Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 40

Hello Night

40. Laughing and Crying Over My Obsession (5)

Hyang considered it a white elephant because of a lecture given by a Chinese history professor she had in college.

The professor, whose major was Ming and Qing history, explained Zheng He’s voyages this way:

“Why did Emperor Yongle send Zheng He on his great voyages? To know that, you must first understand how Emperor Yongle seized power. As you all know, Emperor Yongle seized power through the Jingnan Rebellion. Like most leaders who seize power through a coup, Emperor Yongle needed achievements to boast about to the people. So, he chose the Mongol expeditions and Zheng He’s voyages.”

“But why weren’t Zheng He’s voyages, called the greatest adventure of the 15th century, repeated afterward? If you think about it, the famous Age of Discovery could have started in Asia, not Europe.”

“This is because the Ming Dynasty’s foreign trade was based on tribute, not commerce. There was no significant profit to be made from traveling to distant lands. Conversely, there was no real benefit from receiving envoys.”

“Considering the funds spent on Zheng He’s voyages, tribute trade couldn’t cover it. Each voyage required rewards, repairs for damaged ships, and replacements for sunken ones. That’s no small expense.”

“And what was important to Emperor Yongle were the exotic items Zheng He brought back. It was important to show off his majesty through these wondrous goods. In the end, the voyages themselves weren’t the point.”

“That’s why the officials destroyed the records after Emperor Yongle’s death. They feared a new emperor might see the records and waste money again.”

“…That’s why the Ming officials must have seen it as a white elephant.”

Sejong and his ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“That’s certainly true.”

“Indeed. Voyages cost a tremendous amount of wealth. To conduct such voyages on both land and sea simultaneously…”

When Sejong said, ‘voyages on land,’ he was referring to the Mongol expeditions.

After Emperor Yongle took the throne, there were four expeditions, and rumors of another one being planned this year were circulating.

Upon learning the reason why the original document, not a copy, had arrived, the Minister of Rites spoke up.

“If even a great power like Ming is struggling enough to destroy records, shouldn’t we also refrain from doing it?”

As some ministers nodded at the Minister of Rites’ question, Hyang stepped forward.

“Ming and we are different. Ming trades in the form of tribute and gifts, but we must operate through mutual trade.”

“Mutual trade?”

“Simply put, commerce.”

Hyang explained in more detail.

“Initially, diplomatic envoys will move, but later, merchants will be at the center.”

“Since the merchants’ commerce is central, it will be a trade where we exchange goods that the other country needs and goods that we need. It’s not tribute trade like Ming.”

“What is the role of the court here?”

“1) Providing transportation, protecting merchants, and collecting fees and taxes in the process.”

“2) Stabilizing prices through the exclusive sale of goods essential to the people’s lives.”

The Minister of Finance tilted his head and interjected at Hyang’s explanation.

“Goods essential to the people’s lives? Would such things exist abroad? We already produce most of what we need in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom]. Or, even if we don’t produce them, we are used to living without them, so would they really be useful?”

Hyang retorted at the Minister of Finance’s words.

“Minister, do you not know what pepper is?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s question, not only the Minister of Finance but all the ministers finally understood.

Pepper, brought by Arab merchants during the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean kingdom, 918-1392], was a top-grade spice. Garlic and ginger were used to mask the smell of meat, but pepper, even in small quantities, was a powerful spice that could completely change the flavor of a dish. And it was just as expensive.

Thanks to this, most commoners who didn’t have money had to eat Sichuan pepper instead.

The Minister of Finance nodded at Hyang’s explanation but continued to ask questions.

“I understand using pepper as an example, but do we really need to import such goods? If we’re not careful, the people will spend their wealth to buy such goods, and the nation’s wealth will be at risk of draining away.”

“There is such a risk. However, when people have more disposable income, they will naturally seek better things to eat and wear. But if we recklessly block it because wealth is draining away, smuggling will increase. Due to the risks involved in smuggling, the people will pay even more for these goods, creating a vicious cycle that further increases prices. No, it would be fortunate if only a vicious cycle of rising prices occurred. They will bribe officials to hide the smuggling. That’s the famous ‘frog price’ [bribes]. What do you think will happen then? Corruption will become rampant.”

“I see.”

The Minister of Finance nodded at Hyang’s explanation. Before official merchant guilds were involved in embassies, much of the trade with foreign countries was smuggling. Sejong, who had been listening to the story, nodded and joined the conversation.

“Frog price… I understand it well.”

Hyang bowed his head at Sejong’s praise.

“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful.”

The ‘frog price’ was a Chinese folktale associated with the Goryeo Dynasty scholar Yi Gyu-bo.

“A rail and an oriole argued over whose voice was more beautiful. Unable to reach a conclusion, they asked a stork in the neighborhood to judge. The stork, who was tasked with the judgment, asked for three days. During those three days, the rail secretly offered frogs to the stork without the oriole’s knowledge. In the end, the stork sided with the rail, and this is where the term ‘wa-iryoo (蛙餌料)’ [frog price] came from.”

Ironically, Sejong and his ministers knew about it from old records, but Hyang learned about it from his Korean language teacher in high school in the 21st century.

“There’s something you guys sometimes get confused about. First of all, ‘wa-iro’ [bribe] and ‘saba-saba’ [ambiguous term, often implying smoothing things over], at first glance, it seems like wa-iro is a Japanese word and saba-saba is a Korean word, right? Actually, it’s the opposite.”

Hyang, emboldened by Sejong’s praise, continued.

“I repeat, when our Joseon becomes prosperous, the lives of the people will also become prosperous. When life becomes prosperous, no matter how frugal you are, it is human nature to gradually seek better and more delicious things. Do you agree?”

“We agree.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s question.

“So, first of all, we must exclusively sell food, which is the most immediately affected.”

“Now I understand.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s words. Seeing this, Hyang asked the Minister of Finance.

“Did what I asked you to get instead of reducing the number of books in this embassy come in?”

The Minister of Finance, who was flipping through a book listing items, replied.

“It has arrived. It’s those 20 crates in the back.”

“Really! More than I expected!”

At the Minister of Finance’s answer, Hyang beamed and ran towards the crates in question. Hyang opened the lid of the crate and smiled brightly.

“As expected!”

Sejong and the ministers, unable to overcome their curiosity at Hyang’s delight, approached.

“What is it?”

Hyang smiled and replied to Sejong’s question.

“It’s sugar!”

“Sugar!”

* * *

Hyang grumbled quietly as he examined the list of books that the envoy had obtained and brought back.

“The amount of books they’re bringing back is decreasing? As expected, I can’t get new books from Ming at this time.”

As the number of books that the envoys brought back decreased, Hyang began to worry.

“What should I ask them to bring back?”

Hyang’s eyes fell on a plate of yakgwa [Korean honey cookie]. Looking at the plate, Hyang snapped his fingers.

“That’s it!”

“Your Highness? Is something the matter?”

“Nothing!”

Hyang, who had answered the eunuch standing outside the door, grumbled in a small voice.

“This is just… no privacy. No privacy…”

The fact that Hyang chose sugar was largely due to Teacher Samcheonpo.

“Sugar was a very precious food ingredient not only in Goryeo but also in the Joseon Dynasty. If you look at the Annals [historical records], you can see how closed off Joseon was. When Queen Soheon, King Munjong’s mother, fell ill, she wanted to eat sugar but couldn’t get it. Thanks to this, Munjong later offered sugar at his mother’s shrine and wept bitterly… During the reign of King Jungjong, an envoy came from Ming and offered sugar to Jungjong, saying, ‘In our country, it’s a cheap food that you can buy in the market, but in Joseon, it’s a precious item offered at ancestral rites, so I’m sending it like this.’ He said it politely, but didn’t you get the feeling of, ‘Here you go! You country bumpkins! This is sugar!'”

* * *

Making sugar from sugarcane had been practiced in India since before Christ. This technology was transferred to China during the Tang Dynasty, and mass production of sugar began during the Song Dynasty. Mass production of sugar began with the large-scale cultivation of sugarcane in the Jiangnan region. Later, with the use of waterways, including the Grand Canal, sugar became common enough in Ming Dynasty China that ordinary people could add sugar to their tea; in other words, it was supplied at a low price.

“I’m getting annoyed?”

Hyang felt annoyed as he recalled Teacher Samcheonpo’s words.

“The conclusion is sugar! Chili peppers are still far off, and thanks to that, even if the bright red, fiery hot taste is later, sweet and salty is possible now! Salty only is no longer acceptable!”

* * *

“Sugar, this expensive thing…”

“Crown Prince, even if you are the Crown Prince, such extravagance…”

The ministers and Sejong, who heard that all the items in the enormous number of crates – 20 – were sugar, all glared at Hyang and spoke up. However, Hyang smiled and asked the Minister of Finance.

“Minister, the purchase cost is written in the item list, right?”

“Yes.”

“How much is it?”

“Uh… let’s see… sugar… sugar… uh? 20 taels of silver?”

“What is the total weight of the sugar purchased for 20 taels of silver?”

“…200 kwan (800kg) [approximately 1764 lbs].”

Sejong and the ministers couldn’t close their gaping mouths at the Minister of Finance’s answer. To obtain 200 kwan of sugar in the Joseon market would require paying an enormous sum. No, it was impossible for the royal family to obtain 200 kwan of sugar at once.

But the Crown Prince had done it. At a bargain price of only 20 taels of silver.

Of course, 20 taels of silver was by no means a small amount of money. However, considering 200 kwan of sugar, it was an incredible bargain.

“That’s… that’s all sugar, and you got it for only 20 taels of silver?”

“Yes, Father.”

“200 kwan… that’s an enormous amount.”

“They are gold bars.”

“Gold bars? That’s right. It’s an expensive item in our Joseon, if not in Ming.”

“Not that, that sugar will play a big role as an item to be exclusively sold by the court along with salt. We can greatly fill the national treasury with that sugar. Very certainly.”

Sejong and the ministers perked up their ears at Hyang’s words.

Hyang, seeing the reactions of Sejong and the ministers, first organized the situation.

“It would be a very long explanation to give here at this moment. How about we organize this place first?”

“That’s right!”

Sejong hurriedly gave orders, eager to hear Hyang’s explanation.

“The scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies] will take these records and immediately organize them! Organize the locations, routes, climates, customs, habits, and specialties of the countries Zheng He passed through in a clear and concise manner without missing a single detail! And store those sugar crates carefully in the warehouse!”

“We obey your command!”

“Now then, Crown Prince! Let’s go inside quickly!”

“Yes, Father!”

Sejong grabbed Hyang’s hand and headed towards Geunjeongjeon [main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], followed by the ministers at a rapid pace.

In the place where Sejong and the ministers had disappeared like the wind, only the scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon and those who would carry the luggage remained.

“How many volumes is this?”

At the Jiphyeonjeon scholar’s mutterings, a Hojo [Ministry of Revenue] official searched through the books and answered.

“A total of 360 volumes.”

“Three hundred…”

The Jiphyeonjeon scholar, with a look of dismay, gestured to the porters.

“Move the crates containing the books to the Jiphyeonjeon.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the crates containing the books began to be moved, the Hojo official also ordered the porters.

“Move all these crates to the warehouse!”

“Yes, sir!”

End

ⓒ Gukbbong