Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Hall of Worthies GPT (7)
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My name is Kim Dae-bung, Joseon's all-purpose search engine.
No, regardless of my own wishes, I've been forcibly turned into an all-purpose search engine.
From what I've heard, the ministers are even saying, "Kim Dae-bung is someone we need to use sparingly and for a long time, so we must cherish him."
Today, the Minister of Military Affairs came rushing to me first thing upon arriving at his office, eager to make use of me before anyone else.
Even though all six ministries have their share of tough issues, why are these ministers—a bunch of Rank 2 nobles—coming to me, a mere Rank 6 underling, without end?
"Now that I've met you, I can finally resolve the Ministry of Military Affairs' dilemmas. At last, we in the ministry can clock out on time."
A suspicious smile played across Minister Jo Mal-saeng's face. If he weren't the Minister of Military Affairs and the target of that smile weren't a man...
It would look just like him asking, "Hey, kid, wanna have some fun with uncle?"
It seems even the Ministry of Military Affairs has been struggling with on-time clock-outs.
I'm not opposed to them clocking out on time, but since I'm human too, I wish these Rank 2 minister uncles would stop obsessing over me.
If you keep getting those sweet tips from me... eventually, all the other officials will come to me whenever their work stalls.
"Dae-bung, tell me how the Ministry of Finance can properly collect taxes from the Hanyang markets. Write up a full implementation plan from start to finish, formatted to match Joseon's official documents."
"The report you wrote was a huge help. Now, could you provide evidence that this plan doesn't contradict the words of the sages, along with a fitting explanation?"
Before long, every official in the land will be knocking on my door like that. What else could this be but cosmic horror?
"...Kim Sub-councillor, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No, my lord."
"That's a relief. Lately, thanks to you, the logjams in all six ministries have been clearing up... If you fell ill and couldn't work, it would be a disaster. I was even thinking of hurriedly sending over some medicinal herbs, ginseng, and dried abalone. Oh, and if the workload ever gets too much, feel free to transfer to the Ministry of Military Affairs anytime. If you're willing, I'll specially petition His Highness on your behalf. The ministry will always guarantee you an on-time clock-out."
As soon as he mentioned transferring to the Ministry of Military Affairs, Deputy Chief Scholar Jeong In-ji popped up out of nowhere and jumped into the conversation.
"Kim Sub-councillor is a loyal subject who only knows 'duty before self,' a man who even enjoys overwork. Otherwise, he wouldn't have accomplished so much as Jinhae County Magistrate."
"...True enough. I heard his successor as Jinhae District Magistrate submitted a resignation memorial. He said that taking over Kim Sub-councillor's work proved he was too incompetent for the post."
"His Retired Majesty even bestowed tonics on the Jinhae District Magistrate."
I tilted my head at that. No, I left a detailed handover document—what could be so hard about it?
He wasn't some fresh Rank 9 newbie; this was a man with over ten years in officialdom, claiming it was difficult?
He must have gone down expecting a leisurely life as a Rank 5 local official, only to end up as the magistrate of a town under the 'Retired King's' watchful eye, saddled with too much to handle. That's probably why he submitted his resignation.
Taking over my work shouldn't be that hard.
Meanwhile, Minister Jo Mal-saeng nodded at Jeong In-ji's words, looking at me in agreement.
"Indeed, Deputy Chief Scholar Jeong is right. I was being too greedy. Forget I said it."
Do these two think I'm some workaholic addict? I'm just working diligently during office hours, like 21st-century Korean salarymen do at their jobs. I focus solely on work from clock-in to clock-out.
"Kim Sub-councillor."
"Yes, my lord."
"The Ministry of Military Affairs has determined that the people are suffering under military service obligations, so we seek to lighten that burden. Under the current military service law, commissioned cavalry officers (cavalry officers, equivalent to high-ranking NCOs) are provided with retainers from 4 households, regular cavalry from 3, and infantry from 2. Yet the people still find even this level burdensome."
To put it simply, here's the deal.
In theory, infantry just need a spear and uniform, so upkeep is low. Two households paying 600,000 won a month each could sustain one infantryman.
But cavalry require horse maintenance, armor, weapons, and more, so even with 3-4 households chipping in, each still has to cough up at least 5 million won monthly.
Compared to Joseon household finances, that's an impossible sum, making the system exist only on paper with zero real effect.
Because hardly anyone in Joseon could afford that much.
As a result, those serving in the military got almost no support. Infantry served without any pay at all, while cavalry support had to come entirely from national coffers.
Plus, cavalry require such specialized skills that only 'specific personnel' rotated in, so family heads weren't dragged away during busy farming seasons.
Infantry, being something any Tom, Dick, or Harry could do, rotated every few months—and if that fell during planting season? That household's crop for the year was ruined.
"How should we change this? The ministry has a proposal to shorten service rotations and increase rotation frequency..."
I had a rough solution in mind for this, but the policy was so intricately tangled that even I couldn't whip up an instant fix.
Truth is, I'm human too; I can't process an avalanche of agenda items without backlog.
From now on, I need to set 'processing times' based on issue priority and complexity. Just like GPT takes longer on complex queries.
"Please tell me the specific alternatives the Ministry of Military Affairs has proposed and what problems remain unsolved despite them. Then this subordinate will review precedents and seek a resolution."
"Even you can't answer the military service issue right away, huh? Very well."
Jo Mal-saeng spent over an hour—no, nearly two—talking nonstop about the military service headaches plaguing him, without even sipping water.
Just transcribing it all was exhausting. Maybe next time I should ask him to bring it summarized in a document.
"That covers the Ministry of Military Affairs' military service issues. When can you give me an answer?"
"Would three days to deliberate and respond be acceptable?"
"Three days... three days. No helping it."
"It's a matter of national importance, and highly complex, so please tell the other lords not to assign me other tasks in the meantime."
"Of course. Three days is nothing; I'd give you ten."
That smile, that expression—no doubt about it. Purely selfish glee at freeing his ministry from overtime.
"Understood. I'll do my utmost to be of service, my lord."
With that, I decided to use the Hall of Worthies scholars' privilege for research.
Which granted access to nearly all documents in Gyeongbok Palace—meaning I could pull any books or materials needed for work...
I'd spend one day frantically digging through materials for ideas, then leisurely organize and write up a formal report over the next two days before handing it to Minister Jo Mal-saeng. That should do it.
I didn't have the answer to his problem right now, but my head was stuffed with Joseon history and heaps of 'reference materials' to draw from. It wouldn't be too hard.
'The key is just to make it a bit better for the people than the current system.'
So, I could put off Jo Mal-saeng's request for three days. But there was one issue.
"Up to now, I've been able to answer everything easily within my knowledge... but that won't always be the case."
For the military service system, I could brainstorm improvements drawing from local defense forces, reserves, Roman legions, German WWI colonial pioneers (near modern eastern Germany), and such.
But what if consultations came on topics I knew little about? What then?
I could say I can't answer quickly, like now, but I'd probably end up working overtime to resolve it anyway. Odds were high.
I had to prevent that at all costs.
First off, eliminate the risk of getting hit with 'I don't know' bombs.
"The important thing is to steer the issues I handle toward fields where I already know the answers or can find them easily."
Before anyone brings me problems, I propose ones from my strong suits first.
For example, get them building reservoirs and essential farm tools, then push the 'advantages of rice transplanting'?
Minister of Finance Hwang Hui would latch onto 'transplanting' hard. It enables double cropping in the southern three provinces (Jeolla, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong) and boosts rice yields massively elsewhere.
Farmers in this era didn't know it, but late Goryeo actively used transplanting under Yuan influence, increasing harvests. They'd be interested too.
By gradually feeding them only from my knowledge base like this, I'd buy myself time.
Time to start right away.
"May I go meet Jang Byeolju in the Armaments Bureau?"
A senior Hall of Worthies scholar nearby replied with a bored expression.
"If it's for official business, go as much as you like."
No matter how fast I promote, I won't climb above the prime ministers—unless I match Admiral Yi Sun-sin's speed.
But from the other scholars' view, I'm always a potential rival who could surpass them anytime. No wonder they don't look kindly on me.
That's why companies have that saying.
Being too capable can sometimes be a sin.
"Thank you, Rector, my lord."
With permission granted, I headed straight for the Armaments Bureau.
Upon arrival, I grabbed a passing clerk and asked where Jang Yeong-sil was.
"Where is Jang Byeolju, my lord?"
"Byeolju isn't in the bureau offices right now."
A bureau deputy, stuck doing paperwork in the bureau... Ah, no wonder.
This isn't the era of Hangul yet; how could Jang Yeong-sil read all those hanja documents? Even if he could read them somehow, writing formal reports with all the flowery rhetoric in proper format? No way.
"Right now, Byeolju is discussing iron smelting methods with the bureau artisans."
"Lead the way, quickly."
"Yes, my lord."
The clerk kept stealing glances at me. Did I look like I was about to blow up the bureau or something?
I was just going to see Jang Yeong-sil to do some good for Joseon.
"I don't look like I'm here to cause trouble at the bureau, do I? Relax your expression."
"Perish the thought."
The place the clerk led me to had a bushy-bearded, hard-drinking-looking man in his forties.
Clothes made it hard to tell ranks, but only one wore a 'samo' hat... That must be Jang Yeong-sil.
"Are you Jang Byeolju, my lord? Let's join forces to benefit Joseon."
The time for farm tool reform had arrived.