Under Xiang's direction, the road paving proceeded smoothly.
Sejong, who had ascended the gate tower of Gwanghwamun with Xiang, marveled at the road stretching before him.
"Wow~, rebar and concrete... Ah, you said it's called huizhu?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sejong nodded at Xiang's response.
Before him lay a bright gray road stretching straight from Gwanghwamun to Namdaemun.
"Truly refreshing!"
Sejong, who had been admiring the road stretching southward, turned his head to look at Yunjongga.
The road, which ran east-west across Hanyang and overlapped with the main road leading to Namdaemun, was also impressively straight, with a width of 30 kan (about 50 meters).
"Is it all completed now?"
Xiang shook his head in response to Sejong's question.
"About 60% is done."
"Only 60%?"
"There are still finishing touches for the paving, and the drainage ditches and sidewalks on both sides of the road need to be completed."
"Is that so?"
Sejong, who had listened to Xiang's explanation, descended from the gate tower and left Gwanghwamun.
"Clear the way! The King is passing!"
At Sangseon's shout, the people working on the construction moved aside and prostrated themselves on the ground.
"Continue with your work."
At Sejong's command, the workers who had prostrated themselves all stood up and resumed their tasks.
"Your Majesty..."
"Hmm?"
Xiang, seeing an official hesitantly approaching, looked back at Sejong.
"Your Majesty, I need to check something briefly. May I leave for a moment?"
"Go ahead."
"Your grace is boundless."
Xiang, who had bowed to Sejong, moved to one side with the official.
Sejong, who had watched Xiang instruct the officials and supervisors while looking at the map with satisfaction, turned to the ministers who had come out with him.
"Doesn't he seem more mature?"
In response to Sejong's question, the Prime Minister immediately answered.
"He has always been mature, but now he is certainly worthy of being called a grown man."
"Do you think so too?"
Sejong, who had been looking at Xiang with a pleased expression, asked.
Perhaps due to his family background, Xiang had grown rapidly. At almost twelve years old, he was already taller than most children his age.
It wasn't just his height. Xiang had also become accustomed to using the honorific form when dealing with officials and craftsmen.
However, Xiang had his own complaints.
"I get at least 8 hours of sleep and eat well! Can't I grow faster?"
Xiang, who was growing visibly day by day, was showing signs of impatience due to his younger siblings growing rapidly.
Before the start of the rainy season, the road construction that ran through Hanyang in all directions was completed.
Thanks to the application of a mixture of black lead and lime, the road had turned a deep gray, and the edges, filled with lime, were clearly visible even at night.
As people walked on the solid, straight road, they all marveled.
"Truly amazing!"
"Isn't it? Isn't it?"
"Did the Crown Prince do this?"
"Yes, he did!"
"Wow! How does a young nobleman know such amazing things?"
"Indeed, he seems to be of a different caliber..."
The residents of Hanyang, marveling at the newly paved roads, were in awe.
As people gathered to admire the new roads, their admiration turned into praise for Sejong and the Crown Prince when the rainy season began.
No matter how much it rained, the newly paved roads never turned into mud.
Although water would sometimes pool in certain areas, most of the rainwater drained away through the drainage ditches on both sides of the road.
The sidewalks, made with sand and concrete blocks, also remained dry and did not turn into mud.
As a result, the people of Hanyang no longer had to walk through mud as they did in the past, even when it rained heavily.
"Let's go see the new roads in Hanyang!"
"Let's go!"
'They say the new roads in Hanyang are amazing!'
Due to the rumors spread by merchants and peddlers, many people from other cities and villages flocked to Hanyang to see the new roads.
Of course, these were not ordinary farmers but people who had some means.
With so many people gathering to see the new roads, a new industry emerged in Hanyang.
Inns that also served as restaurants.
While there were already inns and taverns, this new industry provided more affordable accommodation.
Xiang, who was listening to the report to Sejong, had to suppress a smile.
'In the 21st century, people also flocked to see the 63 Building, didn't they?'
Sejong, who had received the report, also smiled.
"It's understandable. I was amazed the first time I saw it too... However, when many people gather, there are always those who try to take advantage of them. Be thorough in your precautions."
"Your command will be followed!"
* * *
'Tourism to the new roads in Hanyang' reached its peak after the autumn harvest.
This was because farmers, who had finished their harvest and had some free time, joined the tourist groups.
Those who returned from the tour began to pressure the local magistrates and yangban.
"Let's pave some roads like that too!"
"Wow! It's so good!"
In particular, the regions of Jeonju, Gyeongju, Yeongheung, and Pyongyang, where large deposits of gold and silver had been confirmed, were the most vocal.
"What's wrong with our region? Do we lack history? Do we lack people?"
The local gentry of these regions began to submit petitions to Sejong.
Sejong, troubled by the petitions coming from all over the country, called Xiang and the ministers together.
"What should we do about this?"
In response to Sejong's question, Hwang Hee stepped forward to represent the ministers.
"The intention is good, but there is no proper method. In the case of the new road construction in Hanyang, one-third of the time was spent waiting for iron from Anju. If we approve these petitions, there will be problems with the supply of materials."
"That's true..."
Sejong, nodding at Hwang Hee's point, looked at Xiang.
In the current situation, Xiang immediately responded to the unspoken question.
"Right now, the criticism from the Right Minister is accurate. Anju is still working on increasing production. If we divert the iron needed by the people to road construction, the people will suffer. The same applies to slaked lime. The current production in Area 51 is insufficient. We need to build a dedicated factory first."
"That would require a budget... Fortunately, the silver and gold mines are being developed, right?"
Sejong muttered, looking frustrated.
* * *
The most important aspect of the economic development plan was securing finances.
Following Sejong's order, prospectors sent throughout the country brought back information about mines. Based on this information, Sejong and the ministers selected the mines to be developed first.
The most important criterion in the selection was 'a place that the Ming would not easily notice.'
For this reason, mines like the Yunsan gold mine, which were confirmed to have large deposits of gold and silver, were excluded if they were on the route of envoys from the Ming.
"Let's develop these mines when we become stronger."
"Your command will be followed!"
Although the order was given, neither Sejong nor the ministers who received it looked particularly happy.
"Because our country is weak, even simple tasks become difficult."
In response to Sejong's complaint, the ministers all prostrated themselves.
"Please forgive our incompetence!"
"Please kill us!"
* * *
In this process, the mines in the Gangwon region were developed first.
An exception was the Jageumsan gold mine in Gongmeogol (present-day Gwangmyeong), located in Siheung County.
"We need a mine nearby in case we urgently need funds."
This was Sejong's decision to prepare for any contingencies.
While secretly mining and storing gold and silver, Sejong also expanded trade with Japan.
"Find out what the Japanese like besides Buddhist scriptures!"
Following Sejong's order, officials and merchants in Dongnae discovered that the Japanese were also interested in pottery.
Sejong then transformed the government kiln in Gwangju into a state-owned enterprise called "Joseon Ceramic Industry."
Afterward, the Ministry of Finance negotiated with the merchants in Dongnae.
"We will give you priority, but not a monopoly."
The merchants in Dongnae, who had wanted a monopoly, had to accept Sejong's decision due to his firm stance.
* * *
The trading posts established in Sambo, Busanpo, Naepo, and Yeompo were eventually consolidated into a single location in Busanpo to prevent excessive smuggling by the Japanese.
Sejong, who had wielded the whip, also offered a carrot. He significantly increased the quantity and variety of goods that Japanese merchants could trade in Busanpo.
The ones who benefited the most from this situation were the Ouchi and Kyushu daimyo.
Joseon, which had strong ties with these two regions, issued trade permits to them first.
Furthermore, by allowing them to build large structures in Busanpo, the positions of the Ouchi and Kyushu daimyo were strengthened.
As a result, Tsushima Island became desperate. Toudouwara, the lord of Tsushima, had to rush to Hanyang and prostrate himself before Sejong.
"After the previous conquest, you promised loyalty, but there is no evidence that you have kept it! How long must I tolerate your kind?"
"Please forgive my disloyalty!"
Through Toudouwara's earnest plea, Tsushima managed to maintain its trade volume.
* * *
Thus, the trading district in Busanpo, established for trade with Japan, was thriving.
Although the Ming had set up a trading port in Shandong, Japanese merchants preferred Busan.
The Ming navy, which was stationed in Shandong, primarily protected the maritime traffic between the Ming and Joseon and defended the southeastern coast of the Ming.
Therefore, Japanese merchants preferred Busan over the dangerous Shandong.
In Busan, Japanese merchants mainly imported Buddhist scriptures and tea utensils from Joseon, paying with silver.
The silver that came in as tax was carefully stored in the royal treasury.
Through this process, Sejong was steadily accumulating the finances needed to implement his economic policies.
Although there was an unexpected large-scale expenditure to rebuild Hanyang after the recent major fire, it did not hinder the implementation of the economic policies.
Although the officials of the Ministry of Finance had to give up their normal lives.
* * *
Sejong warned the ministers.
"By not fulfilling the people's earnest wishes, it means not only I but also you ministers lack the necessary capabilities. Remember this and try harder."
"We will do our utmost!"
Although they answered forcefully, the ministers looked miserable.
'Just kill us! Kill us!'
'How much more effort do you want from us?'
After saying this to the ministers, Sejong looked at Xiang.
"Crown Prince, why is the performance of the Anju ironworks lagging?"
"It's because we are in the process of expanding the facilities and introducing new equipment. Normal operations should be possible before the end of this year."
"That would be good. Recently, I have been reminded again of the value of iron."
"I am deeply honored."
The national ironworks in Anju were under great expectations from Sejong.
Kim Deoksu, who had hired not only his colleagues but also nearby residents to build the ironworks, began producing wrought iron and steel in large quantities after going through various trials and errors.
The Ministry of Finance, having calculated the production of the national ironworks, immediately reported to Sejong.
"The national ironworks alone can supply all the wrought iron and steel needed by our government each year."
"Is that so? However, with the increasing demand for iron starting from the military, issue an order to the ironworks to find ways to increase production."
"Your command will be followed!"
Kim Deoksu, who had received the order, rushed to Hanyang and pleaded with Xiang.
"To increase production, we need to enlarge or build new furnaces, but the problem is the manpower!"
"Manpower?"
In simple terms, Deoksu explained that to double production, at least four times the manpower was needed.
"The most manpower-intensive part is the bellows operators. They need to continuously work the bellows, which is not an easy task!"
Xiang immediately responded to Deoksu's complaint.
"Is that so? I'll find a solution as quickly as possible."
The solution Xiang found was a large centrifugal blower, an enlarged version of the centrifugal pump used in the flood control project.
"Instead of manpower, it uses animal power. If used properly, it will be a great help."
The centrifugal blowers created by Xiang were quickly moved to the ironworks in Anju.
Deoksu, along with the officials who arrived with the blowers, built new large furnaces and began trial production.
The substandard iron produced during these trials was all moved to Area 51.
"That's a waste. Let's find a way to use it."
While searching for ways to reuse the substandard iron, a fire broke out in Hanyang, and all the iron was used to make rebar for road construction.