< Chapter 11: Sprouting… or Spreading Like Cancer? (4) >
Beginning with a phrase he had heard somewhere before—"a chain letter of good fortune"—Yi Hyang diligently explained to Sejong the usefulness of Arabic numerals.
Sejong listened to Hyang's presentation with a serious expression, stroking his beard as he sank into thought.
After a long silence, Sejong finally reached a conclusion.
"It seems to be a good proposal. However, it would not be right for me to decide this matter alone. When tomorrow's court session begins, return and explain it again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Having finished his task, Yi Hyang bowed to Sejong and withdrew from his presence.
As Hyang quietly stepped backward to leave, Sejong called out to him.
"Hyang."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your intelligence makes me truly proud. But you are still young. For now, rather than clinging to affairs of state, devote yourself to the growth of your body and mind."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At Sejong's praise, Hyang's face brightened and he bowed deeply. Watching his son disappear with buoyant steps, Sejong smiled.
"Now he finally looks like a child of his age."
Still smiling faintly, Sejong turned back to the documents before him, then clicked his tongue.
"Tsk! I forgot to ask about that matter."
* * *
The next day, when the court session began, Sejong summoned Hyang as promised. In front of the assembled ministers, Hyang explained Arabic numerals.
"…Thus, I believe it would be far more useful to express numbers using these Tianzhu numerals, which Western scholars call 'Arabic numerals'."
After finishing his explanation, Hyang bowed to Sejong and stepped aside to sit.
Sejong looked around at the ministers.
"What do you think of the Crown Prince's proposal?"
The first to respond was the Minister of Taxation, Kim Jeom.
"In my humble opinion, it would be extremely useful in expressing numbers."
"I, Minister of Personnel Heo Ji, also believe it to be very useful."
The Ministry of Taxation, which used numbers most frequently, expressed approval. The Ministry of Personnel, the next most frequent user, followed in agreement.
With the heads of the two departments most closely tied to numbers voicing support, Sejong concluded:
"Then let the two ministries take the lead and test the use of these Tianzhu numerals for one month. If the results are satisfactory, we shall implement them nationwide."
"We receive Your Majesty's command!"
With the matter of numerals settled, Sejong moved to the next agenda item.
"This next matter is one the Crown Prince should hear and help judge. Crown Prince."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The Emperor of Ming has sent an imperial edict."
Caught off guard, Hyang looked blank.
"Pardon?"
Seeing his son's expression, Sejong explained what had happened.
—Sejong had been greatly pleased with the gold pen crafted by the Crown Prince and ordered the Military Supplies Directorate to produce one as tribute for the Emperor. The pen was adorned with silver inlay on its gold tip, and two dragons lacquered in yellow resin coiled elegantly along the shaft. The Yongle Emperor received it and expressed great satisfaction.
Delighted with the pen, the Yongle Emperor sent an imperial decree through Joseon's envoys who had come to congratulate him on his birthday.
—Offer 10,000 gold pen tips as tribute.
—Knowing that Joseon lacks abundant resources, provide 1,000 tips of the same quality as the one already presented, and 9,000 of slightly lower quality.
Upon receiving the document, Sejong and the court fell into deep deliberation.
The gold pens licensed for sale by the state were divided into four grades. The special grade, reserved for royal use, was made of pure gold with silver inlay. The first through third grades used gold, silver, and copper tips respectively.
Although the Yongle Emperor had permitted lower grades, at least first-grade quality would be required to satisfy him.
* * *
"Ten thousand tips… the budget alone…"
Startled by the sudden demand, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom muttered while clutching his throbbing forehead.
"For what reason did the Crown Prince create such an object… no, why did His Majesty present it as tribute? Even boasting about one's son should have limits…"
"My lord!"
"Gah!"
Warned by his vice minister, Kim Jeom hurriedly closed his mouth and glanced around. Fortunately, he was in his ministry office, and only the vice minister was present.
"Hoo…"
After a sigh of relief, Kim Jeom cautioned him.
"Let us pretend you did not hear that."
* * *
Hearing the situation, Hyang fell into thought. Nodding to himself as he calculated various figures in his head, he turned to Sejong.
"Your Majesty, what if we engage in trade?"
"Trade?"
"Trade? How could you even suggest such a thing!"
"Chief Inspector, remain quiet. Crown Prince, continue."
The moment Hyang mentioned trade, the Chief Inspector of the Office of the Inspector-General, Sung Um, sprang up in opposition. But Sejong stopped him with a gesture. At the king's command, Hyang continued.
"If Ming has sent an imperial decree demanding gold pens as tribute, that indicates considerable interest there. Consider the vast territory of Ming and its population. Even counting only scholars—how many times greater are they compared to Joseon? If we contact the merchant guild that manufactures gold pens, they could produce more than just the tribute quantity."
Sejong and the ministers calculated mentally. The conclusion came swiftly.
'We could profit.'
Seeing their reaction, Hyang continued.
"And we officially allow merchants to accompany the envoy delegation—not as a few quietly tagging along, but openly."
—Each merchant accompanying the guild shall contribute two seok of white rice (about 320 kilograms). The court will guarantee their lodging, meals, and safety until they reach Beijing.
—The court shall lease buildings near the Hoedonggwan, the Joseon envoys' quarters in Beijing, to support their trade.
—Merchants will remit 20 percent of their profits to the court. For high-value goods such as ginseng, 40 percent.
—If officials within the delegation or their attendants have goods to sell, they may consign them to merchants, remitting profits at the same rate.
—Before departure, the Ministry of Taxation shall record all items and quantities, and dispatch officials to accompany the mission to monitor sales accurately.
"…I believe this would be beneficial."
"Hm…"
As Sejong and the ministers reviewed the proposal's advantages and disadvantages, Sung Um spoke.
"I, the Chief Inspector, believe this plan must never be adopted."
"Why?"
"It would certainly bring in wealth. But as recorded in ancient precedents, when wealth flows in abundance, both the royal household and the people grow extravagant. This leads to heavy taxation and tyranny."
"I, the Deputy Chief Inspector, agree. When ruler and people alike delight in humble poverty and cultivate virtue, spreading its fragrance throughout the world so that other nations admire us—that is true kingly governance."
"I, Minister of Rites, concur. How could we bring base merchants along on a diplomatic mission to the Emperor of the superior state? It would sully Joseon's dignity. The Crown Prince is brilliant, but he seems not yet versed in governance and diplomacy. It would be fitting for him to devote more effort to study and learn what governance rooted in the kingly way truly means."
In short, they were saying: "What does a mere child know of statecraft and diplomacy?"
Hyang's eyebrows shot up.
"Hoo…"
Taking a deep breath to calm his rising anger, Hyang turned to Sejong.
"Your Majesty, may I respond?"
"I permit it."
Sejong's voice was not pleasant; he, too, seemed displeased.
Hyang began his rebuttal.
"Chief Inspector, you say that wealth leads to extravagance and tyranny?"
"Indeed. As ancient records show—"
"In those cases, rulers squeezed the lifeblood from the people to sustain extravagance. Did I suggest squeezing the people? I propose bringing wealth from outside."
"Perhaps once. But what guarantee is there that it will continue? It may sell well at first out of novelty. If not, the people will bear the burden."
"Chief Inspector, do you live only for today?"
The brazen question from the young prince drew a look of disbelief.
"What do you mean!"
"Are gold pens the only goods merchants can sell? There are many others! And how can you be certain gold pens will sell only once?"
"Who among us even uses gold pens? At first, perhaps out of curiosity. But they cannot match the refinement of brush pens! Gold pens are like children's toys!"
At that, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom interjected.
"That is incorrect. Do you know how many gold pens are consumed monthly? Sixty first-grade gold tips, and four hundred silver and copper tips combined—just within government offices. In the private sector, over a thousand are sold monthly. Over six hundred of those are first-grade gold."
Sung Um's eyes widened.
"Per month?"
"Per month."
"…How can such a frivolous item…"
Hyang quickly cut in.
"My apologies. It must be frivolous because a child made it."
"Gasp!"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Sung Um bowed hastily.
"Your Majesty! Forgive my misspeaking!"
"I forgive you."
"Your grace is boundless!"
As Sung Um wiped cold sweat from his brow, Hyang pressed on.
"You cite the example of ivory chopsticks and jade cups. But if it is for the people, this trade is necessary. Attendant! Fetch the book from my chamber—'Geographical Records of All Under Heaven.'"
"Yes, Your Highness."
After a short while, the attendant returned, breathless, and handed the book to Hyang.
Finding the passage he sought, Hyang passed it back.
"Present it to His Majesty."
As Sejong examined it, Hyang continued.
"It is one of the miscellaneous books I asked envoys to obtain. As its title suggests, it records the geography and specialties of China and neighboring lands. It states that in Jiangnan, rice is harvested twice a year. In Dai Viet, even three times. We must use the profits from trade to purchase rice from Jiangnan or Dai Viet and bring it back—to relieve our starving people."
His throat dry from speaking, Hyang swallowed and continued.
"You speak of delighting in humble poverty. Do the people appear poor because they choose poverty? They are destitute. In summer, they die of drought. In winter, they freeze. In spring, they starve. In such times, who will praise a ruler's virtue? If the people are dying of hunger, does national dignity matter? There is a saying: 'If one's child starves for three days, even a scholar will climb over a wall.' What parent would sit idle while their child collapses from hunger? The king is father to all his people! If his children cry from starvation, must he not act?"
"My son, well said!"
Sejong's sudden shout froze the court.
Hyang and the ministers stared, mouths open. Even the royal historians stopped writing.
Looking at his father, Hyang recalled his own first-birthday feast—how he had nearly come to blows with his elder brother Yangnyeong during a heated argument.
'Tsk. He has held back that temper for quite a long time.'