Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Great Cleanup (5)
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Investors who are obsessed with money always say one thing.
That if you just leave it sitting in a bank account, it will rot away.
And when you think about it, that's not entirely wrong.
In the 1980s, you could buy a 51-pyeong apartment in Apgujeong with 100 million won, but nowadays, that same amount won't even get you a single room there.
That doesn't mean you should spend money recklessly, though.
If you hoard it too tightly and just save, the value of money depreciates over time, leading to losses. So you need to spend it appropriately.
In this context, the taxes (in rice) that the yangban voluntarily pay out of patriotic zeal will just rot away if merely piled up in government storehouses.
"Foreman, are there any suitable spots in our county to build a reservoir right now?"
"As far as I know, there are about six places, including Dongcheon, Seosacheon, and Dudong. If we look around, we could find more."
"I see."
In my heart, I wanted to build reservoirs at all six spots.
Building reservoirs alone would reduce drought damage, and just opening up some waterways would vastly increase the amount of arable land.
The lives of the county's people would improve dramatically.
Rice loses its flavor after a year in storage, becoming stale, and after three years, it usually rots completely.
So for the sake of boosting the county's revenue, it's beneficial to invest in the right places.
"Among those, which one has the most easily reclaimable land nearby, and which is best for irrigating fields?"
"Dongcheon and Seosacheon. Especially Dongcheon—the river is fairly deep and long, so there's plenty of water."
"We'll build a reservoir at Dongcheon and dig new waterways."
"Ever since you started collecting taxes from the merchants, the levies on the commoners have decreased, making life easier for them. Even so, building a dam is no small feat in terms of labor."
Civil engineering projects, especially reservoirs, require as much manpower as building a fortress.
Moreover, in Joseon—particularly early Joseon—such works like reservoirs or walls were done through yok, essentially free slave labor. This drastically lowered the quality of life for the people and was a grave evil.
During the Imjin War, when King Seonjo ordered more walls built in anticipation of the Japanese invasion, his ministers stepped up and said that even if war seemed imminent, the people were suffering, so let's hold off for now. That wasn't for nothing.
The reason people dread yok is precisely because it's unpaid slave labor.
So if you pay fair wages commensurate with the work, I doubt anyone would hate it.
"If we pay them wages, it won't just be grueling labor. Wouldn't they actually like it?"
"How do you mean to pay wages?"
"I'm thinking of reducing the Emergency Grain Loans owed by the people proportional to the days they work during the slack farming season. Going further, for those truly destitute who can't even put food on the table, if they fulfill a certain number of workdays regardless of season, we could forgive their loans entirely. If we want to go even more, paying actual wages would be worth considering."
The Emergency Grain Loan system—lending grain to the poor in spring or summer and getting it back at harvest time—doesn't have major issues yet.
It only started rotting after things like "two-part interest records," "three-part interest records," and "seed interest" games began.
Because right now, it's not forced lending without my request, nor do they add interest on top of principal that's already poor quality (mixed with stones and sand).
Still, even repaying just the principal in autumn must be a huge burden for poor commoners.
So if I gather the idle poor during slack seasons for public works and reduce their loans based on days worked as compensation... no one would refuse.
"Magistrate, if you do that, the county storehouses will empty out."
"Foreman, that's a problem solved if our county's scholars voluntarily pay a bit more tax for the good of the county."
Even in the 21st century, it's said the top 1% hoard half the world's wealth.
Our Jinhae County scholars aren't quite at that level, but they do hold vast fortunes.
Yet Joseon's tax system is utterly bizarre.
The yangban have far more wealth, but most taxes come from the poor.
If the poor bear 40% of the tax burden, the yangban contribute less than 10%. That's the reality.
That's why I threatened the scholars to cough up more money for everyone's benefit.
"And considering taxes from merchants and market fees, building one or two reservoirs won't run a deficit, right?"
"You're right, Magistrate."
"I won't make you bear the burden."
At my words, the foreman's face suddenly brightened.
If I were the type who got a thrill from squeezing clerks and yangban like some power-tripping county magistrate (who's basically given up on promotion), I'd tell them to pay up or get their heads bashed in.
I'm not the sort who enjoys seeing people suffer. Plus, pushing it on them too could lead to unintended backlash.
"Provide meals for those participating in the labor service. I'll give you a generous budget, so handle it well."
"Yes, Magistrate."
Someday, I really need to overhaul Joseon's entire tax system and introduce something like the Moderate Salary System.
And give officials salaries befitting their immense social responsibilities and status...
That way, corruption decreases, and government budgets get used efficiently.
As soon as the foreman left, another clerk entered and relayed a message.
"Magistrate, merchant Kim Man-deok has come to see you. Shall I send him away?"
"No. Let him in. I had some questions for him anyway—perfect timing."
The clerk's expression turned peculiar at my words.
He was probably wondering how to treat a merchant I'd personally seek advice from.
This would elevate his social standing beyond compare.
Even the yangban wouldn't bully Kim Man-deok without reason anymore.
"......Yes, Magistrate."
The clerk withdrew, and Kim Man-deok entered right away.
The moment he saw me, he presented several thick ledgers.
"This is my token of sincerity to you, Magistrate."
"What is it?"
"Ledgers listing every bit of my assets, not hiding a single grain of rice. I've meticulously checked and recorded key items for taxation, like the number of fishing boats and persimmon trees."
In Joseon, gifts to officials were usually exorbitantly expensive local specialties, delicacies from land and sea, precious metals, rice, silk, and the like.
But Kim Man-deok had never given me any of that.
He paid taxes when told, and responded sincerely to my requests—that was all.
Honestly, the market sales tax on merchants wouldn't have gone smoothly without his leading cooperation.
That's why I entrusted him with spreading the word for the Stele of Merit—to show I trusted him.
"You're the first merchant in the world to voluntarily and honestly declare taxes. Thanks to you, I've gotten great help in developing the market."
"I'm prepared to follow you even if you order me to die—I'd at least pretend."
"But I have one worry."
"What is it?"
"If you're this proactive in following me, will the other merchants in Jinhae County leave you alone?"
This was genuine concern for the man.
Even among elementary kids, the one who snitches on friends' wrongs gets ostracized.
As adults, we realize ostracism isn't a big deal, but to kids that age, it's brutal violence.
During elementary, middle, and high school—when children need peer friendships more than parents for self-identity formation, career planning, or counseling about personal worries—disrupted relationships can hinder normal development.
The same flows into companies and society. That's why massive whistleblower rewards in the billions exist for major public corruption reports.
Kim Man-deok cooperating on market taxes and merchant property taxes is risking his life.
He grinned at my words.
"Merchants stake even their lives on the table when necessary. I'm convinced you'll rise to the Three Prime Ministerships someday."
"I'm not that great."
"In less than half a year since taking office, you've dramatically transformed the people's lives—unprecedented in East or West, ancient or modern. And you're the only one who's risked your position to open a market for merchants to do business. So I'm certain you'll soar like a great peng bird with grand ambitions."
"You think following me will benefit you?"
"Even a mere slave overseer gains stature based on whom they serve. One serving the Chief State Councillor is listed as a slave on paper, but receives gifts from countless officials visiting him... even ranked officers can't touch him lightly, lest they face the Chief's wrath."
He's right. Not all great house slaves are corporate elites, but as head slave, they wield real power.
Extremely, eunuchs are just 'slaves attending the king closely.' But a senior like the Head Eunuch makes even the Chief State Councillor tread carefully.
"If I follow you, couldn't I become a great merchant too? Later, just your protection might make new county magistrates hesitate to mess with me."
"......While others offer rice, silk, gold, silver as bribes, you've been offering your life as a bribe all along."
"Does that displease you?"
Far from it—a thousand times no, a million bean cakes!
Thanks to his devotion, I could push county reforms quickly.
And his strength and wisdom will be invaluable for my future ambitions.
Why refuse his loyalty? Just repay it in kind.
"......My schedule is free today. And I have a special favor to ask you. How about I visit your home for a drink?"
"An honor, Magistrate."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment we arrived at Kim Man-deok's house, he ordered tea and snacks brought out.
It was only natural to offer something to a guest, so I thought nothing of it.
But my eyes were drawn to the woman who brought it.
"It is an honor to meet the virtuous and learned Magistrate. I am Kim Gyeol."