< Chapter 24: Gapchin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (2) >
Chapter 24: Gapchin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (2)
"And there is something rather unusual—many merchants have been seeking paper from our Joseon."
"Paper from our Joseon?"
"Yes. Compared to the paper made in Ming, our Joseon paper is said to be superior in quality, so many seek it out. I am told that in the Great Kingdom, since the previous dynasty, many have sought it under the names 'Haedongji' (海東紙) or 'Goryeoji' (高麗紙)."
At the Minister of Revenue's answer, Sejong stroked his beard.
"Hmm... It would be best to order the Paper Making Bureau to increase production."
No sooner had Sejong's words fallen than Hyang spoke.
"Your son has a request to make of Your Majesty!"
"Speak."
"Please abolish the Paper Making Bureau!"
Hyang detonated the bomb that the Minister of Revenue had thrown.
At Hyang's petition to abolish the Paper Making Bureau, the Pyeonjeon momentarily froze.
This was because neither Sejong nor the ministers immediately understood Hyang's words.
"Abolish the Paper Making Bureau? In this situation where many in Ming are seeking paper?"
"This does not seem to match what His Highness the Crown Prince usually advocates, does it?"
"This is an opportunity to gain new profits. Why?"
After a moment, Sejong and the ministers all voiced their criticisms. This was because the statement was different from Hyang's usual position. However, Hyang had already prepared his counterargument.
"Abolishing the Paper Making Bureau aligns with what your son has consistently advocated."
"Aligns? Explain."
"Yes."
Hyang explained to Sejong and the ministers why the Paper Making Bureau should be abolished.
- The Paper Making Bureau currently produces six types of paper. However, the varieties of paper circulated during the previous dynasty were more numerous, and the quality was also superior.
- What the above means is that as time passes, the situation grows progressively worse.
- If this continues, eventually merchants from Ming will no longer want the paper, and this means losing an important market.
"Hmm... Crown Prince, I understand your words well. If the quality of paper declines as you say, merchants from Ming will not buy it. But! I do not understand why that becomes a reason to abolish the Paper Making Bureau. Would the quality issue not be resolved by properly supervising the paper artisans?"
Sejong, who had been listening to Hyang's explanation, interrupted. Hyang immediately answered Sejong's point.
"There is a saying circulating in the markets: 'You can lead an ox to the water, but drinking is the ox's choice.' No matter how strictly you supervise, if the artisans' motivation is at rock bottom, can things truly work out?"
"The artisans' motivation is at rock bottom?"
"That is correct, Father. You are well aware that I have visited various government offices including the Directorate of Armaments where artisans work, are you not?"
"Of course I am."
At Hyang's question, Sejong nodded.
"And each time, my head ached because of the work you created."
At Sejong's point, the ministers unconsciously nodded, and at that sight, Hyang smiled bitterly.
"I do not recall creating that much work, but putting that aside!"
Hyang explained why artisans belonging to the government had no motivation.
"The stipends they received were miserable. With the stipends they received, their families could barely manage to survive. Because of this, many among them took on side jobs or quit their work."
"If they quit, what do they do?"
"Some rent fields to tenant farm or work as day laborers, and some enter merchant workshops. With the situation like this, would supervision work properly? While the workload increases and management becomes more demanding, the stipends remain unchanged, so only those quitting will increase."
At Hyang's words, Sejong's face grew serious. Meanwhile, the Chief State Councillor who had been listening to Hyang's explanation stepped forward with a counterargument.
"Those belonging to the Directorate of Armaments or other royal workshops receive the rank of junior 9th grade and the corresponding stipend. Yet among officials of the same rank, very few resign. This means that the smallness of stipends cannot be an excuse to defend the artisans' negligence."
At the Chief State Councillor's words, Hyang exposed the officials' shame.
"Do you not know well that those officials receive much behind the scenes? Even at the Chief State Councillor's residence, people bringing gifts as soon as day breaks create such a throng at your door—surely you cannot claim not to know?"
"That is merely gift-giving!"
"Who said anything about that?"
Having silenced the Chief State Councillor, Hyang looked at Sejong and continued.
"With the situation like this, who among the artisans belonging to the royal family and the government would do their utmost in their assigned work? What is even worse is that they do not try to pass down their skills even to their own children. They say that rather than inheriting their parent's skills and going hungry all their lives, being a tenant farmer is better. With the situation like this, how many techniques built up over the long years have disappeared? Also, if even those with skills do not nurture them, can there be development?"
"The Crown Prince's words are correct."
As Sejong agreed, the Chief State Councillor immediately launched a rebuttal.
"However, what was the reason King Taejong created the Paper Making Bureau? Because when receiving paper needed for making paper money as tribute, the quality was not uniform and the弊端 of having to sort through it one by one was severe. If this is the case, then abolishing the Paper Making Bureau would mean experiencing the same evils of the Taejong era again. Please consider this carefully!"
"Please consider this carefully!"
Following the Chief State Councillor's lead, the ministers' chorus continued.
"What should be done?"
Wearing a troubled expression, Sejong gave Hyang a subtle signal.
'This man! He definitely knows the answer!'
*Sigh.*
Letting out a small sigh, Hyang spoke.
"Why must we receive tribute?"
"Pardon?"
"Have you forgotten the example of the Golden Brush? The government sets exact specifications and quality standards for the paper it needs, then contracts with the merchant group that offers the lowest price among those that pass these standards."
"If that happens, the expenditure will..."
Is paper a product needed only by the royal family and the government? If there is a guarantee called 'royal supply' like the Golden Brush, it is clear as day that it will sell well in the market! The court can tax the profits they earn and obtain several times the income compared to the amount spent."
"..."
At Hyang's words, the mouths of the Chief State Councillor and other ministers fell shut. This was because there was already a precedent in the Golden Brush. Hyang went for the confirming blow.
"This time, merchants from Ming asked us to procure paper, did they not? If our Joseon merchants can continuously produce high-quality paper through competition, they will be able to earn much money from that large market in Ming, and this means our court too can secure even more income."
Though Hyang's words ended, no minister offered a rebuttal. After a brief silence, the Minister of Revenue spoke.
"In my opinion, His Highness the Crown Prince's opinion is extremely reasonable."
"Minister of Revenue!"
The Chief State Councillor glared at the Minister of Revenue, but the Minister of Revenue continued without concern.
"Whether relieving the people, maintaining the government's organization, maintaining public order, or defending the borders—all require money. It has been nearly 30 years since our Joseon was founded, yet in this area alone, there has been no clear solution. Rather, the difficulties only increase with each passing year—if there is a method to solve this, how could we not use it?"
At the Minister of Revenue's words, the Chief Inspector shouted.
"Minister of Revenue, watch your words! If all the people realize the Way of the Sages and become gentlemen, the country will become peaceful, and even the Tartars of the border regions and the Wako pirates will be moved by that virtue and become peaceful. Therefore, the duty of ministers is to first consider how to educate the people and make them gentlemen! Your Majesty! What His Highness the Crown Prince just said may seem correct at first glance, but this is merely a stopgap measure that treats only superficial wounds! If you truly desire peace for the nation, you must first consider the education of the people!"
At the Chief Inspector's statement, the Minister of Personnel stepped forward with a rebuttal.
"Your Majesty! The Chief Inspector's words may seem correct at first glance, but this is nothing but empty theory! Would starving people understand the words of sages even if taught? Education is important, but the people's livelihood is more important!"
'Huh? Isn't that something I said before?'
Muttering inwardly, Hyang watched the debate among the ministers with an intrigued expression.
'Popcorn! I need popcorn!'
While happily observing the ministers' debate, Hyang glanced at Sejong.
Sejong kept his mouth shut and maintained a calm expression, but his eyes were smiling.
'That man! He's enjoying this!'
The ministers' debate was growing increasingly intense. Citing both the reality of the situation and passages from the classics, the heated argument between the ministers raged on, and the historians and scribes worked their brushes furiously to record the contents.
"Enough."
Seeing that the debate among the ministers was crossing the line toward personal insults asking about each other's parents, Sejong raised his hand to stop it.
Watching the ministers catch their breath that had grown rough from the debate, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"I have heard your opinions well. The education of the people is certainly important and is clearly something that must be achieved. However! Resolving the people's livelihood is also a task that must be solved. For this, various measures are needed, so ministers, deliberate on this."
"We receive your command."
"And, regarding the Paper Making Bureau matter, I believe the Crown Prince's method is correct. However! Abolishing the Paper Making Bureau immediately is too hasty, so deliberate on how to resolve this and report within three days."
"We receive your command."
Having given orders to the ministers, Sejong turned to look at Hyang.
"Crown Prince, listen."
"Yes, Father."
"I am well aware that you are concerned with enriching the nation and securing the people's peace. This is something the Crown Prince should naturally do, so I will neither reproach nor praise you."
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude."
At Sejong's evaluation, Hyang bowed his head deeply.
'Not getting scolded is a relief in itself.'
Unlike Hyang's relief, Sejong's words continued.
"However, it is clearly a problem that great turmoil arises each time your opinion is presented. This is because neither I nor the ministers here know what standard you use to present your opinions. Therefore, you shall explain your political views regarding state affairs."
"Pardon?"
"Crown Prince, that your learning is outstanding and your thoughts are deep is not unknown to me or the ministers. However, your age is still young, so you may believe wrong thoughts to be correct. Recognizing this in advance and correcting it is also a father's duty."
"Yes..."
At Sejong's words, Hyang quietly lowered his head.
"Do you need time to prepare?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang thought for a moment and then answered.
"Please give me five days."
"So be it."
With Sejong's decision that the Crown Prince would present his political views in five days, the audience came to an end.
The ministers leaving the Pyeonjeon were divided, though not visibly, into three factions.
The first faction was centered on the Chief State Councillor—the three State Councillors and those who followed them.
"We must prepare thoroughly for five days."
"Prepare?"
At the question from one following behind, the Chief State Councillor answered immediately.
"We must examine not only the classics but also the policies implemented thus far."
"He's only a nine-year-old child—do we really need to prepare that much?"
At the question, the Chief State Councillor's face instantly turned fierce.
"Then how would you explain what we've suffered at the hands of that nine-year-old so far?"
"That is..."
"Hah! Do you not know who stands behind the Crown Prince! The words may come from the Crown Prince's mouth, but it is reasonable to think the thoughts are His Majesty's. Think about what has happened so far! Among the things the Crown Prince insisted should be done, was there ever anything His Majesty opposed?"
"There was not."
"As you say, the Crown Prince is only nine years old. Of course, his accumulated learning is worthy of acknowledgment. But political views are not possible through learning alone. Practical experience is needed, and that experience can only come from time. When the Crown Prince first started causing trouble, I too thought it was because he was a genius. But has the Crown Prince caused trouble only once or twice? No matter how much of a genius, that's impossible. It's only possible if we assume His Majesty is behind him."
At the Chief State Councillor's conclusion, all those present nodded.
"Therefore, everyone prepare thoroughly! How did we establish this Joseon! Are we to simply watch the evil practices of the previous dynasty be revived once again!"
"Understood, Your Excellency."
* * *
Note 1) Korean Culture Encyclopedia - Paper Making Bureau entry
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