Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1180

1180. Aftermath (8)

The envoys from France and England, captivated by the night streets of Seoul—a city that truly never sleeps—hastily arranged a meeting.

The meeting was held at the British Consulate in Seoul, with the envoys, the consul, and the vice-consul in attendance.

“While fulfilling our assigned tasks remains paramount, gathering information about the devices illuminating these night streets is also of utmost importance.”

“Indeed, acquiring information about these devices may be even more crucial.”

The other envoys nodded in agreement with the words of the chief envoy (正使, *jeongsa*, head envoy) and the deputy envoy (副使, *busa*, second envoy).

Acknowledging their agreement, the chief envoy turned to the consul.

“Why haven’t you sent information about these streetlights back home?”

“I included it in the last regular mail dispatch.”

The chief envoy’s expression clouded with disappointment.

“Was it lost in transit?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“Hmm.”

The chief envoy struggled to conceal his frustration as the conversation continued.

* * *

Thanks to Hyang’s influence, urbanization was rapidly transforming not only Ming and Japan but also Europe.

As cities grew, so did the need for public safety. With larger populations, relying solely on individual torches or lanterns to maintain security became insufficient.

Furthermore, torches and lanterns posed a significant danger.

They could easily become tools for arson. Except for major palaces, government offices, and churches, most cities consisted of wooden buildings, often constructed close together.

In such conditions, a carelessly discarded torch or lantern could quickly escalate into a major conflagration. Consequently, other nations closely monitored the Empire’s firefighting system, particularly Seoul’s.

Following the Great Fire of Hanyang in 1426 (Sejong 8), the streets of Hanyang underwent a dramatic transformation, largely due to Hyang’s generous application of MSG [metaphorically, meaning significant improvements] during the reconstruction.

The roads, previously a tangled maze (except for Yukjo Street), were reorganized into a grid pattern, running east-west and north-south. Beyond the physical layout, the firefighting system was also systematically overhauled with the establishment of new government offices like the Geumhwadogam (禁火都監, Fire Control Bureau).

Other countries took a keen interest in this advanced firefighting system.

At the time, firefighting systems elsewhere were, at best, haphazard.

Ming and Japan established watchtowers at regular intervals in each city to watch for fires, but this was the extent of their permanent organization. Fire brigades were typically volunteer groups organized by local residents or private companies that had been in the firefighting business for generations.

The traditional Japanese method of inheriting the business led to various problems due to vested interests. The most common issue was that these brigades often demanded kickbacks before properly extinguishing a fire.

The situation in Europe was similar.

In Europe, residents of certain areas pooled their resources to contract private fire brigades. Consequently, these brigades often refused to extinguish fires in buildings that were not under contract.

The Great Fire of London in 1666, in the history before Hyang’s intervention, was a direct result of such practices. Aware of these shortcomings, other countries carefully studied Seoul’s firefighting system and began to implement similar measures.

The first step was often to dismantle private fire brigades or convert them into state-managed organizations. Of course, even after the transition, old habits like demanding bribes or subtly pilfering during firefighting efforts didn’t disappear overnight.

However, with state oversight, the methods gradually became more systematic, and fire brigades became increasingly effective.

“The most pressing issue isn’t just how to extinguish fires, but how to prevent them from starting in the first place.”

The rulers of other countries began to focus on eliminating potential fire hazards.

The primary culprit identified was the widespread use of torches and lanterns.

Their use had increased dramatically with urbanization and the rise in nighttime activity.

Therefore, foreign leaders turned their attention to the ‘streetlights (路燈, *nodeung*)’ illuminating the Empire’s night streets.

If lamps were installed on pillars at regular intervals, people would no longer need to carry torches or lanterns, significantly reducing the risk of fire.

The Empire had already proven the effectiveness of this approach.

Consequently, other countries began installing streetlights or city lights (街燈, *gaedeung*) primarily in their capitals. The Empire, in turn, began to enjoy considerable 재미 (*jaemi*, profit or fun) from this venture.

They were able to sell vast quantities of 등석 (*deungseok*, carbide).

Oil and candles were simply too expensive for widespread street lighting.

As the streetlights illuminated the cities, another benefit became apparent: a reduction in crime.

Seeing the brightly lit streets of Seoul, the envoys felt a renewed sense of urgency.

* * *

“Is the Empire actively promoting the adoption of this new ‘Street Lamp’?”

The consul nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. They’ve been installed in almost all major cities in Bonji [core territories], Bukji [northern territories], and Shinji [new territories], and are now spreading to smaller cities and towns.”

“I see….”

“The Empire’s proactive approach suggests….”

The chief envoy and the deputy envoy trailed off, their thoughts aligned.

‘Those Empire guys, who love money even more than the 유대 (*Yudae*, Jews) [a common, though potentially offensive, Korean expression for someone who loves money], are investing so heavily, which means it must be incredibly profitable!’

등석 (*deungseok*, carbide) was cheaper than oil or candles, but it wasn’t cheap enough to be used without careful consideration. The chief envoy and the deputy envoy grew even more determined to bring this new technology back to their home countries.

“So, what raw material does this new lamp use?”

“Electricity.”

“Electricity? Oh, my!”

The chief envoy and the deputy envoy looked dismayed.

They possessed some knowledge of ‘electricity.’

The problem was the state of affairs in England. Only Oxford and Cambridge Universities had generators. The two men’s expressions darkened further as the consul continued.

“According to the Empire’s gazette, some scholars from England were involved in developing this ‘arc lamp.’ I contacted them and asked them to return home, offering to guarantee sufficient profits if they would produce arc lamps back in England.”

“Judging by your expression, the outcome wasn’t favorable.”

The consul nodded ruefully.

“They told me I would need to consult with the 외지부 (*oejibu*, Foreign Affairs Department) if I wanted to recruit them.”

“외지부 (*oejibu*)? Ah, a lawyer! Why a lawyer?”

“It’s not just a matter of intellectual property registration; many individuals contributed to the development process, making it difficult for them to leave. ”

“Isn’t it simply a matter of them resigning?”

“They claim they don’t want to forfeit the guaranteed profits and future opportunities they currently enjoy. That’s why they insisted I consult with the 외지부 (*oejibu*) first. They assured me they would comply as long as it was legally permissible. That was their final word.”

“헐 (*Heol*)….” [Korean slang expressing disbelief or shock]

The chief envoy and the deputy envoy were dumbfounded.

Unbeknownst to them, the foreign scholars working in the research institute and Areas 51 and 52 had fully embraced capitalism.

Ultimately, the chief envoy and the deputy envoy reached a difficult conclusion.

“We can’t even begin to address this issue until we have a definitive resolution back home.”

“I agree. Hooo〜.”

The deputy envoy sighed and asked the consul,

“Is the 마왕 (*Mawang*, Devil) involved in this again?”

“Why do you even ask? It’s obvious.”

“Hooo〜”

The deputy envoy sighed deeply, inadvertently revealing his inner thoughts.

“That human never dies….”

“Shhh!”

The consul, horrified, silenced him.

“Don’t say such things within the Empire! Do you not know why France suffered so severely this time? They were punished even more harshly for causing distress to the elderly 마왕 (*Mawang*, Devil)! If the Empire’s people overheard that, they might declare war on England!”

The deputy envoy, taken aback by the consul’s warning, replied,

“What’s the harm if it’s just us?”

“There’s an Empire proverb that says, ‘Birds listen to daytime words, and mice listen to nighttime words!’ We must be cautious even in private, lest we make mistakes in public!”

“That’s right. I’ll be careful.”

The deputy envoy readily conceded the point. The chief envoy, standing beside him, shook his head and lamented.

“Somehow, I feel like I’ve taken on a burden heavier than a cruiser.”

“The real challenge will be persuading Parliament.”

Around the same time, the French envoys were reaching similar conclusions.

However, their expressions were even more grim than those of the English envoys.

“If we bring back information about that ‘lampadaire’ [French for streetlight], the Louvre Palace will undoubtedly want to install them….”

“Considering the state of public safety in Paris, they certainly will.”

“The problem is the cost….”

“Haaa〜. We came to borrow money because we’re broke, and now we’ve discovered something else that will cost us money…”

“What if we just ignore it?”

“Those English bastards have already seen it. They’ll definitely introduce it. Then they’ll install it in Calais, right? Do you think the people of Paris will tolerate that humiliation?”

The French envoys grew increasingly anxious.

* * *

The English envoys, after their audience with Wu, immediately began negotiations with the Empire’s working-level officials.

Adjusting the various clauses regarding the purchase of cruisers proceeded smoothly until they hit a snag.

“The cannons and shells mounted on the cruisers must be made in the Empire? I foresee a problem with that.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I can accept the cannons, but we can manufacture the shells ourselves. If we’re forced to purchase the shells as well, the cost will be prohibitively high.”

The Empire’s representatives immediately countered the English claim.

“You can manufacture them, yes. But can you guarantee the same quality as the Empire’s?”

“Even if you manufacture shells according to the specified standards, if the quality is subpar, the lifespan of the cannon will be reduced. Wouldn’t that be even more costly in the long run?”

“……”

The English envoys became 합죽이 (*hapjuki*, tight-lipped) in response to the Empire’s representatives’ remarks.

Hyang, receiving a report on this at Sugang Palace, smiled and muttered.

“Ultimately, what’s more frightening than the ‘unit cost’ is the ‘program cost,’ right? We can fleece them here, and they won’t be able to object. And the military arsenal is the most reliable at doing just that.”

In the end, the tug-of-war ended in England’s defeat.

“In return, we will provide free training to the 장졸 (*jangjol*, officers and soldiers) who will operate the cruisers.”

As if the Empire was doing a great favor, the English chief envoy replied with a dissatisfied expression.

“Thank you very much. Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome.”

At that moment, the English envoys clamped their mouths shut, silently unleashing every curse they knew.

The English chief envoy, taking a deep breath to control his boiling 속 (*sok*, insides), glanced at Hyang’s portrait hanging on the wall.

‘It’s no wonder they’re the 마왕 (*Mawang*, Devil)’s henchmen. The devils are all the same!’