Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Great Upheaval (2)

Joseon Kingdom.

Northwest.

The northwest region including Pyongyang also called Yugyeong was springing with vitality in yet another way from Hanyang.

The northwest has been discriminated against.

Throughout 500 years of the Joseon dynasty the northwest has always been looked down upon.

They only waited for the world to change.

And finally the moment the world changed, northwest people ran toward the new world even faster than Hanyang’s yangban.

The name of that new world is precisely.

“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“Ameeen!!”

Yaso.

Protestantism and Catholicism first collided in Hanyang over the whereabouts of missionary work, and that flame immediately spread straight along Gaeseong - Pyongyang - Uiju.

But Catholicism could not defeat Arthur Lee, and the royal family Arthur Lee is backing at all.

Joseon missionaries did their best but the scarlet letter of rebellion reserve army still remained on them, and above all Protestantism finished ‘Joseon optimization’ even before Catholicism.

“God said! Become rich!”

“Waaaaa!!”

“Just work hard and become rich! If pray God will listen!!”

“Miscellaneous ghosts, get lost! How dare miscellaneous ghosts or whatever try to confront when Yaso the son of the Supreme Deity is protecting!”

“Guys who can’t even walk on water, can’t feed 5,000 with five trays of rice cakes and two fish, can’t resurrect after three days dare try to confront Yaso!”

Even if Catholic missionaries grumbled ‘fuck bastards no matter what this is not even Protestantism just local heresy’ not even a seed was eaten. Originally <​playing the game like shit> is precisely the highest extreme praise the loser spits at the opponent.

After the defeated Catholicism left as if chased to the three southern provinces to revive the hope of proselytizing, Protestant missionaries led by the Anglican Church who became the guides of the new era roared victory.

“Guys who only worship Mary or whatever grumbling about heresy.”

“When was it chattering Jesus is Thor’s younger brother or the sun god’s son.”

“Ah first locals must come to church on Sunday to teach doctrine or whatever.”

From the beginning only those who agree with this future miscellaneous ghost style proselytizing skill came to the northwest so the reaction was obvious.

Would those people loitering around the church really have come looking for salvation of the soul?

Even 21st century people if dragged to Nonsan walk the path of faith chasing choco pies or pretty women so 19th century Joseon people needless to say.

The church can provide what those guys want.

So those guys will personally roll up sleeves and learn us.

Northwest people full of merchant’s soul more than anyone actually moved like that.

“If going to church boil porridge.”

“That... Yaso? Yaso is a person like Confucius and if praying at that shrine give food and even let sleep.”

“Even just learning those Western blue-eyed guys’ words in Hanyang anxious unable to bring each other?”

The blue-eyed guys’ doctrine whether God or Yaso whatever roughly similar to Buddha’s words.

The important thing is only the fact that if getting along with those guys new money-making opportunities open.

Originally Pyongyang famous as the richest in Joseon of course and even Uiju at the end of Joseon all were bustling with outsiders pouring in from the eight provinces.

Once in places everywhere in Pyongan Province including Pyongyang there are huge anthracite coal fields. Coal mined from the coal fields here is transported to Hanyang where huge urbanization is taking place and began heating stoves instead of ondol.

Speaking of this Pyongyang coal high quality enough that the world’s British people’ eyes flip as soon as seeing and send a report to London “This is a strategic resource.” Not for nothing British people who faced the Crimean War made a fuss to cooperate with Joseon.

In Unsan gold began to be mined and all sorts of riffraff began to flock, iron mines everywhere were also prospering, and even limestone is produced nearby.

The northwest is now not a discriminated land.

A land of industry bestowed by heaven.

Buildings newly erected everywhere every day were all factories.

Cement factories.

Tobacco factories.

Leather factories.

Brick factories.

Factories newly springing day by day, and the sight of all sorts of shops and houses springing again for workers working at those factories.

Joseon’s greatest merchant Im Sangok was preparing to leave the world seeing this ever-changing scene for the first time in his life.

***

Im Sangok’s death is approaching.

The king of Joseon commerce who joined hands with power holders and monopolized ginseng trade for a whopping 10 years.

The ghost of business who rather increased wealth day by day instead of declining together even if power holders collapsed.

There were many many great merchants boasting they are great in Joseon, but few people like Im Sangok who can earn vast money while simultaneously receiving everyone’s respect and prepare to close eyes peacefully without getting stabbed by enemies.

As he who was sitting upright opened the closed eyes, the big shots of Song merchants and Man merchants, Gyeong merchants and Nae merchants gathered in the seat all stopped breathing.

“This old man is very glad to go seeing the world and earth opening before dying.”

“What words are those. Must live long long-”

“As a merchant topic ate the country’s salary, and even went to Japan that no one easily goes. This much can see enjoyed all to enjoy in my life.”

Befitting a great merchant who regards time as gold, he immediately cut the empty compliments of longevity or whatever.

“Western countries say business is not a lowly end occupation. Because there power holders and scholars do not regard accumulating wealth as shameful and regard it natural for second and third sons of power families who did not inherit land to leave for business.”

“...”

“In Joseon would have been words not worth half a penny, but now the world changed and Joseon also became so.”

British troops invaded and those high-powered sedo families all became salted fish.

The surviving yangban great families had all their large farms snatched under the name of land reform.

But the country bought them with money instead of snatching their farmland by force, so an era came where even if a household with high fame must grow a sanghoe and build factories with that money.

“Lee Aseul told me. War has already started.”

“!”

“If war... that Britain and Russia are waging.”

“No. Not such a war.”

Im Sangok shook his head with difficulty.

“The war newly occurring is precisely a war waged with gold and silver.”

Economic invasion.

Foreign powers’ invasion wanting to swallow this tearfully poor country and make it their farm.

“Western products are pouring in endlessly, while this poor Joseon has nothing to sell to the West even if washing eyes and looking.”

Since everyone gathered in this seat is a merchant how not know that fact.

Since everyone gathered in this seat is a merchant how not know the thing that will follow after that.

“If this flow continues finally we will shoulder debt like a mountain, Westerners will tell us who fell to debtor status to bring out what will become collateral if unable to repay the debt. As we all did.”

“Elder. Please share wisdom with us.”

“If knew that I would have done something long ago, you people.”

Selling red ginseng or cheongsimhwan to Qing, and newly greatly raising tobacco factories and selling more tobacco too.

Im Sangok could not find a sharp plan.

No, the remaining time was too insufficient for him already old and sick to teach where to go in the new era.

But.

Giving advice while clicking the tongue is originally an old man’s privilege.

“In my thought, ultimately the answer will be there.”

He pointed outside.

Factories.

More factories.

Those factories proliferating recklessly with the momentum of making all the tobacco Joseon people will smoke for a lifetime right now.

“Speaking of ginseng there is no item that can follow our Korean ginseng in the world so even those Chinese people are racing to buy our ginseng, so making and selling the world’s top items would be one plan... if that is hard, must at least make cheap and a lot not falling behind Westerners and sell.”

Because the habit of world people is picking up even bean curd dregs if cheap.

The latter words were like mutterings, but everyone in this seat engraved his words in the brain as if hearing the huge temple bell sound.

Because from now on they will never have the opportunity to ask anyone again.

“Since the country’s intention to greatly raise commerce and industry is clear, you from now on repay His Majesty’s great grace with loyal heart.”

“How could there be.”

“Everyone knows, but now not only do business in this remote Joseon mountains and rivers but must advance to that vast world... must make big ships and get close to foreigners.”

Too long nagging for an old man facing the day of death.

“Came all the way here, if only saying trivial stories everyone knows and going you will get angry saying wasted time and return.”

“Where dare think like that when the elder gave precious words.”

One who was thinking inside the old man really talks a lot quickly blew the horn.

Everyone merchants.

Those interested in ash meal rather than Buddhist prayers.

Since Im Sangok could not not know this, he decided to have the traffic control time they had been earnestly waiting for.

He is the one who was next to Lee Aseul the longest except Joseon people of Geumseong Sanghoe.

Lee Aseul informed the Way of governing the world and relieving the people that Westerners bodily acquired, but no matter how great person or great minister ultimately a foreigner he cannot exercise direct influence on these great merchants.

Only that.

Only Im Sangok himself can tell the answer for Joseon <​capitalists> matching the theory Lee Aseul informed.

“Must build railways connecting from Uiju to Dongnae, from Hanyang to Naju.”

Railway transportation network.

“Nae merchants must advance to Japan more actively. Japan is never a barbarian land, but a land of opportunity where fertile jade soil and countless products come out. Since concluded a treaty and decided to greatly raise commerce necessarily.”

Advancing to Japan.

“Gwandong and Hamgyeong Province are hard to exchange with Hanyang because the mountain terrain is rugged, but Russia will become a new opportunity. If giving out necessary items to Russians taking advantage of this war this will also become a big opportunity.”

Russian trade.

He poured out everything he knew, and the merchants who knew this would soon be the rope of new wealth and honor moved their mouths without rest to memorize this.

“This old man will give just one last request.”

Im Sangok who took out everything inside closed his eyes tightly again.

“Don’t waste strength fighting to win against the merchant groups next to me, and the factories neighboring me. We... all merchants and craftsmen of the Three Hans... are comrades who must fight together to protect this country, to prevent all people under heaven from falling to others’ debtors...”

“Elder?”

“Great person!!”

Im Sangok did not open his eyes again.

Everyone in the seat wailed for the great merchant who generously donated all wealth for the poor and left this world freely.

Since he who stepped forward representing all merchants of Joseon left.

Now they had to step forward.

If not wanting to be eaten like that India.

© 명원 #1jwz2