Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1035

1035. That Thrilling Name… Electricity. (3)

Following the Department of Electrical Engineering’s ‘sudden reversal,’ other departments in the research institute and academies began to step up their game.

“Let’s get a glimpse of the Supreme Emperor’s face too!”

Being personally summoned by Hyang and Hyeon to lecture, or having Hyang and Hyeon personally come to listen to lectures, was the honor of a lifetime. No, it didn’t just end with honor. Being recognized by Hyang and Hyeon, especially Hyang, meant that one’s achievements were acknowledged. Immediately, their treatment changed, and they could receive much more abundant funding.

It was a golden opportunity to secure both fame and fortune. And if they were to receive a research project from Hyang, then the situation would change again. If the grade of the project Hyang presented was above ‘as long as you work hard, you can achieve anything,’ it was worth dedicating a lifetime to.

“If I solve this project, my name will be etched in history forever!”

The administrators, seeing these scholars, shook their heads.

“No, they’re willingly jumping into a path that’s clearly hell. I can’t understand it.”

“They’re willingly wanting to receive projects; it’s truly unpredictable…”

“Those who study physics are incomprehensible…”

“If my child wanted to study physics, I’d break their legs to stop them…”

* * *

Amidst this fervor, a major event occurred in the Medical Academy.

The discovery of the ‘cell.’ The existence of this ‘cell’ sparked a fierce debate between the physicians of the Medical Academy and those practicing in the field, with opinions divided for and against. High-ranking officials repeatedly issued warnings, feeling that the debate had become overheated and deviated from its original purpose, but the arguments of the physicians, divided into opposing sides, remained heated.

In response, veteran physicians and those renowned for their high level of medical skill jointly submitted a petition to Hyeon.

-“….Therefore, the physicians have lost their initial purpose and are only engaging in verbal battles, so we beseech Your Majesty to govern them.”

Reading the joint petition, Hyeon sighed without realizing it.

“Hoo~. This is not an easy task.”

‘Why! Why medicine of all things! I’m confident I could talk about steam engines and ships for three days and nights, but I don’t know anything about medicine!’

Hyeon, whose eyes darkened because it wasn’t his area of expertise, looked at his officials.

“What should I do?”

“……”

At Hyeon’s question, the officials remained silent and only bowed their heads.

‘Like the electricity issue last time, the things related to physics that are coming up these days are full of incomprehensible words…’

‘If it were the Four Books and Five Classics [Confucian texts] or other scriptures, I could argue for a hundred days…’

The officials were in the same situation as Hyeon, so they could only offer a fundamental answer.

“Your subjects have shallow knowledge of medicine, so we cannot rashly judge what is right or wrong. Therefore, we believe it is best to summon the royal physician and hear their story first.”

“That’s right. Go and summon the royal physician.”

Shortly after, the physicians summoned by Hyeon entered the Geunjeongjeon [main hall of Gyeongbok Palace] in droves.

“No, I summoned the royal physician, but why have even the chief physicians come?”

At Hyeon’s question, the chief physicians prostrated themselves on the floor and immediately answered.

“We heard that Your Majesty summoned the royal physician because of the cell. This is a point of contention even among the royal physician and chief physicians, so we came together. Please forgive our disrespect.”

“So, the royal physician and chief physicians are also in dispute over this cell issue?”

“That is correct.”

“Hoo~.”

With a long sigh, Hyeon placed his hand on his forehead and soon ordered the physicians.

“I understand. Return.”

At Hyeon’s command, the physicians quietly paid their respects and left the Geunjeongjeon.

“Hoo~.”

At Hyeon’s sigh, Han Myeong-hoe cautiously opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, how about seeking assistance from the Supreme Emperor?”

“From the Supreme Emperor? Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Hyeon rose from his seat.

“That seems to be the best option.”

* * *

Hyang, who received Hyeon’s SOS, moved immediately.

Arriving at the Medical Academy, Hyang was guided to the largest lecture hall.

‘I just want to say, cells exist! That’s right! Bang, bang, bang! Situation over! But this isn’t a situation where I can do that.’

Sitting down, Hyang looked at the physicians and students filling the lecture hall and opened his mouth.

“So…. who was the first to claim this ‘cell’?”

“It is I.”

Looking at the front-line physician who hesitated, Hyang continued the question.

“What is the basis for claiming the existence of cells?”

“I mainly deal with external injuries. When dealing with external injuries…”

Summarizing the physician’s explanation, it was as follows:

-While treating broken or cut wounds, I had doubts.

-I came to think that it would be more accurate to say that they are clusters of smaller things, named cells, rather than just a lump of flesh or bone.

-To determine whether this idea was valid, I made a tool through a craftsman, and through this tool, I confirmed the existence of cells.

“Hmm…. What is that tool? Can I see it now?”

“Yes! I’ll bring it right now!”

Shortly after, Hyang, seeing the object brought by the physician, asked the physician.

“Did you name it? What is the structure?”

“I named it a microscope, and the structure is taken from a telescope. I thought that the principle of seeing things far away up close and seeing small things magnified was similar.”

“I see…”

Hyang, receiving the microscope that looked similar to a monocle, asked the physician.

“How do you use it?”

After learning how to use it from the physician, Hyang put the microscope to his eye and briefly raised his head.

“Is it because of my presbyopia [age-related farsightedness]? I can’t see it well.”

At Hyang’s words, one of the physicians stood up from his seat and said to Hyang.

“That’s exactly why we deny the existence of cells! The only one who has seen the cell through that tool called a microscope is the one who claimed the cell—only one person! This cannot be said to be definitive evidence!”

Hyang nodded at the opposing physician’s claim.

“Your opinion is reasonable.”

The physician who first claimed the cell had a greatly disappointed face at Hyang’s words. Looking at such a physician, Hyang continued.

“However, this physician’s claim is also reasonable in its own way, and the process of proving it is also reasonable. However, evidence that everyone can accept has not yet come out. I think it’s certain that this is because the performance of the tool is not good. First of all, we need to improve the performance of this microscope. That way, wouldn’t we know whether it’s your illusion or whether the eyesight of those who oppose it was weak? What do you think?”

“I think it’s the best!”

All the physicians in the room agreed to Hyang’s suggestion. In response, Hyang rose from his seat and ordered the eunuch.

“Summon Da Vinci to Sugang Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Hyang was about to return after making a conclusion that wasn’t a conclusion, one of the physicians asked a question.

“Forgive me, but what does Your Majesty think about cells?”

“I will not answer until a better performing microscope comes out.”

* * *

When Hyang arrived at Sugang Palace, Da Vinci, who had been notified and was waiting in advance, ran up and paid his respects.

“Your Majesty, did you call me?”

“Ah, there is something I would like to commission you to make.”

Da Vinci’s eyes began to sparkle at Hyang’s command.

“Just give the order!”

“Come in.”

Da Vinci, having received the structure and required performance of the microscope from Hyang, was confined to Area 51 [a secret research facility, likely a humorous reference] and devoted himself to manufacturing. After nearly two months, Da Vinci, who had produced a satisfactory result, reported this to Hyang.

“I have completed up to the performance Your Majesty requested.”

“Then why didn’t you bring it?”

“To make it more beautiful…”

“Bring it right now!”

“……Yes.”

Hyang, receiving the microscope from Da Vinci in that way, headed to the Medical Academy.

And the ‘existence of cells’ was recognized.

“Your claim was correct. Congratulations.”

“Thank you so much!”

The physician who claimed the cell theory expressed his gratitude with a tear-stained face at Hyang’s praise. Returning to Sugang Palace, Hyang muttered softly.

“The discovery of cells is important, but what’s more important is that a usable microscope has come out. How many people will just leave that alone?”

And the trend flowed as Hyang expected. As the concept of cells and the existence of microscopes became known, various departments began to introduce and use them. However, the department that would use it most actively was, of course, the Medical Academy.

It was a microscope with better performance than the magnifying glasses they had been using. The physicians made all sorts of specimens and observed them. Thanks to this, rumors spread that all the meat from the butcher shops around the Medical Academy had run out.

As these enthusiastic observations continued, more and more medical knowledge began to accumulate. But the most groundbreaking of these was the ‘discovery of capillaries.’ With the discovery of these capillaries, Galen’s theory of blood, which had been considered certain until then, collapsed.

* * *

After the Medical Academy was established, the department that visibly developed was surgery. At the same time, surgery was a heterogeneous department that deviated the most from tradition. This was because the level of anatomical knowledge in traditional Korean medicine was very low.

Therefore, Hyang brought in a large number of medical books from Byzantium and Islamic countries, and surgeons unexpectedly had to learn Latin. As a result, surgery followed the system and theory of the West, not the system and theory of Korean medicine.

However, they did not just blindly follow it. While treating many trauma patients through military doctors, who served as a kind of regional emergency trauma center, they discovered the gap between theory and reality and accumulated knowledge to find solutions. With the addition of microscopes to this accumulated experience and knowledge, Galen’s theory of blood, which had been considered an immutable truth, finally collapsed.

With the discovery and activity of capillaries, the role sharing between arteries and veins, which had been ambiguous until then, became clear. One of the challenges in the Ugong Yisan [likely a reference to a difficult task] grade of the Challenge Log was solved.

Hyang, having confirmed the report on this, suggested to Hyeon.

“This is related to human life, so I think it is good to spread it widely. Therefore, I ask the Emperor to allow it to be widely known.”

Hyeon immediately nodded at Hyang’s request.

“Sometimes, spreading it widely rather than hiding it can make it more precious. I understand. I will accept the Supreme Emperor’s request.”

Soon, according to Hyeon’s order, papers translated into Chinese characters, Latin, and Arabic were loaded onto ships and headed to Ming [Chinese dynasty], Japan, the Middle East, and Europe. Doctors and scholars who received the papers were turned upside down.

“Galen’s theory is wrong? What’s the basis?”

The scholars who checked the papers ran to the nearby Imperial Merchant Guild and placed an order.

“Get me a microscope!”

“Get me the Empire’s medical books! The most recent ones! All of them!”

The imperial merchants had a difficult expression at the scholars’ orders.

“Microscopes are not military equipment, so there is no big problem…”

“Medical books are the problem.”

“It’s not that the country prohibits exporting them… Hoo~.”

The imperial merchants who were talking sighed.

“Medical books are terribly expensive and terribly voluminous.”