I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 144

Those words carry a lot of weight.

For the state to entrust its work to the people could be interpreted as infringing upon the Emperor’s dignity. It could also sound like Jo Gwang-yun, a mere merchant, is coveting the state’s lucrative ventures.

However, before such interpretations could take hold, everyone wore a bewildered expression, as no one understood the precise method of privatization.

“Privatization… Does that mean transferring all current salt farms and sericulture to private individuals?”

Jo Gwang-yun carefully observed the Emperor’s expression as he asked the question. There was no anger visible. Perhaps he even seemed slightly intrigued.

“Your Majesty, to hand over such crucial state affairs to a mere individual? Absolutely not.”

“Indeed. These are state projects essential for stable taxation. I am deeply concerned that handing them over to private hands might invite great disaster.”

Several officials voiced their objections.

As if anticipating this, Jo Gwang-yun knelt and prostrated himself.

“Your Majesty, I merely offered my humble opinion as a merchant in response to Your Majesty’s question. This is not a place for reckless talk, so my opinion is not something to be heeded. Please disregard it.”

Seeing his utterly terrified voice and demeanor, the Emperor looked at Jo Gwang-yun for a moment before making an unexpected decision.

“Very well. However, I wish to hear more of Minister Jo’s opinion. Not as the words of a mere merchant, but as the words of a wise man who will bring comfort to the people living under my rule. Furthermore, I want an opinion not as a private matter, but as a public official.”

The Emperor turned to the Empress and said,

“The banquet must end here. Empress, you must conclude this banquet. I ask this of you.”

The Empress quietly rose and bowed.

“I shall take care of it. Your Majesty, please do not worry.”

The Emperor spoke again to Jo Gwang-yun and the officials.

“All of you, come to the Grand Hall! We shall continue there.”

The Chief Eunuch blocked the Emperor as he began to move.

He prostrated himself before the Emperor and said,

“Your Majesty, the Grand Hall is where all officials, great and small, gather to discuss state affairs.”

“From now on, the words that come out of my mouth will be state affairs.”

“I am informing you because not all court officials are present. Should I urgently order all court officials to come now?”

The Emperor turned his head, glanced at the officials and Jo Gwang-yun, then changed direction.

“The Chief Eunuch is right. I shall go to the Euirip Hall [Emperor’s private office] instead of the Grand Hall.”

Not the Grand Hall, but the Emperor’s office. This meant that it was not a public discussion with the officials, but that the Emperor would seriously consider Jo Gwang-yun’s words.

The officials and Jo Gwang-yun followed the Emperor.

With only the women left in the banquet hall, everyone’s gaze turned to Yang Ryeo-cheong. She was already pale and anxious.

Looking at her, the Empress smiled.

“Consort Yang.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, Your Majesty.”

“There is no need to worry.”

“I… I am…”

As the flustered Yang Ryeo-cheong couldn’t speak properly, the Empress reassured her.

“It is not that His Majesty is displeased. If he were angry, he would have severely punished Minister Jo right here. Going to the inner palace means he wants to hear even more confidential words.”

As Yang Ryeo-cheong’s complexion improved slightly, the Empress raised her voice as if for everyone to hear.

“This happened in the banquet hall. If His Majesty brings this up as a problem, I will intervene. There will be absolutely no punishment for Minister Jo!”

This was the Empress’s declaration that even the inner court should not touch Yang Ryeo-cheong.

* * *

“I ask again. How does allowing private individuals to undertake projects for expanding state taxes help?”

Jo Gwang-yun and the officials sat on the floor in front of the Emperor’s desk.

“I did not mean to hand over the current salt farms to individuals. I merely suggested a way to increase salt production.”

“How?”

“The current salt farms would operate as they do now, but if someone wishes to develop new salt farms, they would be granted permission after a rigorous review. The privatization I spoke of is aimed at increasing production.”

At the words that the existing salt farms would not be touched, the officials’ expressions softened, but the Emperor’s face hardened further.

“When I was young, the elders in my hometown often said, ‘Even if you have three pecks of pearls, you must string them together to make them treasure.'”

Jo Gwang-yun looked around at the people. Everyone blinked at the sudden, seemingly irrelevant remark.

“The realm Your Majesty governs is filled with countless pearls thanks to Your Majesty’s virtue. If we simply gather those pearls and string them together, treasures will pour out.”

“How can Minister Jo see pearls that are invisible to my eyes?”

“How could Your Majesty, who governs with virtue, see the world through the eyes of a lowly merchant? It is only visible to me because I am a merchant.”

“Then what are these pearls that are only visible to the eyes of a merchant?”

“The land and sea that Your Majesty governs.”

The sea referred to salt farms, but the meaning of land and people was incomprehensible.

“What is the land?”
the Emperor asked.

“Land that can be turned into fields if reclaimed.”

At the obvious answer, the Emperor frowned.

“Who doesn’t know that there is much wasteland in the realm? It is abandoned because there are no farmers to cultivate it.”

“There are many farmers. However, the national laws have tied their hands, so no one comes forward to reclaim it.”

The Emperor turned his gaze to the officials.

“What national law has bound the hands of the people?”

One of the officials, who had been listening to the conversation between the two with tension, carefully opened his mouth upon receiving the Emperor’s question.

“I speculate that it is due to the taxes imposed on reclaimed land.”

As the Vice Minister of Agriculture, he knew very well that he would face severe consequences if he hesitated even slightly.

Since the Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of agriculture and national taxes in this country, he might be dismissed from his post today if he could not answer regarding the relevant national laws.

“Explain in detail.”

“To reclaim land, one must report to the local government office. Then, taxes must be paid that year according to the size of the reclaimed land… Since good harvests are unlikely from reclaiming wasteland in the first year, one must take out loans to pay the taxes. The hard work of cultivating the wasteland disappears, and only debt remains, so everyone gives up.”

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched.

“Minister Jo!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is it necessary to revise the national laws to rectify this?”

“Yes, it is.”

“What is the method?”

“If taxes are reduced for at least three years, everyone will cultivate wasteland. If wasteland turns into arable land, grain production will increase, which will become the cornerstone of national wealth and military strength.”

Jo Gwang-yun spoke his opinion while watching the expressions of the officials, not the Emperor. The most hardened face was none other than Wi Chung-hyeon.

Wi Chung-hyeon was the only one who realized how much change Jo Gwang-yun’s words would bring.

Wi Chung-hyeon watched the Emperor’s reaction and tried to object to Jo Gwang-yun’s view, but the Emperor was faster.

“Minister Jo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is all of this seen through the eyes of a merchant?”

“Yes, it is.”

“It sounds like you are speaking not with the eyes of a merchant, but with the greed of a merchant?”

At the Emperor’s words, the Euirip Hall became as cold as if cold water had been poured over it.

If he had offered his opinion for the sake of the Emperor, the people, and the nation, but instead spoke words to satisfy his own selfish desires, it would be a tremendous act of disloyalty and the sweet talk of a traitor.

Jo Gwang-yun slammed his head on the floor.

He was certain that the Emperor was not rebuking him, but trying to test him.

“How could I dare to harbor selfish intentions when answering Your Majesty’s solemn question? Absolutely not.”

“Didn’t you say? Look far ahead and act with righteousness. Then trust will accumulate… Trust is wealth to a merchant.”

The Emperor rose from his chair, put his hands behind his back, and slowly began to walk.

“Minister Jo, you are a great merchant. Didn’t you speak today calculating that your words would one day become a great profit for you?”

Jo Gwang-yun followed the Emperor’s footsteps.

The moment those footsteps stopped, the Emperor would have made up his mind.

“Your Majesty, I am a merchant. Merchants only buy and sell, they never produce.”

“What?”

“Wine and dried grapes made from grapes are liked by many, but I have never sold them for money. They are only for gifts. Sericulture, salt farms, agriculture. All of these are production, which is the foundation of the country. Production is not the work of a merchant.”

The Emperor’s footsteps stopped. Jo Gwang-yun did not miss this moment.

“If I ever interfere with even one thing in the nation’s affairs, do not hesitate to cut off my head.”

“Cut off your head? Haha.”

The Emperor burst into laughter.

“If I cut off my brother-in-law’s head, would Consort Yang stay still?”

The frozen Euirip Hall regained warmth with the Emperor’s laughter.

“I have heard your opinion well. I will deliberate further and discuss it again.”

Jo Gwang-yun swallowed his sigh of relief and shouted,

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

“It is late. All of you, leave the court.”

The officials bowed to the Emperor and slowly left the Euirip Hall, but Jo Gwang-yun did not move.

“What is it? Do you still have something to say?”

“Your Majesty, I must leave the capital for a while, so I am informing you in advance.”

“Leave here?”

“Yes, I must take care of the business I have started…”

“Yes, how long do you think it will take?”

“It will take at least a year.”

“A year…? Ah, Minister Jo’s commercial power extends to every corner of this country.”

“I am humbled.”

The Emperor began to pace again.

“It can’t be helped. Minister Jo’s main job is business, so I can’t tell him to abandon it. Do so.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

“By the way, since Minister Jo is now an official anyway? I will issue an order.”

Jo Gwang-yun quickly knelt and bowed respectfully.

“For a year, look around this country and report what you see and hear to me. Especially if you see any corrupt officials, report them immediately.”

“I obey your command.”

The Emperor gestured slightly with his hand.

Jo Gwang-yun scurried out of the Euirip Hall and stretched his back.

At that moment, a shout was heard from behind.

“Minister Jo! What on earth are you thinking? No, what trick are you playing!”

It was Wi Chung-hyeon.

Jo Gwang-yun slowly turned around and said politely,

“Why are you being like this?”

“Don’t even think about playing dumb. What you said to His Majesty today…”

“Oh dear. You must have been very surprised, sir? I almost died today, didn’t I?”

“What?”

“A lowly merchant dared to talk about national laws and national wealth and military strength… I almost…”

Seeing Jo Gwang-yun’s jesting, Wi Chung-hyeon could not contain his anger even more. Just as he was about to shout again, Jo Gwang-yun said quietly.

“There are many eyes watching. Please leave the court quietly.”

Wi Chung-hyeon seemed to realize something and coughed a few times before hurrying away.

The two left the palace side by side, but their mouths were tightly shut.

Wi Chung-hyeon’s palanquin [covered chair carried on poles] was waiting at the entrance of the palace.

“Then please take care, sir.”

As Wi Chung-hyeon passed Jo Gwang-yun with a displeased expression and got into the palanquin, Jo Gwang-yun whispered in his ear.

“Let’s have a drink at the club.”

Wi Chung-hyeon got into the carriage without a word, but he felt a pang of conscience.

It was such a famous place that he had visited it once out of curiosity and it had become a favorite place before he knew it.

Many officials are also regulars, but Wi Chung-hyeon was careful not to let his visits be known. As the Empress’s brother, he had to avoid bad rumors.

But Jo Gwang-yun already knew his movements like the back of his hand. Wi Chung-hyeon began to feel uneasy.

Jo Gwang-yun could read him, but he didn’t know what that guy was up to.

End