Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 332
Episode 332: Those who wait, those who move. (9)
In the spring of the year of Imja, Joseon once again resumed its external activities in earnest.
Trade ships departed for Cheonchuk-guk (to be exact, the Sultanate of Bengal), and ships also came and went busily to the Japanese country.
Ships were busy coming and going from Dongrae and Mokpo to the silver mines of Iwami as Nagato and Naniwa’s Joseon officials. It wasn’t just between Joseon and Japan. As cotton was grown on a large scale at the Gujujeoldosa territory in Kyushu, the number of Joseon ships traveling between the Ming and Japanese countries also increased. Rice was what the ships traveling between Ming and Wae mainly carried. Since cotton was to be grown on a large scale on farmland that was supposed to be planted with rice and other grains, Joseon obtained rice and miscellaneous grains from Gangnam of the Ming Dynasty to be consumed by farmers and Iwami in the area and transported them directly to Japan.
Thanks to this, Joseon ships were always floating in the sea between the Ming Dynasty and the Japanese Joseon Dynasty.
If you look at records related to the Ming and Japanese at the time, it was common to see sentences like, ‘The sea has become the same as the sea it was when Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla existed in the past.’
Joseon, which obtained grains from the Gangnam region of the Ming Dynasty, resorted to a trick when supplying them to the Japanese Empire.
The trick that Joseon used was that Joseon did not directly distribute it to the farmers and workers of Kuju Jeoldosa and Ouchi, but gave it to Kuju Jeoldosa and Ouchi.
The reason Joseon did this was because of Hyang’s suggestion.
* * *
When Hyang first proposed it, not only King Sejong but also ministers expressed doubts.
“Do you really have to do that? “You end up working twice, which is a bit contradictory to what you usually say.”
“Not only that, if you hand it over like that, a water leak may occur in the middle.”
While all the ministers were pointing out each detail with expressions of incomprehension, King Sejong, who was pondering Hyang’s suggestion, opened his mouth.
“Is it for a cause?”
Hyang immediately nodded to Sejong’s question.
“That’s right. “Unnecessary disputes should be avoided.”
At Hyang and Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and muttered to themselves.
‘also! Here we go again! ‘A Zen question that only they know!’
‘I haven’t heard anyone say I’m stupid, but I feel really ashamed…’
“Ah!”
While the ministers were grumbling inwardly, Hwang Hee – who had returned for a regular report – let out an exclamation.
Naturally, not only the ministers but also Sejong and Hyang fixed their eyes on Hwang Hee.
“Do you understand the reason?”
Hwang Hee answered King Sejong’s question right away.
“It may be a foolish thought, but isn’t it because of Daenae and Gujujeoldosa?”
“ah!”
At Hwang Hee’s words, Lee Jik and Maeng Sa-seong both let out exclamations. And then, starting with Lee Maeng-gyun, the ministers nodded their heads one after another.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun immediately bowed his head and said to King Sejong.
“Even though I had the title of new Minister of Foreign Affairs, I couldn’t understand that part. Please God forgive my foolishness!”
“Please forgive the gods for their foolishness!”
The ministers all bowed their heads and asked for forgiveness.
‘Isn’t this the first time I’ve heard you click your tongue in a long time?’
‘Aren’t you being told that you shouldn’t do anything to ask for forgiveness?’
‘I didn’t hear any clucking of tongues these days, so I thought I would live…’
As if he knew the feelings of those ministers, King Sejong asked a question instead of clucking his tongue.
“It looks like you also know the reason. Would you like to explain?”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun, who can be said to be the responsible ministry, immediately responded to King Sejong’s order.
“The reason is because there is a ruler there. “If Joseon pays directly, we could be accused of ignoring them.”
Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer.
“That’s right. Perhaps that is why the Crown Prince said such things. Is that correct?”
Hyang responded to Sejong’s question by bowing her head.
“That’s the biggest reason, but there are other reasons as well.”
“Other reasons?”
The ears of King Sejong and his ministers perked up at the words ‘other reasons’.
“Please explain.”
“yes. “Abama.”
After quenching my thirst for a moment, Hyang went straight into the explanation.
Even if Joseon pays wages or grains in return, it is certain that Mr. Daenae and Gujujeoldo will collect taxes. If Joseon deducts and pays the taxes, the farmers and workers of the Japanese country will curse our Joseon.
Therefore, we, Joseon, must pay Daenae and Gujujeoldosa and have them distribute them to farmers and workers.
In this way, we can prepare in case dissatisfaction arises from the Japanese farmers and workers.
“As we know, the lords of that Japanese country levy taxes harshly. Naturally, the farmers and workers in the Japanese country will also be dissatisfied. And if you do it wrong, that dissatisfaction can explode. “There is no need for us to take the blame when that happens.”
King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation. In particular, the ministers showed expressions of strong sympathy.
The explosion of farmers due to harsh taxes was something that had already happened at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty.
Hyang continued speaking while observing the reactions of the ministers.
“The reason we have to do the above is because we have to sell our Joseon products to the farmers and workers of that Japanese country.”
The method of incense was to apply the idea of ‘Global value chain’, which was popular in the 21st century.
It was a more refined idea of the ‘imperialist economic policy’ that was common until the 19th and mid-20th centuries, and it was the behavior of ancient multinational corporations that were evaluated as having more power than the state.
‘The insults make the government of the country where the factory is located eat and we make ourselves look like good businessmen as much as possible.’
Thanks to these actions, multinational corporations, which were symbols of ‘imperialist capitalists’ until the 20th century, were able to avoid criticism and further increase their power.
* * *
While the ministers were nodding their heads at Hyang’s explanation, Hwang Hee opened her mouth.
“The Crown Prince’s words are good, but they may be problematic. Among the sayings that go around the author is, ‘I hate a sister-in-law who stops me more than a mother-in-law who hits me.’ “If we do something wrong, Joseon could become that sister-in-law.”
Hyang immediately responded to Hwang Hee’s point.
“If you just pretend to stop it, it will happen. “You have to dry it properly.”
“Did you say you would dry it properly? “Is that possible?”
In response to Hwang Hee’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun joined the conversation.
“I think it’s possible. If it’s Mr. Daenae and the Guju thief. In particular, the Daenae clan is busy accepting our Joseon culture after winning the joint venture between Eunkwang and the last dispute between the Shoni clan. We are already hearing that information about taxes is being obtained through our people working in the silver mines.”
“exactly? Then…”
After hearing Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Hwang Hee was silent for a moment and thought about various things before reporting to King Sejong.
“I think it is possible if we think about it properly and execute it.”
“is it? “What do others think?”
The ministers answered King Sejong’s question right away.
“I think Governor Hwang’s words are reasonable.”
“I think it would be possible for Daenae now.”
* * *
Through this process, Joseon did not pay the grain purchased from the Ming directly, but handed it over to Ouchi and Gujujeoldosa.
Ouchi and the Gujujeoldo, especially the Gujujeoldo, who received the grain in this way, actively strengthened their control over the farmers.
And in the meantime, Ouchi introduced the Joseon tax system. This was not a passive decision to accept Joseon’s recommendation, but was closer to Ouchi’s active choice.
As Lee Maeng-gyun said, Eunkwang’s influence was great behind Ouchi’s choice. The dissatisfaction of Japanese miners grew as they realized that their situation was different from that of the Korean miners working in the silver mine.
“The king, Joseon miners are paid by Joseon, so even if that were the case, why are the taxes like this? Koreans who receive more pay less!”
“We want to receive a reward too!”
Mochiyo, who confirmed the dissatisfaction of the Japanese miners, immediately gathered his men.
“Those arrogant bastards should be punished!”
“you’re right. Cut off the branches of a few of the most insolent ones and they will become quiet!”
Ahn Sang-taek, who saw the bloody atmosphere as if he was going to go out and start a knife fight at any moment, intervened.
“Wouldn’t it be better to listen to them?”
“what?”
“Shut your mouth!”
Mochiyo’s subordinates became angry and raised their voices at Ahn Sang-taek’s meddling.
“stop!”
Mochiyo, who stopped his subordinates, glared at Ahn Sang-taek and opened his mouth.
“Why?”
Mochiyo held back his anger and asked Ahn Sang-taek the reason. This was because he remembered the words of Morimi, who entrusted him with a mission and entrusted him with trust.
‘Don’t listen to anything the Koreans say, even if it’s just a passing joke! If there is anything to take among them, you must take it! ‘No matter what the cost!’
Ahn Sang-taek answered Mochiyo’s question right away.
“Because this is what we, Joseon, also experienced.”
“huh?”
“Do you think that the reason Joseon has a good harvest every year and the people live well is because there are no droughts or floods?”
Mochiyo’s face became serious at Ahn Sang-taek’s point.
That was because there were rumors he had heard all along. Even when he was very young, there was a common rumor that there was no more harvest in Joseon across the sea due to poor harvests.
However, about 10 years ago, the rumors coming from Joseon began to change.
‘Joseon is changing!’
‘Joseon’s wealth is increasing!’
And now, even though he was with his master, Joseon was leading the Iwami Silver Mine.
In the end, Mochiyo came to a conclusion.
“I will report it to my lord.”
After receiving the report, Morimi immediately sent an envoy to Joseon to request advice on tax policy.
“Instead of lowering the tax rate, we increase motivation and ultimately collect more taxes…”
Morimi, who muttered about what Joseon’s tax policy was aiming for, made a decision.
“Introducing Joseon’s tax policy!”
In this way, the Ouchi fiefdom came to have a tax policy that was significantly different from other fiefdoms.
Overall, tax rates were drastically lowered and all miscellaneous taxes were abolished. Instead, progressive tax was applied based on income and property, and the concept of value-added tax was applied.
And the concept of ‘bounty’ began to be applied in many places, including silver mines.
Later, Japanese historians came to refer to Morimi’s decision as ‘a decision that changed the history of Japan.’
* * *
As maritime traffic between Joseon and the Ming Dynasty became more active, a phenomenon common to all three countries began to occur.
-Not enough stomachs!
Although the number of pirates decreased due to the active activities of the Joseon Navy, pirates were rampant even if they left the area protected by the Joseon Navy.
Ships that were continuously lost to pirates, ships that were lost due to storms or grounding, and ships that had to be dismantled due to deterioration due to constant movement caused a situation where the supply exceeded the supply. Thanks to this,
shipyards in the three countries worked hard to build ships. there was.
* * *
“In order to solve the problem of ship shortage, we must establish a shipyard in the northern bay discovered during our last exploration voyage!”
When not only the Ministry of National Defense but also the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of General Affairs made the same claim, Sejong resolved the situation.
“The bay’s port, named Dongbing Port, freezes even in winter. Would it be suitable for building a shipyard?”
“That’s enough!”
“There is a dense forest nearby, so it is easy to obtain the wood needed for drying. Even if we only work during the thaw season, we can do our part!”
King Sejong, who listened to the ministers’ words, eventually accepted their wishes.