Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 136

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

136. Fishing (1)

After burning incense and traveling back and forth between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Area 51, Malbok pulled his rickshaw toward the trading house where he used to work.

Dling-aling~

“Look at that! Look at that!”

The little children, seeing the rickshaw running while cheerfully ringing the small bell hanging in place of a horn, followed behind with eyes full of curiosity.

“Elder! It’s Malbok!”

Arriving at the trading house where he used to work, Malbok looked for the head merchant. The head merchant came out and, seeing the rickshaw, asked Malbok,

“Did the Crown Prince make that for you?”

At the head merchant’s question, Malbok nodded his head vigorously.

“Yes, Elder!”

“I see…”

Listening to Malbok’s answer and examining the rickshaw, the head merchant turned to look at Malbok.

“Do you carry people in this?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm…”

The head merchant continued to examine the rickshaw while asking Malbok questions.

“This back seat is wobbly?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince said he intentionally made it that way.”

“Really?”

At Malbok’s answer, the head merchant bent down to examine the part where the wheels were.

Two curved iron plates, about 0.8cm thick and as wide as two fingers, were located above the wheel axles, and those iron plates were connected to the seat.

“Why did he make it like this?”

Suppressing his curiosity and examining the rickshaw, the head merchant discovered the covering around the back of the chair.

“Is this for when it rains?”

“Yes!”

Malbok excitedly unfolded the covering attached to the rickshaw.

“He said that if you unfold this covering and lower the curtains, customers won’t get wet even when it rains or snows!”

“I see, really!”

At Malbok’s explanation, the head merchant genuinely exclaimed in admiration.

“How did he think of this?”

There was not a single useless part; the explanation was simple and clear, and the head merchant repeatedly exclaimed in admiration.

After admiring the rickshaw for a while, the head merchant turned to look at Malbok.

“Did you make your first sale?”

At the head merchant’s question, Malbok rummaged through his sleeve and showed a small silver ingot.

“The Crown Prince was the first to ride it!”

“Really? It’s a shame I couldn’t give you your first sale, but give me a ride too.”

“Yes!”

Malbok answered energetically and took out the stepping board that was stuck behind the rickshaw and lowered it.

“Please get on, Elder.”

“Alright.”

* * *

“This is really good!”

The head merchant, who took a ride around the neighborhood in the rickshaw pulled by Malbok, admired it once again.

“You don’t have to learn how to ride it like a horse or donkey, and it doesn’t shake as much as a palanquin [a covered litter carried on poles], so it’s truly an exquisite vehicle! The Crown Prince knows so much and makes so many mysterious things; it’s all true!”

“Hehehet!”

At the head merchant’s praise, Malbok was happy as if he himself had been praised.

The head merchant, looking at Malbok and the rickshaw, asked Malbok the most important question.

“So, how much did you set the fare at?”

“Ah, that! The Crown Prince told me to ask you, Head Merchant! He said you would know the answer! Ah! He also told me to definitely convey this message! ‘If it’s you, judging by your conduct that I’ve heard through Malbok, you’ll be able to give a good answer!'”

At Malbok’s words, the head merchant gave a bitter smile.

“His Highness has given me a truly difficult task. Anyway, since he gave me a task, I have to come up with an answer… Let’s see… Hmm…”

The head merchant, with his arms crossed and calculating in his head, said to Malbok,

“In my opinion, when traveling inside half of Hanseong [old name for Seoul], centered around Gyeongbokgung Palace, two *hops* of white rice or one *doe* of beans would be appropriate, and if going near the Four Great Gates, four *hops* of white rice or two *doe* of beans would be suitable.” [Units of measurement]

At the head merchant’s answer, Malbok immediately bowed his head.

“Thank you very much! I will accept that!”

“And, to add one more thing, when you start working in earnest, go to Bukchon before sunrise.”

At the head merchant’s words, Malbok tilted his head.

“Bukchon, you say?”

“Yes. No matter how you look at it, it’s difficult for ordinary commoners to ride. However, it seems quite useful for those who live in Bukchon and go to the palace for their duties, and their families.”

After thinking for a moment at the head merchant’s explanation, Malbok once again bowed deeply.

“Thank you very much! Head Merchant! Thank you very much! I will also tell the Crown Prince!”

“Tell His Highness why?”

Malbok told the head merchant the condition that Hyang had set. Hearing Malbok’s story, the head merchant was once again impressed.

“He is truly a thoughtful person! For such a person to be the Crown Prince is a great blessing for this Joseon [historical Korean kingdom]!”

“That’s right!”

Before they knew it, the conversation between the head merchant and Malbok was almost over. The head merchant lightly patted Malbok on the shoulder and encouraged him.

“Live diligently. You have to make your grandmother, who has suffered because of you, live comfortably.”

“Yes! Head Merchant!”

“Then I’ll go in.”

“Please go in!”

The head merchant, who finished talking with Malbok and turned around, saw the people who had gathered from the store and the surrounding area.

Seeing the envy in the eyes of the men who were the same age as Malbok or a little older, the head merchant stroked his beard.

“Hmm…”

After pausing for a moment and thinking about this and that, the head merchant soon called Malbok.

“Malbok!”

“Yes, Elder!”

“Come here early tomorrow morning… No! Let’s go somewhere with me now!”

“Yes?”

“Wait a moment!”

The head merchant went inside the store, quickly put on a *gat* [traditional Korean hat], came out, and got into the rickshaw.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Malbok, who started the rickshaw, asked the head merchant.

“Where shall I take you?”

“To Area 51!”

“Yes?”

“Hurry up! There’s no time!”

The head merchant urged Malbok and muttered to himself.

“I can’t be the only one who thought of this…”

* * *

“Let’s stop here for today.”

Hyang added as he finished the meeting on the things going on in Area 51.

“If we do a little more, we can deliver good news to Father. So let’s try a little harder.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After finishing the meeting and organizing the documents, as Hyang was preparing to return to Gyeongbokgung Palace, a eunuch came in and reported.

“Your Highness. Malbok and Head Merchant Im, who is in charge of Malbok, are requesting to see Your Highness.”

“Head Merchant Im?”

Hearing the eunuch’s report, Hyang stroked his chin.

‘Did he already move? That’s fast?’

After thinking for a moment, Hyang ordered the eunuch.

“Let them in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Even after the eunuch left, Hyang unconsciously stroked his chin and muttered.

“Is my beard already growing? Should I make a razor? While I’m at it, skin… Ack! I’m falling into Sampocheon [a state of wandering aimlessly] again. Damn it!”

Hyang was rebuking himself for flowing to irrelevant places along the stream of consciousness if he wasn’t careful.

After a while, the eunuch reported.

“Your Highness~. Head Merchant Im and Malbok are here to see you.”

“Let them in.”

“Yes.”

Shortly after, the head merchant, who entered Hyang’s office, gave a big bow to Hyang.

“The lowly merchant Im greets Your Highness.”

“Nice to meet you. Malbok, I’m seeing you again so soon?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please sit on that chair.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

As the head merchant sat on the chair that Hyang recommended, Hyang examined the head merchant’s attire.

“Are you from a *Banga* family?” [Wealthy family]

“Yes.”

“Did you take the civil service examination?”

“Yes. I passed the *Sowa*.” [lower level civil service exam]

At the words ‘Sowa passer,’ curiosity appeared in Hyang’s eyes.

“You passed the Sowa, but why did you devote yourself to commerce?”

At Hyang’s question, the head merchant answered carefully.

“My origin is Uiju…”

“Ah…”

At the head merchant’s answer, Hyang unconsciously trailed off. The person in front of him was a victim of ‘Northwestern Discrimination.’

“Still, from this year on, people from the Northwest will not be prevented from entering government service, so tell those among your relatives who have the will to try.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s words, the head merchant bowed his head and expressed his gratitude.

“So… What did you want to see me about?”

“Please sell the rickshaws!”

“The rickshaws? Why?”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled as he asked the head merchant a question.

‘I can tell what kind of person he is!’

Whether he knew Hyang’s heart or not, the head merchant explained the reason in a calm voice.

“The rickshaw that Your Highness made is a truly useful tool. However, with only one, it is just a rare spectacle. If you can operate at least twenty or more, it can become a new means of livelihood for the people.”

“Pass!”

“Yes?”

At Hyang’s sudden shout, the head merchant asked with a bewildered expression, and Hyang hurriedly sorted out the situation.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I think the head merchant’s opinion is good. However, it’s not something I can allow as I please.”

“If so…”

At Hyang’s words, a slight disappointment flashed across the head merchant’s face. Seeing the head merchant’s face, Hyang added.

“To carry out what you said, you need Father’s approval. However, it’s difficult to get approval with just what you said now. Can you write a proper plan by this time tomorrow?”

“I can!”

At the head merchant’s answer, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“Come to Gyeongbokgung Palace with the plan by this time tomorrow. But!”

Hyang gave a warning to the head merchant.

“If you’re late, I won’t accept even a good plan on my own. Do you know why?”

“Of course! Because trust is the most important thing in business!”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. You may go.”

“Yes! I will definitely go to Gyeongbokgung Palace tomorrow!”

Hyang, who sent Malbok and the head merchant out, burst into a chuckle.

“Hah! Is the taxi appearing before the bus?”

* * *

Hyang, who returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace, immediately went to see Sejong and told him about the head merchant’s work.

“Hmm… Do you think the head merchant’s plan is likely to succeed?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, stroking his beard and considering this and that, turned to look at the ministers.

“I think it’s a good thing that the means of livelihood that can make the people live a little more fully are increasing, what do you think?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom immediately answered.

“It’s a welcome thing! It’s a good thing that can prevent the people’s hunger because it can give the people more kinds of jobs!”

Starting with Kim Jeom, the ministers expressed their approval.

As the ministers supported him, Sejong turned to look at Hyang.

“You told him to come to Gyeongbokgung Palace tomorrow?”

“Yes, Father.”

“What kind of person did he seem to be?”

“He seemed to have a lot of use.”

At Hyang’s answer, the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle.

The ministers had been suffering from Sejong and Hyang for several years already. Thanks to that, they became skilled at grasping the inner meaning from conversations that seemed like catching clouds.

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong concluded with a curious expression.

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to see him in person tomorrow.”

* * *

“I am Im, who came by the order of the Crown Prince.”

“Wait.”

The head merchant, who arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace the next day, told the gatekeeper. Not long after, led by a eunuch who ran out from inside, the head merchant was dragged into Geunjeongjeon Hall [main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

“Are you Im so-and-so?”

“Yes. The lowly merchant Im greets Your Majesty!”

The head merchant, who immediately faced Sejong, answered while sweating and lying flat on the ground.

“So. What is your name?”

“I am called Sun-wook!”

“Im Sun-wook, a good name. So, did you complete what the Crown Prince ordered?”

“Yes!”

Sun-wook, who answered energetically, rummaged through his sleeve and took out a scroll.

Sejong, who received the scroll through the court lady, read the contents written on the scroll carefully.

“Hmm… Hooh…. Huh?”

Sejong, who showed various reactions while reading the sentences, asked Sun-wook.

“Transportation for residents who are not wealthy? What is this?”

“Yes. I heard that among the horses that came from the West some time ago, there are horses whose size and strength are incomparable. It is to make a large carriage pulled by those horses and have the people use it while moving along a certain route.”

“There was a similar story in the court as well. Using the postal station.”

“That is to move a long distance, and what I wrote is to move inside Hanseong or the city.”

“Only moves inside Hanseong? Is there a need?”

At Sejong’s question, Sun-wook explained the reason.

“It is slow for people to walk on two feet. Because of this, many people get a house near their workplace. However, in the usual case, most of them rent a house, which is a big burden. However, if there is a way to reduce that time, even if it is a little far, people can reduce the burden of rent.”

“I see…. That’s good. Let the ministers see this scroll.”

Sejong, who nodded his head, handed the scroll to the court lady.

While the ministers who received the scroll through the court lady were reading the contents, Sejong asked Sun-wook a question.

“You passed the civil service examination in the past?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When did you take it?”

“20 years ago.”

“Really? What was your score?”

“I received a score of *Eul-gwa* (4th to 10th place) in the *Boksi*.” [Civil service exam rankings]

At Sun-wook’s answer, the ministers stopped reading the scroll and fixed their eyes on Sun-wook. The ministers’ eyes were full of greed.

“Hooh? You were a talented person. Ministers, listen. I think the plan that Im Sun-wook raised is worth implementing.”

“That is correct!”

“Crown Prince, listen.”

“Yes.”

“Coordinate Sun-wook’s plan with the Minister of Taxation.”

“I obey the order.”

As Hyang bowed his head, Kim Jeom shouted in a loud voice.

“Thank you for your grace!”