Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 200
Episode 200: The beginning of spring. (5)
The idea proposed by Kim Jong-seo soon took shape through the hands of officials.
However, it was Kim Jong-seo who handled the most part.
While accepting Kim Jong-seo’s proposal, Hwang Hee said something to Kim Jong-seo.
“I am planning this because what you say is plausible, but let me tell you, if we don’t do it properly, you will only see Gyeongbokgung Palace in Hanseong and come back.”
“Oh my gosh. “Are you doing it right?”
Hwang Hee snorted at Kim Jong-seo’s words.
“joy! Is that really the case? You probably forgot who the person who read the plan and gave approval was, right? “If I just make it roughly and get rejected, I’ll pack it up and come back.”
“gulp!”
Kim Jong-seo swallowed his saliva at Hwang Hee’s words. With the personality of Hwang Hee that I had experienced so far, I could have done that.
Looking at Kim Jong-seo’s face, Hwang Hee continued speaking.
“But if you make it properly and the sales run out, it will take a long time to stay in Hanseong to handle various matters, starting with preparing funds for execution, right? “How long do you think it will take?”
“At least a month…”
Kim Jong-seo, who had given the answer without realizing it, tensed up and answered.
“Just leave it to me! “I won’t make you do it twice!”
“Do your best. “Because your time in Hanseong is on your hands!”
“yep!”
Kim Jong-seo was on fire for the first time in a long time.
After that, Kim Jong-seo scolded his subordinate officials until the plan was completed.
“You bastard! “The numbers here are wrong!”
“mind! “I told you not to use your biceps!”
“Oh my~. Do you see this crap? Was this sentence written by hand or foot? Do I even have to transcribe it?”
Kim Jong-seo was a man who scolded his subordinate officials using the Paldo dialect he had learned while living with officials from all eight provinces across the country.
* * *
So, Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo returned to Hanseong with the plan they had prepared for about a month.
While pioneering the northeastern region, Hwang Hee looked back at Kim Jong-seo as he came down the connected east coast and passed through the Chugaryeong Tectonic Valley that passes through Wonsan and Cheorwon.
“We are currently making plans to build a new road network throughout Joseon, but the road we came from would be the best for the northeastern region, right?”
Kim Jong-seo nodded in response to Hwang Hee’s question.
“It’s much better than accidentally crossing a mountain range and becoming food for tigers.”
“Write it down.”
“yes.”
Hearing Hwang Hee’s words, Kim Jong-seo took out a tablet with paper, pencil and ink and took notes. Perhaps because he lived in the northeastern region for a long time, Kim Jong-seo’s handwriting was fluid and flowing even though he took notes while riding a horse.
Hwang Hee, who was looking at Kim Jong-seo’s handwriting next to her, grumbled inwardly.
‘This guy’s personality… If you look at his handwriting, he’s generous and sincere… but if you look at the amount of writing he does, he’s just shy… How should I handle this…’
“Atta! Well written! “It’s a masterpiece!”
Kim Jong-seo, who had finished writing, did not know whether Hwang Hee was worried or not, and did not stop praising himself while looking at the letters he had written.
Seeing that, Hwang Hee looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. How did I get sentenced to life in prison with a guy like that… How can I punish these damn sons…”
Hwang Hee, whose pitiful feelings for her sons were disappearing far away due to her own pitiful situation.
* * *
After going through various events, Hwang Hee and his party passed through Sukcheongmun, the northern gate of Hanseong, and the city of Hanseong came into view.
“Hansung~ I’m back!”
Wow!
“Green one!”
In response to Kim Jong-seo’s loud voice, the sound of a dog barking could be heard from a nearby thatched house. When Kim Jong-seo, who was startled by the sound of a dog barking out of nowhere, screamed, Hwang Hee, who was next to him, said something.
“Stop chatting with your friend and let’s go. “I have to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace before the sun sets.”
“Yes… Yes? Great job! What a friend! Are you saying I’m a dog? “You speak harshly!”
“Green one!”
While continuing their conversation, the two rode towards Gyeongbokgung Palace. The guards following the two behind them whispered softly.
“It’s truly a match made in heaven.”
“that’s right. When I see them complaining like that every day and sticking around every day…”
* * *
“Hmm…”
Sejong snorted and looked at the report submitted by Hwang Hee. Although I had already heard the explanation verbally with the ministers, it was a process of confirming it once again by looking at the actual document.
King Sejong, who had read all the way to the end, closed the book and looked at the ministers. Sejong muttered softly as he saw Kim Jeom calculating something by counting his fingers with his eyes looking into the distance.
“I got a rough answer…”
But since there was a procedure, King Sejong cleared his throat loudly.
“greatness! “Keuhum!”
Sejong, who cleared his throat to attract the attention of the ministers, got to the point.
“What do you think?”
After gathering their thoughts for a moment in response to King Sejong’s question, the ministers opened their mouths one by one.
“I think it’s a good enough idea in God’s opinion.”
“God also agrees. Jurchen people are inherently rough-tempered people, so if their lives are not stable, their evil nature will be revealed. “It may cost a considerable amount of money, but it is absolutely no loss as it can stabilize the lives of the Jurchen people and bring them into compliance.”
Ministers evaluated the plan brought by Hwang Hee as useful.
In response to the ministers’ evaluation, King Sejong looked back at Hwang Hee.
“I will accept (readily listen to) the proposal brought by the Lord. Immediately consult with the ministers of the Six Dynasties to determine the amount of financial resources needed. “You’ve come a long way, so take a day off first and then get back to work.”
“I am devastated!”
In response to King Sejong’s command, Hwang Hui bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude. It was a good thing that Kim Jong-seo accepted the plan, but what I was most thankful for was that he gave me a day’s rest.
It was the same for Kim Jong-seo.
“I am devastated!”
Seeing Kim Jong-seo express his gratitude in a loud voice, Sejong smiled and opened his mouth.
“Are you Kim Jong-seo?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I heard a rumor.”
Sejong, who was looking at Kim Jong-seo with a mysterious smile, continued speaking.
“As long as you keep the Tao, I won’t say anything.”
“I am devastated!”
* * *
‘Hanseong’s Juho (a good drinker) is back!’
Kim Jong-seo’s return was immediately known on the streets of Gibang.
“Which house do you want to go to first this time?”
The touts in the gibang looked out onto the street and waited for Kim Jong-seo to arrive.
Not long after. Kim Jong-seo appeared on Gibang Street and shouted loudly.
“I’m back!”
“Oh my, Nari! welcome!”
“lily! “Come to my house today!”
“No, come from my house first!”
Kim Jong-seo looked back at Hwang Bo-in, who had accompanied him, as the touts were more fierce than expected.
“Why does it seem like the solicitation has gotten worse?”
“Because the economy in this town is also bad.”
“huh?”
Watching Kim Jong-seo tilt his head, Hwang Bo-in explained the reason.
“The officials don’t have time to go to the gibang because they are busy working.”
“Ah…”
Kim Jong-seo, who was nodding at Hwang Bo-in’s explanation, dragged Hwang Bo-in into his favorite room.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so please bring a nice meal!”
“Yes, Nari!”
After a while, the drinking table was set and the gisaeng came in. The gisaeng’s song and dance began, and Hwang Bo-in, who had a drink in his mouth, frowned.
“The alcohol is bland! Get it right! Otherwise, I won’t take the main course!”
“Egg money! “Yes sir!”
At Hwang Bo-in’s shouting, the courtesans began to move around and change the kettle.
“huh? “Isn’t this what it originally tasted like?”
Hwang Bo-in gave a short answer to Kim Jong-seo’s question about tasting the alcohol in the glass.
“You don’t know, but I have to enroll tomorrow. “If you don’t want to be criticized for being late, you have to eat quickly, drink quickly, and sleep quickly.”
“Huh…”
Kim Jong-seo shook his head at Hwang Bo-in’s explanation.
“It’s true that alcohol is meant to be consumed leisurely…”
“If you want to survive in Hanseong, you’ll have to get used to it.”
Kim Jong-seo’s face became full of loss at Hwang Bo-in’s answer.
‘This is not what I thought Hanseong life would be like…’
As an aside, drinking strong liquor to quickly get drunk and finish the meal became a custom and a bad habit passed down from generation to generation for Joseon officials.
Just as sailors and lower-class people during the Age of Exploration sought rum to get drunk quickly and cheaply, Joseon officials sought hard liquor.
* * *
Hwang Hee, who had obtained financial resources due to the loss of King Sejong’s royal family, set off on his way back to the northeastern frontier with Kim Jong-seo.
“Did you really hate leaving Hanseong that much? “Why are you looking so lost in the world?”
Kim Jong-seo answered Hwang Hee’s question in a somber voice.
“That’s it…”
When Kim Jong-seo told her about what she experienced every time she went to the gibang, Hwang Hee burst out laughing.
“Hey! Do you know what is said every day in the government these days? It’s like, ‘There’s no one!’ hey. What’s worse, will it be said that every time the appeal comes up, the chief officers of the six dynasties flock to give a review? “There’s no one around and there’s so much to do, so who can afford to have a leisurely drink?”
“But since we know alcohol…”
Hwang Hee secretly sighed at Kim Jong-seo’s expression, which still couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“Of course… alcohol tastes better when you drink it leisurely. In that sense, isn’t it nice to have a drinking party in the frontier? “The alcohol is a bit strong, but if you go to Gilju, you can find good Cheongju (clear liquor).”
“That’s right…”
Kim Jong-seo nodded at Hwang Hee’s words without realizing it. Although the work on the frontier was hard, the drinking parties still had a flavor.
“yes? So what do you think? We will take this opportunity to establish ourselves in the northeastern region. It won’t be long before we start pioneering the virgin lands to the east…”
“I can’t do that! “Once I finish clearing the entire frontier, I will return to Hanseong!”
It was Kim Jong-seo who strongly rejected Hwang Hee even before she finished speaking. In response to Kim Jong-seo’s reaction, Hwang Hee muttered as she licked her lips.
“It’s a shame… we almost got over it…”
* * *
With funds provided from the central government, Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo soon created a new organization. Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo, who created a
‘Manpower Support Center’
and assigned officials, soon began recruiting manpower from prominent Yeojin people.
“So you’re giving me wages?”
“That’s right! That’s not all. “You can learn how to farm by doing land clearing work and assisting with farming, and if you go to road construction and learn civil engineering skills, you can get a job right away!”
Many Jurchen people looked grim at the official’s coaxing.
Although there were quite a few people among the Jurchen people who farmed, their farming methods were little advanced from the methods of the old Three Han Dynasties. However, Joseon farmers were more advanced than that.
Of course, in the eyes of a person who lived through the 21st century, it was still there.
Since the government guaranteed wages, the number of Yeojin people applying was increasing.
This was because it could solve the problem of survival, which was the biggest problem among the problems that the Jurchen people had to live a nomadic life. Therefore, many Jurchen people, regardless of gender, knocked on the doors of human resources support centers.
The existence of the ‘Human Resources Support Center’ was also of great help to farmers who were promoted to social democratic policies.
The average area of farmland that farmers received per household was 2 gyeol. If this area is converted to majigi, it was about 60 to 80 majigi (12,000 to 16,000 pyeong).
Although they received land according to their greed, it was very difficult for one household to cultivate it. The government provided support for farm cattle and horses, but it was still too much.
Even working together with neighboring farmers was problematic. As the workforce increases, the area that needs to be cultivated also increases.
In this case, the Jurchen people who received support through the human resources support center were of great help. The Jurchen people were tough as they endured the harsh environment.
Since they could not communicate well, they worked by gesturing with their hands and feet, but before they knew it, they were conversing in a mixture of Jurchen and Korean, and the Jurchen and Korean people were clearing farmland.
Through the reclamation of farmland and the expansion of water facilities, the frontier areas of the northeastern region became more and more like Joseon.