Chapter 201: Gyeongjang's Beloved - The Monopoly Office. (1)
Through the labor support office established by the Joseon court, the lives of the Jurchen people gradually found stability.
Though not high income, the fact that wealth came in steadily whenever they worked was a great blessing for the Jurchen tribes.
Unless they were a large-scale tribe, the lives of the Jurchen people were even harsher than those of Joseon's farmers. Therefore, many Jurchen tribes had raided the villages of Joseon people and Ming subjects.
But now they had wealth, and whenever they wanted, they could go to the Ministry of Taxation's monopoly office and purchase necessary goods.
The Ministry of Taxation's monopoly office was truly the symbol of Gyeongjang, and its beloved one.
* * *
As Gyeongjang progressed, the Ministry of Taxation's monopoly office escaped its status as a white elephant.
Initially, it was merely a place that handled the monopoly of salt and sugar.
Therefore, the Ministry officials initially assigned to the monopoly office had considerable grievances.
"I studied myself to death to pass the exam, only to become a merchant!"
The officials' complaints were significant, but not a single one immediately submitted their resignation.
The reason was that their sole goal in studying so hard had been just one thing: 'entering government service.'
It wasn't long before the officials who had been assigned to the monopoly office and grumbling began to scream.
Not simply selling salt and sugar, but an enormous amount of work was entrusted to them.
-Copy the land registers and household registers not only of the gun, the lowest administrative unit where the monopoly office is located, but also of neighboring hyeon.
-Make two copies of the transcription, one to be kept at the monopoly office, the other to be sent to Hanyang.
The Ministry officials at the monopoly office who saw the orders coming down from Hanyang wore expressions saying it was nothing special.
"It's been a while since I've done some brushwork."
"The volume is somewhat large, but this much is easy."
The monopoly office officials consulted with officials at neighboring gun's monopoly offices, adjusted the number of hyeon they would be responsible for, and immediately began the work.
Though the volume of work was considerable, the two Ministry officials assigned to each monopoly office proceeded quickly. The reason they could work so quickly was because the monopoly office only opened one day every five days, on market days.
However, the amount of work coming down from Hanyang continued to increase.
-Investigate the number of slaves owned by landlords in each gun and hyeon.
-When harvesting spring barley and autumn rice, investigate and record how much is harvested.
In particular, the harvest amount had to be recorded comparing increases and decreases from the previous year when Gyeongjang entered its fourth year, and the average increase or decrease also had to be recorded and reported to Hanyang.
This was an impossible workload for the two officials assigned to each monopoly office.
Thanks to this, by the latter half of Gyeongjang, the number of Ministry officials assigned to monopoly offices had increased to four.
However, the work continued to increase. The establishment of Joseon's market was being prepared, and as the circulation of currency was being prepared, the workload showed no sign of decreasing.
On top of that, the number of products handled at monopoly offices was gradually increasing. Some items were added by the court, but quite a few products were added due to complaints from the people.
What the court added were products with small volume but high unit prices, such as spices.
The products the people added were mainly items difficult to obtain in remote mountainous areas.
For example, in places like Gangwon Province, there were quite a few people looking for paper.
"They're asking us to get paper?"
"Yes. They say the place where we commoners live is a place where even traveling merchants don't come. So they say they don't even have paper to paste on their doors."
"So you came 30 li (about 12km)? Over that mountain?"
"Yes."
The Ministry official who saw the people's expressions looked troubled, but on the other hand, he understood their feelings.
Not only Gangwon Province but many places in Joseon were in this state. There were more than one or two places where traveling merchants rarely entered because the roads were rough.
Of course, in places the size of a gun, a five-day market would open and many traveling merchants would come, but the probability of obtaining necessary items when absolutely needed was not very high.
That was why the people flocked to the Ministry's monopoly office. They still had to go out to the gun level, but the monopoly office was a place where goods came in regularly.
Eventually, the Ministry official had no choice but to grant the people's request.
"I understand. I'll try to obtain it. But it will take at least a month. Will that be alright?"
"Yes!"
"Is there anything else you need besides paper?"
As this kind of proxy purchasing became more frequent, it was eventually raised as an agenda item at court.
Eventually, the court decided to increase the types of goods handled at monopoly offices.
"Simply increasing the item list would be wasteful. Accurately identify items that are absolutely necessary but difficult to obtain by region."
At Sejong's command, the ministers all bowed and answered.
"Truly a most reasonable command! We shall obey the command!"
Thanks to this, the work of officials assigned to monopoly offices increased again.
As work proceeded in this way, the types of goods handled at monopoly offices began to increase rapidly.
"This... I wonder if before long we shouldn't call it not a monopoly office but a Joseon mart?"
Hyang, who had received the report, muttered to himself to this extent.
* * *
While the products sold at monopoly offices became diverse, the common items sold were salt, sugar, and medicinal herbs. What sold as much as salt and sugar were medicinal herbs.
* * *
The people in remote areas treated illnesses through folk remedies passed down for generations. While there were not a few effective remedies, there were even more ineffective ones.
Upon this, Sejong called the royal physicians and gave a command.
"There are many people who suffer greatly because they don't have proper prescriptions for illnesses that could be easily treated! Create an answer to this with your knowledge!"
"We receive your command!"
Though they answered immediately because it was the king's solemn command, the royal physicians wore troubled expressions.
"What common people can easily consume is medicine boiled down, but arbitrarily prescribing medicine is the greatest of taboos, is it not?"
"You are right. It is basic to examine the patient's condition through questioning and pulse diagnosis..."
The royal physicians had unexpectedly strict aspects.
However, what they couldn't help was that most of the patients they dealt with were royal family members or high-ranking officials. With just a small mistake, exile was basic, and in serious cases, they could lose their heads. Therefore, they had no choice but to be strict.
"It can't be helped. Let's go to the Crown Prince!"
"That would be best!"
Hyang, who heard the royal physicians' complaints, immediately asked a question.
"I have read quite a few medical texts myself. In medical texts, I understand that besides the list of medicinal ingredients, the amounts to put in are also all determined, are they not?"
"Those are approximate amounts. To make proper medicine, one must accurately grasp the patient's condition and adjust the amounts of medicinal ingredients to prepare the medicine."
"The medicine needed now is emergency medicine. It's not a cure but medicine to stabilize the condition, so I think it would be fine to adjust amounts based on medical texts and experience."
"However..."
"When a major epidemic broke out in the past and you went out to treat patients, didn't you boil medicine in large quantities unless the patient was critically ill? Think of it as the same situation."
"Ah!"
The royal physicians who grasped the point from Hyang's words brightened their faces and all bowed together.
"Thanks to Your Highness, we have found the answer! We are truly grateful!"
"Thank you!"
When the royal physicians expressed their gratitude, Hyang waved his hand as if it was nothing.
"It was easy because the royal physicians are excellent."
Hyang, who had sent the royal physicians away, wore an ambiguous expression.
"Emergency medicine... Something seems to be within reach yet not..."
Like chasing something whose tail was barely visible in the fog, Hyang frowned deeply in thought, then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"That's it! Opium!"
Hyang urgently rose from his seat and looked for a eunuch.
"Eunuch! I must see Father! It's urgent, so prepare immediately!"
"Yes? Yes!"
* * *
Hyang, who visited Geunjeongjeon, immediately stated his business to Sejong.
"Prohibit the cultivation of poppy? Why?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang immediately answered.
"You must know that many people obtain sap from poppy to use as emergency medicine."
"I know. I heard it's used quite usefully."
"However, if this poppy sap is taken excessively, one falls into hallucinations and becomes addicted. Once addicted, they seek more and more poppy, and if they cannot obtain it, they resort to violence to obtain it and commit crimes."
"The basis?"
"It is commonly pointed out in various medical texts."
At Hyang's words, Sejong looked at the ministers. Just as with mathematics, reading medical texts was also a hobby of scholar-officials, so quite a few ministers nodded their heads.
Hyang, who confirmed the ministers' reactions, continued speaking.
"There are many medical pharmacies throughout Joseon, and this time medicinal herbs will be sold through monopoly offices. Therefore, prohibit common people from growing poppy, and designate separate people to cultivate only the amount supplied to physicians."
At Hyang's words, Sejong looked at the ministers.
"What do you ministers think?"
The ministers who had been calculating internally all answered at Sejong's question.
"We think it is appropriate."
With no opposition from the ministers, Sejong immediately reached a conclusion.
"Then let us do so. Now that the people can conveniently obtain medicinal herbs, it would be right to prevent them from being close to dangerous things like poppy."
Thus, an order prohibiting poppy cultivation was issued throughout Joseon.
However, there were always those with contrary dispositions, so there were people who secretly manufactured and distributed poppy. Therefore, throughout Joseon's history, the game of hide-and-seek between drug organizations and those enforcing the law never ceased.
* * *
However, in this process, sparks flew to an unnecessary place, and it was Sejong who was hit by the spark.
"Addiction is truly a fearful thing. This must be why the sayings 'too much is as bad as too little' and 'excess becomes deficiency' have existed since ancient times."
"That is so."
While the ministers were responding in unison to Sejong's words, Hyang's gaze was directed elsewhere.
Where Hyang's gaze was directed was the sugar jar placed where the court ladies were, below the palace building.
"Father. That sugar jar placed over there seems to have grown larger than before?"
"Ah... Lately I've been drinking tea often..."
"Father, as I told you before, if you consume sugar excessively, you will develop diabetes, and if that happens, your body..."
"There's nothing wrong yet! I know enough to handle that myself!"
Though Sejong cut off the words, Hyang continued speaking while glaring at a certain part of Sejong.
"Well... Lately the speed at which my younger siblings are being born..."
"You rascal, get out!"
Sejong, who had driven Hyang out, ordered the court lady.
"Change it to a smaller jar."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
At the court lady's bright voice, Sejong's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you so happy about that?"
"I too was worried..."
"Mmm... Change it immediately."
Along with a groan, Sejong waved his hand.
* * *
As the Ministry of Taxation sold medicinal herbs, the people visited the monopoly offices even more.
Of course, there was a standard for selling medicinal herbs at monopoly offices, limited to places where there was no physician within 5 li (about 2km) in all directions.
However, such places were countless. Being able to obtain medicinal herbs at monopoly offices was a great blessing for the people.
"Now we can finally live!"
"That's right. Now the cases where small illnesses become big ones will decrease!"
"This is all thanks to the King's grace!"
"Yes! A sage king has been born! A sage king!"
Words praising Sejong overflowed throughout Joseon, and the people's support pierced the heavens.