Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Currency and Direct Appeal (2)
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The Hall of Worthies was Joseon's policy research organization and scholarly institution.
In a word, it was like a graduate school, where they kidnapped all the promising talents, put them to work on all sorts of policy studies, and made them polish their academics on the side.
"Lord Kim Suchan, you look as leisurely as ever today."
"Dr. Choi (Choi Man-ri), need a hand?"
Choi Man-ri held a lower rank than me. He was a junior 7th grade, while I was a regular 6th grade.
But he was six years older than me... so as fellow yangban officials, it felt awkward to speak down to him outright, and using honorifics was also ambiguous, leading to this kind of dynamic.
"Doesn't Lord Suchan have enough on his plate with the tasks from the Minister of Military Affairs, plus inventing and crafting farm tools?"
"True enough, but as a member of the Hall of Worthies, I can spare a moment to help Dr. Choi."
No matter how much I wanted to file my resignation memorial and retire ASAP—with zero ambition for promotion—I had no intention of needlessly raising the difficulty of my official life.
Even someone like Yulgok Yi I hadn't bothered with the face-showing courtesy call, but if I was antisocial on top of that, I'd end up with nothing but enemies around me. Then, when I tried to resign and retire to the countryside, some bastard might accuse me without cause...
Building friendly relations with the Hall of Worthies officials was essential.
And Choi Man-ri here? He got labeled a Confucian old fogey for opposing the Proper Sounds for the Education of the People. But his reasons for opposing it were understandable even to a modern person.
The real Confucian hardliner who called the masses pigs and dogs? That was Jeong Chang-son over in the corner, eyeing me suspiciously. No matter how hard we tried, Jeong Chang-son and I were just too different to get along.
"Lord Suchan, you really are something else."
"I'm just diligently doing my duty."
It was true that by playing Hall of Worthies GPT, I'd lightened the overall workload here.
Thanks to that, the officials no longer pulled all-nighters regularly; they only did so once or twice every seven days, and got off on time otherwise.
So even without my face-showing courtesy call, the other officials were starting to accept me as one of their own.
That said, if I slacked off too obviously, I'd catch the vice director Jeong In-ji's eye for insolence and get buried in tasks... so I had to strike a balance.
"Working at the Hall of Worthies feels a bit more bearable with Lord Kim Suchan around. Next holiday, let me treat you to a drink at my place."
"Looking forward to it."
We were having this heartwarming chat when Jeong In-ji stormed in, his face heavily creased.
Judging by that expression, it wasn't just about overtime. What massive disaster had hit?
The Hall of Worthies was a 'policy research' outfit, not in charge of wars or disasters—no way they were ordering us to immediately devise disaster relief plans.
"Their Highnesses the Supreme King and the King have decreed a currency system. Last time, paper money didn't work out, so this time it's coins."
Just hearing it made my head go blank. Currency? Did he just say coins?
Suddenly, my neck stiffened, my vision spun.
This was the absolute worst economic policy blunder caused by King Taejong Yi Bang-won and King Sejong's ignorance.
At least this time it wasn't 'paper money' but copper coins... still, it was doomed. The idea of copper coins was fine, but...
Everything else about it was rotten from the start. Bluntly, the odds of this coin policy succeeding were lower than getting a top grade on the Korean SAT by bubbling A for everything.
"Halt the lectures on the Four Books and Three Classics and all other policy research. From now on, the Hall of Worthies will examine the merits and flaws of introducing coins—and how to implement it..."
Jeong In-ji's gaze fixed on me.
If I were a truly conscienceless villain, I'd play to Yi Bang-won's favor for my career and pretend not to see the flawed policy.
I almost wished I were that kind of person.
But I couldn't be.
"Vice Director, this really won't do."
"You haven't even heard how Their Highnesses plan to implement it. How can you be so sure?"
I couldn't say it was because I knew the future and could predict the policy. So I pivoted.
"Let me ask you, sir. If we filled all the kingdom's treasuries, starting with the Ministry of Finance, with nothing but coins, would the national treasury grow rich?"
"...What kind of talk is that?"
"What if we fill half with coins and half with rice?"
People accumulate wealth in Bank of Korea bills. That's possible because ten thousand 10,000-won notes can actually buy 100 million won worth of goods.
Government offices, companies, and ordinary citizens alike never doubt that fact.
That's why we treasure scraps of cotton paper that don't tear easily and call them money.
But if even a high official like the Hall of Worthies vice director doesn't trust 'coins,' would the common folk accept and use them as currency?
The old fogey Jeong Chang-son answered for Jeong In-ji.
"Absurd nonsense. Granaries need local specialties and rice. Coins are just for convenience in trade. Folks hand over rice, get coins, and it flows naturally."
Dizzying bullshit just to hear. If the government itself doesn't trust coins enough to accept them as tax, what kind of currency policy is this?
This policy was 100%, no, 1,000% doomed.
"If the state won't buy rice with coins for taxes, why would the people trust and use coin currency?"
Jeong In-ji lowered his head at my words.
"Their Highnesses' will is ironclad. And we can't say for sure it will fail. Kim Suchan, you're young and new to office, so you might not know, but back when we used household low-denomination notes instead of taxes per house, they functioned as currency well enough."
"That was because the state deemed those notes useful even for tax collection. The people knew paper money was accepted by the state and believed in its value. I've never served then, but now the folk don't use those notes. Because, as I said..."
Supreme King Yi Bang-won was a man of iron mace. He'd charge blindly for his beliefs, right or wrong.
Thanks to his convictions, I'd brought smiles to the faces of Jinhae county folk—because he'd executed Jeong Hak-so, enslaved his family as public slaves, and pushed me forward.
No sturdier ally than him. No scarier foe.
Unavoidable, instant-kill, dot damage, AoE all at once.
Jeong Hak-so took it and wasn't unscathed. Neither was the Yeohung Min clan.
"...court officials didn't accept them as tax either."
Jeong In-ji sighed, looking at me, then patted my shoulder.
"Listen, Kim Suchan."
"Yes, sir."
"You know the Chief State Councillor is grinding his teeth at you. No need to explain why, right?"
Probably because I'd directly rejected the Confucian political ideals from Xunzi and Mozi onward—suppressing commerce and insisting on absolute thrift.
No direct harm to him, but I couldn't look good for denying his misguided beliefs.
"Yes, sir. I know."
"Kim Suchan, you could be in danger. His Highness the Supreme King doesn't tolerate opposition. Think it over carefully."
With that, Jeong In-ji gestured for me to leave.
"In your state, you can't handle affairs. Take sick leave. Straighten your mind and body, then come back. Bluntly, every official here has benefited from you—no one will mind a few days' rest."
"Thank you, sir."
"A reed too stiff breaks."
Hearing that, I left immediately. The sun was still high, yet I was clocking out.
But I felt no joy.
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My feet carried me straight to Unjongga (Jongno Market). I just wanted to see it.
Craved the smell of real life, I guess.
Walking aimlessly, I soon arrived at Kim Man-deok's shop.
He was hawking his wares with shameless cheer.
"Try these sweet dried persimmons from Jinhae county. The wife of Lord Jeongnang at the Ministry of Military Affairs is expecting—nothing beats Jinhae persimmons for sweet cravings."
"...Lord Jeongnang did ask me to get sweets, but the price is steep."
"These are top-grade, even offered to His Highness. But specially for you, four measures of rice for one measure of persimmons. Normally it's five. Can't go lower."
"...Deal."
Even to a slave from the Ministry of Military Affairs Jeongnang household, he spoke without 'this guy' or 'that guy'—with easy camaraderie. No doubt, he'd make a big merchant.
As I sorted my thoughts watching him, Kim Man-deok spotted me and approached with a joyful face.
"Lord! You're out early today."
"How's business in the market?"
"Thanks to your halo, no one's bullying me here—sales are great. Jinhae persimmons and dried anchovies fly off the shelves. Next, I'll try paulownia bowls."
"Good to hear."
Kim Man-deok eyed my face and worried.
"But you look troubled. Are you unwell?"
"Not that. Just some worries."
Worries about state affairs—too sensitive to dump on him directly.
Still, like disguising a crush as a buddy's tale... asking indirectly as 'someone else's story' should be fine.
"Man-deok, as a merchant, do you value profit more, or integrity?"
"Integrity."
"Why? You need money to uphold integrity—or protect family."
Kim Man-deok grinned at me.
"Ditching integrity for quick gain might feel good in the moment. But after years as a peddler, I've seen those who betray trust shunned by fellow merchants and customers. Chasing immediate cash by tossing integrity sells out your entire merchant life."
True. Even the Rothschilds, famed for conspiracies, exploded in success by honoring debts to Holy Roman Empire electors over their own fortunes.
Had they just grabbed their own money, no conspiracy icon status today.
"So I'll keep my integrity—to survive. And lowly merchant though I am, betraying it gnaws at my conscience as a man. Mornings opening my eyes, after lunch at noon, evenings too."
"I see."
"Yes. So as a merchant, I'll prioritize integrity."
...Listening, I resolved.
Yes. If I stayed silent on the doomed currency policy for safety... I'd regret it forever.
I didn't want to live my remaining years in regret.
"Thanks."
With that, I headed home.
Even if it meant facing the iron mace and death—for a choice without regret.