I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 143

Privatization (1)

Jo Gwangyun found himself in a slight predicament after receiving the Emperor’s personal invitation to the palace banquet.

Attending empty-handed felt inappropriate, yet finding a gift worthy of the Emperor’s attention, regardless of its cost, proved challenging.

Furthermore, an overly extravagant gift could breed unwanted suspicion. He had already presented valuable items to the inner court [the Emperor’s personal residence and staff], which should suffice.

Any gift, he reasoned, should carry a deeper meaning.

Wine was the only thing that might pique the Emperor’s interest, but it seemed unlikely to appeal to the palates of those from the Central Plains [historical region in China]. The Emperor favored strong liquor, so he probably wouldn’t appreciate wine. Still, it could serve as a conversation starter, so he packed wine and raisins.

He anticipated a small gathering with the Emperor, Yang Ryeocheong, and a few key officials, but he was mistaken.

The Emperor, Empress, concubines, and their influential fathers or brothers, many of whom were also court officials, were all present. With the Emperor’s in-laws and brothers-in-law, the assembly numbered in the dozens.

If this was considered a small banquet, he wondered, how many would attend a large one?

Among the numerous attendees, Jo Gwangyun was seated in one of the lowest positions.

As Yang Ryeocheong was among the lowest-ranking concubines, her brother, a minor official, was similarly placed.

However, novelty drew attention, and all the concubines, including the Emperor, focused on Jo Gwangyun.

The court officials secretly hoped to catch a glimpse of the rumored beauty of Yang Ryeocheong, but palace regulations were strict. The banquet hall was clearly divided, with an impassable screen separating the men’s and women’s sections.

Identifying Yang Ryeocheong among the blurred figures of the concubines was impossible.

The Emperor explained the purpose of the banquet, and it began in a pleasant atmosphere with food and drinks enjoyed by all.

Laughter echoed from every direction, and the Empress’s attentiveness towards Yang Ryeocheong was particularly noticeable.

“Noble Consort Yang, the gift your brother presented to me some time ago has proven truly useful. Please convey my gratitude.”

Everyone heard the Emperor’s words, but Jo Gwangyun couldn’t respond directly. It was improper for a mere official to address the Empress publicly.

A court lady hurried over to relay the Empress’s message to Jo Gwangyun, following protocol.

Jo Gwangyun pushed back his chair and bowed deeply.

“It is a humble creation of little skill. I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s excessive praise.”

The court lady quickly returned to the Empress.

“Her Majesty the Empress has bestowed silk upon me, so I feel my gift was too extravagant in return,” Yang Ryeocheong interjected playfully, prompting a kind smile from the Empress.

“Our Noble Consort Yang always wears simple clothes, so I did it for that reason. Your beauty is heaven-sent; you should wear more splendid attire to repay heaven.”

The Emperor found himself in an awkward position.

The Empress typically used barbed words to tear down any new concubine who entered the palace.

How could the word ‘our’ come from the Empress’s mouth?

He didn’t even consider the reason. He was simply relieved that the Empress was treating Yang Ryeocheong favorably.

After that, the conversation shifted to the stroller Jo Gwangyun had gifted, and they even brought it into the banquet hall.

Everyone offered words of admiration, and the Emperor said,

“Jo Jubu [a low-ranking official title].”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How did you create such a wondrous thing?”

“It is nothing wondrous. I simply combined a cradle for the baby to lie in, wheels, and a parasol to block the sunlight.”

“Oh ho. I see.”

“There is nothing new under the sun. I merely combined existing things to make them appear new. This is fusion (融合).”

“Fusion?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jo Gwangyun presented the wine and raisins he had prepared.

“This is grape wine enjoyed by Westerners. And these are dried grapes.”

He unwrapped another silk cloth, revealing another new item.

“Would you like to try this?”

He placed it on a plate and offered it respectfully with both hands, and the chief eunuch picked up the plate.

Usually, the eunuch would taste new items first, but the Emperor, driven by curiosity, quickly put it in his mouth.

He frowned slightly at the slightly sticky texture but soon smiled.

“Judging by the sweetness… is it sugarcane?”

“Yes, it is. I squeezed the juice from sugarcane and then dried it again. In other words, I made sugarcane juice like jerky.”

“This also means there is nothing new?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

With the wine, raisins, and sugar lump before him, the Emperor clapped his hands.

“Is it because you are a merchant that you combine existing things to create new ones? Or is it due to your innate brilliance? Haha.”

It wasn’t a question but a compliment, so Jo Gwangyun immediately prostrated himself on the floor.

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

Watching this, Wi Chung-hyeon spoke.

“Most merchants are only eager to sell existing goods. They cannot think of fusion like Jo Jubu, so it must be due to Jo Jubu’s innate brilliance.”

Not only the Emperor but also the officials were surprised by Wi Chung-hyeon’s praise of Jo Gwangyun.

Everyone remembered how he had been even harsher than the Empress in targeting the relatives of the concubines. Especially today, with relatives of concubines present who were at odds with each other.

But now he was protecting the very person he should be wary of!

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

When the Empress protected Yang Ryeocheong, the Emperor was relieved. The jealousy and envy of women caused men endless trouble.

But Wi Chung-hyeon protecting Jo Gwangyun was a political move.

What the Emperor feared most was harmony among the court officials. United officials rendered the Emperor’s power useless. The Emperor’s power thrived when the officials were at each other’s throats, trying to undermine one another.

Removing an official required the support of the opposing faction.

The removal was what the opposing faction wanted, not what the Emperor wanted.

But if everyone defended an official they were trying to remove, the Emperor couldn’t wield his sword. The moment he did, he would become a tyrant, and a tyrant was easily overthrown.

Whether Wi Chung-hyeon had tried to win over Jo Gwangyun or Jo Gwangyun had knelt before Wi Chung-hyeon was obvious.

Wi Chung-hyeon had always pressured the relatives of the concubines, never trying to befriend them. Jo Gwangyun must have approached Wi Chung-hyeon first.

Wasn’t it a merchant’s specialty to make powerful officials his allies?

The Emperor turned his attention to Jo Gwangyun.

“This is the first time I have been so close to a merchant, so I have many questions.”

“It is a trivial matter. It is not worthy of Your Majesty’s consideration.”

“Haha, your modesty is excessive. How can accumulating wealth without committing evil deeds be considered trivial?”

Jo Gwangyun sensed a subtle shift in the Emperor’s tone.

Just moments ago, he had seemed to regard him favorably, calling him brilliant and such, but now he mentioned evil deeds?

He used a word that shouldn’t have been spoken.

Before he realized it, the smile vanished from Jo Gwangyun’s face, replaced by a stiff tension.

“You must speak the truth without any falsehood in response to my questions!”

“How dare this humble subject speak falsely?”

“Good. Then tell me, from a merchant’s perspective, about my governance of the country (治國).”

At the Emperor’s question, a loud alarm sounded in Jo Gwangyun’s head.

It was a distant memory, but it felt the same as when his girlfriend had suddenly asked him a random question long ago.

“Oppa [Korean term for older brother, used by females to address older males], am I pretty?”

Simply answering, “Yes, you’re pretty,” would lead to another question.

“Where and how?”

Answering these endless questions would always lead to one thing in the end.

– You’re not sincere. Or…

– Your affection has cooled.

The Emperor wouldn’t talk about sincerity or affection, so the last thing he would say was one thing.

Disloyalty!

He had to somehow change this predetermined course.

“How dare this subject discuss Your Majesty’s governance, but if I may venture to say, Your Majesty’s excellent virtuous rule (德治) is widely praised by all the people.”

“Countless people are freezing and starving to death in this harsh winter. And their mouths are full of praise for me? Nonsense!”

Now, not only Jo Gwangyun but also the Emperor’s women and officials straightened their postures. They sensed the Emperor’s displeasure, though they didn’t know the reason.

Jo Gwangyun swallowed hard.

There would be no second chances. He had to redirect the Emperor’s thinking, not be led by the Emperor’s words.

“The people’s poverty is not due to Your Majesty’s reign. Since agriculture is the foundation of the country, we cannot defy the will of heaven. However…”

“However? Continue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jo Gwangyun moistened his parched lips.

“Drought, floods, severe cold, severe heat. The way to alleviate that poverty, even a little, from these acts of heaven is to change the laws and systems, I believe.”

“Change the laws?”

The law was not determined by the Emperor alone. It was the result of countless officials and court ministers putting their heads together and receiving the Emperor’s approval.

Blaming the law was not blaming the Emperor but turning the blame towards the court officials.

“The people’s poverty is not because the people are lazy or negligent. It is because everything is lacking from the start.”

“I am well aware that resources are lacking. What does that obvious fact have to do with the law?”

“Jeolgang, Bokgeon, Gwangdong [coastal provinces]. Because they are adjacent to the sea, fish are abundant, but many people cannot even see fish beyond one castle [a fortified town].”

“Of course, that’s because it’s by the sea, isn’t it? And fish spoil quickly, so there’s no way to send them far beyond the castle, is there?”

One of the officials interjected, likely seeing an opportunity to undermine Jo Gwangyun.

Jo Gwangyun smiled and said to him,

“Does the Great Master not eat fish?”

“I do eat them, though they are expensive, salted and brought in.”

“Why are they expensive?”

“Doesn’t the merchant know that? It’s because salt is expensive.”

“That’s right. Silk is the same. Mulberry farming is good, but the number of people engaged in sericulture [silk production] is small, so there are not enough people to care for the silkworms, and the silkworms are killed off.”

The astute Emperor quickly recognized the common thread between the two examples Jo Gwangyun had given.

“Jo Jubu. Salt and sericulture are not private businesses but state affairs. Are you aware of this?”

“How could this subject not know that? The owner of the sea is only Your Majesty, and even insignificant creatures like silkworms live by Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Surely you, with your brilliance, do not misunderstand my intentions?”

The Emperor frowned at the flattering words.

“This subject is well aware that it is to secure the finances needed to govern the imperial family, and on a larger scale, this country.”

“Knowing that so well, you are suggesting we change the national law?”

If he backed down now, the word disloyalty would surely be uttered. A mere Jong 8 Pum Jubu dared to question national law. Now was the time to press forward.

“That is this subject’s opinion. To achieve the most important goal, which is to secure ample finances, we can secure two or three times the taxes by changing the method slightly. With very simple and minor changes.”

The Emperor’s expression changed.

It was always difficult to balance the national treasury unless there was a bumper crop. But the prospect of securing two or three times the salt and sericulture taxes was too tempting to ignore.

“Then what is that simple method?”

Jo Gwangyun bowed and said very slowly but clearly,

“It is the privatization (民營化) of the public (公共).”

Privatization (1) End