Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Gunpowder and Hygiene (7)
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"Didn't you say that the Master forbids talk of strange forces, prodigies, chaotic manifestations, and divine spirits? Surely you're aware of those words yourself—why then give ear to such things and take an interest in them?"
At that time, when the Master spoke of forbidding such matters, he meant that things beyond human understanding should not be discussed and should be entirely excluded from debate.
Topics like what becomes of the soul after death—hell or heaven or what have you—or the principles behind lightning strikes: even diligent inquiry yields no answers, so his intent was to focus on life here and now.
Because of those words, the Confucian scholars of early Joseon, a Confucian state, officially shunned Buddhism for its talk of the afterlife, deeming it superstition, and cracked down on shamans as well.
"The Master merely said not to discuss them, not that they don't exist, didn't he? Even the local magistrates summon shamans to perform rain rituals when droughts drag on."
Joseon officially rejects superstition, but when it's useful, the country makes use of it.
Thus, when public sentiment sours, the royal house will even allocate funds for the Water and Land Ritual, praying for the souls wandering the nine heavens to achieve rebirth in paradise.
According to the Annals, that Ryu Jeong-hyeon fellow apparently feared he'd end up in hell upon his death, so in his later years he spent five thousand seom of white rice to hold such a ritual.
In the Joseon of my previous life, I died branded a traitor before any such ritual could be held, but that's beside the point.
"Rain rituals don't actually bring rain, nor do Water and Land Rituals send the dead to paradise. But by employing such methods, we can soothe the people's hearts and quell discontent—that's why we do it, even if it smacks of superstition."
"You're right, Kim Jeongnang. When the people grow restless over a lack of rain, it's best to hold a rain ritual. Fail to do so, and some agitator might stir up a revolt amid the unrest."
"Thus, I seek to introduce a certain superstitious practice that I believe will benefit Joseon."
"And what might that be?"
"Washing one's hands several times a day with water, and scrubbing the entire body every two or three days with a mix of lye water and plain water. The shamans of Hanyang say that the petty spirits causing illness favor filth and shun cleanliness, so those who keep their bodies pure are safe from the disease-carrying sprites."
Joseon folk prefer cleanliness to dirt, of course.
They simply don't grasp the idea that a clean body wards off illness.
"Moreover, as I traveled back and forth to Hanyang these past three months recruiting for the Earthen Fortress Corps, I heard that since this superstition spread, the number of people falling ill has noticeably dropped. The Hyeminseo and Hwallinseo hospitals reported as much to the Hanyang Metropolitan Government, confirming a sharp decline in patients during this period."
Jo Mal-saeng tapped the table with his fingers.
"We can't just dismiss it as superstition out of hand. If it truly works, we could save the soldiers garrisoned in the Ten Garrisons and in Pyongan and Hamgyong Provinces from epidemics and all manner of disease."
Without any exaggeration, the problem that plagued Admiral Yi Sun-sin—who recorded kill ratios of one Joseon soldier to a hundred Japanese—was the utter lack of hygiene concepts.
Ignorance of basics like boiling water before drinking and washing the body frequently meant he couldn't implement proper sanitation measures.
As a result, Admiral Yi lost 7.5 percent of his forces to infectious diseases.
The Ten Garrisons, Joseon's central army serving at the foremost outposts, aren't starving now since it's peacetime, so their death rate from disease is far lower than that...
Even so, non-combat losses from epidemics remain a grave issue.
"I've long had my concubine, servants, and slaves wash their bodies and hands frequently. The result? They've barely suffered any minor ailments. Even when disease swept the neighborhood, it dared not invade my household."
"As Minister of Defense, I can't ignore such a tale."
Jo Mal-saeng's eyes gleamed.
Yes, I'm the one proposing and leading this initiative, but you're the one who'll recognize its value and approve it...
A share of the credit for my success in multiplying gunpowder production several-fold will go to you, Jo Mal-saeng.
And if this program succeeds in drastically cutting soldier deaths from disease, that'll add to your merits too, greatly aiding your promotion.
You, eyeing the Chief State Councillorship after Prime Minister Hwang Hui, won't pass this up.
Plus, overseeing the program offers chances to skim a tidy profit.
"One concern lingers, though."
"What worries you, my lord?"
"Regular soldiers dragged into service hate training and loathe fighting. They just want to laze about and eat—that's all they love. They're lazy about everything."
I'd be the same, honestly.
In truth, while military service provides some food, soldiers must supply their own weapons and uniforms at personal expense, leading many into debt...
And there's scarcely any pay during service.
There is a system where the head of household receives pocket money from another household whose head isn't serving, but how much could that be?
When you're the breadwinner, already toiling from dawn till dusk just to feed the family—it's not enough.
Even I'd balk at dutifully fulfilling my service.
"If we tell those sorts to wash regularly, will they obey?"
Imposing a duty to wash consistently on them would feel exactly like this.
Imagine the duty officer on weekend watch ordering equipment maintenance, rifle cleaning, or sun-drying gear—it'd sour the mood.
I passed the civil service exam before enlistment and served as an officer handling admin, but colleagues who went as privates said...
When the sergeant on weekend duty starts with 'I'll only check what's required, you know that, right?' and then nitpicks everything, it was pure misery.
Complaints are inevitable.
"Isn't the army a place where subordinates must obey superiors' orders? Just ensure the provosts of each garrison and naval station have no choice but to comply."
Suppressing an awkward laugh, I spoke to Jo Mal-saeng.
"I have a stratagem for you."
**
An order came down from the Ministry of Defense to Kim Mu-seon, commander of the Chungmugwi Upper Division among Joseon's central armies.
Upon reading it, Kim Mu-seon was dumbfounded.
"Why on earth has Minister Jo suddenly issued such an absurd directive?"
The order read as follows.
Lately, Hanyang's shamans have been urging people to wash frequently to drive away disease-causing sprites.
Since this superstition took hold, cases of diarrhea and various illnesses have plummeted—a fact confirmed by the Hwallinseo hospital's report to the Hanyang Metropolitan Government.
Though originating from shamans peddling superstition, its great efficacy in preventing epidemics compels the Minister of Defense to take note.
Thus, the Upper General shall instruct his soldiers to wash their bodies with water and lye water at least every three days and to always wash their hands before meals.
Having read it through, Kim Mu-seon boiled with incredulity.
No matter that it's from the top man at the ministry—even if a shaman's advice against sprites proves effective against plague, to order soldiers to follow it...
"Next they'll have us build a temple in Hanyang and enshrine Buddha. Rites and decorum have fallen to the dirt. If our ancestors saw this, they'd burst from their tombs in rage."
Kim Mu-seon's words would later come true.
In his final years, King Sejong built the Inner Buddha Hall in the palace to pray for the late King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong's blessings; and Sejo, too frail to wield the iron flail himself, had slaves do it while erecting Wongaksa Temple right in central Hanyang.
Unwittingly turned prophet, he yearned to defy the order outright, but a mere third-rank officer couldn't defy his direct superior and the ministry above.
The ministry was riding high on promises to triple—nay, multiply dozens-fold—gunpowder output...
And this policy stemmed from a personal proposal by Kim Dae-bung, the ministry's Jeongnang, to Minister Jo Mal-saeng himself.
No choice but to comply.
And Kim Dae-bung had provided Kim Mu-seon with a desperate rationale for bathing the troops.
"...If other units adopt this and suffer no plague or disease deaths this year, His Highness will be greatly pleased..."
Reading that inversely: Other units obey the ministry, cut non-combat losses... but my unit defies and alone suffers them?
A tragedy unfolds for sure.
A military man risen to third rank has nowhere higher to climb, but if peers earn praise for success while I alone fail in disgrace?
Unacceptable.
And really, what's so hard about washing soldiers?
Procuring lye water and rinse water is no great feat.
"If anything goes wrong, the blame falls on the minister who issued it anyway."
Thus, a new duty was added for the soldiers garrisoned in the Ten Garrisons.
The duty of maintaining cleanliness.