Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Grand Cleanup (4)
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There’s a record in the Annals of King Taejong saying something like this.
“Even in years of poor harvest, collect taxes as in normal years.”
Just hearing that, anyone would think Yi Bang-won was some kind of maniac who wanted to squeeze the people dry.
But the reason he said it was because of a bad habit in Joseon.
The government’s policy was to always reduce taxes no matter what, so at this time, the court wasn’t even providing meals for officials. Magistrates were lying about normal years being poor harvests just to lower the taxes they had to send to the capital.
Didn’t happen in Jinhae County? No way.
Without that background, King Injo wouldn’t have created the Yeongjeongbeop, which treated every year—good or bad—as a poor harvest year and levied only four dou of rice per gyeol of land.
“What are you talking about now, Magistrate?”
“Don’t play dumb. The county tax ledger I saw clearly states that last year’s rice harvest was a normal yield—not poor, not bountiful. But another tax ledger claims insufficient rain led to only about 200 dou per gyeol, calling it a poor harvest.”
In King Sejong’s era, paddy field farming hadn’t yet spread.
Even so, advanced fertilization methods meant there was no need for fallow periods in rice farming anymore.
Social stability had also improved, boosting yields considerably.
As a result, farming one gyeol could yield 300 dou—or 20 seom—of rice. Unless it was a poor harvest, that is.
“In Joseon today, land tax takes one tenth of the harvest, so normally it should be 30 dou per gyeol. But our county claimed a poor harvest of 200 dou and took 20 dou... No, you agreed with the previous magistrate to take only 17 dou on grounds of poor harvest.”
“......Magistrate. This is just custom.”
Joseon was a country that blindly believed collecting less tax was always better. That’s why a money-grubbing fool like Ryu Jeong-hyeon ended up as Chief State Councillor.
That guy was just like Jo Mal-saeng—never caught breaking the law, but he’d ruined plenty of people with usury.
Anyway, that’s not the point right now.
The important thing is that these guys here lied about taxes in front of Yi Bang-won, who was obsessed with securing revenue.
“I’ve never once clung to office since topping the Civil Service Exam—not even once, up to now. I’ve only exerted myself to repay His Highness’s grace.”
In truth, I’d rather resign quickly and return home for a peaceful life than be worked to the bone like Prime Minister Hwang Hui under King Sejong.
But if I just up and requested resignation, King Sejong would probably assign someone like Hwang Hui, Heo Jo, or another court heavyweight to brainwash me. That’s why I can’t.
Hwang Hui even said he’d personally educate me, calling me a bigmouth.
They wouldn’t let me submit a resignation memorial and retire without a solid pretext.
So I had no choice but to work myself to death.
Fixing just one injustice I see eases the burden on countless people. Their joyful smiles are beautiful.
“Since taking office here, I’ve never taken a single illicit gain. Unless the Office of Inspectors-General is out to frame me for treason, my innocence will be proven in time.”
Clerks, merchants, even I as magistrate—we all took our fair share.
It’s not much compared to other magistrates, but I’ve saved enough for a tiled-roof house in Hanyang.
If I took nothing, merchants and clerks would think I was possessed by some incorruptible ghost or a demon.
But what I’ve taken is all “legal income” that Joseon law can’t judge or even prosecute.
Even if the Office of Inspectors-General sued me for offending them by screwing over the previous governor, I’d at most be dismissed. No further punishment. Then what happens to these guys?
“As Jinhae County Magistrate, may I compile these disloyal acts into a report to His Highness? I suspect very bad things would follow.”
These people dared deceive the king on taxes before Yi Bang-won, who staked his life on revenue collection. They’re likely to end up like Jeong Hak-so—horribly.
Anyone in Joseon who’s studied even the Thousand Character Classic could guess that. Common sense.
The scholar who’d called it “custom” knelt first.
As he knelt, the others followed suit.
“Magistrate, we were wrong. Please forgive us. We’ll follow your words faithfully.”
“We prosperous folk could feed the people better if we bore a little more. We’re ashamed we knew this and still resisted.”
If I make these guys shoulder more taxes, the county folk’s lives will definitely improve.
The heavy tribute goods burden—if they take on more...
That lightens it for the lesser petty households—those poor souls without even a single maji of land. This is proper tax policy.
Take less from the starving poor, more from the rich.
And if I fought them, I might taste victory’s joy for a moment, but...
If I’m the site admin of Jinhae County, these guys are high-rep gallery users.
In short, if they throw a tantrum, the whole county turns to shit.
Beyond that, my “those who have more give more” policy would be scrapped the moment a new magistrate arrives, making life hard for the people again.
After cracking the whip hard, you’ve got to dangle a carrot.
“I’m thrilled that Jinhae’s esteemed scholars lend me their strength. The foolish folk will hold deep gratitude for you easing their burdens.”
“The people will thank us for this? Then we’re grateful too.”
The yangban said pretty words, but their faces were grimacing.
I said the people would appreciate their “donations,” but they’re thinking, “What’s that do for us?”
Yeah, I’m not planning any cash rewards or tax cuts for them. True.
But I plan to give them something a Joseon scholar values more than life.
Scholars are the type who’d throw away their lives for family honor.
“Thanks to your generous tribute contributions, as the people’s lives improve, won’t they pool their saved pennies in gratitude and erect a Stele of Merit for you?”
At “Stele of Merit,” the scholars’ eyes lit up, smiles blooming on faces that had been sour moments ago.
For honor-obsessed scholars, a stele boasting generational achievements... Of course they love it.
Hell, they risk death for the exams not just for office, but to claim honor as yangban—like me. Honor weighs heavier.
Esteemed county scholars get a Stele of Merit? That’s bragging rights for their clans forever. A sweet deal for them.
“A Stele of Merit, you say?”
“Steles are erected voluntarily by the people... I can’t guarantee it, but even a crow doesn’t forget its parents’ grace. These county folk may not know letters or the Classics, but they’ve learned basic human duty from scholars like you. Do they strike you as ungrateful wretches who wouldn’t even express that much thanks?”
In truth, not all steles are purely voluntary from the people.
If a magistrate treats the folk well and panders to yangban, others erect them as a “warning” to fellow magistrates—by consensus of yangban and people.
But here, since I’m making yangban pay more taxes, I’ll stir opinion to use government slaves or whoever to build the stele.
It costs a lot, but if the people chip in pennies, it’s no big deal... And their extra year’s tribute covers several times the cost.
Even if it’s obvious they’re in it for honor, they deserve this much for their “good deed.” It’ll make the yangban feel rewarded and keep it going.
For now, just more tribute. Next, I’ll ask for funds and slave labor on public works for the county.
Like sacrificing for reservoirs.
“......Ahem.”
“I’ll report this beautiful example to the court in my memorial.”
“For the people, we’ll bear a bit more tax.”
“Thank you.”
I’d love to fix the land tax mess too, but... this is as far as I can go now.
Even this much cleans up a lot of burdensome taxes on the people.
I haven’t swept it all away, but it’s way more livable.
“Now, to thank your dedication and resolve, I’ll treat you all today. It’s modest, but eat heartily and enjoy.”
This is the ideal of magistrate-yangban cooperation, right?
Magistrate collects “voluntary taxes” from yangban for public works and aid to the extreme poor; yangban get praise.
Of course they hate getting fleeced.
But what can they do?
Plus, a stele is basically getting pickled in amber.
“This guy’s great, so he’ll keep dipping into his own pocket for the people.”
Even their descendants and kin will boast about it—they can’t quit.
New governor or not, they’ll have to donate assets for the people, scale varying. While gaining honor, of course.