Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Breaking the Cartel (2)
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About 51% of Korea's population lives in the capital region, including Seoul.
That's why people half-jokingly, half-seriously say we're not living in the Republic of Korea, but the Seoul Republic.
The policies I'm planning to roll out will probably be judged the same way by future generations.
'Kim Dae-bung turned Joseon into the Hanyang Republic!'
"Chief State Councillor."
Hwang Hui swallowed hard after hearing my words.
To be fair, my hands were overflowing with stacks of proposals for the Hanyang development project.
Still, his reaction—like 'What massive scheme is he cooking up now?'—felt a bit unfair to me.
No, people seem to think of me as some demon who mass-produces work.
I'm just a lowly rank-4 official. How could I be the devil of overwork?
To pull that off, I'd need to be one of the Three Ministers, right? Plus, thanks to my advice to King Taejong, all officials now get guaranteed on-time dismissal...
'Haven't I greatly improved the quality of life for officials?'
"What on earth are you scheming that you've written up so many official reports?"
"I'm planning to develop Hanyang in earnest and build the infrastructure for more people to live there."
Hwang Hui tilted his head in disbelief at my words and asked back.
"As you know, Kim scribe, 95% of Hanyang's population is crammed inside the Four Gates, with only about 5% living within the castle walls' perimeter. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I'm well aware."
According to statistics from about three years ago, Hanyang's population was around 103,000, with only about 6,000 living outside the Four Gates.
Considering the castle perimeter's area is three to four times larger than inside the city walls, that's about right.
But that was three years ago. With the implementation of the Bangwon Law and commercial expansion, everything has completely changed.
"But that was three years ago. The situation is entirely different now."
They say a river changes in ten years.
During Korea's high-growth era starting in the 1960s, tunnels were bored and highways built, literally transforming the landscape every decade.
However, with Joseon's capabilities, reshaping the land in just ten years is realistically impossible. But...
Joseon society right now is changing—exaggerating a bit—on a yearly basis.
Until last year, it was incredibly hard to eat apples grown in places like Chungju, even in autumn.
Because the distribution costs were no joke.
Now, thanks to active express ship transport, you can easily buy and eat Chungju apples in season.
From what I saw, two years ago in Hanyang's markets, an apple cost a hop of rice each. Now it's three apples per hop.
"As you know, Chief State Councillor, Joseon is growing at a speed unimaginable in the past."
"True. This old man can't keep up with the pace anymore. Lately, I often feel like a relic. Sometimes I think about submitting a resignation memorial for the court's sake."
From what I know, Hwang Hui starts submitting resignation memorials three years from now.
And in the early days, it's like, 'I've been Chief State Councillor too long. I want to quit, but His Majesty won't let me, so I'll keep doing it a bit longer.'
But looking at his expression and tone now, he seems genuinely considering it.
My interventions have had such a huge impact on history.
Even if that's his wish, I don't think Hwang Hui will actually resign.
'King Sejong the Great will refuse it.'
"How could someone as outstanding as you talk of resigning? Don't even think it. You need to stay in your position longer and guide foolish, young, inexperienced officials like me."
"Just keep being yourself like right now, Kim scribe."
“I’ll work hard to never lose my initial excitement—like Zhuge Liang submitting his memorial of service.”
"...Do that."
"Let's continue. They're saying nearly 120,000 people live in Hanyang now, right?"
"Yes, but the castle perimeter is quite spacious, so accommodating the newcomers isn't an issue."
What Hwang Hui is saying is exactly like:
'If housing prices are too high, just move to the countryside.'
But even young people—and elderly folks—can't escape a major city's killer housing and living costs because...
Youngsters struggle to find jobs in rural areas, and elders need frequent hospital visits as their health declines...
Rural areas barely have small clinics, and big hospitals take a full day—exaggerating a bit.
That's why people flock to 'cities.'
"As you said, building houses for people won't be a problem. But jobs are different. Those flocking to Hanyang need work to survive, and finding it won't be easy. No job means no livelihood, which means no sense of belonging. In the end, they'll turn to crime like those who set fires in Hanyang. Even gentlemen who claim to maintain virtue without wealth will climb over neighbors' walls if their families starve for three days, right?"
In poor countries, human rights are scarce, and people won't hesitate to kill for the money needed to survive.
That's why there's a joke: If you have a boss you really want to kill, take them on a business trip to the Philippines.
Because in such poor nations, it's easy to find someone to kill for you if you pay.
'And it's entirely possible in reality.'
In countries where guns are legal, about 10 million won gets someone killed.
Guys flooding into Seoul from hometowns without plans will fall into that temptation if poverty chases them.
"So, we can't assume space for houses means no big problems. Hanyang is where all goods converge and people gather. We need to build workshops for essentials like farm tools, markets for local specialties, food stalls, cloth shops—places like that—so commoners rushing in can find work. That way, the masses coming to Hanyang can get jobs."
"From what you're saying, it sounds like you want to give the people options beyond farming... Is that right?"
"Yes. But even if merchants multiply and urban artisans increase several-fold, it won't harm agriculture."
As long as farm machinery isn't fully invented and the Industrial Revolution hasn't made supply outstrip demand...
80% of Joseon's people will live as farmers their whole lives.
Other jobs don't guarantee a good life, and humans instinctively stick to what they know.
Indeed, even during the Industrial Revolution when factory workers boomed, most people remained farmers.
Ah, but here's the upside.
With options beyond farming, farmers will shun landlords offering bad tenant terms.
Previously, they had no choice but to pay half-crops plus Bangwon Law taxes and land taxes, swallowing tears.
But as Hanyang develops first, then other cities follow with booming commerce and industry, jobs will naturally grow...
'Why pay that rent when I can work in a factory?'
People will quit tenancy thinking that.
Then tenant terms will improve for farmers, boosting their real income.
But I'll keep this fact tightly under wraps.
Hwang Hui is a big landlord, Jo Mal-saeng too, and all yangban officials are. Would they like this policy if they knew?
"As long as it doesn't hurt farming, there's no downside. With crowds in the perimeter making tools and goods, commerce booms, and the state collects more taxes."
"Yes, Chief State Councillor."
I picked one report from the stack and spread it before him.
"And among Han River ferry points, Yongsan aligns almost straight with Hanyang's markets. So if we widen a new road from Yongsan to the markets and make it easy for ships to dock, vast goods will flow into Hanyang more easily. Same for Noryangjin, Yanghwa-jin, Gwangjin, etc..."
Hwang Hui cut in midway.
"Goods from across the nation will spread widely to Hanyang and Gyeonggi. And items from workshops or specialties will quickly distribute nationwide via Hanyang. How much tax will that bring? Just thinking about it is delightful."
"At least 100,000 to 200,000 seom of white rice in taxes."
I said 'at least' because that's the minimum.
With goods circulating everywhere and minimal tariffs, we could hit 500,000 seom.
"And as I reported before, building ice warehouses in places like Incheon and using ice ships for fishing means Hanyang can enjoy fresh fish."
"...Fresh fish is practically medicine."
"Not because of medicinal effects, but because it's so rare, right?"
"That's true too. Good. Do whatever you want. But will the market merchants welcome this plan?"
Of course not.
It's like taking away the Hanyang and Gyeonggi commerce they can't monopolize enough as is.
But I have counters.
"Why else would I earnestly petition His Highness to bring my father-in-law to the State Council, knowing it'd snag on sumptuary laws?"
"I see."
The market merchants are a kind of economic cartel.
Cartels—except in rare cases—rot society from within.
In other words, they're the sort you can 'divide and conquer,' that age-old wisdom.
