Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 8

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb.

8. Sprouting… Cancer? (1)

October 27th, 1421, Year 3 of Sejong’s reign. Yi Hyang [personal name], was officially appointed as the Crown Prince. He was finally recognized as the official successor, moving up from the position of Heir Apparent.

Though no one else knew, Hyang clenched his fist and rejoiced alone that night after the investiture ceremony.

“Finally, the time has come!”

* * *

“Let’s see… what policies has our King implemented so far…”

Hyang, with his arms crossed, sat contemplating the policies Sejong had implemented, setting aside the scriptures spread out on his desk.

“In the first year of his reign, there was the scandal of Kang Sang-in, which caused quite a stir, but other than a partial cabinet reshuffle, not much else happened…”

After that, Sejong steadily carried out his policies.

He provided tax exemptions for farmers starving in Gangwon Province, met directly with local officials dispatched to the regions, expanded the Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Worthies) [a royal research institute], and included the Four Books (Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean) in the civil service examination for military officers. Following that, there was the conquest of Tsushima Island.

Among Sejong’s policies, what caught Hyang’s attention was related to salt.

While rejecting the salt makers’ request to lower the salt tax, he implemented a policy to expand public salt production.

“Salt monopoly… it’s certainly profitable.”

As much as Sejong was interested in stabilizing the people’s livelihoods, he also focused on enriching the nation and strengthening the military. The most important thing in enriching the nation and strengthening the military was securing the budget. The salt monopoly was for securing this budget.

To solve the national budget problem, Sejong sent a letter to Ming China. The content of the letter was to exclude gold and silver vessels from the tribute items.

However, Hyang did not give it a very good evaluation.

“Excluding gold and silver products from the tribute items is good, but the problem is that we are still being exploited by the envoys. How should I address this…”

Besides this, there were many things that Hyang thought were problematic. But what bothered him most were the land issue and the smuggling issue.

“If the land ownership restriction law is a problem due to the opposition from large landowners and ministers, then the tax system must be changed. And smuggling… we need to change this perception of despising not only trade but also commerce itself…”

Hyang, who was thinking about various other minor improvements and solutions, sighed deeply.

“I can come up with several solutions, but the biggest constraint is one thing… the Joseon government has no money. No, it has no gold.”

The ultimate solution Hyang thought of was ‘gold.’

-To most effectively improve the land system and taxation system, currency circulation is essential. But currency circulation has consistently failed. Sejong will try again soon, but if history is any indication, it will fail.

-But the reason why currency circulation continues to fail is that the government has not guaranteed the existence of currency as a new means of accumulating wealth.

-The means of accumulating wealth for the wealthy, such as local landlords and high-ranking officials, are mostly goods such as grains and cotton. But grains and cotton have a short lifespan. Therefore, the wealthy convert the wealth they have acquired into gold and silver to preserve it for a long time.

-To absorb the wealth accumulated by the wealthy in this way, a taxation policy and land policy that is almost radical is needed.

-However, implementing such radical policies will provoke opposition from the wealthy.

-To suppress this opposition, the central government, or more precisely, the king, must possess a strong military force.

-But possessing a strong military force means that much budget is needed. To solve that part?

Hyang, who continued to think and think again, wore a look of helplessness.

“No matter how many times I revise the plan, if I can’t solve the money problem, which is the first problem, I’ll just keep going in circles. The only thing that can solve this damn loop is the king’s decision. Fortunately, King Sejong is capable. My job is… to act as a seasoning for him?”

Hyang nodded at his conclusion.

“I became the Crown Prince, but I’m only eight years old, so my power is still weak. The best thing to do is to throw out some bait as I pass by. And the beginning of that is…”

Hyang looked at the brush in the brush holder on one side of his desk.

“That’s the beginning.”

* * *

-December 10th, Year 3 of Sejong. The Crown Prince made a golden pen and presented it to the King. The King tried it and praised it for being convenient for fast writing. The Crown Prince requested that it be given to historians and officials who needed fast writing, and the King approved.

Mid-November. Hyang visited the Military Supply Depot. The chief, the highest-ranking official among those in charge of the depot’s affairs, rushed out upon hearing that the Crown Prince had arrived.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince!”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The chief bowed his head even lower at Hyang’s words.

“I would like to take a look around for a moment, would that be alright?”

“It would be an honor!”

As Hyang was about to move, guided by the Military Supply Depot Chief Lee Chang-ho, the artisans belonging to the depot rushed out to pay their respects upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince’s visit.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince!”

“You all work very hard. I am truly grateful that our Joseon’s defenses are strengthened because of people like you.”

The artisans, who were prostrating themselves, answered with emotion to the Crown Prince’s praise.

“We are overwhelmed that the Crown Prince praises us so much!”

“It is truly an honor!”

The artisans, moved by the praise of someone as high as the sky, took the lead and guided Hyang around the Military Supply Depot.

Hyang had several reasons for visiting the Military Supply Depot, but the biggest reason was that they made weapons there.

‘Weapons, gunpowder… I’ll have to come here often in the future, so I need to stake my claim in advance. I’m tempted by Jang Yeong-sil, but he belongs to the Sanguiwon (Royal Tailoring Department) [a government office in charge of clothing for the royal family], and Jeong Cho and the Great King are his backers…’

Putting aside his regret for Jang Yeong-sil, Hyang looked around the Military Supply Depot and got to the main point.

“Who is the best at handling gold and iron here?”

“Gold and iron, you say?”

“That’s right. There’s something I need to have made.”

“Someone who is good at handling iron and gold…”

At the Crown Prince’s question, the Military Supply Depot Chief recalled the faces of the blacksmiths. After searching for a suitable person for a moment, the chief soon thought of one person.

“There is someone capable.”

Shortly after, a middle-aged blacksmith entered the Military Supply Depot Chief’s room at the chief’s call.

“You summoned me?”

“Yes. Blacksmith Gong. The Crown Prince has something to order.”

At the words that Crown Prince Hyang had called him, Blacksmith Gong politely paid his respects to the Crown Prince.

“A lowly one greets the Crown Prince.”

“Lowly? Don’t say such things. Why is the blacksmith of the Military Supply Depot, who is responsible for our Joseon’s national defense, lowly?”

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude!”

Blacksmith Gong was moved by Hyang’s praise and prostrated himself.

“Get up. I have something important to ask of you.”

“Just give me your order! I will make it for you at the risk of my life!”

‘If he’s a blacksmith at the Military Supply Depot, his status shouldn’t be low, so how much has he suffered to react like this…’

Hyang smiled wryly at Blacksmith Gong’s much more over-the-top reaction than expected and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over.

“Can you make it according to this?”

“This is…”

“It’s something to replace the brush.”

What Hyang handed over was the blueprint for a pen nib.

Blacksmith Gong, who was examining the blueprint handed over by Hyang with a serious face, opened his mouth.

“It holds ink and the ink flows out as you write… The problem is that the ink shouldn’t flow out all at once, and it shouldn’t not come out either.”

“In addition to that, the grain of the paper shouldn’t catch and tear, so the bead attached to the tip of this nib must be round. And one more thing. This gap through which the ink flows. If it’s too wide, it’s useless, and if it’s too narrow, it’s useless. How narrow can you make the gap, Blacksmith Gong?”

At Hyang’s question, Blacksmith Gong pondered for a moment and then answered.

“If I do my best, I can go up to five hairs.”

“Five hairs?”

Hyang tilted his head, and the Military Supply Depot Chief next to him explained.

“Five hairs per inch.”

At those words, Hyang calculated in his head.

‘One inch is about 3cm, so considering the units… 1/10,000th? Is that possible? Anyway, roughly calculating, is that 0.15mm? Is this possible by hand?’

Surprised by the unexpected result, Hyang quickly changed his expression and asked a question.

“I’m not going to make just one, but dozens. And I need to make them as quickly as possible, not spending months making them.”

At Hyang’s question, Blacksmith Gong calculated for a moment and then answered.

“Since water touches it, gold and silver should be used instead of iron to prevent rust, and since it will be made by hammering a thin plate, if the mold is made properly, twenty pieces a day are possible. The problem is that gap.”

At Blacksmith Gong’s answer, Hyang immediately calculated.

‘A 0.5mm pencil lead should be fine.’

“When writing, the thickness of the stroke should be slightly thicker than 1 li [approximately 0.3 mm].”

“Then I’ll start by setting the standard for the gap at 1 li.”

“Then when can I see the results?”

“If you give me two days…”

“I’ll give you three days. Show me the best possible result.”

“I will follow the Crown Prince’s order.”

“I trust you.”

On the way back to the palace, escorted by the Military Supply Depot officials, Hyang turned to the eunuch who was escorting him.

“Eunuch Jo.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do I have any personal wealth that I can use?”

“I will check with the Royal Household Treasury, Your Highness.”

Three days later, Hyang visited the Military Supply Depot again.

Blacksmith Gong handed Hyang five pen nibs in a well-made wooden box.

“I made them in five different thicknesses. Please choose the thickness you like.”

“I will.”

Hyang compared them by writing letters on nearby scrap paper and chose his favorite pen nib.

“Make 100 of these. But 10 of them…”

Blacksmith Gong listened carefully to the options Hyang mentioned and immediately answered.

“It is possible, Your Highness.”

“And can you engrave plum blossoms on the body of this golden pen?”

“It is possible, Your Highness.”

“Then how many days will it take?”

“Ten days will be enough, Your Highness.”

Hyang pondered for a moment at Blacksmith Gong’s answer and came to a conclusion.

“I’ll give you two more days on top of that. But there must not be a single defective product. Is that possible? I will be presenting it to His Majesty.”

“I will make it without a single defective product.”

“Then, I ask for your favor. Oh, and I would like you to keep this a secret until I present it to His Majesty.”

“I will do so.”

Hyang, having finished his business, left the Military Supply Depot with a happy face. Military Supply Depot Chief Lee Chang-ho, who had seen Hyang off, turned to Blacksmith Gong.

“He is truly not like his age.”

“That’s right. I heard he is eight years old this year, but if you look at the way he speaks and acts, you could consider him an adult of middle age.”

“That’s true, and you’ve gained something tremendous.”

Lee Chang-ho couldn’t hide his envy as he looked at the paper in Blacksmith Gong’s hand.

Just before leaving the Military Supply Depot, Hyang left a note of gratitude for Blacksmith Gong.

‘Hoping for the First Master Craftsman of Joseon (冀願朝鮮第一名匠) [expressing hope that he becomes the best craftsman in Joseon]. Crown Prince Yi Hyang’

Blacksmith Gong, who received the paper with a handprint next to his name, trembled with emotion.

“I will tell Carpenter So to make the most wonderful mounting. This is something worth keeping as a family treasure.”

* * *

Fifteen days later, Hyang visited Sejong, who was in the middle of a discussion with his ministers. Hyang, who visited Sejong, presented the pen nib and pen holder to Sejong.

Sejong, listening to Hyang’s explanation, inserted the pen nib into the pen holder and wrote, and was very pleased.

“This is truly a precious object! It is very comfortable to write with, and above all, my arms and wrists are comfortable! The Crown Prince has made a very good thing! The Crown Prince has done a very good thing! The historian should record the Crown Prince’s work well today!”

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your excessive praise.”

Hyang maintained a humble posture at Sejong’s praise. Sejong, who was examining the wonderful pen holder and pen nib decorated with lacquer, saw the flower pattern engraved on the pen nib.

“Is this plum blossom?”

“Yes, I engraved it thinking it was suitable as a symbol of the royal family.”

“Good!”

Sejong, having played with the pen on the paper once again, turned to Hyang.

“I will use this usefully.”

“I am grateful. And I have a request.”

End

ⓒ Gukbbong