Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Maps and Trade (7)
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In the original history, the myeon-ri system that Han Myeong-hoe implemented didn't operate properly in its early stages.
That was because, in early Joseon, getting registered in the household registry didn't just mean you had to pay taxes—it came with the huge problem of not knowing when you'd get dragged off to the pretense of an army that was barely functioning.
So no one wanted to cooperate.
For poor commoners, the threat of being conscripted into the military was a matter of life and death.
If there was a war that threatened the fall of the nation or something similar, forced conscription would be inevitable.
But otherwise, having to live with the risk of being drafted at any moment for three months to a year—or longer if the state called—just because you were a healthy male between 15 and 60 was an unbearable hardship for the people.
Grab any hardworking Korean office worker and suddenly tell them they have to enlist for a year starting now.
Not only would immediate enlistment be a huge issue, but what about the job they'd been doing well at?
With long-term military service keeping them from work, they'd get fired with a severance payout.
Joseon was at least an agrarian society where they could return as tenant farmers, but what about the family starving because no proper farming got done during the time the head of household was off on military duty?
"At least by the mid-Joseon period, the commutation of military service with cloth system was introduced, where paying money exempted you from service, so people no longer had to suddenly drop their livelihoods for military duty... That's why they somewhat accepted cleaning up the household registries under the myeon-ri system."
For poor commoners, the myeonpo cloth tax that replaced military service was a massive burden, but at least paying it meant they wouldn't get randomly hauled off to the army.
They could escape the terror of the family breadwinner being unable to work, leaving the household destitute. They had no choice but to go along with it.
"We have to solve this military service problem somehow."
When I first got assigned to the Hall of Worthies after finishing my term as Jinhae magistrate, Jo Mal-saeng had asked me exactly how we should resolve the military service issue.
Just as I was about to come up with an answer, Yi Bang-won exploded with his 'currency' policy, forcing me to shelve my military reform plans.
"Now that tax revenues have increased both at court and in local offices, couldn't we shift away from arbitrarily conscripting adult males aged 15-60 willy-nilly... and instead set fixed terms for service?"
What I'd really like is to introduce a modern military service system: basic training followed by assignment to barracks across the country for unit life.
But reality makes that impossible.
If we properly implemented conscription now, the number of soldiers we'd need would be 100,000 to 200,000.
How would we build barracks for all of them, transport food to those barracks, and dedicate that many people solely to military training and border defense for years on end? It doesn't make sense.
'What Joseon can handle right now is just enough food and minimal gear for them.'
"In the end, making them serve like a local defense force in their own villages might be best. Base it on a seven-day cycle: one day of military training, five days of civil engineering or farming work, and one day off. That seems optimal."
Right now, Joseon desperately needs manpower for water supply and sewage systems, dikes and irrigation facilities, clearing farmland, roads, and all sorts of infrastructure.
So it might be good to bunch up the mandatory service into 2-3 years all at once, then exempt them afterward.
And mobilize the conscripted active-duty soldiers if war breaks out.
"Yeah, for now, this is the best we can do."
For the northernmost border regions like Hamgyeong and Pyeongan Provinces, we should send volunteers.
And for them, apply a lump-sum discharge bonus like a military savings account.
If we promise 20 seom of white rice worth of goods upon completion of service, plenty would volunteer.
"I'll compile this and submit it to the Right Prime Minister..."
As I mulled over fleshing out a detailed military service system during my downtime at the Jinhae county office, the magistrate came to see me.
Fatigue was etched clearly on his face.
"My lord, the information survey for Jinhae's gazetteer is complete."
"Already? Done so soon?"
I'd only been here less than 20 days.
I figured gathering data for the household census and gazetteer would take at least another week.
The magistrate's words were hard to believe.
"It's finished way faster than expected—almost suspiciously so. You've worked incredibly hard. Now, show me what you've compiled."
The magistrate handed over the organized documents while gauging my expression.
Well, anyone would tense up like that when asking a superior to approve paperwork.
I get nervous too when submitting reports to superiors like Hwang Hui, Maeng Sa-seong, or Jo Mal-saeng.
Worried about any potential flaws.
"Reviewing these will take a while, so have a seat and wait."
"Yes, my lord."
I seated the magistrate and dove into the documents.
I expected gaps since they'd been rushed like lightning-roasted beans...
Aside from a few minor issues, there was nothing to nitpick.
How does someone process work this fast without errors? It's unnatural.
"No flaws at all. This is practically perfect."
The magistrate let out a sigh of relief.
"Glad to hear there are no issues."
"What I'm curious about is how you managed this speed. How'd you pull it off?"
"Yangban and commoners alike cooperated wholeheartedly on the gazetteer survey."
"Everyone united for the task..."
"Yes, my lord. I gathered them without distinction of class and explained how implementing the myeon-ri system and related reforms would benefit everyone greatly. I encouraged them to ask any questions. Once they understood my true intentions, they fully got on board."
If the court just orders, 'Implement this household registry system immediately,' yangban and commoners alike would comply blindly, even without full understanding.
But when the local magistrate steps up personally to explain what it is and how it's beneficial to all...
It's like a doctor thoroughly addressing a patient's pre-surgery doubts and fears, instilling calm and trust.
I'd expected even greater results.
I get how the magistrate's proactive explanations dispelled resistance to the reforms...
"Even so, this speed..."
"First, military info like walls, facilities, and troop numbers—I keep meticulous tabs on those routinely, so I just recorded them as is. For local specialties, the merchants clamored themselves: 'These are our products—help us tribute them to His Majesty!' Made that easy too."
"I see."
Seems my direct persuasion of the merchants helped.
"And the crucial household census progressed rapidly because the newly appointed myon chiefs, ri chiefs, tong chiefs, and ban chiefs threw themselves into it."
"Is that so?"
"Elderly yangban mostly spend their lives on scholarship and managing ancestral lands as a pastime, right? Many resign themselves: 'I'll never pass the exams or get an official rank before I die.'
Well, my own father started slacking on his studies about ten years after I was born, saying he'd never pass the civil service exams.
Then he drilled into my ears: 'You must pass and bring glory to the family...'
The scholars here are no different.
No matter how much Joseon changes, a yangban's dream is passing the exams for fame and position.
Even knowing overwork and endless duties await afterward, they grind away for family honor.
"So when I told them cooperating on the gazetteer could earn them ranks—or even offices if they excelled—they poured their souls into it. For commoners, I explained that unregistered folks evade taxes but can still claim relief, reducing benefits for everyone else... So nearly all in the county eagerly registered."
"The only ones not registering now are slash-and-burn folk or desperately poor wanderers, I suppose."
"Yes, my lord."
That's how taxes and welfare work.
If someone skips taxes while you pay, it's infuriatingly unfair. If they get benefits and you don't, it's rage-inducing.
Leveraging that, I spread the word: no registry means community backlash...
They'd rush to sign up.
"Excellent. This data should suffice for the gazetteer. You've earned an early rest today."
"Thank you, my lord."
"A bit more organizing, and it'll be done."
Over the next five days, I finalized the data and promptly submitted the Jinhae gazetteer to Hanyang.
I stayed in Jinhae another week, enjoying banquets from the people, fishing with Han Myeong-hoe and Gwon Ram, and feasting on our catch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, the court that received Kim Dae-bung's Jinhae gazetteer was dealt quite a shock.
"The population is up by one-and-a-half tenths (15%) from the previous survey? How is this possible?"