Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 1003 Meanwhile, somewhere else….. (8)

Hyun, who heard the situation, nodded lightly.

“The people’s tastes, which are sometimes said to be excessively picky, are helpful at this time. Still, we must be wary of the fact that some people fall into addiction.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

The prefecture and ministers evaluated it this way, but Hyang shook his head after hearing the report.

“It’s not because the people have picky tastes. It’s because they have to make a living. Otherwise, the toad wouldn’t have been able to survive like that in his past life. The reason why Heuljeongju, which is only called Soju, was able to sell like that is because there were many people who were good at it.”

Hyang, who had been giving negative evaluations while recalling memories of her past life, had a strange expression on her face as she read the report again.

“Candy liquor has poisoned the lower classes of Europe… Annual sales… Let’s see… Sales of aged sugar liquor…”

Analyzing the figures by looking through related reports. Hyang Han shook his head.

“Sales volume has decreased due to various policies, but in absolute terms it is still a huge amount. This means that the letters of protest sent by the kings of Europe are not just a harsh assassination. This is true…” Hyang paused for a

moment. looked out the window with a serious expression.

“Does it mean that it is not Cheong that is addicted to opium, but Europe that is addicted to sugar alcohol? Has the East and West changed?’

Hyang’s expression became more serious as he muttered up to this point.

“It was an opium war in the end, right? There are plenty of possibilities. In today’s international society, fists speak louder than words every day. It smells like war. No, something worse could happen.”

Hyang could foresee a situation worse than war. Hyang continued, tapping his fingers on the desk.

“Drugs…..”

* * *

Sejong said. From the time of the Gyeongjang administration, drugs symbolized by opium were strictly controlled.

-Opium can only be used for medical purposes.

-Members of the National Assembly must check the amount of opium in possession and use records every month.

-Except those who are permitted to cultivate it for medical purposes. Anyone who grows poppies is subject to a severe sentence of 10 years or more.

– Anyone who illegally possesses or distributes opium is subject to a severe sentence of 20 years or more with all property confiscated.

– In addition to opium, it causes confusion and addiction to the people’s minds. Anyone who makes anything that is ordered is charged

with the same crime as in the case of opium. As an aside, this last clause regularly caused nationwide wars of words in the empire. The reason Hyang included this clause was because of synthetic drugs such as philopon. However, ‘the people’s The phrase ‘everything that causes confusion and addiction’ was what ignited the debate.

-Alcohol and tobacco should also be prohibited as they cause confusion and addiction to the people’s minds!

Ascetics and principled moralists said this and called for the prohibition of alcohol. and argued for the enactment of a smoking ban, sparking a nationwide war of words. Every time this war of words broke out, not only judges and judges, but also the public came forward to thwart the attempt to enact the law. However, if we can

forget, the law was enacted again. Due to this problem, the examiner amended the law by adding the word ‘psychoactive substance’ and an explanation, but those who advocate for a ban on alcohol and smoking continued to fight over each other. *

* *

Hyang was worried about this.

“I’ll be happy if I just send a protest letter and pay taxes. Even if you implement an embargo policy, you can get away with it, but if you try to spread drugs throughout the empire, the worst thing will happen.”

Even though the Qing was weakened by the national disease, it was still worthy of being called a strong country. However, it was opium that brought down the Qing. . No, the entire responsibility could not be placed on opium, but one of the main factors that brought about the collapse of the Qing Dynasty was opium.

“It is not Ki-woo. There is definitely a possibility.”

If you look at the trade balance between the empire and Europe, or between the empire and all other countries, the empire always has a surplus. Of course, thanks to the ‘sophisticated imperialist policy’ that each country has pursued, the other country is seriously affected. It wasn’t enough to judge.

But the total was enormous. Another problem was that there weren’t many countries that had fun exporting to the empire. The country that had the most fun selling saltpeter to the empire was the Bengal Sultanate, which sold saltpeter to the empire. However, with the discovery of saltpeter mines in New Zealand, the quantity imported from the Sultanate of Bengal was gradually decreasing.

“India….”

The expression on Hyang’s face did not change easily.

– Even at this time, a lot of opium was being cultivated in India.

-European trade ships are constantly coming and going to obtain the cornerstone of the Bengal Sultanate.

-Opium is flowing into Europe through these trade ships.

-According to a report from a wheat committee in Europe, this opium is gradually expanding its influence.

-India According to a report by the Millennium Committee, the Indian emirates, including the Sultanate of Bengal, began cultivating poppies as a policy for economic gain.

“… So, if you decide to plant poppies in Europe and spread them throughout the empire, it is entirely possible. hey. There are more than one route to bring in goods other than the trade port. Damn it!”

Hyang, who had been analyzing the situation up to this point, swore.

“I’m still having a hard time because of those damn coca leaves!”

This became a problem in the process of completing the conquest of Mesica and imperializing the natives of the area. It was a coca leaf.

Thanks to its analgesic and stimulating effects, chewing coca leaves was a daily routine for the natives of the Messica region. However, after military doctors dispatched to the area confirmed that coca leaves were highly addictive, they were designated as a drug. And to this day, I am still struggling to prevent myself from chewing coca leaves.

“If you think about opium and coca leaves, the current era is quite lax about drugs. In other words, if it breaks through, it can spread extremely quickly. If it is not a concern but a fact… then it is also war.” In the

end, Hyang unfolded the paper and picked up the stylus.

“The stock traders in my past life said, ‘It is better to have a stomachache than to be hungry.’ Same thing. It’s better to be upset than to have your green onion exploded and your wallet stolen. They’re making people fight among themselves. So that they can’t even turn their eyes towards us. By the way…. How should I explain the report on Milwi’s report on India?” * *

*

Hyang’s report, which analyzed the current international situation and pointed out various problems that are likely to arise, made the prefecture and ministers very nervous. “Hmm…. What do you think?”

Han Myeong-hoe, as representative, answered Hyeon’s question.

” Some may say I’m overly sensitive, but I think the possibility is good.”

Jang Hang-seon followed Han Myeong-hoe’s words .

He continued,

“If you think about the safety of the empire, you should never take even the slightest risk lightly.”

Im Sun-wook, who spoke after Jang Hang-seon, had a similar tone.

“Even if I have earned a lot of wealth, I see my neighbors earning wealth. My stomach hurts. Moreover, the amount of wealth earned by the empire is enormous, so it will naturally arouse jealousy.”

As the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers of the left and right spoke in a similar tone, the atmosphere in Daejeon became even heavier. This atmosphere continued. After returning from Italy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shin Suk-ju continued,

“I have heard many stories about opium. I heard that if you bring just one geun (about 600g) from Cheonchuk, you can earn enough money to eat and play for a year. And it is said that once you have tasted it, it is impossible to escape and you will have to pay whatever you ask for.”

“It’s serious…”

While the prefectural government and the ministers were continuing their conversation with serious expressions, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications expressed doubt, or even resentment.

“As far as I know, among the products of our empire, the only ones made and sold by the empire from beginning to end are expensive luxury goods and weapons. Most of them work with merchants from other countries to make and sell them in workshops set up in those countries and share the profits. “Our empire is not monopolizing, but we are sharing with each other, so I am indignant because there are constant complaints.”

To that point, Lim Soon-wook immediately responded,

“Isn’t it a shame that even sharing is a waste?”

“Ah… ”

The Minister of General Affairs nodded and Hyeon summed up the situation.

“Do you agree that Tae Sang-tae’s concerns are not overly sensitive?”

“I agree.”

“Then, I would like you to devise various policies to prepare accordingly and present them to me. .”

“I follow your orders.”

“Then, let’s discuss the Emperor’s plan for Lee I-J.”

The plan proposed by Hyang was to ‘sell the sugar liquor distillery to other countries.’

– Sugar liquor is the people of the empire. Although it is not popular with the general public, it is very popular with people from other countries.

-Therefore, if you sell this sugar liquor distillery, there will be more than one country that will be greedy.

-The distillery in the southwestern province sells neighboring countries such as Ming, Japan, and Daewol. As a target, the distilleries in the new land will start selling to Europe.

-It is enough for the empire to receive only land use fees and raw material supply from the distilleries.

-Other countries will compete to occupy these distilleries. Even now, sugar liquor is sold in huge quantities. Because he’s boasting about it.

-Other countries, preoccupied with this competition and the profits coming in, will fight with each other and the empire will be able to buy a little more time. After

completing this plan and reviewing it, Hyang smiled bitterly.

“Anyway, my My notoriety will only grow.”

* * *

A few months later, imperial messengers visited the palaces of the Ming, Japanese, and European powers. The messengers, who politely bowed according to etiquette, delivered imperial documents to the emperor and kings. The monarchs who checked the document received by the county all expressed doubts:

“Are you selling a sugar liquor distillery? Why?”

To the monarchs’ question, the messengers answered calmly.

“The people of the empire do not like sugar liquor very much, so sales are difficult. But other countries love their sweet liquor. That’s why His Majesty the Emperor has decided to maintain good relations with other countries.”

“Really? i get it. I will give you the answer after discussing my opinion with the ministers.”

After sending out the messengers, the monarchs discussed their opinions with their subjects.

“Why?”

The ministers had to think hard about the simple and clear question of the monarchs. The reason for coming out like that. It was as follows:

-The Empire knows that our judgment is not good as only the Empire makes huge profits through sugar wine.

-And they want us to compete among ourselves for the huge profits that can be made through sugar wine. .

“Then is it right to give up the acquisition of the sugar distillery?”

To the question of the monarchs, the ministers unanimously answered,

“No! If we can have it, we should have it!”

“We should at least prevent one country from monopolizing the distilleries!”

“We should have at least one. Even if we can’t sell to other countries and only sell domestically, we will have more money in our finances!”

Hearing from the ministers that they would have more money in their finances, the monarchs made a decision.

“Really? “Then, let’s try to join in on the empire’s plan.”