Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (2)
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Na and Kim Man-deok had become a sort of shared fate.
If I died, Kim Man-deok would die too, and if Kim Man-deok died, it would bring massive trouble crashing down on me.
Even more, as proof of his absolute trust in me, he'd handed over Winter to be my concubine.
Because of that, the two of us were now in a relationship where we couldn't separate even if we wanted to.
This had to be the ultimate form of collusion between officials and merchants.
In Korea, it'd look bad, but in Joseon, it was perfectly legal.
So I could discuss even state affairs with Kim Man-deok without much reservation.
Because I had faith that the secrets I shared with him would never leak from his mouth.
"So, the Supreme King and His Majesty have issued a secret royal decree ordering Lord Suchan to travel through all of Gyeonggi Province and inspect whether the Temple Commutation Law is being properly implemented?"
"That's right. Thanks to that, I'm dying here."
Strictly speaking, the Temple Commutation Law was still in the preparatory stages of legislation.
So you could say 99% of Joseon's people didn't even know what it was.
In a world where information spread slowly without the internet, TV, or radio, there weren't many who knew the details of a law that hadn't even been announced yet.
However, the fact that the Temple Commutation Law would be created and implemented wasn't some huge secret—it just hadn't been publicly announced yet, but those in the know were aware.
Kim Man-deok had long held significant influence in Hanyang's market guild, so there was no way he wouldn't know why officials from the court were running around like headless chickens.
"Having to inspect all eleven counties and districts in Gyeonggi Province... that sounds incredibly tough."
Among those eleven counties and districts, four were towns where governors (rank 3rd upper capital official) were dispatched, and three more where commandants (rank 6th lower) were posted.
In short, I'd have to barge into places with people of even higher rank than me and conduct inspections.
And if I found evidence of mishandling, I'd have to play the secret royal inspector from the historical dramas—storm the government office with my inspector badge and deliver a thorough "search and seizure."
"It's not just the inspections; even more importantly, I need reliable people to assist me."
"Since you've come to me, it seems you're not just looking for some guys who can swing a sword."
Finding people with the firepower to protect me was surprisingly easy.
I could just hire off-duty capital guards from all over Hanyang with money.
Their martial arts skills and combat abilities were on par with special forces soldiers, and since they were always strapped for cash due to horse maintenance costs... as long as I paid them properly, they'd guard me well.
The problem was that the guards' hiring exam didn't involve essay tests in Chinese characters, so they were all illiterate brutes.
You might say just bring in former military officers or martial exam candidates, but doing that would be a perfect way to arouse suspicion from Yi Bang-won.
No, considering how much he trusted me now, he'd probably let it slide as a "major mistake" and just keep using me like he does Chief State Councillor Hwang Hee.
"I need people who can read and write, handle accounts to some extent, and have a sharp eye for business."
"......In my shop, Manager Kim, servant Kim Bok-dol, and Jangbok... they're quite trustworthy."
"Can I take them with me?"
"Of course. The higher you rise, Lord Suchan, the bigger my business can grow. I have to help however I can, don't I?"
"Birds of a feather?"
"Yes, like sentient beings born on the same lotus—living and dying together... Aren't you and I already of one mind and body?"
Kim Man-deok said with a sly chuckle.
"After you got rid of that Ryu Jeong-hyeon fellow, my standing in the market guild has grown a lot."
"Has it?"
"Yes, my lord. Thanks to you, high officials, lords, bureaucrats, technical officials, and merchants' households are all seeking out our goods. And there was even that one Gyeonggi maritime superintendent who wanted to curry favor with you—he handed over two slightly worn large ships at a bargain price. About 25% of market value."
"So now you have ships too?"
"Up until now, I only had one ship that could carry around 300 seok (54 tons), but with business booming in the guild and that cheap deal, I could afford them."
In 21st-century modern nations, the navy wouldn't sell warships to civilians, but that's just modern nations.
In Joseon, it was common to sell off military ships that were no longer useful to the army to private merchants—after stripping the cannons, of course.
Anyway, Kim Man-deok owning two large ships now...
He must have invested big, planning to sell all the specialty goods from Jinhae not just in Hanyang but to the big towns nearby too.
"Helping you is key to my own success. So, if it won't be a burden, how about I come along too?"
"What about your shop?"
"My deputy manager Park handles things excellently. Leaving it to him for a month or two won't cause any major issues."
"It won't be an easy journey."
Being a secret royal inspector didn't mean facing life-threatening danger every moment, but it was far from easy.
Riding horses over rough roads, darting here and there—was that something ordinary?
Kim Man-deok was already in his mid-40s, and his body probably wasn't what it used to be. I wondered if he'd be okay.
Sensing my concern, Kim Man-deok clenched his fist and thumped his chest.
"I'm 45, sure, but my spirit is still as fiery as when I was 21. And the Temple Commutation Law isn't just for Joseon's poor commoners, is it?"
"True enough."
Kim Man-deok flashed a bright smile.
"When poor commoners have less tax burden, will they just eat rice? They'll buy mackerel, cod, even fruit sometimes. Maybe leather shoes too. Won't the customers for my dried persimmons, paulownia wood utensils, and anchovies multiply several times over?"
"Probably."
When the economy booms, spending on food, clothing, and such skyrockets. In short, consumption rises, and merchants like Kim Man-deok see sales explode.
In fact, the Great Equalization Law was the biggest driver of commerce in late Joseon... Once the Temple Commutation Law passed, specialty goods production would surge nationwide, and markets would spring up everywhere.
Merchants in those markets would flock to Hanyang for bigger profits, just like Europeans risked their lives sailing to India when the Age of Exploration began.
You could call it the dawn of the "Great Korean Trade Era."
"And markets will appear in every town across the nation. Sea routes will open to carry goods for the newly prosperous commoners to consume. Far more goods will flow in and out and be used up everywhere. Merchants will amass wealth beyond compare."
"You're full of greed for money."
"Wouldn't it be weirder for a merchant not to chase money?"
"Fair point."
There was no such thing as a merchant without greed for money.
Believing that was like trusting a pretty, slim girl inviting you to a motel saying, "We'll just hold hands and sleep tonight, trust oppa?"—and actually believing she'd stop at hands.
Hands lead to touching breasts, then full relations... and naturally, you start dating from that first day.
"This lowly one wants to get rich. But I don't want to be the only rich one while everyone else starves. My nature doesn't enjoy luxury alone knowing others suffer, and I know those who get rich alone end up in ruin."
That rich Choi family in Gyeongju? They say even during the Donghak Peasant Revolution when yangban families were wiped out, they survived because they'd given so much charity.
They kept helping the poor and made it through.
Surprisingly many rich folks survived massacres by accumulating virtue like that.
"It helps the nation and serves my own interests. If I can step up, I should, right?"
Right now, I desperately needed someone like Kim Man-deok.
With him, I could catch the clerks gouging on tribute prices at markets and uncover the nonsense temples were pulling.
"......We leave right away, so hurry and prepare."
And with that, I set off immediately for my duties as secret royal inspector.
"To not feel ashamed before Winter's eyes—no, to show her a cool side of me."
I muttered to myself, and it seemed like I heard Kim Man-deok chuckle...
Probably just my imagination.