Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1179

1179. Aftermath (7)

Upon hearing this, the scholars, who initially looked dismayed, quickly composed themselves and focused on Hyang.

‘He said he would definitely consider it. He came directly instead of registering it in the Challenge Log? This is definitely an opportunity!’

‘It will be difficult, but it also means we can see results quickly!’

The scholars and artisans evaluated Hyang’s approach as follows:

-His Majesty, the Taetaesangwang [Grand Internal Prince, a title for a close male relative of the Emperor], understands the reality of the Empire better than anyone else.

Hyang immediately added anything that seemed difficult to the Challenge Log.

On the other hand, tasks that could yield quick results were assigned as projects, as he was doing now.

Of course, the bodies and minds of those assigned to these projects would be weary.

Nevertheless, it was far better than the ‘soul-crushing’ tasks in the Challenge Log that required generations to complete. Therefore, the scholars, having quickly composed themselves, looked at Hyang with shining eyes.

“What is it that we need to consider?”

Hyang smiled at the scholars’ question and replied,

“It’s about electric lighting.”

“Lighting?”

“Indeed.”

Hyang continued his explanation.

-Currently, lights are installed on every street in Seoul to illuminate the roads.

-Moreover, lights are needed not only on the streets but also in commoners’ homes and government offices.

-However, until now, we have been using lamps that use candles or oil.

-This has many inconveniences. And it’s not just inconvenience; since lamps use fire, the risk of fire accidents cannot be avoided.

-Therefore, if we can create electric lights, it would be of great help.

-Especially, it would be useful in mines and military camps.

“…So, I want you to consider it. It will be of great help to the people.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the scholars began to rack their brains.

‘I’ve often heard stories about accidents caused by mishandling fire in mines.’

‘It is indeed dangerous to place lamps near gunpowder.’

Although the scholars were making somewhat positive assessments, the most important problem remained.

‘How?’

‘We need to find a clue to set the direction, but the process of finding that clue takes the most time.’

In the end, the scholars had no choice but to rely on Hyang.

“We understand why Your Majesty the Taetaesangwang has given us this task. And we believe there is potential… But…”

“Frankly speaking, the problem is the clue.”

As the scholars openly pleaded, Hyang smiled and replied,

“I also pondered over that problem for a while. And then, it suddenly occurred to me. When lightning strikes in the night sky, doesn’t it become as bright as day? Wouldn’t it be possible to find out the principle behind this and use it? So, I’ve been doing this and that in my spare time… It seems better to show you than to explain it.”

The scholars and Hyang moved to the laboratory.

Hyang, wearing thick Chicle [a type of natural gum] gloves, held two strands of wire connected to a generator in both hands and looked at the scholars.

“When these two wires are brought close together…”

Zap!

Instantly, sparks flashed between the wires.

“Huh?”

“Aha!”

In an instant, the scholars’ faces brightened. What Hyang had just shown them was an ‘accident’ they had often experienced themselves.

‘From one perspective, it’s an accident, but if we can safely utilize such a phenomenon… It’s possible!’

‘It may seem like an accident, but it can also be useful… Is this what they call Yin and Yang [complementary opposites] in Eastern philosophy!’

The scholars were even thinking about Eastern philosophy in an instant. In any case, the scholars, who thought they had found a clue, replied to Hyang with bright faces.

“It seems possible!”

“It won’t be easy, but we think we can see results quickly!”

Confirming the scholars’ positive reactions, Hyang wore a satisfied expression and continued,

“Is that so? I’ll trust you then.”

“Leave it to us! We will not disappoint Your Majesty the Taetaesangwang!”

Amidst the bold assurances, there were also realistic scholars.

“It will definitely be a difficult path. However, this can be solved with our efforts, but the problem is the budget.”

“Ah… the budget…”

As the scholars looked dismayed, Hyang immediately provided an answer.

“If the budget is insufficient, try reaching out to the Imperial Army. Especially the Navy.”

“Ah!”

* * *

When asked who was having the most trouble with lighting issues, the first to be mentioned were the Imperial Army, especially the Navy.

It was because of gunpowder.

Gunpowder was used not only by the military but also at civil engineering sites and mines, but compared to the military, it was insignificant.

Therefore, the Imperial Army was troubled by the issue of storing this gunpowder.

The Army was relatively better off.

They could build gunpowder depots of appropriate size at a considerable distance or dig caves in the mountains to store gunpowder.

However, this was impossible for the Navy, especially for battleships.

What was worse was that in the case of the Army, even if an accident occurred, the damage could be contained to one or two gunpowder depots, but in the case of the Navy, the entire precious battleship would be lost.

Therefore, when the weather was bad or they encountered a storm, the first thing the Imperial Navy did was to turn off the lamps in the gunpowder depot.

No, even before that, they assessed the character of the soldiers and officers managing the gunpowder depot.

‘Skills can be taught, but character cannot be taught.’

This was the value commonly held by the Imperial Army. Therefore, they assessed the character of not only officer applicants but also enlisted soldiers.

In addition, they gave various allowances to those in the department managing gunpowder and listened to various ‘petitions.’

* * *

Using the clue provided by Hyang, the scholars continued their research.

Thanks to Hyang also joining in and throwing out various hints, the scholars’ research began to speed up a bit more.

Of course, even so, trial and error could not be avoided, but Hyang saw the results sooner than expected.

The first electric light that the scholars presented was an arc lamp.

“We made electrodes out of charcoal and passed electricity through them, and the results were very good.”

Zzzzt, zzzzt.

Although there was a loud noise, the glass sphere was shining brightly.

“Not bad. We need to show this to His Majesty the Emperor, so make a lot of these.”

“Yes.”

Ten days later, in the evening, a demonstration of the arc lamp, named the discharge lamp, was held.

“Now, we will turn on the lights!”

At the signal of the scholar acting as the emcee, the researchers behind him closed the switches on the wires.

Pat, pat, pat! Zzzzt!

“Ooh!”

“It’s so bright!”

As the arc lamps began to shine brightly with a loud noise, those who saw it for the first time repeatedly expressed their admiration.

“Truly amazing! Amazing! The scholars’ talents are so wondrous! Truly commendable!”

Woo, greatly impressed, praised the scholars and expressed his gratitude to Hyang next to him.

“I heard that Taetaesangwang started this project! Thank you so much for solving something that no one could have easily thought of!”

“You flatter me. It was possible because of those scholars and researchers. Their contribution is truly great.”

“I will give them great rewards! And when this is carried out as a business, I will give them sufficient shares!”

At Woo’s declaration, all the scholars and researchers who were listening bowed deeply and shouted.

“Your grace is boundless!”

* * *

The rumor of the development of the discharge lamp soon spread in all directions.

The most welcoming of this news were the military. Ironically, the military was where bright lighting was needed.

The most representative uses were that the lighting of the light communication devices and lighthouses became several times brighter, and gunpowder depots could also be lit more safely.

Of course, the noise unique to the discharge lamp was a problem, but it was not a big problem for the military, especially the Navy.

Since the installation of steam engines and generators on battleships, noise had become like a familiar friend.

However, there were also those who frowned at the news of the development of this discharge lamp.

They were the administrators suffering from night shifts.

“Until now, we could take a breather by saying, ‘The lamp is out of oil, the wick is gone, the candle is gone,’ but now we can’t even use that excuse.”

“Right? We can’t even secretly open the window on windy nights anymore.”

“This is a big problem. Now we’re going to be squeezed dry.”

Even when everyone was frowning at the bleak future, there were those who found hope.

“I heard that the discharge whatchamacallit lamp is so noisy. Then it’s probably not something we can use in government offices, right?”

“That’s right! If it’s so noisy, it’ll be hard to concentrate when doing official work!”

“If the ministers and lords try to bring in those lamps, let’s oppose it together!”

However, the administrators’ faint hope was shattered by Hyang.

* * *

Not long after the successful development of the discharge lamp, Hyang visited the scholars again.

“Many people have received great help from the development of the discharge lamp. Your contribution is great.”

“You flatter us. It would have been impossible if Your Majesty the Taetaesangwang had not given us guidance.”

In this friendly atmosphere of exchanging compliments, Hyang brought up the main point.

“But, I have come to realize that there is one problem with that discharge lamp.”

“What is the problem?”

At Hyang’s remark, the scholars became tense and focused on Hyang.

Hyang, having gathered the scholars’ attention, explained what the problem was.

“It’s too noisy. It might be okay for streets, battleships, or lighthouses, but I think it’s too noisy to use in commoners’ homes.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s point, the scholars nodded.

“Therefore, I want you to consider a quieter electric lamp.”

“A quieter lamp…”

“Hmm… Maybe it’s possible if we adjust the intensity of the discharge phenomenon?”

Hearing the scholars’ muttering, Hyang added MSG [Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer] once again.

“I have also been doing this and that with electricity in my own way. Let’s move to another place for a moment.”

Moving to the laboratory, Hyang pointed to the wire that was glowing red due to electrical overheating and said,

“How about using such an overheating phenomenon?”

“However, if something flammable touches such an overheated wire, it could immediately cause a big fire.”

“It seems like we could cover it with a glass shell, like the glass sphere of the discharge lamp or the glass tube of the lamp.”

“Even if something flammable doesn’t touch it, if it overheats like that, there’s a problem that it will catch fire on its own.”

“As far as I know, combustion requires oxygen in the air. Then wouldn’t it be enough to remove the air inside the glass sphere?”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars froze. Conversely, the scholars’ brains began to spin rapidly.

‘Wait, alchemists said that fire requires oxygen in the air, right?’

‘Combustion is also a type of oxidation! Then if there is no oxygen, oxidation will not occur!’

‘We know how to create a vacuum…’

After spinning their heads like that, the scholars came to similar conclusions.

‘It’s possible!’

‘This is definitely possible!’

The scholars, having reached a conclusion, shouted in unison.

“It seems possible!”

At this, Hyang smiled and replied,

“Is that so? Then I’ll trust you once again.”

“Leave it to us!”

And the scholars who were conducting the experiment reached one conclusion.

-There is enough possibility! The problem is what to make the wick that emits light!

-It’s a matter of material! It must be a material that has a sufficiently long lifespan but is cheap!

-If the material is expensive, it won’t make money!

-Profitability is the ultimate criterion!

The scholars had become even more familiar with the logic of capitalism thanks to the discharge lamp.

* * *

Even while the scholars of the Electrical Engineering Department were becoming ‘incarnations of capitalism’ and grinding themselves and their research students, discharge lamps were steadily being produced and spread to various places.

First, the lights installed on the streets of Seoul and major cities were replaced with discharge lamps.

Next, the lights in the lighthouses installed in the ports began to be replaced with discharge lamps.

The battleships of the Imperial Navy were also being scheduled to re-enter the shipyards for discharge lamp installation work.

As the nights of the Empire were gradually becoming brighter, the envoys from France and England visited Seoul.

France was there to borrow funds, and England was there to renegotiate various conditions regarding the purchase of cruisers.

After passing through quarantine and unpacking their luggage at the consulates in Seoul, the envoys were horrified by the night streets, which were brighter than before.

“What the hell are these crazy bastards doing again?”

“This is definitely the work of the Demon King! I’m sure of it!”