The Plague God and the Cowpox
“Ah…. She’s just an old hag.”
Lately, Hanyang had been filled with unsettling affairs. It began with a vicious outbreak of Mama (smallpox) in Namchon, followed by the sound of wailing echoing throughout the capital. As the marketplaces and the Yuk-ui-jeon (the six licensed merchant shops) were shuttered and travel was restricted, the once-vibrant streets were cast in a gloomy, desolate atmosphere. Fearing infection, the people bolted their gates tight. This paralyzed the flow of goods in Hanyang, leading to the spread of poverty and starvation, and soon, people began dying from other ailments instead of smallpox.
Up to this point, it was understandable. That was the nature of the disease. It was difficult for the moment, but if they could just hold out until the Mama god retreated, the markets would reopen, and they could buy grain again. The people had endured smallpox before, so they clutched their starving bellies and waited, clinging to the small hope that the epidemic would soon end. The problem was what came next. Not long ago, a bizarre notice was posted in the marketplace—a royal decree from the King himself.
“All subjects shall visit the Hyeminseo and Hwalinseo to receive the Mama inoculation.”
What kind of preposterous nonsense was this? Smallpox was a disease you could only hope to avoid by hiding in your room, not daring to even breathe too loudly. And now, they were being told to walk right up to that vicious thing and invite it in? Where in the world was there such a madman? The King of the nation must have lost his mind because of the plague ravaging the capital. Fearing they might be dragged away by the decree if they stepped outside, the people bolted their doors even tighter.
“Mother, I’m hungry.”
“Just hold on a little longer. Once the Mama ends, I’ll go to the market and buy grain.”
“But…. I’m hungry right now.”
“I told you, it’s no use. I’ve warmed up some kudzu root water, so drink this and try to endure.”
“Ugh….”
As she clutched her starving belly and fed the murky kudzu water to her only daughter, Namsun, a voice called out from outside the gate.
“Haman-daek, are you in there?”
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Jeongseon-daek. Come on out.”
“Oh, what brings you here, sister?”
Recognizing the voice of the friend she usually went to the market with to sell wild greens, Haman-daek cautiously opened the gate. In Jeongseon-daek’s hands was a basket filled with steaming multi-grain rice and soup.
“Is Namsun doing well? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
“Oh my, where did you get this rice?”
“I brought it because I was worried you might be starving. I went out to the marketplace and bought some grain. You haven’t received the inoculation yet, have you?”
“Oh my! You received it, sister? That vicious thing? And your body? Are you feeling alright?”
At Haman-daek’s question, Jeongseon-daek beamed. It was as if she were looking at herself from a few days ago.
“I went to the Hyeminseo with Chilbok yesterday and got the inoculation. That’s why I’m telling you not to just stay inside—go out and see for yourself. You must not even know what happened in the marketplace.”
“The marketplace?”
“Yes, it was chaotic there a while ago. Heo Jun from the Hyeminseo, the children of the highest-ranking noble families in the country, and even the Prince himself came out to the market. Those high-ranking nobles were jabbing large needles dripping with smallpox pus right into their chests and arms—oh, it gave me such goosebumps.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Let’s go inside first, and I’ll tell you the details. I skipped my own meal so I could eat with you. Namsun! Auntie brought food! Let’s eat!”
“Wow!! Rice!”
It had been a month since the Mama began. Only then did the tightly bolted gates of Hanyang begin to open, one by one.
I was having a dream. But who turned off the lights? Why is it so dark? Now that I think about it, my body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds; I can’t move a single finger. To think I’d even get sleep paralysis, something I never experienced while alive. I must have been tired lately. When you have sleep paralysis, you start with your toes. As I wiggled my toes, putting strength into them, a woman appeared and began to pace around me.
- This is strange. The number of children who see me has dropped significantly lately.
The woman was beautiful. Her sharp features, the kind of idol-like makeup rarely seen in Joseon, her long, slender white legs, and the gorgeous silk attire that complemented her beauty were impressive. But who was she?
- Who are you, sister?
- Hmm? Little child. Can you see me?
- Yes, I can see you.
- Tee-hee, so that’s where you were hiding. I am the Plague God. I handle the work of taking children like you away by wielding the Mama. Little child, will you come with me?
The woman shyly raised her hand toward me. By the way, a Plague God? Hmm, isn’t that a short-lived trend? Well, who cares if it’s a trend, as long as she’s pretty. Wiggling my toes continuously to break the paralysis, I finally took her hand. At my action, she smiled brightly.
- In the last few thousand years, I’ve taken countless children, but you’re the first one as brave as you. I’ll cherish you, so let’s go quickly.
- Thank you. Uh…. But. A few thousand years? If it’s a few thousand years….
- Say, by any chance, what is your exact age?
- Well, I haven’t counted, but perhaps about 5,000 years old? I was born when the child called Dangun settled on this land.
- Ah…. She’s just an old hag.
- What?
5,000 years old. That’s a hard pass. As I forcibly pulled my hand away from hers, I snapped awake.
“Young Master, are you awake?”
“Little one, are you conscious?”
“Mm….”
What is this? What a ridiculous dream. “Is there anywhere you’re hurting? You’ve only been sleeping for the past two days, except when you ate your rice porridge.”
“Little one, you kept sweating while you were sleeping.”
“Usually, after an inoculation, you’re supposed to light a fire in the warm gudeul room and sweat it all out while you sleep. Thanks to that, I slept well. Sister, are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I recovered last night. A strange lady tried to talk to me, but I was scared and didn’t answer, so she just left.”
The stamina of that Plague God granny, though. Anyway, Udu-beop? Madu-beop? Let’s just call it Jongdu-beop (cowpox inoculation) like in my past life. A month had passed since the Jongdu-beop was implemented under Heo Jun’s leadership, and my sister and I, holding hands with Prince Imhae, had gone out to the marketplace to get inoculated. Actually, I had intended to take our time, but even long after the inoculation started, the people’s reaction was lukewarm. Well, who would want to be the first to get jabbed with that ugly thing? There were even people lying on the ground, begging to have their heads cut off instead of getting smallpox, so eventually, Seonjo issued a decree.
“The royal family and the scholar-officials shall set an example for the people first.”
As a result, Heo Jun performed a flashy performance of jabbing a large needle into his own chest in the marketplace, and when the current Prince of Joseon, Imhae, and the youngest of the Heo clan, the head of the scholar-officials, were inoculated in succession, the people finally began to crawl out of their corners one by one. For reference, even that little brat Prince Imhae lay on the ground refusing to get it, but I barely managed to coax him with the promise of a brave white hawk and tonkatsu. I should make him some tonkatsu later. Anyway, thanks to sweating it out and getting a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while, my body feels infinitely light. I pushed the thick blankets away with my feet and looked at my sister, who was chattering away beside me.
This should be enough, right? According to the perspective of the original Heo Gyun, the two children my sister gave birth to died young from smallpox, and unable to bear the grief, she lived alone in a house built under the mountain where the children were buried, separated from her husband, and committed suicide a few years later. My sister, committing suicide? The sister who sings “Little one, little one” every day, smiling bashfully and coming over to stroke my hair, is going to hang herself? That’s absurd. It doesn’t feel real. It just sends a chill down my spine.
“Sister, aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes, I’m hungry.”
Right, now that she’s been inoculated, won’t she take care of inoculating the children herself? I don’t know, if she doesn’t, I’ll tie her up with a rope and drag her to get it done. That’s how it has to be. I shook off the useless thoughts that popped into my head and rubbed my shriveled belly. I’m hungry. Since I got the shot, I need to nourish my body.
“Then, shall we make some Hwangolgye (yellow chicken) for the first time in a while?”
“Uh…. Father said not to eat that except on feast days…. He said it’s feast food.”
“It’s fine. I was told that because I made a great contribution this time, His Majesty would bestow a reward upon me. I’m going to give it all to Father anyway, so it won’t matter if we sneak a few chickens. Dol-i, go to the marketplace and buy some chickens and pheasants.”
While we’re at it, let’s make some soap, too. I should make sure to teach them about hygiene properly this time. “Understood. I’ll just put the cost on the Hanyang merchant guild’s tab, right?”
“Yes. But is the marketplace open?”
“The Yuk-ui-jeon have all been open since yesterday. The smallpox is almost at its end, and those who received the inoculation at the Hyeminseo and Hwalinseo are now allowed to travel, so the market is bustling.”
“That’s good. Buy plenty so everyone in this household can eat.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“It’s not allowed, Father will be angry.”
“I told you, it’s fine.”
Even while saying it’s not allowed, she’s swallowing her saliva quite well. Behind the two of them, a voice called out to me from outside the room.
“Gyun, are you awake?”
“Yes, Father.”
“That’s good. Come out here.”
When I opened the door and stepped out, my father was standing there with a satisfied expression, and next to him was a large chest. “How is your body? I heard you sweated a lot.”
“I’m fine. Perhaps because I sweated all night, my body feels much lighter.”
“Haha, that’s fortunate. Now, it seems His Majesty has sent you a gift, so hurry up and check it.”
The gold and silver treasures we were promised have arrived! It’s been six years since I transmigrated into the Joseon era. This is the moment I finally get some proper wealth.
“Ah! Understood.”
I opened the chest in front of me with high expectations. And the moment my expectations turned into disappointment was instantaneous. The chest was packed tight with the skins of unknown beasts.
“Uh….”
No, he said he’d give me gold and silver treasures. Among the things in there, which one is gold? I was left speechless by the smelly pile of skins he’d sent as a gift, and my father smiled and said, “Haha, I suppose you’re speechless because the gift is so large.”
“Ah, yes…. Well….”
“So many otter skins. I am merely grateful for His Majesty’s grace.”
“Well…. I suppose I’m grateful.”
What he brought as money is a clothing donation bin, and what he bestowed as gold and silver treasures is animal skin. Is the economy of this country, Joseon, really going to be alright like this? As I pouted my lips and stared at the pile of skins that seemed utterly useless, my father said, “Right, now that the smallpox has stabilized, the royal court will open soon. You must visit His Majesty yourself and convey your gratitude. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, Father.”
As my father said, the royal court opened a few days later. Seonjo, sitting on the throne, spoke in a solemn voice.
“From now on, we shall begin the merit-based rewards.”