Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1041

1041. That Thrilling Name… Electricity. (9)

Regardless of Hyang’s personal feelings, the scholars diligently sought the most appropriate words and symbols, drawing from Latin and ancient Greek. Ultimately, they chose ‘electron (ἤλεκτρον)’ and the Latin ‘electricus,’ derived from it, to represent electricity.

This word, ‘electron,’ meaning ‘amber (琥珀)’ in ancient Greek, was selected to honor Thales of Miletus, recognized as one of the first to study electricity. Following this, the selection process involved combining ‘E’ from ‘electricus’ with the initials of relevant terms.

For example, voltage, written as ‘전압’ (Jeonap) in Sino-Korean and ‘Electricus Intrare’ in Latin, was symbolized as EI. Similarly, resistance, ‘저항’ (Jeohang) in Sino-Korean and ‘Electricus Resistentia’ in Latin, became ER. The challenge arose with ‘current’.

The Latin word for ‘flow (流)’ was ‘Influunt,’ which, using the established method, would result in ‘EI,’ the same symbol as voltage. The committee, struggling to resolve this, proposed ‘EF’.

“It seems acceptable… but I’m still a little uneasy.”

Despite finalizing the words and symbols, the committee remained anxious. The members, along with professors and scholars from the Department of Electrical Engineering, felt a sense of unease, stemming from the memory of the chaos that only Hyang had been able to quell. Consequently, the committee decided to seek Hyang’s direct input.

“Hmm… it seems fine. But I’m not sure why you need my input on this?”

The committee members, initially relieved by Hyang’s response, appeared slightly embarrassed by his subsequent question. Hyang, understanding their hesitation, continued.

“Judging by the committee’s output since the last selection method was established, I assumed there wouldn’t be any opposition from the scholars?”

“That is correct. However, we feared this decision might set a precedent.”

“So, you’re seeking to leverage my authority?”

“We apologize, but that is indeed the case.”

“Hoo~.”

Hyang sighed and then advised the committee members.

“This sets a bad precedent. You must cultivate your own authority. How long will you continue to rely on me, or even His Majesty the Emperor? If similar issues arise in the future, will you expect your successors to seek out His Majesty? Why were you appointed as committee members in the first place? Wasn’t it because your expertise was recognized? What will you achieve if you undermine that authority yourselves?”

“We apologize.”

“We will ensure this does not happen again.”

“We will do our best.”

“I trust you will.”

The committee members, having received advice that was more of a reprimand from Hyang, departed his office. The old eunuch, who had seen them out, glanced around and whispered to them.

“Cheer up. At least he didn’t click his tongue.”

“Th, that’s right. Thank you.”

Encouraged by the eunuch’s words, the committee members’ faces brightened. The ‘tongue-clicking,’ a habit passed down among emperors since the time of Sejong [a famous Joseon dynasty king], had become a well-understood indicator of evaluation.

-Just criticizes or points out > You just have to not make the same mistake.

-Clicks his tongue once > Immediately corrects the pointed-out part or explains it in more detail.

-Clicks his tongue more than twice > Immediately begs for forgiveness and overhauls everything. And cracks down on the subordinates.

The seniors, explaining this unofficial rule to their successors, concluded with this warning.

“From the second case onwards, the ones who get cursed at and suffer are you, me, and us. Annoying, right? Nothing we can do about it. If you don’t like it, get promoted.”

* * *

Not long after, a new mission was assigned to the committee.

-Review, verification, and approval of newly published papers.

“Isn’t the review, verification, and approval of papers already necessary to enact new terms and symbols? Why do the work twice?”

This was Hyun’s decision, influenced by Hyang’s input. Consequently, the committee, initially intended as a temporary body, was made permanent. The committee members, upon receiving the order, all sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. I’m up to my neck in work…”

“I have research in progress…”

“Papers keep coming in…”

As time passed, the committee’s authority gradually increased and solidified. When positions on the committee became vacant, scholars from across the empire vied to fill them. Becoming a member of the committee signified recognition of one’s expertise, and passing the committee’s review meant that a paper was deemed academically valuable.

Over time, the committee’s status and authority grew even more prestigious. Eventually, it became the most authoritative academic review institution in the world.

* * *

As the theoretical system took shape, scholars began to encounter new problems.

Or rather, they were creating them.

It stemmed from the ‘generator’ that Hyang had mentioned when he first received the report on electricity.

-If you can create magnetism using electricity, can’t you create electricity using magnetism?

Inspired by Hyang’s words, scholars dedicated themselves to researching and developing a generator, working day and night. It was a process of trial and error, like navigating through dense fog, but the scholars persevered. So much so that scholars and researchers from other departments shook their heads whenever they passed the Department of Electrical Engineering’s laboratory, where the lights never went out.

“Th, th… they’re worse than the madmen in the Department of Industrial Science…”

And every time they heard these words, the scholars and researchers in the Department of Industrial Science were furious.

“What about us! Why!”

“Is it a sin to work hard on research!”

“Just come to us with a math problem! We’ll never help you!”

“We’re already struggling to solve the tasks left by our predecessors, but we still force ourselves to take the time to help, and this is what you say! Just come to us! We’ll sprinkle salt on you!”

Faced with the backlash from the scholars and researchers in the Department of Industrial Science, the scholars and researchers in other departments had to plead for forgiveness.

* * *

All departments in the research institute strived to solve the difficult problems listed in the Challenge Log [a record of unsolved problems], but the quantity and difficulty of the problems in the Department of Industrial Science were unmatched. In other departments, most of the difficult problems were presented by Hyang, with a few from Sejong or others. However, the Department of Industrial Science was full of intellectual giants, including Yi Sun-ji [a renowned Joseon dynasty scientist]. And there were plenty of difficult problems listed in the Challenge Log by such figures.

Yi Sun-ji, known for his sharp tongue like Sejong and Hyang, was also famous for his industrial science skills. Many anecdotes about Yi Sun-ji were widely circulated.

-Huh? You’re using a calculator and a calculation table? At this level, you should be able to roughly estimate the answer in your head. If that’s the case, you should carry a calculator instead of your head.

-This friend won’t be able to calculate without his fingers and toes.

-You want me to write down the solution process? Do you think about breathing, exhaling this time, inhaling this time, when you breathe? Is the solution the same as breathing? When you see the formula, the solution process should come to mind naturally! I’m already busy, do I have to write down the solution process!?

Such harsh criticism might have provoked others, but because it was Yi Sun-ji, most people simply scratched their heads and bowed. Besides, he would meticulously write down the solution process and explain it if necessary, even while scolding and sneering, so most people didn’t take Yi Sun-ji’s harsh words too seriously.

“That friend is surprisingly coy.”

“If he’s coy twice, he’s just asking to get stabbed.”

When Yi Sun-ji died, his house was crowded with scholars and researchers who came to pay their respects, a testament to his popularity.

“That, my father told me to give this to His Majesty the Emperor and the Supreme Emperor.”

Yi Sun-ji’s son, greeting Hyun and Hyang who came to pay their respects, cautiously handed over a thick bundle. More than a dozen thick books emerged from the bundle, and Hyun, after examining the contents, wordlessly passed them to Hyang.

Hyang, after reviewing the books, sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. We must register it in the Challenge Log unconditionally. The grade will be at least ‘Magujeokchim’ [a very high difficulty level]. Truly, he is Seongbo (誠甫, Yi Sun-ji’s pen name) to the end.”

That day, the sound of scholars and researchers wailing filled Yi Sun-ji’s house.

“Aigoo!” [an expression of grief]

Among the difficult problems of Yi Sun-ji listed in the Challenge Log, some had remained unsolved for hundreds of years. These problems were later known as ‘Yi Sun-ji’s Difficult Problems’ and caused many industrial scientists around the world to rack their brains.

* * *

The scholars and researchers in the Department of Electrical Engineering were working as diligently on the generator as the Department of Industrial Science, which was notorious for overwork.

“The real problem is…”

Then one day, a scholar taking a break remarked to his colleague.

“The number of people is increasing, but why isn’t the workload decreasing?”

“Because the answer isn’t forthcoming.”

“Ah…”

Despite the addition of numerous Jewish scholars, the scholars were frustrated by the lack of progress. Equally frustrated were the artisans who collaborated with them.

“How am I supposed to make this?”

“Is this a drawing or a talisman?”

The artisans, receiving roughly drawn sketches or poorly drafted blueprints, shook their heads and lamented. Ultimately, the researchers in the middle bore the brunt of the frustration.

They were caught between the scholars demanding results based on the blueprints they had given to the artisans and the artisans pointing out the flaws in those blueprints. Hyun, after hearing about the situation through various channels, made a decision without consulting Hyang.

“Educate the scholars on how to draw blueprints!”

Woo, who also served as the director of the research institute, voiced his opposition to Hyun’s order.

“The scholars are already busy with their own research. There may be resistance.”

“I learned how to draw blueprints, and you, the Crown Prince, also learned it. Even the Supreme Emperor draws proper blueprints himself when necessary, so how dare a scholar resist? If a scholar resists, call me! I’ll draw it myself!”

“I will do my best to educate them!”

“Tsk!”

As Woo predicted, some scholars resisted Hyun’s order. However, their resistance was short-lived. Hyun’s words were intimidating, but Hyang’s were even more so.

“His Majesty the Emperor is busy with state affairs, so perhaps it would be better for me to intervene, right?”

In the end, the scholars and researchers had to pause their work and learn how to draw blueprints. With the prime contractors creating proper blueprints, the subcontractors, the artisans, could work more efficiently. And it wasn’t just the artisans who benefited.

As proper blueprints emerged, experienced artisans could quickly identify and point out problems, improving the overall quality of the designs.

As trials and failures were repeated, the glimmer of a solution began to appear on the horizon.