# Chapter 76: Let's Make Money! Let's Do Business! (2)
March of the 7th year of Sejong. (1425, Year of Eulsa)
Amidst the busy preparations for the minor civil service examination, Saheonbu Jibui Kim Ta submitted a memorial.
"The 6-year term for local magistrates is unjust! It must be returned to 3 years!" (Note 1)
This memorial sparked a war of words between Sejong and his ministers—more accurately, the ministers' pleading.
* * *
When Joseon was founded, the term for local magistrates was 3 years—precisely speaking, 30 months. Therefore, performance evaluations were conducted once each year, through which promotions, demotions, and dismissals were decided.
However, upon Sejong's ascension to the throne, changes occurred in the terms of local magistrates.
This was not Sejong's arbitrary decision.
The original proposer was Ha Ryun.
"Since local officials come from other regions to become heads of districts, it takes time to understand the circumstances of that district alone. Ming also faced a similar problem, and to solve this, they set the term of local officials at 6 years. Having examined this in the meantime, it is very effective, so it is right to adopt it."
Following Ha Ryun's proposal, Heo Jo, who became Minister of Personnel, and Chief State Councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon actively supported it, and Sejong extended the term of local officials to 6 years.
Precisely speaking, it wasn't extended from 3 years to 6 years, but from 30 months to 60 months. Since local officials' performance was evaluated every 10 months, including the evaluation period, it became 3 years and 6 years.
When the term of local officials was extended, the local officials themselves expressed tremendous dissatisfaction.
The reason local officials harbored complaints was the promotion issue.
The lowest local official, the Hyeongam (county magistrate), was at the junior 6th rank, and the Hyeonryeong, the head of a slightly larger region, held the senior 6th rank.
However, in Joseon's bureaucratic system, advancing to a higher rank required a considerable period.
Taking the major civil service examination as an example, the top scorer was given a junior 6th rank, and successful candidates in the third class were given a senior 9th rank. And it took anywhere from a few years to over 10 years for this senior 9th rank to rise to junior 6th rank.
Therefore, being told to serve 6 years in the provinces was equivalent to being told to build a wall against one's career advancement.
"Damn it all! Even at junior 9th rank, if one endures in Hanyang, at least one can try pulling strings here and there!"
"They say a senior 7th rank in Hanyang is better than a junior 6th rank in the countryside!"
The local officials complained this way and that, but they still performed their duties faithfully.
If something went wrong in the performance evaluation held every 10 months, even that meager position could fly away.
As a result, after the 6-year system was implemented, local administration ran quite well, and the people's livelihoods operated stably.
Of course, there were also local officials who operated completely unrelated to such matters.
They were the Dogwanchalchulcheoksa (Provincial Governors), that is, the Gwanchalsa.
The Gwanchalsa at the very top of local officials held the junior 2nd rank, and their term was 1 year.
Because of this situation, local officials launched a gift offensive toward influential ministers to reduce their terms.
Perhaps thanks to those gifts, the ministers continued to insist that 6 years was too long and should be reduced to 3 years.
"If local officials stay at their posts for 6 years, problems arise in caring for their elderly parents in their hometowns. This is unfilial and goes against what the sages said, so I think it is right to reduce it to 3 years."
"There are local officials who barely managed to avoid dismissal. Petitions are coming in saying that the people of the districts where these officials serve find it too difficult to endure for 6 years."
"Being away from their hometown for 6 years causes major problems in disciplining and marrying off their children. As the saying goes, 'After cultivating oneself and regulating the family, then govern the state.' 6 years is too long, so please reduce it to 3 years."
Each time the ministers spoke like this, Sejong clearly expressed his refusal.
"Caring for elderly parents is a good thing, but governing the people is also an important matter. Rather, bring your parents to your post. The same applies to the problems of disciplining and marrying off children."
"What can be done in just 3 years? No matter how small the district, the population exceeds several hundred. Just understanding their actual circumstances would take a year. Moreover, with frequent changes of magistrates, hasn't this caused problems in the inventory of government warehouses? I will not allow it!"
* * *
In this situation, Kim Ta submitted another memorial.
Sejong, having read the memorial, glared at the ministers.
"Didn't I keep saying that the term issue for local officials would be 6 years?"
At Sejong's question, Chief State Councillor Yi Jik stepped forward to answer.
"It is because circumstances have changed."
"Circumstances have changed? Explain."
At Sejong's command, Yi Jik explained the reason.
"Though Gyeongjang has been implemented since last year, the vast majority of local magistrates still do not properly understand it. As time passes, Gyeongjang will grow larger and larger, but if the local magistrates, who are the lowest rung of the court and closest to the people, do not do their job properly, Gyeongjang will encounter major obstacles. Therefore, if we return the term of local magistrates to 3 years and continuously rotate officials between the central and local governments, we can proceed with Gyeongjang more smoothly."
"However, if the turnover of magistrates becomes that frequent, problems will arise with errors in the inventory of goods including grain loans. How will you solve this?"
At Sejong's point, Yi Jik pointed it out without hesitation.
"Monopoly offices of the Ministry of Taxation have already been established down to the county level. While the basic duty of the monopoly office is the monopoly of salt and sugar, another duty is to inventory and manage the land and population of the county as well as surrounding districts, so there is no major problem. Even if problems arise from the magistrate's side, the Ministry of Taxation can block it."
"Doesn't the Ministry of Taxation also replace personnel every year?"
"However, those dispatched from the Ministry of Taxation are people who have professionally learned mathematics, and since they handle the relevant duties except when markets are held to sell salt and sugar, there are few errors."
"Hmm...."
At Yi Jik's explanation, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.
Seeing that Sejong's reaction was not bad, Yi Jik continued to persuade Sejong.
"Think about what the Ministry of Taxation experienced last year. How much trouble did we have because we couldn't properly grasp the household registers and land?"
Recalling the famous incident of 'the Ministry of Taxation's self-entrapment,' Sejong nodded.
'Almost there!'
Confirming Sejong's reaction, Yi Jik moved to seal the deal.
"When Gyeongjang reaches its final stage, tax administration and military administration will be transferred to officials dispatched directly from the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Military Affairs. When this happens, there will be no need for local magistrates to be tied down for 6 years."
"Hmm...."
At Yi Jik's explanation, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.
The large and small officials gathered in Pyeonjeon could only swallow their dry saliva as they watched Sejong's appearance.
After pondering for a while, Sejong nodded and opened his mouth.
"Your opinion seems reasonable, so let us think about it once."
At Sejong's decision, Yi Jik immediately made a deep bow and answered.
"I am overwhelmed by your grace! Long live His Majesty the King!"
Along with Yi Jik's shout, other ministers also made deep bows and shouted.
"We are overwhelmed by your grace! Long live His Majesty the King! Long live! Long live, long live!"
The historian recorded all of this scene without omission.
-... In this way, when His Majesty decided to consider the matter, the large and small officials, moved by the grace, shouted long live.
The historian comments.
The ministers must have had a hard time.
That day, the faces of the ministers coming out of Pyeonjeon were unusually flushed with color.
Passing through Geunjeongmun, the Chief State Councillor looked back at the officials.
"We can't just let a day like today pass! I'll treat you, so let's go!"
"Since Your Excellency has worked hard, we should pay! We will treat you!"
* * *
Meanwhile, Sejong, left alone in Pyeonjeon, burst into laughter.
"Pfft!"
"Your Majesty, what is the matter?"
At the question from the court attendant standing in attendance, Sejong waved his hand.
"It's nothing. It's nothing."
Though he concluded thus, Sejong knew the ministers' feelings well.
'We can't be the only ones dying! If we're to die, let's all die together!'
Chuckling to himself while organizing his thoughts, Sejong muttered quietly.
"Anyway, since the more people who know how to handle affairs, the better, it should be fine."
The next day, in a gathering of all the large and small officials, Sejong made his decision.
"I will accept your esteemed opinions regarding local magistrates. Determine an appropriate implementation date."
"We are overwhelmed by your grace!"
"We are overwhelmed by your grace!"
* * *
After the civil service examination ended, when it began to get warmer.
Joseon, having prepared in advance just like the previous year, was able to pass through the spring hardship period without major turmoil.
During the spring hardship period, throughout all of Joseon, weirs and reservoirs that had not yet been fully repaired were attended to, and rivers were dredged.
Residents of Hanyang and nearby areas were mobilized for the work of dredging the Han River.
It was quite hard work, but since the country paid wages, residents even volunteered for the dredging work.
While moving busily like this, the court implemented smallpox vaccination again following the previous year.
Thanks to having already done it nationwide the previous year, the second round of smallpox vaccination could be completed faster and more smoothly than expected.
Meanwhile, Hyang was preparing to release one by one the things he and his researchers had developed.
"Your Highness. Are you checking the inventory?"
Inside the warehouse of District 51, Hyang nodded at Yi Cheon's question as he examined the accumulated goods.
"Are you thinking of releasing them now?"
"Yes, now it's time to release them gradually. If I release this, His Majesty's worries will be resolved to some extent."
At Hyang's words, Yi Cheon nodded.
"That is so."
When Yi Cheon agreed, Hyang made up his mind.
"I should contact the Minister of Taxation soon."
However, due to an event that occurred outside, Hyang had to temporarily halt his plan.
The Hongxi Emperor of Ming had died.
At the news that 'The new Emperor of Ming has died,' the court went into emergency mode.
"So, the physiognomist and the royal physician's words were correct."
"That is so, Your Majesty."
At Sejong's words, Yi Jik immediately answered.
"Prepare a condolence delegation and prepare a mourning station."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And is there any information about the Crown Prince who will become the new Emperor?"
No sooner had Sejong's words fallen than Hwang Hui stepped forward to answer.
"There is a rumor that the previous Emperor's favor was considerable."
"Is that so? What kind of personality does he have personally?"
"The rumor is that he is versed in both literary and martial arts. Because of this, it is said that the previous Emperor favored him so much."
Hwang Hui, answering Sejong's question, was without hesitation.
Having suffered a major setback once last year, the preparation he had done in the meantime was bearing fruit.
"Hmm... Then do you see the Crown Prince who will become the new Emperor as inclined toward external expansion like the previous Emperor?"
"He is said to be very prudent for that. However... words that are difficult to even utter, but there is a rumor that came through merchants."
"A rumor? What kind?"
At the words 'a rumor difficult to even utter,' Sejong showed interest.
"It is a rumor that the ambition of the Prince of Han (Han Wang) is very great."
"Oh? Is it a reliable source?"
At Sejong's question, Hwang Hui answered immediately.
"It is a rumor that is circulating little by little among merchants in Beijing."
"Hmm...."
Stroking his beard at Hwang Hui's answer and organizing his thoughts, Sejong issued a command.
"Select an appropriate merchant group to send to the border and convey my command to the merchants and officials staying at the border. Tell them to gather information about the new Crown Prince and the Prince of Han without omission."
"I will obey your command!"
"And send messengers to the border to strengthen alert. When Ming falls into chaos, the Jurchens will also cause trouble."
Having given orders to Hwang Hui, Sejong sighed.
"Hoo~. This is... just when I try to do something, something happens."
* * *
"Argh! Anyway, that damn China is no help!"
"Your Highness!"
When Hyang grumbled, the attendant following behind was startled.
"I didn't say anything. Nothing at all! Understood?"
At Hyang's warning, the attendant made a tearful face and nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Anyway, there's no privacy in this palace. No privacy...."
Having silenced the attendant, Hyang grumbled as he walked toward the research lab next to the Eastern Palace.
"Crown Prince Your Highness...."
"Shh! Everyone is busy working, so be quiet."
"Yes."
Hyang, who silenced the attendant who was about to speak, quietly walked down the corridor.
Just as he arrived in front of the room with the train model, Hyang wrinkled his expression.
"Haah~. Haah~. It's amazing! It's the best!"
Hearing the words coming from inside, mixed with excited moans that could easily be misunderstood by anyone, Hyang asked the attendant standing in front.
"Is it Yu?"
"Yes, it is Prince Yu, the young master."
At the attendant's answer, Hyang sighed.
"That's a severe case...."
Hyang swallowed the words that would follow inside himself.
'Even I in the 21st century wasn't that bad at that age!'
* * *
After the death of the Hongxi Emperor, the Joseon court could not let its guard down at the news coming from Ming.
Upon hearing the news of the Emperor's death, the Crown Prince who was staying in Nanjing immediately departed for Beijing.
Though the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, who dreamed of usurping the throne, attempted assassination in the middle, Zhu Zhanji, who safely overcame the crisis, arrived in Beijing and ascended to the throne.
Afterwards, the new Emperor Zhu Zhanji, like his father, was bestowing many favors to win over Zhu Gaoxu.
However, according to information obtained by officials and merchants staying at the border, Zhu Gaoxu was waiting for an opportunity at every moment.
With the continuing crisis, Sejong, unable to relax his guard, complained to his ministers.
"If they're going to rebel, they should just do it right away. Why are they watching and waiting... making people tired..."
"Indeed, you're right."
At Sejong's words, the ministers nodded.
This was because, with Gyeongjang continuing to proceed and the crisis of external trouble that had befallen, the ministers' work intensity had doubled.
"Hoo~."
Sejong, who sighed long, looked at the ministers.
"Now! Let's work! Work! As the saying goes, when you have a headache, working is the best! Let's work!"
At Sejong's words, the ministers screamed silent screams.
'When you have a headache, resting is the best, isn't it!'
----
Note 1) In actual history, the memorial was submitted in June.