Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 9

Jjanggeura

Hello, Bomb!

9. Sprouting… Cancer?

“Hyang? Speak.”

With Sejong’s permission, Hyang turned to look at the eunuch. Another eunuch, who had followed Hyang, respectfully presented Sejong with a slightly larger box.

“Hmm?”

Sejong opened the newly received wooden box, showing curiosity. The new wooden box was filled with pen nibs and penholders. However, the pen nib he had received was inlaid with silver on gold, and the penholder was also a splendid one with lacquer decorations. But the ones now were simply made of gold, engraved only with plum blossoms, and the penholders were merely well-trimmed wood.

“Please bestow these gold pens to the historians and officials.”

“These?”

“Yes. The historians are recording the affairs of Your Majesty and the ministers without a moment’s rest. This requires a great deal of effort, so I thought there should be tools that could help even a little.”

After considering Hyang’s request for a moment, Sejong shared his thoughts with his ministers.

“I think the Crown Prince’s idea is truly good. What do you think, gentlemen?”

The ministers, who had tried the mass-produced pen nibs that Hyang had presented, all agreed with Sejong’s decision.

“We believe Your Majesty’s will is right!”

“Even at such a young age, he thinks of his subjects in this way. How can this not be a beautiful sight?”

Following the ministers’ approval, the historians, who would be the users, also expressed their satisfaction after trying them out.

Thus, the pen nibs and penholders were designated as official office supplies for the court and palace.

Returning to his room, Hyang smiled and muttered.

“Now, what kind of butterfly effect will this bring?”

As the pen nibs and penholders, named ‘Gold Pens,’ were presented, the officials’ favorability towards Hyang began to rise. In particular, young officials, including the historians, began to show Hyang extraordinary kindness.

“Have you tried the Gold Pen that the Crown Prince made?”

“I have. It’s very good!”

The most delighted were, of course, the historians. Although they used fine brushes, writing with the arm raised and the brush held upright according to traditional calligraphy was quite an ordeal. However, using the Gold Pen allowed the arm to rest naturally, reducing the pressure on the wrist and the entire arm.

In addition, Hyang created and presented writing boards.

“When a military general commands, there are times when urgent orders must be issued. I made this to help with that. I believe it would be good to use it with the Gold Pen.”

“Excellent!”

Sejong was delighted and ordered them to be mass-produced and distributed to the military along with the Gold Pens.

The reaction of military commanders to the distribution of Gold Pens and writing boards was mixed. Young commanders and those with literary knowledge showed very favorable reactions, but illiterate commanders could only wear perplexed expressions.

However, Hyang could understand Sejong’s decision.

As soon as Sejong ascended the throne, he included the Four Books in the military examination subjects. Hearing this, Hyang nodded.

“That’s right. This is no longer an era where individual courage or martial prowess determines the outcome of war. It will be even more so in the future.”

Hyang, anticipating the changes that the simple office supplies ‘writing board and Gold Pen’ would bring to the military, tilted his head.

“Is Sejong even considering a reshuffle of the military?”

While the writing board had mixed reception in the military, there were those who enthusiastically welcomed it. These were the lower-level officials of each government department, along with the historians. When rolling up a book of blank paper and chasing after the king to record, or when conducting inventory checks or other on-site investigations, writing in a book was not easy. The book floating in the air could not bear any force. However, the writing board was an item that definitely solved that problem.

As this situation unfolded, the demand for Gold Pens and writing boards exploded, and the Military Supplies Bureau became busy.

As Gold Pens and writing boards were distributed in the court and military, many people began to take the Gold Pens they used in the Six Ministries or military units out to use them elsewhere. In addition to being easy to use, the plum blossom pattern engraved on the nib gave the owners a sense of pride.

A young scholar, selecting seafood at the Unjong Street fish market, asked the merchant the price.

“How much is it?”

“Well… it’s two *mal* [approximately 18 liters] and three *doe* [approximately 1.8 liters] of white rice in total. But since you’re a regular, I’ll give it to you for two *mal* and two *doe*.”

“That’s very expensive.”

“Aigoo~ sir. Isn’t it winter? The waves are strong, so the boats can’t go out.”

“In the summer, the seafood spoils due to the hot weather and is expensive, and in the winter, the waves are strong, so they can’t go out… When is seafood ever cheap?”

“Hehehe.”

The scholar, glaring at the merchant who was glossing over with a smile, held out his hand to the merchant.

“Give me the ledger and inkstone.”

“Here you go.”

The scholar scribbled in the ledger that the merchant presented.

“The items I bought today… two *mal* of white rice.”

“Sir!”

“Let’s make it two *mal*. Isn’t it nice and clean?”

“Haa~.”

The merchant, sighing, looked at the Gold Pen in the scholar’s hand and his eyes lit up.

“Is that the rumored Gold Pen?”

“Have you heard of it?”

“Yes. I heard that everyone who works in the government these days has one.”

The merchant, looking at the Gold Pen with curious eyes, licked his lips.

“It looks very easy to write with.”

“It’s very good for writing while carrying it around or when you need to write something urgently. Well! I have to go take care of some urgent business, so please deliver it to my house.”

“Take care, sir!”

The merchant, seeing off the scholar, spat out phlegm with all his might.

“Kaak~, tu! Urgent business, my ass! Is going to a *gibang* [妓房, a house of courtesans] urgent business? He cuts the price by two *doe* and then spends lavishly at the *gibang*!”

The merchant, cursing at the scholar who had cut the price so much, licked his lips.

“That Gold Pen looked really comfortable… I think it could make some money?”

* * *

Perhaps because there were quite a few people who had similar thoughts, imitations of the Gold Pen began to appear one by one. Rumors about these items immediately reached the palace and became a topic of discussion at the royal court.

“Your Majesty. These days, disrespectful things are happening in the market.”

“Disrespectful things? Speak.”

“Gold Pens, made by imitating the Gold Pens that the Crown Prince created and presented, are being distributed.”

As one minister reported this, another minister quickly chimed in.

“This is the most disrespectful thing of all! To dare to imitate the precious object with the royal family’s emblem so carelessly! You must impose a severe punishment!”

“Impose a severe punishment!”

As the ministers’ chorus continued, Sejong, after thinking for a moment, opened his mouth.

“I can make a decision right away, but I think the opinion of the Crown Prince, who is the person involved, is also important. I will listen to the Crown Prince’s opinion and make a judgment. Chief Eunuch, summon the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, Hyang, summoned by Sejong, entered the main hall.

“Did you call for me, Father?”

As Hyang, who had politely paid his respects, opened his mouth, Sejong smiled and replied.

“Yes, I called you because I wanted to ask for your judgment.”

“What can I, who am still young, judge?”

“I know your brilliance well, so do not feel burdened and answer.”

“I understand, Father.”

Sejong explained the story about the Gold Pens to Hyang.

“…So the ministers are arguing that the merchants who privately imitated and distributed the Gold Pens should be severely punished. Crown Prince, what do you think?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang closed his mouth and pondered.

The sight of an eight-year-old child furrowing his brow and contemplating was unexpectedly cute. At that sight, Sejong and the ministers smiled and focused their attention.

After a not-so-short time of deep thought, Hyang opened his mouth.

“I believe that the Military Supplies Bureau’s main job is to make weapons for the country’s defense. So…”

* * *

One month later, at the Ministry of Taxation.

People gathered in one of the many rooms of the Ministry of Taxation.

“Has everyone gathered?”

At the young official’s question, the attendees all bowed their heads.

“Yes, sir.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The official went outside the door, and Hyang entered, guided by the Minister of Taxation.

As soon as Hyang entered, those sitting around the table in the room quickly got up from their chairs and prostrated themselves on the floor.

“Humble merchants greet the Crown Prince!”

“Get up and sit in the chairs.”

“How can we sit when the Crown Prince is here?”

“As long as you do not commit a crime, you may sit in the chairs. Sit in the chairs.”

At Hyang’s firm answer, the attendees sat down. Hyang, with the help of the Ministry of Taxation official, sat in the chair and took out the imitated pen nibs and penholders from his chest and placed them on the table.

“I heard that this item is circulating in the market.”

The merchants, seeing the pen nibs and penholders that Hyang had taken out and placed on the table, immediately prostrated themselves on the floor and answered.

“Our trading company has never done such a disrespectful thing!”

“Our trading company is the same!”

“I did not call you here to ask you about your crimes. Sit down.”

Despite Hyang’s words, the merchants could not easily get up. Hyang, clicking his tongue at the sight, opened his mouth again.

“Do not make me say it twice.”

“Quickly get up and sit down!”

At Hyang’s warning, the Minister of Taxation hurriedly urged the merchants. As the merchants sat down again, Hyang brought up the main point.

“His Majesty the King has issued a decree.”

The decree of Sejong that Hyang revealed was as follows:

– The production of Gold Pens and penholders will be transferred from the Military Supplies Bureau to the trading companies.

– The selection of the trading company to produce will be based on the trading company that offers the cheapest price among those that pass the quality standards.

– The selected trading company will stamp the plum blossom, the symbol of the royal family, on the produced Gold Pens to indicate that they are officially produced.

– The selected trading company will be qualified to sell the produced Gold Pens in the market. Thereafter, if Gold Pens without the plum blossom seal or with a forged seal are found, both the producer and the seller will be severely punished.

– The trading company that produces Gold Pens will pay 20% of the sales revenue to the state.

– It is forbidden to sell the Gold Pens in the market for more than 60% of the price sold to the court.

– Four times a year, the Ministry of Taxation will inspect the quality. The timing is irregular, and officials from the Ministry of Taxation, disguised, will randomly obtain Gold Pens and inspect the quality. If the inspection fails, the plum blossom seal will be immediately revoked, and the contract will be terminated.

– If the contract is terminated due to the above issues, a new trading company will be selected. The company whose contract has been terminated cannot apply for bidding for one year.

The merchants, hearing the conditions that Hyang had stated, closed their mouths and began to think. Among the merchants who were contemplating this and that, one of them opened his mouth.

“Crown Prince. I am sorry to say this, but…”

“What is the problem?”

“What is the standard for the price sold in the market?”

“It is the final selling price. Why is there a problem?”

“I am sorry to say this, but if the profit margin is 60%, it seems generous, but if we consider the wages to be given to the craftsmen and the profit margin to be taken by the peddlers, we can only take 30% of the 60%. But if the state takes 20% of that, what will we take…”

“Gah!”

Hyang interrupted the merchant’s words with a rough voice.

“Are you lying in front of whom right now? Fine. Let’s say that 30% is the profit margin you will take, as you said. But I said that it is 20% of the revenue. Is 20% of 30% only 6% more? Do you know what kind of place this is and are you lying? Minister of Taxation! Immediately kick that disrespectful person out of the palace and remove that trading company’s eligibility to bid!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As soon as Hyang’s order was given, the Minister of Taxation gave the order. Soldiers of the Royal Guard entered upon hearing the Minister of Taxation’s order and dragged the problematic merchant out.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

After a commotion subsided, Hyang glared at the merchants.

“His Majesty the King and I believe that merchants are also important beings as citizens. Because it is impossible for a person to create everything they need to live alone, it is a natural order that there be intermediaries. However! As long as there are those who use despicable methods like that person, you merchants will never be able to escape being treated as lowly people! Keep this in mind!”

“We will engrave it in our hearts, Crown Prince!”

End