Chapter 179


    In the twelfth year of King Sejongs reign (1430, the year of Gyeongsul).


    Mid-January. With the New Year festivities concluded and state affairs resuming in earnest, King Sejong issued a decree to his ministers.


    Proim an edict regarding the national farnds confiscated during the Giyu Rebellion.


    Yourmand shall be obeyed!


    Clearly disclose all information rted to eligibility for tenancy,nd rent, taxes, and such, so that the people are well-informed and can act ordingly!


    At King Sejongs admonition, the ministers bowed once more and responded.


    We shall bear it in mind!


    Thus, the ministers reviewed the contents of the promation once again. Finally, after King Sejongs ultimate approval, the promation was posted throughout the entire Joseon territory, not only in the Samnam region but also in the Gyeonggi and Seobuk areas.


    It was an official promation rted to the national farnds secured through the Giyu Rebellion.


    While the previously issued promations had the nature of prepare for this uing event, this time, the posted promation contained detailed information rted to the matter.<ol><li><ol><li aria-level="1">The court is seeking tenants for the farnds confiscated this time. The priority is given to freemoners who have established households.</li><li aria-level="1">Thend rent for the national farnds is set at 30% simr to that of pce farnds, and the tax rate imposed on tenant farmers follows thew.</li><li aria-level="1">The size of the farnd to be allocated ranges from a minimum of 2 Gyeol to a maximum of 5 Gyeol, based on the grade of thend and the number of family members of the applicant.</li><li aria-level="1">Those who were tenant farming thend before it was confiscated as national farnd must choose ording to the following scenarios.</li></ol></li></ol>


    <strong>A. Those who had their ownnd but had to entrust it to bandits due to unavoidable circumstances.</strong>


    In such cases, one of the following two options must be chosen


    <em>i. Review the family register and reim the entrustednd to be an independent farmer.</em>


    In this case, the ownership of thend is recognized, and new family andnd registers are created.


    However, since they have transitioned from tenant farmers to independent farmers, they are subject to the corresponding tax obligations.


    <em>ii</em>. Choose<em> not to reim thend and continue living as a tenant farmer.</em>


    In this case, the right to tenant farm is guaranteed until the death of the individual who signed the tenancy agreement, and the taxation is adjusted ording to the standards for tenant farmers.


    However, the contract bes void upon the death of the party who signed it.


    <b>B. Those who continued to live as tenant farmers without entrusting theirnd to anyone.</b>


    Individuals in category B follow the same approach as the second option for A, but the contract duration extends to the current tenant and his son.


    <em>i. Those who own their farnds but cannot harvest a minimum of 1 Gyeol due to the small size of theirnds, and those who have been tenant farming but simrly own small plots that yield less than 1 Gyeol, can tenant farm up to an additional 2 Gyeol.</em>


    However, this is only applicable if there are remainingnds after distribution to those who applied for tenancy.


    <em>ii. Those in category B, those who were tenant farmingnds not belonging to bandits, and those who have been exiled along with their families and arendless, can move without regional restrictions to receive tenancy. This, however, is limited to those who possess a document issued by the magistrate of their hometown, proving one of the three conditions mentioned above.</em>


    As the Promation on Tenant Farming of National Farnds was posted in government offices nationwide, the tenant farmers had to think hard.


    Some pondered so intensively that there was an increase in visits to physicians.


    In Boeun, Chungcheong Province, a farmer visited a physicians office located in the marketce.


    Physician, I need some medicine


    Have youe because of a headache too?


    Yes.


    Hearing the farmers reply, the physician casually selected a few medicinal herbs, mixed them, and handed them over.


    That will be 50 won.


    Grumbling, the farmer opened his purse.


    Ive been living carefree all my life, and now in my old age, what kind of trouble is this


    Are you also troubled by the tenancy issue?


    Yes. The schrs family I was tenant farming for got swept away in this recent rebellion And now my heads about to burst from the worry.


    Hearing the farmersint, the physician offered some advice.


    Its not just about you, but your childrens future as well, so give it some careful thought. Dont just drown your sorrows in alcohol and make rash decisions.


    Yes


    As the farmer left with a nod, another farmer entered the physicians office.


    Have youe because of a headache too?


    Yes


    Ugh


    With a soft groan, the physician mechanically mixed the medicines.


    As such incidents became frequent, the physician piled up bundles of paper-wrapped medicine in front of his office and put up a sign.<ul><li aria-level="1">Headache medicine. 500 won per packet.</li></ul>


    Until the issue regarding the national farnds was somewhat resolved, the physician managed to achieve unprecedented sales.


    ***


    Most of those who were seriously contemting to the extent of bing indebted to the physicians office belonged to the category outlined in section 4, A, of the promation.


    These individuals would sit on the wooden tforms set up in their front yards, sharing a bottle of rice wine with neighbors in simr situations, as discussing their options had be part of their daily routine.


    Should we just continue living as tenant farmers?


    Man! A true farmer should have his ownnd, even if its no bigger than a booger, right?


    The homeowner nodded in agreement with his neighbors words, but pointed out the issue.


    That seems right, but its the taxes, you see. The taxes.


    Of course, the tax rates are worrying since theyre more than double right now, but opting for tenancy isnt the solution either, is it? Excluding taxes, everything fromnd rent starts to add up! Plus, you have to consider that tenancy rights end abruptly with your death!


    Our eldest is smart, so maybe he doesnt need to stick to farming


    What about the second and the third?


    Ugh


    Groaning at the neighbors pointed observation, the farmer looked at his second and third sons covered in dirt as they came in and shouted at them.


    You good-for-nothing kids! Your father is here worrying himself sick over your futures, and all you do is gallivant around! I ought to teach you a lesson!


    Good heavens, man! Why are you suddenly taking it out on the kids, causing such amotion!


    As the farmer, unable to contain his anger, picked up a stick nearby to discipline the children, his wife rushed out of the kitchen to stop him.


    Amidst the chaos, the neighboring farmer who had been partaking in the conversation swiftly retreated to his own home.


    Back in his house, the farmer opened the door to a room that had been newly addedst spring.


    Heaven above, earth below


    Watching his son diligently reciting the Thousand Character ssic with a content smile, the farmer made up his mind.


    Listen, wife! Lets have a talk!


    ***


    Unlike those who were pondering their choices after entrusting theirnds and bing tenant farmers, those who had always been tenant farmers didnt have much to worry about.


    In fact, some were even getting a bit greedy.


    Really? You want to continue with the tenancy?


    Yes. I dont have anynd of my own, nor do I have any other skills, so Ill continue with the tenancy.


    Is that so?


    I just want to increase the size of the tenancy a bit.


    Want to expand the cultivated area? Show me your household register.


    Here you go.


    Receiving the household register, the official from the Ministry of Taxation reviewed the family andnd records.


    You qualify, but wont it be too much for you?


    The farmer replied with a smile.


    My eldest can now do the work of an adult.


    The eldest? Hmm But hes only twelve, isnt he?


    He lifted a millstone not long ago.


    Oh!


    Impressed by the farmers response, the Ministry of Taxation official let out a light exmation of admiration.


    During the Joseon Dynasty, sons of the nobility, known as sadaebu, would tie their hair in a topknot and wear a traditional hat called a gat between the ages of 15 and 20, while daughters wouldb their hair and secure it with ornamental hairpins. Since weddings often took ce around this age, there was amon belief that marriage equated to aing-of-age ceremony. However, strictly speaking, theing-of-age ceremony and wedding were separate events.


    For themon people, theing-of-age ceremony was somewhat different. Demonstrating strength by lifting a deul-dol, a stone weighing about 100 geun (approximately 60kg), and offering food to the elders of the vige in a gesture known as jinsurteok were ways to be recognized as an adult. (Note 1)


    ***


    Impressed by the farmers im, the Ministry of Taxation official did not immediately stamp the document.


    The matters of the state must be handled with rigor. Bring that eldest son of yours to demonstrate. Then, Ill consider your request.


    Cant you just take my word for it


    What did I just hear? This is a state matter. If your words are true, whats the issue? Juste and lift a stone, and its settled.


    Yes, understood.


    Chastened by the officials sternness, the tenant farmer left the government office. Watching the farmers retreating back, the official grumbled.


    One wrong move and its straight to the records office for me. Who does he think hes dealing with


    ***


    As time passed, many tenant farmers began to leave their ancestral homes and move to the southern provinces, known as Samnam.


    Their targetnds were those cultivated directly by thendlords who had participated in the rebellion, using ves forbor. Thesends, being the economic foundation of thendlords, were prime for farming. Through either appealing to the authorities, using strong-arm tactics, or employing ves for water management projects, thesends were well-prepared to withstand most droughts or floods, making them the best avable for agriculture.


    To ensure the safety of the tenant farmer families during their relocation, the royal court devised various measures.


    With a household register and an ount book for thend, you wont go hungry!


    Before they set out, local officials andnd management officers exined the use of the ount book and the support measures provided by the government.


    So, if it looks like night will fall while youre on the road, stop by a nearby government office or military camp. Theyll provide a ce to stay. Even if its just a tent, its better than sleeping outdoors, right? Sleeping outside could end up making you a tigers meal.


    Understood!


    And if you run out of food along the way, just speak to the officials at the government office or military camp. Theyll sell you grain at a low price.


    Thank you, we understand!


    Thus, the families of the tenant farmers were able to move smoothly. In some cases, they were even escorted by nearby soldiers.


    With such escort and support, the tenant farmers praised King Sejong.


    A sage king indeed! A sage king hase to us!


    Indeed, a true sage king!


    ***


    While the tenant farmers were praising King Sejong, back at the court, Kim Jeom was reporting to King Sejong.


    Thanks to this initiative, we have been able to significantly reduce the stock of grain that was close to expiring.


    Well done.


    The primary purpose of King Sejong and the courts support for the migrating tenant farmers was to maintain public order.


    Its good that they have set out, but if they be vagrants, everything will have been in vain. We need a n for this.


    Following King Sejongs order, the ministers convened and came up with the support measures mentioned above.


    The greatest difficulties faced by those setting out on relocation are finding a ce to sleep and securing food. There will certainly be those who seek to exploit these challenges for profit, using various tricks. We must prevent this in advance.


    Sejong nodded in agreement with Heo Jos exnation.


    Thats a reasonable concern. So, what solution have youe up with?


    Yes, Your Majesty.


    Heo Jo then shared the solution the ministers had devised.


    The solution thought up by the ministers was to provide sleeping amodations for the tenant farmers at local government offices, military barracks, and magistrates offices located along the route to the southern provinces.


    If the scale is small, we can provide vacant rooms in the government buildings. If the scale isrge, we can set up tents for them.


    Its better than sleeping outdoors.


    Sejong, nodding at the ministers exnation, pointed out another issue.


    We can manage sleeping arrangements that way, but what about food?


    At Sejongs question, Jo Mal-saeng stepped forward.


    We will sell the militarys grain at cost price.


    The militarys grain?


    Yes. Among the grains currently stored, there is a considerable amount that is nearing the end of its storage period. If we start by disposing of these grains, we can recover the funds invested in their production and solve the storage problem as well.


    Sejong thought for a moment and then let out a chuckle.


    It seems the ministers have be quite cunning.


    To Sejongs remark, the ministers internally eximed in unison.


    How could wepare to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!


    Anyway, its a solution that serves two purposes. Implement it immediately.


    Yourmand shall be obeyed!