Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 41

Jjangra

Hello Bomb

41. Laughing and Crying at Fangirling (6)

Hyang, returning to Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], began explaining to Sejong and the ministers.

-Just like the monopoly on salt, the state must also monopolize sugar and pepper.

-In the case of sugar, the need for a monopoly is even stronger because sugar is highly addictive.

-If left to private merchants, sugar is most likely to lead to monopolies or cartels. No, monopolies or cartels will definitely occur. This is because sugar does not come from our Joseon.

-If monopolies or cartels occur, all of this will fall on the people’s shoulders. And the people’s resentment will be directed at the court and the king.

-However, if the state monopolizes it, it can fill the national treasury with reasonable profits and stabilize prices.

Listening to Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Personnel asked a question.

“If there is such a risk, wouldn’t it be better not to import it at all? After all, we have managed well without sugar until now. If it’s sweetness you want, we already have jocheong [grain syrup] and honey, don’t we?”

To the Minister of Personnel’s question, Hyang instead asked a question.

“Honey is hard to obtain, and jocheong… is that even possible when we don’t even have enough rice and barley to eat for meals right now?”

“… I see.”

At Hyang’s retort, the Minister of Personnel had to back down.

In reality, 2kg of white rice was needed to obtain 1kg of jocheong. Yeot [Korean taffy] required even more grains than jocheong.

Hyang, who didn’t even know this fact in the 21st century, learned about it at the market.

Having received Sejong’s permission, Hyang went to see the market and started bargaining with a yeot vendor. However, Hyang was shocked by the price of yeot.

“Hey, the price of yeot is more expensive than I thought?”

Although he was wearing a dopo [scholar’s robe] and a gat [traditional Korean hat], the still young Hyang argued about the price, and the yeot vendor smiled and replied.

“Aigo! Young master, you don’t seem to know the market price yet! Do you know how much barley or rice it takes to make this yeot?”

And the yeot vendor explained the process of making yeot to Hyang in detail. Hyang nodded after listening to the yeot vendor’s explanation.

“I see. I understand. Then give me some of this gaengyeot [hard taffy].”

“Yes~.”

As Hyang, who had settled the bill, disappeared, the yeot vendor tilted his head.

“He’s a young master I’ve never seen before, is there a nobleman who has recently moved to Hanseong [old name for Seoul]?”

* * *

Sejong and the ministers discussed Hyang’s explanation.

“Certainly, if we bring in sugar, we can replace jocheong and yeot, thus reducing the waste of rice and barley.”

“I disagree. Sugar is not a product of our Joseon, so our Joseon’s wealth will flow out to foreign countries. However, jocheong and yeot are made from precious rice and barley, but they come from our land. This can prevent wealth from going out.”

“I disagree with that opinion. Even now, those who can afford sugar can get it. However, compared to the purchase price of the sugar that the Crown Prince obtained, they have to buy and eat it at least dozens of times more expensively. Moreover, since it is a prohibited import, they will surely offer bribes each time they cross the border, which will lead to corruption. It would be better for the country to monopolize it, which would reduce corruption and stabilize prices.”

The ministers, divided into pros and cons, engaged in a fierce debate. Those who opposed argued, ‘Why import it with money when there are substitutes?’ and those who supported argued, ‘Either way, the rich are getting it and eating it. It’s more profitable to bring it in openly!’

As the arguments of both sides were evenly matched, Hyang asked a question.

“Has anyone here ever tasted sugar?”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers’ gazes scattered here and there.

“I had it once before…”

“Once when I passed the civil service examination…”

“I am sorry, but I have never had it…”

Hyang was surprised by the ministers’ answers.

‘These big shots!’

Thinking so, Hyang turned to Sejong and realized.

‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten sugar since entering the palace!’

Neither when Chungnyeong [Sejong’s name before becoming king] was a Grand Prince nor after entering the palace had Hyang tasted the unique sweetness of sugar.

Realizing the fact, Hyang muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Our Joseon is truly remote…”

“Ahem!”

“Humph!”

The ministers and Sejong, who heard Hyang’s mutterings, coughed, blushing.

“Ahem! Crown Prince, our Joseon is frugal, not remote.”

Sejong stepped forward to speak, but Hyang’s face was full of disbelief. At that sight, Sejong exclaimed.

“You rascal! Believe me, just a little!”

“Your Majesty, what His Majesty said is correct.”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

As soon as Sejong’s words fell, the ministers supported Sejong’s words in unison. At that sight, Hyang replied in a nonchalant voice.

“Let’s just say that’s the case.”

“You rascal!”

“Your Majesty, I believe in your words. Anyway, I have a request for Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Now that sugar has come in, how about distributing it as a reward to the ministers and those working in the palace?”

“Distribute it as a reward?”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle. Hyang, who glanced at the eyes of the ministers, scribes, recorders, and eunuchs, which were as bright as the eyes of children looking at a father who bought chicken, explained the reason.

“They are working hard to take care of the national affairs and the palace with all their heart and soul. It would be good to acknowledge their hard work and share it even a little.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who was contemplating for a moment at Hyang’s words, nodded.

“That’s right. Then how would you like to distribute it?”

“How about dividing it from 1 doe [1.8L] to 1 hop [0.18L] according to rank?”

Sejong, who was calculating for a moment at Hyang’s words, nodded.

“That’s appropriate. The Minister of Taxation should do so.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

As soon as the Minister of Taxation’s lead chant ended, not only the ministers but also the eunuchs shouted in unison.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

That day, as work ended, not only the ministers but also the eunuchs, palace maids, and soldiers guarding the palace received sugar as a reward.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

“Your Majesty, long live!”

“Long live!”

Everyone who received sugar shouted words of gratitude and long live. The eunuchs, palace maids, and soldiers of the East Palace bowed their heads and thanked Hyang whenever they saw him.

“Your Highness, thank you for giving us precious sugar!”

“Thank you!”

“That’s enough. Make your families happy with it.”

* * *

As Hyang said, the heads of households who received sugar returned home with their shoulders full of strength.

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s sugar.”

“Oh my! How did you get this precious thing?”

“His Majesty bestowed it upon me for doing a good job!”

“Oh my! What a gracious thing! I wondered why I wanted to take a bath today!”

“Uh… I’m a little tired today…”

While each household that received sugar was having their own enjoyable time, Hyang was talking with Sejong. As an aside, this late-night conversation, which had become almost a daily routine, had become the last barrier for the scribes to overcome.

“Aren’t you wasting that precious sugar by giving it away like that?”

“It’s not a waste. It was a necessary thing for the monopoly of sugar.”

“A necessary thing?”

Sejong, who was pondering Hyang’s words, glared at Hyang.

“You scary guy! Was it bait?”

Hyang replied with a smile to Sejong’s words.

* * *

Whether the loss leader worked or not, before long, the ministers agreed to the monopoly of sugar.

“Then, allow the import of sugar as soon as the Joseon Pavilion under construction in Shandong is completed. Don’t forget to finish the establishment of the Monopoly Bureau before that.”

“I will obey your command!”

In the midst of tirelessly handling state affairs, the vacant positions were filled. Lee Jik as the Chief State Councilor, and the famous Maeng Saseong and Hwang Hee rose to the positions of Second State Councilor and Third State Councilor. Unlike the original history, the two were appointed as state councilors about two years earlier.

Hyang muttered to himself when he heard the news.

“Is Sejong’s Avengers finally appearing?”

At the place where the newly appointed officials were greeting, Sejong gave a warning to the ministers.

“You know well why the former owners of those positions had to step down. Keep that in mind and devote yourselves to state affairs to make this Joseon prosper.”

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”

Meanwhile, Hyang was in a new dilemma.

“I’ve been wondering since before. Does our King Sejong have a small talent pool, or are talents rare in this era?”

After much thought, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“No matter how I look at it, our King Sejong’s talent pool is too narrow. Even if you look at the concubines…”

Hyang’s conclusion was based on evidence. And that evidence was Sejong’s concubines. For example.

-Shinbin Kim: Born as a female servant of Naejasi [Office of Palace Supplies], she was a palace maid of Queen Soheon and received Seungeun [the king’s favor].

-Hyebin Yang: Born as the nanny of Hyang, who was sickly as a child. She received Seungeun while taking care of Hyang.

Other concubines also became concubines by receiving Seungeun through similar paths. Seeing this path, Hyang tilted his head and muttered.

“Is this because he got attracted to them as he saw them often, or did he pick them according to his taste and then parachute them in?”

As a result of continuing observation, Hyang came to a new conclusion.

“Whether it’s the concubines or the personnel affairs… this guy was a lazy person!”

In Hyang’s view, if King Sejong was in the 21st century, he would have been perfect as a ‘recluse’ or a ‘professional lazy person’.

While his grandfather Taejo Lee Seong-gye, his father Lee Bang-won, and his other brothers liked intense sports such as polo or hunting, the sport that Sejong liked the most was Gyeokbang, that is, golf.

“Golf is quite a workout, but it can’t be compared to polo or hunting.”

What Sejong liked the most was reading and contemplation, especially policy research for the future of Joseon.

In addition, the personnel process of Joseon was quite exhausting.

“You! Become my State Councilor!”

“Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!”

The above situation never happened.

When a position became vacant due to various reasons such as senility, illness, or purges like the one that had occurred this time, the king ordered his subjects as follows.

“Recommend suitable people for the position.”

“I will obey your command!”

In this way, when suitable candidates were selected, the gwan-gwan [officials in charge of remonstration] stuck to them. The gwan-gwan of the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors thoroughly investigated the candidates’ work records and the evaluations of those around them, and submitted the results to the king.

“This guy can’t do it because of this, and that guy can’t do it because of that…”

Such a process was exhausting not only for the candidates but also for the king.

“In the end, is this why our King Sejong rolled Hwang Hee to the bone because he was annoyed by this?”

Hyang tilted his head. In actual history, Hwang Hee was famous as a great statesman, but he was also famous as the protagonist of all kinds of scandals. Naturally, the gwan-gwan’s impeachment continued, but Sejong never let go of Hwang Hee until the end.

In the end, Hyang came to the following conclusion.

-Sejong insisted on Hwang Hee not only because of Hwang Hee’s competence, but also because he was annoyed by the personnel selection process that he would have had to go through after dismissing Hwang Hee!

* * *

After Hyang brought in a large amount of sugar, mass consumption of sugar continued in the palace. Starting with Sejong, sugar began to be added to the tea that the royal family drank or served, and sugar began to be used as a sweetener in food.

In particular, the ‘sweet and salty’ food, which became ‘sweet and salty’ as sugar was added to the food that was only salty, stimulated Sejong’s taste buds. Hyang, who had anticipated this, ordered that almost no sugar be added to Sejong’s sura [royal cuisine], but Sejong enjoyed sugar through various routes.

“Did this guy forget the word moderation!”

Seeing Sejong’s love for sugar, Hyang rolled up his sleeves again.

“Your Majesty. I heard that you have been eating a lot of sugar lately.”

“I don’t think I’ve eaten that much? I’m just adding a little to my tea.”

‘What about the garaetteok [rice cake] and sugar bowl next to the teacup!’

“Hoo~.”

Hyang, who took a deep breath, began to push back on Sejong.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong