Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 50

Jjanggeura

Hello, Bam.

50. Laughing and Crying Over Fangirling (15)

As promised, five days passed, and Joseon officials flocked to the East Palace under the guise of assessing the research institute’s current status. It wasn’t just the officials; Sejong was with them.

“I shall go with you.”

“There’s no need for Your Majesty to…”

Hwang Hee stepped forward to dissuade him, but Sejong cut him off.

“I am curious to see what the Crown Prince and his people have created during this time.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Now, let’s be on our way!”

As Sejong moved ahead, the officials followed him with resigned expressions.

When Sejong and his officials arrived at the annex of the East Palace, the Crown Prince and the research institute’s staff, who had been waiting, bowed respectfully.

“We greet Your Majesty.”

“You’ve worked hard. Now, where…”

Sejong carefully examined those standing before the research institute. When he first sought them out, it started with Jeong Cho, Jeong In-ji, and Yi Cheon, but now there were quite a few people standing behind them.

“The staff has increased significantly?”

“It’s still not enough.”

“Still?”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong shook his head. The number of people standing before him seemed to be at least over twenty. Yet, his son was saying it was not enough.

“Let us discuss the issues of personnel and budget again after seeing the results.”

“Yes, Father. This way.”

Hyang led Sejong to the entrance of the research institute.

* * *

“Hoo?”

Stepping inside the research institute, Sejong let out a curious exclamation. Along the corridor, various instruments were displayed on bookshelves built into one wall instead of books.

“Let’s see… Daeganeui [large armillary sphere, an astronomical instrument] and Soganeui [small armillary sphere]…”

Looking at the instruments while reading the nameplates placed in front of them, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Is this all? Compared to the budget spent…”

“Those placed there are all display specimens.”

Creak!

Answering Sejong’s question, Hyang opened the sliding door of a nearby room—a sign labeled ‘Equipment Rental Room’ was attached.

Inside the sliding door, rows of drawers stood in neat order. Each drawer was locked with a thick padlock. Hyang continued the explanation.

“The equipment actually used is inside those drawers.”

“Management?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang pointed to the eunuchs standing at the entrance of the room.

“There are people assigned in pairs to handle entry and exit.”

“Meticulous.”

Sejong nodded, looking at the ledger placed on the desk. The ledger meticulously recorded the date, the name of the visitor, the equipment taken out, and the return date.

“I’ve also been praised for being meticulous, but…”

Continually nodding, Sejong took his eyes off the ledger and commended the standing eunuchs.

“You have worked very hard. Your efforts are for the sake of this country, so work even harder.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

Leaving the equipment rental room, Sejong examined the instruments displayed on the bookshelves again.

“Hmm…, wait. Level, plumb bob?”

“Instruments for measuring horizontal and vertical.”

“Hmm?”

Intrigued, Sejong picked up a level. In the middle of the long wooden board, there was a metal component. Inside the metal plate with a long opening, there was also a cylinder made of metal.

Rattle. Rattle.

Each time Sejong moved the wooden board, the cylinder inside made a noise as it moved from side to side.

“When that cylinder stops in the exact center, it indicates horizontal and vertical alignment.”

“I see!”

Having learned how to use the level and plumb bob, King Sejong became even more curious.

“So, where is this used?”

“It is used in construction.”

“In construction?”

“Yes. When installing instruments to measure the heavens, the most important thing is that the foundation is accurately horizontal and vertical. Using a level and plumb bob makes it easier and more accurate to achieve this.”

“Aha!”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong nodded greatly and exclaimed in admiration. The officials standing behind him did the same.

In particular, the Minister of Public Works, burning with eagerness, immediately spoke to Sejong.

“Your Majesty! In repairing fortresses and government offices, or constructing weirs and reservoirs, the most important thing is to properly align the horizontal and vertical! If we use such instruments, the work will become easier, so we must immediately produce and distribute them in large quantities!”

“I think so too. Crown Prince.”

When Sejong called out, Hyang shook his head.

“I am sorry, but what has been made now is not yet a finished product.”

“Not a finished product?”

“Yes, Father. What you see now is made using iron and copper. Iron and copper rust easily. To prevent this, they must be oiled frequently and carefully managed to prevent rust, which is a cumbersome task. We have now created a plan to solve this, and an improved product will soon be available.”

“Your Highness! When will that improved product be available?”

“I am curious too.”

The Minister of Public Works, impatient, pressed urgently. Seeing Sejong with a similar expression, Hyang replied briefly.

“Do you remember the business trip report I submitted some time ago?”

“Business trip report? Wait… are you talking about sending those Huihui people [Muslims] to Shandong? The purpose was to recruit talent?”

“Yes. It depends on how quickly they complete the work.”

“What kind of talent is it that makes such a difference?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang answered immediately.

“Glass artisans.”

“Glass?”

“Yes. With glass, management becomes easier.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong turned to the Minister of Public Works.

“Minister Jong, it seems it would be better to wait.”

“No! Even what has been made now is useful enough in the field!”

The Minister of Public Works’ expression and statement were simple.

‘Quiet! Stop talking and hand it over right now!’

“What to do…”

* * *

Sejong fell into 고민 [a state of worry or contemplation].

Hyang’s words made sense, and the Minister of Public Works’ words also made sense.

During the last spring famine, when construction projects were carried out nationwide, Sejong left the palace under the pretext of comforting the people and inspected construction sites near Hanseong [old name for Seoul].

“We greet Your Majesty!”

When the officials supervising the construction sites paid their respects, the people working on the projects stopped what they were doing and prostrated themselves on the ground or bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“You are working hard. It is difficult now, but when this construction is completed, it will be of great help to agriculture, so the people should work a little harder.”

“We obey your command!”

“Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long, long live!”

At Sejong’s encouragement, the people shouted “Long live.” While comforting the people and inspecting the site, Sejong asked the official in charge of supervision a question.

“What is the most difficult thing in carrying out the construction?”

At Sejong’s question, the official answered immediately.

“It is aligning the horizontal and vertical.”

“Why?”

“Simply put, reservoirs or weirs that hold water are simple tasks that end when you dig deep enough. However, the floodgates and waterways connected to them are not so easy. Floodgates that are not properly vertical make it difficult to open and close the gates and block the water, and waterways that are not properly horizontal and sloped do not allow water to flow well.”

“I see.”

Sejong nodded at the official’s answer.

Later, when the construction of the annex of the East Palace was underway, he had briefly watched, and the most important part that the head carpenter focused on was aligning the horizontal and vertical of the pillars and rafters.

* * *

Because he had heard and seen such information, Sejong could understand why the Minister of Public Works was making such a fuss.

“What to do…”

After much deliberation, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“Crown Prince. You say it is not yet complete, but in my opinion, it seems to be doing its part sufficiently. Provide the relevant technology to the Ministry of Public Works.”

“…I understand. I obey Your Majesty’s command. If so, there are a few more instruments related to this that you might want to see?”

“Yes, let’s see.”

Hyang showed Sejong and the officials several instruments. The instruments Hyang presented were a compass, a triangle, a circular protractor that could measure the entire 360 degrees, and a protractor that could adjust angles up to 180 degrees. In particular, the protractor had a locking device using screws, allowing it to be fixed firmly after being adjusted to the desired angle.

“Master carpenters and various artisans have already been using similarly shaped instruments for generations. This is an instrument made to use them more accurately. It is the result of the mental effort of those working in the research institute.”

“Truly amazing!”

Sejong, having grasped the value of the instruments Hyang had presented, was sincerely impressed. Although Hyang said so, it was certain where that idea came from.

‘It certainly didn’t come from the hardened heads of the bureaucrats!’

Sejong looked at the Minister of Public Works. The Minister of Public Works could not hide the desire to take those instruments right now. With a proud expression, Sejong joked with the officials following behind.

“Do you know what I am feeling right now?”

“I do not know.”

“The Crown Prince is so outstanding that I feel like issuing a general amnesty to commemorate this.”

“Your Majesty!”

“A joke, a joke.”

Although he said it was a joke, Sejong’s expression was not.

‘Look! My son is this smart! Do you have such smart children?’

Having made a decision on the instruments related to architecture and civil engineering, Sejong began to look at the instruments placed in the next section.

“Is this a ship?”

“Yes. What you are looking at now is the Byeongjoseon (兵曹船) [Panokseon, a type of Korean warship], the largest warship currently used by our Joseon navy. Next are the ships that are newly being researched.”

“Hmm? The sizes are all different?”

“They are models made to the same scale.”

“Oh? Then…”

Once again, Sejong’s gaze stopped at the model of a sailing ship at the very end.

“It’s quite large?”

“It is a model of a sailing ship being researched by the Westerners.”

The sailing ship model that caught Sejong’s eye was a ship of the line (戰列艦) [a type of large warship].

“Ship of the line? I don’t see any oars?”

“It moves purely by wind power.”

“Armament?”

“The main armament is cannons. According to calculations, it can carry at least 80 cannons.”

“80 cannons!”

Hyang explained about the ship of the line.

“…Therefore, these sailing ships form a line of battle to maximize their firepower and then fire cannons. That is why it is called a ship of the line.”

“A truly fitting name. So, Crown Prince, according to the results of your and the research institute’s research, we should use those Panokseon near our Joseon waters and those ships of the line for sailing the open seas?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong stroked his beard.

“Come to think of it.”

Sejong recalled the report that had been submitted by the Minister of War some time ago.

It was a report jointly submitted by the newly established Joseon Army General Staff Headquarters and the training center due to changes in the international situation. The report contained a request for the need to reform the navy and create a plan for this. Sejong immediately approved the report at the time.

“Land defense (陸防) is important, but sea defense (海防) is also important, so I permit it.”

Of course, at the time, officials other than the Minister of War had expressed opposition due to budget issues. However, Sejong did not budge from his decision.

“If we do not even make a plan because the budget is insufficient, that is something only a fool would do! The budget is gradually increasing, so this is not a problem!”

As Sejong strongly pushed forward, the officials became tight-lipped. They did not want to follow in the footsteps of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

While listening to Hyang’s explanation and examining the models, Sejong expressed doubt. There was a cold noodle bowl at the very end of the ship models.

“Why is this myeongi (麵器, noodle bowl) here?”

“It symbolizes a ship made of iron instead of wood.”

“Make a ship out of iron?”

Sejong and the officials all looked at Hyang with surprised eyes.

* * *

“Did you say you would make a ship out of iron?”

“That is correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, everyone gathered, from Jeong Cho to Jang Yeong-sil, shook their heads.

“That is impossible.”

“Even a child knows that iron sinks in water.”

“That’s right. Making a ship out of iron is impossible.”

As everyone gave negative answers, Hyang retorted.

“You are all wrong. It is not impossible. We just haven’t found a way yet.”

“Haven’t found a way?”

“That is correct.”

After answering briefly, Hyang called a eunuch and gave an order.

“Go to the royal kitchen and bring a brass (鍮器) [made of brass] noodle bowl and a basin filled with water.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After a while, the eunuchs brought a basin filled with water and a cold noodle bowl.

“Place the basin on that table.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the eunuchs placed the basin on the table, Hyang floated the cold noodle bowl on top of it.

As the cold noodle bowl floated on the water, Hyang looked at the people.

“It floats.”