He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 101

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Transportation Reform (8)

Before the Industrial Revolution, there were only three cities in the entire world with populations exceeding one million.

Edo, Beijing, Istanbul.

Well, Beijing was part of a crazy country with a population exceeding 300 million as a single nation, so let’s exclude that. Istanbul being the core city of the Ottoman Turkish Empire is understandable.

However, after being reborn into Joseon, hearing that Edo – merely the capital of the Tokugawa Shogunate that only occupied the Japanese Archipelago – had a population of one million makes me feel somewhat resentful.

It makes me think, why can’t Joseon do what those Japanese bastards managed to do?

“So you’re saying we should take on more work?”

“Yes, Father-in-law. On a large scale, it would be for the country, and on a small scale, it would benefit both you and me. There’s no reason not to do it, is there?”

History is also a summary of trial and error experienced by countless people.

Humanity discovered through the loss of hundreds of millions, even billions of lives, that not washing hands and not bathing properly could lead to illness or death.

The Japanese bastards next door, especially the citizens of Edo, often died from beriberi because they only ate Rice Meals made from White Rice, claiming it was a symbol of wealth.

It wasn’t until the early 1900s that they learned they also needed to eat Mixed Grains like Barley.

What would happen if there was even one high-ranking person who knew these facts?

Like what I’m doing now, they would force people to wash themselves, and for the people of Edo, they would find some way to make them eat other Mixed Grains besides white Rice.

That’s exactly my position right now.

Since I know what’s necessary for Joseon, I feel a sense of responsibility to push it forward as quickly as possible.

“When I heard last time that you reported to His Majesty about dedicating all our family’s wealth to building ships at the Naval Shipyard without even asking my permission, I was honestly dumbfounded… But thanks to my son-in-law, our wealth has increased several times over, so I’ll trust you this time too. So, what kind of work are you thinking of undertaking?”

“How about we try building an Ice Storage House?”

“That would be breaking the law. Would that even be possible?”

“I will personally submit a petition to His Majesty to get permission for all the Common People of Joseon to freely build Ice Storage Houses.”

Even in the history where I didn’t intervene, Private Ice Storage began appearing in the 2nd year of King Danjong’s reign, which is about 20 years from now.

Later, in the late Joseon period, Ice Storage Houses were built everywhere and used for storing Beef and transporting fish.

Current Joseon is much more flexible than the original historical period of King Danjong, so there’s no reason we can’t do it.

“Ice is precious, but… would building an Ice Storage House really be profitable?”

“We’ll make enormous profits from the very first year of building the Ice Storage House. Think about it – we can’t use Ice because it’s precious. But if we wanted to use it, how diverse would its applications be?”

I looked at my father-in-law and smiled broadly.

“Using ice, we can keep beef fresh for a long time, and we can also bring fish caught in Incheon Waters to Hanyang in fresh condition. If we store them well and transport them very quickly, things like sardines, squid, herring, and sea bream could be eaten as sashimi even in Hanyang.”

“Unless you’re by the seaside, eating raw fish as sashimi is impossible… but if we build ice storage houses, you’re saying we could eat sashimi in Hanyang, which can only be eaten by the seaside?”

Koreans tend to think that sushi and sashimi are both raw fish dishes, so their histories would be roughly similar.

However, strictly speaking, the sushi we know has at most 300 years of history, while sashimi has quite a long history, as it was eaten even by Lee Gyu-bo during the Goryeo period.

Ah, come to think of it, there wouldn’t be any particular problem if I made and sold foods like sushi or Chinese jjajangmyeon and malatang… Should I try making and selling them once?

The future Hanyang will become the world’s largest commercial city, and then all kinds of diverse foods will be sold and consumed.

“It would also be good to sell ice topped with honey, omija, apples, seogwa (watermelon), and persimmons.”

“… I think the Royal Court would impeach you for such luxurious food.”

“When there are many ice storage houses in Joseon and using ice becomes common, it will just become a slightly expensive snack. And the sages said to be wary of luxury because enjoying luxury would squeeze the lifeblood of the common people. They didn’t forbid making luxurious foods common so that everyone could easily eat them.”

“Though my learning is limited, listening to my son-in-law’s words, there’s nothing wrong with what you say.”

As far as I know, my father-in-law is someone who has never studied academics.

Being such a person, he always said he had no education, but the fact that he used the phrase “my learning is limited”… does this mean he’s been studying?

“Have you been studying separately since taking office?”

Kim Man-deok smiled sheepishly as if embarrassed.

“I’ve just barely finished memorizing Elementary Learning. Now I’m memorizing the Analects from when I leave work on time until I go to bed.”

“Your official duties alone must be busy and difficult, but this is truly admirable.”

“Isn’t there a special civil service examination in 6 years? Since the special exam doesn’t have things like recitation tests, if I could at least pass with a third-class grade then. I think I could proudly say that I’m not someone who got an official position thanks to my son-in-law, but someone who properly holds office with learning and ability.”

“The special exam is also a proper civil service examination, so if you pass, you might even rise to senior official rank.”

“Senior official rank, I would have no regrets even if I only rose to junior official rank.”

Jang Yeong-sil too, in the original history, wasn’t a civil service exam passer, so his promotion stopped at junior third rank.

However, now Jang Yeong-sil is performing much greater feats than in the original history, so among some officials, there’s talk that he might become a senior official someday.

Also, from what I hear from the Ministry of Taxation, my father-in-law is receiving favor from the Minister of Finance…

If he passes the special exam and remains in office until about age 70, it seems possible that just before retiring, he could step into a senior third rank senior official position.

‘Though the probability of passing is too slim…’

“I know well that it will be difficult too, son-in-law. But if it weren’t for you, how could I have risen to this eighth rank official position and achieved such Rising to Fame and Honor? Thinking of you, I want to properly challenge the special exam at least once.”

“I’ll support you as much as possible.”

“Good, then let’s start by raising money to build the ice storage house as my son-in-law suggests. And you know that people have been flocking to Hanyang lately, right? According to the official report sent by Hanseongbu, Hanyang’s population has already exceeded 120,000.”

During King Sejong’s era, Hanyang’s population was roughly 100,000.

But for it to increase by 20,000 in just a few years means that as commerce developed, people flocked here seeking ways to make a living.

This means single-person households have increased tremendously.

Well, this is Joseon, so they’ll probably get married soon anyway.

“So, I want to create taverns in various places throughout Hanyang where people can buy food to eat, like what my son-in-law made in Jinhae County.”

“That’s a wise idea.”

Even without knowing the concept of single-person households, creating taverns considering the circumstances of those suddenly flowing into Hanyang who have difficulty cooking meals…

As expected, our father-in-law truly has a special talent for business.

“Since we’re doing it anyway, it would be good to make and sell food that common people usually eat, or sell side dishes separately.”

“That’s a really good idea.”

While we were enthusiastically discussing business, Gapseok, a slave from our household, cautiously approached where we were.

“My Lord, please rejoice.”

“What on earth is it?”

“Madam is with child. A medical woman just came and performed pulse diagnosis on Madam, examined her condition, and said she’s pregnant…”

Tears streamed down Kim Man-deok’s eyes.

And though he tried to offer me words of encouragement, I didn’t have the leisure to calmly listen to my father-in-law’s congratulatory speech.

“Father-in-law, I must go now.”

“Yes, go quickly.”

Noblemen generally don’t run.

But having heard the news that Gyeoul-i is pregnant, how could I walk slowly while putting on airs?

“Gapseok, go to the market guild right now and buy seaweed and abalone. Buy enough for everyone in the household to eat with plenty left over.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

I’m fortunate to have been born during the Early Joseon Period.

The Early Joseon Period wasn’t an era where a husband would be pointed at with fingers for making seaweed soup for his wife.

As soon as I arrived home, breathing heavily like that, I immediately embraced Gyeoul-i carefully.

“Are you really pregnant?”

“Yes, according to the Medical Woman’s pulse diagnosis…”

At the same time as those words, Gyeoul-i did that dry heaving I’d often seen in dramas.

Very strong evidence of pregnancy.

“Wait just a moment, I’ll make you some seaweed soup.”

“My Lord is going to make seaweed soup?”

“It’s not like I can’t do it.”

It’s not that difficult either.

I’d never done it since being born in Joseon, but when I lived in Korea, I’d made it hundreds of times by myself.

I’d even made seaweed soup with abalone for my parents several times.

I went to the kitchen and diligently made seaweed soup as a gift for Gyeoul-i, then brought it to her.

I really hope only good things happen from now on.

With that feeling in my heart, I carefully stroked Gyeoul-i’s belly and said.

“Whether it’s a son or daughter, just give birth to them healthy.”

At those words, Gyeoul-i smiled.

I feel like I have everything in the world.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————