Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 218

Episode 218: People who change. (1)

As the second half of Gyeongjangdo passed, the people living in Joseon began to gradually change.

As the year passed from July to August, farmers were sweating beadily in the midsummer heat.

“It’s a good harvest this year too!”

In major agricultural areas on the Korean Peninsula, farmers shouted as they saw rice fields filling their fields.

The flood control project, which started from the 3rd year of King Sejong (1421, the year of his new construction) when Hyang was crowned crown prince, to the 4th year of King Sejong, continued to solve the water supply problem throughout Joseon year after year.

As the water shortage problem began to be resolved and the climate gradually warmed, crops began to improve.

But people were satisfied there and did not stop there. The people made compost and maintained waterways to increase their production even a little.

It was not just the people who made the effort. The coordination was also busy.

* * *

“I should gather the knowledge of people familiar with farming and create a book! Who would do it?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang stepped forward.

“Soja will do it!”

After receiving the job, Hyang returned to the research center and called Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji.

“This is the address of His Majesty the Lord. “Select the people who will push this work forward.”

“yes.”

Although it was a sudden mission, Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji did not express any dissatisfaction. Whatever the reason, it was the management’s responsibility to save the people from starvation.

As a result of the dedicated efforts of the institute’s personnel, ‘Nongsajikseol (農事直設)’ was completed in the 9th year of King Sejong’s reign (1427). It appeared two years earlier than in history before the intervention of incense.

“Publish this book and distribute it widely!”

According to King Sejong’s orders, Nongsajikseol was printed in large quantities and distributed throughout the country.

The promulgation of Nongsa Jikseol received great response from local farmers as well as Gwon Nonggwan (勸農官).

This was because it was a agricultural book tailored to the environment and conditions of Joseon, not the old Chinese agricultural book that had been used as a guideline.

As agricultural production increased, bad things happened, and local landowners, who were able to make more profits from the increased production, became greedy.

While pursuing their own interests, they crossed the line and a rebellion broke out in Giyu-nyeon, which ended with them being exterminated by King Sejong.

* * *

Hyang did not stop at completing Nongsajikseol.

First, Hyang obtained from King Sejong a part of Gungbangjeon in Heukseok-ri, Habuk-myeon, Gwacheon-gun (now Heukseok-dong).

“2 rice fields, 1 field, and Seodal Mountain are enough.”

After securing farmland and hills, the township built rooms in all directions and sent official letters of cooperation to gather renowned farmers and officials interested in agriculture.

“Your job from now on is to improve the breed.”

Hyang was created by a researcher specializing in seed improvement.

While reporting on this, Hyang ended like this.

“We will have to wait at least 10 years for this researcher to see any results.”

“10 years… can you wait until then?”

Sejong, who knows Hyang’s personality of wanting to see results as quickly as possible even if he stays up all night when he starts working with his mind, was genuinely worried and asked.

Hyang responded to Sejong’s question with an expression that said there was nothing he could do.

“Isn’t farming something where I can quickly see results no matter how hard I work?”

Sejong briefly commented on Hyang’s answer.

“You must have grown a lot to think of the kindness of the seedling leader (pulling up the sprouts of grain to help it grow).”

-In the Song Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, there was a farmer with a short temper. He became anxious because the rice in his field seemed to be growing more slowly than his neighbors’. In the end, he pulled out all the rice shoots growing in his rice field. As a result, all the rice sprouts in the field withered and died.

It was King Sejong who praised the incense, mentioning a story from Mencius’s Gongsun Chu.

* * *

Fragrance: ‘You have to wait at least 10 years.’ Because he said this, researchers belonging to the institute were envied by other researchers.

“We are burdened with work every day, but we can just relax and farm, which is truly enviable!”

Every time they heard such words, the researchers at ‘Seed Research Institute’ became angry.

“If you’re that envious, come and work for me!”

The job of a seed researcher was not easy either.

Regardless of whether it was raining or the sun was shining, we had to go out to the rice fields and fields every day and record the growth status, and if there was a problem with pests and diseases, we had to investigate the causes and effects one by one and write a report.

That wasn’t all. The tasks I received from the incense were also unexpected.

The best example of this unexpected task was the melon. The melons of this period did not smell like the melons tasted in the 21st century.

“It’s not a melon, it’s a radish…”

The sweetness of the melons at this time was so low that the scent was said to be ‘radish’. Most of the time people ate melons when there was a barley famine and there was nothing to eat. Even though the sugar content was low, it contained sugar, the flesh was firm, and the moisture was adequate, so it was enough to fill the stomach.

Since it was not a fruit or vegetable that symbolizes summer, but a melon that was close to an emergency food, the scent immediately added to the task of a seed researcher.

-The melon is not sweet! Increase the sugar content!

It was a truly unexpected order to the officials.

“It’s not sweet, so make it sweet? how?”

* * *

Not only rural areas changed.

Cities also began to change. Metropolitan areas designated as provincial provincial governors also gradually began to change their appearance.

The first thing that started to change was the roads.

“I heard that Hanseong’s new road is so good!”

“It’s not ‘I heard it’s good,’ it’s good.”

“Then let’s lay a new road too!”

In the process of recovering from the great fire that burned down Hanyang in the 8th year of King Sejong (1426), the paved road constructed under the direction of Hyang became a hot topic and was called ‘Sinjak Road’. It has become a ‘national topic’ rather than a ‘topic in Changan’.

“I heard that the newly laid road in Hanseong is so amazing!”

“They say it doesn’t turn into mud even when it rains!”

It was this part that attracted the attention of foreigners. At that time, it was common for Joseon’s roads to become a mess when it rained. Even the roads in urban areas, where the soil was firmly compacted, turned into mud with puddles forming everywhere when it rained.

Eventually, the rumor circulated and became increasingly exaggerated.

“No matter how much it rains, if you walk on the new road, you won’t get wet!”

In reality, unless you were wearing clogs, you couldn’t avoid getting your feet wet, no matter how new the road was. But it was true that it was to a lesser extent.

When the road was first paved, the center of the road was sloped to slightly rise so that rainwater could flow to both edges, and drainage ditches were dug at the edges. This prevented my feet from becoming muddy like before on the dirt road, and the degree of getting wet was greatly reduced.

In the end, the local people, unable to overcome their curiosity, went on a sightseeing trip to Hanseong. Local nobles who had relatively more money moved first, and farmers came to Hanseong after the fall harvest.

It was just to see one new work.

As people came to Hanseong for excursions, it created a butterfly effect in which new lodging establishments and restaurants started or established themselves to provide lodging along the way.

The local people, especially those in urban areas, who saw the new roads laid in Hanseong, rose up to demand that new roads be built in their towns as well.

As petitions poured in, King Sejong gathered his ministers. Amidst the debate over the pros and cons, Hyang voted in favor.

“Why?”

“If only Hanseong had this kind of convenience, everyone would flock to Hanseong. This must be prevented. This is the first reason.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.

‘Send the people to Hanseong and the horses to Jeju Island.’ There was a saying going around in the market, but that person was a talented person, not some kind of idiot.

The township continued to explain why new roads need to be built in local cities as well.

“There are many people looking for work in local cities. We can give them jobs. Those who have gained this experience can be gathered together and mobilized for future nationwide road construction. And because we need to have people to manage the newly created roads, new jobs are created. This is the second reason.”

“It’s okay.”

Sejong immediately gave a positive evaluation to the description of the scent. Even during this period, there was a problem of unemployment. Hyang continued speaking.

“Finally, if the roads in the city are well-organized, a permanent market can be created. When people gather like that, it becomes easier to understand what the people are saying. “If you just pay a little attention.”

“I like that a lot!”

Seeing King Sejong’s satisfaction, Kim Jeom immediately objected.

“What the Crown Prince is saying is good, but the budget is a problem! “There is not enough budget to pave all of Joseon’s urban areas.”

In response to Kim Jeom’s opposition, Hyang presented an alternative.

“Is it necessary to build all urban areas at the same time? First, construction should begin in urban areas with the largest population. If a petition comes in from a city that is behind in the order, tell them to bear the financial burden. Aren’t the landowners’ treasuries full of riches? Tell them to write. Are you going to take it with you when you die?”

“my baby! Well said!”

The court froze at King Sejong’s shout, which came out after a long time since his war of words with Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

“The officers…”

King Sejong, who was trying to stop the recording, kept his mouth shut when he saw the officers already swinging their golden pens excitedly.

Anyway, that’s how roads in local cities began to be paved. It was in the 9th year of King Sejong (1427).

* * *

As road paving began in local cities, the officials who supervised the paving work in Hanseong and those who commanded the workers moved down to the local areas.

Among local cities, the first to start packaging were Kaesong, which was treated as the second capital, and the provinces of the country (Jeonju, Gyeongju, Yeongheung, and Pyongyang).

Those who went down from Hanseong gathered together the officials and merchants in charge of the construction of the relevant department and took out a thick book.

“What book is it?”

“It’s about the rules that must be followed when laying a new road and the facilities that must be installed.”

“The thickness…”

People swallowed their saliva as they looked at the book, which boasted an enormous thickness. Seeing such people, the supervisor who came down from Hanseong gave a strong warning.

“During construction in Hanseong, there were quite a few people who were scolded by the crown prince or kicked out because they did not properly follow what was written here. In that sense, read these.”

The supervisor carefully took the order out of his sleeve and held it out.

“Read it carefully.”

Those who saw the order turned white.

-Full authority over the construction lies with the dispatched supervisor. If the construction does not work properly, the supervisor will be held responsible.

-As mentioned above, full authority over the construction lies with the supervisor. In order to ensure smooth progress of construction and maintain quality, the supervisor can exercise all authority, including stopping work, dismissing officials, and terminating the contract with the top.

The content written in the order was enormous, but the problem was King Sejong’s handwritten note at the end of the order.

Perhaps due to the power of the order signed by King Sejong himself, the construction was literally carried out in strict accordance with the principles. The supervisor as well as the foreman who came down with him carried out the construction meticulously.

“They say Seoul (Note 1) are short-sighted people (a term that makes fun of the pickiness and stinginess of Seoul people), and they are really strict!”

The local officials and merchants directing the construction, as well as the workers, held out their tongues, but the supervisors and foremen were thorough.

The reason why they had to be thorough was soon revealed. As construction progressed to a certain extent, a supervisor from Hanseong came down periodically to check everything. Supervisors and class leaders who acted like the grim reaper in the field became like mice to a cat in front of the superintendent and got kicked out.

* * *

Note 1) Regarding the origin of the name Seoul, academic circles believe it dates back to the Silla period during the Three Kingdoms period. Source: Seoul Institute of Historical Compilation.

https://history.seoul.go.kr/nuri/etc/sub_page.php?pidx=153716087297