The Seed of Prosperity (8)
Sim Tong-won returned home last night still unable to calm the excitement surging through him.
The golden vision and wealth dancing before his eyes had left him utterly elated.
Before I die, I’ll surely get to use that gold needle I’ll have made.
He was seventy years old in the coming year, yet his obsession with wealth remained as fierce as ever.
There was a reason behind how he had come to this.
He was a grandson of Sim Hoe, former Yeonguijeong during the reign of King Sejo.
But in the gap of the Gapsa Conspiracy in 1504, his father Sim Soon-mun had been beheaded by King Yeonsan.
From then on, he had to survive on mere spoonfuls of rice.
As the youngest in the family and raised by his widowed mother, he had learned the ways of the world early.
His sharp mind had also taught him the value of wealth.
But gathering wealth was no easy task.
As scandals and trials unfolded, the Three Offices constantly monitored him, and he had been caught more than once.
Fortunately, as a royal relative, he had only lost his official positions.
The family’s favor had helped too.
His eldest brother, Sim Yeon-won, was Yeonguijeong at the time.
Thanks to that, he had been reinstated, yet he still couldn’t shake his rotten habits.
Then, suddenly, the world changed.
The childless King Myeongjong had fled to a place from which there was no return.
They were now trying to seat someone else on the throne in his place.
Perhaps this was for the better.
Since they couldn’t find a suitable person, failure was almost certain.
If only I’d tried, I’d be dead now.
But everyone knew he had opposed the king.
He had to live in constant tension.
Fortunately, nothing had come of those worries.
The king had never once brought up the matter.
Truly, what a mysterious person he is...
The old eunuch had watched the king with bated breath, yet he had found not a single crack in his understanding.
He had submitted a memorial demanding the severe punishment of Yi I for accepting bribes, but the king had brushed it aside.
Thanks to that, he hadn’t been driven out.
Unlike his predecessors, the young king guarded against his ministers’ mutual conflicts with extreme caution.
He didn’t call himself “Your Majesty” in the formal sense, ignored the ministers’ mistakes, honored the queen regnant as though she were his own mother, ignored any ministers who fell from grace, and brought back the exiled servants and eunuchs to form the Gyeongye organization and treat them kindly.
But with a crime in his heart, every day brought unease.
The fact that Lee Hwang had not been reinstated was not his doing.
But he was the one who had ordered the expulsion of the servants and eunuchs.
He had tried to break the king’s spirit.
Damn it!
Instead of breaking the king’s spirit, his own had been broken.
The expelled servants and eunuchs had become the king’s loyal followers.
They might even hold him in resentment.
But he couldn’t touch them.
They had become untouchable now that they were soaring high in the king’s favor.
Still, it was a blessing.
Thanks to the maritime trade bureau he had entered under the king’s initiative, he had accumulated the wealth he wanted without taking a single bribe.
From then on, he had quietly lived his life.
He thought it was enough to simply manage the maritime trade bureau properly.
Yet he had seen a fine, high-quality porcelain that never broke—something he had never witnessed before—alongside the new weapons.
What kind of person is His Majesty?
I can’t make head or tail of it.
I’ve read the Four Books and Five Classics, and I’ve heard he’s brilliant, so I didn’t think it strange.
Those kinds of people were sharp and cunning.
But no one could rival him in knowledge of nature.
That must be why he created all those items.
But he had received an unexpected offer.
He would establish an organization to sell the items abroad and make himself its chief.
The hidden desire that had been buried deep within him began to stir once more.
The king he had observed so far had been generous.
Whenever he won, he had showered gold like pebbles.
If he played his cards right, he might even realize his dream before he died.
Sim Tong-won bowed before the royal palace of Gyeongbokgung.
It was not out of reverence.
It was to express gratitude for the opportunity and hope he would be favored.
He summoned his servants and sent the secret message to his associates.
Whatever happened, he had to become the head of the new organization at tomorrow’s court audience and help the young king.
That alone was the path to obtaining the golden needle of my dream...
* * *
Yi Yeon could not know the true reason why Sim Tong-won had come to his aid, but it was harmless enough.
After all, he had said he wouldn’t take bribes since starting the maritime trade bureau.
And finding someone of his caliber in trade was no easy task.
Still, his mood wasn’t entirely good.
After all, he had still interfered behind the scenes.
I’ll have to warn him again.
He probably wouldn’t understand.
After all, he was a man who didn’t distinguish between good and evil.
Still, he had to give him a proper reminder.
Otherwise, the mad dog might bite.
Yi Yeon looked away from Sim Tong-won and fixed his gaze on Sim Ui-gyeom.
Your words are correct, Minister Sim.
I don’t much like pushing forward without a plan.
That’s why, when I allowed the double-cropping method, I prepared countermeasures for it.
Today, I intend to discuss those countermeasures.
If you have any opinions, speak freely.
Your Majesty, I am truly honored.
I have not yet considered any countermeasures.
How did you know, then?
It’s because of the rumors floating around the capital.
Really?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Yi Yeon let out a soft chuckle.
I didn’t expect that.
He had tried to sound out Sim Ui-gyeom without revealing the countermeasures outright.
He wanted to know just how much they knew.
The rumors floating around the capital were actually orchestrated by them, he realized.
Only now could he understand the ministers’ true hearts.
On the surface, they behaved like Confucian scholars of the time, but their hidden motives had always been loyalty to their own interests.
Fortunately, not everyone was like that.
But there were far too many such men.
The rumor that “if you grow crops with the double-cropping method, the king will compensate you” had been circulating in the capital, yet they hadn’t bothered to warn him about it—except for a few.
The ministers who were sensitive to profit had made up excuses to avoid losses from the double-cropping method, while those who hadn’t agreed had kept their mouths shut.
Yi Yeon had no choice but to worry.
He didn’t want to be toyed with by their schemes.
As the king sat in silence, the ministers tensed up.
They had sensed that their actions had been discovered.
Yi Yeon tapped the armrest of the throne with his finger and slowly spoke.
I have thought about what method would allow every single one of my subjects...
to live without worry.
And I have found that method.
But!
Yi Yeon stopped mid-sentence and glared at the ministers.
A few of them actually jumped in surprise.
I have no intention of caring for subjects who have failed to fulfill their proper duties!
Therefore, the compensation for the double-cropping method will be calculated based on the rice taxes already paid.
The audience hall fell into an immediate silence.
After all, the wise ones among them had understood at once.
There is a saying that “taxes exist where there is income.”
But this country has far too many people who have income yet refuse to pay rice taxes.
Because of this, the royal granaries have often been empty, and the ministers’ salaries do not match reality.
Is my word wrong?
No, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty’s words are all correct.
Lee Jun-gyeong stepped forward.
Then the ministers bowed silently.
The first part of his words had been a rebuke, but the latter part showed that he understood their situation.
So there was nothing they could say.
I am grateful that you think so.
In any case, I intend to grant compensation based on the rice taxes already paid.
If there is a bad harvest, I will compensate according to the amount.
Your Majesty!
I am Chief State Councillor Yi Ji-sin, here to offer a word.
Even a junior official like Yi Ji-sin had spoken, and all eyes turned to him.
Yi Yeon raised his hand to stop the others and nodded.
Speak.
Your Majesty, I am truly honored.
I understand the depth of Your Majesty’s intention, yet the nation’s finances are not that abundant at present.
So I believe it would be better to delay the plan somewhat.
It would be a great shame if, even with a large bad harvest, the royal granaries emptied again.
He is someone who doesn’t belong to any faction.
Yi Yeon repeated the name “Yi Ji-sin” in his heart.
If he had been part of a faction, he wouldn’t have worried about this.
Moreover, he had advanced bravely, and that pleased Yi Yeon.
You need not worry about the finances.
We can cover it with the profits from developing the mines and selling the new items.
There is something more urgent.
Even if I try to compensate for a bad harvest by gathering rice taxes now, it’s not easy.
So I intend to receive all taxes in the new coins I have created.
That way, compensation will also be easy.
Your words are correct, Your Majesty!
Hong Dam, the Chief State Councillor of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward and actively argued for the advantages.
The other ministers also enthusiastically agreed.
Hong Dam did not stop there.
He emphasized the circulation of currency and advocated abolishing the tribute system.
Some ministers opposed, but they were drowned out.
The ministers themselves had stepped forward and strongly supported the idea.
They even brought up the Joseon Bank, which was to be operated by the royal family.
A few ministers who found it strange were puzzled, but the matter was quickly processed.
Then, the Joseon Bank will be established to handle the issuance and management of currency.
Any objections?
None, Your Majesty.
None, Your Majesty!
By this, the tax system proposed by Yi I—the Su-mi method—and the upcoming Daedong law were bypassed.
Rice taxes were replaced by cash taxes, and the decision was finalized.
Yi Yeon was extremely satisfied.
I’m glad I reached agreement yesterday.
Otherwise, there would have been endless debate just over the compensation issue for the double-cropping method.
Next, Yi Yeon turned to the topic of the new army.
Everyone knows that since King Sejong, our Joseon has never punished foreign invaders who have raided our lands.
That is why there are groups who look down on us and constantly pillage.
I intend to chase them down until the end and firmly correct their ways.
Therefore, I have decided to create a separate army for that purpose.
As Yi Yeon finished speaking and looked at the ministers, Lee Jun-gyeong stepped forward.
Your Majesty!
I have washed my ears and will humbly listen to Your Majesty’s grand plan.
We humbly listen, Your Majesty!
The ministers bowed as though they were watching a well-written play.
First, I wish to appoint Jeong Dae-nyeon, who currently holds the position of Junior State Councillor in the Ministry of War, to the vacant Chief State Councillor post.
Any objections?
No one spoke up, so Lee Jun-gyeong stepped forward again and Jeong Dae-nyeon was appointed Chief State Councillor.
Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for Your grace.
I will exert my utmost effort to serve Your Majesty and the nation until my last breath.
Do not overexert yourself.
It is impossible for someone newly appointed to die.
Then I will do my best just enough to be worthy of death.
That is fine.
Every proposal presented was passed without a single objection.
Because of this, the atmosphere was pleasant, and laughter broke out here and there.
The proposal regarding the Hwaryeokgun was also passed.
The fact that it was the king’s direct army rather than the royal family’s army had put the ministers at ease.
Yi Yeon smiled inwardly.
After the discussion, the members of the royal committee were limited to the king’s brothers and direct descendants of age.
But currently, only the two brothers were present.
And neither brother would oppose him.
* * *
The long court audience ended before the sun had even reached its zenith.
The news spread rapidly beyond Hanseong and Han-yang.
An old man in a palace in Gyeonggi Province heard the news and became frantic.
What? It says that subjects who do not pay rice taxes will receive no compensation?
Yes, sir.
Then does that mean we cannot receive compensation even in a bad harvest?
Yes, sir.
This is ridiculous.
What are they doing?
Prepare immediately!
Why, sir?
We cannot allow this.
I must see the Chief State Councillor at once.
That may not help.
There is a rumor that the ministers themselves pushed the matter through.
Is that true?
Yes, sir.
Ah! If I don’t take it, I won’t take it.
He was from a gentry family that had held office for generations, yet he had not paid a single grain of rice tax.
Even so, there was no problem.
He owned vast farmlands, so he had nothing to fear from hunger.
But sir, I have also heard something strange.
What is it?
There is a rumor that those who do not pay rice taxes will no longer be able to see their ancestors’ portraits.
What?
Perhaps I should pay the taxes after all.
Oh, what am I to do...
If I can no longer see the ancestors’ portraits, I can no longer be a yangban.
It was too serious to ignore.
Yi Yeon immediately told Kim Yang-bo the moment the court audience ended.
Spread the rumor at once that subjects who do not pay rice taxes will not be able to see their ancestors’ portraits!
Yi Yeon had finally put into practice the saying “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”