Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (3)
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Taejong Yi Bang-won's purges were swift, precise, and impressive.
That was true of Yangnyeong Grand Prince's in-laws, and it was true of King Sejong the Great's in-laws as well.
If not for the fact that he banished those whom Confucian ideals—tied to his own maternal family—deemed absolutely off-limits for purging...
He was the sort who spared those he judged posed no threat to his royal authority, even if they deserved death—no one could complain about that—and who made every effort to limit the application of guilt by association.
No need for further words; just mentioning that the current Minister of Justice is the eldest son of Jeong Do-jeon says it all.
Now that I've looked into the personality of Yi Bang-won—the man who assigned me this role as secret royal inspector—and his preferred methods of purging...
How should I think and act as an examinee of sorts, tackling the tough assignment he's given me to resolve this issue?
As I sank into such contemplations, Kim Man-deok asked cautiously.
"Lord, why did you choose to start in Anseong of all places? Wouldn't it have been more convenient to inspect areas closer to Hanyang first?"
"It's better to start from the farthest spots so things are easier later on. That's why I deliberately came to Anseong, the most distant county among those he specified for me to visit."
Among the regions Yi Bang-won designated for me to inspect, Anseong is the farthest from Hanyang.
Of course, traveling between multiple cities in Joseon—without cars or trains—is grueling in itself.
"I see."
"Oh, and there's one more important reason."
When solving a problem, grasping the examiner's intent is paramount.
Whether taking the civil service exam or working at a company, failing to read the 'examiner's intent' or 'the boss's intent' makes it hard to score well or advance beyond middle management, no matter how competently you perform.
Sadly, there are countless cases of hardworking employees getting laid off because they veered from their boss's desired—sometimes shady—direction or failed to flatter appropriately.
On the flip side, plenty rise to executive levels despite mediocrity simply by aligning with the boss's wishes.
Thus, as a Joseon official, my first priority is discerning Yi Bang-won and King Sejong the Great's intentions... so I should share my answer sheet with Kim Man-deok.
"To punish one and warn a hundred."
"......Are you planning to impeach the Anseong County Magistrate?"
If I wield the secret royal inspector's authority, I could end that magistrate's career for good.
I'd just need to uncover every petty corruption hidden in the county, every issue arising from implementing the levy reform law, and report it all.
But banishing the magistrate and restoring order that way is second-rate at best.
A first-rate official makes the magistrate repent his errors of his own accord and correct them himself.
"Is there any official in Joseon who doesn't accept New Year's gift bribes? How could anyone claim the nobles and clerks aren't colluding to falsely report another bad harvest this year? How could anyone say no one with 100 gyeol of land doesn't claim they only have 50 to demand lower taxes?"
No one in this world is so pure that not a speck of dust comes off when shaken. If such a person existed, they'd be a god, not human.
Much less in Joseon— if I set my mind to it and dig, who wouldn't have some evidence of hiding assets to evade taxes?
"If I inspect the county with the resolve to root out every such misdeed, not only the Anseong magistrate but every noble house in Anseong would be wiped out."
That's not what Yi Bang-won wants.
If a lawful and firm inspection eradicates all corrupt nobles, others would just take their places...
And the administrative vacuums, breakdowns in village security, and disorders that ensue would be unbearable. Anarchy is truly terrifying.
With no government, rapists prey on women unchecked, murders go unpunished, and only fools refrain from crime.
So I have no intention of swinging the iron rod he's entrusted to me too harshly.
"Not accepting or giving New Year's bribes is impossible in Joseon. The levy reform law specifies exact amounts—that's all there is to it. Just collect taxes matching 100 gyeol from those with 100 gyeol of land."
"You're not planning a massacre of the Anseong magistrate and nobles, then."
"Exactly. I'll just warn them that His Highness the Supreme King will be very displeased if they don't comply. That's how we'll establish order."
In wartime, deserters—or those attempting it—are almost always shot.
And they die before everyone's eyes. The reason is simple.
The executed die for crimes warranting death anyway, while the spectacle imprints the lesson on other soldiers: don't desert, unless you want to die.
"I have no plans to resort to that unless absolutely necessary."
Of course, if something extreme happens, I'd have to revise my approach and take a hard line. I don't enjoy bloodshed.
"Oh, that reminds me... When do you plan to hold your wedding, Lord?"
"My father says if I don't marry by next year, he'll pick any decent girl for me. I don't know what to do."
It's not something to say to Kim Man-deok, who gave me his daughter as a concubine, but damn—who should I marry?
If things keep tangling up like this, on the fifth day of the fifth month, I'll have to head out, watch the noble daughters swinging on swings, and pick the prettiest one.
As I pondered my wedding dilemma seriously, lively singing voices of commoners drifted from afar.
It's harvest season now, and the levy reform law has been promulgated nationwide... They're probably rejoicing because lower taxes make life worth living.
"Let's go check it out."
"Yes, Lord."
In dramas and films, secret royal inspectors storm the yamen the moment they detect corruption and beat everyone down.
In truth, that's just dramatic flair. Do that in the real world, and you're exiled to Sam-su Gap-san for sure.
Think about it logically.
Even police need reasonable evidence for search warrants or summons.
Dragging someone in without evidence or grounds? That's abuse of power—disciplinary action galore.
Much less investigating a county magistrate four ranks above me without even circumstantial evidence. What do you think would happen?
So at the outset of secret royal inspector duties, you gather local rumors first, then summon only with clear criminal evidence. That's proper official procedure.
"Just you come with me, Kim Man-deok. We'll get a drink from them and ask what the happy occasion is."
"Yes, Lord."
Kim Man-deok and I headed straight to the festivities.
Two strangers appeared suddenly, but they didn't tell us to get lost.
Because Kim Man-deok and I were disguised as yangban heading home after failing the civil service exam.
"......Just one question. What's got everyone so joyful, celebrating like it's Chuseok when it's not?"
One farmer grinned broadly in response.
"The newly promulgated levy reform law cut our taxes, so now we can eat and live well—that's why we're laughing. Before, even landless tenant farmers like us had to pay 3 to 4 seom of rice per household as tribute goods. Now it's just 13 doe per gyeol."
My head rang when I heard 13 doe.
Sure, tenant rents average 50%—half of 1 gyeol's 18 du (180 doe).
So about 9 doe per gyeol is acceptable.
But 13 doe per gyeol? That's crossing the line.
Still, you can't fill up on the first sip, so let's let it slide for now.
"Taxes dropping that much must make life worth living."
"Yes, now I can feed my kids till they're full. Or tighten my belt a bit and buy some land. What a great world."
The commoners' faces were full of smiles.
Yi Bang-won would be thrilled if I included this in my official report.
Even if the levy reform law benefits the masses, the world crawls with corrupt officials' spawn.
Plenty will exploit its loopholes and weaknesses for graft.
Heck, for folks gouged 3 seom of white rice before, halving it to 2 seom feels like a godsend.
Inevitably, some will try squeezing through those gaps to embezzle taxes.
Let's see—right now, the only thing coming to mind is tampering with dokbak sizes...
While I pondered silently, Kim Man-deok stepped forward to ask the commoner.
"I failed the civil service exam, but couldn't go home empty-handed... Could you tell me where they sell tribute goods for the king?"
Kim Man-deok handed the farmer a hefty bundle of cotton cloth.
The man waved it off in refusal.
"You can't just buy tribute goods—anyone needs an introduction from the local clerks or nobles. Or purchase through a temple."
The levy reform law's core: the yamen provides rice, merchants supply tribute goods in exchange.
So merchants should trade directly...
But only via temples?
Our Anseong County Magistrate might need a secret royal inspector summons to come to his senses.