Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1086

1086. Constantly Making Trouble…… (1)

“Heh heh heh…….”

“Hee hee hee hee…….”

“Keu keu keu keuk……..”

As the three former and current emperors continuously emitted eerie laughter, the eunuchs and court ladies attending them retreated slightly, their faces pale. The less experienced ones retreated further, huddling together and trembling.

The only ones who remained were the old eunuchs and court ladies familiar with the emperors, along with the scribes and historians. The historians and scribes gritted their teeth, recording everything with trembling hands. And then there were those who seemed utterly unconcerned.

These were the artisans who had arrived with the problematic device. Considering the location, they couldn’t laugh out loud, but they wore eerie smiles mirroring the emperors’. Regardless of the terror of those around them, the emperors couldn’t stop laughing as they gazed at the device before them.

“Heh heh heh……His Majesty Sanghwang [Former Emperor] has accomplished a great feat.”

“How could it be my achievement alone? It’s thanks to the artisans’ hard work. Still, just looking at that thing makes me unable to stop laughing. Hee hee hee hee…….”

“No. It is thanks to the emergence of that child that the Taesanghwang [Retired Emperor] can alleviate his worries. What is this if not filial piety? Now that that child has appeared, only a flood of good fortune remains. If that happens, the ship I’ve been devising will soon…….Keu keu keu.”

The emperors wore deeply moved expressions as they looked at the device, now fixed and displayed on a large, sturdy iron stand. Of course, their laughter didn’t quite match their expressions. Nor did the act of rubbing their hands together while contemplating its immediate use seem appropriate.

The device that made the three emperors resemble villains was an internal combustion engine, specifically a gasoline engine.

* * *

Wan played the biggest role in developing the internal combustion engine, a true revolution. Hyang enjoyed dabbling in various fields, living up to the term ‘Gwangdeok’ (wide and virtuous). However, this meant he only scratched the surface or remained an ‘intermediate otaku’ [enthusiast] in many areas. His otaku acquaintances from the 21st century often joked:

“If you’re an otaku, you have to see it through to the end! Heretic! Pseudo! Hang him on the stake!”

“Heretic!”

Whenever he heard these jokes, Hyang would retort:

“Fundamentalists, get out of here!”

Unlike Hyang, Wan was fixated solely on ‘flying machines.’ He possessed deep knowledge comparable to Hyang’s, but only in materials and power engines, and even this was limited to ‘flying machines.’

-Development or discovery of materials with light, elastic, and strong characteristics.

-A small power engine that produces strong power.

-Development or discovery of materials that enable such a power engine.

-Discovery of fuel suitable for such a power engine.

Driven by these goals, Wan was the first to put a Stirling engine using petroleum as fuel into a flying machine. It was a ‘new external combustion engine’ with superior performance to the existing steam engine, but Wan shook his head.

“It’s usable, but it’s not better than a Bigu [mythical bird].”

Realizing the limitations of the ‘new external combustion engine,’ Wan passionately devoted himself to research and development. He found a breakthrough in papers disguised as reports from the headquarters’ research institute. These reports, regularly delivered to Shinji, were full of academic papers published by the headquarters. Through them, Wan learned about ‘combustion’ and the existence of ‘oxygen.’

“Is this something I can almost grasp?”

Examining the papers, Wan caught a faint clue and delved deeper. The development information of a new self-propelled fire bomb using an internal combustion chamber and a mixer accelerated his research.

“This looks good? Should I try applying it?”

However, Wan’s attempt failed. The power engine of the new self-propelled fire bomb worked by rotating a propeller connected to the propulsion shaft with gas combusted in the internal combustion chamber, using this force to operate the fire bomb’s propeller-type propulsion device. Wan changed the fuel from alcohol (酒精, ethanol) to petroleum due to cost, supply efficiency, and political justification.

Although the Empire had long overcome ‘spring famine’ [food shortages], they disliked using grains for fuel. Self-propelled fire bombs could be justified, but using grain-based fuel for flying machines would face enormous opposition.

The amount used would be incomparable. Therefore, Wan changed the fuel to petroleum and activated the self-propelled fire bomb’s propulsion device. However, the experiment failed. The blades of the power-generating propeller entering the combustion chamber couldn’t withstand the high temperatures for long. Soot generated during combustion stuck together, causing the shaft to break.

This was due to the Empire’s technological level, which, despite explosive development, still had a long way to go. Eventually, Wan had to devise a new concept. As time passed, papers on electricity began to appear, including those related to electrical ignition.

“Wait? You can spark a flame with electricity?”

Wan and the artisans stopped, captivated.

“Sealed combustion chamber, mixer, electric spark……”

“It seems like something might work…….”

“If it seems like it will work, let’s make it work!”

Thus, the new power engine that consumed the artisans of District 52 was born.

“Haa~. It has been a truly arduous time.”

Wan wore an expression of mixed emotions as he looked at the newly created power engine. The artisans who came with him nodded with similar expressions, reminded of the hard struggles they had endured.

“Still, I am truly grateful that I got to see the results before leaving Shinji.”

At Wan’s words, Hyeon glanced at Woo. Woo’s face could be summed up in one sentence:

-The good days are all gone.

* * *

According to regulations, Hyeon should have handed the throne to Woo and gone to Shinji several years ago. However, a major incident occurred involving collaboration with Ming and Japan to secure Persian oil, postponing Hyeon’s abdication.

“……So, I will be abdicating this time. Understand?”

“…..Yes.”

Looking at Woo, who looked like a cow being led to slaughter, Hyeon continued.

“No matter what expression you make, you can’t avoid abdication. Isn’t it time to give up?”

“Yes……”

“Good, what will you do when you ascend the throne?”

“I will strive to promote the peace of the Empire and ensure the people enjoy comfort.”

“Sounds like you’re just saying you’ll fill 20 years without any major accidents?”

“…….”

“Do you know the saying, ‘The tree wants to stop, but the wind does not cease’?”

“Yes.”

“Is this story only about filial piety? It’s the same with state affairs. Look at me. I thought I could just spend 20 years without any major events, but in the end, this happened, didn’t it?”

At Hyeon’s words, Woo bowed his head and muttered inwardly.

‘That’s why I didn’t want to be the Crown Prince! These bastards! Just wait until I ascend the throne! I’m going to transfer all of you! I’ll bury you in the distant northeastern Lake Baikal and the even higher Millennium Ice Land (萬年氷地) [permafrost region] for 20 years!’

Hyeon’s voice reached Woo’s ears as he plotted retaliatory personnel changes against the brothers who had passed the Crown Prince position on to him.

“……Still, I know your feelings to some extent, so I’ll give you a little help. What do you think is most important for the ’20 years without additions’ that you so desire?”

“Isn’t it military power?”

“Military power should always be emphasized, as should diplomacy. Economics is even more important, and the people’s livelihood is more important than economics. But for the future, something is even more important than this. Do you know what it is?”

After contemplating Hyeon’s question for a long time, Woo bowed his head.

“I am foolish and do not know. Please tell me the answer.”

“It’s communication.”

“Communication…..are you saying?”

“That’s right.”

Hyeon explained why communication was important.

-The urgent communication that goes back and forth between the headquarters and Bukji now takes less than half an hour (about 1 hour).

-Even communication sent from near Lake Baikal in the far northeast can reach me within half a day at the latest.

-However, such rapid communication isn’t possible in areas not connected to the headquarters by land.

-Even with carrier pigeons, it takes several days, and the probability of proper delivery is low.

-Therefore, if a dispute involving the Empire’s interests occurs in a country or region far from the Empire, it takes too long to know and prepare countermeasures.

-In the worst case, it can be too late, a case of ‘locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.’

-To prevent this, managers dispatched to distant foreign countries are delegated a lot of authority, and a considerable number of imperial troops are stationed.

-This is a problematic method.

-A manager who abuses their authority may misuse their power. In addition, stationing and maintaining imperial troops can lead to unnecessary expenditures.

“…..That’s why I delayed ceding the throne to you when the Persian problem arose. Thanks to this slow communication, things that could be found and executed in a day or two in the headquarters take half a year, and situations that could be handled with only 10,000 imperial troops require at least 30,000. And all of this costs a lot of money.”

“Ah……..”

At Hyeon’s explanation, Woo nodded, finally understanding. He had observed many cases where communication problems caused delays while acting as regent next to Hyeon.

‘If only fast communication were possible, I could abdicate in 20 years! This is certain!’

“……And, there’s another good thing besides that. If such fast communication is possible, wouldn’t you be able to find out what music and songs are popular in other places even faster!”

“Ah! I will do my best!”

* * *

That’s how it went, and Woo was even enthusiastic. However, listening to Wan’s words, Woo once again realized the ‘forced reality.’

‘Good! I’ll be the emperor! No, I’ll do my best to be the best! But I’m only going to do it for 20 years no matter what! No additional reign! Never!’

Woo was firmly determined to ‘absolutely defend the 20-year reign!’

‘Then, I’m going to solve that communication problem no matter what! Fortunately, the Great Great Grandfather and the Grandfather who will become the Grand Emperor are next to me now. I can’t miss this good opportunity!’