There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 276

< Going Around in Circles (3) >

The meritorious retainers approached me, seeking permission to establish a ‘money house’ with ambitious intentions.

‘Money house, so these guys are trying to create a bank?’ I thought.

Of course, its function would be quite different from modern banks, but still, it amounts to establishing an institution focused on lending.

‘Damn it! Have they forgotten the fundamental principle of separating banking and commerce!’

I almost roared that out, but these people wouldn’t know anything about separating banking and commerce. Since they’re basically the Cheonghaejin [a historical maritime trade hub] moneylenders, it was hard to explain.

If they want to play with money, they can just do it, but it’s commendable that they’re being mindful of me and seeking permission.

‘The problem is whether I can trust these guys with it…’

They’re the most money-hungry people, so a terrible disaster could occur where the entire population is struggling with private loan debts.

‘A commercial bank is definitely needed.’

As I envision it, the Joseon Bank should focus on its role as a central bank anyway.

Then there’s definitely a need for general banks focused on deposits and loans.

“Do as you please.”

As I said that, the meritorious retainers were delighted.

However, I wasn’t finished.

“However, there are a few conditions.”

===

“So, you’ve been assigned to this place called Joseon Bank?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Kim Suk-ja answered her teacher’s question politely.

Before starting her new job after graduating from the training institute, she came to greet her teacher first.

Not only that, but fellow students like Bae In-gyeong and Choi Un-ryong were also assigned to other departments of the bank, so the so-called early Sarim [a faction of Confucian scholars] were intensively placed.

Kim Suk-ja wasn’t sure, but she felt like she knew the reason a little.

“At the training institute, they said that the Jin and Yuan dynasties issued Gyochos [early forms of paper money] for generations but ultimately failed because they transferred the burden to the people in order to use the court’s finances,” she said.

“That’s right.”

Gil Jae nodded readily.

The intention to not repeat the Yuan Dynasty’s failure was clearly revealed.

“Then, could it be that you were sent to the bank considering that reason?”

They hadn’t yet formed a distinct new Sarim faction, and it seemed they had advanced into officialdom on a large scale from early on, but they were clearly Gil Jae’s disciples.

The title of the last loyalist of Goryeo [the previous Korean dynasty] inevitably gave a different feeling from the mainstream of Joseon.

‘Now that I’ve entered Joseon, what’s so different?’

Perhaps it was because of the environment, or perhaps it was their original nature, but the disciples he had taken in also had upright personalities unlike others.

Could it be that His Majesty noticed such characteristics?

“Does His Majesty want the bank to be independent from the court…?”

Gil Jae said it without much thought.

However, Kim Suk-ja looked doubtful.

“How can such an important department that manages the country’s money be placed outside the hands of the court? Teacher, your joke is too much.”

It was an idea that could not come from Joseon officials.

However, Gil Jae was a loyalist of Goryeo with no particular relationship with Joseon, so he freely spread his imagination without having to be mindful of anyone.

“Think about it. How many people in the court are like you, who would speak the truth even if a knife were to their necks?”

“I don’t think there would be.”

Kim Suk-ja answered confidently.

Isn’t it the duty of a scholar to do what he thinks is right, even if he is called stubborn?

“Then, there would be no one as difficult to handle as you, so wouldn’t the reason why His Majesty sent you to the bank be nothing else?”

The Yuan Dynasty also collapsed because it supplied currency far exceeding the amount of silver stored in the bank.

Temporarily, it was possible to cover the deficit, but at that point, the monetary economy collapsed once.

The country’s finances are still abundant, so there is no particular problem, but is there any guarantee that the Joseon court will not fall into that trap someday?

Gil Jae thought that by placing his notoriously stubborn disciples, he was trying to independently change the bank’s spirit itself.

‘Of course, it won’t be easy to completely shake off the influence of the court.’

Even if they are scholars with conviction, they will have to back down if the court presses down with force.

If they pick out and blow away those who are annoying and threaten them with swords, the spirit of the scholar will eventually be shattered, scattering only blood, unless they hold the military power.

‘Isn’t the country of Joseon originally a rootless country created like that?’

Gil Jae struggled to control his boiling hatred for Joseon.

‘But if they print money in such an abnormal way, there would be no one who likes it except the court.’

That was a fact that Gil Jae and others had already experienced in the previous era.

If the court starts scattering money to cover the fiscal deficit, it is the same as collecting taxes from everyone who has money.

Before the trust of the currency, there is no way anyone would like their money to decrease.

‘Does that mean that the voices of the people must be able to enter the court?’

Gil Jae tilted his head.

‘But how?’

It was almost a natural principle that the king should gather the public opinion of the Sadaebu [scholar-officials] and govern the country, but…

They are seeing the most powerful king in history.

If the monarch had only done what the Sadaebu approved of, he would not have achieved his current achievements.

‘Gathering public opinion…’

Since the Wang clan’s shrine was already ruined, Gil Jae’s imagination was flowing in a subtly ‘disloyal’ direction.

===

‘The palace is noisy from the morning.’

The sound of Grand Prince Seongnyeong shooting arrows is heard from afar, and next to him, the daughter of Left Chancellor Seong Eok is sitting and watching.

Because they were married at a young age, it’s unlikely that they’re affectionate with each other, but it’s a relief that they seem to be getting along well.

While this side is like this, an unwelcome commotion was taking place on the other side.

“Dedae! Dedae!”

Dani was tearful, holding a toothbrush in his fern-like hand and tapping it with anger.

“Where did you learn such words…?” I wondered.

As I muttered, the shadow in the room flinched.

I asked No-bun.

“What’s going on?”

“I was brushing His Highness’s teeth and accidentally touched his uvula. I apologized, but he keeps getting angry…”

Come to think of it, Dani’s mouth is full of foam.

“No-bun made a mistake, but you should be generous and let it go since it was a mistake. You shouldn’t get angry over small things as the Crown Prince.”

As I hugged Dani and scolded him, he flinched.

“Mianhae…” [I’m sorry…]

Dani apologized to No-bun hesitantly.

I looked at No-bun and asked,

“But why are you brushing his teeth yourself?”

A Sangseon-level [a high-ranking eunuch] guy like you should have subordinates do it.

“The toothpaste seems to be very spicy for His Highness. He stays still when I brush his teeth, so I’m doing it myself…”

“Toothpaste is spicy?”

What did I put in the toothpaste when I made it?

‘First, soda for cleaning and whitening.’

Getting soda was the most challenging problem, but it could be obtained from the ashes of burnt seaweed.

‘And bamboo salt, mint, starch…’

Bamboo salt prevents gum disease and also acts as an abrasive. Mint alleviates bad breath, and starch helps mix the ingredients.

This kind of natural toothpaste is still used in modern times, so it’s quite effective.

You can tell just by the fact that I still don’t have any teeth problems.

So I was trying to establish good brushing habits for our child from a young age.

“When other eunuchs try to brush his teeth, he runs away all the time, so I have no choice but to take charge, ahem.”

“Why are you so proud?”

It’s not something to brag about.

You should be thinking of a solution.

‘Is it because of the mint?’

I added it for the fragrance, but it might be spicy for a child.

‘Should I come up with strawberry-flavored toothpaste?’

But if I grind strawberries and put them in, would it even make sense to brush?

Lost in serious thought, I looked up at the announcement that Grand Prince Chungnyeong had arrived.

“Your Majesty, Grand Prince Chungnyeong has entered the palace.”

“Let him in.”

He was the one I had been eagerly waiting for, yet he entered so leisurely.

As expected, Do, who had entered the palace, pouted at seeing the youngest.

“You ruthlessly kicked out your other sons because they got married, but you still keep the youngest in the palace. I’m very disappointed.”

Take it up with the former king.

You’ve received my favoritism more than anyone else, never less.

“Stop with the nonsense, what’s happening with ‘that’?”

“I have revised it as you ordered, Brother.”

Grand Prince Chungnyeong carefully held out the paper.

I sighed in relief at the sight.

“It’s a bit more normal this time.”

It’s still different from the finished version I know, but I wanted to give him extra points for finding the right path.

‘What should I say about the letters he brought at first…’

It was terrible.

Chungnyeong said that as soon as he heard my advice to refer to the vocal organs, he went straight to Pyungwonhae.

“Didn’t you already allow dissection, Brother? Since the structure of the human body has already been thoroughly revealed, we should definitely refer to the anatomical diagrams!”

The resulting letters had a very grotesque aura.

“Gyeongnyeong-gun seemed very shocked when he saw it.”

“…While I was creating it, I didn’t pay attention to how it would look to others.”

Even if it appeared on *Surprise!* [a Korean TV show featuring strange or unbelievable stories] hundreds of years later as alien letters, I would have nothing to say.

I ordered the evil letters to be sealed deep in the archives to protect the royal family’s honor.

However, regardless of its appearance, it was remarkable that he had created a somewhat systematic writing system in such a short period of time with only a few hints.

“This time, I have created the vowels (母音) that you ordered, based on the elements of heaven, earth, and man (天地人).”

The vowel system of ‘ㆍ’, ‘ㅡ’, ‘ㅣ’ has already been completed.

The consonants need a little more work…

Do paused as I showed signs of mentioning revisions.

“Surely, not again?”

“Yes. Again.”

Do sighed.

“But my eyes haven’t been very good lately. I read books so often that they feel stiff and blurry, so I don’t know if it will be done in a short period of time.”

Do rubbed his eyes and pretended to be in pain.

‘It’s probably not all pretense.’

Even if he says this, he’s the type who can’t tolerate it if he doesn’t like the result, so he’s probably not making up stories.

“You’ve been poring over books since you were young; it’s amazing that your eyes have held up this long.”

You should thank Yi Seong-gye [founder and the first king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea] for passing on strong genes.

That goes for all of our brothers.

“Wait and see.”

“Do you have a good idea?”

Do asked, his face brightening.

A good idea. Of course, I do.

“Do you remember that I made a telescope?”

“I do.”

It’s now being replicated and used in the Three Armies Department.

“If you can cut glass to see far away, why can’t people wear it?”

I need to order them to make glasses underneath.

Adjusting the focus of the glasses will require trial and error, but if you keep cutting the glass until it works, you’ll succeed.

They may be less durable or have larger lenses than modern glasses, but people in the old days used them just fine.

“If you know the method, Brother, I will bear all the costs!”

“Ah, don’t worry about the cost either.”

I know you’re rich, but I’m your brother, so I’ll get you glasses.

“This is like a *gwijang* [walking stick and stool given to elderly officials as a sign of respect] that your brother is giving you as a gift.”

“A *gwijang*…”

You’ll have to attend diligently until you’re 80, so of course, I can give you glasses instead of a *gwijang*.

Don’t you think?

< Money Goes Around and Around (3) > End

ⓒ Pit-Kong