Chapter 332/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Chapter 332/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=wapp

As spring arrived in the year of Imja, Joseon once again began its full-scale foreign activities.

Trading ships departed for Cheonchuk-guk – more precisely, the Bengal Sultanate – and ships also busily traveled back and forth to Japan.

Ships from Dongnae and Mokpo bustled to and from the Joseon trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, and to the silver mine in Iwami. It wasn’t just between Joseon and Japan. With large-scale cotton cultivation commissioned in the territory of the Governor of Kyushu in Kyushu, the number of Joseon ships traveling between Ming and Japan also increased. The main cargo these ships carried between Ming and Japan was rice. Since large areas of farmland that should have been used for rice and other grains were being used for cotton cultivation, Joseon procured rice and miscellaneous grains from Ming’s Jiangnan region to supply the farmers in those areas and for consumption in Iwami, shipping them directly to Japan.

As a result, Joseon ships were always present in the seas between Ming, Joseon, and Japan.

In the related records of Ming and Japan at that time, phrases like “The sea has become like it was in the days of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla” were commonly found.

When supplying the grains procured from Ming’s Jiangnan region to Japan, Joseon used a clever tactic.

The trick Joseon used was not to distribute directly to the farmers and workers of the Governor of Kyushu and Ōuchi, but to hand them over to the Governor of Kyushu and Ōuchi themselves.

Joseon acted this way because of Hyang’s suggestion.

***

When Hyang first proposed this, not only King Sejong but also the ministers expressed doubts.

“Must we do it this way? It seems like we’re doing the work twice, which contradicts what you usually say.”

“Moreover, if we hand it over like that, there could be leakage in the middle.”

While the ministers were pointing out various issues with faces of incomprehension, King Sejong, who had been pondering Hyang’s proposal, spoke up.

“Is it for the sake of justification?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately nodded.

“That’s right. We should avoid unnecessary conflicts.”

At Hyang and King Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and muttered inwardly.

‘Again! Here we go again! A Zen dialogue only they understand!’

‘I’ve never been called stupid anywhere, but this really makes me feel inadequate...’

“Ah!”

While the ministers were grumbling inwardly, Hwang Hui – who had returned for a regular report – exclaimed.

Naturally, not only the ministers but also King Sejong and Hyang fixed their gazes on Hwang Hui.

“Do you understand the reason, Minister?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui immediately answered.

“It might be my foolish thought, but isn’t it because of the Ōuchi clan and the Governor of Kyushu?”

“Ah!”

At Hwang Hui’s words, Lee Jik and Maeng Sa-seong simultaneously exclaimed. Following them, starting with Lee Maeng-gyun, the ministers nodded one after another.

Lee Maeng-gyun, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, immediately bowed his head to King Sejong and reported.

“I, who bear the title of Minister of Foreign Affairs, failed to consider that aspect. Please forgive my stupidity!”

“Please forgive our foolishness!”

The ministers all bowed their heads in unison, asking for forgiveness.

‘Aren’t we about to hear that tongue-clicking sound after a long time?’

‘Aren’t we about to hear that we shouldn’t do things that require asking for forgiveness?’

‘I thought I was going to live without hearing that tongue-clicking sound lately...’

As if aware of the ministers’ thoughts, King Sejong asked a question instead of clicking his tongue.

“It seems you all have understood the reason. Would you care to explain?”

At King Sejong’s order, Lee Maeng-gyun, who could be considered the head of the relevant department, immediately answered.

“The reason is that there are rulers in those places. If our Joseon were to distribute directly, we could be accused of disrespecting them.”

King Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer.

“That’s right. Perhaps that’s why the Crown Prince said such things. Is that correct?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyang bowed his head and answered.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

“That is the main reason, but there are other reasons as well.”

“Other reasons?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to listen to what they’re saying?”

“What?”

“Shut your mouth!”

At Ahn Sang-taek’s interference, Mochiyo’s subordinates bristled and raised their voices.

“Enough!”

Stopping his subordinates, Mochiyo glared at Ahn Sang-taek and opened his mouth.

“Why?”

Mochiyo asked Ahn Sang-taek for the reason, suppressing his anger. He remembered Morimi’s words when he had entrusted him with the task.

‘Don’t take lightly even passing jokes made by the Joseon people! If there’s anything to be gained from them, you must take it! Whatever the cost!’

At Mochiyo’s question, Ahn Sang-taek immediately answered.

“Because our Joseon has experienced this too.”

“Huh?”

“Do you think our Joseon has good harvests every year and people live well just because there are no droughts or floods?”

At Ahn Sang-taek’s point, Mochiyo’s face turned serious.

He too had heard rumors. When he was very young, there were frequent rumors that across the sea in Joseon, there were continuous bad harvests and nothing left to take.

But from about 10 years ago, the rumors coming from Joseon began to change.

‘Joseon is changing!’

‘Wealth is increasing in Joseon!’

And now, although it was together with his lord, Joseon was leading the Iwami silver mine.

Finally, Mochiyo reached a conclusion.

“I will report to my lord.”

Thus, upon receiving the report, Morimi immediately sent an envoy to Joseon requesting advice on tax policy.

“Lower the tax rate, but encourage motivation to ultimately collect more taxes...”

Muttering about the aim of Joseon’s tax policy, Morimi made a decision.

“We will introduce Joseon’s tax system!”

As a result, the Ōuchi territory came to have a distinctly different tax policy from other territories.

Overall tax rates were significantly lowered, and various miscellaneous taxes were abolished. Instead, progressive taxation based on income and property was applied, and the concept of value-added tax was introduced.

And the concept of ‘bonuses’ began to be applied in various places, including the silver mine.

Later, Japanese historians would come to call this decision by Morimi “the decision that changed Japanese history.”

***

As maritime traffic between Joseon, Ming, and Japan became more active, a common phenomenon began to occur in all three countries.

-There’s a shortage of ships!

Although pirates had decreased due to the active operations of the Joseon navy, pirates still swarmed just outside the areas protected by the Joseon navy.

The situation arose where the number of ships lost to pirates, ships lost to storms or running aground, and ships that had to be dismantled due to severe aging from constant use, exceeded the supply.

As a result, shipyards in the three countries were busily building ships.

***

“To solve the problem of ship shortage, we must establish a shipyard in the bay in the north discovered during the last exploratory voyage!”

When not only the Ministry of National Defense but also the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of General Affairs made the same claim, King Sejong summarized the situation.

“The port in that bay, which we named Dongbinghang (Winter Ice Port), freezes over in winter. Is it suitable for building a shipyard?”

“It is more than suitable, Your Majesty!”

“There are dense forests nearby, making it easy to obtain timber needed for shipbuilding. Even if we work only during the thawing period, it can sufficiently serve its purpose!”

After hearing the ministers’ words, King Sejong finally accepted their proposal.