Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Even Pirates Have Their Uses (8)
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Our envoy delegation, dispatched to Tsushima Island, received tremendous hospitality upon our return to Hanyang.
It was because we had secured the declaration of submission from the Lord of Tsushima and pocketed a whopping 1,100 nyang in silver on top of that.
Having achieved such feats without spilling a single drop of blood, the magistrates of every town along our route—from the south all the way to Hanyang—honored the accomplishment by coming out to greet and welcome us.
Seated on his throne, Sejong looked at us with a bright smile.
"The chief envoy and deputy envoy must have suffered greatly traveling all the way to that distant land of Wae."
"Your benevolence overwhelms us, Your Highness."
Truth be told, taking a ship from Incheon to Tsushima wouldn't have been much hardship and would have cut the travel time way down.
However, the Wae bandits—no, the Wae scum—were still in the midst of voluntarily enlisting and evolving from pirates into Joseon naval forces, so long-distance voyages weren't possible yet.
Ships might be faster and more comfortable, but with such a high chance of dying, there was no choice.
That's why we'd gone by horse... My buttocks and thighs ached so badly that just recalling that nightmare makes me never want to set foot in Wae again.
"In the memorial submitted by the Lord of Tsushima, it says that despite their failure to properly crack down on the Wae bandits, I have bestowed my royal grace upon them. They claim to be deeply moved by this favor and wish to learn the ways of Joseon. While this doesn't explicitly mean they intend to naturalize directly into Joseon, doesn't it imply they are considering it in the future?"
Shin Jang, the head of this envoy delegation, responded to Sejong's words.
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
"The sages taught that barbarians must be governed with virtue alone, for only then will they be truly moved from the heart and civilized. Just as the Lord of Tsushima has been so civilized, can we not now say that Joseon is no mere 'Eastern Barbarian' land but a full-fledged civilized nation?"
The Sinocentric world order—centered on China—could be summed up in one sentence.
"All countries except China are barbarians!"
That's why they call Joseon "Dongyi," meaning barbarians of the east.
Yet Joseon receives special treatment from Ming China as a "land of propriety and righteousness," on par with civilized nations... but that's just diplomatic courtesy.
As such, us Joseon people are somewhat intimidated by Ming, the world's strongest power by this era's standards...
And by making the Lord of Tsushima bow his head this time, I've eased that a bit.
"On top of various precious tribute gifts, they brought back a full 1,100 nyang of silver. This greatly alleviates the burden of silver tribute demanded by Great Ming. All of this is the achievement of the chief envoy and deputy envoy."
After the discovery of the parting of gold and silver and the development of the Dancheon silver mines, our gold and silver production increases substantially.
But before that, Joseon had to squeeze the people dry every year just to prepare 150 nyang of gold and 700 nyang of silver for tribute to Ming.
Some might argue that Ming repaid several times over what they received in tribute, so we ultimately profited... but nothing could be further from the truth.
Think of it this way.
In Korea, three apple mangos easily cost tens of thousands of won, but in the Philippines, three go for about 3,000 won.
So even if the Philippines charged triple for apple mangos by their standards, it's still only 30% of what it costs to buy three in Korea.
"Chief Envoy Shin Jang has long served the court diligently since entering government service and has now made great contributions in civilizing the Lord of Tsushima. Thus, he is promoted two ranks to Junior Second Rank Grand Conferment of Merit and appointed Minister of the Board of Punishments."
"Your benevolence overwhelms me."
"In addition, I grant him five bolts of Ming silk, three saddled horses, five slaves, and five head of cattle."
Shin Jang's eyes reddened slightly.
I'd heard once that the moments officials feel most moved are when they become "full ministers" and hear themselves called "Prime Minister," or when they reach Second Rank Minister and head one of the Six Ministries...
Having become a Minister of the Six Boards, his emotions must be running high.
"Deputy Envoy Kim Dae-bung is promoted from Junior Fifth Rank Service Aide to Senior Fifth Rank Merit Aide, and granted three bolts of Ming silk, one saddled horse, and five head of cattle."
"Your benevolence overwhelms me, Your Highness."
I hadn't expected a promotion this time... but my rank went up one notch.
An unexpected promotion is all the sweeter.
"Furthermore, for devising the plan to civilize the Lord of Tsushima, Minister of the Board of War Jo Mal-saeng's rank is raised to Junior First Rank Supreme Conferment of Merit."
A smile spread across Jo Mal-saeng's face as he ascended to Junior First Rank.
Yes, Jo Mal-saeng, savor this moment while you can.
From the rumors circulating in Hanseong Prefecture, it seems the bribery scandals you're tangled in are about to blow up.
Once they do, you'll never become Chief State Councillor in your lifetime.
You'll be worked even harder than Hwang Hui, who at least got permission to resign and spend his final years at home.
"The chief and deputy envoys may now withdraw and rest."
As soon as Sejong gave permission for early dismissal due to our hardships, Heo Jo immediately raised a remonstration.
"Your subject, Minister of Rites Heo Jo, humbly requests. From the reports submitted by the envoy delegation, War Ministry Aide Kim Dae-bung quickly befriended the Wae people and demonstrated exceptional talent in civilizing them."
I never civilized the Lord of Tsushima.
I just proposed replacing him if they kept messing around.
"Lord Tsushima Zongseong was so moved by Kim Dae-bung's character and scholarship that he took five pieces of ebony inscribed with his calligraphy and even said it would be wonderful if Tsushima had many more people like him."
Sejong agreed.
"Well said."
"If Kim Dae-bung can so move even the barbaric Lord of Tsushima, whose rites and laws have fallen to the dirt, then he could surely impress His Imperial Majesty and Ming's statesmen, greatly reducing the tribute burden on Joseon."
Heo Jo's eyes gleamed like a hawk eyeing prey just before the strike.
One of his nicknames was Songgol Hawk, apparently...
He's scheming to send me to the Ministry of Rites and work me to the bone for years.
"Your subject, Minister of Finance Jo Gye-saeng, reports. The Minister of Rites speaks truly, but the most urgent and important matter now is establishing a separate market in Jeongui County for Wae merchants to trade. Thus, it would be best to have Kim Dae-bung handle affairs in the Ministry of Finance."
"Your subject, Minister of War Jo Mal-saeng, reports. The Minister of Finance is not wrong, but Kim Dae-bung is the man best suited to handling the Wae bandits... He must remain as War Ministry Aide."
What the hell is this situation?
It's not like we're filming some harem story called "Obsessed White-Haired Prime Ministers Cling to Me."
Why are all these Ministers of the Six Boards fighting tooth and nail over little old me?
Anyone would think these old geezers were starring in a drama of obsession, ruin, and regret over one guy.
Sejong chuckled heartily at the scene, putting an end to their tug-of-war.
"Even while serving at the Hall of Worthies, War Ministry Aide Kim Dae-bung found time to invent agricultural tools. So he should handle War Ministry duties while also assisting other ministries adequately. Minister of War, keep this in mind and allow Kim Dae-bung to help other offices appropriately."
I saw it. A smile tugging at King Sejong's lips.
"Lately, officials complain of heavy workloads and do much overtime, which looks good on the surface. But in truth, it breeds sloth, thinking work can be pushed to nighttime."
I know. I'm the main source supplying all that work to the court.
And the ministers know a good chunk of their workload bombs come from me.
"I've started leaving the palace on time every day to go mountain climbing with Grand Prince Emeritus, and I've learned it's far more efficient to finish everything within working hours, no matter what it takes. Thus, all court officials shall avoid overtime except in truly urgent cases."
...Oh, I'm screwed.
Until now, when I'd lob work bombs, they'd pull all-nighters processing them diligently for the good of the nation...
Now, for any work I create, I'll have to provide full outlines and policies myself.
In other words, from the moment I clock in until clocking out, I'll have to bust my ass so everyone else can leave on time.
"This council is adjourned."
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And just as I'd predicted, the next day at work, officials from the Six Ministries came piling in with mountains of tasks—both mine and others'.
If Jo Mal-saeng hadn't blocked several in the middle, the paperwork alone would have stacked up to my height.
The atmosphere in the War Ministry had changed too.
"His Highness has decreed no overtime by royal edict! Finish everything on time, whatever it takes! Slack off, and I won't forgive you!"
Do even a little half-assed work, and King Sejong's hawk eyes would turn Minister Jo Mal-saeng into mincemeat.
So now, Joseon's civil servants have to work their asses off just to avoid overtime.
At this rate, we'll start making sandwiches next.
I'll have to work even harder than before.
While handling not just War Ministry tasks but squeezing in work from other ministries too, my father-in-law came trudging over.
"Son-in-law."
"Yes, Father-in-law."
"Help me out starting with Finance Ministry work—think of it as saving my life."
When Kim Man-deok, my father-in-law, entered service, he barely faced any hazing rituals either.
He'd steeled himself, prepared a lavish feast of delicacies from land and sea, even bribes... but Finance just ate and refused the bribes.
We were thrilled at the time, calling it a stroke of luck...
But as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch. When I returned to the War Ministry, he made it his specialty to offload Finance work onto me.
Thanks to that, Finance became Kim Dae-bung's top priority dispatch spot.
"Send a slave in half a shichen (one hour) to pick up the documents."
"Thanks."
That day, all us War Ministry officials made it out on time.