***ANNOUNCEMENT*** New Novel Event for the entire week.
Smallpox spread primarily through breathing and skin contact between people.
Because of those characteristics, outbreaks occurred most commonly from autumn through the spring famine period.
As the weather grew colder, entire families crowded together inside single rooms.
However, during the dead of winter itself, the spread of smallpox actually slowed somewhat.
The reason was simple.
Extreme cold reduced outside activity almost entirely.
And during autumn, the harvest had already been completed and food remained relatively plentiful, so even if infected, survival rates stayed fairly high.
Though survivors often became pockmarked or suffered various lasting disabilities.
But the spring famine period was different.
People wandered mountains and fields desperately searching for food, causing smallpox to spread rapidly across wide regions.
At the same time, malnutrition weakened the body’s resistance, causing mortality rates to skyrocket.
That was why the court set completion of the cowpox inoculations before the arrival of the spring famine season as its primary objective.
While the capital busied itself preparing inoculations for the people of Hanyang, the envoys finally returned from Ming.
After returning, the delegation immediately reported the results of the diplomatic mission.
“…Therefore, Ming has agreed that all future envoys sent to Joseon will consist entirely of civil officials.
Here is the imperial document issued personally by the Emperor.” “Well done.” After unfolding the scroll presented by Chief State Councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon and reviewing its contents, Sejong turned toward the ministers.
“This should be mounted and displayed within the banquet hall of Mohwaru.” “A wise decision, Your Majesty.” The ministers all agreed enthusiastically.
No envoy, no matter how arrogant, would dare behave recklessly beneath a document written personally by the Emperor himself.
If anyone did, it would be no different from pressing a blade against his own throat.
“We have overcome one major obstacle.
What happened regarding the merchant quarter?” “Reaching agreement there proved difficult as expected.
To summarize the conclusion…
a Joseon merchant quarter will be established in Shandong Province.” “Is that so?” According to the Chief State Councillor’s explanation, Joseon originally wanted the merchant quarter established near Shanhaiguan, while Ming insisted upon the Yalu River region.
The central problem involved security throughout Liaodong.
Although Ming maintained national defense and policing through the Weisuo system, the Liaodong region still crawled with Jurchens and bandits alike.
As a result, every diplomatic mission traveling there required military escorts.
If a permanent merchant quarter was established and large numbers of merchants gathered there, then substantial military forces would inevitably be stationed nearby to protect both the quarter itself and the merchant caravans.
And that created serious political problems.
Joseon did not want permanent Ming troops stationed near the Yalu River.
Ming, meanwhile, had no desire to see large Joseon military forces stationed near Shanhaiguan.
Thus, fierce arguments erupted between Ming officials and Joseon envoys.
While reporting the matter, the Chief State Councillor recounted one particularly ridiculous incident from the negotiations.
“As talks continued making no progress, one Ming official proposed a rather creative solution.” “A creative solution?” “He suggested establishing the market exactly halfway between Ming and Joseon.” “Oh?
And what happened?” “We never saw him again after the following day.” “Hah!” After that brief farce, negotiations continued spinning endlessly in circles.
Eventually, after both sides grew exhausted from constant arguments, the Chief State Councillor presented a new proposal.
“Then what if Ming instead opens a port?” “A port?” “Yes.” The Ming officials fell silent in thought.
After considerable discussion among themselves, they nodded.
“A reasonable proposal.” “Certainly worth considering.” Having largely reached internal agreement, the Ming officials turned toward the Joseon delegation.
“Do you already have a suitable candidate location in mind?
We shall present it to His Majesty.” Encouraged by their favorable reaction, the Chief State Councillor answered immediately.
“What about Shandong?” “Shandong?” “Shandong, you say…” The moment Shandong was mentioned, the Ming officials stepped aside and began whispering among themselves.
After lengthy private discussion, they finally answered cautiously.
“We shall submit the proposal to His Majesty.” “We hope for favorable news.” Three days later, the officials of Ming and Joseon gathered together once more.
“His Majesty has reached a decision.
Ming grants permission for Joseon to establish a merchant quarter in Shandong.” At the announcement, Chief State Councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the Joseon envoys bowed deeply.
“We are overwhelmed by His Majesty’s grace.” Once Yongle made his decision, everything proceeded rapidly.
“How about naming the quarter Joseongwan and constructing it upon the site of the former Sillabang?” “The site of the old Sillabang…” The Ming official pointed at the location upon a map.
After examining it briefly, the Chief State Councillor nodded.
“That location appears excellent.” Once the location was decided, the next issue became maintenance.
More specifically, construction costs and operating expenses.
“What about charging harbor taxes?” “Our merchants must cross the sea itself.
Surely the risks involved should also be considered.” Ming sought to extract as much as possible.
Joseon sought to pay as little as possible.
Thus the endless pushing and pulling continued.
Eventually, after long negotiations, Ming and Joseon agreed to collect customs duties amounting to one percent of all trade conducted within Joseongwan by both Ming and Joseon merchants.
In exchange, Ming agreed to construct every building within the merchant quarter itself.
“Not bad…” While mentally calculating gains and losses after hearing the report, Sejong slowly nodded.
The moment Sejong showed approval, the Chief State Councillor and every official accompanying the mission quietly released sighs of relief.
“Very well.
Then when will Joseongwan officially open?” “We expect sometime next summer.” “I see…
hm.” After briefly organizing his thoughts, Sejong spoke again.
“Very well, leave that matter for now.
How successful were the merchants accompanying the mission?” At Sejong’s question, the Chief State Councillor glanced toward the Minister of Taxation.
Receiving the signal immediately, the minister hurriedly answered.
“They all earned tremendous profits, Your Majesty.
Even those who profited least earned three times their original investment.
The most successful earned twenty times.” “Twenty times?
What exactly did they sell?” At the words “twenty times,” not only Sejong but all the gathered ministers widened their eyes.
Seeing their interest, the Minister of Taxation answered immediately.
“One-hundred-year-old wild ginseng.” “Ah…” “Well, that certainly explains it.” At the answer, both Sejong and the ministers nodded knowingly.
Wild ginseng was considered one of the greatest medicinal treasures in existence.
Even within Joseon itself, it was so difficult to acquire that buyers paid whatever price was demanded.
“What did the Ministry of Taxation collect from all this?” At Sejong’s question, the minister answered immediately.
“Four thousand nyang in silver.” “Four thousand?!” “Hup!” Both Sejong and the ministers gasped.
One nyang of fine silver could purchase an entire seok of white rice even during famine years.
And a single seok could feed an ordinary commoner family for at least one month.
What shocked everyone was the fact that four thousand nyang represented only one-tenth of the total net profits.
“Then the total profits reached forty thousand nyang?” “Hooo…
one single trading mission created four new great landowners.” “Four new great landowners…” The influence carried by such wealthy men was enormous.
A man possessing ten thousand seok worth of wealth could dominate not only his local district but nearly half an entire province.
There was even a saying among the people: “When a great landowner moves, even the provincial governor comes running barefoot to greet him.” Of course, dozens of merchants had participated in the mission, so comparing them directly against traditional landed aristocrats who accumulated wealth over generations was somewhat exaggerated.
Still, an enormous amount of new wealth had appeared.
And all from a single expedition.
“The Crown Prince has arrived.” “Let him enter.” Summoned by Sejong, Hyang entered the royal chamber and bowed respectfully.
“You summoned me, Father?” “Yes.
I believed you should hear this as well.
The merchants accompanying this mission paid three thousand nyang in taxes.” “Three thousand nyang is certainly not a small amount.” “You do not seem particularly surprised.” Seeing Hyang remain calm, Sejong himself appeared more shocked than anyone else.
Not only Sejong, but every minister present stared at Hyang with surprise.
“Is His Highness simply bold?
Or does he perhaps not yet understand the scale involved?” As the ministers whispered quietly among themselves, Hyang answered calmly.
“There is nothing particularly shocking about it, is there?
The merchants joined the expedition because they calculated the potential profits and believed in success.
They merely accomplished exactly what they intended to accomplish.
Why should that be surprising?” Hyang had lived in twenty-first-century Korea.
Though the economy frequently struggled, Korea still remained among the world’s top economic powers.
Moreover, before quitting midway through his career, Hyang himself had once worked as a government official handling economic affairs.
Compared to the trillion-unit figures familiar to him in his previous life, a few thousand units, amounts translating into merely several hundred million won in modern terms, simply did not impress him very much.
“That is true enough.
Merchants skilled in calculation would never have joined unless they believed large profits possible.” Sejong nodded, accepting the explanation.
The ministers likewise nodded in agreement while Hyang continued speaking.
“What truly matters now is discovering how to earn such profits continuously.” “And is that not exactly why we are establishing the merchant quarter?” “The existence of the merchant quarter itself is not the important issue.
What matters are the goods sold there.
Minister of Taxation, which goods did Ming merchants desire most?” “Everything sold immediately due to overwhelming demand.
However, the most sought-after products were naturally the gold pens.
After those came medicinal herbs and medicine.” The unexpected answer drew Sejong’s interest.
“Medicinal herbs?” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Ming is vast.
Surely they do not lack medicinal materials?” “The problem is counterfeit goods.
Apparently fake medicines circulate everywhere.” “Hooo…
counterfeit medicines despite people’s lives depending upon them.” At the answer, Sejong sighed deeply while the ministers shook their heads.
Listening nearby, Hyang shook his head as well.
‘As expected of the kingdom of counterfeits.’ “Very well.
But what medicines were they purchasing?” “Cheongsimhwan pills made with bezoar.
Once again, counterfeits were widespread…” “I see.
Crown Prince…” Sejong stopped speaking midway.
Hyang’s eyes were shining intensely.
“You seem to have thought of something.” “Please gather the herbalists and wild ginseng hunters immediately!
I believe we can both improve the people’s health and dramatically increase state revenue!” “Herbalists and ginseng hunters?” At Hyang’s answer, Sejong paused briefly before immediately understanding.
“Wait…
are you proposing cultivation of medicinal herbs?” “Exactly!” ‘As expected of King Sejong!
He understands instantly the moment I hint at something!’ Beaming brightly, Hyang bowed deeply.
Unlike the delighted Crown Prince, however, most ministers still looked confused.
Only the Minister of Taxation appeared to fully understand.
“Crown Prince, explain in greater detail.” “Yes, Father.” The moment Sejong granted permission, Hyang immediately began explaining.
Medicinal herbs and wild ginseng currently depended entirely upon herbalists and mountain gatherers.
The problem was that supply remained wildly inconsistent.
Especially with wild ginseng over fifty years old, there even existed a saying that unless the mountain spirit personally favored someone, they would never find even a single root in their entire lifetime.
However, experienced gatherers undoubtedly understood what soil and environmental conditions medicinal herbs preferred.
If those conditions could be identified and artificially reproduced, then herbs could be cultivated steadily and supplied consistently.
And if stable supply became possible, prices would fall, allowing ordinary people far easier access to medicine.
“Furthermore, we would secure products capable of being sold continuously to Ming as well.” The moment Hyang finished explaining, the ministers all nodded.
“The Crown Prince’s proposal truly seems excellent.” Beginning with the Chief State Councillor, the ministers all voiced support.
After personally witnessing enormous wealth flow into Joseon, none possessed any reason to oppose the idea.
Up until this point, everything proceeded smoothly.
Then the Minister of Taxation unintentionally dropped a bombshell.