Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Normalization of Tribute Goods (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jinhae County's Pear Tree Hollow was holding an unexpected village feast.
It was because the new magistrate had lightened the crushing burden of tribute goods that had tormented them so terribly.
On top of that, he'd distributed half a sack of rice to every household.
There probably wasn't another magistrate in the world who cared for the people like this and did his job so well...
The villagers had thrown this feast to share their joy and delight.
A pig had been slaughtered, along with a few chickens, and hearty meat stew was set out on every table.
They were all just waiting for the village head to kick off the celebration.
"Long live His Highness for sending us such an excellent county magistrate!"
The villagers raised their bowls brimming with makgeolli high toward the sky.
Even Gap-dol, who had just welcomed his second child a few days ago, joined in, lifting his glass with the rest.
"Long live His Highness! Long live the magistrate!"
"Magistrate, sir, please stay with us for another ten years!"
According to missionary records, Joseon's common folk—men and women alike—were said to be fond of strong liquor, and sure enough, everyone downed their makgeolli in a flash.
Even though it was the exact same makgeolli they drank every day as a snack with their meals.
But today's tasted especially sweet and refreshing.
"This makgeolli is killer! Hit me with another round!"
"Hey, Gap-dol! You don't chug booze like that. You'll drop dead. Take it slow."
"Even on a day like this, Uncle Cheol-jin, you're nagging? Don't you ever get tired of it?"
"No matter how good the day is, chugging like that and you'll end up seeing King Yama before you can grab another drink. You know that, right?"
"No wonder your wife's always scratching at you—you talk just like her. Pretty up your words a bit. I'm not some kid anymore. I'm a full-fledged head of household with two kids, head of household!"
Gap-dol said this, but still poured Cheol-jin a glass.
He knew this guy lived with nagging on his lips from the moment he opened his eyes—annoying as hell, but with a heart of gold... And besides, today was a good day anyway.
"Yeah, come to think of it, you've really hit the jackpot."
"What do you mean?"
"Our new magistrate just got here, so he'll probably govern this place for at least two years, right? Think of how much he'll improve our lives in that time."
Gap-dol had lived in Joseon for a solid 25 years and seen more than 13 magistrates come and go.
Magistrates were human, after all, and came in every type imaginable.
Some arrived empty-handed but left with dozens of carts loaded with precious local specialties, earning them eternal infamy as corrupt tyrants.
And sure, there had been magistrates praised for their integrity, trying not to torment the people.
But while some might cut taxes during a famine, none had ever reduced them when there was no famine.
Tribute goods weren't even cut during famines most times—and now there was a magistrate reducing them?
People from the next county over would hear this and curse it as nonsense.
Truth be told, even Gap-dol and Cheol-jin felt like they were dreaming.
The tribute goods that had bent their backs double were going to lighten up from now on...
"So you're jealous 'cause I'll get to enjoy this good fortune longer than you?"
"You telling me to hurry up and die?"
"If you're mad, live to 80. Then you'll enjoy it longer than me, right?"
The man called Cheol-jin stopped responding and wolfed down the meat stew and rice in front of him.
He had no comeback to Gap-dol's words, so he dodged the conversation.
"See? You can't win a battle of words with me, Uncle."
"Shut it and eat your rice. Look over there—those possessed uncles are devouring all the stew."
Where Cheol-jin pointed, men were scarfing down meat stew and rice like they hadn't eaten in a week.
Stew bowls that had been heaping full vanished in the blink of an eye, and they were polishing off multiple bowls of rice.
If Kim Dae-bung saw this, he'd grab his neck in shock. How could people eat that fast?
Gap-dol grinned at the sight.
"If our new magistrate keeps doing as well as he has, we'll live way better than before. What do you think, Uncle?"
"No need to ask twice. If tribute goods get cut, couldn't I feed my kids three meals a day instead of two? Or save up the extra rice and buy a plot of land."
Gap-dol imagined it: his kids and wife eating just one more full bowl of rice.
And owning a plot of land in his name, farming it diligently, and by the time his kids married, tilling nothing but his own fields.
The thought alone brought tears to his eyes and a smile to his face.
"...Hey, you crying?"
"I'm not. You're the one... why are you saying such creepy stuff today? Have a penalty drink."
"Penalty my ass..."
The whole village was genuinely joyful today.
They were thrilled about the half-sack of rice from the new magistrate, and full of happy anticipation for a slightly better life ahead.
"Long live His Highness! Long live the magistrate!"
"You fool, what if a yangban hears you?"
"What's that? Long live His Highness! Long live the magistrate!"
The people of Jinhae County held hope for the politics Kim Dae-bung would unfold from here.
He'd cut taxes in an area no other magistrate had touched, so they wondered just how much their lives would improve.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The best politician in the world isn't a good person.
Even if their lifestyle is a bit dirty and corrupt, the one who improves the people's food, clothing, and shelter—that's the good politician.
So instead of showing the people some saintly scholar-official act here, I'll be the magistrate who makes them praise me themselves for how their lives changed after I arrived compared to before.
Partly because if I screw up, Prime Minister Hwang Hui and Heo Jo will throw me in the slammer...
But if I'm doing it anyway, wouldn't it be great to do it right and leave as a 'good magistrate' in their hearts?
"Magistrate, Magistrate... have you heard the news?"
"What news? I'm swamped handling the flood of lawsuits from everywhere and reviewing how taxes were spent."
"Every village in our county is thanking you for your benevolence, and the people are holding festivals on their own initiative. I've been around other counties a fair bit, but I've never seen a magistrate earn such respect and love from the people without anyone ordering it."
"I only did what I was supposed to."
I knew there were scumbags skimming tribute goods for themselves midway, and in this county, it was the monks. If I knew that, how could I ignore it?
If you know there's a tumor eating away at someone's life, can you just leave it?
You rip out all the money you have—borrowed or not—and excise that tumor first. Otherwise, it'll rot the people and the county completely.
"I've worked as a clerk here for nearly 30 years, but I've never met a magistrate like you—a true brilliant judge. I truly respect you, sir."
You can't root out all corruption and fix people's livelihoods at once. It's like the kid dead last in the nation cramming a month for the exam and expecting top grade—no dice.
To really hit top grade, you assess your level and build from the basics, like elementary or middle school if needed.
The clerks' salaries aren't fixed, and they sneak 10 seom of rice a month even at the bottom rung—I can't flip that all at once.
That'd be killing the patient while trying to treat them.
So, step by step: I exposed and crushed the tribute goods corruption, limiting it to those damn monks.
"Thanks for saying so."
"But aren't you happy, sir?"
"Of course I am. My first post after passing the exams was county magistrate—it was a heavy burden."
Truth be told, if King Sejong, Heo Jo, and Hwang Hui hadn't paid me so much attention, I wouldn't have felt that burdened.
I could've just done what I wanted, schooling corrupt bastards as a 'player' enjoying it all.
But nooo, the day before the audience exam, I met the evil instructor King Sejong...
"Still, hearing the people's praise and thanks makes me feel like I'm doing well—very rewarding."
That's why power is so thrilling. Applying the policies and beliefs I've thought up can sway the lives of thousands, tens of thousands.
Anyone would get addicted to that rush, for real.
So yeah, I could stop here.
Hwang Hui and Heo Jo would give a standing ovation when they hear about this in Hanyang.
'But why stop here?'
If I've started, I should see it through.
I don't love being rolled by Sejong in Joseon, but as a Korean reincarnated here, this is my chance to do what I've always wanted to try...
Pass up the opportunity right in front of me? Nah—if there's stuff I wanna do, I'll do it all.
"But it's too early to stop."
The clerk shot me an uneasy look. Yeah, this time I let your corruption slide.
And King Sejong put corrupt types to work like oxen.
"From now on, we'll allow people and merchants in our county to open markets freely. Scout land nearby suitable for a market right away, and figure out how to run it."
"Yes, Magistrate."
...These guys are corrupt officials. Not quite Lee Wan-yong level, but at least Japanese collaborator gendarme sergeant material.
In other words, we need moderate overwork to rewire their brains.
Good thing they're not incorruptible loyalists—makes it easier for me.
"Have it done in a week."
"Aigoo, Magistrate, pushing work like that will kill us clerks."
They're corrupt, but I'm not. What does that mean?
I can freely tell them, 'Then die.'
"...Let me see, I still need to send a report to His Highness on this tribute goods matter..."
Quick-witted Kim I-bang bolted outside in a flash.
And from beyond the government office, his booming voice rang out.
"Call the constables and all the other clerks right now! We're building a market in the county in a week! Anyone who can't? Wanna die? Then just do it!"