Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: The Resocialization of the Butchers (3)
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Joseon is a nation for the people of Joseon.
The people of Joseon, its citizens, must respect and follow the laws and order of Joseon.
Yet these butchers rejected Joseon's laws and systems because they were barred from their trade.
They throw tantrums with their whole bodies, refusing to become Joseon citizens since their interests aren't guaranteed.
But there's a reason things have come to this pass: the butcher assimilation policies themselves make no sense. That's ample grounds for consideration.
So everything must be overhauled.
Everything except wives and children—we'll scrap the rest with that resolve.
"Aren't they living in Joseon? Yet they claim not to be Joseon citizens. I can't quite understand why."
"Chief State Councillor, the people of Joseon must respect and uphold its laws and institutions. But these men violate them, committing treason, arson and theft, murder, and rape. They defy Joseon's laws and, at the same time, His Highness's solemn royal command."
If I weren't talking about butcher policies right now, I'd be facing fierce criticism for spouting nonsense.
Butchers are a tiny minority in Joseon overall, yet they commit an outrageous number of serious crimes.
Why, just recently they set fire to Hanyang, nearly burning down the Royal Ancestral Shrine and Changgyeong Palace.
Since they ignore the nation's laws, live lawlessly, and cause massive harm to the country and its people, no one would dare object if we said they don't qualify as Joseon citizens.
"That's true. Even so, His Highness said a gentleman's duty is to embrace even ignorant fools who haven't learned it, like a parent, and make them live proper lives. That's why He'll take them back in once more. Officially abolishing the Cow Slaughter Ban and allowing them to run butcheries is all to turn these new butchers into proper Joseon citizens."
King Sejong's decision to partially permit cow slaughter for butchers and let them live as slaughterers in butcheries was truly monumental.
Because Joseon officially upheld the Cow Slaughter Ban until the dynasty's fall, and butcher policies stayed this messed up until King Jungjong's reign.
No, King Sejeong actually worsened it compared to Sejong's time, so saying that might make King Sejong feel unjustly accused.
In any case, Joseon's butcher assimilation policies later greatly contributed to creating the vicious criminal Im Kkukjeong and his gang of hardened thugs.
By stripping away their livelihoods entirely and just squeezing them with all sorts of exploitative taxes.
But now, all that's changing completely. It's a massive shift.
"And He'll provide them even more support than before."
The moment I heard that, my vision went white.
We're already short on support everywhere—we could cut it all and still not have enough—yet giving them even more? That's as good as killing us.
"Previously, we gave them half a gyeol of wasteland or abandoned fields each, but now it'll be a full gyeol. We'll also provide food for them to survive while clearing the land, and for those teaching them farming, we'll halve their annual taxes. That's the support for farmers. For those raising livestock, we'll generously supply aged grain for their animals. And for those opening butcheries, we'll help find suitable locations."
It's utter madness, the kind that makes your head spin just hearing it.
If these guys were war veterans or heroes wounded in battle, the people would accept it and help them out.
Joseon has almost no concept of veterans' benefits or military honor...
Sure, people die serving in the military or hunting tigers, so if it were perks for major national service like that, everyone would understand and let it slide.
But showering such largesse on lowly butchers who've spent their lives slaughtering cows, while giving nothing to everyone else? The people would love that.
"My lord, we absolutely cannot do that."
"What was the biggest reason butchers couldn't adapt and live in Joseon? They couldn't make a living, right? So if we give them a foundation to sustain themselves, won't that solve it? His Highness made a huge decision this time."
Butchers are like new recruits transferred into a company after causing massive trouble in their previous unit.
And every soldier in the company knows it.
Now suppose the company commander showers that transfer with privileges to make him buddy up with his comrades.
Says training's tough for the newbie, so during marches, make the squad leader and others carry his gear. Says frequent leave is needed for his mental health, so yank it from the squadmates and give it all to him.
On top of that, pay him three times the sergeant's salary.
Sure, that recruit's odds of causing problems drop—he's got an easy ride now.
And if it doesn't go public or hit the media, the other soldiers might seethe but swallow it, thinking of their own parents.
It's only two years at most, and better than poking the troublemaker and risking brig time or penalties.
But this isn't the army.
It's Joseon, where exclusion from the farming community literally endangers your life, and corruption or beatings go unpunished.
'Butchers wield knives, so they won't get beaten, but they'll face every form of ostracism.'
In the end, they won't survive in the villages and will turn to banditry or other crimes.
King Sejong, Prime Minister Hwang Hui, and the other officials aren't blind to this—they're not incompetent.
Unlike democratic 21st-century lawmakers who once lived as commoners but still get flak for not knowing bus fares...
'That's why they say politicians now memorize bus prices.'
Born into privilege, living in Joseon, they've lost touch with the people's feelings.
Knowing better, all I can do is foam at the mouth and try to stop it.
"Chief State Councillor, absolutely not. That approach won't work."
"What do you mean?"
"What His Highness plans is no different from appointing someone via the recommendation system to the Office of Censors, always grading them highest in evaluations to promote them faster than others, and showering them with favor."
Hwang Hui's brow furrowed.
But I had no choice.
To make Hwang Hui, who doesn't grasp the people's lives, understand, this was the best way.
"Have you ever seen someone appointed via recommendation treated with respect in an office?"
"......Almost never."
In Joseon history, almost no one appointed via recommendation rose to mid-level rank.
Even Kim Jwageun, head of the Andong Kim clan, got a 6th-grade post via recommendation but didn't dare serve until passing the exams—which were practically rigged anyway.
That says it all.
Come to think of it, my father Hwang Su-sin entered via recommendation, gets respect despite being Chief State Councillor's son, and now as a 8th-grade interpreter at the Waegwan in Jeongui County, he's building his career. He's one tough bastard.
Purely on practical skills, he'd outshine Kim Jong-seo, who spends his days watching Hwang Hui.
Otherwise, even as Hwang Hui's son, he'd get no respect.
"Those who pass via recommendation rarely even qualify for face-saving dismissal."
"You're not talking about my son, are you..."
"He did enter via recommendation, but Sub-temple Warden Hwang risked his life for major national merit, so he's the exception. That's why His Highness gave him the key Waegwan post. Now, back to it. Just as recommendation passers get no respect, if new butchers get land and food without earning it, will the people look kindly on them?"
"......Thinking of it that way, even I'd be furious. If these new butchers get such favoritism while I still have no land..."
Put like that, even the magistrates forcing illegal corvée on butchers and fleecing them seems like sound policy.
With the nation lavishing huge support on idle new villagers, the people's resentment boiled over...
But when the apostles of justice—our clerks and magistrates—hit the butchers with tax bombs (illegally) and stripped away their unearned gains, didn't that cool some of the anger?
'Without that, the people might've knifed the new butchers.'
"But if we put them to very hard labor for a few years and show the people, things will change."
"Why is that?"
"If the people see new butchers sweating and toiling to build village dikes and walls, they'll feel sympathy. And if their efforts benefit the people, attitudes toward new butchers will definitely soften."
The way a foreigner becomes a true Korean? Military service.
Roll like a dog for two years, discharge, and nationality doesn't matter anymore.
Whether they speak Korean or not, they're Korean.
Because they suffered like everyone else.
And if butchers' dogged labor brings economic gain? The effect multiplies.
"Plus, those teaching them farming get rice and tax cuts. Assimilation will follow naturally."
"Butcher assimilation falls under Deputy Prime Minister Jo Mal-saeng."
Hwang Hui noted that Deputy Prime Minister Jo Mal-saeng was in charge and ordered me to do as I wished.
A few days later, I gathered all the butchers living near Hanyang and spoke.
"You have two choices."
I hate complications.
"Become Joseon citizens, or die right here."