Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Great Equalization Law (1)
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Joseon needs the Great Equalization Law. The sooner it can be introduced—even by a minute or a second—the better.
The current Joseon is driving its people to death amid suffering due to the flawed Tribute Goods system.
Of course, since there's such a widespread belief that the Tribute Goods system is utterly natural, even the people being exploited can only cry out, "Reduce the Tribute Goods!" They have no thought whatsoever of overthrowing the system itself...
In a nation that aims for yeomin dongnak—to ensure the people eat well and live well—it's one thing if they're unknowingly killing off the populace with it, but to continue it knowingly is simply unacceptable.
"Collect all tribute goods in rice. Won't that lead to shortages of local specialties needed for government offices and the palace?"
"On the contrary, there will be an abundance. And the burden on the people will lighten."
"The people's burden decreases, yet the nation's finances grow richer? That doesn't make sense."
What I'm saying is, naturally, nonsense. How could the nation's finances become more abundant when the total amount collected from the people decreases?
I have no intention of pushing such an unrealistic fiscal policy on Yi Bang-won to institutionalize it.
If you look for reasons why Joseon—which possessed national strength surpassing even the major European powers up through the Age of Exploration, no, even into the 17th century—ended up as the neighborhood punching bag by the late 19th century, there are many...
But one of them is that Confucian-style economics, where official taxes are collected minimally by mandate, and officials scrounge up the rest through corrupt practices. Knowing that, there's no way I'd advocate for such a policy.
What good is a man who petitions directly to save the people only to then push policies that kill them?
"I'm not saying to reduce the amount collected. I'm saying to collect taxes fairly."
"Collect taxes fairly... Dae-bung, do you think the current system of levying taxes by household unit is unfair?"
"Yes, that's correct. The current system is profoundly unfair."
My words must have shocked him deeply, as Yi Bang-won plopped down onto the floor of the Office of Special Counsel.
Saying the tax system is unfair could, if taken even slightly askance, be interpreted as denying the very foundation of the state. Yet there's no sign of anger on his face. From that, I can tell he's receiving my words positively.
The way he's looking at me with those sparkling eyes suggests he's deeply intrigued.
"Explain in detail."
"The current tax system divides households into Great Households, Medium Households, Small Households, Petty Households, and Lesser Petty Households by wealth class, then levies military service, tribute goods, and taxes accordingly. This was meant to ensure the wealthy pay more and the poor pay less... but as this official stated during the audience examination, it imposes enormous taxes on impoverished commoners that they cannot bear."
Yi Bang-won nodded as he listened.
"Thus, this official made the yangban of Jinhae County spend vast sums on tribute goods and various public works, collecting less from the commoners in taxes by that amount."
"That will increase the burden on the yangban and breed resentment..."
"Certainly, they were quite dissatisfied at first."
When I casually let slip to you, Lord Yi Bang-won, that the yangban of Jinhae County had colluded with previous magistrates to 'embezzle taxes,' their complaints suddenly vanished like magic.
For me, even if things went awry, the worst I'd face was dismissal—or perhaps a commendation for integrity—so I could report freely... But the Jinhae yangban risked tragedies like Jeong Hak-so's fate, so they listened to me very attentively.
"The yangban of Jinhae County used to pay less than 1/10th (10%) of their annual earnings in taxes, but after this official took office, they paid 2/10ths and 3/pun (23%). Meanwhile, taxes from poor commoners were halved compared to before."
I can't introduce progressive taxation in Joseon. The reason is simple.
If I set up tax brackets like comprehensive income tax and started collecting progressive rates, yangban across the nation would revolt and try to burn Joseon to the ground.
Frankly, if Britain hadn't imposed those bizarre taxes on its North American colonies and had just granted some political participation... America's independence might have been delayed by decades, or even a century or more.
Because figures like Washington would have had no justification or cause to demand 'independence.'
But Britain invented strange taxes, levied them in America, and in response, furious Americans dumped 'tea' into Boston Harbor, leading to that disaster... and ultimately independence from Britain.
The same could happen across Joseon. Public force could suppress it quickly, but the price might be my head—or perhaps lingchi execution, being cut into five pieces.
So, to stay within realistic bounds, I proposed the Great Equalization Law. By having the wealthy pay a bit more.
"As a result, the commoners find life easier, and tax revenue from Jinhae County has increased by a full 40% compared to before."
"Truly astonishing. I was shocked reading your report, and hearing it again like this amazes me even more."
Yi Bang-won's gaze toward me feels a bit stickier now. What is it—like a professor looking at a graduate student?
No, that can't be. Only King Sejong the Great has the talent to turn all his subjects into graduate students. Must be my imagination, weakened from being locked in prison.
"Current tribute goods are distributed based on households rather than actual possessions, with no set procedures even for how much to collect and how. While taxes like land rent have clear procedures, tribute goods have none. Consequently, all sorts of absurdities occur."
"Absurdities..."
"The previous magistrate of Jinhae County, where this official served, collected 35 dok of white rice per household to purchase tribute goods."
35 dok of white rice is roughly 3.5 seom of rice. Enough for three adult men to eat rice alone for a year and still have some left.
"...... If it were delusion, the Royal Inspector wouldn't leave you be."
"Why would this official lie to His Highness the Supreme King? This official mustered the courage to submit a direct petition to uphold convictions, but in truth, being so cowardly... I have no desire to lie and commit the crime of deceiving the Royal Inspector, earning death."
Ah, truthfully, I did embellish a bit. It was an average of 35 dok per household, so yangban paid only 10-15 dok, while I squeezed 50 dok from easier marks.
But if I revealed that detail, the Jinhae yangban and clerks who listened so well would be dying in droves, so I hid it.
Joseon runs on 'marine-style order' and 'long-tongue' culture, where moderate lies and embezzlement fund holiday gifts to superiors... So I have to play along to some extent.
Fish can't live in water too pure, and reforms can't start by doing everything you want from the outset.
If you want top grades on the college entrance exam but don't know basic arithmetic, you don't tackle top students' workbooks—you restart from elementary math. Step by step is fine.
That alone can save countless people.
"...... Why haven't other magistrates addressed this...? Of course, there's no other official in all Joseon as pure and incorruptible as you."
Yi Bang-won's gaze grew even stickier. It's not romantic affection, but somehow, falling into those eyes might turn me into Prime Minister Hwang Hui.
I should submit a resignation petition at the right moment while watching the Great Equalization Law take effect.
Yeah, resigning and returning home to live with Gyeol doesn't sound bad at all.
What's the point of promotion? I can't spend my precious time in Joseon just working. With enough money, living sweetly with a pretty wife is true living. And I have both wealth and Gyeol, so just submit the resignation on time.
"Even to people already struggling to make ends meet, 35 dok per household... 35 dok... 35 dok... My goodness, how could this be...?"
"The situation in other counties is no different. It's not done every year... but such things aren't rare."
"This is my failing."
"You can correct it."
If you stab a knife into someone's throat, they die. But if you repent and withdraw it just before... it doesn't lead to 'killing a person.'
Likewise, if up to now you've unknowingly imposed excessive burdens on countless people, but now recognize the wrong and repent... you can't save those already sacrificed to oppression, but you can save the multitudes yet to be trampled.
"I lack virtue, wisdom, and diligence. Loving the people is meaningless if I can't aid them."
"Just change the system."
"Change the system. Yes, collect tribute in rice. Do you mean combining land tax and tribute value?"
As expected of Yi Bang-won! Father of King Sejong the Great and a genius who passed the Goryeo civil service exam squarely.
When I said collect tribute in rice, he thought to combine it with land tax.
"Yes, that's right. Keep land tax at 30 dok per gyeol as now, and collect about 18 dok per gyeol for tribute goods."
"That would be 48 dok per gyeol—isn't that too much?"
Combining them yields about 16% tax on average harvest land per gyeol.
I'd love to lower taxes on the low-income and tax yangban up to 30%... but that's not realistic.
Push a flat rate of about 48 dok per gyeol—current levels—to fill the coffers.
"This official is certain."
"Certain of what?"
"If done this way, songs of peace will flow from the people's lips, and all will live with hope. The court's finances will abound, leaving no lack to defend Joseon from barbarians."
Ah, and as a side effect, commerce will boom wildly.
Fiscal circulation in Joseon will improve, and the economy will grow.
"I will trust you."
After saying this, Yi Bang-won smiled at me.
"You called this law the Great Equalization Law. But since it's truly a beautiful law, there's a better name than Great Equalization Law."
"What name do you propose?"
"How about Bangwon Law, after my name?"
Yi Bang-won's name carries a wonderful meaning. One might doubt it was given by Yi Seong-gye, who was far from scholarly.
"When Grand King Taejo named me, he infused it with the wish that I spread virtue widely, like a fragrant scent wafting far."
...... All kings' names are subject to pihwi taboo (never using those characters). Yet Yi Bang-won said his name's characters are so common, use them freely.
Of course, by Confucian common sense, using a king's name freely is madness, so we use separate characters like 'fragrant bang' and 'far won.' No one combines the two.
Even if the king permits it, the principle of pihwi must be upheld. Attaching 'Bangwon' to a law I created, breaking that...
"Anyone opposing Bangwon Law, no matter who, is no different from Goryeo's lingering ghosts."