Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 201

201. The Darling of the Ministry of Revenue – Monopoly Agency (1)

Thanks to the manpower support centers established by the Joseon court, the Jurchens’ lives were gradually stabilizing.

Although the income wasn’t high, the steady flow of wealth with each job was a great blessing for the Jurchens.

Unless they belonged to a large tribe, the Jurchens’ lives were even more difficult than those of Joseon farmers. This was why many Jurchens raided the villages of Joseon and Ming citizens.

But now, they had wealth and could go to the Ministry of Revenue’s monopoly agency to buy the necessary goods whenever they wanted.

The Ministry of Revenue’s monopoly agency was the symbol of Gyeongjang [a period of economic reform] and its darling (receiving special love from many people).

* * *

As Gyeongjang progressed, the Ministry of Revenue’s monopoly agency escaped its status as a white elephant [a useless but expensive possession].

Initially, it was just a place for the monopoly of salt and sugar.

Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue officials initially assigned to the monopoly agency were quite dissatisfied.

“To pass the civil service examination after studying to death, only to become a merchant!”

The officials’ dissatisfaction was considerable, but none of them submitted their resignation immediately.

The only goal they had in studying so hard was ‘to enter government service’.

It wasn’t long before the officials who had been grumbling after being assigned to the monopoly agency began to celebrate.

They were entrusted with a tremendous amount of work, not just selling salt and sugar.

– Copy the land registers and household registers of the nearby hyeon [county], as well as the gun [district], which is the lowest-level area where the monopoly agency is located.

– Make two copies, one for the monopoly agency and the other to be sent to Hanseong [old name for Seoul, the capital].

The Ministry of Revenue officials at the monopoly agency, upon seeing the order from Hanseong, wore expressions that suggested the task was manageable.

“It’s been a while since I’ve used a brush.”

“The amount is quite large, but this much is easy.”

The officials at the monopoly agency consulted with the officials at the monopoly agencies in neighboring guns to adjust the number of hyeons they would be responsible for and immediately began work.

The amount of work was considerable, but the two Ministry of Revenue officials assigned to each monopoly agency were able to proceed quickly. The reason they were able to proceed so quickly was that the monopoly agency was only open one day every five days, on market days.

However, the amount of work coming down from Hanseong continued to increase.

– Investigate the number of slaves owned by the landlords in each gun and hyeon.

– Investigate and record how much barley is harvested in the spring and rice in the fall.

In particular, by the fourth year of Gyeongjang, the amount of harvest had to be recorded and reported to Hanseong, comparing the increase or decrease from the previous year and also recording the increase or decrease in the average amount.

This was an impossible amount of work for the two officials assigned to each monopoly agency.

Thanks to this, the number of Ministry of Revenue officials assigned to the monopoly agency had increased to four by the latter half of Gyeongjang.

However, the work continued to increase. As the establishment of Joseon branches was being prepared and the circulation of currency was being prepared, there were no signs of the workload decreasing.

In addition, the number of products handled by the monopoly agency was gradually increasing. Some items were added by the court, but many were added due to complaints from the people.

The items added by the court were small in volume and high in price, such as spices.

The items added by the people were mainly those that were difficult to obtain in remote mountain areas.

For example, in places like Gangwon-do [mountainous province in Korea], there were quite a few people who needed paper.

“You’re asking for paper?”

“Yes. The place where we live is so remote that even peddlers don’t come. So we don’t even have paper to put on our doors.”

“So you came all this way (about 12km)? Over that mountain?”

“Yes.”

The Ministry of Revenue official, seeing the expressions on the people’s faces, looked embarrassed, but on the other hand, he understood their feelings.

Many places in Joseon, including Gangwon-do, were like this. There were more than a few places where the roads were so rough that even peddlers didn’t go.

Of course, in guns of a certain size, peddlers came often with the opening of the five-day market, but the probability of getting the necessary items when they were needed was not very high.

That’s why the people flocked to the Ministry of Revenue’s monopoly agency. They still had to go to the gun, but the monopoly agency was a place where goods always came in regularly.

In the end, the Ministry of Revenue official had no choice but to grant the people’s request.

“Alright. I’ll try to get it for you. But it will take at least a month. Is that okay?”

“Yes!”

“Is there anything else you need besides paper?”

As this kind of purchasing agency became more frequent, it was put on the agenda in the court.

In the end, the court decided to increase the types of goods handled by the monopoly agency.

“Simply increasing the items would be a great waste. Accurately identify the items that are essential but difficult to obtain in each region.”

The ministers bowed in unison at Sejong’s command.

“That is a truly wise command! We shall obey the command!”

Thanks to this, the work of the officials assigned to the monopoly agency increased again.

As things progressed in this way, the types of goods handled by the monopoly agency began to increase rapidly.

“This… I wonder if we should call it Joseon Mart instead of a monopoly agency soon?”

Hyang even said this to himself after receiving the report.

* * *

Although the items sold at the monopoly agency became diverse, the common items sold were salt, sugar, and medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs were sold as much as salt and sugar.

* * *

The people in remote areas treated their illnesses through folk remedies passed down through generations. There were quite a few effective remedies, but there were even more that were not.

Therefore, Sejong summoned the royal physicians and gave them an order.

“There are many people who suffer great harm because they do not have proper prescriptions, even though the diseases can be easily treated! Use your knowledge to create an answer to this!”

“We obey the command!”

It was the king’s solemn order, so they answered immediately, but the royal physicians wore troubled expressions.

“What the people can easily take is to boil it down and drink it as medicine, but prescribing medicine recklessly is a taboo among taboos, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. It is essential to examine the patient’s condition through questioning and pulse diagnosis….”

The royal physicians were unexpectedly meticulous.

But they couldn’t help it, because most of the people they treated as patients were members of the royal family or high-ranking officials. Even a small mistake could result in exile, or even the loss of their heads. Therefore, they had no choice but to be meticulous.

“I can’t help it. Let’s go see the Crown Prince!”

“That would be the right thing to do!”

Hyang, who had listened to the royal physicians’ complaints, immediately asked a question.

“I have read quite a few medical books myself. As far as I know, the medical books list not only the ingredients but also the amounts to be added, right?”

“That is the approximate amount. To make proper medicine, you must accurately grasp the patient’s condition and adjust the amount of ingredients to make the medicine.”

“The medicine we need now is emergency medicine. It’s not a cure, but a medicine to stabilize the condition, so it seems that we can adjust the amount based on medical books and experience.”

“However….”

“When a major disease broke out in the past and you went out to treat it, didn’t you boil medicine in large quantities unless the patient was very serious? Think of it as the same situation.”

“Ah!”

The royal physicians, who had grasped the point at Hyang’s words, brightened their faces and bowed in unison.

“Thanks to Your Highness, we have found the answer! Thank you so much!”

“Thank you!”

When the royal physicians expressed their gratitude, Hyang waved his hand as if it were nothing.

“The royal physicians are excellent, so the work was easy.”

Hyang, who had sent the royal physicians away, wore an ambiguous expression.

“First aid… I feel like I can grasp something, but….”

Hyang, frowning as if chasing something that only showed its tail slightly in the fog, suddenly snapped his fingers.

“That’s right! Opium!”

Hyang hurriedly got up from his seat and looked for a eunuch.

“Eunuch! I’m going to see Father! It’s urgent, so prepare immediately!”

“Yes? Yes!”

* * *

Hyang, who had visited Geunjeongjeon [main hall in Gyeongbok Palace], immediately told Sejong what he needed.

“Prohibit the cultivation of poppies (Papaver somniferum)? Why?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“You know that many people get sap from poppies and use it as first aid.”

“I know. I’ve heard that it’s used quite usefully.”

“However, if you take too much of this poppy sap, you will fall into hallucinations and become addicted. Once you become addicted, you will look for more and more poppies, and if you can’t get them, you will use violence and commit crimes to get them.”

“What’s the basis?”

“It is commonly pointed out in various medical books.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong looked back at the ministers. Thanks to the fact that reading medical books (醫書) was also a hobby of the Sadaebu [scholar-officials], like Sanhak (算學) [mathematics], quite a few ministers nodded.

Hyang, who had confirmed the ministers’ reactions, continued.

“There are many medical centers throughout Joseon, and medicinal herbs will be sold through the monopoly agency this time. Therefore, please prohibit ordinary people from growing poppies and appoint separate people to cultivate only the amount to be supplied to doctors.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong looked back at the ministers.

“What do you think?”

The ministers, who had been calculating in their heads at Sejong’s question, answered in unison.

“I think it’s reasonable.”

When there was no opposition from the ministers, Sejong immediately came to a conclusion.

“Then let’s do that. Now that the people can easily obtain medicinal herbs, it would be right to prevent them from being close to dangerous things like poppies.”

As a result, an order was issued throughout Joseon prohibiting the cultivation of poppies.

However, there were always those with a contrary streak, so there were those who secretly manufactured and distributed poppies. Therefore, the hide-and-seek between drug organizations and enforcers continued throughout Joseon’s history.

* * *

However, in this process, the fire spread to an unnecessary place, and it spread to Sejong.

“Addiction is truly scary. There is a reason why there are words like ‘too much is as bad as too little’ and ‘excessive courtesy is impolite’.”

“That is correct.”

While the ministers were responding in unison to Sejong’s words, Hyang’s gaze turned elsewhere.

Hyang’s gaze was directed at the sugar jar placed under the shrine, where the Sangseon [attendant] was.

“Father, the sugar jar over there seems to have gotten bigger than before?”

“Ah… I’ve been drinking tea often these days….”

“Father, as I told you before, if you eat too much sugar, you will get diabetes, and if that happens….”

“There’s nothing wrong yet! I know that much!”

Sejong cut him off, but Hyang continued, staring at a certain part of Sejong.

“Really? The rate at which my younger siblings are being born these days….”

“You son of a b*tch, get out!”

Sejong, who had chased Hyang out, ordered Sangseon.

“Change it to a smaller jar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong’s eyes narrowed at Sangseon’s bright voice.

“Why are you so happy?”

“I was worried too….”

“Ugh… Change it right away.”

With a groan, Sejong waved his hand.

* * *

As the Ministry of Revenue sold medicinal herbs, the people visited the monopoly agency more and more.

Of course, there was a standard for selling medicinal herbs at the monopoly agency, which was only in places where there were no doctors within 5 li (about 2km) [unit of distance].

However, there were countless such places. Being able to obtain medicinal herbs from the monopoly agency was a great joy for the people.

“I can finally live a little easier!”

“I know, right. Now, small illnesses will be less likely to become big illnesses!”

“This is all thanks to the grace of the King!”

“Yes! A wise ruler has appeared! A wise ruler!”

Praise for Sejong overflowed throughout Joseon, and the people’s approval rating soared.