Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (4)
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There was once a truth revered like a god in the distribution industry.
The idea that minimizing the number of middlemen and transporters would lower the price of goods.
At the time this saying was coined, it wasn't wrong.
A cabbage that cost less than 100 won at the farm would go for 200 after one middleman, 280 after a wholesaler, 380 after an auction house, and 500 at a retail vegetable shop...
But if the farm sold directly to a vegetable store or large mart, they could get around 300 for it.
Even now, people believe this and head to port cities for sashimi, where the freshness is top-notch, but the price is often higher than in Seoul...
However, that's a story from 21st-century modern society. In Joseon, this remains an enduring truth.
Because the more middlemen there are, the more people skimming off the top.
"Well, I wanted to buy some fine pears for my mother who loves them... Guess I can't bring her the delicious pears fit for the king."
In Joseon, failing to properly honor one's parents is seen as a 'capital offense,' regardless of whether you're yangban nobility, a commoner, merchant, or even a slave.
Even if a poor man gets caught stealing one or two pears, if he says it was to give to his ailing mother or father, kindhearted folks would just let him go. That's how much they empathize with and obsess over 'filial piety.'
So when I said I wanted to buy local specialties for filial reasons, everyone nodded in understanding.
As I feigned dejection, a man quietly sipping takju beside me spoke up.
"Lord, the pears offered as tribute to the king aren't necessarily anything extraordinary."
"What do you mean by that? Wouldn't they naturally be the very best for His Highness?"
The man set down his takju bowl and chuckled softly.
"Lord, I work for a merchant guild handling pears for this tribute as part of the public levy, so I know well. Sure, since they're for His Highness, we don't send inferior goods... but the temples and magistrates are in cahoots, taking 'bribes' and granting permission to supply tribute in return. So we just send ordinary pears you can find anywhere."
Joseon has no quality control or grading systems.
They don't grade beef like 1++ or 1+, nor do they measure fruit size and sweetness to distinguish premium from low-grade.
In other words, as long as it looks decent, they can call it top-quality tribute with no standards to contradict them...
So temples, offices, and merchants collude to submit adequate but not prime goods as tribute, and there's no way to crack down.
No standards? How do you enforce anything?
"If you want good pears in Andong, shall I make an introduction?"
"I'd appreciate it."
I gave Kim Man-deok a glance, and he handed the man a fan. In Joseon summers, everyone uses fans, so it's a practical gift.
No one would turn this down.
"Anything else interesting going around town?"
A secret royal inspector's job is to patrol the locale, and if problems arise, lock the government warehouse, sift through records, and conduct seizures.
That's why historians say it's no different from a prosecutor's investigation...
The thought of actually doing a search and seizure—something I never experienced even in my past life—makes my heart swell.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Joseon's officials receive meager salaries.
More precisely, their actual pay is pathetically low compared to the social privileges, rank, status, and workload they enjoy.
In modern states, this would tank the appeal of public service, but Joseon is different.
If the stipend is too low, it's common sense to procure supplemental income themselves.
Even with the Bangwon Law in place, there are still plenty of ways to siphon funds.
"Kim I-bang."
"Yes, Magistrate."
Anseong County Magistrate Yi Seok-do, with twenty years in office, had long mastered every nook that yielded cash and every trick to divert it undetected.
"Is the tribute levy prepared?"
"Of course, Magistrate. The Bangwon Law makes collecting taxes from the poor a bit tougher, but where there's a will, there's a way. As a last resort, desperation finds solutions."
"...... Hm, most commendable. In my twenty years, I've never seen such an exemplary clerk as you."
"An honor, Magistrate."
"What method did you use?"
A bright smile lit up I-bang's face.
Yi Seok-do liked I-bang.
Having such a corrupt—no, shrewd—clerk in their county was a stroke of luck.
"We used our usual method, one that skirts the law. We cut the temples' handling fee from the usual 10% and educated the merchants: provide tribute goods at fair prices or face strict audits. That way, we secured the tribute for less than half the previous cost."
Yi Seok-do nearly slapped his knee in admiration. I-bang's scheme was ingenious.
But one thing puzzled him.
The Bangwon Law forbade routing through temples—why insert them anyway?
"If temples handle tribute procurement, don't you have to pay them fees? Why waste rice on those monks for the levy..."
"The monks have long done business with us, and if the office deals directly with merchants, tribute prices rise sharply."
Yi Seok-do caught on from his words.
More than half that 10% fee lined the pockets of I-bang and the other clerks.
But in Joseon, longevity in office required mutual prosperity.
If clerks 'handled' things without some fee tolerance, being magistrate would be tough.
Still, turning a blind eye and feigning ignorance were worlds apart. Yi Seok-do decided a light warning was in order.
"We must keep the monks from getting uppity over handling official business. Otherwise, as Joseon's magistrate, I'll have to crack down hard."
"Of course not, Magistrate."
"By the way, how much tribute revenue this time?"
"Last year, 15,841 seom of white rice. This year, 19,432 seom. Harvests were similar, but taxing yangban lands without exception made it possible."
The old tax system vaguely considered income gaps between rich and poor but levied by household like a poll tax.
Resulting in 5% effective rate for the rich, over 50% for the poor.
Like other nations, Joseon's wealth concentrated among a few elites, so light elite taxes left revenues short...
Now, levying tribute by land area regardless of wealth enabled fair taxation.
"Taxes up, yet the people praise us for better livelihoods. Truly, the Bangwon Law—no, its architect, Kim Jukheon (Kim Dae-bung's courtesy name)—is remarkable. Joseon has birthed a great man."
Yi Seok-do admired Kim Dae-bung.
Tax reforms boosted tribute yields, and streamlining trade cut procurement costs.
Meaning more skimming opportunities than before.
Moreover, in twenty years of service, Yi Seok-do had never dreamed of such tax laws.
He knew comparing himself to the proposer, Kim Dae-bung, was futile—no jealousy stirred.
"Magistrate, congratulations in advance."
"For what?"
"You've implemented the Bangwon Law impeccably; the people chant 'Long live the Supreme King!' Word reaches the court, so ascending to a capital post isn't far-fetched."
"Outrageous! Capital seats require His Highness's personal appointment. How dare you speak such folly?"
Yi Seok-do feigned anger.
But I-bang wasn't fazed.
He saw the pleased smile urging more flattery.
"His Highness surely knows your devotion to the people. Good fortune awaits."
"Ahem, ahem."
"If nothing else, this personnel evaluation will be Supreme grade, Magistrate."
"If so, I'll reward you and the six clerks handsomely."
"Thank you, Magistrate."
Anseong's top two thus reaffirmed their pact: 'Let's keep feasting together.'
"Speaking of which, the new gisaeng Chunhyang is famed for her beauty. If it's no bother, could you preside over her debut?"
"...... Kim I-bang, let's get along well from here on."
"Regulations will loosen yearly, so we'll reap even more wealth..."
"We see eye to eye."
"Raising a gisaeng's hair" was slang for taking her virginity.
Yi Seok-do had no reason to refuse.
If she pleased him, he'd take her as a concubine...
But Yi Seok-do's bliss wouldn't last.
Because Kim Dae-bung was striding toward the Anseong government office.