He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 59

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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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Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (10)

The atmosphere in Geunjeongjeon Hall where the royal audience was held was harmonious and cheerful.

This was because there were clear signs that the chronic tax shortage problem that had plagued Joseon would finally be resolved.

In this warm atmosphere, King Sejong opened his mouth to speak.

“Since Retired King has widely implemented the Bangwon Method, the people are joyful and at ease, and the nation’s finances have also become robust.”

Strictly speaking, the Bangwon Method that Kim Dae-bung proposed and Lee Bang-won approved was currently in the stage of being distributed nationwide.

The tax grain and tribute goods collected through the Bangwon Method had not even begun transportation, let alone arrived at Gyeongchang, the Royal Court’s treasury, but…

Among the ministers present here, there was no one who failed to read the atmosphere like Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who had opposed and even employed delaying tactics when everyone else was advocating for implementing the Bangwon Method, worried it might interfere with his usury business.

“When land was surveyed using the Land Survey Method in eight counties including Anseong in Gyeonggi Province, the farmland in these counties increased greatly. The places with the largest increase saw more than 2.5 times growth, and even the places with the smallest increase saw about double. This means taxes will increase by more than double.”

At King Sejong’s words, the eyes of the ministers including Hwang Hee changed.

More than doubling of taxes meant that the budget allocated to their departments would increase…

It also meant that the allowances (budget) they could autonomously manage would increase, and at the same time…

By achieving significant accomplishments during their tenure, they could complete the ‘legacy creation’ Quest, which was the ultimate endgame content for noble life veterans, and even gain Achievements that their families could boast about for generations.

“Moreover, the Land Survey Method does not require much effort to survey land. Yet rather than avoiding the Land Survey, the people are voluntarily helping and stepping forward. So it seems the new surveying work will be roughly finished by this summer. What does the Minister of Finance think?”

“Kim Dae-bung, who went out as Secret Inspector, surveyed all the land in Anseong County in just one month. Of course, Kim Dae-bung’s capabilities are more exceptional than those of ordinary officials. Not all county magistrates will be able to survey land using the Land Survey Method as quickly as he did. Even so, if His Majesty sends royal edicts to the provincial governors of each province to urge them, I believe it can all be completed by this year’s planting season.”

In agricultural nations, most labor services are attempted to be finished before the busy farming season arrives.

If labor shortages occur during the busy farming season due to corvée labor, that year’s farming would fail or the harvest would greatly decrease.

Even in Warring States Japan, where blood-soaked wars were rampant and rape, murder, plunder, and losing family members were close to ‘daily life,’ most wars would generally start after planting was finished and end before harvest time to send all soldiers back home.

Therefore, Hwang Hee’s words sounded very good to King Sejong.

In his heart, he wanted to make all officials work like Kim Dae-bung or himself, but the officials lacked the capability for that.

So King Sejong knew very well that he had to squeeze them within realistically possible limits.

The baseline Hwang Hee presented was a level that would generally be possible if the ‘local magistrates’ gave their utmost effort…

‘I should promote Hwang Hee to Chief State Councilor as His Majesty suggested.’

‘As His Majesty says, we must promote Hwang Hee to Prime Minister.’

Hwang Hee, who became Chief State Councilor, would squeeze the capabilities of officials to make them dedicate themselves, just as Ryu Jeong-hyeon had squeezed finances to save budget.

“I shall do so. Then how should we proceed with establishing markets in all counties nationwide?”

“Have the governors designate certain areas within their counties, and allow buying and selling of goods there. Officials dedicated to managing markets should be stationed there, but the number of personnel should be adjusted according to each county’s scale and degree of commercial prosperity.”

“Wouldn’t one person be sufficient unless it’s a place like Gaeseong or Pyongyang?”

“… The Assistant Minister of Finance studied under the same teacher as the Jinhae County Magistrate, so they have quite a deep friendship. Combining the official report submitted by the Jinhae County Magistrate and what he confided to the Assistant Minister of Finance, even a county magistrate who manages county affairs plus markets would work day and night without finishing the work. If even Jinhae is like this, what about Dongnae where smuggling with the Japanese occurs almost openly, or major transportation hubs nationwide?”

When markets open, taxes increase dramatically. Even if one official is stationed there, the salary paid is only about 50 seom of white rice…

There’s no reason not to station officials just to save a little money. Unless Ryu Jeong-hyeon is possessed by a ghost.

“Have the Ministry of Taxation review and report how many officials should be stationed at each county market. Until we can fill the necessary personnel, I will increase the number of Local Clerks and scribes who can become government officials from 100 to 200 annually.”

Upon hearing this, the officials’ eyes sparkled once again.

Even a mere middle-class nobody becomes a proper member of the yangban scholar-officials once they become a government official. Of course, even for scribes who become officials, the 7th junior rank is the promotion ceiling.

However, if someone serves even a 9th junior rank position, they become yangban even if their status was lowborn. Just like Jang Yeong-sil.

If such social mobility is greatly opened up, naturally the yangban also lose something.

“I, Minister of Personnel Maeng Sa-seong, humbly report. Currently, the Royal Court has become very prosperous in budget due to the implementation of the Bangwon Method, but at the same time, the work to be done has also greatly increased. Therefore, the current number of officials cannot adequately handle the excessive workload.”

“Didn’t I say I would increase the number of officials?”

“Increasing by merely 100 people is nowhere near enough. According to the official report submitted by the Minister of Finance, even if we station just one person at markets in all counties nationwide, we would need well over 360 officials. However, since all affairs in the world don’t always go as expected, you must generously select officials in preparation for contingencies.”

King Sejong was a workaholic. Without exaggeration, he voluntarily worked 17 hours a day.

Since His Majesty was grinding himself down so voluntarily, his subjects couldn’t avoid working overtime with piled-up tasks, so they had no choice but to choose the path of inevitable overtime grinding.

Serving a sage king was good, but overtime work, except for the occasional unavoidable instances, was as detestable as the specter of Former Goryeo.

Therefore, in the eyes of Maeng Sa-seong, who had accumulated much experience serving various kings – Taejo, King Jeongjong, King Taejong, and King Sejong – he could clearly see what disaster would occur if things continued this way.

‘Kim Dae-bung is merely 6th junior rank, and it’s been just over 3 years since he entered government service. Yet he was able to accomplish so much work.’

‘The Minister of Personnel has stayed in government service longer than Kim Dae-bung and is more experienced, so even if he can’t create innovative reforms, he should work better.’

“Since the yangban will be confused in their thoughts from having to pay much tax due to the Bangwon Method, please hold a grand civil examination to appease their public opinion.”

“… Hold a grand civil examination. Specifically, how many should be selected?”

“I will discuss that with the Minister of Finance and then submit an official report.”

Maeng Sa-seong sent a signal to Hwang Hee with his eyes. If we don’t select as many officials as possible within the budget’s limits, we’ll all die crushed under overtime work.

Hwang Hee nodded his head greatly, expressing his agreement.

Jo Mal-saeng, who loved cannons that delivered big and powerful strikes because he was the Minister of War, and also loved bribes, opened his mouth.

“I, Minister of War Jo Mal-saeng, humbly report. After King Taejo passed away and even Prince Cheonghae (Lee Ji-ran) died, the Jurchen tribes in the north are threatening Joseon’s borders. Moreover, in the south, the evil Japanese pirates are constantly plundering Joseon’s people.”

King Sejong gritted his teeth.

Thinking of the brutal bastards tormenting the weak common people made his blood boil.

No matter how much good governance he implemented, if those evil bastards appeared and completely plundered the people, the lives of the people in those regions would ultimately fall into misery.

“Until now, we couldn’t cast many cannons due to insufficient budget, and we couldn’t conscript enough soldiers either. However, the situation is different now, so please put effort into casting cannons and training troops as well.”

“Those words are also correct. Minister of War, devise measures to block the Japanese pirates and Jurchen tribes, and think of ways to expand our military forces before reporting.”

King Sejong smiled broadly while thinking about how to use the increased tax revenue.

While it was true that the overflowing work was difficult, Joseon was developing brilliantly day by day, which truly made him happy.

Thinking that all this was due to the official named Kim Dae-bung, he truly found him admirable.

In his heart, he wanted to place him in the position of Chief State Councilor immediately, but… everything has procedures.

As discussed with King Taejong Lee Bang-won yesterday, King Sejong decided to announce the next Chief State Councilor.

“After the traitor Ryu Jeong-hyeon died, the Chief State Councilor position remained vacant for several months, disrupting the order of the Royal Court. After careful consideration of suitable candidates, I have learned that Minister of Finance Hwang Hee is always fair in handling affairs and has great merit in coordinating various opinions until now. Therefore, I will specially appoint Hwang Hee as Chief State Councilor to serve the Royal Ancestral Shrine and State.”

It was an extremely bold personnel decision.

However, there were no ministers who expressed opposing opinions either.

While Kim Dae-bung devised the Bangwon Method, it was Hwang Hee who made the system actually function.

Thus, Hwang Hee was able to become Chief State Councilor a full three years earlier than in the original history.

“Hereafter, you ministers shall discuss Kim Dae-bung’s promotion, next official position, and rewards after he went out as Secret Inspector, then report back.”

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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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