been glaring at the report as if to pierce through the paper, called the Chief Eunuch.
"Immediately summon the Crown Prince and the Chief Scholar of Jiphyeonjeon."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After a while, Sejong gave brief orders to the Chief Scholar and Hyang who had been summoned.
"It cannot be helped that those who directly participated in the rebellion are sentenced to death. However, deliberate on how to utilize those who have fallen to slave status and report back. They have lived in luxury and abundance, so they must pay the price."
"We receive your command."
The Chief Scholar and Hyang answered respectfully with deep bows.
Thus, the answer that came from Jiphyeonjeon and the Research Institute was '30 years of mine labor.'
* * *
"Labor is the only answer."
Upon hearing Sejong's command from Hyang, the officials of the Research Institute immediately mentioned 'labor.' At the officials' answer, Hyang nodded and added his words.
"That is an answer, but I don't think it's the correct answer. The problem is where and how to make them labor. It must be clear to other commoners that 'those people are now paying for their crimes.' Also, those who do the same work should not receive similar treatment. Finally, they must not be able to escape easily."
"Ah..."
At the conditions Hyang presented, all the officials tilted their heads.
While they were pondering, Jeong In-ji made a suggestion.
"How about deploying them to the road construction we are planning to execute?"
At Jeong In-ji's words, Jeong Cho raised an objection.
"Didn't we already decide to entrust the road construction to merchant guilds?"
"That is true. However, according to the plan we have devised now, there are very few straight roads. Because of mountains and rivers."
"That is so."
Jeong In-ji brought a map, spread it on the desk, and continued his explanation while tracing with his finger.
"I am suggesting we deploy them to the work of straightening these roads. Digging tunnels through mountains, and not just finding places where the river width is narrow, but building bridges at points closest to a straight line. Naturally, this will be a high-difficulty construction requiring significant investment. We deploy the criminals to proceed with such construction."
"Hmm..."
"That seems acceptable..."
At Jeong In-ji's words, the officials of the Research Institute all wore expressions that it sounded plausible.
However, Hyang, the highest-ranking among them, shook his head.
"Impossible."
"Why is that?"
When Jeong In-ji asked for the reason, Hyang immediately explained.
"First, the places where road construction takes place are where commoners live. There is a high risk of escape."
"If we build separate detention facilities in areas where difficult construction takes place..."
"No matter how many detention facilities we build, road construction sites are places where villages appear after crossing just one or two mountains. Furthermore, what's scattered around construction sites are dangerous tools like pickaxes, axes, and shovels. If mishandled, casualties could occur in nearby villages."
"Still..."
"Second, entrusting road construction to merchant guilds also has the purpose of circulating funds, gathering people to expand currency circulation, and growing Joseon's economic scale. Deploying criminals en masse there? We may fall short of the expected goals."
"Ah..."
As Hyang's explanation continued, Jeong In-ji's head gradually drooped. Looking at such Jeong In-ji, Hyang turned to the other officials.
"Finally, building bridges and digging tunnels. These are high-difficulty constructions. If such construction proceeds, the laborers will also gain experience and become skilled technicians."
After stopping for a moment to catch his breath, Hyang pointed out an important problem.
"But making criminals, and those who committed treason at that, learn such important skills? Do you think that makes sense? If they were ordinary criminals, we would have them learn skills for rehabilitation so they wouldn't commit crimes again, but isn't that not the case for rebels?"
When Hyang pointed out the political problem, Jeong In-ji raised the white flag.
"My thinking was short."
"The idea was good, but you didn't consider the political problems. Let's think about it a bit more."
"Yes."
Thanks to this, Hyang and the Research Institute officials brought various reports, maps, and such from the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Personnel, putting their heads together and pondering repeatedly.
What made Hyang and the officials ponder was the problem of 'Sinnyang-yeokcheon' (persons of good birth performing lowly duties).
"If we use them for mine labor or as rowers on ships, it would be perfect..."
"Even with Sinnyang-yeokcheon, the number of people willing to do such work is already decreasing, so how do you plan to handle manpower supply later?"
"Mmm..."
Then one day, Yi Cheon visited Hyang who was working in District 51.
"Your Highness, have you heard the news?"
"What news are you referring to?"
When Hyang expressed curiosity, Yi Cheon continued with a slight smile.
"Though an official report will soon come to the court, a large-scale iron mine has been discovered in the newly developed region."
At Yi Cheon's words, Hyang's eyes sparkled.
"An iron mine, you say? Where is it?"
At Hyang's question, Yi Cheon took a map hanging on the wall, spread it on the table, and pointed to one spot.
"Here."
Hyang nodded as he looked at the place Yi Cheon pointed to.
"It looks promising. We'll need to investigate further. Thank you, General."
"You praise me too much. I too am a subject of Joseon, merely doing my assigned duty."
At Hyang's command, the officials of the Research Institute immediately rode horses north.
"What brings you from Hanseong?"
"The Crown Prince sent us."
The official who came on a business trip handed Hyang's letter to Hwang Hui. After examining the contents of the letter, Hwang Hui called a secretary.
"Go get..."
"I'm right here!"
At Kim Jong-seo's voice heard right beside him, Hwang Hui frowned.
"This fellow doesn't hesitate to go through fire and water when it comes to Hanseong..."
Muttering in a small voice, Hwang Hui gave orders to Kim Jong-seo.
"Hand over the copied materials regarding Musan to these people, and if necessary, conduct a field survey as well."
"Yes! Then follow me!"
Kim Jong-seo excitedly led the Research Institute officials out.
"What's the most popular gisaeng house in Hanseong these days? And the gisaeng..."
At Kim Jong-seo's voice asking about this and that about Hanseong in an excited tone, Hwang Hui deeply furrowed his brow.
"When will that fellow's love for Hanseong ever..."
* * *
Through such a process, the Research Institute officials and Hyang soon selected Musan as the most suitable location.
"It is surrounded by mountains and the Duman River on three sides, and the only exit is the road to Cheongjin. It is convenient for surveillance."
"Since it is an open-pit mine, there is less burden in making women labor as well. Also, it is optimally located to supply iron ore to the second ironworks planned for the Cheongjin area."
Following the report from Hyang and the Research Institute officials, Sejong made his decision.
"Send the criminals to Musan and make them labor!"
* * *
By Sejong's command, the survivors of the families that started the uprising were demoted to slave status and had to be dragged to the iron mines of Musan and the coal mine discovered near Gyeongheung—called Aoji in the 21st century.
When Sejong made his decision, those who had been imprisoned in local government jails or military camps began heading north. The number of those who began moving like this reached nearly 110,000—including family members and slaves owned by the families.
Not a few sacrifices occurred during this movement north. There were countless cases of people dying while attempting to escape when gaps appeared, committing suicide in despair at their lot, or dying from exhaustion unable to overcome mental shock and physical fatigue.
Those who died like this were hastily buried in nearby hills.
"Move quickly!"
At the soldiers' shouts escorting them, the survivors had to move their reluctant feet while shedding tears.
The misery of falling to slave status overnight after enjoying lives no worse than royalty and nobility, and the mental devastation of having to bury family members without proper funerals and keep moving—the survivors' minds grew increasingly shattered.
* * *
In the distant future, progressive historians cited this incident and the 'Hwacheok Suppression' that occurred before as examples and leveled fierce criticism against Sejong.
"Sejong was a tyrant!"
The war of words between these progressive historians and conservative historians who opposed them heated up the historical academia.
* * *
The 'Samnam Uprising' sent shockwaves throughout Joseon society. As a result of this uprising, the centralization of the court was further strengthened, and local scholar-officials became increasingly constrained.
In this process, unexpected damage occurred in certain places—these were the Hyanggyo (local Confucian schools) scattered across the country.
This was because Sejong, upon receiving a report that the rebels had first begun their plotting and formed their faction at Hyanggyo, ordered the abolition of Hyanggyo.
"The places created to conduct rituals to the Confucian shrine and cultivate scholarly attainments have become dens of subversive elements! Therefore, the Hyanggyo are to be abolished! The Confucian shrine will be under the charge of Sungkyunkwan! Accordingly, those who wish to conduct rituals should come to Sungkyunkwan to do so!"
In the past, as soon as such an order fell, not only the ministers but also local scholar-officials would have risen up. However, in a situation where Sejong's royal authority was absolute and he even held the moral justification, there were no local scholar-officials bold enough to rebel.
Thus, before the Giyu year ended, all Hyanggyo throughout Joseon were demolished.