Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 221

221. The Distant Ocean Fleet (1)

It had been a couple of months since the ‘Challenger’ was safely launched. From this point on, Sejong began to press Minister Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang.

“Is the Challenger still not ready?”

“Are they still in training?”

Each time Sejong pressed, Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang had to give the same answer.

“The sailors’ training is still insufficient, so they are training day and night, forgetting sleep.”

“We need a little more time.”

“Hmm.”

Sejong couldn’t hide his impatience whenever he heard Jo Mal-saeng and Hyang’s answers.

“Isn’t the creation of the 1st Distant Ocean Fleet almost complete? Yet, the preparation of the lead ship, the Challenger, is not ready?”

Hyang immediately responded to Sejong’s rebuke.

“The Challenger’s hull shape is different from traditional Korean ships, so it is taking time to master its characteristics. Those who master the characteristics of the distant ocean vessel through the Challenger now will become the core personnel of the subsequent ships, so we are making every effort in training.”

“The hull shape is different, so it takes time… Hmm.”

Sejong had to smack his lips at Hyang’s explanation. Seeing this, Hyang continued.

“Yes. The foundation of our Joseon navy has been flat-bottomed ships for generations. However, the Challenger is a V-bottomed ship. This V-bottomed ship is…”

* * *

Hyang’s explanation was not just an excuse.

Since the Goryeo Dynasty, flat-bottomed ships had been the trend in Korean ships. This was because the main activity area of Korean ships was limited to the West and South Seas. Therefore, flat-bottomed ships, which focused on safety rather than speed, became the mainstream.

In the West Sea, which has the characteristics of a calm inland sea and a large tidal range, and in the South Sea, which has complex coastlines and strong tidal currents, flat-bottomed ships with low drafts, small turning radii, and good balance even when sitting on mudflats at low tide were advantageous.

However, V-bottomed ships like the Challenger had deeper drafts and wider turning radii compared to flat-bottomed ships.

Also, due to the characteristics of V-bottomed ships, they would immediately tilt and run aground if they sat on mudflats.

Because of these differences, it took more time for the Joseon navy to handle the ships.

However, Hyang had no choice but to insist on V-bottomed ships.

When going to the distant ocean, the advantages of flat-bottomed ships become disadvantages, and the disadvantages of V-bottomed ships turn into advantages.

* * *

Sejong, who was listening to Hyang’s explanation, pointed out a problem.

“Then, the most important thing is the commander who will move the ship…”

“I already reported…”

As Hyang trailed off, Sejong rummaged through his memories.

Sejong, who had to process dozens to hundreds of reports every day, had to search for memories buried deep within him and finally remembered who the captain of the Challenger was.

“You promoted Officer Oh Ha-seok to Navy Commander and appointed him?”

“That’s right. He has experience traveling to distant oceans and has mastered the characteristics of V-bottomed ships through the ships of the Huihui people [likely referring to Arab or Persian traders], so I appointed him.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

According to his memory, all those who had safely gone to Aden with Oh Ha-seok were assigned to the Challenger.

They were to gain experience in distant ocean voyages through the Challenger and then move on to become captains of newly launched distant ocean vessels.

In the end, Sejong had no choice but to step back.

“This is a matter of our Joseon’s future, so we must be careful. However, we must prevent losing the opportunity by putting too much effort into it.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

Hyang bowed his head and answered Sejong’s words. However, Hyang was constantly grumbling inwardly.

‘Your Majesty! I’m more urgent! I need to form a fleet as soon as possible to send it to South America!’

* * *

“Once the fleet is formed, I have to find some excuse to send it to South America.”

Hyang muttered while reviewing the report recording the training status and improvements of the Challenger.

“What we bring from South America is not just gold or silver. There is something more important than that. What we bring from South America is potatoes and sweet potatoes, and rubber, no. Even if we skip everything else, we absolutely need rubber.”

For Hyang, rubber was something he had to get his hands on. Hyang tapped the desk with his finger and muttered.

“If only rubber comes in, we can warp this Joseon right away.”

* * *

Hyang’s desperate desire for rubber began with the steam engine.

Connecting the pipes through which high-temperature steam passed required the use of copper gaskets. However, the steam engines that the research institute and Area 51 were continuously improving required copper gaskets for all parts that needed to be sealed, even those that did not receive heat.

“In this case, even if the lifespan is good, the problem of manufacturing cost becomes too large.”

It wasn’t just the cost of the steam engine. As more and more devices were made, the need for rubber increased.

The water hoses that sprayed water towards the fire, mounted on the water wagons used by the Fire Prohibition Army, also needed rubber.

The water hoses made of thick, tough cotton cloth had short lifespans and poor waterproofing performance, as well as low pressure resistance.

Even a slight increase in pressure would cause the cotton cloth pipes to burst.

As a result, they were not able to use the full capacity of the centrifugal pump attached to the water wagon.

Not only that.

Rubber was also needed for the housing complex for the management of the homeless, which had completed the design and only had the land purchase process left.

The part where rubber would be used in the newly designed houses was the lever pump. Hyang remembered the lever pump installed in the kitchen sink in the Western movies he had seen in the 21st century and was struggling to apply it.

“I remember the structure well, but the problem is still the packing [seals].”

The pistons of the few remaining lever pumps in the rural areas of Yangsan required rubber packing parts.

Of course, it worked even if you used copper and a hinge-type packing, but rubber was needed for better performance.

Wood, bamboo, and even paper could be substituted to some extent, but there was the problem of decay.

However, Hyang’s desperate desire for rubber was to make the device that he thought was most important, along with the steam engine.

“If only this is completed, Joseon can develop to the level of warp speed, not just leap!”

What Hyang had decided he must make was a generator.

* * *

The 21st century was an era where survival itself was a problem without electricity. Hyang, who was so accustomed to the existence of electricity, could never give up electricity.

“It’s not like I don’t know the structure of the generator…”

When he was in high school in the 21st century, Hyang had actually made a model steam locomotive that moved by heating water and won an award in a competition.

Of course, Hyang was in charge of the overall system design and conceptualization, but the actual numerical calculations were done by his classmates who went to science and engineering.

At the time, it was beneficial to each other. Hyang, who was immersed in steampunk, was happy to be able to indulge in his hobby, and his science and engineering classmates were able to acquire a card that would be useful when they went to college.

Of course, Hyang had to listen to both praise and scolding from his parents.

“It’s great that you received an award, but what are you going to do with this award as a liberal arts student!”

He was scolded like that, but Hyang made and exhibited a generator model connected to a steam engine the following year.

Therefore, Hyang had definite knowledge about generators.

That’s why, as the steam engine was being made, he finished the basic design for the generator, but Hyang had no choice but to stop there.

“The problem is the wire. The wire…”

To be precise, it was the problem of the insulating material to wrap the wire.

Of course, even without rubber, wires could be made.

For simple insulation, you could wrap oil-soaked paper or cloth around it.

In fact, the wires inside the radios used by the Japanese army during World War II were wrapped in oil-soaked cloth.

Hyang clicked his tongue after checking the related records online.

“No, you ate the rubber producing area and made the wires like this? That’s why you lost.”

Anyway, since there were related records, he even thought about borrowing them, but Hyang soon gave up the idea.

It was because of the Great Hanyang Fire, where he had confirmed the tragedy with his own eyes.

“Most of them are thatched roofs and wooden houses, and oil-soaked wires… Forget it.”

Hyang gave up the idea of using oil-soaked cloth or paper as an insulator.

* * *

In addition, there were many devices whose performance was drastically improved with the addition of rubber, from canteens to shoes.

He thought about making synthetic rubber, but Hyang unfortunately did not know the process.

Therefore, he wanted the rapid deployment of the Distant Ocean Fleet more than anyone else.

That’s why Hyang was complaining inwardly while soothing Sejong’s impatience.

‘If there is anyone here who is more anxious than me, tell them to come out!’

* * *

Hyang returned to his office and sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. At least 15 ships are needed for the Distant Ocean Fleet to operate properly. And only battleships.”

Hyang’s plan was to operate by sending 3 ships to the Middle East, another 3 ships returning from the Middle East, and another 3 ships resting and being maintained.

His scenario was to allocate 9 ships that way, keep 3 of the remaining 6 ships on standby as reserves, and send the remaining 3 ships to the New World.

“The good thing is that it’s safer to send them up north and come down south than to cross the Pacific Ocean unconditionally, and we can definitely get support.”

Hyang spread out the world map he had made – just a roughly drawn map regardless of scale – and checked the plan.

“Starting from Wonsan, passing through Sakhalin, using the Kuril Islands as signposts, passing through the Kamchatka Peninsula, crossing the Bering Sea from there and arriving in Alaska, and going down the west coast of North and South America from there, we can move while ensuring maximum safety. Of course, we have to be careful about the Northern Sea Route becoming a mess in winter… Then, is the first forward base going to be the Kamchatka Peninsula? Or Vladivostok? It’s not Russian territory now, so what should we name it…”

Hyang, who was fantasizing alone while looking at the map, suddenly realized the reality and burst into laughter.

“Hah! It’s like a dream. We’re struggling to get the wood to build the ships right now, so what…”

* * *

The forests of Joseon were not in good condition at this time.

Although coal was being supplied more and more, many trees were still being cut down for cooking and heating.

Therefore, since the beginning of the founding of the country, efforts have been made to protect forests and restore destroyed forests.

However, since trees do not grow quickly, and the places where high-quality timber is needed are not limited to ships, the supply of timber was not smooth.

Therefore, even when making panokseon ships [a type of Korean warship], there was a saying that ‘a forest disappears every time a panokseon ship is made.’

Knowing that situation, Hyang laughed in vain.

“The conclusion is that we have to get our hands on the Siberian forest area. Timber with dense and hard wood is the best for making ships. Why else would French line-of-battle ships and American frigates be called gangsters [renowned for their strength and firepower]?”

Recalling the movies and internet records he had seen in the 21st century, Hyang reaffirmed the securing of the Siberian forest area.

“The problem is that the stabilization of the frontier in the Northeast region has not yet been completed. Roads have to be built and people have to go in for this to be stabilized…”

Hyang continued to check the situation and sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. When will that be…”