Chapter 179: The Latter Half of the Competition. (4)
The 12th year of King Sejong (1430, Year of Gyeongsul).
Mid-January. After concluding the New Year ceremonies and as state affairs began in earnest once more, King Sejong issued a command to his ministers.
"Proclaim the edict regarding the state-owned farmlands confiscated due to the Giyu Rebellion."
"We shall heed your command!"
"Clearly disclose all information regarding the qualifications for tenancy, land rent, and taxes so that the people may properly understand and act accordingly!"
At King Sejong's instruction, the ministers once again bowed their heads and replied.
"We shall bear this deeply in our bones!"
Thus, the ministers reviewed the contents of the proclamation once more. Finally, when King Sejong's final approval was complete, proclamations were posted throughout all of Joseon—from the Three Southern Provinces to the Gyeonggi region and the Northwest.
This was the official proclamation regarding the state-owned farmlands secured through the "Giyu Rebellion."
If the previously issued proclamation had been of the nature saying, "We will soon do such things, so prepare," this newly posted proclamation contained detailed information related to that matter.
1. The court is seeking those who will tenant-farm the farmlands confiscated this time. Qualifications prioritize commoners who are maintaining households.
2. The land rent for state-owned farmlands is 30%, the same as Gungbangjeon, and the tax rate imposed on tenant farmers follows what is established by law.
3. The size of farmland to be allocated ranges from a minimum of 2 gyeol to a maximum of 5 gyeol, based on the grade of said land and the number of family members of the applicant.
4. Those who were tenant-farming on said land before it was confiscated as state-owned farmland must choose according to the following cases:
Gap (甲). Those who had their own land but, due to unavoidable circumstances, entrusted their farmland to the rebels (tuo-tuo, relying on another's power).
In such cases, one of the following two methods is chosen:
One. Examining the household register, recover the entrusted land and become an independent farmer.
In this case, land ownership is recognized while simultaneously creating new household registers and land registers.
However, since one has changed from a tenant farmer to an independent farmer, the obligation to pay taxes accordingly is assumed.
Two. Without recovering the land, continue living as a tenant farmer.
In this case, the right to tenant-farm is guaranteed until the death of the person who entered into the tenant contract, and taxes are levied according to the tenant farmer standard.
However, if the person who entered the contract dies, the contract becomes void.
Eul (乙). Those who continued living as tenant farmers without entrusting land.
Those belonging to Eul are treated the same as the second method of Gap, but the contract period extends to the current tenant and his son.
5. Those who have their own farmland but it is small and yields less than a minimum of 1 gyeol, and those who owned small farmland that likewise produces less than a minimum of 1 gyeol while having taken on tenancy, may tenant-farm up to 2 gyeol of farmland.
However, this case is limited to when farmland remains after distributing to those who applied for tenancy.
6. Those belonging to Eul, those who were tenant-farming on land other than rebel land, and those among families who were emancipated from slave status who have no land may move regardless of regional distinction to receive tenancy. However, this is limited to those possessing documents issued by the magistrate of their home county proving one of the above three conditions.
* * *
As the "Proclamation on Tenancy of State-Owned Farmland" was posted at government offices throughout the country, tenant farmers had to think intensely.
So intensely did they rack their brains that people seeking physicians appeared one after another.
Boeun, Chungcheong Province.
A farmer visited a physician's quarters situated in the marketplace.
"Doctor sir, please give me some medicine...."
"Did you come with a headache too?"
"Yes."
At the farmer's answer, the physician roughly took out several medicinal ingredients, combined them, and held them out.
"That will be 50 won."
At the physician's words, the farmer grumbled while opening his pocket.
"I've lived well without any thoughts until now, but what kind of hardship is this in my old age...."
"Are you also worrying about the tenancy problem?"
"Yes. The Jinssa family I was tenant-farming for was all swept away in this rebellion.... Thanks to that, my head hurts enough to die."
At the farmer's complaint, the physician advised.
"It's a matter concerning not only you but your children's future, so think carefully. Don't go doing things drunk on liquor in a drunken fit."
"Yes...."
As the farmer nodded and went out, another farmer entered the physician's quarters.
"Did you come with a headache too?"
"Yes...."
"Hmm...."
Making a small groaning sound, the physician mechanically combined the medicinal ingredients.
As such things happened frequently, the physician piled up bundles of paper wrapping medicinal ingredients in front of the quarters and put up a sign.
- Headache medicine. 500 won per packet.
Until the problem regarding state-owned farmland reached some resolution, the physician was able to achieve unprecedented sales.
* * *
Most of those who seriously worried, even to the point of imposing on the physician's quarters like this, were those corresponding to item 4, Gap of the proclamation.
Such people, together with neighbors in similar circumstances, would sit on a flat wooden platform made in the front yard, share rough rice wine, and exchange opinions as their daily routine.
"Should I just live as a tenant farmer?"
"My friend! A farmer, by nature, should have his own land even if it's as small as a booger, shouldn't he?"
At the neighbor's words, the homeowner nodded but pointed out a problem.
"On the surface that's right, but the problem is taxes. Taxes."
"Of course, the tax rate is immediately more than double the difference so it's troubling, but then again, wanting to tenant-farm isn't right either, is it? Except for taxes, starting from rent, doesn't everything pile up! You have to think about how tenancy ends the moment you die too!"
"Our eldest is smart, so even without farming...."
"What about the second and third?"
"Hmm...."
Groaning at the neighbor's point, the farmer saw his second and third sons entering covered in dirt and shouted.
"You damned children! Your father's head is splitting thinking about you lot, and you're just going around playing! I'll, these things!"
"Oh my, sir! Why are you suddenly grabbing the children and making a scene, a scene!"
Unable to contain his anger, the farmer picked up a nearby stick and started catching the children, and his wife ran out from the kitchen and began stopping the farmer.
In that chaotic scene, the neighbor farmer who had been conversing quickly moved to his own house.
The farmer who returned to his own house opened the door to a room newly made last spring.
"Heaven cheon, earth ji...."
Seeing his son diligently memorizing the Thousand Character Classic with a pleased expression, the farmer soon made a decision in his heart.
"Hey, wife! Let's have a talk!"
* * *
Unlike those who had entrusted their own farmland and were tenant-farming worrying at the crossroads of choice, those who had originally been tenant-farming had no particular worries.
Rather, some were even being greedy.
"Is that so? You'll continue the original tenancy?"
"Yes. I don't originally have my own land, and I have no other skills, so I'll continue tenancy, sir."
"Is that so?"
"Only, I'd like to tenant-farm a bit more, sir."
"You want to increase the cultivated land? Show me your hopae."
"Here."
The Ministry of Taxation official who received the hopae spread out the household register and land register to examine the data.
"You qualify but.... Won't it be beyond your strength?"
At the Ministry of Taxation official's question, the farmer answered with a smile.
"My eldest can now do one person's share of work, sir."
"The eldest? Hmm... isn't he still twelve years old?"
"He recently lifted the carrying stone."
"Oh my!"
At the farmer's answer, the Ministry of Taxation official let out a light exclamation of admiration.
* * *
Among the sons of Joseon Dynasty scholar-officials, men would tie their hair in a topknot and wear a hat at ages 15 to 20, and women would comb their hair and insert a hairpin. Since weddings were generally held around the same period, the notion that "wedding = coming-of-age ceremony" was born, but properly speaking, the coming-of-age ceremony and wedding were separate events.
Meanwhile, the coming-of-age ceremony for common people was a bit different. By lifting a "carrying stone" weighing about 100 gwan (approximately 60kg) to prove one's strength, and providing food to the village elders called "jinseotuk," one could be treated as an adult. (Note 1)
* * *
Though he admired the farmer's words, the Ministry of Taxation official did not immediately stamp the seal.
"State affairs must be strict, so bring that eldest son to prove it. Then I will grant your request."
"Just, if you could do it...."
"What did you just hear? I said state affairs. If your words aren't false, what's the problem? Just come and lift one stone and it's done."
"Yes, I understand, sir."
Intimidated by the Ministry of Taxation official's sternness, the tenant farmer left the government office. Watching the back of the departing tenant farmer, the official grumbled.
"One wrong move and it's straight to the record-keeping duty, and who is he trying to catch...."
* * *
As time passed, many tenant farmers began leaving their hometowns where they had lived until then and moving to the Three Southern Provinces.
The farmlands they were targeting were those that landowners who participated in the rebellion had directly cultivated using their slaves. Since they were farmlands that could be called the economic foundation of the landowners, they were the best lands for farming. Having requested favors from the government, made demands, or if neither, had slaves conduct water management works, they were the best farmlands that would be unshaken by ordinary droughts or floods that awaited them.
To ensure the safety of these moving tenant farming families, the court devised various methods.
"As long as you have hopae and the account book from the Land Registry, you won't go hungry!"
Before they departed, local magistrates and Land Registry officials explained the court's support measures, including how to use the account book.
"...So, if it looks like the sun will set while you're traveling, stop by a nearby government office or military camp. They will give you a place to sleep. Even if it's a tent, isn't it better than sleeping rough? If something goes wrong while sleeping rough, you'll immediately become tiger food."
"That's right, sir!"
"And if food runs out along the way, tell the government office or military camp. Then you'll be able to buy rations cheaply."
"We understand, thank you, sir!"
Thus, the tenant farming families who set out on the road were able to move smoothly. In some cases, nearby soldiers even provided escorts.
While receiving such escorts, the tenant farmers praised King Sejong.
"A sage king has appeared! A sage king has been born!"
"Indeed! He is a sage king, indeed!"
* * *
While the tenant farmers were thus praising King Sejong, at court, Kim Jeom was reporting to King Sejong.
"...Thanks to this, we were able to definitely reduce the stock of rations with not much shelf life remaining."
"You've worked hard."
The biggest reason King Sejong and the court supported the tenant farmers who set out to migrate was maintaining public order.
"Setting out on the road is good, but if these people become refugees, everything will be in vain. Countermeasures for this are needed."
At King Sejong's command, the ministers put their heads together, and the result was the support measures mentioned above.
"The greatest difficulty among those faced by people setting out to migrate is the problem of sleeping places and food. Since there will surely be those who try to make large sums of money using this opportunity with various tricks, this must be prevented in advance."
At Heo Jo's explanation, King Sejong nodded.
"That's an obvious explanation. So has a solution been devised?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Heo Jo explained the solution the ministers had thought of.
The solution the ministers devised was for local government offices, military camps, and surveillance offices located on the roads to the Three Southern Provinces to provide sleeping quarters to tenant farmers.
"...If the scale is small, they can provide empty rooms remaining in the official buildings, and if the scale is large, they can set up tents."
"That would be better than sleeping rough."
King Sejong, who was nodding at the ministers' explanation, pointed out another problem.
"Let's say sleeping quarters are resolved that way, then what about food?"
At King Sejong's question, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.
"We will sell military rations at cost price."
"Military rations?"
"Yes, among the rations currently stored, there are quite a few with not much storage period remaining. If we start processing these rations first and sell the old rations, we can recover the funds invested in manufacturing and also solve the storage problem."
At Jo Mal-saeng's answer, King Sejong, who was thinking deeply, burst into a small laugh.
"You ministers have become more cunning too."
At King Sejong's words, the ministers simultaneously shouted inwardly.
'How can we compare to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!'
"Either way, it's a plan that kills two birds with one stone, so proceed with it immediately."
"We shall heed your command!"
* * *
(Note 1) http://blog.daum.net/nohyd/61