Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 349

349. Let’s Make a Playground! (3)

“Is all of that 17,000 gold *nyang* [Joseon Dynasty currency] in gold coin bills?”

“2,000 *nyang* are in gold coin bills, Your Majesty.”

“Two thousand in gold coin bills… Haa~.”

Sejong let out a long sigh.

* * *

From the very first time paper money was printed, gold coins received special treatment. At the exchange, they recorded the identity of the person exchanging and the bill’s serial number before handing over the gold coin bill. When that bill circulated and returned to the exchange, the clerk recorded the identity of the person bringing the gold coin bill and noted the serial number.

Then, only after confirming whether that serial number was stolen or not, would they deposit it into the account or exchange it for silver or copper coins. And this process was the same at the sales agency. Even at the sales agency, when gold coins were presented, they recorded the identity, noted the serial number, and checked for theft.

All of these processes were complex and time-consuming, but the exchanges and sales agencies strictly adhered to the rules.

This was possible because the amount of gold coins issued was absolutely and relatively small compared to other currencies.

In the process of re-challenging the previously failed currency circulation, all those involved were certain that gold coin bills would be used for storage rather than circulation. Therefore, they suppressed the issuance of gold coin bills as much as possible while making the management procedures strict. And this prediction came true.

As economic reforms progressed, the improved economic power of Joseon led to an increase in the circulation of currency. Thanks to the fixed exchange rate of 1:10 between gold and silver, the issuance of gold coins also increased, but as expected, the amount of gold coin bills circulating in the market did not increase significantly.

Thanks to this, when a report came in that a wealthy person’s house had been burglarized, the constables and patrolmen from the police station first checked whether the victim was alive and whether any gold coin bills had been stolen.

If gold coin bills were stolen, the police station in the area immediately informed the local exchange of the situation. The exchange, upon receiving the report from the police station, checked the records to confirm the serial numbers of the gold coin bills issued to the victim and reported them to the central office. The main branch in Hanseong [historical name for Seoul] immediately printed a large quantity of paper with these numbers recorded and distributed them to exchanges and sales agencies throughout Joseon, as well as to exchanges and sales agencies established in Waeguk (Japan) and Shandong [Chinese province with historical trade ties to Korea].

Because of this complex process, Sejong sighed when a whopping 2,000 *nyang* of gold coin bills, nicknamed ‘Once Gone, Never Returned,’ which hardly circulated in the market, were discovered.

* * *

“Minister of Finance, do you think all those caught in this crackdown are all there is?”

Kim Jeom shook his head, his face grim, at Sejong’s question.

“While it’s not exactly a small amount, it is certain that they are not all of them, Your Majesty.”

“I suppose not… Haa~.”

Feeling like he had suddenly been burdened with a huge task, Sejong let out a long sigh.

“How much money and wealth is circulating in the gambling dens… Haa~.”

At Sejong’s lament, the officials fidgeted and bowed their heads.

“This is our negligence, Your Majesty! Please set aside your worries! We will do our best to come up with countermeasures!”

“Please set aside your worries!”

“We will do our best to come up with countermeasures!”

Despite the officials’ responses, Sejong still had a dark look on his face.

“I do not doubt your words, but gambling has deep roots….”

At Sejong’s words, the officials could not immediately open their mouths. Gambling, called ‘the disease that destroys nations,’ was an incurable problem. Saying they would try was easy, but saying they would eradicate it was something they should never say.

As Sejong and the officials faced a huge obstacle and only sighed, Sangseon announced the appearance of Hyang.

“The Crown Prince? Let him in.”

Hyang, who entered Geunjeongjeon [main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], paid his respects to Sejong. Receiving the greeting, Sejong asked Hyang.

“So, what brings you here today?”

At Sejong’s question, which was mixed with a lot of prickliness, Hyang quickly looked around.

‘What is this… Is this the atmosphere of ants about to have a Han River [major river in Korea] gathering? Why?’

“So, what do you want to say?”

Hyang, who came to his senses at Sejong’s question, immediately got to the point.

“Yes, as Joseon’s economy, or rather, governance, improves, the number of people wasting their wealth on gambling is increasing.”

“We are currently pondering that problem to find a solution. We need to divert the wealth going into gambling, the disease that destroys nations, into constructive directions, but it is not easy to find an answer.”

At Sejong’s words, the officials nodded. Hyang took Sejong’s words as his cue.

“Isn’t that because gambling is done in the shadows? So, I want to bring it into the light.”

“Bring it into the light? How?”

As Sejong and the officials’ eyes sparkled with interest, Hyang gestured to the eunuch who had followed him. The eunuch, seeing Hyang’s gesture, hung a painting on a stand.

“Comprehensive Amusement Park?”

Sejong and the officials simultaneously expressed their doubts upon seeing the title written on the cover.

“That’s right. The reason why the people of Joseon are falling into gambling is because there are not many forms of entertainment. When they take a break from their livelihoods, even if they want to enjoy some amusement, there are no suitable things to do. Therefore, most people fall into alcohol and gambling.”

Hyang paused his explanation and turned the page. The next page was filled with tables containing various figures.

“The table at the top shows the amount of alcohol sold over the past three years. As you can see, it has been recording more than double the sales volume compared to the previous year every year. If you consider not only the places that brew alcohol with the permission of the government but also the amount of alcohol brewed privately in homes, this volume will increase even more. Would all of this alcohol have been drunk only by men?”

“That wouldn’t be the case….”

Sejong muttered quietly at Hyang’s question. The women of the inner court also enjoyed alcohol from time to time.

Hyang continued his explanation.

“Next is the sales volume of luxury goods. Luxury goods sold by the royal workshops and other merchants, as well as silk imported from Ming [Chinese dynasty], are also increasing on a massive scale. Fortunately, high-quality cotton cloth of 10 *seung* [unit of weight] or more is being replaced by cotton, but this part cannot be ignored either. If we look at the cause of this situation, it is because there is an abundance of wealth but nothing to enjoy. Because there is nothing to enjoy, they compete in extravagance and squander their wealth on alcohol and gambling. That is why I am advocating for the construction of a comprehensive amusement park.”

After explaining why he had come up with this plan, Hyang turned the page.

The next page contained a bird’s-eye view of a building that combined a coliseum and a large pavilion.

“This is the comprehensive amusement park.”

Hyang pointed to various parts of the bird’s-eye view with a pointer and explained.

“This coliseum can be used for various purposes. From spring to autumn, we will hold *ssireum* (Korean wrestling) competitions and bullfighting competitions according to the seasons.”

“Bullfighting? You mean a bullfight?”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s question.

“That’s right. And by using this competition, the court will recover the funds that would go into gambling dens by running betting.”

Hyang explained about betting using *ssireum* competitions and bullfighting.

-Competitions are organized by dividing participants into weight classes.

-Sufficient wealth is differentially awarded to the top winners as prize money.

-Comprehensive amusement parks are established up to the county level. This is for the national competition that will take place later.

-Those who win in the counties are gathered to hold competitions at the *dohofu* [major administrative division] level, and this method is repeated to hold a national competition in Hanseong once a year.

-In this process, we preside over betting on victory or defeat. The amount of money that can be bet is limited to 1 silver *nyang*.

“The reason for doing this is to have the justification of ‘healthy betting in the light, not gambling in the shadows.’”

“Not bad. Not bad.”

Sejong and the officials nodded repeatedly at Hyang’s explanation.

Seeing the positive reactions of Sejong and the officials, Hyang continued his explanation.

-If facility maintenance costs and amusement taxes are the primary means of absorption from the money bet on the betting board, then a secondary means of absorption is also created.

-The secondary means of absorption is called ‘information paper.’

“Information paper?”

“It is a paper that records information about the participating wrestlers or bulls. It records basic information such as height and weight, as well as their past win-loss records. The start will be simply recording names, heights, and weights, but as the matches accumulate, the win-loss rate will also become important. Those who want to win bets will definitely buy it for money.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words. Kim Jeom, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, muttered quietly.

“You should be in charge of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not Area 51….”

Meanwhile, Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out a problem.

“It’s good, but if we only run betting boards like that, there’s no need to build a building like that, is there?

First, isn’t *ssireum* or bullfighting usually held on sand fields near rivers?

Second, since we can’t hold competitions in the winter, there will be those who will fall back into gambling.

Finally, such betting is mainly done and enjoyed by men. It’s not for women, so wouldn’t its effectiveness be reduced?”

“Those are valid points, Your Majesty.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s criticism.

“This comprehensive amusement park is needed to solve that problem.”

Hyang turned the page. The next page had a new title written on it.

“Regular Events and Competitions Using Talented People (Entertainers, Traveling Troupes) and *Gisaengs* (Female Entertainers)?”

“Yes, let me explain. Looking at the current situation of the talented people….”

Hyang’s explanation was as follows.

-Looking at the current situation of the talented people, each troupe of talented people has a designated area to travel around. Simply put, the troupes of talented people in charge of the northern part of Jeolla Province never go down to the southern part of Jeolla Province or go to Gyeongsang Province or Chungcheong Province.

-Create a government office for these talented people and register all the talented people. Through this government office, the talented people will receive appropriate salaries. At the same time, prohibit women or young boys or girls belonging to the troupe of talented people from prostituting themselves.

-The government office adjusts the size and schedule of the troupes of talented people so that they can perform at the comprehensive amusement park whenever a national market is held.

-At this time, the comprehensive amusement park earns revenue by charging admission fees.

-Once every three years, gather the troupes of talented people from all over the country to compete in their talents. The troupe of talented people who win here will be given prize money and the title of ‘Joseon’s Best Talented People Group.’ Not only the title but also when they perform, the admission fee is charged more expensively, and the stipends paid are also increased.

“Hoo….”

Sejong’s face began to brighten more and more at Hyang’s words. Stroking his beard, Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s plan, opened his mouth.

“The troupes of talented people from all over the country travel around the country without borders and show off their talents…. Anpyeong would be sick to his stomach if he heard that.”

Hyang smiled at Sejong’s joke and lightly bowed his head. It was Anpyeong who had been spending his fortune chasing troupes of talented people around the country.

Seeing that Sejong’s reaction was favorable, Hyang added.

“In order to have these troupes of talented people travel around the country, it is essential to have managers to manage and supervise them.”

“That’s right.”

“And since those who enjoy the performances of the troupes of talented people are mostly ordinary people, the managers can grasp the public sentiment of the people more quickly and accurately.”

“That’s right!”

At Hyang’s additional explanation, Sejong clapped his knees and was delighted.

No matter what anyone said, the thing that the king cared about the most was public sentiment. And if they operated the troupes of talented people like that, they could naturally check the trends of public sentiment.

Of course, reports that grasped public sentiment were coming up through various routes even now, but it was obvious that the more diverse the acquisition routes, the more accurate information could be obtained.