Chapter 80: SimCity Hanseong, SimCity Joseon (4)
"Hmm... The restoration will proceed as planned, and let us consider methods to prevent such tragic events as this from occurring again."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Even as they answered, the officials' heads turned automatically. Their expressions were uniformly anxious, and at the end of their gazes sat Hyang.
As expected, Hyang was the first to speak, and the officials sighed softly.
"We must create an organization that can respond first to fires, as well as floods and other disasters."
"Create an organization?"
At Sejong's interest, Hyang explained in more detail.
"When I was operating District 51, I also operated a Disaster Prevention Team. As Your Majesty knows, District 51 uses fire extensively, but also handles many dangerous materials such as gunpowder."
"Indeed."
"In this fire, District 51's Disaster Prevention Team played a major role in extinguishing the fire that spread to the southern area of the capital. Considering this, I believe we should create an organization that can handle disaster prevention for the entire capital."
"Bring me the fire report."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After examining the report tallying the fire damage, Sejong nodded.
"Indeed. Is this the result of training?"
"There is the result of training, but also specialized equipment."
"Specialized equipment? Let me see."
The officials following behind muttered softly.
"Beating the drum and playing the janggu."
"Sigh. What is it this time..."
"Do they harmonize knowing what they're doing? Or do they harmonize without knowing?"
* * *
Following Hyang's message, carts carrying the Disaster Prevention Team's equipment from District 51 headed to the palace.
"Hmm... The helmets are unique from the start."
The helmets worn by the Disaster Prevention Team had longer brims at the back than at the front, and instead of metal plates, thick leather was used for the outer surface with thick cotton padding inside to protect the head from impact and heat.
Their clothing was the same. Thick cotton padding was inserted to protect the wearer from impact and heat.
However, what drew the attention of Sejong and the ministers was the water spraying cart that sprayed water at fires.
"You extinguish fires with this cart?"
"That is correct."
Sejong examined the cart carefully.
A large water tank was positioned at the back of the cart, and in front of it sat a bronze instrument shaped like a round cylinder placed on its side.
A thick bronze pipe connected the water tank and the bronze instrument.
"How do you operate it?"
"I will demonstrate."
At Hyang's command, the Disaster Prevention Team members connected a cloth tube to the bronze instrument on the cart. Two team members grabbed the bronze handles attached to the end of the tube and stood firmly, while two other team members positioned beside the bronze instrument on the cart began turning the handles attached to it.
Whoosh!
As a misty stream of water sprayed forcefully from the bronze spout at the end of the cloth tube, Sejong and the ministers applauded.
"Ohhh!"
"This would be truly good for extinguishing fires!"
"Indeed it would!"
Hyang explained to Sejong and the ministers.
"If we deploy special forces equipped with such equipment in each designated area, we can extinguish fires in their early stages, and even if the fire is larger than expected, we can prevent it from spreading significantly."
"That makes sense."
While Sejong and the other ministers nodded, some officials breathed sighs of relief with expressions that seemed to say "We're not involved!" and quietly turned their heads.
There, someone's face was growing increasingly pale.
It was Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom.
"Y-Your Highness... When you say designated areas, how many do you have in mind?"
Seeing the Taxation Minister's pale face, Hyang calculated briefly before answering.
"While it would be safer to have fewer households per area, considering the budget, at minimum two locations per Bang (District). And at those designated locations, there must be at least three water spraying carts."
At Hyang's explanation, the Taxation Minister busily calculated.
'Hanseong's 5 districts have 52 Bang, so at minimum 104 locations, and with at least 3 carts each... 312 carts... the budget... But if something like this happens again...'
As the Taxation Minister's expression grew complicated with calculations complicated by various variables, Hyang added more.
"Creating a new organization and equipping it requires significant funds, and maintaining it afterward also requires considerable resources. However, if such prepared personnel exist, wouldn't we be able to respond quickly even if incidents occur? Then we can reduce damage and also reduce the costs of reconstruction."
At Hyang's words, the Taxation Minister sighed deeply.
"Hoo~. I know that well. But the budget is the problem. The budget..."
At the Taxation Minister's complaint, Hwang Heo stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, it seems we must release some of the silver from selling Buddhist scriptures and the silver mined and stored from the mines."
At Hwang Heo's recommendation, Sejong nodded.
"That seems necessary."
At Sejong's decision, the Taxation Minister immediately performed a deep bow on the spot.
"Your grace is boundless!"
It was a voice truly filled with emotion.
* * *
While responsibility for reconstructing the areas destroyed by fire was given to Hyang, the court was not simply idle.
First, they announced the list of those who passed the triennial examination conducted before the fire occurred.
"...According to precedent, we would have held a celebration banquet to congratulate the successful candidates, but I express my regret that it has been cancelled due to the current unfavorable circumstances. Following last year..."
The Minister of Personnel, who read Sejong's words expressing regret and encouragement to the successful candidates, looked at them with a bitter smile.
"Now, given the urgent situation, practical training will follow immediately! Therefore, follow us! Anyone who falls behind from here will have their passing immediately cancelled and be sent back to their hometown!"
Less than half a day after shouting in joy at their passing, the successful candidates began screaming.
Next came matters regarding the soldiers.
- Investigate and report any families in households that lost homes to the fire who have committed crimes and are serving military duty,
- For those residing in affected areas who wish to quit their work, grant immediate permission, and for those who volunteer to continue serving, grant two months of leave to rebuild their homes.
At this order, quite a few chose to remain rather than retire.
- Grant 7 months of leave to those working in departments that support items for the palace and various government offices, such as the Office of Royal Robes and the Office of Royal Attire.
- Among those who came from the provinces to Seoul for duty and are on rotation this month, those who were renting shall be sent back to their hometowns immediately.
- For those who have homes in affected areas but as craftsmen working in the palace and government offices must come out, count their wives and children as having worked and pay them wages.
At the final royal command, Hyang whistled.
"This nobleman, once he opens his purse, he really spends!"
This was the same measure as in the original history, but thanks to the funds that had been steadily gathered and accumulated over time, there was no discord.
In the subsequent reconstruction work, a policy to change the landscape of Hanseong was decided.
Hyang submitted a proposal document to Sejong.
"While there were several reasons why this fire spread so greatly, one of the biggest reasons is that the houses were built too closely together. This has been resolved to some extent through rezoning during reconstruction, but I need Father's permission to resolve other problems."
"What is it?"
"Except for noble houses, government offices, and some buildings, most have thatched roofs. These must be changed to roof tiles."
At Hyang's request, Sejong nodded.
"Indeed. Minister of Taxation, Minister of Public Works."
"Yes! We receive your command. Your Highness! Please discuss with us."
Thus, the three practical officials submitted a plan to Sejong in less than a day.
After reading the plan, Sejong immediately affixed his seal.
"I approve."
"Your grace is boundless!"
At Sejong's decision, Hyang, the Taxation Minister, and the Public Works Minister bowed their heads in gratitude.
While bowing his head, Hyang was inwardly surprised.
'What is this! They're moving even faster than 21st century civil servants!'
In the original history, Sejong had made the same decision. However, the difference after Hyang's intervention was that while it was traditional roof tiles in the original history, now they were tiles pressed from quicklime that Hyang had created.
"Gathering tile craftsmen, gathering soil, recruiting new labor, and building tile kilns takes much time. Let us press them with quicklime."
"But doesn't quicklime also need to be fired in kilns?"
"District 51 has kilns and labor. What we need is only limestone and coal for the kilns. For sand, we can use the sand from the Han River that has been accumulated from dredging over the past two years."
"An excellent method!"
At Hyang's words, the Taxation Minister brightened.
'We can reduce the budget! The budget!'
However, the Taxation Minister's joy did not last even a day.
This was because Hyang submitted a support plan for construction funds for commoners to Sejong.
"Have the country provide construction funds?"
"That is correct, Father. For those who lost both their homes and property in this fire, where would they get the resources to rebuild their houses?
Even if walls can be built with nearby soil and straw, where would they get the timber for rafters, beams, and pillars?
And where would they get the resources for roof tiles? They would all have to use high-interest loans.
However, if the court provides loans at low interest, they can avoid using high-interest loans and thus avoid tragic circumstances such as selling family members."
"Hmm..."
At Hyang's words, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.
The people suffering from high interest was not a matter of just today or yesterday.
"Then what interest rate would you suggest?"
"20 percent per year."
"20 percent per year... Since building a house doesn't cost just one or two coins, that's not low."
"Indeed. That's why I have thought of something called 'deferred repayment.'"
"Deferred repayment?"
At Hyang's words, both Sejong and the ministers pricked up their ears.
After listening to Hyang's explanation that continued for a while, Sejong slapped his knee.
"An excellent method! Let it be done that way! Minister of Taxation, hear this!"
As soon as Sejong called him, the Taxation Minister answered immediately.
"I-I will immediately create a plan and submit it..."
"As expected of the Taxation Minister! With you here, I feel reassured!"
"Your grace is boundless!"
While the Taxation Minister expressed humility by lowering his head at Sejong's praise, inside he was shedding tears.
'I, Kim Jeom. I wonder if I'll be able to live out my natural life at this rate!'
However, Hyang's statements were not finished.
"Father. In the process of investigating owners to reconstruct the houses destroyed in this fire, I newly learned something I hadn't known before."
At the same time, cold sweat began running down Kim Jeom's spine.
On his face, the cry of 'Please stop!' was clearly visible.
"What did you newly learn?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered briefly.
"There were truly many people renting houses in Hanseong."
Hyang's expression as he answered was truly complicated.
'A landlord in the Joseon dynasty! I could understand if they were landowners, but landlords!'
The housing shortage in Hanseong was quite famous.
Military officers and soldiers who came up from the provinces to serve their rotation, and those who had just passed the civil service exam and entered official positions, had no houses in Hanseong, so they had to rent houses or live as tenants.
Thanks to this, in Joseon history or the collected works of famous people, there were more than a few accounts of the sorrow of tenant living.
Thanks to this, Hyang was taken aback when he learned the fact.
"Rented houses..."
While Sejong was mulling over the words, quite a few officials were nodding.
Among those with the rank of Prime Minister or higher, quite a few had fine houses of their own in Bukchon, but there were also not a few ministers still living in rented houses.
In particular, the historians with low ranks were looking at Hyang's mouth with shining eyes.
"Indeed, I have heard that living in another's house brings much sorrow. I too have heard the saying circulating in the markets that a thatched roof house of one's own is far better than a tiled roof rental house."
"That is correct, Your Majesty!"
At Sejong's words, many officials answered in loud voices.
"Do you ministers also live in rented houses?"
"..."
"Oh my... So what would you suggest we do?"
"Immediately eliminating rented houses would be called inhumane. Because other than renting out houses, they have committed no crime."
"That is true."
"Therefore... after this reconstruction is finished, how about building government housing?"
"Government housing? Like those for local magistrates?"
"Similar. I will submit a plan later."
"I understand. I look forward to it."
"Yes, Father."
The historian recording the conversation between Sejong and Hyang wrote as follows:
- Accordingly, His Majesty commanded the Crown Prince to submit a plan.
The historian notes:
The sorrow of tenant living makes no distinction between high and low rank or noble and common birth, so how can we not call this sad?
This situation where we can only hope for the Crown Prince's wisdom must surely hold those Prime Ministers and ministers accountable.