Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 196

Episode 196: The beginning of spring. (1)

In the spring of Gyeongsul year (1430), Joseon began to get busy once again.

As the economy progressed, various sectors that made up the economy were growing in size. However, agriculture was still the main force of the economy. The mainstay of agriculture was rice farming.

Therefore, as the planting season began in earnest, the entire Joseon Dynasty began to slowly expand.

The rural areas of Joseon gradually began to change as they experienced a bout of measles in the aftermath of the Giyu Rebellion.

The biggest change was that the number of areas undergoing farmland consolidation began to increase significantly.

* * *

The farmlands of Joseon were in a situation where arable land consolidation was absolutely necessary. When Hyang saw rice fields in Joseon for the first time, he muttered this.

“Is it a very large puzzle?…”

It was a natural reaction for Hyang, who had only seen rice fields organized like a checkerboard as mechanized farming became routine in the 21st century.

But this had its circumstances. The topography of the Korean Peninsula was two-thirds mountainous. People gathered together in the remaining 1/3 of the flat land, pioneered farmland, and prepared housing. In addition, since each farm had different ownership patterns, the shape of the rice paddies and fields was bound to be irregular.

Given this situation, problems were bound to arise. The biggest problem was farmland management. It was almost impossible to manage farm roads, irrigation ditches, and drainage ditches because they were so intertwined that they were described as a ‘giant puzzle’.

Therefore, it was impossible to use carts on narrow farm roads, and disputes often arose over agricultural water issues.

Of course, the countries on the Korean Peninsula did not give up and sit idle in solving this problem.

However, it did not see much light due to problems with manpower mobilization and ownership disputes related to farmland consolidation.

The same was true in Joseon.

In the first year of King Sejong (1419), at the request of Gobu-gun and Jeolla governor, Nulje (訥堤) was built in Gobu-gun, 10,000 grains of farmland were divided under it, and Jeolla governor Lee An-woo implemented the Jeongjeong Act. (Note 1)

However, the results were not that great. It wasn’t good. In August of the following year, a major flood occurred and the embankment collapsed, causing about 600 grains of rice fields to be washed away. In the end, Jang Yun-hwan, the governor of Jeolla Province, suggested the closure of the Nulje system and it was closed. (Note 2)

This situation improved little by little after Hyang was appointed to the throne.

Hyang, who began to show his presence with a gold pen, insisted on carrying out nationwide flood control work using Guhyulmi.

King Sejong and the ministers, who thought Hyang’s suggestion was good, started flood control work using the relief funds.

The water control project that started this way expanded its scale every year as its effectiveness was confirmed. As the scale of construction expanded, the types of construction projects being carried out also became more diverse.

As the contraction and maintenance of weirs and reservoirs reached a certain end, the government became obsessed with river maintenance.

During the short period between the end of the harvest and before the ice froze, and the short period between the melting of the ice and the start of sowing, the government concentrated its manpower to improve the rivers.

The possibility of flooding was reduced by scooping out the sand-filled river bed and clearing the surrounding area to widen the river.

In addition, in the early stages, cement called plaster was developed by stacking stones, and in the later period, construction began by making underwater dams using reinforced concrete to prevent drought and salt damage (harm caused by sea water rushing in during high tide).

This was Hyang’s suggestion, but it did not use Hyang’s knowledge.

As thousands of years passed, humans gained knowledge about river dimensions.

This was also the case in Joseon. Technical knowledge was sufficient as dams and reservoirs had been built since the Three Kingdoms period.

However, the reason why the Joseon Dynasty, as well as the dynasties before it, failed to properly maintain rivers was a problem of mindset.

Traditionally, large-scale civil engineering work, such as river maintenance, was said to be considered a ‘station.’ Therefore, Joseon officials also forcibly mobilized manpower.

Therefore, there was no pay like a king at all, and it was common for the people to take care of the meals they ate.

Because of this situation, people became slaves or wandered as nomads.

This is where Hyang used his knowledge to hit MSG.

At first, instead of giving them alms, they made them work. Afterwards, as the construction progressed and there was room for adjustment, the township introduced the concept of ‘performance pay’ for such construction.

When the construction period was shortened or safety accidents were prevented, the managers in charge of supervision had an advantage in promotions, and the workers in charge of construction were provided with additional goods in addition to relief funds.

“Praise makes whales dance, but incentives make whales fly!”

As these compensation measures were created, river maintenance progressed with greater momentum.

As a result, in the year of Giyu (1429), the 6th year of Gyeongjang, the river maintenance throughout Joseon was showing some results.

* * *

In this situation, as the tax system was reformed, slaves were exempted in large numbers. The ensuing Giyu Rebellion and its aftermath led to a mass migration of peasants. Landowners who had many slaves and tenant farmers had to farm with far fewer tenant farmers and slaves than before.

In this situation where the number of workers was reduced, there was no choice but to increase the efficiency of farming in order to obtain a similar amount of output as before, and the answer was to rearrange the farmland.

Before the planting season, landowners recruited people not only from tenant farmers but also from nearby cities to clear the farmland.

The jagged and tangled rice field ridges and ridges were torn down to form one large field, and agricultural ditches were also constructed.

It was not simply a place to renovate agricultural water. As water levels in rivers were kept stable due to reservoirs and various types of weirs, water wheels, which had previously only been known, were introduced in large quantities to supply water to agricultural waterways.

As agricultural waterways and farmlands were renovated, it was a natural result that agricultural roads were expanded.

In the past, farm roads that would have been difficult for one person to carry while carrying a load have widened significantly and become wide enough to accommodate a cart.

* * *

As the war progressed, the government received an unexpected gift.

It was the supply of carts.

King Sejong took great pains to encourage the people to widely use carts.

Efforts to widely distribute carts began during the reign of King Taejong. Jang Hwa, who went to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy, reported as follows.

“There’s nothing like a cart to transport goods.”

“is it?”

After receiving the report, King Taejong ordered a public official to build a cart, but was met with strong opposition from Yeonguijeong Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

“Our Joseon is so mountainous that carts are limited! “There is no need to make it because its utility is so low compared to the goods and time and effort required to make it!”

In the end, King Taejong had to give up supplying carts. (Note 3)

This was the same during the reign of King Sejong. Looking at the history before Hyang intervened, in April of the 17th year of King Sejong’s reign (Eulmyo Year 1435), King Sejong and the ministers clashed over ‘carts’.

However, King Sejong pushed ahead, and when he confirmed its effectiveness, he said something to the ministers.

“Some people don’t like it, but there is nothing more convenient than a cart to transport things like bricks, tiles, and stones. “If you carry it all on a cart at once, you can carry twice as much as three people can carry, so how beneficial is it?”

Gaining confidence, King Sejong set out to distribute carts to the northeastern and northwest regions. However, ministers, including Hwang Hee, continued to shout opposition.

“Carts are comfortable, but they are only good for smooth roads. If the road is rough or muddy, you cannot use it. “If you look at Pyeongando Island, the road to Anju is flat and good, but the roads in other areas are rough and cannot be used.”

Hwang Hee, who pointed out the problem of topography, continued.

“And a cart is not something that just anyone can make. In order to distribute carts, the government would have to send a certified person to make them, but they would break as soon as they were given to them, and they would be unusable within a few months. But doesn’t that mean the country can’t keep sending craftsmen?”

(Note 3)

In the end, King Sejong gave up on supplying carts even to rough terrain. Afterwards, carts gradually disappeared from Joseon.

The funny thing is that 350 years later, Park Jega, a Silhak scholar during the reign of King Jeongjo, strongly advocated the use of carts in the ‘Bukhakui (北學議)’.

And Sejong’s frustration led him to hand over more and more tasks to the crown prince.

Sejong, who was severely frustrated as his health deteriorated due to stress and an overly meat-centered diet, and his efforts to push for various reform policies continued to fail, began to hand over political affairs to the crown prince.

After handing over the work to the crown prince, King Sejong began studying characters in earnest.

* * *

However, in the history that changed after Hyang intervened, the number of carts was gradually increasing.

The reason for this increase in carts was not only the expansion of commerce and industry, but also the virtue of incense.

The handcart, or wheelbarrow in 21st century language, created in District 51 of the township took advantage of the Great Hanseong Fire and became an unprecedented success.

The cart, whose frame was made from iron extracted in large quantities from Anju’s steel mill, was sturdy.

“If only there was rubber….”

Contrary to the disappointment of the fragrance, the wheel made of wood was stronger than expected.

In addition to its sturdy structure, another reason for its popularity was its appropriate size.

The fact that it was just the right size to be pulled by one or two people instead of a horse or cow was what made it a huge success.

Although the cart was small, it was capable of carrying at least the amount of sheep that four or five men could carry on their backs at once.

Even the rough roads that Hwang Hee pointed out, and the narrow roads that large carts drawn by oxen or horses could not travel, could easily be passed by handcarts. Because two or three men could push and pull to cross rough terrain, laborers became the biggest buyers of the cart.

It was beginning to become a daily routine for merchants to travel up and down the streets loaded with goods on carts pulled by donkeys.

This was also the case for large tops. Many carts were needed to transport goods. Large carts pulled by oxen or horses were useful, but handcarts pulled by humans were perfect for short-distance deliveries.

Lastly, as blacksmiths have become a symbol of high-income professionals, the number of blacksmiths has increased nationwide, solving the problem of maintenance.

As so many causes and effects became intertwined, the number of carts began to explode.

After the fall of Goguryeo, which was called the ‘country of carts,’ carts, which had been gradually disappearing, made a splendid revival during this period.

* * *

Although it was unintentional, the government finally started road construction when farmland consolidation was actively taking place and the rural areas were strengthening.

“It’s finally starting.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers looked at him with very tense faces.

Sejong continued speaking with a serious face.

“They say they are researching water transport (moving cargo through waterways) and railways, but water transport is subject to the risk of natural disasters, and it is unclear when railways will see results. Therefore, the land routes of Joseon must be developed well so that the people can be comfortable. Therefore, you will be well aware of how important the road construction that will begin from now on is.”

“I am keeping this in mind.”

The ministers answered with one voice, but King Sejong continued to urge them.

“Keep in mind that the development of Joseon depends on the success or failure of this construction.”

“I will keep this in mind!”

They were ministers who responded loudly to King Sejong’s request.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Farmland consolidation items.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0002943

Note 2) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture and Ethnicity. Suppressed item.

https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0013293

Note 3) The Annals of King Sejong, read in one volume, written by Park Yeong-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.