Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 757

757. Encounter (2)

Hyang, who had been grumbling while looking at the sky, took a deep breath.

“Hoo… ha…”

Having composed himself with a deep breath, Hyang reviewed the report and continued.

“I guess it’s fortunate that we seem to have prevented a pandemic of a disease that would have gone down in history.”

The identity of the ‘disease’ Hyang mentioned was smallpox.

* * *

Through Hyang’s smallpox vaccination, recorded in the Veritable Records as ‘the Crown Prince’s self-harm incident,’ Sejong learned how to prevent smallpox.

At the time, Sejong initially intended to conduct test vaccinations on the residents of the capital, Hanseong, and then implement nationwide vaccinations based on the results.

However, Ryu Su-yeong, the Chief State Councilor at the time, and conservative officials strongly opposed this, leading to a confrontation with Sejong.

On the surface, the conflict revolved around ‘the risk of the uncertain method of cowpox vaccination,’ but internally, it was a challenge from the old guard of the Shin-gweon faction [established power group], who sought to prevent Sejong’s monopolization of power.

In the process of this conflict, Ryu Su-yeong and the veteran officials who sympathized with him were purged on a large scale, and the court underwent a major reshuffle.

Having completely seized power through the purge, Sejong actively expanded cowpox vaccination.

As time passed, smallpox almost disappeared in Joseon, or rather, the Empire. Occasionally, rumors of outbreaks were heard, but most were in outlying areas such as Bukjina Jongjangdo [Northern China’s Frontier Islands].

However, even those outlying areas gradually escaped the nightmare of smallpox, starting with Daeseol Island, and the Empire’s medical personnel were doing their best to eradicate smallpox in Bukji [Northern territories].

Because of this past, the natives of Shinji were largely free from the threat of smallpox.

That wasn’t all.

Whenever the natives of Shinji pledged allegiance, the imperial people invariably vaccinated them with cowpox.

The natives, who saw pus being taken from a creature that looked like a hairless bison and injected into them for the first time, asked the reason through the natives who were in charge of translation, or through gestures.

Whenever they received such questions, the imperial people pointed to those whose faces were scarred from having had smallpox before vaccination and explained.

“If you don’t get this, you’ll end up like that later.”

Upon hearing such answers, the natives offered their arms to the doctors without hesitation.

Of course, the people who became the specimens protested with tearful faces.

“Why me? It’s not like I wanted to have this face!”

“Sorry. But aren’t you the only one among us who has had smallpox?”

“Still…”

“I’ll give you a special bonus and compensation instead.”

“How much will you give me?”

And those who received the reward and checked the amount became proactive.

“I’ve already ruined my life! Please call me again next time!”

Through this process, the natives also actively vaccinated with cowpox, and the risk of smallpox was greatly reduced.

* * *

Meanwhile, as the Empire’s exchanges widened, the existence and efficacy of cowpox began to be known.

The first to learn about the effects of cowpox were naturally Ming and Japan.

There were cases of smallpox occurring around the Joseon trading posts—later renamed the Imperial Concessions—established in Ming and Japan.

Because it was such a highly contagious disease, the officials around the trading posts requested help from the doctors residing in the trading posts.

Hyang had anticipated that this was highly likely to happen, so he advised Sejong, and Sejong and the court, accepting this, issued an order to the trading posts.

-If there is a request for doctors due to disease or natural disasters around the trading post, provide support.

-Even if it is far from the trading post, if it is not too far, the person in charge and the doctors should discuss and decide whether to provide support.

Thanks to the prior order, the doctors at the trading posts immediately rushed to the scene.

Because there was a shortage of manpower to treat the patients, the doctors brought people working at the trading posts to help them.

Experiencing this, the locals had one question.

“Aren’t the Joseon people afraid of smallpox?”

This was because the Joseon people were not afraid to come into contact with patients whose bodies were covered with inflammation and pus.

“I can understand the doctors doing that. But aren’t those assistants people who used to work at the trading post?”

“That’s right. Something’s strange, isn’t it?”

It was natural to be suspicious of the Joseon people who were nursing the patients.

The people of Ming and Japan all knew that once you had smallpox, you would not get it again.

However, after having smallpox, most people had scars on their bodies.

They could become so horribly pockmarked that they looked scary, and there was a high possibility of suffering from serious aftereffects such as blindness or physical disabilities.

Lucky people only had light scars, and there were those who got through it without any traces, which was called heavenly fortune, but they were a very small minority.

However, the faces and hands of the Joseon people moving in the smallpox-ridden area were so clean.

If they had not had smallpox, there was no way they would be moving so actively.

It was strange that there were so many people who had passed through without any traces of heavenly fortune.

“It doesn’t make sense that only the Joseon people are special and pass through smallpox without any traces, does it?”

“That’s right. I’ve seen more than one or two pockmarked Joseon people before.”

In order to solve the deepening question, the people of Ming and Japan soon came to a similar conclusion.

-The Joseon people know a treatment related to smallpox, or a way to prevent smallpox!

This story immediately reached the ears of the leaders of Ming and Japan, and envoys from Ming and Japan immediately rushed to Hanseong.

-If there is a treatment for smallpox, or a way to prevent it, please let us know!

At the time, Sejong and the court officials had a fierce debate over the requests from Ming and Japan.

-Although there are past grudges, they are currently countries that are practicing diplomacy with us. Moreover, it is a matter related to human lives, so it is right to inform them.

-Both countries are countries that could turn into enemies at any time. To do something that helps such countries is an act of treason!

Both sides had valid reasons, so a conclusion was not easily reached.

In this situation, Hyang stepped forward.

“I think it’s good to let them know.”

Hyang’s argument was as follows.

-It is true that both countries are countries that could turn into enemies at any time. However, there are already many people from Ming and Japan residing in Joseon.

-And we are vaccinating with cowpox every year. Therefore, it will not be long before they know that cowpox vaccination is a way to prevent smallpox.

-Of course, they will not immediately find out that the medicine used for vaccination is cowpox, but they will find out if they put in the effort. This is because they have a history of performing human vaccination during the Yuan Dynasty, and there are documents recording cases of cowpox, even if in small quantities.

-Finally, if we inform them of this and spread the word widely through the Joseon trading posts, the people of Ming and Japan will deeply admire our Joseon.

Sejong and the officials accepted Hyang’s opinion and informed Ming and Japan of the cowpox vaccination method.

Of course, it was also natural to spread the word through the trading posts at the same time.

And it was natural for Joseon to be on the lips of the people of Ming and Japan.

“There was such a method?”

“Wow! Joseon is amazing after all!”

As Hyang had predicted, the people of Ming and Japan became favorable to Joseon. No, they changed even more than that.

“I heard that Joseon has stones that can light a fire just by pouring water on them.”

“Really? I want to know what that stone is. If I dig it up and sell it, I can make a lot of money, right?”

“Well, I heard that it’s not a stone dug from the ground, but something made by people?”

“Is that possible?”

“I heard that the Crown Prince of Joseon made it by employing artisans?”

“That’s amazing…”

“Why? I heard that a cart made of iron carries people without cows or horses?”

“Oh, come on!”

The people of Ming and Japan, who were half-doubtful, exclaimed when the rumors were confirmed to be true.

“Joseon is really amazing!”

“Hey, I heard that the Seoyi [Westerners] of the West call Joseon the ‘Land of Flowers.'”

“‘Land of Flowers’ …”

As they savored the word ‘Land of Flowers,’ they muttered softly.

“Can’t I live in Joseon too?”

“I want to live in Joseon.”

* * *

These reactions were similar in the Middle East and Europe.

Smallpox was a frequent disease in the Middle East and Europe, and it was just as deadly.

In particular, smallpox occurred frequently in the Mediterranean region as slaves were brought in large numbers from Africa.

Whenever this happened near Alexandria, Suez, or Aden, it was natural for the Joseon people there to step in and help.

And as Joseon changed into an empire and students and professors from Europe began to come in earnest, more and more people began to wonder.

“That’s strange? Why isn’t smallpox prevalent in the Empire?”

“Isn’t that because they created a separate quarantine station at the port?”

“That’s true for the sea route. But isn’t the sea route the only way to get to the Empire? How are you going to block the land route?”

“You can block important areas on land with fortresses and set up quarantine stations, right?”

“Have you forgotten the siege of Kaffa in the old days? What if they throw corpses that died of smallpox with catapults?”

“That’s true…”

It was a natural step for the students and professors who were racking their brains to conclude that there was a ‘cure.’

And they submitted a joint petition to Hyang, who was the emperor at the time.

-We appeal to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Korean Federal Empire.

When the commoners came to the Empire, they saw that the people of this great Empire were living without worrying about smallpox.

This is thanks to the grace of the omnipotent God and the good governance of His Majesty the Great Emperor, as well as the fact that there is a way to cure smallpox.

Therefore, we kneel down and cry out.

If there is a way to cure or prevent smallpox, please have mercy and share your knowledge.

If Your Majesty, who rules this great Empire, shows mercy, all the people of Europe will praise Your Majesty’s name, and all the poets of Europe will write poems honoring Your Majesty. Furthermore, not only the people of Europe but also all the monarchs of Europe will admire Your Majesty.

Hyang, who read the joint petition of the students and professors, smiled bitterly and muttered.

“They wrote so long.”

Hyang put down the petition and thought for a moment before coming to a conclusion.

“It’s already known to Ming and Japan, and Ming and Europe are also starting to trade in earnest. If I’m not careful, only Ming and Japan will benefit. I have to let them know.”

Hyang, who decided to pass on the method of smallpox vaccination, smiled bitterly and muttered.

“I feel sorry for Dr. Jenner, but who cares? How many accidents have I caused?”

Hyang had become a model of irresponsibility before he knew it.