Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 55

Jjangra

Helo-Bomb

55. New Weapons (3)

“Why!”

“What is the meaning of this!”

Sejong and his ministers erupted in shouts at Hyang’s statement that ‘mass production is impossible.’ Sejong, in particular, questioned Hyang with an angry face.

“Why is it impossible?”

“Because it is impossible with the current state of Joseon.”

“So, why is it impossible! Isn’t this different from what you have been saying all along! Wasn’t your conviction that we should find a way to make the impossible possible!”

“Though it is presumptuous to say, it is impossible with the current state of Joseon. The reason is…”

“You son of a…!”

Sejong shouted, but Hyang only wore a bitter expression.

‘One of the most infuriating things is when something is given and then taken away. But what can I do when the situation is a mess?’

Watching Sejong unable to calm his anger, Hwang Hee interjected.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. There must be a reason for this.”

“Hoo… Hoo…”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong took a deep breath. Barely managing to calm his anger, Sejong glared at Hyang and asked, “Explain the reason.”

“Yes, Father. I will explain it accurately. The production of Deokgap-style gunpowder is possible. However, mass production is impossible.”

“Why?”

Hyang explained the reason for Sejong’s question.

-To make Deokgap-style gunpowder, high-purity nitric acid and sulfuric acid are needed. With the current state of Joseon, it is difficult to obtain large quantities of saltpeter and sulfur.

-There is also the problem of cotton cloth. The cotton cloth, which is the main ingredient of Deokgap-style gunpowder, must be high-quality cotton cloth without lint. However, looking at the current situation in Joseon, 5-seung cloth, called Jeongpo (正布) [a specific type of coarse cotton cloth used for tax payment], is only used for tax payment, and 3-seung or 4-seung cloth is so scarce that it is used as currency.

“As I explained above, skilled artisans are needed to use high-purity acid. Of course, as you can see in the Sanguiwon [Royal Tailoring Department] or the Gunjaegam [Ordnance Bureau], there are skilled artisans. However, the number is too small to mass-produce.

“In the case of blasting oil, which is the main ingredient of Deokgap-style gunpowder, there is another problem. It is gam-yu, the main ingredient of blasting oil.”

“Why? Is gam-yu also a product that needs to be imported?”

“No, it is a product that comes from our Joseon.”

“Then why is it a problem?”

“Because the main ingredients of gam-yu are pig bile (豚膽) and cow bile (牛膽).”

“Ah!”

Sejong and the ministers sighed simultaneously at Hyang’s answer.

* * *

To make nitroglycerin, a large amount of glycerin was needed. However, in the current situation where the petrochemical industry of the 21st century is absent, the only method Hyang could choose was to extract glycerin in the process of making soap.

However, the supply of raw materials was a problem. The easiest thing to think of was pig fat, but the body fat percentage of pigs was 15%.

Arithmetically speaking, if a pig’s weight is 100kg, the fat is 15kg. Even if you recover as much lard or other fat during the butchering process, you cannot recover 100%, and the amount of glycerin extracted through the saponification process was even smaller.

“In simple terms… even if everyone in Joseon eats pork three meals a day, it is impossible to secure enough glycerin to use for military purposes.”

Hyang shook his head, twirling his pen and examining the results.

“Whether it’s the 21st century or now, eco-friendly natural products are economically terrible… Damn it! Long live the petrochemical industry, even if it is the main culprit of environmental destruction! Long live the heavy chemical industry!”

* * *

“It’s such a shame. I wish I hadn’t known that I could make gunpowder with such excellent performance. I wish I hadn’t known…”

The ministers nodded at Sejong’s lament.

“That is giving up. Father, giving up on national defense is a path to national ruin.”

Sejong shouted at Hyang’s rebuttal.

“Who doesn’t know that! But what can I do when this Joseon’s situation doesn’t help!”

“What is the reason why Father is carrying out reforms! Isn’t it to overcome this Joseon’s difficult situation!”

Sejong froze at Hyang’s protest.

Looking at Sejong, Hyang raised the veins in his neck and pleaded.

“Even at this moment, starting with me, military officers including General Choi Hae-san and General Yi Cheon, and artisans starting with Jang Byeoljwa are repeatedly agonizing to find a solution! Father, I think survival is a challenge! Survival is a challenge to death! Giving up is death! Crown Prince Yi Hyang! The word ‘giving up’ is a word I don’t know!”

“You are right!”

Sejong trembled with excitement.

“The moment I ascended the throne, I decided to do everything for the rise of this Joseon! You have reminded me of what I had forgotten for a while, so you are a loyal subject! Listen, everyone! Regain the minds that have been scattered! Risk your lives to make the reforms a success!”

The ministers, who were also caught up in the excitement like Sejong, answered in one voice.

“We will risk our lives to obey your command!”

Later, the ministers, exhausted from overwork, all muttered.

“I shouldn’t have audited Area 51 back then. This damn mouth is the enemy…”

* * *

As Hyang said in front of Sejong, he never gave up on the mass production of glycerin.

One day, while busy, Hyang, who was sleeping, jumped up from his seat.

“Vegetable oil! Well done, my head! You’ve earned your keep again this time!”

The next day, as soon as it dawned, Hyang ran to Area 51 and looked for Choi Hae-san. Meanwhile, Choi Hae-san was also looking for Hyang, and as soon as he saw Hyang, he ran with a bright face.

“Your Highness! I’ve been waiting!”

“General! I think I’ve found a way to get gam-yu.”

“I also have something in mind!”

When they realized that they were looking for the same topic, a brief awkwardness circulated. Hyang, who had cleared his expression, opened his mouth.

“Tell me first, General.”

“Your Highness first…”

“It’s okay.”

At Hyang’s concession, Choi Hae-san opened his mouth first.

“I was wondering if it would be a good idea to use beans.”

“I had the same thought!”

Hyang and Choi Hae-san immediately started experimenting with making soybean oil. Hyang and Choi Hae-san put their heads together after confirming the results of the experiment.

“It seems okay, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Let’s report to Father!”

“Yes!”

Sejong, who received the report, was overjoyed and looked at the ministers.

“The Crown Prince has made another contribution!”

“That’s right!”

“With this, we will be able to further strengthen the national defense of this Joseon!”

“We offer our congratulations!”

In the process of procuring beans, the beans from the bean fields connected to the ranch installed on Neobeol Island were used first. As a result of the test, it was confirmed that the bean dregs extracted from the oil could be used as feed for cows and pigs.

However, since the beans harvested from the bean fields belonging to the ranch alone could not meet the demand, Joseon gained the title of ‘the first country to officially recycle resources’ in world history.

The Joseon court’s efforts to obtain oil were a ‘war with the kitchen.’ Pig fat and beef fat were often used in cooking because they gave a savory taste when grilling or stir-frying food.

For this reason, the court paid money to collect pig bile and cow bile, and the word ‘Ji Jang-gun’ [bile general – a humorous title], was coined following the word ‘Dong Jang-gun’ [manure general – likely a pre-existing term for someone involved in waste management].

The court’s full-scale ‘war with the kitchen’ began because of beans.

At that time, beans were one of the important foods in Joseon. In addition, as much as it was said to be the ‘country of sauces’, the demand for beans was enormous as it was a country that made and ate a lot of soybean paste and soy sauce.

To solve this situation, Sejong came up with the best number.

“If farmers who volunteer to migrate to the northern frontier create bean fields, the court will purchase all of the harvest! Then, the problem of the migrants’ livelihood will be solved, and the problem of raw material supply will be solved!”

“We obey your command!”

Due to this method, a different result from the original history occurred, which was that the number of farmers who wanted to migrate to the north greatly increased.

Through these various attempts, Joseon was able to secure a way to greatly increase the production of Deokgap-style gunpowder. However, Hyang’s expression did not brighten much.

“Considering the amount we are consuming now, the amount we are increasing now is not enough. The amount used by the military has increased, but the amount used by the private sector is also not insignificant.”

Frowning at the reports from the Ministry of Public Works piled up on one side of the desk, complaining about the lack of gunpowder, Hyang muttered while looking at the world map hanging on the wall.

“It’s still the South…”

* * *

“Is this all you’ve seen?”

Sejong, who had an epiphany after arguing about gunpowder, looked at Hyang with a slightly disappointed expression.

Hyang shook his head at Sejong’s question.

“No, the most important things are left.”

“The most important things?”

“First, I will show you the Chongtong [a type of cannon]. General.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Hey! Call the Chongtong soldiers!”

“Yes, General!”

After a while, a group of Chongtong soldiers entered the demonstration ground.

“Hut, two! Hut, two! Stand in your place! Left face!”

Chachak!

At the command of the supervising officer, the Chongtong soldiers, with long Chongtong placed on their right shoulders, moved in unison and faced Sejong.

“Present – arms!”

“Chung!”

At the commander’s command, the Chongtong soldiers simultaneously took a military salute.

Sejong, who returned the salute to the soldiers, did not spare praise for General Choi Hae-san and Hyang.

“Looking at the soldiers’ unity and discipline, they are not ordinary elites! It seems that the efforts of the Crown Prince and the General are visible!”

“They are truly elite soldiers!”

“It has been quite a long time since I entered the court, but I have not seen such elite soldiers easily!”

The ministers also did not spare praise for Sejong’s praise.

The faces of the Chongtong soldiers, who received the praise of Sejong and the ministers, were full of pride. Hyang’s face, who saw the scene from the side, was also full of pride.

‘I rolled them so hard to make them do the drill!’

When a satisfactory number of rifles were made, Hyang requested Sejong for support from soldiers and military officers.

When the military officers and soldiers who had been taken in that way arrived, Hyang could not hide his disappointment.

“I was told that they were selected from the Siwisa (侍街司) [Capital Garrison] and belonged to the training center… I think they are elites, but…”

Compared to the military life he had experienced in the 21st century and the armies of the European powers in the 19th century and the US military during the Civil War that he had seen through movies, the military discipline and elite of the soldiers in front of him were quite lacking.

Hyang tilted his head and pondered, then clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! I can’t help it. I have to roll them [train them hard].” So the soldiers were first mobilized to build their accommodations and a large-scale test site to test various weapons.

“I thought I came because of military problems…”

The soldiers, who picked up shovels instead of weapons as soon as they arrived, were a little puzzled, but they were not very dissatisfied. This was because Hyang was amazing at giving them food. At least once every three days, pork and beef were served.

The soldiers were excited and had a meat feast. In the meantime, a peculiar instrument caught the soldiers’ eyes, which was a grill placed on the brazier.

The thick cast iron instrument had grooves on all four sides, and the oil from the grilled meat flowed along the grooves and collected in a bowl.

And when the meal was over, the bowls went straight to the artisans’ workshops.

While the soldiers were mobilized for construction, Hyang put his head together with General Choi Hae-san, General Yi Cheon, and the military officers from the training center. They created the names of each part of the newly created Chongtong and created the commands for the drill.

“Will these drills, movements, and slogans that Your Highness has named drills really be useful? We are already doing similar training.”

The military officers of the training center, who first heard Hyang’s words, doubted its necessity.

The battles they had experienced in the military were clashes between groups and groups. The tactic to win such a battle was not to break the ranks until the end. And the Joseon army also faithfully trained in that regard.

“So was that the disgrace that happened during the Conquest of Tsushima Island?”

The military officers closed their mouths at Hyang’s criticism.

At the time of the Conquest of Tsushima Island, Yi Jong-mu decided to attack their base in order to destroy the Wokou [Japanese pirates] who did not give up resistance.

For this attack, Yi Jong-mu drew lots to see who would go between the commanders of the left and right armies. As a result of the lottery, Park Sil’s left army landed and began to advance, but the ranks collapsed due to the enemy’s surprise attack, and only about 180 people died.

It was a natural result that Hyang, who had obtained and read the report at the time, burst into anger, saying, ‘There was no strategy or tactics!’ Even if the strategy was put aside, even in terms of tactics, after landing the left army, they did not properly establish additional operations on how to respond when faced with the enemy’s surprise attack or other problems, and the left army alone was pushing in.

In the end, because Hyang’s criticism was valid, the military officers conducted research on drills and bayonet fighting with Hyang.