Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Jeju, Where the Winds Blow (2)
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Having gathered data from Park Mun-su and the other scholars exiled to Jeju Island, Kim Unhaeng soon finalized the ports for 'opening'.
He assigned the traditional mainland-linked port in the north, Hwapo in the wheat north, to the Qing merchants, and opened the long-abandoned southern port, Sagepo, to the Japanese. The reason for separating the ports on opposite sides of the island was, of course, to keep the two groups from meeting and to skim profits from the middle.
It was the standard strategy for relay trade.
Unlike China, however, ordinary Japanese without special permission couldn't venture out for overseas trade. Japan required a slightly different promotional approach.
The Matsuura clan of Tsushima took charge of promoting the smuggling connections. 'Come to serene Joseon, the land of quiet mornings, and clean Jeju free of pirates' was a pretty decent catchphrase.
"Even the elders of our clan in Nagasaki were in a bind, so this works out well. But items we're exclusively handling, like red ginseng or 'Joseon paintings,' can't be sold on Jeju. Could you please convey that condition clearly to Lord Kim Chunsik, Your Excellency?"
When Matsuura Keisen voiced that concern, Park Sang-sun, the NTR interpreter who had completed his revenge, reassured him with sparkling eyes.
"Even without your instruction, Your Excellency, I will make sure to report it. If that happens, I'd be ruined along with everyone here whose livelihoods depend on this—how could I overlook it?"
Kim Unhaeng, who was quietly swallowing up the northern ginseng outpost positions one by one using his influence, gladly accepted.
He had no intention of exporting red ginseng through other routes in bulk and driving down its price in Japan. Jeju was a 'relay trade port,' not an 'export port.'
Nagasaki, where Qing ships would sharply decrease, would soon writhe in sugar withdrawal. The magistrates and the shogunate would have no choice but to send the Matsuura clan, Tsushima, or whoever to Jeju.
The crucial part was the document to the Qing.
The original purpose of Jeju's relay trade was to build even greater amity with the Qing (and get the crown prince on the throne faster).
Since it was private trade, Beijing wouldn't begrudge the fees as much, and keeping the core copper official trade on its direct route gave the Qing no reason to refuse. Joseon didn't particularly want Qing officials in clean Jeju either.
For the Qing, the political benefits outweighed the economic ones.
They were already fretting over Western forces seemingly gunning for them from all sides.
Above all, the symbolism of Joseon—the nation that kept wailing about the Chongzhen emperor and messing things up via VPN—finally yielding was priceless. The Qianlong Emperor would 'graciously' permit it.
But the problem wasn't the Qing; it was Joseon.
To report to the Qing, it first had to be formalized in the Joseon court. Discussions on Jeju soon went to the Border Defense Council.
The trade proposal wasn't my original idea, nor my intention. I had merely borrowed the 'Practical Learning' skill for a moment to open it up.
Even from my hazy memories, Practical Learning scholars had shamelessly suggested bringing ships from not just Gangnam but even Liaodong to Seoul, or even inviting Western scholars to study science.
But like the scribbles of jobless scholars who couldn't hold office, confined to their studies, it wasn't accepted on the real political stage.
Meaning it was unrealistic talk.
In modern times, Joseon gets flak for ignoring Practical Learning scholars and being impractical, but in politics, 'principle' is the ultimate reality. If a politician proposed producing a million cloned humans as a hyper-scientific fix for low birth rates, would you vote for them?
That's why, even within Chundang, I couldn't help but sympathize with the opposing views that came up.
"Foreigners entering and exiting our country at will? Traditionally, our policy has been to aid and send back castaways, and to exterminate pirates when they appear!"
"Among them, Hwapo was where over a thousand Japanese invaded during the Byeongja Disturbance last year. Are we handing Jeju over to bandits entirely this time?!"
"Above all, it'll look like fawning to the barbarians, and the Easterners won't stand for it. Money? When has this country ever had money? We've endured three hundred years on loyalty alone—shall we abandon that now?"
Thank goodness no one said, 'With the king ill, the crown prince can't decide major national matters.' If there was, I'd drag them straight to Namsan—no, the Royal Secretariat Prison.
The reason I could stay calm was obvious: I wasn't the one getting thrashed right now.
This heated Border Defense Council debate stemmed from the crown prince's order to review Jeju relay trade. I hadn't done a thing.
The Four Directions Commandant and Jeju Governor didn't receive four letters from me? Does the president personally open Messenger to give orders? It's all the chief of staff.
But as chief of staff, I also had to represent the crown prince here.
I adopted the stance of, 'Please understand my position serving a superior like the crown prince.' Then, as the specially appointed Border Defense Council Commissioner, I spoke.
"I well know the steadfast integrity of you esteemed officials. However, His Highness the crown prince did not mention trade."
Right State Councillor Jeong Hwi-ryang looked puzzled.
"Not trade? Didn't His Highness mention the two ports?"
"We must look at the root of the matter. The Qing and Japanese flocked to Jeju originally because of the Red-Haired Pirates rampaging in the southern seas. The Qing, who call themselves a great power, couldn't touch them, and Japan, fellow pirate kin, has no intention to. Thus, His Highness, the sole preserver of rites and culture in our Eastern lands, has righteously decided as you just heard."
Joseon might be sensitive about diplomacy and commerce, but it's lenient on military matters. I unraveled from there.
"But with the Qianlong Emperor griping even about building a single fortress, how could he be pleased? He might seize on it to start a war, so His Highness hid the troops and spoke only of trade arising naturally from his supreme dignity."
In other words, the crown prince wasn't submitting to the Qing as you claim, but conducting the boldest diplomacy even mocking the emperor.
Or would you disband the Liberation Vanguard now? Who's stopping the Red-Haired Pirates then?
The Liberation Vanguard had to exist anyway, for the Equal Distribution Agency and the Pingxian Bureau.
Folks like the hotshot rice-cake Pingxian Bureau Park clan's people were louder than me in Noryangjin alone and naturally thick as thieves with these officials here.
The Liberation Vanguard was a major supplier to them. Sure, some was plunder, but 'transport' sharing dock fees on the sly took a bigger share.
The trade was just a 'positive byproduct' of that Liberation Vanguard, and notifying the Qing framed it that way. Switching cause and effect made things so much easier.
There was one person who could shatter this perfect frame: Chief State Councillor and Border Defense Council Deputy Commissioner Park Mun-su.
I glanced his way. If he had any shame, my gaze carried the telepathy: remember the red ginseng favor.
Park Mun-su said nothing.
He'd normally charge ahead regardless of favors, but he stayed silent.
Ah, I get it. Seeing him grit his teeth and tremble, showing his age—that means bring more medicine.
Okay, hold on a bit, Your Grace. Time to contact our poker shark Won In-son.
As Kim Unhaeng thought, Park Mun-su was in agony right now. But not because he was out of red ginseng.
Kim Unhaeng, worming into the Border Defense Council on some special pretext and spouting nonsense, deserved to be crushed per Park Mun-su's goal upon returning to court.
Yet this was a chance to realize Park Mun-su's lifelong ambition, thwarted by Kim Jae-ro long ago.
At that time, coin circulation in Joseon existed but was always short on supply and production. It was the currency shortage plaguing even the Qing.
Silver was the more vital currency, and with its heft, the Qing endured, but Joseon was desperate.
Park Mun-su had advocated buying Qing coins or using the same coins as them.
Then-active Noron giant Kim Jae-ro opposed fiercely.
Not just because it was a Soron idea. Park Mun-su's northern coin circulation theory had issues anyone modern could predict.
Currency erosion eats economies.
Stepping back, Park Mun-su proposed buying coins, melting them, and minting Sangpyeong Tongbo, but that wasn't appealing either.
Melting and recasting costs weren't negligible. Unless saving on minting fees, why buy coins instead of raw copper?
Other ideas like Dangbaekjeon arose, but traditionalist Yeongjo wanted to abolish 'currency' in Joseon entirely, making compromise hard. The matter died.
But if Qing and Japan traded in Jeju now, it changed everything.
Qing coins could come as payment for goods, and more copper from Japan.
The faint hope of ending Joseon's chronic shortage intensely tempted Park Mun-su.
So when Kim Unhaeng took not just red ginseng but goji berries for 252-year lifespans, omija that even Emperor Qianlong loved, reishi the divine mushroom, and every good herb under the sun, Park Mun-su couldn't chase him out.
The debate between Park Mun-su and Kim Jae-ro happened when Kim Unhaeng was just twelve. Park Mun-su, with an icy face, explained Joseon's current shortage and his solution.
Kim Unhaeng nodded as if understanding.
"So that's why, as Busan Garrison Commander abolishing private Japanese trade at the Japanese quarters, you preserved official tribute trade unbroken. But if so, copper has come steadily till now—why the sudden urgency? Of course, I'm in awe of Your Excellency's wisdom; I just ask out of curiosity."
Park Mun-su exploded.
"You brat! Just like you jabbered, I smashed the Japanese going to Cheoryang Japanese quarters! Didn't you see the tribute missions? Official trade is lame without interpreters to assist—that's why we haven't imported proper copper for years! Liberation Vanguard spoils are no better than snowflakes in a furnace!"
He was right. Kim Unhaeng hadn't cared since he didn't need copper, but Joseon's copper imports had plummeted recently.
Like Jeju, private and official trade depended on each other. Private trade needed official protection; officials lacked zeal without interpreters' bribes.
Ullyeongdo's cases proved private trade alone. Park Mun-su ground his teeth.
"Ullyeongdo? I can guess. You sneaked smuggling ships in secretly till this year, then pulled it out when ripe? Before, no heavy stuff like copper—just light, pricey luxuries for smugglers!"
"How could a scholar like me, ignorant of commerce, touch such things? On Ullyeongdo, I only subdued Red-Haired Pirates."
Park Mun-su ignored Kim Unhaeng's desperate denial.
"We must get Qing coins somehow. If Qing folk buy goods on Jeju and pay coins, good for them; cheaper for us than from Liaodong smugglers. But as former Minister Kim said, melt them first. Coins were often remade by armies, and with Liberation Vanguard forges and furnaces for cannons, recasting costs are way down from 25 years ago."
"Your Excellency's profound scheme defies words beyond 'deep and ingenious.' I will earnestly report 'Your Excellency's plan' above and ensure execution below without fail."
No need for Kim Unhaeng to say, 'You know the price, right?'
Park Mun-su knew without words—that's why Kim Unhaeng hadn't crushed him. Kim Unhaeng bowed politely to the silent Park Mun-su and withdrew.
Groaning, Park Mun-su eyed the herbs Kim Unhaeng brought.
Without the historical butchery strife stress and with red ginseng, he'd lived two years past his allotted span, but unaware, he only felt his life ebbing due to Kim Unhaeng.
He'd long forsaken clinging to petty office. But he needed to live longer to block Kim Unhaeng.
With the mindset of swallowing poison, Park Mun-su reached for the herbs.
There was debate, but with Soron rep Park Mun-su, Noron rep Kim Unhaeng, and even the crown prince assenting, clean Jeju passed, however grudgingly.
Unlike Practical Learning scholars, Kim Unhaeng had properly set the board, which helped greatly. Being an 'island' not mainland ports eased security concerns.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Qianlong receiving the memorial felt the perfect timing had come.
As Amursana reported, Central Plains armies had faltered in last winter's harsh west.
Spring passed; Beijing reorganized troops, but money poured endlessly. The Dzungar-Tibet rebel alliance, backed by Russia, dragged on in fits and starts.
Qianlong tried holding the Russian delegation hostage for leverage, but Russia's Dzungar hand was stronger.
Plus, vast space-time between Beijing and Moscow made 1-2 year deals tough.
To top it, unknown Western ironclads rampaged south; humanity's lord had to deem Westerners demons.
Joseon's signal implied much amid this.
To position as 'benevolent lord rewarding obedience (like Joseon),' the 'majestic lord crushing defiance (like the West)' policy could work. Reward and punishment are obverse and reverse of a coin, always together.
It also pressured Japan from Qing's view.
To stop fellow pirate Japan colluding with the West and join Qing-led 'human commonwealth,' tweaking Nagasaki official trade control was a card worth playing.
Qianlong immediately approved Joseon's Jeju trade. He also ordered reviewing rerouting Gangnam Japan official trade to Jeju, costs be damned.
Japan's reaction to this 'review' would set future course.
However, this human unification move unwittingly disturbed the demon race's seal dormant till then.
Britain's first Chinese interpreter.
East India Company's China market pioneer.
The man whose vast smuggling from Ningbo to Guangdong over recent years directly prompted Qianlong's one-port policy.
Such were the epithets for James Flint, British East India Company diplomat, merchant, and broker.
He wasn't elite or noble. Boy Flint, sailing on an EIC ship to China young, found his calling there. When the captain left, Flint stayed alone in alien lands, resolved to learn Chinese.
Twenty years later, his Chinese name Hong Im-hwi felt more natural. His influence rivaled any native Chinese.
Flint's value to British merchants: enabling direct talk with viceroys or Yuehai Customs supervisors (Guangzhou trade chiefs).
Before, Brits couldn't tell if low public row interpreters introduced them to viceroys as trustworthy gentlemen or thieves to kill.
To know, pay 'fees for proper translation.' Huge advantage.
Of course, Flint monopolized and twisted interpretations for wealth and power.
But law's lenient on native vs. foreign crime. EIC couldn't touch Flint now.
So him directly under Viceroy of Liangguang Li Shiyao wasn't odd.
"Jeju? An island I don't know."
"Joseon's been obedient, no wanton West ties."
"Ha. Your Excellency jests well. Sounds like trading with us makes one no good citizen."
Li Shiyao snorted. Qianlong era luminary, no fool; British nonchalance was laughable.
"Obey and keep promises like Joseon, good days come. Reflect now. Rumors you're scheming back to Ningbo or Zhejiang."
"All baseless, I stake my neck. Anyway, I'll relay His Majesty's command surely."
James Flint, withdrawing, glanced northeast.
Indeed, caution needed awhile. As Kim Unhaeng said, avoid test cases.
Better steer clear of Ningbo, Zhejiang, Fujian.
'Hm. But Jeju wasn't off-limits, was it?'
Flint headed to Yuehai Customs where EIC merchants gathered.
Author's Note
1. Hwapo is in northern Jeju's Hwapo-ri; Sagepo in southern Seogwipo City. Joseon only needed ports linking Jeju to mainland, so southern ports closed early; law bound to northern (in-story) Hwapo and nearby Jeocheonpo.
2. You might wonder if keeping copper official direct route means all private ships follow, skipping Jeju. Official trade is twice yearly as in-story; all China private ships can't fit Nagasaki.
China ships' continental volume often couldn't sell all historically, hence records of illicit retail by foreigners.
3. Kim Unhaeng's 'outrageous' talk: 'Bring Ships from Jiangnan and Zhejiang to Park,' and 'Invite Western Scholars'—both Park Je-ga's claims. Contrary to Kim Unhaeng's bias, Park Je-ga held office.
4. Border Defense Council Commissioner: appointed from rank 2 or above. Hon. Rank 3 Censors-General/Secretary Supervisors sometimes, but Chief Royal Secretary rarely. No legal limit, so special exception used.
5. Northern coin theory issues beyond erosion: Qing won't officially sell currency, so smuggling needed. Park Mun-su's Liaodong smugglers mean that.
Rejection reasons included 'How can state smuggle?' Practically, smuggle premiums high; Qing coin trial under King Hyeonjong cost 3x Gangnam price.