Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 349

Episode 349 Let’s make a play board! (3)

“Are those 17,000 taels of gold all gold banknotes?”

“The gold bill costs 2,000 nyang.”

“Two thousand in gold bills… hoo~.”

Sejong let out a long sigh.

* * *

From the time banknotes were first printed, gold coins were treated differently. On the battlefield, the identity of the person exchanging money and the bill issuance number were recorded in full before the gold bill was handed out. When the bill circulated and returned to the battlefield, the teller recorded the identity of the person who brought the gold bill and recorded the serial number.

And only after the process of confirming whether the serial number was stolen or not was completed, they either put it in the account or exchanged it for silver or dong. And this process was the same at the reseller. When gold coins were handed out at the resale shop, their identity was recorded and the serial number was recorded to check for theft.

Although this entire process was complex and time-consuming, the rules were clearly followed on the battlefield and at the resale booth.

The reason this was possible was because the amount of gold coins issued was absolutely and relatively small compared to other currencies.

In the process of trying again to distribute currency, which had previously failed, everyone involved was confident that gold banknotes would be used for storage rather than circulation. Therefore, the amount of gold banknotes issued was suppressed as much as possible, while at the same time the management procedures were made difficult. And this prediction came true.

As the expansion progressed, Joseon’s improved economic power led to an increase in the circulation of currency. As the exchange ratio between gold and silver was fixed at 1:10, the issuance of gold coins increased, but as expected, the amount of gold coin bills circulating in the market did not increase much.

Thanks to this, the first thing the police officers and college students from Pocheong who responded to a report that a thief had broken into a rich house, checked whether the victim was alive or dead and whether the gold bills had been stolen.

If gold banknotes were stolen, the local police office immediately notified the local battlefield of the situation. After receiving the report from the provincial government, Zhen Zhen checked the records, confirmed the serial numbers of the gold bills issued to the victims, and reported them to the central government. After receiving the report, Hanseong’s headquarters immediately printed large quantities of paper with these numbers written on them and distributed them to battlefields and monopoly offices throughout Joseon, as well as battlefields and monopoly offices set up in Japan and Shandong.

Because of this complicated process, King Sejong sighed because as many as 2,000 nyang gold banknotes, nicknamed ‘Ilchulbulhoe (一出不回, once gone, never come back)’, which were rarely circulated in the market, were discovered.

* * *

“Minister of Finance. Do you think that those who were caught in this crackdown are all?”

In response to Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom shook his head with a dark face.

“It may not be the bleeding of new feet, but I’m sure it’s not everything.”

“I guess so… ugh~.”

Sejong let out a long sigh as he felt like he had suddenly taken on a huge task.

“I wonder how much money and wealth is floating around in gambling circles… wow~.”

Hearing King Sejong’s lament, the ministers became anxious and bowed their heads.

“This is the gods’ ignorance! Please take away King Seongryeo’s worries! “The gods will do their best to come up with a solution!”

“May you be blessed!”

“We will do our best to come up with a solution!”

Despite the ministers’ answers, King Sejong still had a dark look on his face.

“I do not doubt the words of the magistrates, but gambling has deep roots…”

The ministers were unable to open their mouths at the words of King Sejong. Gambling, known as the ‘disease of ruining the nation’, was an incurable disease. It is easy to say that you will make an effort, but saying that you will eradicate it is something you should never say.

While King Sejong and the ministers were facing the huge wall and sighing, a merchant ship announced the appearance of Hyang.

“The Crown Prince? “Come on in.”

Hyang, who entered Geunjeongjeon, paid homage to King Sejong. After receiving the courtesy, King Sejong asked Hyang.

“So what happened today?”

In response to Sejong’s question, which was filled with a lot of harshness, Hyang quickly looked around.

‘What is this…. Is it full of atmosphere like ants before the Han River meeting? why?’

“So what do you want to say?”

Hyang came to his senses after hearing Sejong’s question and got straight to the point.

“Yes, as Joseon’s economy and situation are improving, the number of people wasting their money on gambling is increasing.”

“I’m still struggling to find an answer to that problem. “We need to redirect the wealth that goes into the ruinous disease of gambling in a constructive direction, but we can’t find an easy answer.”

The ministers nodded at Sejong’s words. Hyang responded to Sejong’s words.

“Isn’t that because gambling is done in the dark? So I want to bring this out to the sun.”

“Bring it out to the sun? how?”

As King Sejong and the minister’s eyes sparkled, Hyang motioned to the eunuch who followed. After seeing the gesture of incense, the nae-gwan hung the horoscope on a hanger placed on one side.

“Comprehensive entertainment venue?”

King Sejong and the ministers who saw the title written on the cover simultaneously expressed doubt.

“That’s right. The reason the people of Tanggeum Joseon became addicted to gambling is because there was not much entertainment. Even if you want to enjoy something fun when taking a break from your daily job, there is no suitable entertainment. That’s why most people fell into alcohol and gambling.”

Hyang stopped explaining for a moment and turned the pages of the paper. On the next page were tables with all kinds of numbers.

“The table at the top is the amount of alcohol sold over the last three years. As you can see, sales volume is more than doubled every year compared to the previous year. If we consider not only the places where alcohol is brewed with government permission but also the amount of alcohol brewed privately in private homes, this volume will increase further. Do you think only men drank this much alcohol?”

“I guess that’s not true…”

Sejong muttered softly in response to Hyang’s question. The women in the internal affairs department were also enjoying a drink from time to time.

The scent continued its explanation.

“Next is the sales volume of luxury goods. In addition to luxury goods sold in royal workshops and other merchants, silk imported from the Ming Dynasty is increasing at a tremendous scale. Fortunately, high-quality cotton cloth of 10% or more is being replaced with cotton cloth, but this part cannot be ignored. If we look at the reason why this situation occurred, it is because there is an abundance of wealth but there is nothing to enjoy. Since they have nothing to enjoy, they compete for luxuries and squander their wealth on alcohol and gambling. That is why I advocate the construction of a comprehensive entertainment center.”

Hyang explained why he made this plan and flipped through the paper.

The next page showed a bird’s eye view of a building that resembled a combination of an amphitheater and a large pavilion.

“This is a comprehensive entertainment center.”

Hyang explained while pointing here and there on the bird’s eye view with a pointer.

“This amphitheater can be used for many purposes. From spring to fall, we will hold wrestling competitions and bullfighting competitions according to the seasons.”

“bullfight? “You mean bull fighting?”

Hyang nodded to Sejong’s question.

“That’s right. And by using this competition to place bets, the government recovers the funds that would have gone into the gambling table.”

Hyang explained about wrestling competitions and betting using bull fighting.

– Create competition by dividing weight classes.

-Sufficient material will be paid differentially as prize money to the top winners.

-Comprehensive entertainment venues are established in counties. This is for the national competition that will take place later.

-The winners from each county are gathered together and a competition is held at the provincial level, and this method is overlapped to hold a national competition in Hanseong once a year.

-In this process, he presides over bets regarding wins and losses. The amount of money that can be bet is limited to one silver coin.

“The reason we have to do this is because it is a ‘sound bet on the bright side, not a gamble on the dark side.’”

“It’s okay. are you okay.”

King Sejong and the ministers repeatedly nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

Seeing the positive reactions of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang continued his explanation.

-If facility maintenance costs and entertainment taxes are the primary means of absorption from the money wagered on the betting board, a secondary means of absorption is also created.

-The secondary means of absorption is called ‘information paper’.

“It’s information, right?”

“This is a piece of paper that records information about the participating wrestlers and bulls. It records basic information such as height and weight, as well as wins and losses. At first, you will simply record your name, height, weight, etc., but as the matches accumulate, the win-loss ratio will become more important. Anyone who wants to win a bet will definitely pay money to buy it.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s words. Kim Jeom muttered softly while listening to Hyang’s explanation.

“You should be in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, not Area 51…”

Meanwhile, Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out a problem.

“It’s good, though. If you’re just going to bet like that, isn’t there a need to build a building like that?

First, aren’t wrestling and bullfighting usually held on sand near rivers?

Second, since competitions cannot be held in the winter, there will be people who will flock to gambling again.

Lastly, such bets are mainly made and enjoyed by young men. “It’s not for women, so wouldn’t it be less useful?”

“That is a valid point.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s point.

“This comprehensive entertainment center is needed to solve that problem.”

Hyang turned over the paper. The next chapter had a new title.

“Operating regular events and competitions using talented people (clown shrines) and gisaeng?”

“Yes, let me explain. If we look at the situation of the Tanggeum people….”

Hyang’s explanation was as follows.

-If you look at the current situation of the Jae-in group, each Jae-in group has a designated area to roam around. Simply put, the Jain groups in charge of the northern part of Jeolla-do never go down to the southern part of Jeolla-do or go to Gyeongsang-do or Chungcheong-do.

-Establish a government office targeting these people and register them all. Through this government office, people in the workforce receive appropriate salaries. At the same time, it is prohibited for women, young boys, or young girls belonging to the Jaein group to engage in prostitution.

-The government office adjusts the size and schedule of the troupes so that they can perform at general entertainment halls whenever a market is held nationwide.

– At this time, general entertainment venues make money by charging admission fees.

-Once every three years, talented players from all over the country are gathered together to compete in talent competitions. The winner of the Jaein Pavilion here is given a prize money and the title of ‘Joseon First Jaeindan (朝鮮第一才人團)’. Not only are they given titles, but when they perform, admission fees are more expensive and bonuses paid are also increased.

“Hoo…”

Sejong’s face began to brighten as Hyang said that. Sejong, who was stroking his beard and listening to Hyang’s plan, opened his mouth.

“Jain gangs from all over the country travel around the country without boundaries, boasting about their talents… If Anpyeong hears about it, he will feel sick to his stomach.”

Hyang smiled at Sejong’s joke and slightly bowed his head. Anpyeong wasted his wealth and traveled around the country in pursuit of Jain gangs.

Seeing that Sejong’s reaction was favorable, Hyang added his words.

“In order to distribute re-introduction cards like this across the country, it is essential that officials are assigned to manage and supervise them.”

“I guess so.”

“And since most of the people who enjoy the games of the local people are ordinary people, officials can more quickly and accurately understand the public sentiment.”

“Is that right!”

King Sejong patted his knee and smiled at Hyang’s additional explanation.

No matter what anyone says, what the king cared most about was public sentiment. And by running the Jaein group in this way, it was possible to naturally check the trends of public sentiment.

Of course, there are still reports that capture public sentiment through various channels, but it is obvious that the more diverse the sources, the more accurate information can be obtained.