There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 62

Let's Do Business (2)

I immediately summoned Baek Dalwon.

Having taken over Han Sang’s duties after Han Sang’s retirement, he looked like he would be very exhausted. But unexpectedly, Baek Dalwon’s face looked as bright as it used to be.

“How is business going these days?”

“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, we are on a roll.”

Han Sang is a coalition of several merchants based in Hanyang.

The most central of these was the business that I invested in and Baek Dalwon managed.

As Han Sang’s size grew, Baek Dalwon’s voice inevitably grew louder, making it a matter of great interest.

I asked with a deliberately mischievous expression.

“But I know you’re still not up to the Song Sang, right?”

Then Baek Dalwon prostrated himself without hesitation and said.

“The trading volume of each affiliated merchant group has already surpassed Song Sang. By next year (明年, *myeongnyeon*, next year), we will definitely surpass Song Sang.”

In fact, Han Sang still had a weak foundation compared to Song Sang, which had hundreds of years of history.

To quickly solidify its base, it poached merchants from Song Sang and distributed enormous vested interests to them, such as granting them various government-licensed stores and exclusively supplying them with solar salt. But that alone was not enough.

‘It’s a great achievement for a merchant group that hasn’t been established for long.’

I need to tighten the reins on my subordinates from time to time like this.

In that respect, Baek Dalwon passed the test.

He didn’t utter any excuses that I already knew and could have made, but only presented his vision for the future.

As expected, Baek Dalwon is a great merchant.

I thought so and asked.

“Okay, I will support Han Sang in every way, so I hope it will be as you said.”

Even now, Han Sang was supplying most of the materials needed for the construction of Hanyang.

That proportion would increase as the construction progressed.

Song Sang was visibly shrinking as it repeatedly failed in major projects.

This was because of Oh Jong-soo’s trolling, so the Song Sang merchants must have really wanted to catch him and kill him.

The man himself somehow found a way to survive and stuck to this side.

“What did you do with Oh Jong-soo after that?”

It was thanks to Oh Jong-soo’s detailed confession of the proposals he had received that I was able to catch the tail of the Gaegyeong faction this time.

If it hadn’t been for that confession, I wouldn’t have imagined that there were people who were so determined to stab me in the back.

“I gave him a way to make a decent living. He won’t be able to act like a big merchant (大商, *daesang*) like before.”

“Hmm.”

Considering that he rebelled against me, it would be nice if he was kicked out of Song Sang and wandered around miserably, but I’ve already squeezed him as much as I needed to, so it doesn’t matter.

Meanwhile, Baek Dalwon said to me.

“So, what brings you here?”

Baek Dalwon knows that I would never call him unless it was something important.

Okay, that’s enough of the introduction.

“Isn’t it time to start planning other businesses?”

“Other businesses, you mean…?”

“You weren’t thinking of just buying and selling salt, were you?”

“Of course not.”

Baek Dalwon’s eyes lit up.

“I have been thinking about that a lot.”

In fact, solar salt was a great hit product, but there was nothing else that I particularly liked as an item of Han Sang.

Of course, I could make a living just by monopolizing solar salt, but neither I nor Baek Dalwon were the kind of people who would be satisfied with that.

“I’m going to start trading outside the country.”

“Are you talking about the Jurchens?”

“That’s right.”

He understands immediately.

Since the Ming Dynasty has issued a maritime ban, it is impossible to openly engage in private trade. And for Han Sang, which lacks maritime capabilities, it is impossible to trade with Japan.

Then the only place left is the Jurchens.

It was not difficult to build a distribution network to reach the Jurchens.

Baek Dalwon, the head of the peddlers, is sitting as the head of the merchant group.

“I’m planning to open a mutual market (互市, *hosi*) in the adjacent area for trade.”

After discussing with Yi Seong-gye, I came to the conclusion that it would be best to set up trading posts in the areas of Gyeongseong (鏡城) and Gyeongwon (慶源).

Yi Bang-won’s approval was still pending, but would my father, who had never lost anything by listening to me, really refuse?

In the end, it was obvious that permission would be granted.

“Is there anything we can bring from the Jurchens?”

Baek Dalwon asked.

He must know the types of trade goods produced in Jurchen, but he is asking what I want.

“We can bring ginseng, animal skins such as tiger and otter skins, Dongju (東珠, pearls), and Bukma (北馬, northern horses) from the Jurchens. Which of these should we secure?”

…There’s more than I thought?

‘Ginseng isn’t very interesting until red ginseng comes out, but…’

I can fix that.

Various leathers and pearls are also luxury goods that are very attractive.

‘Ugh, if I sweep all of that, I can play the role of a chaebol [conglomerate owner] in this era?’

My greed was creeping up, but I shook my head.

There is something else I need to secure first.

“The supply of warhorses is the most urgent.”

Let’s deal with the horse problem first.

That was what Yi Seong-gye was particularly interested in.

‘He was urging me to create some cavalry.’

He wants the entire central army to be at the Gabyeolcho level.

I thought his greed was too much, but I couldn’t help but listen to my grandfather’s urging.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Baek Dalwon said with a determined expression.

“What they want is, of course, salt and iron (鹽鐵)……”

“Agricultural tools, pots, and oxen (農牛) are also very popular. They cannot produce their own means of production, so they always turn to us.

Thanks to Your Highness, there are many good iron products coming out, so we can do a great business.”

That’s right, that’s right.

It’s all thanks to me.

As I was nodding, I had a question about Baek Dalwon’s words.

Do the Jurchens need agricultural tools?

“Aren’t the Jurchens people who live by herding?”

When I asked, Baek Dalwon looked embarrassed for a moment, but then returned to his calm.

“Why do you ask?”

“Your Highness. The Jurchens herd, but they also farm.”

Really?

I thought the Jurchens lived like Mongols, building gers [yurts] and living as nomads.

I didn’t know they also farmed.

“People in the south have no way of knowing how the Jurchens live, so that’s understandable. Your Highness has never been there, have you?”

“Haha, that’s right.”

‘Hmm, then……’

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

But before I could concretize it, Baek Dalwon asked.

“Then are you entrusting this mutual market to our Han Sang?”

If I get the trade rights with the Jurchens, it’s like a tiger getting wings.

But I shook my head lightly.

“I’m thinking of including Song Sang in this mutual market.”

“Is that so?”

A hint of disappointment flickered across Baek Dalwon’s face.

He is my vassal, but now that he has completely established himself as the representative of Han Sang, he must have thought it was a precious opportunity.

But if Song Sang thinks they are being treated too unfairly, they might join my opposition again.

He chased out the person who caused the problem and wagged his tail at me, so I need to show him some favor.

“Don’t be so disappointed. Han Sang has a firm grip on solar salt, and the same goes for various iron products, so Song Sang’s competitiveness will be insignificant.”

Establishing itself as the second-place that cannot aim for the first place.

That’s what I want from Song Sang.

When I said that, Baek Dalwon smiled.

“Business is not always as planned. Song Sang will consider this as the only breakthrough given to them and will do their best, so I cannot let my guard down.

I have to start preparing now so that Song Sang doesn’t ruin our plans.”

Seeing Baek Dalwon so full of competitive spirit, it seems difficult for Song Sang to make a miraculous comeback.

Baek Dalwon grinned.

“I’ll have a lot to do.”

“So you don’t like it?”

“How can a merchant dislike making a profit? I’ve been going back and forth to Hamgyeong-do since I was young, so it’s actually good.”

Is that so?

I’m already shivering at the thought of going to that far place.

‘I can’t not go because it’s my grandfather’s order.’

If Baek Dalwon builds a base there, I should take a look when I go to the Northeast with Yi Seong-gye.

I’m already looking forward to seeing how Baek Dalwon puts a leash on them.

===

Baek Dalwon immediately started working.

The Hanyang Construction Office was also struggling with the problem of building various facilities on the site of the Training Command, but it was mostly resolved.

Changdeokgung Palace was already more than half finished.

“I wanted to make this a two-story brick building, too.”

This damn Korean traditional house.

Unlike when I was building the market street, it was several times more difficult.

“Hey, then it won’t be cool. How can you maintain the dignity of a royal palace if you use buildings that are lined up in a row and look the same, so you don’t know where is where?”

Yi Suk-beon shook his hand and said.

“The market is already crowded with people, so what are you talking about?”

“That’s because it’s a building where lowly merchants come and go. It’s a style that didn’t exist in this country of Joseon, so that’s understandable.

But how can you put such an eyesore in the place where the king resides, Ack!”

I silently kicked Yi Suk-beon’s shin hard.

‘Is this bastard daring to insult my aesthetic sense?’

I am a person who considers Korea’s lined-up Jugong apartment complexes to be the most beautiful residential complexes.

If I had built Changdeokgung Palace like that, I would have built two more by now.

Wooden buildings are a pain to manage.

“If I ever have to build a palace again, I should definitely suggest it to Abama [His Majesty, the King].”

It saves costs and time, so how good is it?

The officials of the Hanyang Construction Office froze when I said that.

“Your Highness, we will work harder, so please take back those words!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to find a way to mobilize additional workers instead?”

The vassals were suddenly expressing their desire to work.

Well, such a passionate attitude.

As expected, the upper stream must be clear for the lower stream to be clear. Isn’t it all because they learned from me?

“Get that Geo Maeng Nangsas to come quickly!”

“Hey, don’t rush him. Nurungyi is going at the pace of other cows.”

“Abandon that calf and switch to a horse. You have to go back to Gaeseong quickly so that Your Highness doesn’t have any strange thoughts!”

I glanced back at the sound of Heo Jo and Maeng Sa-seong chattering behind me, and Maeng Sa-seong was riding his Nurungyi and moving along with the other pack animals.

I smiled at the sight.

The road was narrow and full of poop when I first came to Hanyang, but now that the main road has been completed, there is enough space for several cows to pass by together.

The fact that the procession is not delayed at all despite the large number of people is proof of that.

Now I have to open this main road to Gaeseong to the north, or even Pyongyang or Uiju. And to Dongnae in the south.

I have to make a lot of money by then.

Unlike Hanyang, the difference in roads was even more noticeable when I arrived in Gaeseong.

“Your Highness, please enter Gaeseong first. The road is narrow and we cannot pass all at once, so it would be better to bring in the luggage later.”

The officials also felt it, and at first they showed signs of embarrassment, but soon they looked disappointed.

“It seems that Hanyang has really become the capital.”

Hwanghui said that.

Hanyang seemed like a small city when compared to Gaeseong at first, but now Gaeseong seemed to have lost its vitality.

Hanyang was under construction everywhere, while Gaeseong had not changed much from the past, so it was natural.

It will get worse as the relocation begins and the population is sucked into Hanyang.

‘Hmm.’

Even though I was in conflict with the Gaegyeong faction, I didn’t particularly want Gaeseong to collapse.

I wonder if the angry Gaeseong residents will try to stab me.

After pondering for a while, I pointed to one side with my chin and said.

“Aren’t you guys hungry?”

“We are, but…”

“Then let’s go eat at the market over there.”

Then Yi Suk-beon jumped out and said.

“Your Highness, we’re not far from the palace, so please bear with it. How can we mix with those lowly people in such a place…?”

Yi Suk-beon, who was babbling, quietly shut his mouth when I glared at him.

‘This bastard has no tact.’

I have to eat *oden* [fishcake skewers] in the market from time to time to build goodwill with the people.

“Stop talking nonsense and guide me.”

Let’s show off the Crown Prince’s face this time.

End

ⓒ Pitkong

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine a Joseon dynasty unlike any you've read before, where the throne isn't yours by right, but by cunning and strategy. What if the most revered king in Korean history, Sejong the Great, was your younger brother? Forced to confront a destiny not of your choosing, you face a daunting question: Can you truly surrender to fate, or will you defy it to forge your own legend in a kingdom ripe with ambition and intrigue? Dive into a world where blood is thicker than water, but power is the ultimate prize. Will you yield, or will you rise?

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