Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The Sprout of Capitalism (1)

The Andong Kim clan that was driven right up to the brink of clan destruction due to Kim Jwageun’s reckless action.

Although Heonjong attached these Kim clan’s necks, everyone knew that was never because the Kim clan was pretty.

“Since the Kim clan not only ate the country but reached the point of coveting the strict throne His Majesty has no need to leave them alive.”

No one’s words.

Precisely the words the king’s grandmother the Grand Queen Dowager, who is also Kim Jwageun’s older sister Queen Sunwon says to her grandson.

“Grandmother. How saying such trembling words.”

“Because if His Majesty attached their necks worrying this old one might faint, this is committing a great sin to the ancestral temples and altars.”

The Grand Queen Dowager past sixty beating her chest and sobbing the eunuchs and court ladies around also became greatly gloomy.

However Heonjong did not press the big red button even though grandmother’s final execution approval fell. The matter of the fallen Kim Jwageun’s neck combining with Kim Heunggeun also did not happen.

Heonjong rather threw the Minister of Finance position to Kim Heunggeun who was reflecting and called the brothers Kim Byeonghak, Kim Byeongguk back to the court and once again clearly displayed the meaning of no will to completely purge the Andong Kim clan.

“I have great expectations for you.”

“This small subject will not spare the loyalty of dogs and horses so as to repay the holy heart.”

Kim Heunggeun realized at the point the Minister of Finance position fell.

‘Meaning offer all the family’s money!’

Originally Joseon’s finances are always in the state of a patient gasping for breath.

What on earth should the Minister of Taxation, no Minister of Finance do. Of course must run the finances <​regardless of means and methods> matching the spirit of if told do.

Although tremendous property was confiscated as Kim Jwageun became a ghost, the Andong Kim clan the top of the hardened clans that grasped tremendous power over half a century did not become completely broke just getting hit once like that.

Still they have a lot of money.

Although in Joseon without power cannot protect money, even if a rich person goes bankrupt it goes for 3 years. Still they have vast assets.

Heonjong seemed to want that.

For the family’s future cheerfully offer that vast gold silver treasures. Because me tearing looks too poor.

Kim Heunggeun who was not in a position to refuse this quickly engaged in roleplay as a skilled Joseon official.

“Your Majesty! Even if this subject who is insufficient even if dying a hundred times corrected has his head smashed on the floor and brain fluid flows out how can be cautious since not only saved but bestowed an official post? Wanting to demolish all the property of our relatives and be of help to the country’s great cause, please-”

[This is correct right? Will account transfer all property!]

“Although Heunggeun’s spirit is admirable I am not a tyrant who extorts subjects’ property. Will not accept this.”

[Not that.]

Now using the word ‘I’ openly be it. Anyway they were now the appearance of an egg running toward the huge wall called Qing with the brakes off.

But why money?

Wasn’t it sitting in the Minister of Finance position wanting to tear this?

Briefly thought perhaps the law of three times of ‘still must refuse twice’ but a person who misreads the royal heart cannot even sit in the court. That did not seem it.

Ultimately he after pondering left the court and called the brothers Byeongguk and Byeonghak.

“Thought what His Majesty desires is definitely the remaining wealth in our Kim clan but refused. Do you guys perhaps know something?”

“Well...”

“Wouldn’t it be fine if going to the one who accurately knows the royal heart and asking?”

Who would be the one who knows the royal heart in this situation now.

“Heungseon-gun has a debt to us.”

“If that person I don’t think he would think so.”

Kim Heunggeun had nothing to say and only smacked his lips.

Sat in the seat of power too long?

Isn’t the one whose sense has fallen now myself.

Political debt relationships completely change depending on who has the power.

The law of gravity applies even to power, and the one with stronger power even reverses the debtor-creditor relationship.

If calculating when the Andong Kim clan’s power was resounding Lee Ha-eung owing a debt to Kim Heunggeun is correct, but calculating the current power dynamics must interpret as ‘Lee Ha-eung broke Kim Jwageun’s head and bestowed grace so the Andong Kim clan could preserve even the household’.

“Then we must prepare a grand table. Send a person to Unjae and invite Heungseon-gun.”

And that night.

Heungseon-gun brought one more person and came to Kim Heunggeun’s mansion.

“Long time no see.”

“Aigoo, please speak comfortably. Whether this small person may insert in such a seat-”

“Haha! Small person! How does the great person who protected this country’s ancestral temples and altars put the word ‘small person’ in the mouth! Come, quickly sit!”

Lee Aseul.

The king’s favored subject.

The foreigner even the king cannot treat recklessly.

But who would dare point to him and say foreigner?

Who on Joseon land protected the ancestral temples and altars that almost collapsed and led a strong country like now?

Like the envoys who succeeded in borrowing Ming’s reinforcements during the Imjin War, Lee Aseul purely if calculating only that merit was worthy of being recorded as a meritorious subject.

But Lee Aseul put forward being British himself and declined this, and Heungseon-gun also declined this saying royal relatives being recorded as meritorious subjects is not good.

Although to avoid clinging to the meritorious subject matter in the middle of the land reform fuss, since refused even the meritorious subject position that can be called the greatest honor of scholars without a bit of hesitation their fame once again rang throughout Joseon’s eight provinces.

A snack table was set, and liquor cups went back and forth several rounds.

“My worries these days are not ordinary.”

Borrowing the intoxication, or using being drunk as justification he immediately brought out the main point.

“Wanting to repay the country’s great grace this old body wanted to return everything possessed to the country again, but His Majesty did not accept this. Fearful and trembling whether this old one’s loyal heart is insufficient cannot achieve sleep.”

“Heo. If the household of Munjeonggong (Kim Sangheon) is not a household of loyal martyrs who in this country can discuss loyalty?”

At Lee Ha-eung’s words Aseul also immediately nodded, and Kim Heunggeun seeing that appearance quietly felt relief.

‘At least not planning to offer our household as a sacrifice once more!’

“I am old and foolish so hard to know how great a grand ambition His Majesty has. So hope everyone advises without reserve. How can loyally serve the king and love the country in the correct direction?”

“If only walking the right path naturally loyal service and patriotism also accomplished is the natural order?”

Lee Ha-eung could not hide the grin and struck the side. Look at that bad heart of not easily answering even knowing everything.

“I am an outsider so cannot gauge the royal heart well-”

“If not you who on earth knows the royal heart! Save this old one a bit!”

Aseul also did not easily open the mouth, and subtly glanced at Heungseon-gun. The meaning of ‘not me ask this person?’ clear and obvious.

As Kim Heunggeun earnestly requested help several times like that, Lee Ha-eung stroking his beard began bringing out a different story.

“These days avidly reading various Western books and investigating their development, recently realizing greatly.”

“Since the Foreign Minister is so devoted this old body also cannot fall behind. Perhaps can inform me too?”

“They establish a huge group beyond sanghoe, the so-called company and handle big things inside and outside the country without hesitation. Even when Britain conquered India the forbidden army did not move directly and conquered with only mercenaries employed by that company so isn’t it amazing?”

“How strong is Britain that an army that is mere private soldiers India...!”

“That is precisely the power of the company. Not just a company- what was it?”

“Joint stock company. Stock is similar to gobon.”

“I don’t know well but gobon is already what merchants are doing?”

Heunggeun put on airs.

Of course if a yangban household with some money including the Andong Kim clan doing all sorts of businesses in the name of servants or slaves is Joseon’s default, but conversely speaking yangban households absolutely must not touch such ‘lowly’ things that are not farming is also Joseon’s default.

Aseul did not mention at all about how great an invention the joint stock company is, how efficiently the stock market derived from the introduction of this system will pull Joseon’s hidden funds, how limited liability will support Joseon’s adventurous challengers more from now on etc.

“His Majesty has deep interest in how Britain’s prosperity was achieved. If Joseon’s first joint stock company is established in the name of the Andong Kim clan it would match what His Majesty pursues.”

Anyway Britain did it.

This was effective in Britain.

This is the secret of enriching the country and strengthening the army!

“But... truly scholar-officials touching commerce.”

“Therefore even more perfect as a means to reveal the minister’s loyal heart?”

Anyway was planning to offer all property wanting to cling right.

Heunggeun only then realized the fact that the king hopes the Andong Kim clan establishes that ‘joint stock company’ and plays the role of priming water for yangban to jump into commerce and industry one after another.

Not simple property confiscation, but the role of shouldering dishonor.

No way the Minister of Finance he doesn’t know that a large-scale land reform is scheduled to be announced as soon as the land survey ends.

Temporarily yangban are scheduled to demolish all land and receive money as the price, ultimately to preserve the family must make a hole for money to come out?

“I will gladly do. Must do.”

Anyway scholar-official households that don’t want to starve to death will all follow behind him. Dishonor is not particularly big either.

But he did not hide expectations until the end.

“Perhaps then, what kind of company to establish to be of most help to the country?”

Meaning even designate the item.

“The most general is of course textiles. If producing cotton cloth with machines an enormous amount of cotton cloth incomparable to until now will pop out.”

“Cotton cloth.”

“Also weapons factories are promising. Construction too. Besides that-”

Kim Heunggeun imprinted the things Aseul told one by one in his head.

Because the family’s safety depended on this.

***

Modernization is a very difficult thing.

Even in the original history except about the Japanese Empire most countries that challenged modernization collapsed midway. Because modernization is possible only by first collapsing the existing worldview.

Let’s look at current Joseon once.

Surprisingly, they still almost don’t know what modernization is and what industrialization is. Even if knowing only know at a very superficial level of <​enrich the country strengthen the army>.

Nevertheless as a result of Joseon’s unique powerful absolute royal power, the scholar-official forces that self-destructed as a result of long factional politics, overlapping appropriate level of external intervention and appropriate level of rebellion.

A heaven-sent opportunity that can recklessly commit any reform came to this country.

But there is a problem.

- Another problem?

Of course. If no problem that is the biggest problem.

What industry on earth to raise in this country to trigger the industrial revolution and industrialization?

- Textiles right? You just said to the Kim uncle?

Right. Unconditionally textiles is correct.

21st century people who have thousands of various clothes overflowing just opening the store door might find it hard to feel, but clothes are living necessities comparable to rice and house and at the same time a means of luxury. Not for nothing that Britain’s industrial revolution started from spinning machines and looms.

But our neighboring country China is a country of manpower punk.

Sold opium from plantation farms exploiting Indians and Chinese cultivated domestic opium and defeated Indian imports in price competitiveness.

If the market Joseon can sell things to is by far the Chinese market, is price competition with such an irrational country possible?

- Still if making a lot first won’t it sell? Or there is Japan too.

Here the second problem comes out.

If Joseon raises the banner of industry protecting the country and enters the industrialization tech, necessarily will take the pie of Western countries including Britain.

Will those powers crazy for money stay still? Doesn’t seem so?

So in my thought, textile industry is not the correct answer.

Of course must raise the textile industry, but the best industry befitting this Joseon’s reality is separate.

- You have thoughts for everything?

Of course. Appropriate product choice considering the client’s future is precisely the virtue the best salesman must have.

The answer is only one.

Only munitions industry.

Guns, swords, cannons, gunpowder, bullets!

In Joseon Joseon-befitting <​juche> industrialization is what guarantees a strong great country and a country eating meat soup with rice!

- Wait, wait wait. Stop! Stop! Saying can’t even sell textiles then where on earth sell weapons?

Once stamped out places to sell are plentiful.

Can’t sell guns? Take that and go to the next house and exchange for gold.

And surprisingly.

Before I even opened my mouth Joseon people were reaching the same conclusion.

“Your Majesty. While informing the world that we are an independent country and deepening friendship with Western powers how can we not be friendly with the closest neighbor?”

“Japan has long been a country that associated with us. The Jin Khan who lost Beijing will definitely oppress our Haedong even for his prestige that fell to the ground, so must further deepen friendly good neighborliness with Japan and prepare for unexpected situations.”

Not?

A bit different?

“Discuss the plan of dispatching a communication envoy to the Japanese great army.”

Right. Right.

Joseon people are babies. Still don’t know things like imperialist invasion and are pure babies...

“Since our Joseon is newly extending national fortune day by day, this communication envoy must also be different. If arranging an appropriate Western warship and sending the envoy group to Japan’s capital they will also notice our dignity.”

No.

That’s the Unyo.

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Author's note

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