Chapter 203: The Darling of the Competition - The Monopoly Office. (3)
When living in the 21st century, Hyang did not know about medicinal plasters until he came down to Yangsan. To be precise, he knew the name, but it was a medicine he had never seen even once in reality.
However, after establishing himself in Yangsan, Hyang became familiar with medicinal plasters.
This was because the elderly people living nearby kept plasters as their constant medicine.
Whenever he went to fix farming tools or repair the electrical facilities at the village hall, Hyang would speak with a face full of worry.
"No, Yangsan City is right next door, and there are big hospitals there, so why don't you go?"
Whenever Hyang asked, the elderly people's answers were similar.
"I do go. But going back and forth is a hassle."
"Well, it's not like I have some serious illness..."
Even so, the old people lived with medicine attached to them. Whenever he visited their homes, the medicines he routinely saw were digestive medicine, headache medicine, medicated patches, and medicinal plasters.
It was inevitable that medicinal plasters were common in the elderly people's homes. It was unavoidable that all bodily functions weakened with age. In particular, problems with blood circulation were the most common, and for that reason, skin diseases including boils frequently occurred.
"It would be better to just go to a dermatologist..."
Hyang grumbled whenever he saw such elderly people, but gradually his curiosity began to stir.
And so Hyang sought out a traditional medicine clinic that made and sold medicinal plasters to the elderly.
Visiting the medicine clinic with a few bottles of decent liquor, Hyang served drinks to the old traditional medicine doctor and dug into the topic of medicinal plasters.
"Why do you make and sell medicinal plasters? They sell them at pharmacies, don't they?"
"They do sell them. But the old folks keep complaining that the medicinal effect doesn't seem like it used to be? So I made them myself."
"I suppose you have a prescription for the plaster?"
"No! That and this is a different secret formula!"
"What if the effectiveness is lacking?"
"If the effectiveness was lacking, would those old hags buy them?"
The more he conversed with the traditional medicine doctor, the stronger Hyang's curiosity grew, so he searched the internet.
After obtaining information about medicinal plasters through a few clicks, Hyang wore an expression of surprise.
"Oh? This originated from Western medicine?"
According to records regarding the most famous medicinal plaster, 'Yi Myeong-rae Goyak,' Yi Myeong-rae Goyak was created by Yi Myeong-rae, a Catholic believer, by combining botanical knowledge learned from a Western priest with traditional Korean medical therapy. (Note 1)
At this unexpected information, Hyang's curiosity grew even stronger.
"In this town, the traditional medicine doctor makes it. What's the difference?"
Hyang continued to visit the traditional medicine doctor and asked about medicinal plasters.
"Why do you keep asking about medicinal plasters? Are you going to make and sell them?"
At the traditional medicine doctor's question full of suspicion, Hyang waved his hands dismissively.
"I don't even have a medical license, so why would I make and sell them and get into trouble? I was just curious because the elders use it a lot."
At Hyang's answer, the traditional medicine doctor replied briefly.
"I'll tell you just two things. Purslane and pine roots."
"A bit more in detail..."
"Transmit only to the worthy!"
* * *
"What on earth is that 'transmit only to the worthy'..."
Recalling his memories of medicinal plasters, Hyang soon moved to the bookshelves.
"Medical books..."
While searching for medical books, Hyang suddenly slapped his own forehead.
"Idiot! Why should I go through the trouble myself?"
Having changed his approach, Hyang immediately sought out the Internal Medicine Bureau.
"Who is the most knowledgeable person about medicinal herbs?"
At Hyang's question, the royal physicians pointed to one physician.
"What is his name?"
"He is called O Han-pyeok."
"Good. Physician O, how about doing some work with me?"
"Excuse me?"
And so, having secured a physician, Hyang immediately began developing the medicinal plaster with Physician O.
* * *
As expected, the development of the medicinal plaster was a series of trials and errors.
Selecting and blending medicinal herbs said to be good for boils filled with pus, then reducing them into a sticky plaster form was work that required much effort.
Therefore, the medicine women were also mobilized for the work of making the medicinal plaster.
When prototypes of medicinal plasters made with various combinations were completed, Hyang prepared for the next stage.
"We need to conduct clinical trials..."
While pondering to find suitable subjects, Hyang recalled his memories from the 21st century.
According to records he had seen through the internet in the 21st century, Yi Myeong-rae had visited a beggars' den to confirm the medicinal efficacy of the plaster he created. (Note 1)
Recalling his memories to verify this, Hyang clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. I'll have to use my power. Attendant! I'm going to Geunjeongjeon! Prepare the procession!"
Entering Geunjeongjeon, Hyang told Sejong the matter. After hearing the content, Sejong confirmed again with Hyang.
"You're asking for permission to experiment with new medicine on patients at Hyeminsseo and Hwarinwon?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At Hyang's words, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.
"Certainly, boils may look mild but are actually quite serious illnesses. It would be good if a medicine to treat them easily came out. But, Crown Prince. This is medicine for people. Is it certain?"
"Theoretically, it should work, but since we don't know for sure in practice, we need to verify it."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong looked around at the ministers.
"What do you all think?"
At Sejong's question, the ministers could not easily answer.
After all, medicine was something connected to human life. Therefore, they had to oppose the immediate use of new medicine.
However, they couldn't carelessly oppose either, because of the case of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.
If they cried unconditional opposition, they could end up drinking poison or departing on indefinite exile like Ryu Jeong-hyeon and his colleagues.
After a long silence, Prime Minister I Jik took the lead.
"If what the Crown Prince says is correct, it would be a famous medicine, but the fact that its effectiveness has not been proven is concerning."
At I Jik's answer, Hyang immediately responded.
"It's natural that the effectiveness hasn't been proven. We haven't even used it on patients yet. That's precisely why I'm asking to experiment."
"That is true, but..."
Ultimately, Sejong had to decide on this matter.
After pondering for a long time with his mouth shut, Sejong finally made his decision.
"Very well. The Crown Prince may experiment on patients at Hyeminsseo and Hwarinwon. However! Coercion is not permitted! Experiment only on volunteers!"
When Sejong granted permission, Hyang bowed deeply.
"I shall obey your command! I am infinitely grateful for your grace!"
And so, recruitment of volunteers began targeting boil patients who visited Hyeminsseo and Hwarinwon.
"Who made this medicine, you say?"
"It's medicine that the Crown Prince made together with the royal physicians."
"Then I'd like to try it. He's the Crown Prince who even stopped smallpox, so of course he would know what he's doing!"
Unexpectedly, the participation rate among patients was very high.
Behind this was the smallpox vaccination method that Hyang had pushed forward. The people who had experienced the effectiveness of the vaccination method with their own bodies showed complete trust in Hyang.
Thanks to this, Hyang and the royal physicians were able to confirm the medicinal efficacy by using the medicinal plaster prototypes by type.
Fortunately for Hyang and the patients, all the prototypes showed some degree of effectiveness.
"Since we collected medicinal ingredients that originally had such effects..."
Feeling relieved at the positive results, Hyang began to select the combinations that showed good effects among them.
Though it started with half doubt and half distrust, when positive results came out, the royal physicians and medicine women began to work with enthusiasm. It wasn't just them.
Upon hearing the news, some of the royal physicians applied to join the work.
"If we can properly treat just boils, there are many lives we can save! Please give us a chance too!"
"You're welcome."
With the research team thus reinforced, the development of the medicinal plaster gained even more momentum.
Thanks to this, the final version of the medicinal plaster was revealed before the Musin Year (1429) ended.
When good results were obtained not only from patients at Hyeminsseo and Hwarinwon but also from those who came after hearing rumors from near Hanseong, Hyang immediately sought out Sejong.
"It's a success! We must sell this medicine to the people!"
At Hyang's proposal, all the ministers expressed their agreement.
"It would be appropriate to sell it through the monopoly office!"
"That is correct!"
"Please permit sales through the monopoly office!"
When all the ministers agreed, Sejong also consented.
And so, medicinal plasters began to be sold through monopoly offices established throughout the country.
Named 'Balgeungo' (拔根膏) meaning 'pulls out the root of boils,' the plaster began to be sold nationwide under the formal product name 'Royal Secret Formula Balgeungo' (王室祕方拔根膏).
* * *
Not long after 'Balgeungo' was officially sold, sales began to rise vertically through word of mouth from people who experienced its effectiveness.
The price was quite expensive at one doe of white rice for a small container the size of a soy sauce dish, but people purchased it without hesitation.
That was how much boils were a disease that tormented the people.
"The body must be clean for boils not to occur!"
With Sejong's subsequent proclamation, sales of soap also naturally increased.
* * *
The medicinal plaster that began selling in this way became a hit product not only in Joseon but internationally as well.
It wasn't only Joseon that suffered from boils.
Waeguk, which suffered from humid climate, and of course Ming, where people enjoyed oily foods, boils were quite a troublesome disease.
Merchants from Waeguk and Ming who saw Balgeungo at the Waegwan and Shandong trading posts and experienced its effectiveness vied to purchase Balgeungo.
It wasn't only Ming and Waeguk. Merchants from Daewol (大越) or Samnaguk (暹羅斛國, Thailand) who frequently visited trading posts in Shandong also purchased Balgeungo in large quantities.
This Balgeungo showed effectiveness in unexpected places, and that place was the residential areas of the Jurchen tribes.
There were more than one or two Jurchens who suffered from boils from spending much time sitting on horse saddles.
* * *
When Balgeungo recorded enormous sales, attempts to replicate it naturally emerged.
However, within Joseon, no one could even dream of replication thanks to the four characters 'Royal Secret Formula' and the plum blossom engraved on the lid.
Therefore, the main attempts at replication were in Ming and Waeguk.
However, the results of those attempts were not very good.
This was because, while going through numerous manufacturing processes to make the medicinal plaster, the characteristics of the ingredients used—such as fragrance and color—all disappeared.
Therefore, they too searched through medical books and collected ingredients with similar effects to attempt manufacturing, but could not produce a product with the same effectiveness as Balgeungo.
The reason was that Hyang had played a small trick with the ingredients and manufacturing process.
It was because of a few ingredients added based on his memories of the 21st century, in addition to those recorded in traditional medical books.
* * *
Through this mega hit product, the monopoly office was able to firmly establish its position.
In particular, in the pioneering areas of the northeast region, the monopoly office established itself as the most powerful institution for absorbing the Jurchen tribes into Joseon.
The fact that if they had wealth—later money—they could purchase products like salt, sugar, and Balgeungo just as proudly as Joseon people was a great shock to the Jurchens.
There was no need to feel humiliated while receiving charity as in the past, nor was there a need to risk their lives plundering.
One only needed to visit the monopoly office with a submission certificate and wealth to purchase necessary things without discrimination.
And this wealth could be legally obtained in any amount by applying to the labor support office or selling the horses, cattle, and sheep they raised.
Finally, as they received the same status plaques as Joseon people instead of submission certificates, the submitted Jurchens swore loyalty to Joseon.
* * *
Note 1) Korean Agricultural Policy. 2017.04.15.
http://www.ikpnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=29703