Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 127
Episode 127: National Joseon Battlefield. (2)
‘Break the link between peasants and local residents.’
Hyang’s shocking remarks caused a small commotion inside Geunjeongjeon. But the commotion soon subsided.
‘The Crown Prince has become the Crown Prince again.’
This was because it was something the ministers were already familiar with, as every time the Hyang announced something publicly, something beyond imagination happened one after another.
Because it had already become a familiar occurrence, the ministers were able to immediately calm down and point out things they thought could be problematic.
“You said you were establishing a battlefield to break the ties that bind peasants. So, are you going to use the funds from the battlefield to write off all the debts of the peasants instead?”
Judge Heo Jo took the lead and asked Hyang a question. Heo Jo continued speaking towards the fragrance with a sharp expression.
“If that is the case, God is against the creation of a battlefield. “Although the situation of the peasants is pitiful, their shackles cannot be broken by simple indemnity.”
Hyang hung his head at Heo Jo’s point.
“You are correct. It would be naive to think that you can break the cycle of bad habits just by canceling debt. “The policy I came up with is that the creditor of the debt owed by the peasants should be the battlefield, or the government, rather than Toho.”
“The battlefield becomes a creditor?”
“That’s right. The battlefield comes forward and pays the debt owed by the peasants, and the peasants pay the debt to the battlefield. Afterwards, when peasants as well as the general public urgently needed funds for one reason or another, they were allowed to take out loans on the battlefield.”
“Will the peasants or the people use the battlefield?”
In response to Heo Jo’s question, Hojo Judge Kim Jeom stepped forward and answered.
“All we have to do is make the battlefield usable. “The easiest way is to lower the interest rate.”
“Lower the interest rate….”
“When you hear the story going around among the people about the current interest rate of Jang-ri, ‘If you receive wealth equal to the principal amount with one year’s interest, it is okay to call yourself a Bodhisattva.’ I would even say that. In that case, even if the interest rate on the battlefield were 50%, the threshold of the battlefield would be worn away.”
“Hmm…”
The ministers were all lost in thought at Kim Jeom’s words. Looking at the ministers like that, Hyang opened his mouth.
“I am expecting up to 30% in interest per year.”
When Hyang spoke of ‘30%’, the ministers’ eyes opened wide.
“30%!”
“Isn’t 30% too low?”
When the ministers reacted negatively to the interest rate of 30%, Hyang pointed out one fact.
“You must not forget that those who urgently need loans right now are smallholder farmers.”
“You know that, right?”
Hyang pointed out one thing that the ministers had forgotten.
“Are you forgetting that at least half of the land disappears as soon as it is harvested?”
“Ah…”
“I’ve been living with only a bonus for so long…”
Hyang looked astonished at the reactions of the ministers.
‘Until just yesterday, noblemen lived on rent!’
The practice of receiving land through the Gwajeonbeop and replacing it with a salary as rent changed to returning the land and receiving a salary for living when King Sejong executed the Gyeongjang.
There could have been resistance from the ministers during this process, but the situation at the time was not one in which they would have dared to think of opposition. This was because there had been a purge of senior ministers, including Ryu Jeong-hyeon, just before that.
In the end, the ministers said, ‘Huh? uh?’ While doing so, all the land had to be spit out.
And even though only a few years had passed since the system was changed, the ministers had forgotten that fact.
‘It’s human nature to forget things once you get used to them, but what if you’re already living in a different world?’
Forcibly suppressing the bitterness in his stomach, Hyang continued speaking.
“So an interest rate of 50% is a huge deal.”
Heo Jo raised a counterargument to Hyang’s remarks.
“But 30% is too much. “If you immediately provide a loan at a low interest rate, the peasants and people will be happy, but if you do it wrong, there is a high possibility that they will forget the ‘fear of being in debt’ and borrow without restraint.”
“So it’s 30%. 50% is too high. There may also be competition.”
“compete?”
“From the perspective of Tohos, the interest rate of 50% is lower than the interest rate they have been receiving so far, but it is still an attractive interest rate. Then, we can decide to compete with the battlefield established by the government.”
“Such cheeky!”
Heo Jo was upset, but Hyang instead asked a question.
“There is currently no law preventing civilians from establishing battlefields. Of course, you can make a ban, but if you do it wrong, it can go into the shadows and lead to the illegal flow of wealth. “What do you think about this?”
‘The underground fund is growing enormously!’
“Keuung…”
At Hyang’s point, Heo Jo let out a groan and lost his anger.
The scent continued with a more detailed explanation.
“Like Hojo’s monopoly, setting up battlefields at the prefecture level can provide many benefits.”
Hyang explained everything to do on the battlefield.
1. Loan funds to self-employed farmers and tenant farmers who need funds.
2. The grain and cotton cloth brought by the people are exchanged for currency.
“For item 2, if we collaborate with Hojo’s reseller, the effect will be doubled.”
When Hyang brought up the word ‘collaboration’, Kim Jeom became very nervous and asked.
“What if you say collaboration?”
“The goods sold at the monopoly, especially salt, are essential items for the people. “If we determine that the purchase of these monopoly items can only be done with currency, then currency can be firmly established.”
“I will.”
Kim Jeom nodded at Hyang’s explanation.
“I guess there are a few more benefits besides that.”
Sejong, who was listening to the explanation of the scent, intervened.
“I would like to hear your thoughts.”
The ministers focused their attention on King Sejong.
While the ministers were concentrating, King Sejong spoke his thoughts.
“This is the new tax office that will be established during the reorganization of the six dynasties. Be sure to pay taxes received from the tax office in currency. Then the use of currency will become faster.”
“It will be so.”
“And I think the crown prince’s idea of being in charge of exchanging grain and currency on the battlefield is really good. In this way, the government can collect sleeping grains from the barns of private houses, and the grains collected can be used as grains for benevolence, including grains for benefactors.”
“It is so!”
“I am grateful for your wisdom!”
“haha! “This is too much praise!”
King Sejong smiled happily and responded to the compliments from the ministers.
Meanwhile, Hyang was flipping through the pages of the book she was holding for the presentation and grumbling to herself.
‘That’s what I was going to say! no way! Jjijjippong!’
In any case, the battlefield that Hyang mentioned was a pretty good solution. Since King Sejong also responded favorably, the ministers decided to establish a battlefield.
“Establishing a battlefield is important, but there is something that must be decided before that.”
“I have something to decide first?”
Hearing Hyang’s remarks, King Sejong and the ministers came to their senses again and focused on Hyang.
“First of all, there is the problem of rings. Although it was said that it would be solved by establishing a battlefield, building a building to be used as a battlefield, assigning officials, and preparing funds all take time. However, there are many people suffering from the cycle right now, so we must first implement measures to relieve them.”
Heo Jo immediately responded to Hyang’s words.
“you’re right. “For some time now, complaints about high-interest rates have been coming from not only Hanseongbu but also various provincial associations.”
“The people of the city owe us a debt? What is the interest rate on the debt owed by the people of the city?”
“It’s 10 times the original amount.”
“10 times! “Do you still owe me money?”
When King Sejong asked in surprise, Kim Jeom answered.
“The problem of borrowing has arisen some time ago, and according to an investigation, the number of people borrowing seed money has increased as the number of people engaged in commerce and industry increases. “In the case of this kind of seed money, the amount borrowed is considerable, and in addition, many people who start a business fail, so the interest rate is said to be high due to the risk.”
In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, Sejong muttered with a bitter look on his face.
“As the number of people working in commerce and industry increases, problems like this arise.”
‘this! Dangerous! The probability of this happening is low as it is already a popular trend, but if done incorrectly, it could lead to suppression of road commerce and industry and contempt!’
Hyang quickly opened her mouth at Sejong’s words.
“Abama! When taking on new challenges, many people are bound to fail! The problem is that there are people who only think about jumping into commerce and industry without proper preparation!”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.
“What the crown prince said is right. No matter how small or trivial it is, you have to prepare properly to avoid failure. So what should I do?”
“We need to establish a business start-up review department in the battlefield created in the city to screen those who want to start a business and decide whether or not to grant them a loan.”
“Startup Review Department?”
When Sejong showed interest, Hyang explained in more detail.
“Yes Abama. Hojo officials who have worked on tax affairs for merchants and workshops would have a good understanding of which industries are doing well and which industries are fiercely competitive.
Therefore, among the officials of Hojo, we select those who are familiar with the relevant work and assign them to the Startup Review Department.”
Sejong hit his knee at Hyang’s words.
“Is that right? They should know well what is good in the city and the competitive situation of the industry chosen by the person who wants to start a business! I guess I can give some advice to those who want to start a new business! What do you think, Hopan?”
Kim Jeom answered King Sejong’s question with a shocked expression.
“Of course it will.”
“Then…”
When Sejong seemed to want to add more work to Hojo, Kim Jeom continued urgently.
“Hojo is the place that handles tax work for merchants and public figures, but Lee Jo is the place that handles work related to starting and closing businesses! “For a business to succeed, it is essential to avoid excessive competition, so Joe Lee is the right person to give advice on this!”
‘I refuse to take on any more work and if I make it useful, I don’t want to be ripped off like dried persimmons!’
Thanks to his desperate thinking, Kim Jeom brilliantly passed the ‘lit fire bomb’ thrown at him to Lee Jo.
Sejong, who was thinking deeply about Kim Jeom’s remarks, nodded.
“is it? Right. What do you think, Yifan?”
Heo Jo, who had suddenly picked up a burning coal, stammered in his answer.
“It is absolutely true that work related to starting and closing a business is Joe Lee’s job.”
“Then, the officials in charge of the Startup Review Department will be selected from this group first. However, the people want to start a business because they want to gain wealth, so make sure that the officials of the Hojo are also appropriately assigned.”
As King Sejong came to his conclusion, Heo Jo and Kim Jeom simultaneously bowed their heads.
“I follow your orders!”
* * *
In this way, the agenda regarding ‘establishment of battlefield’ proposed by the township was passed.
“Then let’s stop here for today. “Go and see what’s going on.”
When King Sejong declared the suspension of the meeting, the ministers paid their respects and left Geunjeongjeon one by one.
“Keuhum!”
“Come!”
As they left Geunjeongjeon, Kim Jeom and Heo Jo glared at each other and cleared their throats. Kim Jeom handed over the charcoal that Hyang ignited and threw to Heo Jo, and Heo Jo suffered the same. Kim Jeom could not escape completely, but he was not in a situation where he was hit directly like Heo Jo.
“No, sir. “There’s no one there already…”
When Heo Jo grumbled, Kim Jeom grumbled.
“Who are you saying right now that there aren’t enough people? “Hojo’s officials are in a situation where they can live a simple life because they just steal dried persimmons whenever they can get some work done.”
Heo Jo made a groaning sound at Kim Jeom’s words.
“Okay… I got some good wild ginseng home. I’ll send it to you soon. Since you’re so overworked, shouldn’t you at least get some sleep?”
Kim Jeom immediately responded to Heo Jo’s words.
“Now that I think about it, about ten turtles came in not long ago. I will send Zara to my captain’s house. “It’s good for your health, so boil it thoroughly and eat it.”
“greatness! “Keuhum!”
“A risk! Hum!”
The two captains cleared their throats loudly and walked toward Yukjo Street, ignoring each other.
To those who didn’t know, it sounded like the two captains were talking out of concern for the other, but those who had lived in the Sixth Army Government Office for some time could see that this was a huge declaration of war.
Wild ginseng ‘makes even the dying rise to their feet.’ It was such a great medicine that people even say that it was.
So, ‘eat wild ginseng.’ The phrase ‘overwork yourself to death.’ It was said.
Zara was a famous food ingredient and medicine for its nutritious tonic. But Zara was also famous for something else. It says, ‘Once bitten, it will hang around even if the head is cut off.’ It was a terrible trait.
In other words, Kim Jeom ‘will send Zara.’ What he said was to say, ‘Even if I die, I won’t die alone!’