The First Economic Development 2-Year Plan (Part 2)
Yi Si-woo paused briefly before the side hall of the Kyujanggak, following the inner servant. A faint scent of agarwood incense wafted through the crack in the door. Moments later, the servant opened it and announced,
"Gigi-cheong Director Yi Si-woo, Your Highness."
Si-woo entered, bowing deeply.
"Your Highness, your servant Yi Si-woo has arrived."
As he passed through the open doors of the Kyujanggak, King Jeongjo was there with Chae Je-gong and a few Nam-in officials in attendance.
"Come in. Sit."
Once Si-woo had taken his seat, Jeongjo tapped a spot on the map marking Suwon and spoke.
"Have you seen Hwaseong? Tax revenues there have nearly doubled compared to last year. We've only dug canals, paved roads, and built markets, yet the people have started handling money on their own."
Jeongjo looked at Si-woo and asked,
"That's why I want to ask you this: Can you do it across all eight provinces?"
The hall fell silent. Si-woo gazed down at the map.
21st-century Korea took half a century for what we'll overtake in Joseon in at least four years.
Si-woo opened his mouth.
"It is possible, Your Highness. Grant me four years."
Chae Je-gong's eyes widened.
"Four years?"
Another official followed up immediately.
"How do you plan to fund such massive expenditures?"
"Do you think the local magistrates will comply so readily?"
To the barrage of questions, Si-woo nodded calmly.
"Yes. But there is an order to it."
Si-woo pointed at the map with his finger.
"For the first two years, we must reform agriculture. Install a Gigi-cheong branch in each of the eight provinces and distribute improved farming tools and waterwheel pumps."
Si-woo paused briefly before continuing.
"And every three months, Gigi-cheong officials will inspect the results in each village."
Chae Je-gong narrowed his eyes.
"Inspect how, exactly?"
"We'll rank them by harvest yield, tax revenue, and tribute volume. Top villages get tax reductions and extra support; bottom ones get less, spurring competition between them."
Si-woo's gaze swept over the officials.
"That way, each village will rack their brains for better support. Accumulate that, and won't all the villages across Joseon's eight provinces prosper? It's far better to make them move of their own accord than to force them from above."
A few officials exchanged glances. This time, no one could easily refute him.
"At the same time, we'll build more factories around Hanyang and Gyeonggi Province. Transplanting the proven methods from Hwaseong and Onseong."
"....."
"The first two years are preparation. Laying the foundations."
Jeongjo asked,
"And years three and four?"
"We launch full industrialization across the eight provinces."
"....."
"Once agriculture stabilizes, surplus labor emerges. We channel that into workshops, expanding the verified factories from Hanyang and Gyeonggi to all eight provinces. By then, tax revenues will be two or three times current levels—perhaps more."
Si-woo gazed at the map for a moment before speaking slowly.
"With that money, we expand the Jangyongyeong and the fleet, ensuring no bandits or Japanese pirates dare eye this Joseon."
Silence descended again. No one could easily speak.
At last, Jeongjo slowly opened his mouth.
"Si-woo."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Four years."
It was a short phrase. But the weight it carried was anything but light.
"Can I hold out that long?"
Si-woo didn't hesitate.
"If Your Highness holds firm, so will this servant."
Jeongjo nodded quietly.
"If the kingdom survives only if I endure, I won't retreat. Good. Prepare at once!"
Returning to the Gigi-cheong, Si-woo summoned Man-seok.
"Bring maps of all eight provinces. And the Dongguk Yeoji Seungram too."
"Yes, young master."
Man-seok nodded and left. Soon after, he returned with Jeong Yak-yong, arms full of map bundles, which they spread out on the table one by one.
Si-woo frowned as he looked them over.
"These are the maps of Joseon's eight provinces?"
"Yes, young master. The most precise ones currently used by the court."
Si-woo fell silent for a moment. The so-called national overview map meant to encompass all eight provinces had mountains in inconsistent positions, roads that appeared or vanished arbitrarily, and rivers with varying meanders by province.
Ah... It's 1781 now, so the Daedongyeojido is still 80 years away. Even Kim Jeong-ho, who'll make it, isn't born yet.
In the 21st century, a smartphone would pull up satellite maps instantly. But in this Joseon, no precise national map existed.
Jeong Yak-yong tilted his head beside him.
"What did His Majesty say to make your face so grim?"
"He's put me in charge of reforming all eight provinces."
Jeong Yak-yong set down his brush.
"It was bound to come. I knew you weren't the type to settle for just Hwaseong."
"You knew?"
"The moment you reformed Hwaseong, I sensed it. Next would be all of Joseon."
Si-woo sat down.
"Let's begin."
Maps of the eight provinces spread across the table one by one: Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, Gangwon, Hwanghae, Pyeongan, Hamgyong, and the Dongguk Yeoji Seungram lined up.
Si-woo began cross-referencing them. Mountain ranges, river courses, distances between castles on each provincial map. And the faint memory of 21st-century South Korea maps in his head.
The Korean Peninsula's topography hasn't changed much. The Baekdu Mountains are the same, major rivers too.
Si-woo picked up his brush and spread fresh paper in the table's center.
"Yak-yong, let's extract the common elements first. Read along the Han River on the Gyeonggi map."
Jeong Yak-yong alternated between the Gyeonggi map and Dongguk Yeoji Seungram, reading aloud. Si-woo transcribed and drew it on the new paper.
"The Han River course seems mostly accurate. But this mountain range points east here and south there."
"Circle it for now. Mark uncertainties separately and verify them in person later."
Si-woo's brush didn't stop. He merged the provincial maps and Dongguk Yeoji Seungram, overlaying 21st-century memories.
Chil-bok peered over from the side.
"My lord, are you making a new map?"
"Yes."
About two si-jin passed. The new map began taking shape.
Roughly 90% accurate at a glance. The rest, unfortunately, needs on-site confirmation during construction. Though that risks raw materials being shipped to the wrong province.
Jeong Yak-yong eyed the emerging map.
"Si-woo, once finished, this will be Joseon's most precise map."
"It will be, if completed. Still a long way."
Si-woo drew red ink lines across the new map. Roads linking Hanyang to all eight provinces.
The next morning, familiar faces gathered one by one in the Gigi-cheong courtyard. Eight officials Si-woo had personally selected stood there, one from each province: Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, Gangwon, Hwanghae, Pyeongan, Hamgyong. All upright and capable men who'd worked at the Gigi-cheong.
Si-woo stood in the center and spoke.
"You all know why you're here, so I'll keep it brief."
The officials watched him tensely.
"Starting this year, we'll establish a Gigi-cheong branch in each province. Once set up, distribute improved tools and waterwheel pumps, and inspect village performance every three months."
One official raised his hand—the one from Chungcheong.
"My lord, what exactly does the inspection entail?"
"Rank by harvest, taxes, and tribute. Top villages get tax cuts and extra aid; bottom ones get less."
The Chungcheong official's eyes widened.
"So villages will compete with each other?"
"Exactly."
The Gyeongsang official asked cautiously,
"My lord, where do we source materials and labor for the branches?"
"Gigi-cheong sends blueprints and methods. Central support for materials the first half-year, then self-sufficient locally. One technician dispatched per branch."
The Hwanghae official hesitated before speaking.
"My lord, our province has much land under Noron families. Building branches may cause friction..."
"Pay wages in Hwaseong currency. And this is by royal command. Any magistrate defying it in Noron name rebels against the king's will. Even Noron won't pick a losing fight."
The Hwanghae official fell silent.
Jeong Yak-yong approached Si-woo and murmured,
"Look at their faces. Half worried, half disbelieving."
"They'll see once we start."
Si-woo addressed the officials again.
"Any doubts? Go to Hwaseong. See the canals and markets with your own eyes."
The officials bowed.
"When does construction begin?"
"One month. Send local labor lists and material inventories to Gigi-cheong by then."
As the officials departed, Chil-bok spoke up beside him.
"My lord, can we trust those officials?"
"I selected them myself. No worries."
Man-seok said quietly,
"Young master, still, Hanyang's Noron won't sit idle. Rumors will spread once construction starts province-wide."
"Never expected them to. We just shovel first, before they move."
Si-woo walked back into the Gigi-cheong.
"Chil-bok."
"Yes, my lord."
"Tomorrow morning, we head to Gyeonggi. First branch site survey. Prepare."
Chil-bok's eyes widened.
"You're going personally?"
"Some things you can't grasp from maps alone. The rest, I confirm with my own feet."