Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1056

1056. Aftermath (5)

Da Vinci wasn’t the only one. Among the artisans in Districts 51 and 52 who had seen the Challenge Records and the achievements made thus far, Hyang and Jang Yeong-sil were ‘walls to overcome.’ Whenever young and ambitious artisans brought in project proposals, ideas, or blueprints, claiming them as ‘innovative ideas,’ the senior artisans would offer advice that sounded more like a warning:

“You think that’s innovative? Before you even look at the Challenge Records, go to the exhibition hall and check out the ‘Jang Yeong-sil Room’ first. If it’s not in that room, then I’ll acknowledge it as innovative.”

“Do you really think so? You know the story about Jang Yeong-sil’s workshop being sealed for 60 years when he stayed in Shinji, right? Why do you think it was sealed for 60 years? Think about it carefully.”

Upon hearing these words and examining the ‘Jang Yeong-sil Room,’ the young artisans would immediately look deflated.

“It already existed?”

“Was I just wasting my time?”

Whenever Hyang heard rumors that ‘young artisans are being discouraged,’ he would call the veteran artisans and scold them.

“Seriously, how can you crush budding talent like that?”

In response to Hyang’s criticism, the veteran artisans would explain with a confused look, as if wondering what the problem was.

“Don’t you know about ‘barley treading’ [a farming technique where barley is stepped on to encourage stronger growth]? To help barley grow well, you have to step on it firmly once in a while. Those youngsters who only think they’re great need to be humbled so they can realize their shortcomings and work harder.”

“We all went through that process once. If we don’t humble them like that, they’ll only become arrogant and ruin big things later.”

“And those who can’t withstand that hardship and collapse are the weak ones. We need to filter them out early.”

Faced with the veteran artisans’ responses, Hyang had no choice but to back down.

“Alright. Just don’t be too harsh.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.”

After sending the artisans back, Hyang sighed softly.

“It’s always the same justification, and since it seems to work, it’s hard to argue against it. It’s not quite an ‘initiation ceremony,’ but…”

The ‘initiation ceremony’ [a form of hazing for newly appointed officials], an irrational practice targeting newly appointed officials, disappeared thanks to King Sejong’s orders. The reason why the initiation ceremony, which the Joseon kings had constantly tried to eliminate, could finally disappear was thanks to Hyang’s methods. He simply piled on more work, ‘overwhelming them with work’ in the already hellish workload of the court. After turning them into a mess, he would throw them into the archives. Eventually, the initiation ceremony, which had stubbornly persisted, disappeared.

* * *

If Hyang and Jang Yeong-sil were used as ‘tools for understanding one’s place’ for the young artisans in Districts 51 and 52, then Lee Soon-ji served that purpose at the Advanced Studies Academy, especially in the Sanhak Research Institute [an institute dedicated to mathematical sciences].

“Study Sanhak again? I may look like this, but I was called a ‘prodigy’ in my hometown! I was always at the top in the Central Academy!”

Whenever researchers entered, overconfident in their genius and with their noses held high, the senior researchers would present them with various problems written by Lee Soon-ji.

“Oh, really? Try solving this then…”

“Give it to me!”

The newly hired researchers, who had been so confident, would soon lose their spirit and lower their tails.

“I… I can’t solve it.”

“It’s okay. As I said before, you can learn step by step here.”

“I understand.”

“Call me ‘Senior’.”

“Y… Yes, Senior.”

The new researchers, whose pride had soared to the sky, had to take supplementary classes without complaint. After experiencing this several times, the veteran researchers went to the director of the research institute to point out the problem.

“It’s unreasonable to have to make them take supplementary classes when we should be putting them into research right away. Considering the time lost in supplementary classes, it’s a loss for both the teachers and the learners. I think it’s better to raise the level of Sanhak taught at the Four People’s Academy and the Central Academy.”

“If we do that, no one will apply to the Sanhak Research Institute at all, will they?”

“Ah…”

* * *

Those who challenged the competition for wealth and fame did their best, regardless of their nationality. In the process, there were innovative and brilliant attempts, close to delusions, but most of them began to converge in similar ways. Hyang, who was reviewing the related reports that were constantly coming in, nodded lightly and gave his impression.

“It seems people’s thoughts naturally align when facing the same problems.”

Hyeon, who was with him, nodded in agreement. The first area where most of the challengers showed common ground was fuel.

“Coal has its limits!”

Having learned the advantages and disadvantages of coal, the challengers began to look for alternative fuels. The first thing that came to mind was charcoal.

“If it’s charcoal, we can get it easily…”

However, charcoal was soon excluded from the candidates.

“Charcoal is too similar to coal in its limitations…”

Subsequently, alcohol emerged as a strong candidate. However, this was also immediately excluded because both the East and the West used grains or fruits to obtain alcohol.

“There’s already a shortage of grains for people to eat…”

Everyone was in a similar situation, so alcohol was also dropped from the candidates. In this situation, the Empire was the first to choose oil as fuel. It was already being used well as fuel for the front lines, assault vehicles, and new external combustion engines.

Since it was already familiar as fuel for portable stoves and heaters in the private sector, oil became the most promising candidate. Soon, oil was also selected as fuel in Ming, Japan, and Europe. And the Arabian Peninsula and Persia began to suffer.

* * *

As oil became the most promising fuel for new power engines, other countries besides the Empire began to delve into this oil in more detail.

“So, this oil is refined from that black oil, right?”

This oil was not unfamiliar to Ming or the European powers. In fact, crude oil had been mined and exported from the Baku oil fields in Azerbaijan since around the 9th century. There was already a primitive refining technology as well. It was only enough to refine crude oil to produce kerosene for use in bonfires.

“But the Empire has refined this crude oil more meticulously, right? Then we also…”

However, the European powers were stuck here.

“Then where do we get crude oil?”

That’s when they noticed the Iraq region of the Arabian Peninsula, the Persia region, and Baku in Azerbaijan. The Iraq region had been producing oil since ancient times, as mentioned in the Bible, and Persia was the same. The Baku region of Azerbaijan had been famous for exporting oil for a long time.

“Let’s see… No one knows what kind of power engine will come out, but oil is the most promising fuel. So, occupying the places where oil comes out can bring enormous benefits!”

Having made this judgment, the European powers summoned geographers. The geographers, under the orders of their monarchs, immediately pointed out the above three locations. The monarchs of the European powers, after checking the problematic areas on the map, sighed.

“Hoo~. Ottoman…”

Among the problematic areas, Baku was already Ottoman territory. The Arabian Peninsula and Persia were not yet Ottoman territory. However, to get there, they had to cross Ottoman territory, which was a problem.

“If the Ottoman Sultan and his ministers aren’t completely blind, they would have noticed to some extent by now.”

“It’s a matter of alliance or war.”

“Neither is easy.”

At this time, the Ottoman Empire was one of the great powers. To be more precise, it was the third strongest power after the Empire and Ming.

“Wait… The Empire? The Empire?”

“Where does the Empire get its oil?”

After investigating further on the topic of ‘Oil and the Empire,’ the European powers immediately found a promising candidate.

“It seems to be Shinji…”

“Shinji, huh…”

There, the monarchs of the European powers all had similar thoughts.

‘What are the chances of driving the Empire out of Shinji and taking it for myself?’

‘Looking at the Empire’s army, its firepower is strong, but its size is relatively small. Are there enough troops in Shinji?’

“If we play this right…”

The monarchs of the European powers were momentarily tempted by this thought but soon shook their heads.

‘The sea is the problem.’

‘Considering the damned Imperial Navy and the Atlantic Ocean, even if we dispatch troops, at least half of them will become fish food in the Atlantic. Facing the Imperial Army with the remaining half? Then that half will become fertilizer.’

The European powers had experienced the strength of the Imperial Navy in the Battle of Corsica and the Gloria colonization process to the point of nausea. The monarchs of the European powers immediately gave up on Shinji.

“Shinji is a self-destructive move. The moment we touch Shinji, the Empire will retaliate with all its might. The problem is that even dealing with the Empire alone is burdensome, and there are more than a few who are aiming for our backs.”

The European powers had already stabbed each other in the back several times. The moment they were distracted by dealing with the Empire, it was certain that one of the surrounding countries would stab them in the back.

“If we form a crusade under the pretext that the Emperor of the Empire is a heretic?”

However, this was also unlikely to succeed. The countries with the most powerful military forces, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland, would not respond. In addition, the Pope’s order was absolutely necessary to form a crusade. The problem was that the Pope’s authority had already plummeted to the ground and even underground.

Even if they called for a crusade with the Pope behind them, it was certain that not many countries would respond. After analyzing that far, the monarchs and ministers of the European powers sighed deeply.

“It’s better to wage war against the Ottoman Empire than to wage war against the Empire. At least…”

Even if they said that, the Ottoman Empire was by no means an easy opponent. If the Empire had the Atlantic Ocean, the Ottoman Empire had the Mediterranean Sea.

It was possible to invade across the Mediterranean, but the subsequent supply was the problem. The crusaders of the past also suffered from this supply problem, and maintaining the supply line now that gunpowder weapons had become the main factor on the battlefield was an even more difficult problem.

“What if we use ‘the revival of Byzantium’ as an excuse?”

In that case, most of the supply route would be composed of land routes, and they would only have to cross the Bosphorus Strait. However, this was the same for the Ottoman Empire. What was even more disadvantageous for the European powers was the issue of subsequent shares. The most promising supply route was through Austria and Hungary, which were ruled by the Habsburgs. Even if things were successful, it was certain that the Habsburgs would try to take the largest share.

“Then the only thing left is a joint venture, hmm…”

For the European powers, especially France, Italy, and Portugal, a joint venture with the Ottoman Empire was not unfamiliar. They were already seeing decent profits from Suez.

“Hmm… A joint venture seems to be the best option… If we have an even closer relationship than now, the possibility will be even higher, right?”

The monarchs of the European powers, pondering the best way, all had the same thought when they saw Suez on the map.

“Shall we suggest digging another canal?”