Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Grassroots Market Economy (1)
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Ever since becoming the magistrate of this county, I finally understood why King Sejong the Great sentenced corrupt ministers like Prime Minister Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng to lifelong beatings as punishment.
The clerks had been pocketing bribes, but I turned a blind eye and declared that I'd decide whether to spare them based on how they worked from now on.
Like fish thrown into water, the clerks were thrashing about, working their asses off.
Watching them, it all made perfect sense on its own.
"Aigoo, Lord Hobang, please stop. We'll handle carrying these goods ourselves!"
"Seeing you lot haul stuff around is making my gut twist. Back when I was young, you know? I could carry two sacks of rice at once and still run like the wind!"
The head of the military office—Hobang, equivalent to a senior managing director at a company if this were a corporation—was personally doing menial labor like carrying loads. How rare and precious a sight was this?
I hadn't even specifically ordered them to do it that way; they were hustling on their own.
Well, not exactly. If their work didn't please me, I could always write a letter to the king at any moment. They were begging for their lives with every fiber of their being. A tearful ass-kissing show.
Behind those guys, I could almost see the image of some comedian saying, "Let me show you how it's done."
Serves them right—who told them to team up with those damn monks and gorge themselves?
When the loach thrashes, even the baby loach follows suit. The low-ranking military officer—gunkyo—who'd been chewed out by Hobang was now bullying the soldiers under him.
"If we don't finish today's quota, I'm dead, and so are you! Forget military law or whatever—these fists of mine are closer! Don't you forget it!"
"Yes, sir, Gunkyo!"
"You think I'm all talk these days and look like a joke? If not, run till you drop! Run so fast your soles don't touch the ground! Hey, Jangbok! I told you not to put that there—did you hear me with your ears or your toes?"
"I'm sorry!"
"Sorry ends your military service?! Move it over there right now!"
In truth, before starting this project, I hadn't actually threatened Yi Bang or Hobang with demotion. I'd only said that if I wasn't satisfied, I'd have no choice but to file a report.
But as it trickled down, it seemed like they were bullying people way too harshly... Should I tell them to ease up a bit?
And sure, the clerks were guilty as hell for skimming so much, but what crime had the soldiers and slaves committed, slaving away under constant abuse?
They were just forced to work because the higher-ups ordered it.
Having rolled hard in the army for two years myself, I knew their pain and sorrow all too well. It was about time to step in, show some mercy as the magistrate, and let them have some tasty snacks with their makgeolli.
"Magistrate, Magistrate..."
Kim I-bang came rushing in, calling for me. Had something bad happened?
Right now, the whole county was buzzing with "Long live the Magistrate!" wherever you went, and the people had a huge burden lifted with the reduction in tribute goods, so they should be living pretty decently...
"Magistrate, Magistrate! I've finally finished overhauling all the market-related systems!"
Dark circles hung heavily under Yi Bang's eyes.
His eyes were bloodshot red, so he must not have slept for days.
This was an era without fluorescent lights, so he'd been working by candlelight... No wonder his eyes were wrecked.
Serves him right for getting into that livelihood corruption. He should've known when to stop.
When people commit crimes, they have no room to complain even if they're worked to death. But what about me?
Even professors who slave away grad students like demons would give a standing ovation to how brutally King Sejong the Great works his slaves (ministers). I'm not doing a single bad thing that could get me in trouble with the law, just to avoid his scrutiny. Pathetic bastard, not even worthy of pity.
"Good work. Tell me the details."
"Yes, Magistrate. First, for merchants wanting to set up shop in the market, we'll charge a monthly stall fee of two doe of rice. For the common folk, two hop. And as you instructed, anyone selling without paying the fee will have all their goods confiscated and be chased out."
"......Confiscation? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"It's necessary to keep thieves from sneaking into the market pretending to be poor and causing chaos. Anyone willing to pay the stall fee knows to fear the authorities, even if they're thieves."
In dramas set in the late Joseon era, you often see peddlers camping out at inns for a day, two, or three. They're not lazy; mountain roads are genuinely dangerous. Massive beasts like tigers, leopards, bears, and wolves lurk there, plus plenty of folks turned bandits out of desperation.
Bandits can't live off stolen goods alone, so when markets open, they sell them.
Distinguishing and handling all that would strain Joseon's entire administrative power... So this was the realistic alternative.
"But there's one issue."
"Yes, Magistrate."
"Most of the folks doing unauthorized street vending—spreading out mats without permission—sell firewood, wild greens, straw sandals, stuff like that because they barely have food to survive. Two hop of rice would be too much for them. Exempt those whose residency in Jinhae County is listed in the county registry."
"The people will be moved by your warm heart, Magistrate."
"His Highness sent me here to do this, so as a loyal subject, shouldn't I look after everyone?"
When I first took office here as magistrate, all I cared about was smashing the rotten system, normalizing the county, and not disappointing Hwang Hui and Heo Jo.
But seeing the people's joy firsthand, hearing they'd even thrown a village feast because life got better thanks to me...
Before I knew it, a seed of true care for the people—love for the masses—had started sprouting in my heart.
Not like those damn corrupt politicians who only care about their own gains. A magistrate who genuinely looks out for the people—wouldn't it be fine to have at least one like that?
"And as per your orders, we've differentiated between merchants and farmers participating in the market. Merchants get shops closer to the government office, while commoners are placed on the outskirts. Merchants can trade every day, but farmers only on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month."
Law firms, tax accountants, and accounting offices cluster together. You might think it's disadvantageous, but actually, it's beneficial.
Everyone knows where to go for professional services, and you pick the one that catches your eye.
Farmers' market goods are predictable anyway. Better for them to cluster and sell together.
Come to sell straw sandals, sell them all, buy some greens with the earnings on the way back—how great would that be?
"Well done. One more crucial thing: if merchants collude to sell at outrageous prices or commit fraud, crack down immediately."
"Of course."
Yi Bang spoke with bold resolve, like he was determined to do well.
Yeah, right—he'll work hard if he doesn't want to die... my ass.
Once a guy's done something bad, doing it twice or three times isn't hard.
I'm no saint; how am I supposed to reform these corrupt vultures?
Beat them down first, or if not, talk with a sword in hand.
"If I hear even a whisper that you're slacking off on the job. Something very enjoyable will happen."
Joseon's clerks are like Korea's local government officials. In pre-modern society, even low-level civil servants had status comparable to any profession except lawyers or doctors.
In a country that can't even pay them proper salaries, blocking personal "gifts"? Impossible to imagine the fallout. So purging all corruption is impossible.
All I can do is keep it within controllable limits.
"......That won't happen."
"Kim I-bang."
"Yes, Magistrate."
"I passed the civil service exam and took first place dreaming of becoming prime minister. But if I can't uphold my principles, I'll just retire to the countryside."
In the army, the scariest people are officers who've given up on promotion. Simple reason: if a lieutenant or sergeant major who's forsaken advancement hands unit files to the investigators?
The whole battalion commander included—everyone's done for. They wield power that can even block a regimental commander's star.
How much more terrifying—a county magistrate who's given up on promotion? If he were my boss, just thinking about it is scary.
"......"
"If I can't uphold my loyalty to His Highness, am I a treacherous minister or a loyal one?"
In Joseon, "treacherous minister" is just a polite way of saying traitor.
And traitors in Joseon? Extermination of the three clans is standard. This was me declaring I'd stake my family's lives on the job.
"I'll be watching. And one more thing: don't just work nonstop—go rest a bit. But before that, make sure the soldiers and slaves who've been laboring all day get a hearty bowl of makgeolli, rice, soybean paste, and plenty of veggies for ssam. I can't watch them starve while they work."
"Of course."
"If word gets out that the workers went hungry, I'll be deeply disappointed."
With that, as I returned to the government office, an unexpected visitor appeared.
I thought it might be the local scholars complaining that my recent policies made no sense...
But he wasn't a scholar, nor a aggrieved commoner... He was a merchant.
"This humble merchant, Kim Man-deok, deals in small quantities of dried anchovies and dried persimmons. I have a request for the fair and just Magistrate, so I've come to see you."
......His eyes didn't look like he was here for a favor. What did he want, then?
And for the clerks to grant him an audience with me, he must be a big shot with the wealth of a local notable.
Obviously, he knew I could have him flogged or worse for daring to request a chat with the magistrate as a lowly merchant rabble.
"Let's hear it."
These types usually bring good opportunities...