Chapter 81: Sim City Hanyang, Sim City Joseon (5)
After the meeting at the main hall ended, the Minister of Taxation returned to his office and let out a deep sigh.
"Haah~, no matter how endlessly I work, there's no end in sight. Should I just resign? No, that won't do. His Majesty isn't the kind of man who would simply accept a resignation..."
While he was seriously contemplating whether to resign or not, a palace attendant came looking for him.
"Minister, are you present?"
"I am here. What is the matter?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince has sent this to be delivered to you."
"Hm?"
The palace attendant held out a cloth bundle wrapped in silk to the Minister of Taxation.
"His Highness said to convey his words: 'I look forward to your continued good service.'"
"...Please convey that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this gracious gift."
"Yes, sir."
After the palace attendant left, a long time passed, but the Minister of Taxation stared at the bundle without a word.
"Somehow I get the feeling that nothing good will come of untying this..."
The Minister of Taxation hesitantly untied the knot of the bundle.
Inside the bundle sat a small wooden box.
"Haah~."
The Minister of Taxation, who opened the wooden box with a sigh, sighed once more.
"Whether the King or the Crown Prince..."
Inside the box lay wild ginseng that looked precious at a glance.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside the Minister's residence, the scent of medicine filled the air.
"What is all this supposed to accomplish..."
Lady Gwon, the Minister's wife, grumbled as she fanned the brazier with a medicine pot on it.
The medicine currently being brewed in the pot was a tonic that King Sejong had personally bestowed not long ago.
She could have simply ordered a servant girl to do it, but since it was a precious tonic given by the King, there might be talk if she handled it that way, so Lady Gwon was brewing it herself.
However, Lady Gwon had a separate grievance.
"What's the use of feeding him tonic? What good does it do!"
Her husband, when he came home, acted as if he were some terribly busy man.
It was hard to even criticize him for that, because he wasn't out playing at pleasure quarters but came home exhausted from handling state affairs.
Lady Gwon irritably fanned the brazier while complaining.
"A tonic that can't even pay for itself!"
* * *
By late February, the reconstruction work began in earnest.
Hyang, who had set up a temporary field office near the bell pavilion, took careful command.
"First, let us simultaneously proceed with connecting Cheonggyecheon to nearby streams, and with the zoning arrangement and well installation in the fire-damaged areas."
An official who had joined from the Ministry of Works confirmed the situation once more.
"For the Cheonggyecheon side, should we prioritize connecting Jongno and the fire-damaged areas?"
"That would be most appropriate, wouldn't it?"
"In terms of manpower allocation, that is most appropriate."
"Then let us proceed that way. By the way..."
Hyang looked at the Ministry of Works official before him with a renewed expression.
"You seem quite experienced with this kind of work?"
At Hyang's question, the Ministry of Works official answered with a slight smile.
"Funnily enough, my very first assignment was the construction of this Hanyang."
"Oh? What rank?"
Hyang examined the official uniform of this 'living history-grade' official. Though old, the neat uniform was blue in color.
"I am a Grade 6 Inspector."
"It seems you started from the bottom?"
"That is correct."
Seeing the bitter expression on the Ministry of Works Inspector's face, Hyang encouraged him.
"This is also a kind of connection, so let us create a work together."
"I shall do my utmost!"
At Hyang's words, the Ministry of Works Inspector answered with a deep bow. He too had realized what Hyang's words meant.
Until now he had worked hard, but seeing the Ministry of Works Inspector showing even greater enthusiasm at Hyang's words, Hyang muttered quietly.
"I suppose there aren't just one or two like him?"
Even in the 21st century, there were quite a few who had both ability and sincerity but surprisingly couldn't shine.
There were various reasons why they ended up that way, but as time passed, the sad sight of those who had given up and merely did their assigned work overlapped with the back of that Ministry of Works Inspector walking away.
Watching that retreating figure, Hyang made another decision.
"To overturn this entire Joseon in the future, many capable people will be needed. Selecting those with both experience and ability is the only answer!"
That night, Hyang returned to the Eastern Palace and took out paper to begin creating a new proposal.
It was a proposal with an enormously long title: 'Regarding the Establishment of a Professional Organization for National Land Development and Management.'
It was to create an organization responsible for comprehensive management by selecting those with ability and experience in practical work, regardless of the Six Ministries.
* * *
The first thing done in the reconstruction of the damaged areas was the arrangement of zones.
"What standard should we use for the zone arrangement?"
At Hyang's question, the practical staff who had been watching cautiously answered immediately.
"Wells, sir."
"That is correct. We must dig wells and arrange zones accordingly to properly align roads and sewers."
"Then let us do that. Fortunately, the prototype of the drilling machine has been completed, so we can verify its efficiency as well. Good."
"Drilling machine?"
The practical staff tilted their heads at Hyang's words. The next day, three drilling machines were brought out from District 51 and arrived.
"Is this it?"
"Yes, it is."
An artisan who had been in charge of the drilling machine's development and test operation stepped forward to explain its benefits to the practical staff.
"It takes less time than digging wells by hand one by one."
"Is that so?"
"The greatest benefit gained from that time reduction is that when a well is dug, one can quickly determine whether the well can be used or not."
"I see. Then let us begin."
"Yes, sir."
The drilling machines, assigned one each to the three main divisions of the damaged area, immediately began work.
"Hmm... this looks like a good spot."
First, the drilling team leader who had been examining the map with the rough sketch of the temporarily designated area and the terrain designated a location likely to have an underground water vein.
"We'll dig here! Set it up!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the drilling team leader's command, the team members moved quickly. They set up a sturdy tripod made of iron, and installed a drilling propeller on top of it.
Finally, they connected a spiral-shaped drilling auger to an iron rod and inserted it into the propeller.
Once the first installation was complete, the team members connected an iron rod about one jang (approximately 3.3m) long to the propeller and brought an ox to tie it to the iron rod.
"Hyah!"
"Moo~."
When the ox's flank was lightly tapped, it began to move slowly.
As the ox slowly walked in circles, the connected propeller rotated, and the auger began to bore into the ground.
"Hmm..."
When the drilling machine began operating, those in charge of managing the area all gathered to observe the drilling process.
"Seems decent."
"It appears usable."
At the managers' favorable response, the drilling team leader answered with pride.
"With this, we've dug wells quite well in District 51. When able-bodied men dig the ground for days and no water comes out, how disheartening is that? But with this, that time is drastically reduced!"
"Hmm... that is... true..."
Whoosh!
"Water!"
After two days of drilling, water rose up through the borehole. Everyone watching from the surroundings applauded.
"Water!"
"Wow! Look at that stream of water shooting up!"
When water gushed forth, the drilling team leader dismantled the drilling machine. Afterward, the gathered managers and residents determined whether it would become a well with good quantity and quality.
"This seems pretty good."
"It looks like it will become a fine well."
Once the conclusion was reached, the drilling team leader gathered the equipment and people to move on to dig the next well. The managers left behind called people together.
"Now we need to make a proper well, so move quickly! There's a mountain of work to do!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the reconstruction site, the drilling machines demonstrated excellent performance. As the drilling machines played a major role, water sources were secured quickly, and accordingly, zone arrangement also rapidly accelerated.
Based on the wells, the arrangement of houses and drainage channels was determined, and residential plots were distributed to disaster victims based on household registers and land registers.
"It's good, but..."
Though they received plots of land, the faces of the disaster victims did not easily brighten. It was because of the funding problem for building houses.
"Ahem! Who is the head of household that received this plot?"
The homeowner, lost in worry, was startled when an official came looking for the head of household and answered.
"That would be me, sir. What business brings you here?"
"You need to build a house, but do you have money?"
"Sigh... everything burned down, so how could I have any?"
"Hmm... well then, this time the state has decided to lend funds. Do you have a moment?"
At the official's words, the homeowner spread a straw mat in one corner and reached out his hand to the official.
"Oh my! I'd make time even if I didn't have any! Please, have a seat here first!"
After listening to the official's explanation for a while, the homeowner slightly tilted his head and asked.
"I understand what you're saying, but what is this 'grace period'?"
"It means you pay only the interest for your desired period, and then repay the principal after that. So if it's a 3-year grace period and 3-year repayment, you pay only interest for the first 3 years, and for the next 3 years, you repay the principal and interest in installments."
"Aha!"
"The interest rate is only 30 percent per year. You've probably used changni(long-term interest) before, so you'd know that the cheapest interest is 50 percent, isn't it? Yet those who only take that much interest are called Bodal (Bodhisattva lenders). Isn't that right?"
"That's true."
"So, think about it carefully."
"But where do I need to go to borrow the funds?"
"Come to the Ministry of Taxation. Goodbye."
When the official who finished explaining dusted off his seat and stood up, the homeowner quickly rose from his seat.
"No, at least have a cup of cold water before you go."
"It's fine. There are many more houses to visit. Well then, think it over carefully."
The official who finished explaining walked briskly toward the next house.
"Take care!"
The homeowner who saw off the official crouched in one corner of the yard and began calculating.
"So, to build a house I need funds... what I earn in a year is... if the interest is 30 percent..."
The homeowner moved small stones back and forth in one corner of the yard, doing calculations.
* * *
Three days later, the homeowner who had been calculating like that made up his mind and visited the Ministry of Taxation.
"Excuse me... sir..."
The homeowner who had been hesitating in front of the Ministry of Taxation's gate caught an official who happened to be passing by.
"What is the matter?"
The official, who had been crossing the government office gate with a face steeped in fatigue, turned his head at the words that stopped him.
Seeing the appearance of the one who spoke to him, the official made an expression indicating he understood what was going on.
"Did you come about the loan matter?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go inside and keep going right, and you'll find a room."
"Huh? Yes. Thank you."
At the official's explanation, the homeowner bowed deeply in gratitude and crossed the threshold of the Ministry of Taxation.
He found the place in question right away.
The homeowner headed toward where people of similar appearance to himself were gathered and waited for his turn.
After that, things proceeded smoothly.
"Park Sun-bok... a family of five?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you'll need at least three rooms?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then the cost is..."
Having received loan counseling, Park Sun-bok received a sheet of paper and came outside.
"They said to go to the Ministry of Works?"
Park Sun-bok, holding the paper in his hand, made his way to the Ministry of Works.
"Let's see... Park Sun-bok... what year were you born?"
The Ministry of Works official who confirmed the identity with a copy of the household register checked the contents written on the paper.
"Three rooms... the required materials are..."
The Ministry of Works official read out and confirmed the amount of materials needed to build the house for Park Sun-bok.
"...Is that all? Nothing missing?"
"Yes. But do I have to use a tiled roof? That's expensive, isn't it?"
"You want to catch fire again? You want to lose everything in one go again?"
"That won't do!"
"This time cheap tiles have come out, so try using them. If you don't like them after using them, you can earn money later and change them."
"...Yes."
Having confirmed all the material quantities for construction, the Ministry of Works official held out papers to Park Sun-bok.
"Put your fingerprint here."
"Huh? Yes."
At the Ministry of Works official's command, Park Sun-bok dipped his right thumb in ink and diligently pressed his fingerprint.
"Here, take this paper and this paper and keep them safe. One is a receipt with the list of materials, and one is a record of how much you borrowed and when you will repay it."
"Yes."
"The materials are..."
The official, pausing briefly, rummaged through stacked books and continued.
"They will arrive at your house site in four days. Find workers yourself. You can build houses in turns with your neighbors."
"That's right."
"Then that's all. You may go. Next!"
Having come outside the Ministry of Works building, Park Sun-bok just blinked and muttered.
"What kind of... this isn't some goblin trick..."
* * *
As the reconstruction of the damaged areas began in earnest, hands became short. Even though day laborers flocked from other areas of Hanyang, it wasn't enough.
This was because many houses were being built simultaneously and road construction was proceeding at the same time.
Eventually, Sejong gave an order to the military.
"Deploy available troops from the Twelve Divisions guarding the capital!"
"I receive your command!"
Thus, the soldiers who were deployed sweated profusely at the construction site.
Meanwhile, there were commanders watching that scene from one side and exchanging opinions.
"Hmm... His Highness the Crown Prince's proposal doesn't seem to be entirely wrong?"
"That is correct."
They were commanders belonging to the Joseon Army General Headquarters.
While major reforms were being implemented in the Joseon Army, Hyang had proposed the creation of a new branch.
The branch Hyang proposed was the Engineering Corps.
However, most of the commanders had negative reactions to Hyang's proposal.
- There are almost no soldiers who can't swing an axe or hammer, so creating a separate branch is unnecessary.
These commanders' negative reactions changed direction to "It is necessary!" during the process of restoring the great Hanyang fire.
Eventually, after further discussion, the Engineering Corps was created.
'Though the sword rusts, the shovel shines!'
'One step, one shovel!'
'If given a shovel and pickaxe, I shall move mountains and rivers!'
It was the birth of a military branch that created all sorts of rumors and legends.