Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 173

173. Feedback (2)

Seeing Sejong’s positive reaction, Hyang spoke again.

“And, I have another request for you, Father.”

‘Strike while the iron is hot!’

As soon as the word ‘request’ came out, Sejong replied in a stern voice.

“Again? There’s no budget for Area 51.”

“It’s not about Area 51. It’s for the defense of our Joseon.”

Sejong, who had been nervous that he would hear the words ‘a little more budget…’ again, relaxed slightly at Hyang’s words.

“Speak.”

“Yes, have a eunuch go to the East Palace and bring the ‘barrier model’.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch left Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Watching him, the ministers, especially those from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Public Works, swallowed hard and prayed inwardly.

‘Please! Anything but something that eats up a lot of the budget!’

‘Something that requires few personnel!’

‘The best thing would be for His Majesty to refuse!’

Soon, the ministers saw four eunuchs struggling to carry in a large board covered with cloth, and they squeezed their eyes shut. Its size alone was unusual.

‘It’s over! It’s over!’

‘Look at that size! I can already hear the wailing!’

‘I won’t look! I won’t look!’

Sejong looked at Hyang after seeing the model placed on a large conference table brought in by other eunuchs.

“It’s quite large? What is it?”

“The size increased while making the terrain model. It’s not that big in reality.”

The ministers, who had squeezed their eyes shut and weren’t even looking, slyly opened their eyes and looked at the model at Sejong and Hyang’s words—especially Hyang’s words that ‘it’s not that big’.

“Remove the cloth.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When the eunuch removed the cloth, there was a mock terrain made of plaster and weeds.

At the very center of the terrain was a slightly elevated hill.

Hyang picked up a pointer and began to explain.

“Looking at the geography, our Joseon’s land is higher in the east and lower in the west. Therefore, looking at the records of foreign invasions since the ancient Three Han era, the western plains were the main invasion routes.”

“That’s right.”

“However, even these western plains have limited transportation routes and must pass through hills and valleys.”

“That’s also right.”

Sejong nodded and answered Hyang’s words. While faithfully answering the questions Hyang threw at him, Sejong couldn’t hide his doubts.

‘Why is he so enthusiastically talking about things we all know?’

Whether he knew Sejong’s mind or not, Hyang continued his explanation diligently.

“It is a waste to station defensive forces at all those transportation hubs. No, it is impossible with Joseon’s military strength.”

“I know that well.”

“Therefore….”

Hyang pointed to a wooden model installed on the hilltop.

“Therefore, I propose installing rockfall obstacles at these transportation hubs.”

Sejong began to show great interest in Hyang’s explanation.

“Rockfall obstacles?”

“To put it simply, it’s about causing a landslide by human hands.”

What Hyang proposed was a rockfall obstacle for anti-tank defense that could still be seen occasionally in the northern areas of Seoul in the 21st century.

‘It may be a faded object in the 21st century, but its effectiveness is enormous now!’

Sejong, who came down from the platform, carefully examined the model made by Hyang. The ministers also gathered around Sejong and carefully examined the models.

“Hmm…. So, these pillars are supporting it, and you’re creating and placing that square structure on top of them?”

“That’s right. Exactly like this.”

When Hyang tapped the supports holding up the rockfall with the pointer, the square wooden pieces on top of the supports collapsed with a crash.

“Hoo?”

Sejong, seeing the wooden pieces blocking the road, let out a small exclamation and his eyes lit up. Hyang pointed to the wooden pieces and continued.

“We used wood because it’s a model now, but if we actually build it, we will make it with ferro-concrete [concrete reinforced with metal].”

“If it’s ferro-concrete, it will be quite heavy, so the supports must be sturdy.”

The Minister of Public Works interjected at Hyang’s explanation. Hyang nodded at the Minister of Public Works’ words.

“That’s right. Therefore, the supports will also be made of ferro-concrete.”

At Hyang’s answer, the Minister of Public Works spoke about the problem he had thought of.

“If it’s the strength of ferro-concrete that I know, its sturdiness is unparalleled. If you make the supports with that, wouldn’t it take a long time to cause a rockfall?”

The ministers all nodded at the Minister of Public Works’ point. After taking a moment to catch his breath, the Minister of Public Works continued.

“It is to stop the enemy’s advance, but if done wrong, it could block our troops’ retreat or miss the timing, allowing the enemy to advance. Wouldn’t its effectiveness be diminished?”

“That’s a valid point.”

Hyang didn’t refute the Minister of Public Works’ point and immediately nodded. At Hyang’s unusual reaction, the Minister of Public Works momentarily made a face that said, ‘This isn’t right?’

Leaving the Minister of Public Works’ reaction behind, Hyang continued his explanation to Sejong and the ministers.

“Of course, if we rely solely on manpower or animal power, it would take a considerable amount of time. This is very dangerous in the urgent situation of the battlefield. Therefore, we use gunpowder to block the road with rockfalls.”

“Gunpowder? Gunpowder, huh….”

As Sejong made a dubious expression, Hyang held up a model that had been placed on one side.

“It’s a scaled-down model of the support. As you can see, holes of appropriate size have been made in the middle of the pillars in advance. If necessary, we put gunpowder in these holes and detonate them.”

“Did you adjust the proportions?”

“Yes, Father.”

Sejong, gauging the size of the holes in the pillars, turned to look at Hyang.

“Is the amount of gunpowder that goes into these holes enough to knock it down?”

“Yes. I’ve tested it.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong closed his mouth at Hyang’s answer that he had already tested it. He wanted to ask, ‘When?’, but considering the evaluation of Area 51, there was no need to ask.

Area 51 was a place that received the evaluation that ‘if the sound of gunpowder exploding isn’t heard, it means a big accident has occurred.’ Area 51 was a place where various equipment, gunpowder, cannons, and artillery were tested every day.

Sejong, examining the rockfall obstacle model, turned to look at Kim Jeom.

“Perhaps the Minister of Finance has the most to say, so speak first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kim Jeom, who had been pacing anxiously in the back, began to argue with Hyang as soon as Sejong gave him the opportunity.

“I understand what the Crown Prince is saying. Also, I understand the usefulness. However, the problem is the cost. Although it is a rockfall obstacle, it is also a structure. Structures require continuous maintenance. Considering that problem, wouldn’t the cost be too high compared to the effect?”

Hyang readily nodded at Kim Jeom’s words.

“That’s right. However, these rockfall obstacles do not have doors or windows, so construction does not require a lot of cost and time. Also, the maintenance issue only requires managing structural problems such as cracks.”

“Well, if that’s the case….”

Kim Jeom smacked his lips at Hyang’s clear explanation and stepped back.

After that, many ministers took turns asking questions. However, Hyang had no difficulty answering.

In the end, Sejong asked the last question.

“Alright…. Crown Prince, listening to your explanation, it seems that it would be effective in stopping the enemy’s advance, but wouldn’t it also be an obstacle when we are chasing the enemy?”

“We just need to prepare enough horses and cattle in advance.”

“Wouldn’t the enemy do the same?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the purpose of installing this barrier once again.

“The purpose of this rockfall is not to completely block the enemy, but to delay the enemy’s advance for a while, giving our troops time to reorganize. Whether the enemies remove the rockfall, cross over it, or find a detour, they will waste that much time. We use that time to reorganize our troops and also reduce the sacrifice of our troops.”

“‘Reduce the sacrifice of our troops,’ huh….”

Sejong pondered Hyang’s words.

Sejong was not ignorant of military strategy. According to military strategy, the situation in which an army suffers the most damage is when it is attacked by the enemy while retreating.

The words ‘irresistible force, utter defeat’ were very pleasant to hear for the attacking side, but they were words that the defending side never wanted to hear. Therefore, in such cases, it was common to form a unit that would risk sacrifice to hold the enemy back.

‘But, if we use the equipment that the Crown Prince mentioned, we can hold the enemies back while reducing sacrifices. But, the problem is….’

Sejong, organizing his thoughts, asked Hyang one last question.

“It’s all good, but I don’t like the assumption that we have allowed foreign enemies to invade. Is our Joseon army that weak?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered in a loud voice.

“Absolutely not! Our Joseon army will never allow foreign enemies to invade! I, Jo Mal-saeng, answer with my life on the line!”

At the Minister of War’s answer, Sejong turned to look at Hyang.

“That’s what he says?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang answered calmly.

“The Minister of War’s words are correct. The primary purpose of our Joseon army is to defend the country and protect the peace of Your Majesty and the people. That is why they are still training fiercely and guarding the enemies at the border with their lives on the line. This is beyond doubt.”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng and the generals of the military nodded vigorously. Glancing at them, Hyang continued.

“However, it is said that preparedness prevents misfortune. We must prepare for the ‘worst-case scenario’ to be able to establish countermeasures more easily. This is not a matter of pride, but a matter of survival.”

“Survival, not pride, huh….”

Sejong, repeatedly pondering Hyang’s words, let out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Personnel.”

At Sejong’s call, the ministers who were called, starting with Kim Jeom, bowed their heads.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You all will have to put in some effort. And the Chief State Councilors should examine the matter and, if necessary, take charge of coordinating with other departments.”

“…We shall obey your command.”

The ministers bowed their heads and answered.

‘More work again….’

‘The fact that there is no justification to stop it is a regret for eternity.’

* * *

Back on the platform, Sejong turned to look at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Is this the end of the military issues?”

“No, it is not.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Kim Jeom asked in a trembling voice.

“There’s more?”

At Kim Jeom’s tearful question, Jo Mal-saeng answered quietly.

“I’m sorry.”

“Minister of War, state what the problem is.”

At Sejong’s command, Jo Mal-saeng immediately brought up the matter.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Although it is disloyal to even mention it, the Crown Prince used a new long-barreled gun in the process of suppressing the recent palace break-in. All the Royal Guards and Inner Royal Guards who saw that gun praised its performance as being very outstanding, so it must be mass-produced and deployed to the Joseon army.”

“Huh? New gun? Come to think of it….”

Sejong, rummaging through his memories, turned to look at Hyang. In his memory, the Crown Prince was holding a long-barreled gun that he had never seen before at the time. He didn’t see it properly, but it was definitely not a Gapsik rifle.

‘But, as soon as the situation calmed down, this guy immediately hid it?’

Sejong, rummaging through his memories, glared at Hyang.

“I remember too. Crown Prince, you definitely used a new gun at that time. Explain what happened.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang glared at Jo Mal-saeng.

‘Aish! Why is that old man’s mouth so light!’

Pouring out a bucket of curses at Jo Mal-saeng in his mind, Hyang explained to Sejong.

“Yes, it is true that I used a new gun. However, that gun was made experimentally, and there are many problems with it for the Joseon army to use in large quantities.”