Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Maps and Trade (9)
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The compilation of the new gazetteer and the introduction and implementation of the village head system were progressing at a breakneck pace, like a ship sailing with a full wind behind it.
Thanks to my personal trip to Jinhae County to demonstrate a successful example in action, any issues arising during rollout could be resolved relatively easily.
"It's tough work, but without the overtime, it's manageable..."
During the recent campaign to subdue Yi Man-ju—the bastard who'd been plaguing Joseon from beyond the Pajiang River—we'd had to constantly recalculate supply quantities and logistics for the expeditionary force amid ever-shifting circumstances, which meant an insane workload.
The court officials had all been forced into frequent overtime as a result.
This project wasn't so urgent that it demanded late nights.
So it didn't feel overwhelmingly grueling.
Some officials were scarfing down meals in haste, abandoning even the dignity of the yangban class to save time on eating, but without the soul-crushing overtime, everyone was holding up well enough.
It got me thinking: for those short on mealtime, what if we sold onigiri or kimbap triangles?
'Even if the yangban won't buy, the clerks would snap them up in droves.'
I'd grab some myself now and then.
"Let's see, Icheon's local specialties are strawberries, peaches, ceramics, astragalus, and cornus fruit. It'd be good to encourage Icheon's commoners to plant fruit trees like peaches in their yards or on spare plots, harvesting them to supplement their income."
Directing the Icheon magistrate to promote planting fruit trees in household yards or unused land would surely boost the locals' household earnings.
In the 1960s and '70s on Jeju Island, a single tangerine tree in the yard was enough to send a kid to college—they even called them "college trees." The same would help big time in Icheon.
'It'd raise living standards and economic power.'
"No need for tax breaks or deductions to incentivize specialty production from merchants."
If we offered tax reductions proportional to investments in specialty goods, profit-hungry merchants would jump at it.
If they owed, say, 300 seom of white rice in taxes next year, they'd buy land worth that amount and invest in specialty production.
Investing for the future beats just paying taxes.
'Money they'd lose to taxes anyway turns into bigger profits down the line if invested.'
And here's the beauty of it:
Scaling up those ventures in exchange for tax relief boosts the national income on a macro level.
But I didn't think Joseon needed tax breaks for merchants to ramp up specialty production just yet.
Once the gazetteer was distributed to merchants, they'd easily spot where to buy low and sell high.
Specialty production and distribution would explode.
"With specialty output rising and proper taxes coming in from merchants next year, the court's budget will swell even more... Let's channel that surplus primarily into reforming the military service system."
With my immediate tasks wrapped up, I'd use my spare time to draft a conscription system tailored to Joseon's realities, starting from scratch.
With current productivity and budget, we could emulate a Roman legion.
As I pondered drawing up a military reform plan inspired by the Roman army, the Minister of Treasury suddenly appeared at the Hall of Worthies and hurried toward me.
"Junior Inspector Kim, have you heard the news?"
"What news, my lord?"
China, Japan, Joseon—historically, no major crises were due right now...
What could have the Minister of Treasury rushing to find me here?
But his next words melted away the worry flickering in my mind like snow in spring.
"A silver mine's been found in Dancheon. A pretty big one, at that."
"Joseon has silver mines, but nothing major until now, right?"
"Exactly."
Right after Joseon's founding, the Ming demanded silver, and since we couldn't meet it, the court shut down gold and silver mines entirely—the yields were that low.
Later, when the lead-silver separation method was developed, the Dancheon mine produced a decent scale, yielding about 5,000 nyang (2 kg) of silver annually.
Though output surged under the tax farming system, handing operations to big operators akin to modern chaebol...
'That's future history. The key now is discovering the Dancheon mine ahead of the original timeline.'
"They say it turned up while surveying local specialties and mines for the gazetteer. In the past, they wouldn't have dreamed of mining it, and even if they did, they'd conscript locals—fat chance those folks mine properly."
As commerce boomed and capitalist thinking took root, Joseon's ethos shifted dramatically.
Before, the mindset was "exploit the people for free whenever possible."
Now, it was "pay fair wages even if exploiting labor."
Projects like reservoir construction across the eight provinces benefited.
Previously seen as horrific forced labor—necessary but begrudged...
Now, as long as it didn't clash with farming season, some commoners eagerly awaited their turn.
'Off-seasons are idle but moneyless; earning from reservoirs then is a no-brainer.'
That's why, on my recent Jinhae visit, I saw enough reservoirs for double cropping.
"The gazetteer survey showed many in Dancheon villages lack proper jobs. Hiring them as miners with fair pay would be ideal."
"The treasury's full, and it provides livelihoods—a win-win."
"Exactly. So whenever we find mines, let's develop them this way for mutual gain. Now, using the Dancheon gazetteer entry as reference, draft a development plan for the silver mine area."
"Isn't that for the Treasury or the Dancheon magistrate?"
"The Dancheon's swamped—folks are hustling to catch herring and such for over-fermented fish sales, developing specialties to finally eat white rice. He's overtime every night. You gonna make a man with one body do two people's work when you can handle it easily?"
Hamgyong and Pyeongan provinces are dirt-poor.
They sell tiger pelts for cash, but tigers don't drop daily...
The terrain's so rugged, men and women alike are soldier-tough, worth a hundred each—but hunters are rare.
Most are tough-as-nails farmers or fishermen scraping by on poor yields.
How brutal must life be?
Now commerce lets them sell specialties without starving fears—rumors are flying.
No wonder the locals are fired up on development.
"Understood. But while their enthusiasm's great... I'm worried if it'll pan out properly."
"In Dancheon, yangban village and township heads are leading the over-fermented fish project, dipping into personal funds to hire fishing experts. It'll succeed."
This was an unexpected variable.
In creating the village head system, I hoped it'd bridge yangban-commoner gaps locally.
But I figured true collaboration would take ages...
Yangban-led ventures already underway...
"It's commendable, truly, but I don't quite grasp how this came about."
"After you first implemented village heads in Jinhae and recommended those who comforted the people well and cooperated on surveys? Two got minor postings."
"Yes, my lord."
Kim Nam-jo, Jinhae's most powerful yangban, contributed hugely to the gazetteer and enjoyed folk prestige.
I recommended him to the court as needed talent...
Now he's a Hall of Worthies scholar, serving patriotically.
"Dancheon magistrate says they're hustling to rack up merits for office."
Pyeongan and Hamgyong have the lowest civil exam pass rates of the eight provinces.
Pyeongan: 2% historically; Hamgyong: about 1%.
Those yangban won't miss this shot at bureaucracy.
"Joseon needs officials who truly understand and soothe the people's hearts. If they deliver, I'll ask the Dancheon magistrate to recommend the best."
Pain halves when shared.
Joy doubles.
Work's the same.
Divide among many, finish faster; more heads yield better ideas and results.
"Even the Hall of Worthies needs folks to grasp folk life and guide enlightenment. This news delights me."
I penned a considerate memo adjusting the Dancheon magistrate's workload to realistic levels and advising how to escape overtime, infusing it with that joy.