Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1046

1046. The Age of War – The Age of Copycats. (5)

Before they knew it, the development of new flying machines had become a competition between District 51 and District 52.

“We have the Grand Emperor Emeritus!”

“We have the Emperor!”

“Oh ho? You underestimate the greatness of the Grand Emperor Emeritus!”

“Really? You underestimate the Emperor’s dedication to flying machines!”

The private messages exchanged between artisans were almost 80% filled with such arguments. And whenever the artisans of District 51 emphasized Wan’s sincerity towards flying machines, the artisans of District 52 were slightly speechless. Although Hyang, the Grand Emperor Emeritus, was outstanding, he had dabbled in many things. Moreover, Hyang still came up with surprising and brilliant ideas from time to time, pushing the artisans into a world of creative suffering.

“That lighter also played a part.”

* * *

The ironworkers had to work hard to actually create the lighter that Hyang had designed, imitating a 21st-century Zippo lighter. The framework itself was extremely simple, but the precision required for the small parts that made up the lighter was difficult to achieve.

“Even the wick itself wasn’t simply made by twisting cotton thread, but also had to include copper wire…”

However, the lighter, which was the result of such hard work, became an unprecedented hit after the gold pen. Being able to easily light a fire was a huge advantage, regardless of whether you were in the East or West. And the variety of price ranges also played a part. From the cheapest ones with plain bodies to luxury items inlaid with gold and silver thread, people could buy them according to their means, which was one of the reasons for their success.

However, such success wouldn’t have been possible simply by being able to easily light a fire. Those who needed a portable tool that could light a fire immediately were housewives, pilgrims, soldiers, and peddlers. These people didn’t need expensive lighters with inlaid work. It was one of the few items that started in Shinji and spread, making the wealthy open their wallets.

It was tobacco, which the natives called “tabaco.” As tobacco spread to the Empire, as well as Ming [China under the Ming Dynasty], Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, the lighter became an incredibly lucrative product.

“Yeah… it would be strange if it didn’t spread…”

Hyang, who received the report that tabaco had begun to spread, wore an unavoidable expression.

* * *

Upon receiving reports from military doctors that coca leaves, which the natives of the Meshica region [Mesoamerica] chewed for pain relief and other purposes, showed hallucinatory symptoms and addiction as strong as opium, the Imperial Court immediately banned the chewing of coca leaves. It wasn’t just a simple ban, but a punishment that would force them to do hard labor alongside the Meshicans if they violated it. The natives immediately got rid of the coca leaves because they would be treated the same as the Meshicans, who were their mortal enemies.

Even without coca leaves, excellent medicines for pain relief and other treatments were being supplied, and there was tabaco. Of course, there was controversy in the Imperial Court because tabaco also had considerable addictive properties.

“There are downsides, but there are also benefits. And more than anything, isn’t it better than coca leaves?”

According to the decision of Wan, who was the Emperor at the time, the use of tabaco was permitted. And as time passed, tabaco began to gain popularity not only among the natives but also among the Imperial people of the mainland and the North, so the Imperial government, or rather, Im Soon-wook, moved quickly. They turned the sale of tabaco into a state-run business.

“Cultivation is up to you, but purchase, distribution, and sales are up to me!”

Hyang gave up on preventing the explosive spread of tabaco.

“…In the end, this is also something that cannot be helped.”

And Hyang dealt with MSG [Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer] in another way. He legalized the installation of smoking areas through Wan.

“There are people who hate tabaco as much as people who like it. However, I cannot take sides with either one, so I will create separate spaces where people can smoke! Those who smoke in other spaces will be punished!”

The first places where smoking areas were created were administrative organizations, starting with Gyeongbok Palace [the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty]. This was because a huge disaster could occur if a spark flew and caused a fire in a place full of papers and confidential documents.

“If you smoke tabaco in a non-smoking area, I will throw you into the records office without asking any questions!”

* * *

As tabaco spread worldwide during Hyun’s reign, Hyang released the lighter. And as the sales of this lighter soared, items that were illegally copied soon began to appear. However, the Empire wouldn’t leave this alone. Thanks to this, foreign merchants who had a bitter experience once chose a detour. They borrowed the framework of the Imperial lighter but chose a completely different shape.

-The method of creating fire by rubbing flint has been around since ancient times, so it isn’t unique to the Empire!

This was the detour they chose because even the Imperial Court of Justice had already made such a ruling. However, Hyang wasn’t worried at all.

“It’s how printer manufacturers make money. And it’s why I’m releasing the lighter again now.”

What Hyang thought was a real money-maker was the fuel that went into the lighter.

* * *

When Hyang was the Crown Prince, he had already made a lighter once. Due to the limitations of the technology at the time, it was made large and bulky, but it was still popular. However, its popularity didn’t last long. It was because of the fuel problem.

The fuel for the early lighter was alcohol. It had to have a very high purity to ignite even with a small flame. To do this, it had to be distilled several times, which meant that a lot of raw materials – alcohol – were needed. And to put it another way, it meant that a lot of grain was needed.

“There is often a shortage of grain for the people to eat! It isn’t right to use so much grain in lighters!”

There was a lot of opposition, and the reasons were valid, so King Sejong at the time ordered the sale of lighters to be stopped. And as time passed, it became possible to distill petroleum, and Hyang challenged the lighter again and succeeded as mass production and supply became possible.

* * *

As Hyang expected, foreign merchants were already making and selling their own lighters. However, they also had to use Imperial fuel. Using alcohol wasn’t profitable for them either. However, it wasn’t easy to use other oils either. It didn’t ignite well, or even if it did, it produced a lot of soot.

No matter how fancy it was made, lighters that produced a lot of soot didn’t attract the attention of the wealthy. Therefore, even though they made lighters different from the Empire, they used fuel made in the Empire.

* * *

Because of Hyang’s brilliant track record, the artisans of District 51 had nothing to say to the artisans of District 52. In the end, whenever this happened, the artisans of District 51 insisted on ‘stubbornness’. However, more realistic artisans, regardless of District 51 or District 52, muttered as follows.

“Whether there is a Grand Emperor Emeritus or an Emperor, the fact that we have to do all the hard work doesn’t change.”

Although there was such fierce competition, there were commonalities. First of all, the most important engine was that both sides adopted a new external combustion engine. At this time, the only power plant with a relatively good thrust-to-weight ratio was the new external combustion engine.

“….It’s not the only one. How much did I roll Da Vinci and the artisans to increase the efficiency of this… But, hoo~.”

Hyang sighed deeply and looked at the blueprint with a look full of regret.

“However, it is also true that internal combustion engines cannot keep up with real efficiency. To properly run an internal combustion engine, there are not one or two technologies needed, starting with electricity…”

Hyang’s worries deepened in front of the topic of power plants.

“Turbines have come out, but gas turbines and jet engines are also impossible. There is still no technology to make alloys that can withstand high temperatures. Hoo~.”

Hyang sighed deeply and began to write a document to submit to Hyun.

“The problems to be posted on the challenge log are piling up today…”

Besides the new external combustion engine, there were several commonalities on both sides.

-The frame of the fuselage is constructed using steel pipes and wood.

-Plywood is used for the skin of the fuselage.

-The area where the power plant and fuel tank are located and the cockpit are blocked with iron plates to ensure minimal safety.

-Finally, parachutes are provided to the pilots.

During Hyang’s time as Crown Prince, research on parachutes was also conducted as the Bigu [flying vehicle] and self-propelled flying Bigu appeared. The interesting thing is that this parachute wasn’t developed under Hyang’s guidance. The artisans themselves recognized the need and started development. This was because of the artisans’ desire to survive.

“We made that, but you know. Can you guarantee that it will fly and land safely a hundred times out of a hundred times?”

“No.”

“Then, what if something goes wrong and we fall straight from the sky?”

“We’re just saying goodbye to the world, what.”

“We need to find a way.”

This is how the research on parachutes began, and Hyang immediately gave permission when he found out about it. The use of plywood as a material to cover the outer skin of the fuselage was due to the experience gained from the Challenger-class battleships.

-The defensive power increases when the plates are stacked so that the wood grain crosses vertically or diagonally.

-Then, even if the thickness is thin, if you stack several layers similarly, it will be stronger than one thick layer, right?

The experience gained from the Challenger-class battleships wasn’t the only one. In order to prevent flames from spreading or water from entering due to holes in the hull, the Challenger-class hull was divided into several bulkheads and compartments. The artisans who remembered this applied it to the flying machine.

“Even if we can’t help other parts, we have to block the engine room and the cockpit. We need to buy at least the minimum amount of time needed when something goes wrong.”

The artisans faithfully adhered to the ‘priority of survivability’ concept that Hyang had emphasized so much that it was ingrained in their ears.

* * *

After such fierce competition, several designs were finally completed. Three types came out from District 51 and three types from District 52. This variety was allowed by Hyang and Wan. It was a natural thing for Wan, who had been sincere about flying machines since before, but Hyang’s case could be seen as unexpected. This was because the concept that Hyang had given to Da Vinci at first was only one.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor Emeritus, I am sorry to inform you, but I have something else in mind. Please allow me to consider it together.”

“Really? Do it that way. Ah? Now that it has happened, if anyone else has anything else in mind, have them put it out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

In this way, several types of designs came out.