Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 88

Jjangra

Hello, Night.

88. Autumn (1)

Under Hyang’s direction, the road paving progressed smoothly.

Sejong, along with Hyang, ascended the gate tower of Gwanghwamun and admired the road stretching out before them.

“Oh ho! Steel and concrete… Ah, you called it ‘Hoejuk’ [a modern term for concrete], didn’t you?”

“Yes, Father.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s reply.

Before his eyes lay a bright, gray road stretching from Gwanghwamun to Namdaemun.

The main road, slightly bent to block the direct fire energy [a concept in Feng Shui] of Gwanaksan Mountain, stretched north and south with a width of 50 kan (approximately 100 meters) [a ‘kan’ is a traditional Korean unit of measurement, roughly the space between two columns in a building].

“It’s truly refreshing!”

Sejong, admiring the road stretching coolly to the south, turned his head to look at Unjong Street.

The road, overlapping with the main road to Namdaemun and bisecting Hanseong [old name for Seoul] from east to west with a width of 30 kan (approximately 50 meters), also stretched out smoothly.

“Is it all finished now?”

Hyang shook his head at Sejong’s question.

“About 60% is complete.”

“60%, you say?”

“There’s still the finishing work on the paving, and we need to complete the drainage and sidewalk maintenance on both sides of the road.”

“Is that so?”

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong descended the gate tower and exited Gwanghwamun.

“Make way! Clear the path! The Sanggamama [a respectful title for a high-ranking official, in this case, referring to the King] is passing!”

Those working on the construction at the intersection moved to the sides and prostrated themselves on the ground.

“Continue with your work.”

At Sejong’s command, the workers who had prostrated themselves all rose and resumed their tasks.

“Your, Your Highness…”

“Hm?”

Seeing the hesitant official approach, Hyang turned to Sejong.

“Father, I need to check something briefly; may I leave my post for a moment?”

“Do so.”

“Thank you for your grace.”

Hyang bowed to Sejong and moved to the side with the official.

Sejong, watching Hyang directing the situation with the officials and supervisors while looking at the map, turned to the ministers who had come with him with a satisfied expression.

“Doesn’t he seem much more mature?”

The Chief State Councilor immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“He has always been composed, but now he certainly seems like a true man.”

“Do you think so too, Minister?”

Sejong was constantly looking at Hyang with a pleased face.

Perhaps due to his family lineage, Hyang grew quickly. Now, nearing twelve years old, Hyang was a head taller than other children his age.

It wasn’t just his height. Hyang had also become accustomed to using informal speech when dealing with officials and artisans.

However, Hyang had his own complaints.

“I sleep at least eight hours every day and eat well! Grow faster, please!”

Hyang was impatient because his younger siblings were growing taller day by day.

Before the rainy season began, the road construction bisecting Hanseong from east to west and north to south was completed.

Thanks to the dark gray color from the black lead mixed with burnt lime, and the white edges filled with lime, the roads were easily visible even at night.

Walking on the firmly stretched road, the people of Hanseong exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s truly amazing, isn’t it?”

“Right? Right?”

“Did the Crown Prince do this?”

“That’s right!”

“Wow! The Crown Prince is still young, but how does he know about such amazing things?”

“He’s definitely from a different stock…”

The residents of Hanseong were exclaiming in admiration as they looked at the newly paved roads.

The people, who had praised the newly built roads, began to praise Sejong and the Crown Prince beyond mere wonder as the rainy season began.

No matter how much it rained, the newly paved roads never turned into mud.

Although water pooled in some places, most of the roads drained rainwater through the drainage ditches built on either side.

The sidewalks built next to the roads were the same. The sidewalks, paved with sand and concrete blocks, only got wet in the rain but did not turn into mud.

Thanks to this, the people of Hanyang no longer had to walk with difficulty, covered in mud, even when it rained.

“Let’s go see the new roads of Hanseong!”

“Let’s go!”

‘The newly paved roads in Hanyang are said to be amazing!’

Due to the rumors spread by merchants and peddlers, many people from cities and villages in the provinces flocked to Hanyang to see them.

Of course, it wasn’t ordinary farmers tied to their fields, but those who were relatively well-off.

As people flocked to see the new roads, a new type of business was born in Hanseong.

It was a tavern that combined dining and lodging.

Of course, there were already inns and taverns, but cheaper lodging options were emerging.

Hyang, listening to the report to Sejong from the side, had to hold back his laughter.

‘In the 21st century, my father said that people flocked to see the 63 Building [a famous skyscraper in Seoul] when he was young, right?’

Sejong, who received the report, also smiled.

“It’s understandable that they’re amazed. I was the same when I first saw it… However, when many people gather, bad elements who target them tend to gather as well. Make thorough preparations for this.”

“I will obey your command!”

* * *

‘Hanseong New Road Tourism’ reached its peak after the autumn harvest.

This was because farmers who had finished harvesting and had free time participated in the tourism boom.

And those who went on the tour and returned began to pester the magistrates and nobles of their towns.

“Let’s build roads like that too!”

“Wow! It was really great!”

In particular, these petitions were strong in the capitals of each province – Jeonju, Gyeongju, Yeongheung, and Pyongyang.

“What’s wrong with our capital? Are we lacking in history? Are we lacking in people?”

The local leaders of the respective regions began to jointly submit appeals to Sejong.

Due to the petitions coming from all over the country, Sejong summoned Hyang and the ministers.

“What should we do about this?”

At Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee stepped forward on behalf of the ministers.

“The intention is good, but the method is not appropriate. Looking at the New Road construction in Hanseong this time, 1/3 of the construction period was spent waiting for iron from Anju. If we grant these petitions in this situation, there will be problems with the supply of materials.”

“That’s true…”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hee’s point and looked at Hyang.

At the unspoken question, Hyang immediately began to answer.

“In the current situation, State Councilor Hwang’s point is accurate. Anju is currently researching and applying ways to increase production. However, if we divert the iron needed by the people to road construction, the people will suffer. The same goes for quicklime. The amount produced in District 51 is insufficient. Building a factory dedicated to production is the first priority.”

“In that case, the budget is the problem… Is it fortunate that silver and gold mines have been developed?”

Sejong muttered with a frustrated expression.

* * *

The most important thing in the progress of the reforms was securing finances.

The prospectors dispatched to the country by Sejong’s order brought information about the mines one after another. Based on that information, Sejong and the ministers first selected the mines to be mined.

The most important criterion in the selection was ‘places that are difficult for Ming [Chinese dynasty] to detect.’

For that reason, although it was confirmed that large amounts of gold and silver were buried in Unsan Gold Mine, etc., places that overlapped with the travel routes of envoys from Ming were excluded for the time being.

“Let’s mine this place later when we become stronger.”

“I will obey your command!”

The order was given, but the expressions of both Sejong, who gave the order, and the ministers, who received the order, were not very good.

“The country is weak, so even easy tasks have to be done with difficulty.”

At Sejong’s lament, the ministers prostrated themselves all at once.

“Please forgive our incompetence!”

“Please kill us!”

* * *

In the process, mines in the Gangwon-do area began to be mined first.

The exception was the Gahaksan Gold Mine in Goengmaegol (present-day Gwangmyeong City) in Siheung County.

“We need to have a mine nearby to use in case we urgently need funds.”

It was Sejong’s decision in preparation for an emergency.

While secretly mining and storing gold and silver, Sejong also expanded trade with Japan.

“Figure out what the Japanese like besides Buddhist scriptures!”

As a result of the officials and merchants of Dongnae moving according to Sejong’s orders, Sejong, who knew that pottery was the next most sought-after item after Buddhist scriptures, turned the Gwan-yo of Gwangju into a state-run enterprise called ‘Joseon Pottery Corporation.’

Afterwards, the Ministry of Taxation, under Sejong’s orders, held consultations with the merchants of Dongnae.

‘We will give priority, but we will not give exclusive rights.’

The merchants of Dongnae wanted a monopoly, but Sejong’s will was so firm that they had to accept it.

* * *

Afterwards, the Waegwans [Japanese trading posts] installed in Sampo – Busanpo, Naeipo, and Yeompo – were consolidated into a single location in Busanpo. This was to prevent too many Japanese from entering Joseon and engaging in rampant smuggling.

Sejong, who wielded the whip, also offered a carrot. He greatly increased the quantity and types of goods that Japanese merchants arriving in Busanpo could trade.

The biggest beneficiaries of this situation were Ouchi and the Kyushu Military Commissioner.

Joseon preferentially issued trade permits to the two regions that had been on good terms with Joseon from the beginning.

In addition, Ouchi and the Kyushu Military Commissioner’s positions were strengthened by allowing them to build large buildings in Busanpo.

As a result, Tsushima Island became desperate. Lord Todo Ungwa of Tsushima Island had to rush to Hanyang himself and prostrate himself before Sejong.

“Since the last conquest, you have promised loyalty, but there is no evidence that you have kept it properly! How long must I keep watching your people!”

“Please forgive my disloyalty!”

After Todo Ungwa’s earnest plea, Tsushima Island was barely able to maintain its trade volume.

* * *

The trading complex created in Busanpo was booming with trade with Japan.

Although Ming had established a trading port in Shandong, Japanese merchants preferred Busan.

The Ming navy was stationed in Shandong on a large scale, but their main mission was to protect the sea lanes between Ming and Joseon and to defend the southeastern coast of Ming.

Therefore, Japanese merchants preferred Busan to the dangerous Shandong.

In Busan, Japanese merchants mainly imported Joseon’s Buddhist scriptures and tea sets, and paid with silver.

And the silver that came in as taxes was piled up in the government’s warehouses.

Based on the finances accumulated through these processes, Sejong was promoting reform policies.

Although there was an unexpected large-scale expenditure to restore the great fire in Hanseong this time, it did not cause problems in implementing the reforms.

Although the officials of the Ministry of Taxation had to give up a humane life.

* * *

Sejong warned the ministers.

“The fact that we cannot grant the people’s earnest wishes means that our capabilities, including mine, are still insufficient. Keep this in mind and try a little harder.”

“We will engrave it in our bones!”

They answered forcefully, but the ministers looked like they were about to die.

‘Just kill me! Kill me!’

‘How much harder do you want us to try here!’

Sejong, who had said a word to the ministers, turned to Hyang.

“Crown Prince, why is the performance of the Anju Ironworks sluggish?”

“New facilities were introduced in the process of repeatedly expanding the scale, and it is because we are in the process of applying them. Normal operation will be possible before the end of this year.”

“It would be really nice if that were the case. I am once again realizing the preciousness of iron these days.”

“I understand your concern.”

The Anju National Ironworks was receiving Sejong’s full expectations.

The ironworks that Kim Deok-soo created by hiring his colleagues as well as people from the neighborhood, produced large quantities of Siusoe (wrought iron) and Gangsoe (steel) after going through various trials and errors.

The Ministry of Taxation, which calculated the production volume of the Anju Ironworks, immediately reported to Sejong.

“A single national ironworks can supply the Siusoe and Gangsoe that our government needed every year.”

“Is that so? However, since the demand for iron is constantly increasing, starting with the military, order the ironworks to find ways to increase production.”

“I will obey your command!”

Deok-soo, who received the order, immediately ran to Hanseong and pleaded with Hyang.

“To increase production, we need to increase the size of the kiln or build a new one, but the problem is people!”

“People?”

To put Deok-soo’s explanation simply, if production was to be doubled, at least four times more manpower would be needed.

“The most manpower is needed for the bellows operators. They have to keep pumping the bellows, and that’s not an easy task!”

Hyang immediately answered at Deok-soo’s groaning.

“Is that so? I’ll find an answer as soon as possible.”

What Hyang, who took on the problem, found was a centrifugal blower that greatly enlarged the centrifugal pump installed in the water barrier.

“It’s not manpower, but motive power, so if you use it well, it will be a great help.”

The centrifugal pumps made by Hyang were hurriedly moved to the Anju Ironworks.

Along with the officials who arrived with the blower, Deok-soo newly built large kilns and entered trial production.

And all the substandard iron produced during those trials and errors was moved to District 51.

“Isn’t it a waste? Let’s find a place to use it.”

While looking for ways to recycle the defective iron, a fire broke out in Hanseong, and all the iron was made into reinforcing bars and used for road construction.