There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 321

322. < Culling (2) >

“You caught Dang Sae-ah?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She might as well have vanished into thin air.

Dang Sae-ah, who had eluded capture so miraculously in Ming [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644], was caught with absurd ease by us.

That’s because refugees don’t have many places to turn to.

She probably came to Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] with dreams of making a comeback, but she was just a rat in a trap.

“So, what do we do with this woman…?”

“Shouldn’t we report this to Ming, of course?”

“Why?”

“Well… she’s a traitor who fled Ming…”

I shook my head at Wang Ho’s words.

“That’s true. But if we announce that we’ve captured Dang Sae-ah, how will they react?”

“They will request her extradition. Isn’t she a traitor who stirred up Shandong [a coastal province in Eastern China]?”

Dang Sae-ah herself isn’t particularly valuable.

She’s not a talent we can’t afford to lose; at best, she’s just the leader of a failed peasant revolt.

From Joseon’s perspective, she’s also a potential rebel trying to make a comeback.

But the problem lies elsewhere.

“Wouldn’t the refugees also be viewed with suspicion?”

The Ming dynasty desperately demanded the repatriation of the Mansan soldiers who had leaked from Liaodong [a major peninsula in Northeast China] during the Jeongnan Rebellion.

“The reason they aren’t demanding the repatriation of refugees now is because their internal affairs are chaotic and they lack the power to force us.”

Ming is pouring its efforts into recovery, so there’s no reason to waste energy on taking back refugees.

“But if the notorious traitor Dang Sae-ah is involved, Ming will be furious.”

The White Lotus remnants who escaped in the chaos are one thing, but Dang Sae-ah was a key leader of the White Lotus Rebellion.

If Ming hears that she and other high-ranking White Lotus officials have fled to Joseon, they won’t stand idly by.

‘They may have suspicions, but there’s no need to give them direct confirmation.’

Then, inevitably, the refugees in our hands will also be affected.

‘Why would I return those who have come into my hands?’

People are flocking to sparsely populated Manchuria [a historical region in Northeast Asia] on their own.

The Liaodong economy is closely tied to Joseon due to the mining boom we initiated, and the refugees are the core of that labor force.

We are devising strategies to assimilate them as much as possible, so repatriating the refugees would burden the mines, which would lose skilled workers, and the Liaodong economy as well.

Wang Ho, understanding my explanation, asked with shining eyes.

“Then, should we get rid of her without a trace?”

“No. The White Lotus guys probably know that Dang Sae-ah has entered Joseon.”

If Dang Sae-ah suddenly disappears, they might cause trouble.

“Instead, how about gathering all the hardcore White Lotus followers and sending them somewhere?”

“Are you referring to the Dragon Palace?”

“……”

That’s our family’s specialty, but I plan to keep it sealed, at least while I’m in charge.

Because we have to protect the ocean.

“From what I see, what they want is to build their own new world. Sending them far away to live on their own wouldn’t be bad.”

“Will they obey willingly?”

“If they don’t obey?”

Dang Sae-ah is in our hands anyway.

They’ll have to listen if they don’t want their leader killed.

“How many are classified as hardcore White Lotus followers?”

“According to the monks and leaders, most of those who came from Shandong now attend the Dharma assembly. Those who don’t are at most about a thousand.”

Most of the White Lotus followers are not modern-day cult members who have been brainwashed; they are people who rose up because they had no way to make a living.

Therefore, they quickly changed their tune once they became accustomed to life and were given another path.

In other words, those who do not respond here can be regarded as hardcore followers who live and die by Dang Sae-ah’s words.

I was planning to weed them out anyway, so this is good.

“Come to think of it, I heard that the Jowa Kingdom needs people.”

The national power of Majapahit [a former major maritime empire in Southeast Asia, based on the island of Java] is declining day by day.

They were a key ally who provided us with a base for Southeast Asian trade, and we also sold gunpowder weapons to Majapahit without reservation.

“The invasion of Islam is becoming increasingly severe.”

“We’ve been content to watch the show and eat the rice cake until now.”

Ming was behind the decline of Majapahit and the rise of Islamic forces in Southeast Asia.

Even the Malacca Sultanate, which had relations with us, became a great power with Ming’s support.

The problem is that the leash on these Islamic forces in the region has been loosened as Ming has turned to isolationism.

I legitimately inherited Ming’s influence from Emperor Hongxi, but it was uncertain whether they would readily acknowledge this.

‘If sea routes become unstable, both Indian trade and Singapore will be at risk.’

We need to quickly expand the Cheonghaejin Fleet and urge the Ryukyu [an island chain in the East China Sea] guys as well.

Until then, Majapahit will have to hold out.

“The Jowa Kingdom is our ally, so how can we turn a blind eye? The White Lotus people are fierce but deeply believe in the teachings of Maitreya [a future Buddha], so if the Jowa Kingdom gives them a small piece of land, they will gladly step forward to stop the Muslims.”

For now, let’s start with a thousand White Lotus followers.

Let’s entice them by saying we’ll help them build a Buddhist paradise in the south.

===

The Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute] regularly publishes research reports and holds meetings to present them to officials.

The content of the report that Jeong In-ji will present this time is about the population trends of Joseon.

The statistics and numbers gathered at the Jiphyeonjeon research institute led him to discover a certain trend.

Liaodong is the front line for absorbing refugees.

As a result of the influx of refugees, the population of Liaodong is rapidly increasing.

However, population growth is also noticeable in mainland Joseon and the northern regions, where refugees from Ming are rarely found.

This isn’t a one- or two-day phenomenon.

The population of Joseon has been increasing sharply since the time of the former king.

It could be seen as a result of the increased population detected as administrative power was expanded and miscellaneous taxes disappeared, but that had already been established more than ten years ago.

In other words, the numbers that are increasing now are purely naturally increasing populations.

What Jeong In-ji focused on was the number of newly born children.

‘It’s increasing really fast.’

The population increase under the current reign is clearly not normal.

People are still giving birth to about six children, just like before, but the situation is different from before, when two or three of them would die before growing up.

The epidemics that occurred every year have subsided considerably due to water quality management and the invention of Madu [likely referring to a form of inoculation or medicine], and those who are well-fed and raised don’t die easily even if they get sick.

Those who grow up to be adults will give birth to children again.

“Isn’t this all proof that we’ve worked hard?”

“That’s right. There can’t be a more noticeable achievement than the census.”

“According to my calculations, the number of people doubles every 30 years.”

“Doubles!”

Including Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong, who are in this position, high-ranking officials were purely delighted with this remarkable achievement, contrary to Jeong In-ji’s intentions.

An increase in the census means that the court has governed well.

For those who have been working like slaves, assisting the King since he was a prince, Jeong In-ji’s words were welcome.

“If the population doubles every few decades, doesn’t that mean that the land that one person can cultivate will decrease accordingly?”

“What are you worried about? There’s still plenty of land left.”

Early Joseon.

An era when people were more precious than land.

That’s why the former king was able to push through the Daedong Act [a tax reform act] without hesitation, and even then, landlords couldn’t pass on the rent to tenant farmers.

Even in Samnam [the three southern provinces of Korea, known for their fertile land], the best granary in Joseon, there is plenty of land to be reclaimed, and not to mention the northern regions.

The country is trying to settle Joseon people even by giving them vast lands.

“How long will it take for all of that desolate northern region to be filled with people? It’s impossible.”

Choe Yun-deok had been a military commander in the northern region, where there were no people to be found no matter how far he went.

When he spoke with confidence, Jeong In-ji flinched and took a step back.

“I, I just mentioned it as a possibility.

It just means that according to the calculations, that place will eventually be filled with people. Even if there is no land left, the number of people will continue to increase.”

The population doubles every generation, but food only increases little by little.

No matter how vast the northern territory is, can it accommodate all of them?

Even at this rate, the Joseon land will be teeming with people, and it won’t be long before there is not enough land even after pushing the increasing people to the cold northern regions.

The prediction is that the amount of grain produced will be less than the number of people, leading to ruin.

But the officials didn’t really understand.

‘Isn’t this just unrealistic number play?’

‘If the census increases, the number of taxpayers also increases, and the number of soldiers that can be mobilized also increases.’

‘Even if we push them to go, they don’t go to that northern land, but you’re saying it will be filled with people?’

The officials only gave the customary words of appreciation for listening well, and soon forgot everything they had heard.

However, policy research published by the Jiphyeonjeon is an issue that can be linked to national policies, so it always leaks out one way or another.

This research, which was overlooked by most people except for a few, began to receive attention in a completely unexpected place.

===

‘That’s an incredibly luxurious worry.’

As someone who lived in an era facing a crisis of low birth rates due to the extinction of storks [a metaphor for declining birth rates], I couldn’t help but make such an assessment.

I also have three children.

In modern Korea, that’s not a small number, and I would be praised as a patriot, but it’s different in the Joseon Dynasty.

If Dan-i wasn’t strong, memorials demanding that I have another son at all costs would have been showered on me from all directions.

‘Actually, they still come up.’

Anyway, Jeong In-ji’s research was quite interesting to me.

Isn’t that why there is a population control period called the chaotic era every two hundred years in the Central Plains [historical name for the central area of China]?

In this era, the reason for the chaotic era is often found in the tyranny of foolish kings, and it seems that it is not receiving much attention because it is partly true.

“I think there is some truth to his argument.”

I widened my eyes as No-boon spoke from the side.

No-boon has the insight to recognize this?

‘If a dog stays in a school for three years, it can recite poetry [an idiom meaning that even a fool can learn something with enough exposure].’

Well, it’s already been 18 years since No-boon saw and learned from a great superior.

I asked, admiring my close aide’s remarkable progress.

“Then do you also know how the court should respond?”

“Of course.”

“Yes. Devote yourself even more to the development and dissemination of farming methods…”

“I think it would be right to order the lowly to refrain from having children from now on.”

“……”

I was speechless for a moment.

“Are you saying that just because you can’t have children, no one else should have them?”

In a Confucian country where both nobles and commoners value continuing the lineage above all else, such outrageous remarks!

As I was preparing to scold him, No-boon hurriedly cowered and made excuses.

“I, I saw it in an article written by a scholar!”

“A scholar?”

Well, No-boon is not the type of guy who thinks and lives so independently.

“Where on earth is such an article circulating that you picked up such a thing?”

“In the Yeoheung Soonbo…”

Yeoheung Soonbo is the newspaper founded by Min In-saeng.

My maternal uncle invested in it, and it seems that they named it Yeoheung Soonbo because the Yeoheung Min family collaborated to found it.

I quickly ordered them to bring the Yeoheung Soonbo.

– Recently, the court is said to be worried that the country will be teeming with people, that there will be no land to cultivate, and that it will lose its way.

Since people’s lives are in the hands of heaven, it would be good to stop inoculating the common people with Madu to eliminate unnecessary expenses, and to prevent those who do not need to continue the lineage from having children….

“Who wrote this kind of article?”

A cold voice automatically came out of my mouth.

< Culling (2) > End

ⓒ Pitkong