Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 396

396. Small Changes (8)

The next day, Cha Jin-sa visited the vault again.

“What brings you here, Jin-sa?”

“Can I see those lists again?”

“Certainly, but why?”

“Just let me see them.”

All day long, Cha Jin-sa stayed in the vault, meticulously going through the lists.

“Ah, would you like some tea?”

“Ah! Yes, please.”

This wasn’t happening only in Naju. All over Joseon [the historical Korean kingdom], those who had decided to invest were coming to the vault every day, taking their seats and poring over the lists.

This was partly to increase their wealth, but it was also a new form of entertainment that satisfied their vanity.

“How could I, a person of my status, engage in lowly commerce? Investing is more fitting for someone like me.”

Sitting in the situation room, reading information sheets about newly established companies, and enjoying the respectful treatment from the vault staff who brought tea and refreshments became their daily routine.

As the number of people camping out like this increased, vaults across Joseon had to print large quantities of the 5-day reports, *Sunbo* [a type of official gazette], and monthly reports. And the vault’s situation room became a social gathering place for local notables.

This wasn’t limited to men. Because of the strict separation of the sexes, women gathered in nearby tea houses (茶樓), and people relayed information from the situation room to the tea houses every two *gaks* (각, approximately 30 minutes).

The women who gathered in the tea houses soon formed small communities called tea gatherings (茶會). Of course, there was a hierarchy within based on asset size, but it was still a community of women from families known as local notables. Almost every tea house near the vault had one of these tea gatherings, and they soon began to engage in subtle competition with each other.

And these tea gatherings became something that women from families with slightly less economic power desperately wanted to join.

However, even the women who joined these tea gatherings were not satisfied. Their ultimate goal was to join tea gatherings in larger cities, and eventually the famous tea gatherings in Hanseong [old name for Seoul], Gaeseong [a city near the border of North and South Korea], and Dongnae [part of modern-day Busan].

The tea gatherings in these three cities, even the smallest ones, were circulating more money as capital than the largest tea gatherings in most local cities.

And among these three cities, the most prominent was Hanseong.

Hanseong was able to surpass Gaeseong, symbolized by the Song merchants with their long history of commercial experience, and Dongnae, which had accumulated capital through the *Waegwan* (倭館) [Japanese trading post], because of ‘Area 51’.

Being able to see the new devices and technologies being created in Area 51 before anyone else was an advantage. Being able to gauge whether these would go to the royal workshops or be released to the public was an absolute strength.

* * *

The fact that these tea gatherings were formed and women could engage in public activities was due to women being able to enter government service.

With Neo-Confucianism as the state ideology, Joseon strictly applied the rules of inner and outer separation (內外法) [strict gender roles and separation of spheres].

This strict application began to loosen little by little as women advanced as teachers in the Samin schools.

Of course, there were various criticisms at first. However, most of the female teachers in the Samin schools were women who had received awards from the country as filial daughters or virtuous women, so such criticism became criticism for the sake of criticism.

In addition, they did not leave the school from the start of classes in the morning until the end of classes at dusk, so there was no way to find fault.

And as women officially entered government service, women were able to travel freely in broad daylight.

Depending on the department, they had to work outside, but there were not enough people to keep women inside just because they were women.

“I finally got promoted, am I supposed to go out and roll around [work in the field]? And who will do my work while I’m out there? Are you telling me not to go home?”

“And if only female officials (*Yeori* (女吏) – a newly coined term for female officials, as the term female officer (女官) referred to ranked women working in the palace) are allowed to walk around in broad daylight, there will be a lot of gossip, right?”

Due to these practical reasons, the application of the rules of inner and outer separation was avoided regarding travel. Thanks to this, women, regardless of their status, were able to travel freely.

As women advanced into government service, another positive change occurred.

The practice of *Myeonshinrye* (免新禮) [a welcoming ceremony for new officials, often involving excessive demands] completely disappeared.

*Myeonshinrye* was not just about new officials treating their colleagues to a meal as a way of asking for their support, but it was rife with all sorts of bizarre harassment.

Since the reign of King Woo of Goryeo [a Korean dynasty], when it was publicly recorded to eradicate these evil practices of *Myeonshinrye*, attempts to eradicate it had continued. Moreover, Sejong [a famous Joseon king] would throw anyone caught into the records office, but *Myeonshinrye* still stubbornly persisted.

However, doing such things to women would not be simple harassment but a crime. With more than 70% of the newly appointed *Yeori* being children of the *Banga* (班家) [aristocratic] families, doing such things would make one a serious criminal.

Thanks to this, *Myeonshinrye* disappeared.

* * *

‘Gather small amounts of money to create large capital.’

‘Divide large sums of money and invest in many.’

After some time, the vault’s operating methods began to show positive results.

Those who had been rejected by the startup screening department prepared more thoroughly to seize the opportunity given to them once again.

As their preparation became more thorough, the probability of startup success gradually increased. As those who succeeded in starting businesses and increasing their wealth emerged, more people began to prepare for startups following their example.

As this happened, the passive Joseon society gradually became more active.

The local *Hyangban* (鄕班) [local gentry] also began to change little by little. While some still relied only on the land they owned, more and more people became aware of the concept of ‘capital investment’ and actively moved their wealth.

Those who had enjoyed investing through this method jumped into the financial market more actively. As investment through the ‘Adventure Capital Vault’ was limited, they began to look for new investment opportunities.

And as these people with capital moved actively, existing merchant groups also began to change.

They began to increase the size of their merchant groups by receiving an infusion of external capital.

* * *

The ‘Parkga Merchant Group’ of Jemulpo [old name for Incheon].

“Hmm…. At this rate, the profits will gradually decrease….”

The *Dobang* (都房) [chief clerk], *Daehaengsu* (大行首) [chief manager], and captains who had gathered for the evaluation of Park Sang-wook, the head of the merchant group and *Daebang* (大房) [head merchant], nodded.

“The Shandong route is too competitive.”

“It’s not just the Shandong route. The Tsushima and Kyushu routes are just as competitive.”

Listening to the words of the captains and *Dobang*, Park Sang-wook’s expression worsened.

“The conclusion is always the same, that we need to go further….”

“The Ryukyu Kingdom (流球國, present-day Okinawa) is the most reasonable.”

“The problem is that the merchants of Honam [region in Korea] have already established trade lines.”

“There are rumors that competition is fierce even among the merchants of Honam because the Ryukyu Kingdom is small.”

As they searched for a solution based on all sorts of rumors and facts, they eventually reached one conclusion.

“In the end, we have to go further.”

“We need to go to Siam (暹羅) [Thailand], Dai Viet (大越) [Vietnam], or Melaka [city in Malaysia].”

“The further we go, the greater the profits. We need to go all the way to India (天竺) [ancient term for India].”

When one of the captains mentioned India, jeers erupted from the surroundings.

“Why? Why don’t we just go to Alexandria? Isn’t Alexandria where the most profits are made?”

“Say something that makes sense….”

The captain who had first brought up the idea retorted at the surrounding rebukes.

“Why doesn’t it make sense!”

“We need a ship to go there! A ship!”

“To get there, we need a *Daeseon* (대선, large ship) that the navy uses! The biggest ship our merchant group has now is a dinghy compared to the navy’s *Daeseon*!”

Faced with the continued rebuttal, the captain who had spoken first retorted without backing down.

“If the ship is small, why don’t we just build a big ship!”

“Where are we going to get such a big ship made? Only the country can do it! Are you going to go to the King and demand that he build us a ship?”

“Why can’t we? There’s the example of the rickshaw!”

“Are rickshaws and ships the same?”

“What’s different!”

“Say something that makes sense!”

As voices rose among the people, Park Sang-wook shouted.

“Quiet! Quiet!”

At Park Sang-wook’s roar, the shouting subsided. As the commotion subsided, Park Sang-wook opened his mouth.

“I think I’ll have to go to Hanseong. Contact the Ministry of Finance.”

At Park Sang-wook’s words, the *Dobang* looked at Park Sang-wook with surprised faces.

“Are you going to buy a *Daeseon*?”

“Aren’t we in a desperate situation right now anyway? We have to do everything we can.”

“That’s true….”

As the *Dobang* understood, Park Sang-wook added.

“But before we go, we need to check everything in advance. Find out as much as possible where we can cut the price.”

* * *

A month later, Park Sang-wook visited the Ministry of Finance building in Hanseong.

“This is my fifth visit….”

Park Sang-wook’s voice, muttering softly, was full of desperation.

As Park Sang-wook said, this was his fifth visit to the Ministry of Finance.

“This is not something I can handle at my level. I will notify you, so please come back in a few days.”

With these words, Park Sang-wook had to keep visiting the Ministry of Finance. And each time he visited again, he had to talk to someone higher up.

“Again, this is not something I can handle….”

“Hmm…. I’ve reviewed it, but it’s hard for me to say yes or no.”

“There are many opinions, so it has been decided to make a decision at a higher level. Come back later when we call you.”

“Follow me.”

Guided by the official, Park Sang-wook arrived at Kim Jeom’s office.

* * *

Seeing Kim Jeom’s face, Park Sang-wook bowed 90 degrees and greeted him.

“I am Park, who runs the Parkga Merchant Group. I am honored to meet you, *Daegam* (대감, a high-ranking official).”

“Sit there.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Jeom, who had offered him a seat, sat across from Park Sang-wook and opened the related report.

“Hmm…. Let’s see….”

After examining the report, Kim Jeom asked Park Sang-wook a question.

“So…. You want to get a *Daeseon* used by the navy?”

“Yes.”

“Why a *Daeseon*?”

At Kim Jeom’s question, Park Sang-wook explained the reason in detail.

After listening to Park Sang-wook’s explanation, Kim Jeom soon rummaged through several types of reports to confirm the contents and nodded.

“Hmm… indeed…. So, what the head of the merchant group wants is a Challenger-class warship.”

“Does Challenger-class *Daeseon* mean the biggest *Daeseon*?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes, that would be the best.”

At Park Sang-wook’s answer, Kim Jeom immediately got to the point.

“Do you know how much it costs to build one of those ships?”

“I heard it costs 100,000 gold….”

“These days, it’s 68,000 gold coins. The production cost has decreased slightly as we have been able to obtain large quantities of high-quality timber. And if cannons are added, it’s about 110,000 *nyang* (냥) [Korean currency], would that be possible?”

“110,000….”

“In gold, too.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook continued with a pale face.

“What my merchant group wants is not a warship but a merchant ship. There is no need to load cannons. Please deduct that part.”

“How will you ensure safety without armaments?”

“We can move with the regular service to Alexandria.”

“Hitching a ride? Hmm….”

As Kim Jeom trailed off, Park Sang-wook spoke more desperately.

“The ship I want is a merchant ship. It is more profitable to load more cargo in the space where cannons would be placed. Of course, it doesn’t look good to hitch a ride with the navy, but as a merchant pursuing profit, I have no choice.”

“I understand, but His Majesty the King will not easily allow it.”

“Then, please allow us to load the minimum amount and have the navy take full charge of operating the cannons instead. After all, by national law, only soldiers can handle cannons, right?”

“That’s good!”

Kim Jeom showed a positive reaction to Park Sang-wook’s suggestion.

Kim Jeom, who wrote something on the paper next to him, said to Park Sang-wook.

“I will contact you again soon. I will try to get a good answer.”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Park Sang-wook jumped up from his seat and bowed.

“Thank you so much!”