Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Stele of Merit (5)
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As the saying goes, everything comes full circle. Where there is a meeting, there must be a parting.
I'm no king of Jinhae County, and when the court orders me to go, it's only natural that I should obey...
But now that the time has actually come to leave, my heart feels heavy. There's still so much work to be done, and it feels like I'm leaving without finishing it all.
Still, by current standards, Joseon is the most centralized nation in the entire world.
Refusing to go when ordered would be treason, so I have no choice but to leave.
"There are plenty of unfinished tasks, but I've worked hard enough not to have any regrets. That's what matters, right?"
I tried to console myself like that, then stood up from my desk, leaving behind the neatly organized stacks of documents.
Yi Bang and the other clerks watched me, unable to hide their regret.
"It's such a shame that someone as excellent as you, Magistrate, has to leave so soon."
"Where there is a meeting, there is a parting. Besides, the new official coming in isn't some junior county magistrate like me at the lowly rank of junior 6th grade. He's a district magistrate at senior 5th grade. Instead of a greenhorn like me who barely passed the civil service exam, an experienced veteran from the bureaucracy is arriving. Jinhae County will prosper even more than it does now."
During the year and a half I served as Jinhae County's magistrate, the county had developed considerably.
Most of them were vagrants wandering near our county, but as they settled down in Jinhae, the population grew by nearly 10%.
Cultivated land increased by about 3%, and with full-scale land reclamation finishing next year and the year after, it should reach around 10%.
The market's activation raised living standards, and easier access to irrigation water boosted crop yields by nearly 15%.
Jinhae County was already on the larger side for a county governed by a magistrate, and because my various policies succeeded and brought prosperity... the town's status was elevated.
In modern Korean terms, it was like being promoted from a township to a small city.
"Magistrate..."
"The new magistrate will take even better care of you all. And who would think I'm being exiled? This is a clear promotion to senior 6th grade."
The court had highly valued my achievements and promoted me a full three ranks.
From junior 6th grade lower, to senior 6th grade lower, and now to senior 6th grade upper.
Under the newly established merit promotion system this year, lower-ranking officials below senior 3rd grade upper mostly advance by seniority, gaining one rank every 15 months. For magistrates, it's every two and a half years.
Honestly, after just a year and a half, it would be normal not to get promoted.....
From that perspective, this was an unprecedented stroke of luck.
"It was an honor to serve under you, Magistrate. But what should we do with the gifts the townsfolk brought?"
"Turn them all away."
"Magistrate, these are gathered with one heart from the local yangban, commoners, and even us clerks. Refusing them would trample on the pure intentions of those who gave them. Everyone has felt your grace. You may not know this, but the entire town united their hearts and even petitioned to let you stay longer. We didn't tell you because we knew you'd forbid it, and the petition was rejected, leading to your departure... but if you refuse even this, we'll truly be heartbroken."
They pleaded so earnestly that refusing now felt wrong.
I had already ordered the clerks not to prepare any farewell parties or gifts, and I canceled yesterday's farewell banquet because of it.
Yet they prepared these anyway... It must be the genuine will of the people.
Especially since they all petitioned together to keep me here. Refusing now would seem odd.
"No helping it, then. I'll accept them."
"Thank you, Magistrate."
After exchanging final farewells with Yi Bang, I greeted the newly arrived district magistrate waiting outside the government office.
"This foolish and inadequate subordinate has handled the great duties of county magistrate imperfectly in many ways. I beg the new district magistrate to look leniently upon the mistakes I've made."
The district magistrate burst into hearty laughter at the word "mistakes."
"Hahaha, doesn't Kim the magistrate know the saying 'excessive merit brings proportional envy'? Too much humility can come across as rudeness. Even His Highness the former king—now fully praises your creation of the market and moral education of yangban and commoners alike."
"I am ashamed."
The man, who appeared to be in his mid-40s and took my words as mere courtesy, laughed heartily like a genial deputy manager.
"I hear the townsfolk, regardless of scholar, farmer, artisan, or merchant, united in gratitude for your wise rule and petitioned to let you stay even a little longer. If even you speak like this, what does that make me?"
At this rate, showing genuine "inadequacy" would offend him.
I couldn't smear the face of a senior who'd spent over a decade more in officialdom than I had.
"My apologies."
"Enough. We can see what kind of person you are from the piles of gifts stacked on carts in the office yard. With so many to take away, and not a single complaint—only regretful faces from the people seeing you off—it says it all."
"Thank you."
The new district magistrate smirked at me.
"And I'm glad to be assigned as a local official. The Ministry of Finance is pulling all-nighters like clockwork, agonizing over how to expand your new long-term market system nationwide. No time for tea or poetry—they're buried in work."
The intensity of administrative work in Joseon versus 21st-century modern society is worlds apart, even for the same tasks.
For example, in America, an 9-to-6 job means scarfing sandwiches at lunch while slaving away.
But in Joseon, as long as the assigned work gets done well, officials chat during breaks (under the guise of work talk) and sip tea.
Like this district magistrate said, unless it's an emergency, no one pores over documents late into the night, skipping meals or bathroom breaks.
"So while most think local postings slow promotions and feel cast aside, I'm relieved to escape the Ministry's grind and come to Jinhae. Thanks to you doing such a good job, I won't have to suffer as much either."
"Your kind words leave me at a loss."
"Kim the magistrate is truly diligent. As a senior who's spent 13 more years in office than you, my advice: too much diligence can break a person someday. Living too rigidly is a problem too."
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll strive to view the world more flexibly, District Magistrate. But there are still so many unfinished town matters—let me quickly brief you on the most important ones."
"Go ahead."
"In my view, the town is wasting manure right now. The people haven't been properly educated yet, so they build latrines anywhere and do their business carelessly... If collected and properly composted, it would make excellent fertilizer and greatly benefit farming."
The district magistrate's face stiffened at my words.
I'm just passing on a helpful tip—why the reaction?
Regardless, I had to properly hand over my duties.
"Uncomposted manure only kills vegetables and grains and has poor efficacy. So please strictly forbid the ignorant folk from spreading it directly on fields, and ensure they mix it with straw or fallen leaves and let it compost for at least 20 days before use."
"......Understood."
"Also, when commoners perform corvée labor, the office provides snacks. But I've heard the constables and minor clerks skim the makgeolli from those snacks. Corvée reduces their emergency grain loans, but their bodies grow weary... We can't let officials divert the makgeolli meant for the people midway. Of course, the constables and clerks are tired too, so please keep a close eye on this and provide them ample liquor as well."
Next, I handed him a thick ledger summarizing the handover items.
A hefty volume filled with densely packed writing.
His face paled further as he saw it.
"......Kim Magistrate, how exactly did you handle your duties?"
"This foolish one merely strove not to trouble His Majesty."
The new district magistrate gripped my shoulder firmly and gave earnest advice.
"Kim Magistrate, one truly important word for you."
"Yes, District Magistrate. I'll heed it."
"Never say that in front of the Minister of Finance—or any Ministry officials."
The Ministry officials were pulling all-nighters because of me. Saying I fell short in front of them would only anger them.
Of course, my work wasn't insignificant. But the unfinished tasks weren't just one or two either.
Just properly composting manure for fertilizer would boost agricultural efficiency considerably and reduce deaths from waterborne diseases.
Even without full sewers, mandating latrines at homes and public places for exclusive use... plus developing local specialties—there's a mountain of work...
But one by one, step by step, it can be done.
To my eyes, it's still sorely lacking, but if reforms continue even a little, pushing forward... Joseon will brighten.
Once I've laid the groundwork properly, I can retire.
At that point, even the old fogey Minister Heo Jo or lifelong Chief State Councillor Hwang Hui—nicknamed Golden Grand Justice for his love of gold—won't have complaints about me.
"Thank you, District Magistrate."
As I said that and prepared to leave town, a familiar voice called out.
"Magistrate."
"Heh heh. Not anymore."
"My lord, aren't you taking a merchant like me along?"
Kim Man-deok grinned at me. His daughter Kim Gyeol stood beside him.
"Heading to Hanyang?"
"With your backing, couldn't I snag a prime spot in Joseon's biggest market? I can leave the Jinhae business to my son and play in bigger waters."
With Kim Man-deok by my side, I wouldn't have to worry about money troubles ahead.
I had to dispose of all these farewell gifts like dried persimmals and dried fish anyway.
Just the persimmals alone amounted to nearly a ton...
"I appreciate it."
"Looking forward to working with you, Magistrate."
With that, we set off straight for Hanyang.
What I saw then were the people of Jinhae County gathered thick on both sides of the road I had to take.
The moment they spotted me, they began to weep.
"Thank you, Magistrate. Thanks to you, next year I'll own a plot of land—not much bigger than my hand, but mine. How can I ever repay this grace..."
"Thanks to you, I won't worry about repaying emergency grain next year. I stretch out straight in bed at night. I'm so happy. We haven't even repaid your grace yet—why leave so soon?"
Even the yangban who first opposed my tax increases came to see me off.
They bowed deeply and courteously toward me.
"Thanks to you, Magistrate, the people have plenty to eat and wear, and laughter never ceases throughout the town. We will never forget, even in death, the grace of your benevolent care for our town."
Watching them, tears welled up in my eyes too.
Leaving all their farewell words behind, I headed to Hanyang.
Though I leave this place, if I work even harder from my new position, doing what I can...
One day, they will all share in Joseon's progress, I believe.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at the government office after Kim Dae-bung's departure, crowds of people—yangban, merchants, farmers without distinction—flocked in.
The new district magistrate felt dizzy at the sight but, being seasoned, didn't show it.
"What is it you want?"
The town's scholars spoke as one.
"The grace our former magistrate bestowed upon this town is immense. We wish to erect a Stele of Merit to honor his benevolence and kind heart. Please permit it."
Erecting the Stele of Merit was something Kim Dae-bung knew nothing about.
It was simply the pure-hearted donations from poor commoners to yangban alike.
"Permission granted. And as an imperial servant myself, I will do my utmost to repay the throne."
He said that, but inwardly, the district magistrate felt suffocated.
His Majesty had strictly ordered officials not to work holidays, so he'd gotten some rest then... but otherwise, endless overtime at the Ministry had nearly killed him. Coming here felt like salvation.
Yet his predecessor was the kind yangban and commoners united to beg for a Stele of Merit for.
Might as well have stayed at the Ministry, he thought.
With that in mind, he began reading Kim Dae-bung's handover ledger.
Each page made him feel like he was going mad.
"......On market days, accidents increase, so the district magistrate must personally go to the market to judge commoners and inspect discipline? And if yangban try to reduce tribute goods, invoke the Stele of Merit to morally educate them into proper behavior. Merchants must be taxed, so once a year, personally check if they're hiding assets..."
Over ten years in office, but he'd never seen such a madman.
Who monitors every merchant one by one, and personally works the market like a hands-on magistrate?
"With this much to do, the Ministry seems better."
Honestly, common sense in Joseon: local postings mean easy work and saving bribes without special royal orders.
But to clean up Kim Dae-bung's mess to the satisfaction of the former king—now His Majesty...?
He'd have to forgo amassing a fortune through bribes.
No, actually possible. Match Kim Dae-bung, pocket 2,000 seom of grain—no one would complain.
But could he match Kim Dae-bung?
Otherwise, he'd need to be impeccably incorruptible to win sympathy votes from yangban, clerks, and commoners whose standards he'd raised.
And to handle all that...? Work himself to death.
The district magistrate thought:
"I want to go back to the Ministry and just overtime every day like meals. That'd be easier on heart and body, damn it."