Cancer? (4)
Starting with a phrase that sounded familiar—lucky letter—Hyang earnestly explained the usefulness of Arabic numerals to Sejong.
Listening to Hyang's presentation with a serious expression, Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.
As he continued to ponder in silence, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"I think it's a good suggestion, but I believe it is not right for me to make a decision alone. Come back tomorrow when the meeting starts and explain again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After finishing his work, Hyang bowed to Sejong and stepped back.
As he watched Hyang quietly retreat, Sejong spoke up.
"Hyang."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I am truly proud of your intelligence. However, you are still young. Now is the time to focus on your physical and mental growth rather than the affairs of state."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hyang's face brightened at Sejong's praise, and he nodded respectfully.
Sejong smiled as he watched Hyang's excited figure disappear.
"Now he looks like a child of his age."
Without wiping the smile off his face, Sejong examined the documents and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk! I forgot to ask about this."
The next day, when the meeting began, Sejong called for Hyang as promised.
Attending the meeting, Hyang explained Arabic numerals to the officials.
"... Thus, I believe it is much more useful to express numbers using this 'Arabic numeral' that the officials refer to as 천축수 (Cheonchuksu)."
After finishing his explanation, Hyang bowed to Sejong and sat down to one side.
Once Hyang's explanation was over, Sejong looked around at the officials.
"What do you think of the Crown Prince's suggestion?"
The first to respond to Sejong's question was Minister of Revenue Kim Jeom.
"I believe it is very useful for expressing numbers."
"I, Minister of Personnel Heo Ji, also think it is very useful."
With the Minister of Revenue, who had the most need for numbers, supporting the idea, the Minister of Personnel followed suit.
With the two ministers who were most closely related to numbers in agreement, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"Then let the two ministries test the use of this 천축수 for a month. If the results are good, we will implement it nationwide."
"I will obey!" With the decision made regarding the numbers, Sejong moved on to the next agenda.
"This next matter seems to require the Crown Prince's judgment as well. Crown Prince."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The Emperor of Ming has sent an edict."
At the unexpected words, Hyang's expression turned blank.
"What?"
Seeing the Crown Prince's face, Sejong explained the situation. - Sejong, who was very pleased with the golden brush made by the Crown Prince, ordered the Military Affairs Office to create a golden brush to present to the Emperor.
The golden brush, adorned with silver inlays on the tip and featuring two beautifully crafted dragons on the handle, was received by the Yongle Emperor, who expressed great satisfaction.
Pleased with the golden brush, the Yongle Emperor sent an edict through the Joseon envoy who came to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. - Present 10,000 golden brush tips as tribute. - Knowing that Joseon lacks resources, present 1,000 tips of the same quality as those already presented, and 9,000 tips of slightly lesser quality.
Sejong and the court fell into deep thought upon receiving the Yongle Emperor's official document.
The grades of golden brushes sold with state permission were divided into four levels.
The special grade was used by the royal family and was the highest quality, made of pure gold with silver inlays, while grades one to three were made of gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.
Although the Yongle Emperor said that a lower grade would suffice, it would still need to be at least grade one to be satisfactory.
"10,000 tips would require a budget..."
Faced with the sudden demand from Ming, Minister of Revenue Kim Jeom held his throbbing forehead and muttered.
"Crown Prince, why did you create such an item... No, why did you present that to His Majesty? There is a limit to parental pride..."
"Minister!"
"Ah!" The Chief Minister beside him warned him, and Kim Jeom quickly closed his mouth and looked around.
Fortunately, he was in the Revenue Office, and only the Chief Minister was present.
"Hoo~."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Kim Jeom cautioned the Chief Minister.
"Let’s pretend we didn’t hear that."
Hyang, who had heard this situation, fell into thought.
As he nodded to himself while calculating various things, he looked at Sejong.
"Your Majesty, what do you think about engaging in trade?"
"Trade?"
"Trade! How could you say such a thing!"
"Chief Minister, be quiet. Crown Prince, please continue."
As soon as Hyang mentioned the word 'trade,' the Chief Minister of the State Inspection Office, Seong Eom, reacted strongly against it.
However, his attempt was blocked by Sejong's hand.
With Sejong's permission, Hyang continued to speak.
"If Ming has sent an edict requesting golden brushes as tribute, it means there is considerable response from Ming as well. Consider the vast territory of Ming and the number of people living there. No, just considering the number of scholars alone, how many times more than our Joseon is that? If we contact the merchants who make golden brushes, we can produce more than just the quantity needed for tribute."
Upon hearing Hyang's words, Sejong and the officials calculated in their minds.
And the conclusion was reached immediately. 'We can profit!'
Seeing Sejong and the officials' reactions, Hyang continued to explain.
"Moreover, we should accompany merchants with the envoy. Not like now, where only a few go quietly, but officially."
- The merchants accompanying the envoy will each contribute 2 seok (石, about 320 kg) of rice.
The court will guarantee their lodging and safety until they arrive in Beijing. - The court will rent buildings around the Hwaidonggwan (會同館), the exclusive lodging for Joseon envoys in Beijing, to support the merchants' commercial activities. - The merchants will pay 20% of their profits to the court.
However, for high-value items like ginseng, they will pay 40% of their profits. - If there are items to be sold by the officials accompanying the envoy and their attendants, they will entrust them to the merchants.
The profits will also be paid to the court at the same rate as the merchants. - The Revenue Office will accurately record the items and quantities that the merchants and the envoy plan to sell before the envoy departs.
Additionally, officials from the Revenue Office will accompany the envoy to clearly record the sales situation.
"... I believe it would be good to proceed as such."
"Hmm..."
After Hyang's explanation, Sejong and the officials began to review it.
While examining the pros and cons of the plan Hyang proposed, Seong Eom spoke up.
"I, the Chief Minister of the State Inspection Office, believe that the Crown Prince's plan should absolutely not be adopted."
"Why is that?"
"The Crown Prince's proposal will indeed bring in a lot of wealth. However, as seen in ancient tales, when wealth increases, not only the royal family but also the common people will fall into luxury, leading to oppressive taxation on the people."
"I, the Chief Minister of Personnel, agree with the Chief Minister's opinion. It is true that both the monarch and the people should live in simplicity and take joy in a humble life, accumulating virtue and spreading a beautiful fragrance throughout the world, which is what true royal governance should be."
"I, the Minister of Rites, also support the opinions of the previous two. How can we mix lowly merchants with the envoy going to meet the Emperor of the upper country? This would tarnish the dignity of our Joseon. I understand the Crown Prince's cleverness, but it seems you still do not understand state affairs and diplomacy well. I advise you to focus more on your studies to learn what governance and diplomacy based on royal principles truly are."
In short, they were saying, 'What does this young one know about governance and diplomacy to interfere?' Hyang's eyebrows shot up at the statements of the Chief Minister and the Minister of Personnel.
"Hoo~."
Taking a small breath to calm his rising anger, Hyang turned to Sejong.
"Your Majesty, may I respond?"
"Go ahead."
Sejong's voice did not sound good, as if he was also displeased.
With Sejong's permission, Hyang began to counter.
"I would like to ask the Chief Minister. You said that when wealth comes in, the royal family will fall into luxury, leading to tyranny, correct?"
"That is correct. As seen in ancient tales..."
"In those tales, to indulge in luxury, they squeezed the lifeblood of the people. Am I suggesting that we squeeze the lifeblood of the people? Are we not bringing it in from outside?"
"Once, it may come from outside. However, there is no guarantee that it will continue to come in. The first time, it may sell well out of novelty, but there is no guarantee for the next time. If that happens, the burden will fall on the people."
"Is the Chief Minister only living for today?"
At the audacious question from the young Hyang, Chief Minister Seong Eom made a face of disbelief.
"What do you mean by that!"
"Are the only items the merchants will sell golden brushes? There are many other items! And how can you be so sure that golden brushes will only sell once?"
"Who among the ministers uses golden brushes? The first time, it may have been sought after out of novelty, but it cannot compare to the quality and elegance of a writing brush! A golden brush is like a child's toy!"
At Seong Eom's words, Minister of Revenue Kim Jeom, who had been quietly sitting, interjected.
"The Chief Minister's words are incorrect. Do you know how many golden brushes are consumed in a month? Grade one is consumed at 60 tips a month, while silver and bronze tips combined are consumed at 400 tips. This is just the figure for the government; in the private sector, more than 1,000 tips are sold each month. Moreover, over 600 tips of grade one golden brushes are sold."
At Kim Jeom's additional explanation, Seong Eom's eyes widened.
"In a month?"
"In a month."
At Kim Jeom's answer, Seong Eom muttered without realizing it.
"Oh... how can such a trivial item..."
Hyang, hearing Seong Eom's words, quickly interjected.
"I apologize. It was made by a young one, so it may seem trivial."
"Ah!" Realizing he had misspoken, Seong Eom immediately bowed his head to Sejong.
"Your Majesty! Please forgive my slip of the tongue!"
"I will forgive you."
"Thank you very much!"
While Seong Eom wiped the cold sweat from his brow, Hyang continued his offensive.
"The Chief Minister and the Chief Minister of Personnel opposed by citing the example of the elephant chopsticks and jade cups, but if it is for the people, this trade is absolutely necessary. Court attendant! Go to my room and bring me a book. The title is 'Geography of the World' (天下地理志)."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After a short while, the court attendant returned, panting, and handed the book to Hyang.
Finding the desired part, Hyang handed the book to the attendant.
"Present it to His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Sejong received the book and examined its contents, Hyang continued.
"That book is one of the miscellaneous books I requested from the envoys. As the title 'Geography of the World' suggests, it records the geography and specialties of China and neighboring countries.
According to that book, in the southern regions of Ming, rice is harvested twice a year, and in countries like Đại Việt, which is even further south than Ming, rice is harvested three times a year.
Therefore, with the profits gained from the merchants accompanying the envoy, we should buy rice from the southern regions or Đại Việt and bring it back. And we must use the rice obtained in this way to relieve the hunger of the suffering people."
Having talked so much that his mouth was dry, Hyang paused for a moment to swallow.
Wetting his dry mouth, he continued his offensive.
"Did you say to rejoice in simplicity and a humble life? Do you think the people desire simplicity and appear humble? The people are currently impoverished.
As for a humble life? In summer, they die of drought, in winter, they freeze to death, and in spring, they starve! In such a situation, what good is it for a ruler to accumulate virtue?
When the people are dying of hunger, is the dignity of the state the issue? There is a saying in the marketplace: 'If a child goes three days without food, even the noble will climb over the wall.' When a child is starving and collapsing, what parent would remain still?
The king is the father of all the people! When the children are exhausted from hunger and crying, shouldn't we do something?"
"My child, well said!"
At Sejong's sudden exclamation, the court froze.
Hyang and the officials stared at Sejong with their mouths agape, and the historians also stopped recording, looking at Sejong.
As Hyang looked at Sejong, he remembered his first birthday celebration.
Recalling the situation where he almost came to blows with his older brother Yangnyeong during a debate, Hyang clicked his tongue inwardly. 'Tsk! He has been holding back that personality for a long time.'
< End of Chapter 11: Sprouting...
Cancer? (4) >