Black Corporation: Joseon

The reason why Hyang thought of the expedition as a chicken rib was due to a lecture given by a professor of Chinese history, which was a liberal arts course he chose during his university years.

The professor, whose main focus was the Ming and Qing dynasties, explained ‘Zheng He’s voyages’ as follows:

-What was the reason Emperor Yongle conducted the grand voyages through Zheng He? To understand that, we need to know how he came to power. As you all know, Emperor Yongle took power through the ‘Jingnan Campaign’. Like most leaders who seize power through a coup d’etat, he needed his own political achievements to boast to the people. So he chose the expedition of Zheng He and the suppression of Mongols.

-But why wasn’t Zheng He’s voyage, called the greatest adventure of the 15th century, repeated afterward? If you think about it a little, the famous ‘Age of Exploration’ could have appeared in Asia rather than in Europe first, right?

-This is because the Ming dynasty’s foreign trade was not an actual trade, but instead a tribute trade. There wasn’t much profit to be made from going to distant countries. Likewise, there wasn’t much use even if an envoy came.

-And if you think about the funds put into Zheng He’s voyages, the answer doesn’t come from the tribute trade. Once you go out to sea and come back, you have to reward various contributions, repair the broken ships, and if a ship sinks, you have to make new ones to replace it. Is this a job where only a small amount of money is involved?

-And what was important to the emperor was the foreign artifacts brought by Zheng He through his voyages. It was important to boast his dignity through exotic and fascinating goods. Ultimately, the voyage itself was not important.

-So after the emperor’s death, his subordinates erased the expedition records. In case the new emperor sees the records and wastes money again.

“…Therefore, the servants of Ming would have thought this as a chicken rib .”

At Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong and the ministers all nodded.

“Indeed, that would be the case.”

“That’s right. The expedition is something that involves a great deal of wealth. And they were carrying out expeditions on both the sea and the land…”

What Sejong referred to as ‘an expedition carried out on the land’ was the ‘suppression of the Mongols’ .

After Emperor Yongle took the throne, there had been four suppressions, and rumors were spreading that another suppression was being prepared this year.

Upon learning the reason why the original, not a copy, arrived, the Minister of Rites opened his mouth. “If even a great nation struggles to the point of erasing records, shouldn’t we not do the same?”

In response to the question of the Minister of Rites, several ministers nodded and Hyang stepped forward. “Ming and us are different. Ming trades in the form of tribute and silver payments, but we need to move in the form of mutual trade.”

“Mutual trade?”

“In simple terms, it’s commercial diplomacy.”

Hyang explained in more detail:

-Initially, diplomats will move, but afterwards, merchants become the center of the movement.

-Since the commercial diplomacy of merchants is at the core, it becomes trade where goods needed by the other country, and the goods we need are exchanged. It’s not tribute trade like in Ming.

So, what is the role of the royal court here?

1. Providing transportation, protection of the merchants, and in this process, collecting fees and taxes.

2. Stabilizing the prices through the monopoly of goods that are essential to the people’s livelihood.

Upon hearing Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation intervened with a crooked expression. “Goods essential to people’s livelihood? Do such things exist abroad? Most of the decent stuff is already produced in our Joseon. No, even if it’s not produced in Joseon, we’re already used to the absence of such things, would there be any use?”

Hyang responded to the Minister of Taxation’s statement, “Your Excellency, aren’t you aware of pepper?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s question, not only the Minister of Taxation but all the other ministers finally seemed to understand.

Pepper brought in by Arab traders during the Goryeo era was a premium spice. Garlic and ginger were used to get rid of the smell of meat, but pepper was a powerful spice that could drastically change the flavor of food even in small amounts. And it was just as expensive.

As a result, most of the common people who didn’t have money had to eat water pepper¹ (Polygonum hydropiper).

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation kept asking questions while nodding his head. “I understand by taking the example of pepper, but do we really have to import such products? If not handled properly, there is a high risk that the people will recklessly spend their wealth to buy such goods, and the wealth of the country will be drained out.”

“There is such a risk. However, when people have spare money, they start to look for better things to eat and wear. If we blindly block it because the wealth is being drained out, acts of smuggling will flourish. As it’s smuggling, due to the risk burden, people will end up paying more for goods, which will lead to a vicious cycle of price increases. No, it would be a relief if only the vicious cycle of price increases occurred. They will also bribe officials to cover up smuggling. That famous ‘frog payment’ . Can you imagine the outcome? Corruption would then proliferate unchecked.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the Minister of Taxation nodded. Until the merchants formally joined the diplomatic missions, a large part of trade with foreign countries was smuggling.

Listening to the conversation, Sejong, who was next to them, joined in with a nod. “The frog payment… I understand it too well.”

Pleased by Sejong’s praise, Hyang bowed his head, “I’m flattered.”

The ‘frog payment’ was a Chinese anecdote related to the scholar Lee Kyu-bo during the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo.

-The bullfrog and the cuckoo had a fight over whose voice was more beautiful. When they couldn’t reach a conclusion, they asked the stork, their neighbor, to make a judgment. The stork, who was asked to judge, requested three days, during which the bullfrog secretly offered the stork a frog. In the end, the stork raised the hand of the bullfrog, and the word ‘frog bribe (蛙餌料)'² came from this.

Ironically, Sejong and the ministers knew it by looking at the old records, but Hyang learned about it through his high school Korean teacher in the 21st century.

-There’s something you guys often get confused about. First of all, ‘frog bribe’ and ‘business as usual’, at first glance, the frog bribe sounds like Japanese, and business as usual sounds like our language, right? Actually, it’s the opposite.

With the momentum from Sejong’s compliment, Hyang continued to speak. “Again, as our Joseon becomes more affluent, the lives of the people will also become richer. When life becomes richer, no matter how frugal one is, it is the common nature of people to look for better and tastier things little by little. Do you agree?”

“We agree.”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers nodded their heads.

“So, first of all, we have to monopolize the goods that will be affected the most, food (provision).”

“We understand now.”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers nodded their heads once again.

Seeing this, Hyang asked the Minister of Taxation, “Did the items I asked for instead of the books in this mission come in?”

The Minister of Taxation, who was rummaging through the book where he had recorded the goods, answered Hyang’s question, “They are already here. In those 20 boxes at the back.”

“Is that so! That’s more than I expected!”

Hyang, after receiving the reply from the Secretary of the Office of Taxation, rushed toward the chests with a half-smile. As he opened the lid of one of the chests, a wide grin spread across his face.

“Indeed!”

As Hyang was brimming with joy, King Sejong and his ministers, unable to curb their curiosity, approached him.

“What is it?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied with a grin, “It’s sugar!”

“Sugar!”

◈◈◈

Hyang, who was examining the list of books brought by the envoys, grumbled under his breath, “Why are the number of books brought back getting less and less? Of course, it’s expected from this time period’s Ming Empire, they would not be able to obtain new publications.”

With the decreasing number of books brought by the envoys, Hyang began to ponder. “What should I ask them to bring?” His eyes immediately fell on a plate filled with sweets. He then snapped his fingers at the sight of the plate.

“That’s it!”

“Your Highness? Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing!” Hyang, responding to the inner palace servant standing outside the door, grumbled in a low voice, “This… there’s no privacy. Privacy…”

Hyang’s decision to choose sugar was largely influenced by the advice from Teacher Samcheonpo.

-In the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, sugar was a very precious ingredient. By looking at the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, one can see how closed off Joseon was. When Munjong’s biological mother, Queen Soheon, fell ill and wanted sugar, they were unable to procure it. As a result, there’s a story of Munjong weeping profusely while offering sugar at his mother’s shrine after he managed to procure some. During the reign of Jungjong, when an envoy came from Ming, he offered sugar to Jungjong saying, ‘In our country, it’s a cheap food you can buy off the market floor, but in Joseon, it’s a luxury item used only for offerings. Here, take this.’ The words were polite, but don’t you get the feeling, ‘Hey, you country bumpkins! This is what sugar is!’?

◈◈◈

The practice of making sugar using sugarcane originated in India and has been carried out since ancient times. This technology was transferred to China during the Tang Dynasty, and with the advent of the Song Dynasty, mass production of sugar began. Large-scale cultivation of sugarcane began in the southern region, initiating the mass production of sugar. Afterwards, in the Ming Dynasty of China, the use of water transportation such as the Grand Canal popularized sugar, it became widely available at a low price, even ordinary people added sugar to their tea.

“I’m surprisingly pissed off.” Remembering the words of Teacher Samcheonpo teacher, Hyang became angry.

“The conclusion is sugar! Chili peppers are still a ways off, but thankfully, sweetness, in a spicy red-hot form, can be saved for later, but sweet and salty can be possible now! I’m refusing experiencing salty taste only!”

◈◈◈

“Sugar, this expensive thing…”

“Your Highness, no matter if you are the Crown Prince, this kind of extravagance…”

King Sejong and the ministers, having heard that all the items in the tremendous number of chests-20 in total-were sugar, one after the other, glared at Hyang and began to speak their minds.

However, Hyang just smiled and asked the Secretary of the Office of Taxation, “Secretary, is the purchase price written in the list of goods, in previous completion (request)?.

“Yes.”

“How much is it?”

“Let’s see… sugar… sugar… Eh? Silver 20 nyang ?”

“What’s the weight of the sugar bought for 20 silver nyang ?”

“…200 kwan (800 kg).”

Upon the Secretary’s answer, King Sejong and the ministers were speechless. To buy 200 kwan of sugar in the markets of Joseon would cost a fortune. No, even for the royal family, it was impossible to buy 200 kwan of sugar all at once.

But the Crown Prince had done it. And at a bargain price of just 20 silver nyang³.

Of course, 20 silver nyang was not a small amount. However, considering 200 kwan of sugar, it was an incredibly low price.

“So… all of that is sugar, and you’re saying it was bought for just 20 silver nyang ?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“200 kwan … that’s a massive amount.”

“It’s like nuggets of gold.”

“Gold nuggets? Right, it might be common in Ming, but it’s an expensive item here in Joseon.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean that along with salt, this sugar will take a significant share when sold by the government. With this item, we can greatly fill the national treasury. I assure you.”

At Hyang’s words, the ears of King Sejong and the ministers perked up.

Seeing the reactions of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang first decided to tidy up the situation. “It will take a long explanation if I were to explain it here. Shall we tidy up here first?”

“Alright!”

Eager to hear Hyang’s explanation, King Sejong quickly gave his command. “The scholars of the Hall of Worthies must take this record and tidy this place up immediately! Sort out the locations, routes, climates, customs, habits, and special products of the foreign countries without omission, so it is immediately apparent! And these chests of sugar should be carefully stored in the warehouse!”

“We accept your command!”

“Now, Crown Prince! Let’s go inside!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sejong, taking Hyang by the hand, headed toward the Geunjeongjeon Palace, followed by the ministers with swift steps. After Sejong and the ministers vanished like the wind, only the scholars of the Hall of Worthies and the porters were left.

“How many volumes is all this?”

In response to the scholar’s mutterings, a Treasury officer, flipping through a book, answered, “A total of 360 volumes.”

“Three hundred…”

The crestfallen scholar from the Hall of Worthies gestured to the porters, “Move the chests containing the books to the Hall of Worthies.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As the chests containing the books began to be moved, the Treasury officer also gave orders to the porters, “Move all these chests to the warehouse!”

“Yes, my lord!”

1. Another name includes marshpepper knotweed. Typically grown in damp areas.[↩]
2. 蛙 (wā): frog; 餌 (ěr): bait or food; 料 (liào): payment or fee[↩]
3. A nyang was a coin with high silver content. In today’s currency some sources put it at 3,000 dollars and others at 25,000 dollars.[↩]