There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 145

< The Milk Expeditionary Force (2) >

As the name ‘Yuuso’ suggests, it was a special administrative district, similar to Hyang or Bugok during the Goryeo Dynasty [special administrative divisions].

Even then, its responsibility was to supply milk and dairy products to the royal family, residing in Hogot, located 20 li [approximately 8 kilometers] away from Gaeseong, near present-day Paju.

With the advent of the Joseon Dynasty, it transitioned into a government office focused on milk supply rather than an administrative district. Unlike the Goryeo Dynasty, where it was situated in the suburbs, it was now located within the capital, near Heunginjimun Gate [one of the Eight Gates of Seoul].

Furthermore, the Suyuchi [milk handlers], who had worked at Yuuso for generations, were exempt from military service, and their numbers steadily increased.

By the 3rd year of King Sejong’s reign (1421), as many as 200 individuals were employed at Yuuso.

They regarded this as a privilege.

“We have been providing milk to the King for centuries. Surely, the country wouldn’t disregard us?”

“No one in this nation possesses more knowledge about milk than we do!”

Especially in the Joseon Dynasty of this era, dairy products were a rare commodity.

Consequently, they often exhibited great pride, a common trait among those dealing with luxury goods.

Nobun’s misfortune stemmed from his arrogant demand for milk without understanding these circumstances.

“Who is this nobody causing a commotion, demanding milk?”

“What about His Majesty’s order? He only has His Highness’s request?”

Nobun held the nominal position of the Crown Prince’s close eunuch, but the Suyuchi were not easily impressed.

“Is this eunuch attempting to oppress us by invoking the Crown Prince’s name?”

“You, a mere court eunuch from the East Palace [residence of the Crown Prince], thought you could simply take milk from us?”

They assaulted Nobun, claiming a triumphant victory.

Some voiced concerns about laying hands on the Crown Prince’s eunuch, but the veterans remained confident.

Because they had a powerful ‘backer’.

“His Grace needs us. What does it matter if it’s not the Crown Prince himself, but just his eunuch?”

That’s what they confidently proclaimed.

However, they had not anticipated Crown Prince Yi Je directly confronting them at Yuuso.

===

Nobun was not known for his tact or perceptiveness, to put it mildly.

Given his lack of subtlety, it was unsurprising that he was beaten for speaking carelessly to them.

“Your Highness, he barged in and treated us like slaves, demanding the nation’s precious milk. How could we tolerate such behavior?”

The Suyuchi emphasized Nobun’s disrespectful attitude.

“Yes, you were in the wrong,” I readily admitted, glancing at Nobun, who was gingerly touching his face.

“But I am the Crown Prince of this country. Is it truly so difficult to provide me with a small amount of milk?”

“Your Highness’s words are reasonable, but what can we do when our milk reserves are currently low?”

The Suyuchi replied, bowing their heads.

“What?”

I was taken aback.

At this point, they should be apologizing and immediately bringing the milk, yet they were still resisting.

I surveyed the facilities and inquired, “How many people manage this place, and how many dairy cows are raised? Does it make sense that there is no milk available?”

Surely, more than a hundred people were employed here.

The Suyuchi exchanged glances before responding, “It requires considerable effort to produce Suyuu [butter] and Geonrak [cheese]. Moreover, Geonrak production consumes a significant amount of milk, so even with seemingly large reserves, the actual output is limited.”

One of the Suyuchi emphasized his pronunciation and added, “Because the Taesangwang [King’s father, a retired King] enjoys it so much, we prioritize supplying him…”

Upon hearing that name, a chill ran down my spine.

Geonrak was cheese introduced from Mongolia.

‘That Mongolian Cheonho [barbarian] bastard!’

He was using the Taesangwang’s fondness for Geonrak as an excuse for the low milk reserves.

Of course, in Joseon, the Taesangwang’s word was absolute, and no one dared to object.

Above all, I didn’t want to create a disturbance at Yuuso over such a trivial matter.

“Your Highness, we sincerely apologize, but we have been entrusted with this task for generations. Please trust our judgment.”

“…”

So, that’s how it was going to be.

‘Every time I attempt to improve this country, these individuals hinder me!’

I sighed inwardly.

Regardless of my high position, it was difficult to disregard the opposition of these skilled artisans.

– Do you know better than me?

This wasn’t a matter of social standing.

It stemmed from the pride in their family’s legacy and the perception that I, despite my position, lacked understanding of their craft.

‘It’s not as if I haven’t encountered this type of resistance before.’

When I was developing flintlock muskets, I was infuriated when the artisans of the Gunpowder Bureau ignored my instructions and continued producing hand cannons instead.

I clicked my tongue.

In this situation, only one solution proved effective.

It was to overwhelm them with my own expertise.

“Really? Is Geonrak production so difficult? And does it require so much milk?”

I asked, picking up a piece of Geonrak.

I contemplated using the Imperial Guards to resolve the situation, but my current position was precarious.

It was obvious how my father would react.

Confined to the East Palace by Yi Bang-won’s decree, I still couldn’t surpass Yi Bang-won’s influence.

“That’s correct,” the Suyuchi replied with pride.

“If I may explain, Your Highness, it is not a simple process.”

The Suyuchi began to elaborate.

“You must heat the milk, cool it, remove the film, and dry it. It requires extensive labor, and the final yield is small compared to the initial milk volume. How can you claim it is easily obtained?”

That’s what they asserted.

Their faces reflected pride in their intricate skill.

However, I remained unconvinced.

I simply tilted my head and asked, “No, isn’t that inefficient?”

“Yes?”

“You take pride in the difficulty of obtaining Geonrak, but in reality, you should be ashamed. Doesn’t that imply you are merely using the same methods passed down from your ancestors?

Instead of seeking ways to produce it more easily and in greater quantities, you are simply maintaining the status quo.”

The Suyuchi’s expressions hardened at my provocation.

“Your Highness, with all due respect, how can we possibly discover a superior method?”

“Why not?”

I raised my head and replied shamelessly.

There were at least hundreds of Suyuchi working here.

‘So that’s why so many people are needed. There must be many individuals listed solely to avoid military service, even if they don’t actively contribute.’

Observing Yuuso, I formed an assessment.

‘These bastards are likely engaging in fraudulent practices, relying solely on Yi Seong-gye’s [founder of the Joseon Dynasty] favor?’

Since they were the only ones capable of producing Geonrak in the country, it was difficult to challenge them as long as they had the Taesangwang’s protection.

Consequently, it had likely become a breeding ground for military service corruption.

‘Perhaps they are diverting milk and selling it illicitly.’

It would be surprising if they weren’t.

If I recklessly voiced my suspicions, I would be accused of slandering subordinates while secretly escaping from the East Palace.

The difficulty of cheese production was merely an excuse; they simply didn’t want to relinquish their privileges.

They were attempting to convince the Crown Prince that significant manpower was required and that production was arduous.

‘Others would likely believe them.’

They were, after all, experts in their field.

Even high-ranking court officials would hesitate to interfere with Yuuso, which supplied dairy products to the royal family.

Meddling in the affairs of lower-ranking individuals without sufficient knowledge would only invite criticism if something went wrong.

But I was different.

‘I will definitely eradicate this site of military service corruption.’

I was resolute.

“I’ll make it myself, once.”

I picked up the Geonrak and mumbled.

The fishy taste made me grimace as if I had eaten something unpleasant.

As expected, Geonrak from this era didn’t suit my palate.

It was just shy of being real cheese.

In fact, tastes are subjective, so I doubted they genuinely enjoyed the fishy flavor.

‘If it’s a new method…’

It probably wouldn’t require as much labor as they claimed, and there would be less milk wastage.

‘Then they’ll have no excuse to slack off.’

The Yuuso military service corruption milk cartel.

You’re all doomed.

===

Cheese!

It’s a staple food for Westerners, but its reception is different here in the East.

Firstly, milk consumption was limited due to the absence of Holstein cows – hence my introduction of sheep – and naturally, the development of dairy products was significantly delayed.

The same applied to Eastern-style cheese, known as Geonrak.

According to the Suyuchi’s explanation, the milk is heated diligently, and when a sticky film rises to the surface, it is removed.

This yields Suyuu, or butter.

Drying this in the sun produces cheese, but this process further reduces the volume, resulting in an insufficient Geonrak supply even with abundant milk.

Consequently, even the King doesn’t consume it frequently, and even then, he faces criticism for extravagance.

‘What’s needed in situations like this is rennet.’

In Africa, cheese is made by storing milk in leather bags made from animal stomachs.

This causes lumps to form due to the digestive enzymes in the stomach, creating curd.

Various cheeses are produced depending on how this curd is processed.

Is it more efficient than simmering milk in a pot all day long and stirring it continuously?

“Above all, it has good cohesion and is rich in nutrients.”

I was certain that the amount of milk lost during their process was substantial.

Of course, I didn’t oversee the process myself.

The person I summoned to make the cheese was Abdul, the errand boy who accompanied the Ortoku merchant.

===

The Ortoku merchants who arrived in Joseon began utilizing their skills as soon as their settlement was established.

Those with expertise in glass or metalworking were recruited by relevant government offices and started their own ventures.

However, the errand boy I initially met was contemplating opening a Ssanghwajeom [dumpling shop] with his father.

“So, you’re asking me to make cheese?”

“You don’t have anything else to occupy your time, do you?”

This guy, named Abdul, blinked in surprise.

Having lost his family’s fortune in his grandfather’s generation and now selling food, he didn’t possess any exceptional talents like other merchants.

No.

Due to his family’s background, his talent lay in his knowledge of Eastern and Western cuisine.

If I had arrived in this era with cheese-making secrets from the Alps instead of Africa, I would have personally established Yangnyeong Industries, but alas, I didn’t.

As expected, this task had to be entrusted to experts.

“It’s not good.”

Naturally, this was their first attempt at cheese-making, and the initial product didn’t receive favorable reviews from our discerning taster.

“It’s mushy and fishy. I think the Geonrak made by Yuuso is better,” Do remarked, patting his bulging stomach.

And yet, he had consumed so much.

“Hey, just you wait and see!”

I couldn’t simply accept those words.

It was during this time, as I experimented with various cheeses through coagulation, drainage, shaping, seasoning, fermentation, and aging, that the Ortoku father and son’s skills improved under my guidance.

And after some time.

Do gave me a thumbs up as I anxiously awaited his reaction.

“It’s done!”

His assessment was accurate.

I was ready to dismantle this milk cartel.

< The Milk Expeditionary Force (2) > End

ⓒ Pitkong