Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Transportation Reform (8)
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Before the Industrial Revolution, there were only three cities in the entire world with populations exceeding a million.
Edo, Beijing, and Istanbul.
Beijing could be excluded since it was in a mad country with over 300 million people as a single nation. And Istanbul made sense as the core city of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
But after being reborn in Joseon, it felt a bit infuriating to hear that Edo—a mere capital of the Tokugawa shogunate, which only controlled the Japanese islands—had a population of a million.
It made me think, if those Japanese bastards could do it, why couldn't we in Joseon?
"So, you're saying we should take on more work?"
"Yes, Father-in-law. On a grand scale, it'll benefit the nation; on a smaller one, it'll benefit you and me. There's no reason not to, right?"
History is also a summarized compilation of trial and error experienced by countless people.
Humanity learned, after losing hundreds of millions or even billions of lives, that failing to wash hands or bathe properly could lead to illness or death.
The people of the neighboring Japanese islands, especially Edo's citizens, often died from beriberi because they ate only white rice, considering it a symbol of wealth.
It wasn't until the early 1900s that they finally realized they needed to eat grains like barley as well.
What if even one high-ranking official knew these facts?
They'd force people to wash, just like I was doing now, or find some way to make Edo's people eat grains besides white rice.
That was exactly my position.
Knowing what Joseon needed, I felt a sense of responsibility to push it through as quickly as possible.
"When I heard you'd gone to His Majesty without my permission and pledged all our family's wealth to build ships for the naval station, I was honestly dumbfounded... But thanks to you, my son-in-law, our wealth has multiplied several times over. So this time, I'll trust you again. Alright, what do you plan to undertake?"
"How about we build some ice houses?"
"That would violate the laws. Is that even possible?"
"I'll submit a petition directly to His Highness myself, requesting permission for all the people of Joseon to freely build ice houses."
Even in the unaltered history without my involvement, private ice houses started appearing around the 2nd year of King Danjong's reign—about 20 years from now.
By the late Joseon period, ice houses sprang up everywhere, used for storing beef and transporting fish.
The current Joseon was far more flexible than the original history at King Danjong's time, so there was no reason it couldn't happen.
"Ice is precious, but... if we build ice houses, will there really be profit in it?"
"We'll make enormous profits from the very first year. Think about it: people can't use ice because it's so rare, but if they could, how many uses would it have?"
I grinned at my father-in-law.
"With ice, we can preserve beef fresh for longer periods. We could even bring fish caught off Incheon's coast to Hanyang while still fresh. If we store and transport it quickly, things like sardines, squid, herring, and sea bream could be eaten as sashimi even in Hanyang."
"Sashimi from fresh fish is impossible away from the coast... You're saying ice houses would let us eat coastal sashimi in Hanyang?"
Koreans tend to think sushi and sashimi—both raw fish dishes—have similar histories.
But strictly speaking, the sushi we know has at most 300 years of history, while sashimi dates back to the Goryeo era, when even Yi Gyubo ate it, giving it quite a long tradition.
Ah, now that I think about it, there's no real issue with introducing sushi or Chinese dishes like jjajangmyeon or mala tang... Should I make and sell them sometime?
Hanyang would soon become the world's largest commercial city, with all sorts of diverse foods being sold and consumed.
"We could even sell things like honey, omija berries, apricots, watermelons, persimmons piled on ice."
"...That sounds too luxurious; the court might impeach us for it."
"Once ice houses proliferate in Joseon and ice becomes commonplace, it'll just be a slightly pricey snack. Besides, the sages warned against luxury because it squeezes the blood from the people—not because they forbade making luxurious foods common enough for everyone to enjoy easily."
"My learning is shallow, but listening to you, son-in-law, not a word rings false."
As far as I knew, my father-in-law had never formally studied the classics.
Yet here he was, using the phrase "my learning is shallow," which suggested... he was studying now?
"Have you been studying separately since taking office?"
Kim Man-deok gave an awkward, bashful smile.
"I've only just memorized the Elementary Learning. Now, after leaving the office on time, I memorize the Analects before bed."
"With your official duties already so demanding, that's truly impressive."
"There's a civil service exam's middle tier in six years, right? No scripture memorization there, so if I pass even the practical section... Thanks to you, son-in-law, I could boast that I'm not some unlettered bumpkin lording it over others with real scholarship and ability."
"The middle exam is still a proper civil service test; passing could land you a capital-rank post."
"A capital-rank post? I'd have no regrets climbing just to full third-rank councilor."
Even in the original history, Jang Yeong-sil stalled at junior third rank because he hadn't passed the exams.
But now, with his far greater contributions, rumors among officials suggested he might reach capital rank someday.
And from what I'd heard at the Ministry of Finance, my father-in-law was also in favor with the Minister...
If he passed the middle exam and held office until around seventy, he could feasibly step into a senior third-rank capital post right before retiring.
'Though the odds of passing are slim...'
"I know it's a long shot, son-in-law. But without you, how could I have risen to junior eighth rank and achieved such worldly success? For your sake, I want to give the middle exam a proper shot at least once."
"I'll cheer you on with all I have."
"Good. Then let's gather the funds to build those ice houses as you suggest. And you know how people are flocking to Hanyang these days? The report from Hanseong Prefecture says the population has already surpassed 120,000."
Hanyang's population during King Sejong's reign was around 100,000.
For it to grow by 20,000 in just a few years meant commerce had boomed, drawing people seeking livelihoods.
It also meant a surge in single-person households.
Well, this was Joseon—they'd marry soon enough.
"That's why I plan to open inns across Hanyang, like the ones you made in Jinhae where people can buy meals."
"A wise idea."
Not knowing the concept of single-person households, but considering the plight of newcomers who couldn't easily cook for themselves... building inns.
My father-in-law truly had a special talent for business.
"While we're at it, we could sell common foods people eat daily or side dishes separately."
"That's a brilliant notion."
As we enthusiastically discussed business, our house slave Gap-seok approached us cautiously.
"My lord, rejoice!"
"What is it?"
"Madam is with child. The midwife just came, checked her pulse, examined her condition, and confirmed the pregnancy..."
Tears streamed from Kim Man-deok's eyes.
He tried to offer me words of encouragement, but I had no time to listen calmly.
"Father-in-law, I must go now."
"Yes, hurry on."
Yangban rarely ran.
But hearing that Gyeol was pregnant—could I stroll leisurely, putting on airs?
"Gap-seok, go to the market right now and buy seaweed and abalone. Enough for the whole household with plenty left over."
"Yes, my lord."
Thank goodness I was born in early Joseon.
It wasn't an era where a husband boiling seaweed soup for his wife would be pointed at.
Panting as I rushed home, I immediately embraced Gyeol gently.
"Is it really true? You're pregnant?"
"Yes, according to the midwife's pulse diagnosis..."
At that moment, she dry-heaved, just like in dramas.
Irrefutable proof of pregnancy.
"Just wait a bit; I'll make you some seaweed soup."
"You're going to make the seaweed soup yourself, my lord?"
"Why not?"
It wasn't that hard.
I'd never done it in Joseon, but in my Korean life, I'd boiled it hundreds of times alone.
I'd even made abalone seaweed soup for my parents a few times.
I headed to the kitchen and diligently prepared the seaweed soup as a gift for Gyeol, then brought it to her.
From here on, I hoped only good things would happen.
With that wish, I gently stroked her belly and said,
"Whether boy or girl, just give birth healthily."
Gyeol smiled at my words.
I felt like I owned the whole world.