There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 272

< A Day Out With Yi Je (1) >

It all started with a memorial submitted by the Office of the Inspector General.

Meng Sasung, who had been appointed Chief Royal Secretary after the King ascended the throne, reported the memorial directly to Yi Je.

“A secret excursion?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Retired King frequently goes out in disguise without any guards, leaving in the early morning and returning at night, sometimes staying overnight in the outskirts for two nights. We are concerned that something untoward might happen.”

Although it was a memorial from the Office of the Inspector General, Meng Sasung agreed with every word.

Yi Bang-gwa had been taking secret excursions alone since his days as the Retired King, causing concern in the court, so it was natural for such a memorial to be submitted.

As Chief Royal Secretary, he offered Yi Je a word of advice.

“The Chronicles state, ‘A royal procession is a great undertaking for the ruler, and one must be cautious.’ I beseech Your Majesty to inform the Retired King to cease these secret excursions and uphold his dignity.”

“Hmm.”

However, there was a point that neither the Office of the Inspector General nor Meng Sasung had considered.

That is, one must request restraint from someone who is willing to listen.

“A secret excursion, you say? It’s been a while since I’ve wanted to go out myself.”

Yi Je recalled the time he escaped the Taesang Hall [likely a royal residence or hall] with Yi Seong-gye.

Since his ascension to the throne, he hadn’t been able to go on such secret excursions, so it was only natural that he would be tempted.

“Your Majesty?”

“The Chief Royal Secretary cites the etiquette of the Chronicles to dissuade me from secret excursions, but isn’t there also the story of Emperor Yao inspecting the people in disguise? I, too, wish to see how the people of our Joseon [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897] are actually living.”

“Well said!”

Even Yi Bang-gwa, who had been summoned, agreed, causing Meng Sasung’s head to throb.

“Then, I will find people to escort you.”

“Hmph, no need.”

“No need.”

It was already known that the people of this family disliked cumbersome processions.

It was well known that the Retired King Yi Bang-gwa was a martial figure, and the King himself was capable of protecting himself to some extent, but still, to go out without guards…

‘Retired King, please help me!’

The only person who could stop this secret excursion was the Retired King Yi Bang-won.

Although he had abdicated the throne, he was still the de facto ruler of this country, holding the power to control the military, so both the Retired King and the King had no choice but to be mindful of him.

Meng Sasung’s prayers reached the heavens, and the Retired King Yi Bang-won strode quickly towards them, fuming.

Meng Sasung sent Yi Bang-won an earnest signal.

Yi Bang-won, who was always worried about his reckless son’s safety, would surely scold the King severely.

“Your Majesty! How could such a thing happen!”

As Meng Sasung had hoped, Yi Bang-won’s roar caused both Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Je to flinch for a moment.

“You’re going on a secret excursion without me!”

“Yes…?”

Such a sound unintentionally escaped from Meng Sasung’s mouth.

“I, I was going to tell Father, too.”

“Y-yes… There’s no way I’d leave you out…”

“Of course, you shouldn’t.”

Meng Sasung, who had been listening to the conversation between the three kings, felt his mind go blank.

‘Has the Retired King become a bit strange since abdicating the throne?’

It was good that he was living comfortably as the Retired King, but had he become too carefree?

‘No, that’s not the problem now.’

Meng Sasung’s face turned pale.

If even Yi Bang-won joined the secret excursion party, wouldn’t he be the only one left to stop them?

Meng Sasung stood in front of the King with the heart of a loyal subject ready to die.

“Your Majesties, the Crown Prince is still young. What if something untoward happens while the three of you are on a secret excursion together?”

“I’m a man who has even taken down tigers. Do you think I can’t protect myself?”

“However, one never knows what might happen outside the palace. Even if you go on a secret excursion, please take guards with you…”

“Oh, what’s that?”

Meng Sasung turned his head and looked in the direction Yi Je was pointing, but there was nothing there.

‘I’ve been tricked!’

Meng Sasung hurriedly turned back, but the three kings had already disappeared like the wind.

Meng Sasung collapsed on the spot in dismay.

===

A secret excursion!

It is when the King hides his identity and goes out of the palace to observe the lives of the people.

I heard that Yi Seong-gye also occasionally went on secret excursions in disguise when he was on the throne.

‘Seeing this makes me think of the old days.’

I thought, looking back and forth between Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Bang-won on either side of me.

Yi Bang-gwa was dressed like a merchant who looked strong at first glance, and Yi Bang-won looked like a middle-aged manager.

And me.

‘Hehe.’

Dressed like this, don’t I look like a scholar studying for the civil service exam [the ‘past exam’ mentioned, a crucial path to government service]?

But the truth is that I am the king who rules this country.

Is this what they call a ‘hidden master’ in modern times?

“Where are you thinking of going?”

“Let’s go to the market. How about passing through there and taking a tour of Hanyang Fortress [old name for Seoul]?”

“That’s good too, but… there’s a street market outside Namdaemun Gate [Great Southern Gate, one of the Eight Gates of Seoul]… Let’s go there…”

A street market.

Basically, street markets are prohibited within the main market inside the fortress walls.

If anyone tries to set up a street market, the merchant association uncles will come running with clubs to scold them.

‘The country even provided allotments during the market development project, so there’s no way they’d allow stalls to be set up in front of it.’

The market management is also being done by merchants, including Han Sang [wealthy merchants], who are pooling money, so there’s no way they’d allow stalls.

‘Those guys don’t even pay taxes.’

However, as development exploded, street markets naturally began to form around the outside of the fortress.

Unlike the neatly organized market, it will be a mess, but it will still be fun to visit.

‘Even I think I’ve been to the market too many times.’

===

Before even setting foot in the street market, the smell of salt and fish wafted over.

“This Namdaemun Market… is famous for its seafood trade…”

As he said, the smell of fermenting seafood permeated the market inside and out.

I wonder if this smell will get into my clothes.

‘I tore this off Chungnyung’s clothes.’

If I wanted to get clothes for a secret excursion, there’s no way I couldn’t get them, but it’s too much of a hassle.

So I decided to borrow it from my brother for a while (without asking for permission, of course) and wore it, so I was worried.

I covered my nose and asked a merchant in the fish market.

“Why are there so many salted seafoods?”

“Are you new to Namdaemun?”

“I am.”

“Originally, even if you catch fish from the sea, they rot and fall apart while coming up to Hanyang.

But since salt is plentiful now, everyone is busy making salted seafood and pickled vegetables.

Even if there is no fresh seafood, there is nothing you can’t find in dried seafood or salted seafood, so if you shop here, you won’t have to worry about side dishes for a few days.”

‘Since we can make plenty of salted seafood, we don’t have to worry even if there is a drought.’

As salt was being released into the market in large quantities, the food culture seemed to be moving in this direction.

The merchant who answered me seemed to want me to buy something, but there were still many places to look around, so I couldn’t carry around smelly salted seafood in my hands.

In the end, I uttered the words that customers do the most while shopping.

“I’ll look around and come back.”

“……”

After leaving the fish market, we entered the fabric market.

It was a place that sold various fabrics and clothes.

“Hey, gentlemen! Come and take a look! We have blankets and pillows!”

I stopped in front of a place that was soliciting customers.

Since it was a product sold in the street market, it wouldn’t be a great luxury item, but there were parts that were worth seeing.

“Oh, the embroidery is quite elaborate.”

“There are no people doing hand sewing these days. The women who do piecework are all turning sewing machines in the government office.”

“Hmm, I’ve heard that the government office has sewing machines and allows them to be used.”

Actually, I didn’t hear it, I ordered it.

I was glad to hear that they were using it without anyone embezzling it.

It would have been nice if it had stopped there, but the merchant started rambling unnecessarily.

“More than that, this thread is a great item. It’s raw silk from Ming Dynasty [Chinese dynasty, 1368-1644], and it’s so thin and soft that if you sleep with it, you can go to dreamland in less than a day.”

‘What nonsense.’

He was confidently spouting nonsense that anyone could see was a lie.

Modern Chinese products aside, Ming Dynasty products of this era are top-of-the-line.

Is it possible that this shabby old man is selling it?

‘Are you trying to scam me?’

If it wasn’t for a rare secret excursion, I would have overturned it without hesitation.

“I don’t need a blanket. Why don’t you buy a trinket while you’re here?”

Yi Bang-won asked, seeing my eyebrows twitch.

“A trinket. The Queen… your wife would like it.”

“Should I buy one for my wife too?”

“Uncle, you should buy one too.”

“Should I…”

It was clear that it would be a much inferior item compared to the palace trinkets, but it might be a different kind of fun if you bought it at the street market.

‘Anything is important.’

“What can I pay with?”

“In the market, there is nothing that cannot be traded as long as you have rice or fabric. The market accepts silver coins that were used in the old Jeonjo [minting office], but that’s a story for the rich.”

“Even if it’s not a silver coin, let’s just pay with this.”

I threw a piece of silver from my pocket.

Then the merchant accepted it with delight.

It seems that even gold and silver are definitely accepted.

‘I need to distribute currency after all.’

Yi Bang-won also promoted the distribution of currency, but progress was slow compared to its usefulness.

Still, now that silver is pouring in from Ouchi [likely a trading port or region] and the trade balance has improved, the story is different.

I turned around with my party, leaving behind the gleeful merchant.

This Namdaemun Market is active, but it’s not very conscientious.

===

It was the same in other places – attempts to rip people off.

“Is this one pound?”

Even though I hid that I was the king, I went out dressed as a nobleman, but they were cheating like this.

“That’s right. Do you have any complaints?”

The butcher asked shamelessly.

Was he doing this because he only believed in his own strength, regardless of the distinction between high and low?

Then Yi Bang-gwa stepped forward.

“……”

As he raised his fist, which looked like a rock, the butcher immediately lowered his tail.

“Please forgive me just once! I heard that the slaughter ban will be issued soon. I had no choice but to do this to make a living.”

“When has the ban not been issued? What lies are you telling?”

Joseon has definitely increased the number of livestock compared to the past.

Proposals to ban slaughter in order to preserve the number of farming cattle have been raised several times, but…

‘Instead of banning meat, shouldn’t we raise enough cows to eat meat and still have enough left over?’

I can’t help the human desire to eat meat.

There’s no way they’ll follow if I ban it recklessly.

Even if it succeeds and all Joseon people become forced vegans, it will only be a setback for Joseon’s food culture.

I thought, looking at the prostrate butcher.

‘The bad habits of the market are starting to come out little by little.’

The market is ‘relatively’ conscientious because there is an office called Gyeongshiseo (京市署) [Capital Market Office], which is in charge of management and supervision.

However, these street markets have not been officially permitted by the government, and naturally there is no one to manage them, so these things happen.

“I’m afraid to even go shopping because I’m afraid of being ripped off.”

I clicked my tongue.

“I need to clean up the street market once.”

Yi Bang-won asked worriedly at my words.

“It’s a market that hasn’t been approved by the government, but the people are using it freely. There’s no way to avoid cheating. Wouldn’t you just get resentment?”

“I’m not saying I’m going to get rid of it altogether.”

Wouldn’t people who don’t know anything be ripped off without fail?

‘Should I put up a scale of conscience [public scales to ensure fair weights and measures]?’

As I walked while thinking about that, my party had already entered the back alley.

< A Day Out With Yi Je (1) > End

ⓒ Pitkong