Chapter 860

Episode 860: Their Ambition (11)

The war of words between Lim Sun-wook and Shin Suk-ju was so intense that the officers and the Zhou scholars were screaming inwardly.

The other subjects were looking at the verbal exchange between the two with perplexed expressions. This was because both opinions were reasonable, so it was not easy to take one side.

Meanwhile, on top of the restaurant, Wan was watching the two people’s war of words with a serious expression. But Wan’s intentions were not like that at all.

‘rice cake! I need rice cake! A lot of that too!’

It was Wan who discovered the beauty of a war of words, not a war of words in which two groups were divided into two groups and even resorted to harsh words, but a war of words waged by a small number of people with logic and justification.

‘This is what makes the situation so fun to watch! Sometimes, this is more fun than the acrobatics of wealthy people or the singing and dancing of gisaeng!’

Wan, who had finally realized the meaning of what Hyang had told him, watched the exchange of words between the two with an interested expression.

‘And what did you say? that’s right! Didn’t you tell me to hang up before it gets too heated by asking about the other person’s parents’ well-being or asking about their past exam grades? Hmm... When would be a good time?’

Wan, looking for a good time to break up the war of words, looked towards where the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers were.

Hwang Bo-in and Left Deputy Prime Minister were sighing softly with their hands on their foreheads, and the smile on Kim Jong-seo’s face, who had been smiling just moments before, was slowly disappearing.

‘Now is the time!’

“You two, stop talking.”

Wan, who saw Kim Jong-seo’s expression, raised his hand and commanded him to stop, and Shin Sook-ju and Lim Sun-wook stopped what they were saying.

Looking at the two people, Wan continued.

“It’s good that the two people are having a war of words, but they are increasingly straying from the main point. This is not good. I also know very well that the fight between the two of them was all due to loyalty to me and the empire. It was done out of loyalty to Jim and the Empire, so what could be wrong? But now the two people have forgotten their original intentions and are just trying to suppress the other, so this is wrong.”

In response to Wan’s criticism, Lim Soon-wook and Shin Suk-ju bowed to the floor and bowed their heads.

“Please forgive me for my disgrace!”

“Before I knew it, I was only looking at the trees, not the forest! “Please forgive me for my disgrace!”

“I have no intention of punishing you since all your quarrels are motivated by loyalty. But if you show this kind of indecency again, you will definitely be severely punished.”

“I will keep this in mind again!”

After stopping the war of words between the two, Wan turned his head towards Hwang Bo-in.

“Prime Minister. “I will ask.”

“Please ask.”

“Once again, the opinions of two people do not mean that only one is right or wrong. I think both opinions are right and wrong. Jim thinks coordination is needed. What do you think?”

Hwang Bo-in answered Wan’s question by bowing his head.

“I think what your Majesty said is most appropriate. Both of those words were spoken out of loyalty to Your Majesty and the country, and are extremely appropriate. Rather than choosing one of the two, it is truly appropriate to mix and coordinate the two.”

“Then how should we coordinate it? “Then let’s think about it.”

“The small gods will think about it and come up with it.”

“No, it’s not often that we all get together like this, so let’s put our heads together and think about it now.”

“...yes.”

Hwang Bo-in, who was answering, and the officials who were listening behind him all smiled slightly and grumbled inwardly.

‘Are you asking me to give my opinion in front of His Majesty? ‘You’re catching people!’

It was, at best, worthless for the emperor to express his opinion in a private meeting.

It was especially dangerous right after an opinion that was outstanding enough to attract the emperor’s attention was expressed, like Lim Sun-wook and Shin Suk-ju just moments ago.

As I wrote above, I had to do well to get my due, and if I made a mistake and even got criticized, the future would be difficult.

However, since the emperor had ordered it, it was a situation where he could not take it or leave it.

But there were also those who saw this as an opportunity.

Han Myeong-hoe, who had already risen to the position of Minister of General Affairs, was burning with motivation with shining eyes.

‘It’s an opportunity! If I do it right this time, one of the two seats above me will definitely be mine!’

Lim Sun-wook, who thought about Wan’s words for a moment, answered cautiously.

“The budget currently allocated to the Ministry of National Defense is insufficient.”

“The reason is?”

“If we have to send the imperial army to Italy in earnest, we will need more ships than we have now. Ships are very expensive items, and even considering the cost of training soldiers to handle them, it is not enough. However, if the budget for the Ministry of Defense is increased, the budget allocated to other ministries will decrease. If we want to increase the overall budget to solve this problem, we will have to collect more taxes. If that happens, the people’s dissatisfaction will increase.”

“Is it impossible to increase taxes within a reasonable range?”

“Even now, we are receiving complaints that the taxes are excessive.”

Shin Sook-joo responded to Lim Soon-wook’s answer.

“Haven’t there always been appeals like that? “Can’t we ignore it to some extent?”

“If the people’s dissatisfaction builds up too much, the country may be shaken.”

“So, in moderation....”

“The justification is the problem, the justification. Italy is a long way from the empire. And there hasn’t been a war yet. Since a war will be fought far away from the empire, will we increase the army and collect more taxes for this? Do you think the people will understand? And you haven’t forgotten the national anthem of the empire, right?”

“....”

Shin Sook-ju closed her mouth at Lim Sun-wook’s last question.

At the time of the founding of the empire, the national poem proposed by King Sejong was ‘Hongik Ingan’. The national policy of ‘widely benefiting people’ also included not using force carelessly.

Im Sun-wook, who covered Shin Sook-ju’s mouth, bowed his head to Wan and continued speaking.

“In order to achieve success without unreasonably increasing taxes, 10 years is a little, if not a lot, short.”

“It’s not enough... I see. So what if you release the gold and silver you are currently accumulating?”

* * *

With the start of Gyeongjang, gold and silver mines were developed throughout the Korean Peninsula. And together with Ouchi, he developed the Iwami silver mine.

Most of the gold and silver secured in this way was gradually piling up in the secret safes of the imperial government.

When unexpected natural disasters or large-scale epidemics paralyzed the economic activities of the people, the imperial government implemented various financial policies for the people.

In most cases, this was done using reserve funds allocated in the budget. However, when greater finances were needed, gold and silver were taken out of this secret safe and used. The same was true when a war broke out that put the country’s fate at stake.

* * *

Lim Sun-wook shook his head at Wan’s suggestion.

“If we do it wrong, too much money will be released into the market and we will not be able to control prices.”

Kim Jong-seo, who had been silent as Lim Soon-wook spoke, intervened.

“Then what should I do? Don’t say no or no, but if there is an alternative, say it. Doesn’t that mean that what His Majesty wants now cannot be done!”

Lim Soon-wook immediately responded to Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“We have to get as much as we can from Florence. “If we can get it, we must get everything from the cost of training the army to the price of selling weapons.”

Shin Sook-ju responded to Lim Soon-wook’s words again.

“Isn’t that a bit like selling weapons? Among their requests was to be allowed to make their own weapons. Isn’t that because they don’t want too much money being spent on weapons sales? Minister of Finance and Economy Have you forgotten that they are holding a very important hostage? “Suez.”

“Then what would it be like if we also promoted a plan to receive a certain amount of money as royalties for each weapon manufactured?”

Shin Sook-ju nodded at Lim Soon-wook’s suggestion. When the two were reaching an agreement, Jang Hang-seon came forward.

“I am opposed to handing over the Imperial Army’s weapons production technology to them. Right now it’s only Florence, but over time, all of Europe will be armed with weapons of similar performance to our imperial army. “That would be a real headache.”

As the Ministry of National Defense opposed it, the story fell into a labyrinth again. This was because each person’s interests had become a relationship where they were biting each other.

While everyone was struggling to solve a difficult problem, an official from Seungjeongwon came in and spoke to Wan.

“The goods sent from Shinji have arrived in Wonsan. “First of all, here is the list that came with the note that Your Majesty wants to see.”

“Bring it.”

After checking the letter Hyang sent, Wan unfolded the list.

“Florentine rifle?”