He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Breaking the Cartel (1)

No matter what anyone says, Hanyang is the center of Joseon.

Precious goods from all over Joseon somehow gather in Hanyang, and only after passing through Hanyang do they spread nationwide.

In that sense, Hanyang can be seen as the heart that circulates Joseon’s money.

But right now, there’s one major problem in Hanyang that needs to be resolved.

“Father-in-law, haven’t you ever thought that the city of Hanyang is too shabby as a capital?”

Father-in-law tilted his head.

He looked like he didn’t know how to respond.

I think I spoke too abruptly without context.

Then Father-in-law’s expression suddenly darkened.

Recovery work has been underway since the fire, but he seems to think I’m saying this out of regret for Hanyang’s state that hasn’t fully recovered yet…

Thinking about how over a thousand casualties and thousands of houses were completely reduced to ash by the fire, I too feel heartbroken…

But that’s not what I want to talk about right now.

Winter said this:

Even the fire victims who lost not only their homes but also their families are grateful to me for throwing myself into extinguishing the fire.

I too had to endure painful times suffering from trauma after experiencing the disaster of Hanyang’s great fire, but I made the judgment that the right path was to escape as quickly as possible and work hard for Joseon, so I strived to regain my physical and mental health.

As a result, I’ve now almost completely recovered my normal body and mind.

“The population has long since exceeded 100,000 and is rapidly growing at a pace that will soon surpass 200,000 or 300,000, but compared to that, the Market Guild is far too small.”

“Is that so? You might think that way, son-in-law, but I think this level is fine… Isn’t Unjong-ga a place where people and goods always gather like clouds? Even now, when I receive and read the account books my son sends every month, I feel dizzy. The quantity of goods traded and the payments are so enormous.”

“I heard that after you made a large investment in Chinese Treasure Ships and struck it big, your monthly net income reaches 3,000 seom of white rice. That means you earn an income of 36,000 seom of white rice per year, which is indeed a dizzying number just to hear.”

In Korea, the expression “billionaire” is commonly used.

People who have over 1 billion dollars, roughly over 1 trillion won in Korean currency, are called great wealthy people or tycoons.

In Joseon, the equivalent expression is “man-seok-kkun,” referring to someone who harvests 10,000 seom of white rice annually.

Father-in-law is earning the income that 3-4 such man-seok-kkun would make combined, so it must truly be dizzying.

At this level, couldn’t our Father-in-law be called a chaebol of Joseon?

After hearing my words, Father-in-law burst into hearty laughter.

“In all of Joseon, you’re probably the only son-in-law who says Jongro Market is too small. For such a person to hear how much I earn monthly and say it makes him dizzy, that makes me even more flustered.”

“At the State Council, we handle hundreds of thousands of seom of white rice without thinking much of it, but that’s government money so it doesn’t feel real. But hearing that Father-in-law earns such large sums makes me dizzy and hard to comprehend. Building warehouses to store all that white rice must be quite an undertaking.”

In Korea, there was a bad law called the family member theft exemption.

Between family members, even if they committed financial crimes like fraud, theft, or embezzlement, criminal punishment itself was completely exempted.

So even if parents or cousins ran off with your cash, punishment was impossible, or sentences were reduced arbitrarily like a taffy seller’s whim.

However, when this system was created, this law wasn’t a bad law – it was a socially natural law.

In times when patriarchy, or more precisely the perception that family wealth was shared by all family members, was strong, such wealth-related crimes were naturally considered the family head’s responsibility to handle.

In the Joseon Period, being expelled from one’s family meant making social activity itself impossible.

Due to this social background, Father-in-law and I have an extremely close relationship, so Father-in-law’s money is actually money I can use freely as long as I get his understanding.

If I were to fall into crisis, it would naturally be money used for me.

Conversely, if Father-in-law fell into crisis and needed all our family’s wealth, I too would have the obligation to give it all.

Father-in-law listened to my words and chuckled.

“Last time when you told His Majesty you’d spend all our family’s wealth to buy Chinese Treasure Ships without giving me any hint, I was ready to meet my son-in-law and grab him by the collar. But when I heard the story, it seemed like a profitable business to anyone, so I let it slide.”

“I was reckless then, please forgive me, Father-in-law.”

“Isn’t that already in the past? And thanks to my son-in-law, I’ve become one of the top five wealthy merchants in Hanyang Market. Still, if you’re concerned… just treat Gyeoul-i well.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

As long as I’m alive, I have no intention of mistreating Gyeoul-i.

That’s why I haven’t taken any concubines until now.

“But why did you ask me to come to the market?”

“You’ll know if you follow me. Let’s head toward the Han River first.”

Actually, even though it was work hours, I had gotten permission from Hwang Hee and boldly came out to stroll the market with Father-in-law.

The reason was that I had something to ask Father-in-law for help with.

There was something that absolutely required Father-in-law’s abilities, and I thought it would be better to show and explain what it was directly.

I felt it would be better to explain by directly showing you what kind of work it is, since there’s a task that specifically requires your father-in-law’s abilities.

As we walked through the fairly bustling streets, one merchant came running toward me in a hurry.

As I walked down the fairly bustling street, a merchant came running toward me in a hurry.

In both his hands were bamboo baskets full of rice cakes.

In his hands he carried baskets full of rice cake slices.

“Oh my, Chief Inspector My Lord.”

“Now you’re a State Council Secretary. But who are you and what is that bamboo basket?”

“I am the man who was saved when Secretary My Lord personally rescued me a month ago. Since I received such immeasurable grace from My Lord that I could never repay, I did send a small token of gratitude to your residence recently. But that amount wasn’t enough for the benefactor who saved my life. So when I recognized you passing by, I brought a whole bamboo basket of rice cake slices that are famous for being the most delicious in our shop.”

If you go to a subway station, you can buy a pack of 8-10 rice cake slices for 2,000 won, making it an inexpensive snack, but in Joseon, rice cake slices are quite a luxury food since they’re made with plenty of rice and sesame oil.

To give me a whole bamboo basket of such precious things… But I can’t refuse it entirely either, really.

“Right now I’m out on official business so I don’t have slaves to carry luggage. So I’ll just taste a bit. Father-in-law, please try some too.”

Father-in-law tried it first, then I ate some too, and it was really savory and delicious.

So much so that I kept eating them without thinking.

“Really delicious. Could you send just two bamboo baskets of rice cake slices to my house later? If you say I sent you, they’ll pay you generously.”

“I cannot accept money for such a thing from My Lord who is my life’s benefactor.”

The rice cake shop owner said that, bowed, and returned to his shop.

This is why Joseon has the taste of human living.

The goodwill I showed comes back to me like this.

“Hanyang is really nice, Father-in-law.”

“It’s not that Hanyang is good, but because you performed good deeds, they’re coming back to you.”

After walking for about an hour while exchanging idle talk, the Han River came into view.

At the Han River, there were only a few ferries and some street vendors, with not many people around.

“Father-in-law, weren’t there almost no civilian houses from the market guild to here?”

“That’s right. Wouldn’t that be because they all burned down completely in this fire? Even if not for that, this area originally wasn’t a neighborhood where many people lived.”

“This place has good location, but it’s a peculiar place where not many people lived. If you look over there, they’re even growing napa cabbage.”

From what I’ve heard, among Gangnam building owners, there are surprisingly many people whose ancestors, grandfathers, or fathers weren’t wealthy.

The reason is that when Gangnam development began and land prices suddenly rose several times, most farmers were busy selling their fields…

But some stubborn people insisted they would farm for life and refused to sell their land even if they died, and later when development occurred and land prices rose hundreds of times, only then did they sell part of it and build high-rise buildings there.

Right now, this site near the Han River looks exactly like that kind of land to my eyes.

Land that’s essential for Hanyang’s development but where people don’t live, making it good for development.

“Starting from here, we’ll build a wide new road all the way to the Market Guild. Besides that, if we find several other sites like this and do the same work, what do you think will happen?”

My father-in-law’s eyes lit up.

“If we build ice storage in Incheon Waters, float ships filled with ice to catch fish, then quickly transport them by ship… a fish market would be established here… Besides that, meat from cattle and pigs caught by butchers in Pyeongan Province could also gather here and be supplied to Hanyang.”

“Yes, all kinds of specialty products will be traded right here. When that happens, those who can’t even find land to sharecrop and have uncertain livelihood prospects will flock here to work as porters.”

“Hanyang’s population will increase like crazy. Even now, Hanseongbu is screaming because the Chief Minister, who also serves as Governor of Hanseong, says Hanyang’s population is growing too rapidly… If things go as you say, Hanyang’s population will grow even faster than now, so the Chief Minister will simply collapse from overwork.”

It’s just a minor side effect that occurs in the process of national development.

This absolutely doesn’t include any revenge against Hwang Hee and Jo Mal-saeng, who must write ‘feedback’ on documents they approve, but subtly dump that task on me.

Then just try to stamp their seals.

Lately, those two old gentlemen take a 1-hour break (2 hours) during work hours under the excuse of lunch time, even though King Sejong has increased their workload tremendously, and they chat in the middle claiming to discuss important national matters while drinking tea.

After dumping the work they should do on me.

“Now, and in this middle area, we’ll build various workshops. The goods produced here will be sold nationwide using water transport.”

I don’t have steam engines, but I have ways to spread factory-style handicraft industry.

If we can mass-produce and cheaply supply high-quality farming tools, and sell various miscellaneous goods and equipment…

“…Wouldn’t Joseon truly become wealthy?”

My father-in-law nodded his head.

“A very excellent plan. And if we buy up lots of land here ahead of others… we could also gain significant private profit.”

“Exactly, father-in-law. Now, but I’m too busy with work.”

My father-in-law’s face suddenly hardened.

Did he have a bad premonition?

Could it be that you had a bad feeling about something?

“You’ll need to help with developing this new area in Hanyang.”

“We will need your help, master craftsman, in the new development of this area of Hanyang.”

My father-in-law broke out in cold sweat and shook his head.

His father-in-law shook his head, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Just looking at his expression, you’d think someone was chasing him with a sword.

Just looking at his expression, you’d think someone was chasing him with a knife.

Oh my, people might misunderstand if they saw this.

Oh my, people might get the wrong idea if they see this.

I’m just giving my father-in-law an opportunity to use his abilities and dedicate himself to the country.

I’m simply giving our father-in-law the opportunity to use his abilities to serve the country.

“No way! I’m staying in the Ministry of Taxation. The Minister of Taxation said so. He said if I stay in the Ministry of Taxation like this, he’ll make me a senior official within 5 years. I’m not going to the State Council. I’d rather go to the provinces than go to the State Council. Instead of a powerless old man like me, take someone young and energetic. There’s Assistant Secretary Kim in the Ministry of Taxation. That fellow is young but does excellent work. So it would be much better to take that fellow instead of an old man like me. I’m fine just working in the Ministry of Taxation and getting promoted slowly.”

“No way! I’m going to stay in the Ministry of Taxation. The Minister himself told me that if I continue working here, he’ll promote me to Deputy Director within five years. I’m not going to the State Council. I’d rather be sent to the provinces than go there. Instead of taking a worn-out old man like me, take someone young and energetic. There’s a guy named Kim in the Ministry, an Assistant Secretary. He’s young but does excellent work. So rather than an old man like me, it would be much better to take him. I’m fine just working here in the Ministry and getting promoted slowly.”

“Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to become a high-ranking official?”

“Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to become a high-ranking official?”

“Ah, now that I think about it, I’ve been sick since earlier. So I was going to take sick leave, but I got caught up in work and couldn’t do it yet. I need to take sick leave quickly. And tomorrow I’ll call a physician…”

“Oh, come to think of it, I’ve been feeling ill since earlier. I was going to request sick leave, but I got so caught up in work that I couldn’t get around to it. I really need to submit for sick leave quickly. And tomorrow I should call for a physician…”

I know the name and symptoms of that illness.

I know the name and symptoms of that disease.

Suddenly starting to feel sick at work or school, seeming to have a fever too.

You suddenly start feeling sick at work or school, and it seems like you have a fever too.

So the moment I said I’d leave early and stepped outside the building…

Suddenly the fever disappeared and all the pain was gone.

The illness was called ‘I don’t want to work disease.’

“I’ll send you Red Ginseng and Deer Antler.”

Then I handed my father-in-law the Appointment Document that had already passed the personnel verification process.

“Congratulations on your promotion to 8th rank State Council clerk, Father-in-law.”

I’ll take responsibility for pushing through Father-in-law’s promotion to Senior Officials.

I heard recently that he continues to diligently read the Four Books and Three Classics after work…

So I should at least help him build his career.

This is all good for the country and good for Father-in-law.

How pleased must he be that his mouth is hanging open and he can’t even speak?

“I will do everything in my power to help you achieve your lofty ambitions, father-in-law. So please continue to trust in me alone.”

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