The Seeds of Abundance (7)
Hawonggun’s nose wrinkled, and he kept sneezing. “Hachoo!” The powder from the Sichuan peppers he’d added had set off an uncontrollable itch deep in his throat. He couldn’t stand it. In a panic he hurled the red chili he’d been holding and blurted out, “Why in the world is it so fiery?” “I told you to be careful, Your Highness.” His eyes were watering too. Hawonggun quickly raised his hands and rubbed them. A moment later he let out a wail. “Aaaah! My eyes! My eyes!” “Your Majesty, please stay still. The book says rinsing with water is enough.” Yi Yeon had known such accidents might happen, so he had carefully recorded the proper remedy in the book he gave Heo Jun. Even after they rinsed his eyes and nose with water, Hawonggun continued to cry and snot, curling up in agony as if he’d been thrown into a bath of tear-gas powder. * * *
After a long time, the grand council meeting with ministers of ranks six and above finally convened in the Gyeongjeongjeon hall. The ministers, who had been summoned, hurried to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Some had gathered separately after receiving the notice at dawn and finished their discussions before arriving, while others came fresh from outside. At the Gwanghwamun gate, Kim the Left Secretary greeted Sim Ui-gyeom, whom he knew, then hurried on, asking, “Lord Secretary, do you know what this is about?” “You’ll find out soon enough if you wait.” “At least give me a hint.” “Heh heh. When you’re a high official, you’re supposed to keep your mouth shut, aren’t you?” “It’s my first time attending. Please forgive me, Lord.” “First time?” “Yes, Lord.” “Hmph. Then I’ll tell you everything except the important parts.” Kim the Left Secretary looked bewildered, but he still smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you, Lord.” “It’s nothing much. His Majesty is said to have created several new organizations.” “Do you know what kind of organizations they are?” “I’m not supposed to say. Anyway, the senior ministers have already reached consensus, so don’t try to pry.” “There won’t be any such thing. How could I, a low-ranking official like me, intrude?” “You really should. I was also strictly ordered by the Left Secretary not to interfere, so I’ll just listen.” Kim the Left Secretary was clearly amused, but he forced a smile and held back his laughter. The ministers filling the hall exchanged greetings, asked after each other’s health, and chatted animatedly when the royal sedan suddenly appeared. “His Majesty, please come down…” The ministers quickly took their seats, straightened their clothes, and fixed their eyes on the throne behind the royal seat. Yi Yeon walked toward the throne with a satisfied smile, looking at his ministers. *
After sending the ministers off last night, Yi Yeon had stayed up late, full of restless energy. He was excited that the preparations seemed to be going well, but he was also deeply worried about his eldest brother. ‘I guess I really do have to send someone.’ He had left after the late autumn, so he needed to return before winter ended. When the ground thawed, crossing the swampland-like Liaodong would be impossible, and when the ice melted, crossing the river would be no easy task either. Yet even though spring had begun, there was still no news from his eldest brother. ‘This is frustrating.’ Yi Yeon once again felt the urgent need for an information network. If they had prepared something like this from the start, he wouldn’t have had to worry like this. Then, as daylight broke, he heard Kim Yang-bo calling him. “Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion, but there is urgent news you must see at once.” Yi Yeon jumped up, opened the door wearing his night robes, and asked, “What is it?” “A soldier who was guarding Uiju brought a letter from Your Majesty’s eldest brother, Your Highness, after staying up all night.” “Really? Let me see.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Yi Yeon hurriedly unfolded the letter and read it carefully. Even in King Seonjo’s memories there had been no era in which his eldest brother and Heo Nanseolheon were close. But now he was precious family, a partner who would help realize his dream. Because of that, Yi Yeon read the letter with growing excitement. Kim Yang-bo, who had been watching the king with worried eyes, let out a long sigh of relief as the king’s expression brightened while he read. After finishing the letter, Yi Yeon burst into laughter. “You filthy bastard of a squid…” Hawonggun had detailed every event that had happened, then added in tiny letters at the end: ‘I humbly ask Your Majesty to understand with the same generous heart as in the past, since I expect to be a little late due to the filthy squid of the virus and the obstinate Dr. Heo.’ “Thank goodness…” The news that his eldest brother and Heo Jun were safe finally loosened the knot in his chest. Yi Yeon clutched the letter, watching the rising sun as if it were a joy he would never forget. The news that he had obtained various crops that would become the seeds of abundance stirred him like a sunrise. He could even taste the saliva gathering at the corner of his mouth. “I suppose I won’t have to eat kimchi soaked in Sichuan pepper anymore.” To his surprise, the kimchi had actually been spicy. He had been told there was no chili in it. So, relying on his memory of the taste, he tried to figure it out. The yellow pepper used in the fish soup was called zepi. Zepi turned out to be situan pepper, and situan pepper was exactly what went into mara soup. “What the hell? Why does the pronunciation change the moment it reaches Japan?” Nitric acid had been the same. When he investigated the records, he learned that in Joseon they called it nitric acid, but in Japan it was called acetic acid. “Chili…” He had noted it in the book he gave Heo Jun, but he had never expected it to be true. He had always believed chilies were introduced during the Imjin War from Japan. But that wasn’t the case either. “‘Nothing in the Ming Dynasty is nonexistent’—that saying was true after all.” They needed to bring back actual samples to confirm, but he seemed to have also obtained sweet potatoes and peanuts. “All that’s left is to get the cows hanging from Udu…” He hadn’t realized it would be that difficult. “Truly, you filthy bastard of a cow.” Still, he wasn’t worried. If he fed them properly, kept the environment clean, and educated everyone about disease, natural smallpox wouldn’t spread as quickly as before. “If it’s really impossible, we’ll have to send people to Europe.” But there was one more thing to worry about. “Tobacco, they call it southern spirit grass…” Yi Yeon thought there was nothing he could do. He knew tobacco was harmful to the body and highly addictive, but he saw no way to stop people from smoking. “What if we nationalize it and slap on massive taxes?” Even then, it probably wouldn’t help. Once addicted, tobacco was harder to quit than any drug. After all those thoughts, Yi Yeon stayed up late again. Yet he didn’t feel tired at all. ‘That’s why youth is so great.’ *
Yi Yeon, who had long forgotten his youth, sat proudly on the throne. “We pay our respects to Your Majesty.” The voices rose louder because there were so many ministers. The window frames of the grand hall trembled. Yi Yeon smiled with satisfaction and returned the greeting with a raised hand. The worry that had once gripped him had turned into hope—nothing could be better. “You all look healthy, and I am very pleased. So I have been thinking—how can we ensure that every single citizen of this country eats and lives as well as the lords of our palace!” Since the most important issue was eating and living, Yi Yeon began with food. The ministers listening smiled at one another and exchanged glances. Chickens and eggs that could only be eaten on special days were now available anytime—and at a cheap price. Thanks to that, the king’s words that “you eat and live well” struck deep into their hearts. “Last year we had a bountiful harvest and the poultry business is going smoothly, so there are no citizens starving to death. But who knows when a famine will come, or when the chickens we’ve been raising will die by the hundreds. Even if we repair and expand the reservoirs and irrigation systems, if it doesn’t rain even one drop, our staple grain—the rice—will wither and die. Then we will have to feed starving people again.” The mood had been good, but the king’s words were like pouring cold water on them. The ministers’ expressions hardened. “That said, we cannot abandon the double-cropping method. The gains far outweigh the losses.” Several ministers opened their mouths but closed them again. It was because they had heard the same thing from the ministers at dawn. “We cannot simply force the issue either. Just as last year’s harvest was thanks to me, even if a drought brings famine, it won’t be my fault.” “Your Majesty…” Someone couldn’t hold it in any longer and finally spoke up. Yi Yeon quickly spread his palms and shouted firmly, “Listen! My words are not finished yet!” “Forgive us, Your Majesty…” Yi Yeon turned his gaze to follow the ministers’ eyes. ‘So that’s how it is.’ The minister who had been unable to hold back and spoken was Sim Ui-gyeom. Behind him, Kim the Left Secretary shook his head vigorously. Yi Yeon frowned at Sim Ui-gyeom, then continued. “I believe famine and good harvests are governed by the flow of heavenly qi. Therefore, no one can be blamed for them. But causing the people to suffer hunger and hardship is my fault for lacking virtue and failing to prepare properly.” “No, Your Majesty!” “Your Majesty, that is not the case.” “That is merely the operation of heavenly qi, not the fault of any one person.” “Please withdraw those words, Your Majesty…” When the ministers spoke out, the senior ministers followed suit. Except for Sim Ui-gyeom, who alone kept his lips pursed in displeasure. Yi Yeon raised his hand to silence them, then went on. “I do not wish to hear such talk. So I have decided to obtain crops that grow well even in drought.” “Your Majesty, do such crops exist?” It was Sim Ui-gyeom again. “They do. In the book I obtained from the Western Regions when I was young, it is recorded that such crops exist.” “Is that so?” “Yes.” “We are grateful, Your Majesty.” There was no need to hide it anymore. The words Yi Yeon had already spoken to Yi I had already spread everywhere. The ministers were constantly curious about what the king’s special guest had been doing, and Yi I had simply told the truth, believing there was no need to hide anything. Now that story had become fact. ‘It seems he really is knowledgeable.’ ‘What a waste of that book.’ ‘That’s why calling someone a dog is an insult.’ After Sim Ui-gyeom apologized and withdrew, Yi Yeon opened his mouth again. “I received a letter this morning—a letter from my eldest brother, who went on the diplomatic mission. In it, he wrote that thanks to Dr. Heo we have obtained the crops we desired.” “Your Majesty! We humbly congratulate you.” “We humbly congratulate Your Majesty!” Amid the ministers shouting their congratulations, Sim Ui-gyeom asked, “Your Majesty, but who is Dr. Heo? I have never heard of him.” “He is the grandson of Heo Gon, former provincial governor of Yongcheon and former provincial governor of Gyeongsang in the right. But because he was born out of wedlock, he could not enter officialdom. Nevertheless, his talent was too precious, so I hired him separately.” “Is he not called Heo Jun?” “Do you know him?” “Yes, Your Majesty. I remember hearing the title ‘Yongha’ and remembering it.” “That is correct. He possesses not only medical skill but many other talents. So I assigned him a special mission, and I have received news of its success.” “If that is the case, Your Majesty should certainly employ him.” “That is what I intend to do.” Yi Yeon had a strange feeling. ‘What is this?’ Clearly Sim Ui-gyeom was trying to provoke him. Yet there was also a sense of being helped. Yi Yeon shifted his gaze downward to the man sitting directly beneath him—Sim Tong-won. ‘That’s right!’ Although he kept his head lowered, the corners of his mouth were raised. ‘So that’s why they say they held special discussions this morning— they even prepared for this.’ Last night, Yi Yeon had personally pulled aside Sim Tong-won among the departing ministers and warned him sternly. ‘You will now touch upon wealth beyond your imagination. But if anyone hears that you have received bribes as before, you will lose everything. Remember this well.’ The words had been spoken hastily while the secretary was distracted. Sim Tong-won apparently only heard “wealth beyond imagination.” Since he was clever, he must have known that trade could become even more lucrative than ginseng trade. But because of his insatiable greed, he had only heard that phrase and seemed to be plotting something. ‘There’s no harm in that.’ Thinking so, Yi Yeon continued. “In any case, since we have obtained these precious crops, the next important task is to widely spread them and teach people how to grow them. But there is something even more important.” Yi Yeon kept his eyes on Sim Ui-gyeom and asked, “Do you know what that is?” “My humble opinion is that it might be the reward for adopting the double-cropping method.” ‘What? How did he know?’ Yi Yeon found it hard to believe. Sim Ui-gyeom was clever, but he wasn’t supposed to have figured something like this out. So he turned his gaze to Sim Tong-won. Sim Tong-won was smiling at him. ‘He really is a remarkable man.’ Even though Yi Yeon had sensed scheming, he hadn’t expected him to anticipate this. * * *
This afternoon while investigating materials, I learned that the kimchi was soaked in Sichuan pepper and ate some. I was surprised. According to records from King Sejong’s era, the spicy kimchi that was being made at that time was indeed made with situan pepper, which is also called zepi. The pepper used in the fish soup was not sansho but situan pepper. Of course, this is not 100% accurate.