< Chapter 40: Laughing at Fandom, Crying at Fandom. (5) >
Chapter 40: Laughing at Fandom, Crying at Fandom. (5)
Hyang's consideration of it as "chicken ribs" was due to a lecture by a Chinese history professor he had taken as a general education course during his university days.
The professor, whose major was Ming and Qing history, explained the "Zheng He Voyages" as follows:
-Why did the Yongle Emperor send Zheng He on the great voyages? To understand that, we must first know how the Yongle Emperor came to power. As you all know, the Yongle Emperor seized power through the "Jingnan Campaign." Like most leaders who seized power through coups, the Yongle Emperor needed achievements he could boast of to his people. So what he chose were the Mongol campaigns and Zheng He's great voyages.
-But why were Zheng He's voyages, called the greatest adventure of the 15th century, not repeated afterward? With just a little thought, couldn't that famous "Age of Discovery" have appeared in Asia first rather than Europe?
-This was because Ming's foreign trade form at the time was not exchange trade but tribute trade. Going all the way to distant countries yielded no particular profit. Conversely, even if envoys came, there was no particular use.
-Considering the funds that went into Zheng He's voyages, tribute trade provided no answer. After each voyage, they had to give various rewards, repair damaged ships, and if any ships sank, build new ones to replace them. Do you think this cost just a penny or two?
-And what was important to the Yongle Emperor was the foreign artifacts Zheng He brought back through the voyages. What mattered was boasting his dignity through exotic and wondrous items. In the end, the voyages themselves were not what was important.
-That's why after the Yongle Emperor's death, his ministers destroyed the voyage records. Fearing that a new emperor might see those records and waste money again.
"...Therefore, to Ming's ministers, this was like chicken ribs."
At Hyang's explanation, Sejong and the ministers all nodded.
"That certainly seems to be the case."
"That would make sense. Expeditions require enormous amounts of wealth. To conduct such expeditions simultaneously at sea and on land..."
What Sejong called "expeditions on land" referred to the "Mongol campaigns."
After the Yongle Emperor took the throne, there were four campaigns, and rumors were circulating that preparations for another campaign were underway this year as well.
When they learned the reason why the original rather than a copy had arrived, the Minister of Rites spoke up.
"If even the great power found it difficult enough to destroy the records, shouldn't we also refrain from doing this?"
When some ministers nodded at the Minister of Rites' question, Hyang stepped forward.
"Ming and we are different. Ming trades in the form of tribute and imperial gifts, but we must operate in the form of mutual trade."
"Mutual trade?"
"Simply put, commerce."
Hyang explained in more detail.
-Initially, diplomatic envoys would move, but afterward, it would center on merchant groups.
-Since the merchant groups' commerce would be central, it becomes trade where we exchange goods that the counterpart country needs and goods that we need. It is not tribute trade like Ming.
-And what is the court's role here?
1) Providing transportation means, protecting merchant groups, and collecting fees and taxes in this process.
2) Stabilizing prices through the monopoly of goods essential to the people's lives.
At Hyang's explanation, the Minister of Taxation interjected with a tilted head.
"Goods essential to the people's lives? Would such things exist in foreign lands? Already, most things are produced in our Joseon. No, even if they aren't produced in Joseon, people are already accustomed to not having them, so would it really be of use?"
At the Minister of Taxation's words, Hyang asked back.
"Minister of Taxation. Do you not know of black pepper (Hucho)?"
"Ah!"
At Hyang's question, not only the Minister of Taxation but all the ministers finally showed expressions of understanding.
Black pepper, brought by Arab merchants during the Goryeo era, was the finest spice. While garlic and ginger were used to remove the gamey smell of meat, pepper was a powerful spice that could completely change the flavor of a dish even in small amounts. And it was that expensive.
Thanks to this, most people without money had to mainly eat Sichuan pepper (Cheoncho).
The Minister of Taxation, having heard Hyang's explanation, nodded but continued to ask questions.
"I understand since you gave black pepper as an example, but must we really import such products? If we're not careful, there's a great risk that people will recklessly spend wealth to buy such products, and the nation's wealth will flow out."
"There is such a risk. However, when people have means, they start seeking better things, starting with what they eat and wear. But if we block it indiscriminately saying wealth will flow out, illegal trade will grow. Since it's illegal trade, people will pay even higher prices due to risk, and this will cause a vicious cycle of rising prices. No, it would be fortunate if only a vicious cycle of rising prices occurred. To hide illegal trade, they will bribe officials. That famous 'frog price.' What do you think will happen then? Corruption will become rampant."
"I see."
At Hyang's explanation, the Minister of Taxation nodded. Until merchant groups officially joined the envoy missions, much of the trade with foreign countries was illegal trade. Sejong, who was listening from the side, nodded and joined the conversation.
"Frog price... I understand it well."
At Sejong's praise, Hyang bowed his head.
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude."
The 'frog price' was a Chinese anecdote related to the civil official Yi Gyu-bo during the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo.
-A locust and a cuckoo argued over whose voice was more beautiful. Unable to reach a conclusion, they asked their neighbor, a stork, to judge. The stork requested three days, and during those three days, the locust secretly offered frogs to the stork without the cuckoo knowing. In the end, the stork ruled in favor of the locust, and this is where the term 'Waeryo' (Frog Bait) originated.
Ironically, while Sejong and the ministers knew this from old records, Hyang had learned it from his Korean language teacher in 21st century high school.
-There's something you guys sometimes confuse. First, 'wairo' and 'sabasaba' - at first glance, wairo sounds like Japanese, and sabasaba sounds like our language, right? Actually, it's the opposite.
Emboldened by Sejong's praise, Hyang continued speaking.
"To say again, if our Joseon becomes prosperous, the people's lives will also become abundant. When life becomes abundant, no matter how frugal one is, it is human nature to gradually seek better and tastier things. Do you acknowledge this?"
"I acknowledge it."
At Hyang's question, the ministers nodded.
"Therefore, the first thing we must monopolize is food products, which have the most immediate impact."
"Now I understand."
At Hyang's words, the ministers nodded. Seeing this, Hyang asked the Minister of Taxation a question.
"Did what I requested to be brought instead of reducing books on this envoy mission also arrive?"
At Hyang's question, the Minister of Taxation, who was flipping through the book listing the goods, answered.
"It has arrived. Those 20 chests over there in the back."
"Is that so! That's more than expected!"
At the Minister of Taxation's answer, Hyang brightened and ran toward the chests in question. Hyang, who opened the chest's lid, smiled broadly.
"Just as I thought!"
Seeing Hyang so pleased, Sejong and the ministers, unable to contain their curiosity, approached.
"What is that?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered with a smile.
"It is sugar (Satang)!"
"Sugar!"
* * *
Hyang, who was examining the list of books the envoy had acquired, muttered quietly.
"The amount of books they're bringing is decreasing. As expected, if it's Ming at this time, they can't get new publications."
As the books the envoys brought decreased, Hyang began to worry.
"What should I ask them to bring?"
Then a plate containing yakgwa (medicinal cookies) caught Hyang's eye. Looking at that plate, Hyang snapped his fingers.
"This is it!"
"Your Highness? Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing!"
Answering the eunuch standing outside the door, Hyang muttered in a small voice.
"This is really... there's no privacy. No privacy..."
The reason Hyang chose sugar was again largely due to Teacher Samcheonpo's influence.
-Not only during Goryeo but also during Joseon, sugar was a truly precious ingredient. Looking at the Annals, you can see how closed-off Joseon lived. When King Munjong's biological mother, Queen Soheon, fell ill, she wanted to eat sugar but couldn't obtain it. Thanks to this, there's a story that Munjong later obtained sugar and offered it at his mother's memorial tablet while weeping bitterly... During King Jungjong's reign, when an envoy came from Ming and offered sugar to Jungjong, he said, 'In our country, this is cheap food that even commoners at the marketplace eat, but in Joseon, it's a precious item offered only at ancestral rites, so I'm sending it like this.' Though he spoke politely, doesn't it strongly give off the feeling of 'Here you go! You country bumpkins! This is sugar!'?
* * *
Making sugar from sugarcane had already been practiced in India since before the common era. This technology passed to China during the Tang Dynasty, and mass production of sugar began through the Song. It was when they started cultivating sugarcane in large quantities in the Jiangnan region that mass production of sugar began. Afterward, using water transport including the Grand Canal, in Ming Dynasty China, it became common enough that even ordinary people could afford to add sugar to their tea - in other words, it was supplied at cheap prices.
"I'm secretly getting pissed off."
Recalling Teacher Samcheonpo's words, Hyang got angry.
"The conclusion is sugar! Red pepper is still far off, and thanks to that, the bright red, fiery spicy taste will have to come later, but sweet and salty is possible even now! Salty-only is now declined!"
* * *
"Sugar, such an expensive thing..."
"Crown Prince, even if you are the Crown Prince, such extravagance..."
Hearing that all the enormous number of chests - 20 of them - contained sugar, the ministers and Sejong all glared at Hyang and spoke out one by one. However, Hyang smiled and asked the Minister of Taxation.
"Minister of Taxation. The purchase cost is written in the goods list, correct?"
"Yes."
"How much is it?"
"Well... let me see... sugar... sugar... Eh? 20 taels of heavenly silver?"
"For 20 taels of heavenly silver, what is the total weight of the sugar purchased?"
"...200 gwan (800kg)."
At the Minister of Taxation's answer, Sejong and the ministers couldn't close their gaping mouths. To purchase 200 gwan of sugar in Joseon's markets, one would have to pay an enormous amount. No, it was impossible even for the royal family to obtain 200 gwan of sugar at once.
Yet the Crown Prince had done it. And at the bargain price of merely 20 taels of heavenly silver.
Of course, 20 taels of heavenly silver was by no means a small amount. However, compared to 200 gwan of sugar, it was an incredible bargain.
"All that... is all sugar, and you're saying you bought it for just 20 taels of heavenly silver?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"200 gwan... what an enormous amount."
"They are lumps of gold."
"Lumps of gold? That's right. It's an expensive item in our Joseon, if not in Ming."
"That's not what I mean. Along with salt, that sugar will play a major role as an item the court will monopolize. With that sugar, we can significantly fill the national treasury. Very certainly, I say."
At Hyang's words, the ears of Sejong and the ministers perked up.
Seeing the reaction of Sejong and the ministers, Hyang first organized the situation.
"Explaining here would become a very long explanation. How about we first organize this place?"
"That is right!"
Impatient to hear Hyang's explanation, Sejong quickly gave orders.
"Scholars of Jiphyeonjeon, take these records and organize them immediately! Organize clearly without missing a single thing - the locations of the countries Zheng He passed through, sea routes, climate, customs, habits, and specialties! And store those sugar chests in the warehouse with great care!"
"We receive your command!"
"Now then, Crown Prince! Let us go inside quickly!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Sejong pulled Hyang's hand and headed toward Geunjeongjeon Hall, and behind him, the ministers followed at a quick pace.
After Sejong and the ministers disappeared like the wind, only the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon and those who would carry the cargo remained.
"How many volumes is this in total?"
At the Jiphyeonjeon scholar's mutter, a Taxation Ministry official who was looking through the books answered.
"A total of 360 volumes."
"Three hundred..."
The Jiphyeonjeon scholar with a hollow expression gestured to the porters.
"Move the chests containing the books to Jiphyeonjeon."
"Yes, sir."
As the chests containing books began to be moved, the Taxation Ministry official also gave orders to the porters.
"Move all these chests to the warehouse!"
"Yes, sir!"
< Chapter 40: Laughing at Fandom, Crying at Fandom. (5) > End
ⓒ Gukbbong