There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 35

< Days at the Training Institute (2) >

The results came out in less than ten days.

The Ministry of Taxation officials, who had undergone Hwanghee’s special Spartan training, accomplished the great task of reorganizing the country’s ledgers from scratch.

“See, you can do it if you try, can’t you?”

Taejong Lee Bang-won unfolded the report and laughed heartily.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Indeed, the officials of our Ministry of Taxation have worked very hard.”

Minister of Taxation, Kim Han-ro, said triumphantly.

He hadn’t done anything, but following the Crown Prince’s orders was enough to receive praise from Lee Bang-won.

The ministers of the Six Ministries were greatly astonished by this sight.

“Kim Han-ro, who did nothing, is being praised like that!”

“What are my subordinates doing!”

The ministers, who were secretly pleased that the Ministry of Taxation was chosen as the first, clicked their tongues when the situation turned out like this.

Moreover, those with practical skills couldn’t help but acknowledge the usefulness of the documents that were presented as examples.

They were able to create visual materials using charts and perform more efficient data processing and analysis.

In later years, Jeong Yak-yong of the Joseon Dynasty received Jeongjo’s favor by organizing a cartload of documents onto a single sheet of paper using principles similar to Excel’s pivot tables.

The information processing skills training that the Ministry of Taxation officials received was also the same.

“The officials who entered the East Palace are begging to be sent home, so please allow them to complete the training.”

It was unavoidable that a large number of zombies were produced in the process, trapped in the *gollak* [a type of forced labor camp].

===

Lee Bang-won wasn’t the only one who paid attention to the administrative innovation I was leading.

Merchants, who needed to be quick with calculations more than anyone else, were thirsty for such methods.

Baek Dal-won, the best merchant in Joseon, couldn’t have missed this scent.

“It’s an honor to have you visit us, Your Highness,” I said bluntly while receiving Baek Dal-won’s greetings.

“I would have preferred to see you inside the palace rather than here.”

– Your Highness, how can you bring a lowly merchant into the palace!

– Although Baek Dal-won served as the Head of Five Provinces during the construction of Hanyang [the capital of Joseon] as a member of meritorious subjects, he is now a commoner, so it is absolutely impossible!

Even though there were things to discuss regarding the construction of Hanyang, the officials made such a fuss that I had no choice but to leave the palace myself.

Baek Dal-won smiled bitterly and said.

“Their words are also correct, so there’s nothing I can do.”

“Damn it, I swear to heaven that one day I will sew their mouths shut with needles.”

I should develop a sewing machine for that day.

The reason why the officials keep interfering with everything I do is because of the so-called ‘East Palace *Gollak*’.

Before I knew it, that name was attached because they said they were trapped and only had to provide unlimited labor.

In particular, the guys who completed the training and went outside were at the forefront of spreading the bad rumors.

“*Gollak*? It’s clearly an information processing skills training center. Who on earth came up with that name and spread it around?”

They’re talking like they’ve never seen a real *gollak*.

I decided that if I caught the guy spreading the rumors, I would send the useful ones to the training center and the useless ones to the Geumju *Gollak*.

Then, Baek Dal-won carefully brought up the topic while watching my expression.

“Actually, our Hansang [a large merchant organization] is also considering introducing Your Highness’s techniques this time.”

“That’s a wise idea!”

As expected, Baek Dal-won was a sensible person.

‘These merchants have better heads than those stuffy officials.’

I was thinking of bringing the working-level officials and training them to eliminate the backlash.

‘Whether they’re commoners or not, I need to quickly distribute Arabic numerals and overhaul the administration.’

It’ll be boring for Hwanghee to only meet with the Six Ministries officials anyway.

It felt like only yesterday that he was crying and begging to be released from his confinement, but now he was silent and just doing his job well.

“Pick out talented young people and send them. There’s no distinction of status in learning,” I said with a hearty laugh.

He must have asked for learning because he already knew that such opportunities were rare.

I nodded with a pleased expression.

But there was a practical problem.

‘The buildings built in the East Palace won’t be enough.’

And there’s also the issue of bringing outsiders into the palace.

I was thinking of moving to another location because the smell was too strong.

‘Anyway, when I go back to Hanyang to work, the East Palace will have to be vacated. Should I build a building near Hanyang instead?’

The Hanyang capital is full of my plans, and training centers tend to be built in secluded areas.

And I had a perfect place.

‘Yeouido!’

After suppressing Jo Sa-ui’s rebellion, I was granted the Neobeol Island of the Han River.

‘Should I just turn the entire Yeouido into a research complex?’

The Military Supplies Office is also scheduled to be built in the nearby Yongsan River, so it didn’t seem like a bad idea to build this place as a research complex slightly away from Hanyang.

As a stepping stone to promote commerce and industry.

‘If this is to succeed, I need to give more power to Hansang.’

Although the Hanyang Merchants Association holds the rights to sell stores in the market, the market is not yet completed.

Baek Dal-won is leading it with his reputation and political power, but the game can be broken at any time if his own power is weak.

I wanted to somehow solidify Baek Dal-won’s position, who initially served Lee Seong-gye and is now in a position similar to my vassal.

Even if my grandfather and I are backing him, you never know what might happen.

Baek Dal-won stroked his beard, whether he knew my thoughts or not, and said.

“Ah, and I have good news for Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“There are signs that they are trying to drive out Oh Jong-soo, the *Daebang* [head merchant] of Songsang, from within.”

Oh Jong-soo, who threw *엿* [a type of Korean taffy] at me?

It looks like he’s finally going to get some tough love.

“Your Highness’s plan worked, and half of Songsang’s merchants moved to Hanyang, so the blame has finally surfaced.

I heard that several *Dobangs* [merchant guilds] are plotting to drive out Oh Jong-soo and promote someone else as *Daebang*.”

“Oh ho, it seems like that family is also a mess.”

I’ve been too busy to pay attention to the inside of Songsang, but Baek Dal-won catches this information and brings it to me.

The more I see him, the more I think I did well to make him my man.

“So, what should we do?”

When I asked, Baek Dal-won said with a mysterious face.

“If you ask me, I have no choice but to tell you what I want. Your Highness must get the results you want.”

“What I want?”

Baek Dal-won would want Songsang to be scattered to the point where it can’t compete with Hansang.

But when I asked if that was what I wanted, I tilted my head.

“If Songsang falls into chaos, won’t there be disruptions in the supply of dyes?”

“The dyes they hold will not disappear anyway. Even if the giant group called Songsang is scattered, it will only be temporarily chaotic.”

And Hansang will grow even bigger in that gap.

Isn’t this what I want?

I shook my head.

‘Monopoly is the biggest problem. I almost forgot that.’

The purpose of creating Hansang with Baek Dal-won at the forefront was to prevent the evils like Songsang.

Baek Dal-won wouldn’t do that, but it’s obvious what will happen to Hansang in later generations when the competitors disappear.

Let’s recall why Oh Jong-soo, a mere merchant, was able to show such boldness in front of me.

‘But Oh Jong-soo has already lost the trust of the people inside. There’s no need to keep him around.’

He is not the *Daebang* who controls Songsang, but a mere merchant. His influence is nothing.

“If we establish a justification and arrest Oh Jong-soo, Songsang will naturally put forward a new *Daebang*, right?”

“They seem to want that too. The new Songsang *Daebang* will not try to protect him, and will owe Your Highness a great debt.”

Baek Dal-won smiled.

Instead of helping the coup, he will make Songsang act as my dog in the future.

I looked straight at Baek Dal-won and said.

“Indeed, Merchant Baek, you knew I would make this choice.”

“As the representative of Hansang, I should have watched the fall of Songsang, but I just thought that this would be better for Your Highness to get the greatest benefit.

I have never given any advice, so please don’t overpraise me,” Baek Dal-won said quietly.

He muttered in a low voice.

“He’s a man who succeeded by acting in accordance with the chaotic times in the chaotic times, but now he can’t give that habit to others and is falling.”

He showed courage and succeeded as a human being who survived the apocalypse era of the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties, when the authority of the king was at rock bottom, but now it was not such an era.

The authority of the court and the royal family was strong, and the people under Oh Jong-soo knew that fact very well.

That’s why something like this happened today.

Baek Dal-won’s expression was somehow bitter as he watched the scene of his contemporary collapsing while showing off his bravado.

‘So, who told you to mess with me behind my back?’

Of course, I was happy about it.

===

We agreed to only deal with Oh Jong-soo without dismantling Songsang, but I couldn’t leave Hansang alone like this.

At least I need to attach a good sponsor.

Fortunately, I had rich uncles.

“We are so moved to see Your Highness the Crown Prince like this.”

‘I’ve seen them countless times since I was a kid, what is this.’

I clicked my tongue at Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil’s flattery.

They seemed very proud to be the Crown Prince’s uncles now.

I don’t know how long that will last.

‘Poor mother.’

She must think that a flowery path has opened up from now on, but her family is going to be destroyed.

The Yeoheung Min clan was too big.

Moreover, my brothers-in-law were all meritorious subjects, so Lee Bang-won must be very worried.

‘But what can I do? They’re family, so I have to save them once.’

I didn’t want Lee Seong-gye to lose his will and live a listless life either.

I wanted to prevent the downfall of my mother’s family if possible.

In that sense, I showed great favor to my uncles.

“Go to Hanyang.”

“Yes?”

Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil blinked.

“Are you telling us to resign?”

“Yes, for a while.”

The two uncles looked at each other and burst into absurd laughter.

“Your Highness, what are you talking about?”

“We’re still in our prime, why resign?”

“Anyway, when the capital is moved, the Min family will have to go to Hanyang, so go there now and secure your positions in advance and make money.”

I had resolved the emotional issues between Lee Bang-won and Queen Wongyeong to some extent, so now I had to prevent the purges that were taking place due to political judgments.

“And invest in Hansang.”

And push Baek Dal-won at the same time.

‘It’s better to concentrate on business than to meddle in politics and get angry.’

I’m really an angel, aren’t I?

I’m finding a way for my uncles to live and giving them a chance to make money.

‘There’s no nephew like this.’

If Baek Dal-won’s skills are demonstrated in the gap where Songsang is faltering, Hansang will surely become a large-scale merchant group surpassing Songsang.

At this time, it would be good to show loyalty by moving the family roots to Hanyang first and expressing their intention to self-reflect.

‘If they step down once like that, my father won’t call them again.’

Since the troublesome brothers-in-law have stepped down on their own, he won’t revive his worries.

“If we step down from our positions once, will His Majesty call us again?” Min Mu-gu said without noticing my subtle request.

‘That’s why I’m telling you not to call them.’

Why are you going down the road to death?

“Ah, I’m the Crown Prince, can’t I solve something like that? Don’t you know how much my father cherishes me?”

When I shouted loudly, my uncles’ eyes shook.

The Crown Prince is a guaranteed future power, so even if they’re unlucky, they can come back at least when I ascend the throne.

Of course, I have no intention of doing that at all.

“Even now, many high-ranking officials are opposing the relocation of the capital to Hanyang, so His Majesty is very upset. If you give up your official positions and move your family, how great will the impression be?”

“Hmm hmm.”

They’re falling for it, they’re falling for it…

“Besides.”

I smiled at my two uncles.

“Soon, Hansang will handle something as precious as gold.”

I, who extracted silver from stones, guarantee it.

This is a promising business.

Our family, let’s all live well together.

< Days at the Training Institute (2) > End

ⓒ Pitkong