< Chapter 35: Gapchin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (13) >
"Expand the scale?"
"By utilizing merchants and artisans, we grow Joseon's economic power and national strength. We are expanding Joseon's bulk."
Hyang drew three rectangles of the same size as the first one he had drawn, connected them, and then divided them into sections again.
"The foundation of the wealth they possess is agriculture. We foster commerce and industry, grow economic power through trade, and expand territory to continuously increase the number of independent farmers. If that comes to pass, they will become relatively weaker. As you can see from this diagram, initially they held three-quarters of Joseon in their hands and controlled everything, but if we expand the scale like this, they would amount to only 3/16. From 75% to less than 25%, meaning they become more than one-third weaker. Using that weakened gap, we then impose taxes on them as well. Once that happens, they too will have no choice but to follow the tide."
Sejong slapped his knee at Hyang's words.
"So that's it! There was such a strategy!"
Sejong was delighted and slapped his knee at Hyang's answer, but soon pointed out a problem.
"But here's the thing. Even if we foster merchants and artisans, ultimately those Sadaebu must become the main force of consumption. Ordinary commoners do not have sufficient wealth, you see. Then would it be possible to expand the scale as you mentioned?"
"Father, please look broadly."
"Look broadly? Hmm... Ah! Are you speaking of trade!"
'As expected!'
Hyang nodded in admiration at Sejong's comprehension.
"That is correct. We expand the scale through trade."
"I see. If we engage in trade, we can escape the limitations of the land and thus expand the scale. If the Sadaebu remain tied to the land as they are now, they won't be able to keep up with the speed of growth. The harvest that comes from farmland has its limits, after all."
"That is correct."
When Hyang affirmed, Sejong immediately pointed out the issue.
"But here's the thing. Growing the scale of commerce and industry requires seed money. And most of the wealth that would become that seed money is in the hands of those Sadaebu. If those Sadaebu invest the wealth they possess into commerce and industry, wouldn't their power only grow contrary to your prediction?"
At Sejong's point, Hyang nodded.
"That is correct. Growing commerce and industry requires seed money, and trade also requires seed money. If the court stands by idly, those Sadaebu will become the money masters and monopolize the profits. To prevent that, this Joseon, or more precisely the court, must become the money master."
"The court must become the money master?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang explained the concept of a bank, or more precisely, a national policy bank. Upon hearing the explanation, Sejong's face showed admiration.
"So that's it! If we do that, merchants and artisans who need seed money will be able to borrow at low interest, and the court will be able to control the flow of wealth!"
"If the court firmly gains control, it can create a new market called an investment market."
"Investment market? A market where seed money is treated as a commodity and traded. Hmm..."
Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought. After pondering for a while, Sejong spoke.
"If we proceed as you say, we will need a very large number of officials. Wouldn't this benefit the Sadaebu?"
"We will need experts well-versed in those areas rather than those who have studied Confucianism. Simply put, the number of those entering official positions through Jagwa (雜科) will greatly increase."
"That too is a problem. There are more than one or two who put on airs and act like literary pedants as soon as they rise to official positions."
"There is a saying: 'If you desire power, abandon wealth and honor; if you desire wealth and honor, abandon power.' However, it is also true that with current stipends, it is difficult to maintain a livelihood. We must make the stipends realistic while simultaneously putting on shackles."
Hyang explained the concept of 'pension' and how to use it as shackles, then continued.
"Looking at the current civil service examination system, in principle anyone who is not a cheonin may take it, but in reality, Sadaebu make up almost all of the examinees. Ordinary commoners do not have the leisure to comfortably study letters, you see. Then it would be one method to select those with good heads from among those with minimum education, have the state educate them, and use them."
"Are you saying to educate all the commoners?"
"I believe it is appropriate to guarantee the opportunity for at least minimum education for those of at least yangin status. Only when the commoners know can they avoid unjust matters, and if they suffer injustice, can they appeal to the country, can they not?"
At Hyang's words, Sejong fell into silence. After thinking for a long while, Sejong spoke.
"There are two most important problems. One is the budget, and the other is... the script. The budget can be solved by developing mines and reforming the tax system as you said, but the script is a difficult problem."
"Father will surely be able to solve it."
"Aren't you trusting this father too much?"
"That is not so!"
At Hyang's firm faith, Sejong smiled.
"I must not become a shameful father."
* * *
While Sejong and Hyang were having a lively discussion with future matters as their topic, at a gisaeng house in Namchon, some of the gwan'gwan (諫官) from the Sah Gwan Won (司諫院) were gathered and conversing. However, while Sejong and Hyang were debating in a friendly atmosphere, the atmosphere of the gwan'gwan was one of bitter resentment itself.
"To imprison the ministers, this cannot be allowed!"
"That is correct!"
"The laws and order are collapsing, the laws and order!"
The drunken gwan'gwan all raised their voices and vented their anger without exception. Among them, one was raising his voice the most.
"The culprit behind all these evil deeds is the Crown Prince! A mere ten-year-old brat is trying to control state affairs! This is an outrageous matter!"
"Wait, Go-cheong!"
"We must depose the Crown Prince..."
"Wait, Go-cheong!"
A colleague gwan'gwan next to him urgently tried to stop him, but the gwan'gwan called Go-cheong was full of fighting spirit.
"Why! Did I say something wrong? It is a fact that the order of state affairs has been disrupted since the Crown Prince meddled in it!"
"No matter what, he is the nation's foundation. As the former Daesagan said, those words should not be spoken lightly!"
"Look at what humiliation that Daesagan is suffering now!"
"That matter is something that can be addressed through a petition! Do you not know the saying 'The mouth is the gate of disaster'? If only you suffer the consequences, that's one thing, but do you intend to bring disaster to your family and school as well?"
"A gwan'gwan's duty is to speak the truth, so what is the problem!"
"The timing and place are the problem!"
At his colleague's advice, Go-cheong had to close his mouth. But unable to contain his anger, Go-cheong emptied several cups of alcohol in succession.
As time passed and the atmosphere became rowdy, Go-cheong, with thoroughly drunken eyes, hugged the shoulder of the gisaeng sitting next to him and made advances.
"You wench, how about sharing the clouds and rain with me today?"
"You have had too much alcohol. Since the alcohol is excessive, let us share the clouds and rain another time."
When the gisaeng politely refused with a smile, Go-cheong's face turned fierce.
"You wench! Where does a lowly thing speak from! If I say to do it, it shall be done!"
At Go-cheong's abusive language, the smile disappeared from the gisaeng's face. The gisaeng, straightening her back, confronted Go-cheong.
"Are we not gisaeng, lower than the four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, like beasts wearing only human skin? Then how can a noble Sadaebu share the clouds and rain with a beast? Ah! Do you perhaps have peculiar tastes?"
"You wench!"
At the gisaeng's words, Go-cheong jumped up from his seat, his face turning from red to blue. The gisaeng before his eyes had just blurted out, 'Are you a pervert who commits bestiality?'
The drinking party, which had been overflowing with music and laughter until just moments ago, instantly fell silent, and the colleagues who had come together stood up to stop Go-cheong.
"Wait, Go-cheong."
"You wench! Do you want to die!"
"Are you showing off your power to a mere gisaeng? You speak like a high-minded Sadaebu, but your actions are those of a petty person with no equal under heaven. Go ahead, try killing me."
"You wench!"
Bang!
Just as the infuriated Go-cheong was about to swing his fist, the door burst open.
In front of the open door stood a giant man of nine cheok with a long bamboo cane in his arms, standing with his arms crossed.
Startled by the giant's imposing presence, Go-cheong stepped back. The giant, glaring at such a Go-cheong, spoke.
"You are excessively drunk. How about returning home for today?"
"That would be good! Come, Go-cheong. Let us go back."
His colleague stepped forward to mediate, but Go-cheong was stuck, unable to move this way or that. In his mind, he wanted to beat this insolent gisaeng wench right now, but seeing that giant standing there, he couldn't. Seeing this, his colleague roughly pulled Go-cheong's arm.
"Come, Go-cheong! You've had too much to drink today! Let us leave!"
And so the gwan'gwan left the drinking party. Behind Go-cheong, who was dragged out, the gisaeng's voice was heard.
"Congratulations. Soon your name will spread widely throughout all of Hanseong."
"You wench!"
"Come! Come! Let us go!"
Go-cheong shouted angrily, but his colleague forcibly held him and left the gisaeng house. Of course, it went without saying that they were charged an enormous bill.
As the gisaeng predicted, Go-cheong's rumor spread throughout all of Hanseong in less than a day. As soon as the rumor that 'A gwan'gwan from the Sah Gwan Won caused a disturbance while drinking at a gisaeng house' circulated, the ministers of the court stepped forward to investigate the incident.
When the investigation began, the gwan'gwan came forward to protest.
"This is tyrannical rule oppressing the Sah Gwan Won and blocking the path of speech!"
"This is an act ignoring precedent!"
The gwan'gwan were those who would stake their lives to argue against both ministers and even the king if they thought something was wrong. Therefore, considerable freedom was given to them as a counterweight to the risks they bore. Among gwan'gwan, there was no distinction of rank between classes, and it was customary not to be punished even if they drank to the point of drunkenness during work hours. In other words, it had been the custom to turn a blind eye even if they caused quite a bit of trouble.
But this time, the ministers had justification.
"Forcing sleep with a government-owned gisaeng was not enough, but attempting violence on top of that is a stain on the name of court officials and Sadaebu!"
Ultimately, Go-cheong was caught in the investigation, and Sejong passed judgment.
"For a eon'gwan (言官) who should impeach what is unjust to commit unjust acts relying on his own power is the greatest of great crimes. The criminal shall be immediately stripped of his official position and sentenced to five hundred ri of exile."
"I receive the command!"
Following Sejong's order, Go-cheong immediately went into exile. However, Go-cheong's case was handled even more strictly. Generally, when an official received exile, he would depart from his own home, often without an escort officer accompanying him. Furthermore, it was customary for the country to provide horses and food, and for the criminal's sons or slaves to follow and serve him. But in Go-cheong's case, he had to wear a cangue around his neck and be loaded into a prison cart for exile.
The reason for this was that during the investigation, it was revealed that Go-cheong had spoken of 'deposing the Crown Prince.' Upon receiving the report, Sejong became enraged and added to the punishment.
"Speaking of deposing the Crown Prince is a crime of great treason. However, since it was a word spoken by a petty person who would use violence against a gisaeng, I will not go so far as to order death. However, change the exile from five hundred ri to one thousand ri, put a cangue on his neck, and send him in a prison cart."
"I receive the command."
Of course, Sejong already knew through the previous petition. He had waited for a situation like this rather than punishing immediately upon receiving the petition. With this, the gwan'gwan had to watch their mouths.
Having heard the full story of the incident at the Donggung Palace, Hyang clicked his tongue.
"They say a gisaeng's tongue is the best in the world... It's truly fierce."
As Hyang said, Joseon gisaengs' tongues were famous. Around the time when the Geyu Jeongnan occurred and Suyang seized power, court ministers once had a drinking party at a gisaeng house. One minister, heavily drunk, demanded to sleep with a gisaeng he fancied.
"Yesterday with that man, today with this man—you are a roadside flower and wall willow. How about matching your fate with me this time?"
To the minister's words, the gisaeng immediately replied.
"Yesterday you entered Gyeongbokgung, and today you enter Myeongryegung (Suyang's residence), so you would be the best match for a roadside flower like me."
* * *
Sejong did not only pass judgment on Go-cheong's crime.
"Criminal Ryu Jeong-hyeon tried to lead the king astray with his narrow view. This can be called deceiving the sovereign. Therefore, Ryu Jeong-hyeon shall be ordered to commit suicide, and his family shall all be made government slaves. Also, confiscate his property."
"I receive the command."
"Also, the Uuijeong, Jwauijeong, Daesagan, and Daesahyeon who formed a faction with him shall be exiled beyond two thousand ri. However, their families shall remain as commoners, but confiscate eighty percent of their property."
"I receive the command."
Thus, the veteran ministers who had made names for themselves in the early years of Sejong's reign met an end different from their original history.
< Chapter 35: Gapchin Gyeongjang (甲辰更張) (13) > End