Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 126
Episode 126: National Joseon Battlefield. (1)
“Did you find Abama?”
“okay. “I called you because I have something to entrust to you.”
“Are you talking about Soja?”
Hyang became very nervous at Sejong’s words. This was because although he had handled many of the matters that came up to Sejong, he never passed them over by saying this.
“There’s a lot to take care of. “Would you mind tidying up first?”
This was the line that Sejong used when passing the work over to Hyang.
‘But you said you had something to entrust to me without question?’
Sejong’s unusual words made Hyang’s tension rise to its peak.
‘The level of difficulty is the highest!’
“Please give me your name.” “I will do my best.”
In response to Hyang’s response, Sejong slowly began to talk.
“When this father first started playing sports, he expected 10 years. And the second half of the year started.”
“Yes Abama.”
“A lot has happened in the past five years. “The palace was able to proceed smoothly because the government officials and the people followed suit.”
“It’s all thanks to Abamama.”
“Thank you for saying that. But your contribution is no small feat.”
“I am devastated when you say that.”
As the father and son painted each other’s faces with gold and a warm atmosphere continued, King Sejong slowly got to the point.
“Again, starting this year we enter the second half of the race. But a problem arises.”
King Sejong explained to Hyang about the difficulty in choice that arose due to the question, ‘Whether administrative structure reform or currency circulation comes first?’
“… So the ministers want to distribute currency first. However, in many provinces, village officials and landowners still have more power than the government.”
Hyang nodded at Sejong’s point.
“That’s right.”
Even in the 21st century, incidents of disappearance of even the minimum human rights, such as the ‘island slavery incident’, continued to occur.
Local officials have always been at the center of crimes that scapegoat people with intellectual disabilities or illegal immigrants. The public powers that joined hands with those officials were basic.
“The reason this father promoted Gyeongjang was because he wanted as many people in Joseon as possible to live in peace. So, I will leave the work to you, Crown Prince. Even if the administrative structure is reformed, if currency is not distributed properly, more manpower than necessary will be consumed. Even if we manage the currency first, if the reform of the administrative structure is not followed, it will only be a means of enrichment for local local governments.”
Hyang nodded vigorously at Sejong’s words. Sejong’s worries were not just worries, but things that would actually happen.
“That’s right. “Then what is the child’s job to do?”
“Find a way to weaken the power of local feudal lords. “The products are good and the system is good.”
Hyang did not immediately respond to King Sejong’s command and kept his mouth shut. After gathering her thoughts for a moment, Hyang asked Sejong a question.
“Is coexistence what Abama wants from the local Toho forces? Or is it a purge?”
“They are also the people of this Joseon, so coexistence must come first. But if they want to play king, we will firmly cut them off.”
Hyang nodded at Sejong’s answer.
“I will do my best to come up with a plan, keeping in mind Abamama’s determination.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“When can I finish it?”
“If it is difficult until the beginning of spring, I hope to receive it by the spring equinox at the latest.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
“This father has high expectations of your talent.”
Hyang bowed her head at Sejong’s last words.
“I will do my best.”
The officer who recorded the conversation between father and son added the following.
– So, the king ordered the crown prince to create a policy regarding Toho.
The officer discusses.
Toho’s history dates back to the Samhan period. As time passed, many families experienced ups and downs or even went extinct. However, as quite a few families still maintain their position, it is possible to imagine the deep roots of its power.
If you look at Tanggeum’s local heroes, there are certainly some who are examples for everyone, but there are many more who are not.
A solution is needed as the interests of the Gyeongjang promoted by the Sangh and the Tohos are in conflict.
* * *
“The level of difficulty is truly the highest. Haha~.”
After receiving King Sejong’s order, Hyang came out and let out a long sigh.
“This is it….”
Hyang, who had taken off his ikseongwan and scratched his head at the difficult task he was suddenly faced with, put it back on and clenched his fists.
‘It’s a changed history anyway. Rather than leaving it in someone else’s hands… I finish it on my own!’
With a strong resolve, Hyang took a step back.
“Where are you going?”
“To the recorder!”
* * *
Arriving at the records office, Hyang began to look through the records of Hojo and Hyeongjo.
“What are you looking for, sir?”
When asked by the official who manages the archives of the records, Hyang looked for business.
“I’m looking for records about Jangli (長利), Sister (自賣), and Jiji (地代).”
At Hyang’s question, the official let out a groan without realizing it.
“Oh my…”
“Why is there no record?”
“That’s not it…”
The official, who had been speechless, thought for a moment and immediately opened his mouth.
“Please follow me.”
“Sure.”
The official guided Hyang to a bookshelf on one side of the records office.
“The things in these bookshelves are a collection of lawsuits arising out of the mortgage issue, petitions that the interest on the mortgage was too excessive, and non-answers to those lawsuits and petitions.”
Hyang looked pale and muttered as he looked at the records filled with books on a shelf that seemed to be twice as big as the bookshelf in Hyang’s lab.
“Quite a lot, huh?”
“These are records that have been handed down since the reign of King Taejo. And…”
The official guided the people to the shelves where the records they wanted were stored.
Hyang couldn’t keep his mouth shut as he looked at the records that filled the large bookshelves for each item. Hyang, who was staring at the bookshelves blankly with his mouth open, soon came to his senses and looked back at the official.
“Good job. “Go and get some work done.”
“Are you sure you don’t need God to help you?”
“It’s okay, thank you.”
“Yes then. “Call me when you need me.”
After sending the official back to his seat, Hyang let out a long sigh.
“Whoa, damn it… I guess I felt comfortable these days…”
After checking the bookshelves once again, Hyang rummaged through his sleeve and took out a small pencil case.
“Anyway, it’s my job and it’s something I must do, so I have to make sure I do it.”
From then on, incense became a part of the archives.
* * *
“Hmm… As expected, the biggest source of income for local feudal lords was profit rather than rent…”
A desk on one side of the recorder. Among the books and papers that filled the huge desk, scent was the first thing to come to fruition.
“The problem was grain threshing…”
Hyang sighed after looking at the long pieces of paper related to grain threshing.
“Whoa~. A crisis situation after only 30 years….”
* * *
The origin of Hwangok was based on the Jindaebeop created during the reign of King Gogukcheon of Goguryeo.
This law entered Goryeo and changed into the Uichang system, which continued to be used in Joseon as well.
The grain threshing system operated during the Goryeo Dynasty became a mess as time passed and self-employed farming groups collapsed due to land exploitation by the ruling families.
Joseon, which overthrew Goryeo and took its place, made great efforts to get the grain harvest system back on track.
In order to prepare for the risk of changes in public sentiment, efforts were made to secure and increase military resources.
As a result of consistent efforts to overthrow Goryeo’s ruling clans and implement land reform, in the 13th year of King Taejong’s reign (1413), various national grains, including Gunjagok, were stockpiled to the extent of 3.57 million islands.
However, the grain stockpiled and the grain threshing system began to falter shortly thereafter.
This was because from the end of King Taejong’s reign until two years after King Sejong declared Gyeongjang, drought and floods occurred alternately almost every year, resulting in poor harvests.
The country’s treasure troves were empty due to continued poor harvests, and the tragedy of small-scale self-employed farmers began.
And local provincial households that had passed the Sogwa exam took advantage of tax exemptions and other privileges to resume land and military operations. Those who lost their farmland to the local feudal lords and became tenant farmers lost the right to receive grain and had to use the money.
And as the number of self-employed farmers decreased, it became increasingly difficult to recover grain.
The current situation was that as these events intertwined with each other and created a vicious cycle, self-employed farming groups began to fall once again.
Hyang, who was looking at the records he had organized, came to a conclusion.
“If we leave things like this, self-employed farmers will fall. This may be the reason why economic growth, including grain production, remained stagnant after King Sejong until the Japanese invasions of Korea.”
After understanding the situation, Hyang folded his arms and glared at the blank paper on the desk.
Hyang, who had been staring at the paper for a while and thinking, finally opened his mouth.
“The bottom line is that banks are the only answer. “We must break the link between peasants and local households through banks. Only then can we break the power of local households.”
Hyang wrote the word ‘bank’ on a piece of paper, erased it, and then wrote a new word.
“Jeonjang (錢莊) would be more suitable in this era…”
* * *
After organizing his thoughts, Hyang organized the policies to be implemented along with Jeonjang and visited Sejong.
“You came back after 20 days.”
“It takes a long time, so there’s no shame in it. “It took a long time because Soja lacked talent.”
“I’m not scolding you. “I said this because I was surprised that a solution was found in 20 days.”
“I am devastated.”
Hyang expressed her gratitude by bowing her head to Sejong’s praise and looked at Sejong.
“Can I ask you something?”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s request.
“It is truly a good opportunity since all the ministers have gathered. “I allow it.”
After King Sejong gave permission, the incense was moved to the center of Geunjeongjeon. With King Sejong sitting on the throne behind her, Hyang looked at the ministers, bowed lightly and opened her mouth.
“Over the past few days, we have been conducting research under the orders of Abamama. The topic of the study is ‘Measures to deal with Toho that hinders the promotion of currency circulation and administrative system reform.’”
The ministers swallowed their dry saliva at the subject mentioned by Hyang. This was because they also knew well that the biggest obstacle to the stadium was Toho.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Hyang gave an order to the eunuch who followed her.
“I’ll hang the ruler.”
“Yes sir.”
As the eunuchs installed the chart, Hyang handed over the paper of the chart and proceeded to explain.
“The Toho of the Tanggeum region are made up of noblemen, unlike the royal families of the previous Joseon Dynasty. Of course, there are cases where the royal family of the previous Joseon Dynasty changed their names to noblemen, but most of them were people who studied Confucianism, passed the civil service examination, and then used the various benefits as a means of enriching themselves.”
The ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation.
Hyang continued his explanation.
“The problem with the gentry in this region is that they are, first of all, pursuing land exploitation and causing the downfall of self-employed farmers. As you all know, the number of people making a living based on commerce and industry through Gyeongjang is increasing, but for most people, agriculture is their main livelihood.”
King Sejong and the ministers all nodded at Hyang’s point out the reality.
“However, as I pointed out first, the current situation in Joseon is one in which self-employed farmers are collapsing and the number of tenant farmers is increasing. “If we look at the current tax rate for jeonse in our Joseon Dynasty, it is stipulated in public law that 5 pennies should be paid per year.”
As Hyang mentioned taxes, Hojo Judge Kim Jeom, the head of the relevant department, became increasingly nervous and listened.
“If self-employed farmers are not lazy, they can live with their families and build some wealth even after paying taxes, but tenant farmers cannot. because? First, 50% of the rent is taken away. “After that, I have to give it to Toho for various reasons.”
Hyang, who had been talking while making eye contact with the ministers, took a moment to catch his breath and extended his index and middle fingers.
“This brings us to the second problem. The second problem is that these people, who were reduced to peasants, were unable to properly use the grain, so they had to rely on local farmers, which made them more and more tied to local farmers.”
Hyang, which listed the decline of self-employed farmers due to the land shortage of local feudal lords and the problems arising from it, has begun to be compiled.
“If these problems accumulate, a situation will eventually arise where Toho’s power overpowers the royal authority. Just like the royal families of the previous ancestors.”
“So what are the measures?”
In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang opened the last page of the chart.
“It is the establishment of a battlefield. It is to break the financial shackles of the local governments that are tying down the peasants by using the gold, silver, and grains from Gunjagok and Uichang that have been secured so far.”