Jjangra
Hello, Bomb!
24. Gapsin Reform (2)
“And another unusual thing is that there were many merchants looking for paper from our Joseon.”
“Paper from our Joseon?”
“Yes. They said that our Joseon paper is superior in quality to the paper made in Ming, so many people are looking for it. In the Great Country [China, referring to the Ming Dynasty], many people have been looking for it since the previous dynasty, calling it ‘Hae Dong Paper’ or ‘Goryeo Paper.'”
Sejong stroked his beard at the Minister of Taxation’s answer.
“Hmm… It would be good to order the Royal Paper Agency to increase the quantity.”
As soon as Sejong’s words ended, Hyang opened his mouth.
“This subject has a request to make to Your Majesty!”
“Speak.”
“Please abolish the Royal Paper Agency!”
Hyang detonated the bomb that the Minister of Taxation had thrown.
The Royal Paper Agency was abolished. Hyang’s petition froze the Pyeonjeon Hall [the main hall where the king conducted state affairs] in an instant.
This was because Sejong and his ministers did not understand Hyang’s words for a moment.
“Abolish the Royal Paper Agency? In this situation where many people are looking for paper in Ming?”
“It seems inconsistent with what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince usually argues for?”
“It’s an opportunity to gain new profits. Why?”
After a while, Sejong and the ministers all criticized him at once. It was because it was different from Hyang’s usual remarks. However, Hyang was already preparing a rebuttal.
“Abolishing the Royal Paper Agency is consistent with what I have always argued for.”
“Consistent? Explain.”
“Yes.”
Hyang explained to Sejong and the ministers why the Royal Paper Agency should be abolished.
-The Royal Paper Agency currently produces six types of paper. However, there were more types of paper in circulation during the previous dynasty, and the quality was also better.
-What the above means is that the situation is getting worse and worse over time. (Note 1)
-If that happens, merchants from Ming will eventually not want paper, and this will result in the loss of an important market.
“Hmm… I understand what you’re saying, Crown Prince. If the quality of the paper deteriorates as you say, the merchants from Ming will not buy the paper. But! I don’t understand why that is a reason to abolish the Royal Paper Agency. Isn’t the problem of paper quality something that can be solved by supervising the papermakers well?”
Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, interrupted him. Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.
“There is a saying circulating in the market: ‘You can lead a cow to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ No matter how strictly you supervise them, will it work properly when the artisans’ motivation is at rock bottom?”
“The artisans’ motivation is at rock bottom?”
“Yes, Father. You know that I have been going around to government offices where artisans are located, including the Military Arms Agency, right?”
“Of course.”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question.
“And every time, I had a headache because of the things you created, Crown Prince.”
The ministers nodded inadvertently at Sejong’s comment, and Hyang smiled bitterly at the sight.
“I don’t remember creating that many things, but anyway!”
Hyang explained why the artisans belonging to the government were unmotivated.
“The stipends they receive are terrible. The stipends they receive are only enough for their families to barely survive. As a result, many of them are doing side jobs or quitting their jobs.”
“If they quit their jobs, what do they do?”
“Some people lease fields or work as hired laborers, and others go to private workshops. In this situation, will supervision work properly? The amount of work increases and management becomes more difficult, but the stipends they receive do not change, so only those who quit will increase.”
Sejong’s face became serious at Hyang’s words. Meanwhile, the Chief State Councilor [the highest-ranking government official], who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, began to object.
“Those belonging to the Military Arms Agency or other royal workshops receive a stipend corresponding to the rank of Jong 9 Pum [the lowest rank in the Joseon Dynasty’s bureaucratic system]. However, among officials of the same rank, very few resign. This means that the small stipend cannot be an excuse to defend the artisans’ negligence.”
At the Chief State Councilor’s words, Hyang revealed the officials’ shameful secrets.
“Don’t you know that those officials receive a lot from behind? Every day, people come to the Chief State Councilor’s house with gifts, so you must know.”
“That’s just a gift!”
“Who said anything?”
Hyang, who had shut the Chief State Councilor’s mouth, looked at Sejong and continued.
“In this situation, who among the artisans belonging to the royal family and the government will do their best in their assigned tasks? What’s even worse is that they don’t even try to pass on their skills to their children. They say that it’s better to be a tenant farmer than to inherit their skills and starve for the rest of their lives. In this situation, how many of the skills that have been accumulated over the past long years have disappeared? Also, can those who have talent develop because they don’t develop their talent?”
“What the Crown Prince says is right.”
As Sejong agreed, the Chief State Councilor immediately began to refute.
“But what was the reason why King Taejong [the third king of Joseon] created the Royal Paper Agency? Because the paper needed to make paper money was received as tribute, the quality was not uniform, so it was necessary to sort it out again one by one. However, if the Royal Paper Agency is abolished, we will have to experience the evils of King Taejong’s time again. Please be aware of this!”
“Please be aware of this!”
Following the Chief State Councilor’s lead, the ministers’ chorus continued.
“What should we do?”
Sejong, with a troubled expression, glanced at Hyang.
‘This guy! He clearly knows the answer!’
“Sigh~.”
Hyang, who sighed softly, opened his mouth.
“Why do we have to receive tribute?”
“Yes?”
“Have you forgotten the example of Geumpil [a type of high-quality brush]? Write down the exact specifications and quality standards of the paper needed by the government, and then contract with the merchant who offers the lowest price among the merchants who meet those standards.”
“If that happens, the expenses will be…”
“Is paper only needed by the royal family and the government? If there is a guarantee of ‘royal family 납품 [supply/delivery]’ like Geumpil, it will be obvious that it will sell well in the market! The court can collect taxes on the profits they earn and earn several times more revenue than the amount spent.”
“…”
At Hyang’s words, the mouths of the ministers, including the Chief State Councilor, became pursed. This was because there was already a precedent called Geumpil. Hyang went into confirmation killing.
“This time, the merchants from Ming asked for paper, right? If our Joseon merchants can continue to produce high-quality paper through competition, they will be able to make a lot of money in that big market in Ming, and then our court will also be able to secure more revenue.”
Hyang’s words were over, but none of the ministers offered a rebuttal. After a moment of silence, the Minister of Taxation opened his mouth.
“In my opinion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s opinion is extremely reasonable.”
“Minister of Taxation!”
The Chief State Councilor glared at the Minister of Taxation, but the Minister of Taxation continued without paying attention.
“Saving the people, maintaining the organization of the government, maintaining public order, and defending the border all cost money. It has been 30 years since our Joseon was founded, but there has been no clear answer in this area. Rather, the difficulties are increasing year by year, so if there is a way to solve this, why wouldn’t we use it?”
At the Minister of Taxation’s words, the Chief Censor [an official responsible for monitoring and criticizing the king and other officials] shouted.
“Minister of Taxation, please be careful with your words! If all the people realize the Tao [the natural order of the universe] of the sages and become gentlemen, the country will be at peace, and even the Tartars and Japanese pirates on the border will be moved by their virtue and be at peace. Therefore, the duty of the ministers is to first think about how to enlighten the people and make them gentlemen! Your Majesty! What His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has said seems right at first glance, but it is only a stopgap measure to treat the superficial wounds! For true national peace, we must first think about the enlightenment of the people!”
The Minister of Personnel began to refute the Chief Censor’s remarks.
“Your Majesty! The Chief Censor’s words seem right at first glance, but they are nothing more than armchair theory! How can we expect starving people to understand the words of the sages? Enlightenment is important, but ensuring the people have enough to live on is even more important!”
‘Huh? I said that before?’
Muttering inwardly, Hyang watched the debate between the ministers with a fascinating expression.
‘Popcorn! I need popcorn!’
Hyang, who was enjoying watching the ministers’ debate, glanced at Sejong.
Sejong was silent and had a calm expression, but his eyes were smiling.
‘That guy! He’s enjoying it!’
The ministers’ debate was intensifying. The ministers’ arguments were fiercely debated, using real-world situations and passages from the scriptures as examples, and the historians and scribes were busy playing the Geumpil [writing] to record the contents.
“Stop.”
Sejong raised his hand to stop the debate, which was about to cross the line and turn into personal attacks that asked about the well-being of the other party’s parents.
Looking at the ministers who were catching their breath after the fierce debate, Sejong made a conclusion.
“I have heard your opinions well. The enlightenment of the people is certainly an important task and must be accomplished. But! The task of ensuring the people have enough to live on must also be solved. To this end, various measures are needed, so you should investigate this.”
“We will obey your command.”
“And, I think the Crown Prince’s plan is right for the Royal Paper Agency issue. But! I think it is too hasty to abolish the Royal Paper Agency right now, so investigate how to solve this and report it in three days.”
“We will obey your command.”
Sejong, who had given orders to the ministers, turned to Hyang.
“Crown Prince, listen.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I know that you are concerned about enriching the country and comforting the people. This is something that the Crown Prince should naturally do, so I will neither scold nor praise you.”
“Thank you very much.”
Hyang bowed his head at Sejong’s evaluation.
‘It’s a relief that I wasn’t scolded?’
Unlike Hyang’s relief, Sejong’s words continued.
“However, it is certain that there is a big conflict every time your opinion comes out. This is because neither I nor the ministers here know what criteria you use to express your opinion. Therefore, you should explain your political views on state affairs.”
“Yes?”
“Crown Prince, I and the ministers know that you have excellent knowledge and deep thoughts. However, you are still young, so you may believe that wrong ideas are right. It is also my duty as a father to know and correct this in advance.”
“Yes…”
Hyang quietly lowered his head at Sejong’s words.
“Do you need time to prepare?”
At Sejong’s question, Hyang thought for a moment and answered.
“Please give me five days.”
“Do so.”
With Sejong’s decision to have the Crown Prince present his political views in five days, the morning assembly ended.
The ministers who came out of the Pyeonjeon Hall were largely divided into three groups, although they were not visible.
The first group was the three chief state councilors, led by the Chief State Councilor, and those who followed them.
“We must prepare thoroughly for five days.”
“Prepare?”
At the question of the person following him, the Chief State Councilor immediately answered.
“We must review the scriptures as well as the policies so far.”
“He’s only a 9-year-old child, do we have to prepare that much?”
The Chief State Councilor’s face turned fierce in an instant when he heard the question.
“How else can you explain what we’ve been through so far with that 9-year-old?”
“That’s…”
“Huh! Don’t you know who’s behind the Crown Prince! The words may be coming from the Crown Prince’s mouth, but it is reasonable to think that the thoughts are from His Majesty the King. Think about what has happened so far! Has the King ever opposed anything that the Crown Prince insisted on doing?”
“There wasn’t.”
“As you said, the Crown Prince is only nine years old. Of course, I can acknowledge his accumulated knowledge. However, political views are not possible with knowledge alone. You need experience, and only time can answer that. When the Crown Prince first started working, I also thought it was because the Crown Prince was a genius. But, how many times has the Crown Prince worked? No matter how much of a genius he is, that’s impossible. You have to think that the King is behind him to make it possible.”
Everyone around him nodded at the Chief State Councilor’s conclusion.
“Therefore, everyone should prepare thoroughly! How did we build this Joseon! Are we just going to watch the evils of the previous dynasty revive again!”
“I understand, Great Commander.”
* * *
Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture – Royal Paper Agency item
End
ⓒ Gukbbong