Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 328

328. Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (5)

Hyang, having secured the promise of the Franciscan monks, led them to the research lab.

“Heh….”

“Ooh….”

The alchemists, scholars, and monks marveled at the various instruments and models displayed in the research lab’s exhibition room.

As they observed the exhibited instruments, the alchemists began to feel uneasy.

Eventually, one alchemist, unable to bear the anxiety, asked Hyang,

“We are not blacksmiths. Is there something for us to do?”

As all the alchemists present nodded in agreement, Hyang explained the reason for summoning them.

“Frankly, I do not believe in alchemy. The same goes for the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ or the ‘Elixir.’ What I desire is not knowledge of alchemy, but knowledge of minerals.”

“Knowledge of minerals, you say?”

“That’s right. Follow me.”

Hyang led the alchemists to another room. As the alchemists followed Hyang, the scholars and monks also trailed behind.

The room Hyang led the alchemists into was filled with rows of cabinets.

“Currently, only about 20% of these cabinets are filled.”

With this explanation, Hyang pulled out several drawers from the cabinets. Each drawer contained a different type of mineral.

“As you can see, these minerals were collected by our Joseon prospectors during their explorations. Some are well-known, but many are unknown. Therefore, your knowledge is needed. Your task is to classify and analyze the minerals currently in these drawers, as well as those that will arrive in the future.”

The alchemists nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

‘-Through the process of creating gold via alchemy (鍊丹) [yeondan, a process of refining elixirs], one awakens to the truth and reaches a higher (至高) [jigo, supreme or ultimate] state.’

This was the alchemists’ purpose. They had accumulated knowledge over generations for this purpose.

However, Hyang’s explanation felt somewhat lacking. No, it wasn’t lacking, but rather dissatisfying.

‘You summoned us just to do such classification work? Just to make us do such a thing?’

The alchemists, who hadn’t realized how much time and manpower Hyang’s mentioned ‘classification and analysis’ would consume, began to show their dissatisfaction.

“If it’s just for such classification and analysis, there wouldn’t have been a need to gather alchemists like us from distant places, would there?”

Hyang chuckled at the statement, which implied, ‘We are too high-class for such trivial work.’

‘These guys are taking the work too lightly?’

“Hah! It would be a mistake to think of it as simple classification and analysis. The classification and analysis of these minerals must be based on highly specialized work. To give a simple example, you must analyze and classify whether they react to acids or bases, and if they do, whether they react to all acids or bases, or only to specific ones, and so on.”

As they listened to Hyang’s explanation, the alchemists looked around. The room, large enough to host a banquet for royalty or nobles, was filled with rows of cabinets.

He had said that only 20% of the many cabinets were filled, but that alone was an enormous quantity.

And experimenting and analyzing with acids or bases was something that only those who had undergone specialized training, like alchemists, could do.

The alchemists’ faces began to pale as they realized the immense scale of the work they had to do.

Watching the alchemists’ faces turn increasingly pale, Hyang continued with a mischievous smile,

“Ah! And although you won’t be doing alchemy, you will be doing similar work. You will be in charge of tasks related to that as well.”

“Similar work, as in creating gold?”

“No, the goal is to create higher quality steel. To create steel that is harder and more durable. To create rust-free iron, and so on. Ah! Speaking of creating gold, I just remembered something I had missed. You must also research methods to extract gold from ore (原鑛) [wongwang, raw ore] with higher efficiency.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists could only gape with blank expressions.

The alchemists, who had been gaping like goldfish, soon regained their senses and asked Hyang,

“Rust-free iron? I have never heard of it, nor have I ever seen it.”

“I, too, have never seen gold made by alchemy. But wouldn’t iron be easier than gold? I believe that rust-free iron can be made.”

‘Someone who has seen stainless steel to the point of being sick of it!’

The alchemists, who were about to retort, closed their mouths upon seeing Hyang’s face.

Hyang’s face, as he looked at the alchemists, was filled with strong conviction.

‘Someone who doesn’t believe in alchemy believes that rust-free iron can be made! And so resolutely!’

* * *

Having told the alchemists what to do, Hyang turned to the mathematicians.

“There are many things I would like to ask of you as well.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars swallowed hard and asked,

“What tasks are those?”

“Studying mathematics is a given, and you must also accurately quantify all the work and information needed by the court, and analyze the hidden meanings within.”

“I don’t quite understand….”

“It’s too abstract.”

At the mathematicians’ words, Hyang immediately provided further explanation.

“To give a simple example, if you investigate how much fertilizer is used annually in the rural areas throughout Joseon just before sowing, you would create a table of that data. And when it comes time to harvest, you would also create a table of the amount of grain harvested. If these records accumulate over several years, you can analyze the correlation between the amount of fertilizer used and the yield, can’t you? Of course, there will be natural variables such as droughts or floods in between, but these aspects can also be converted into numerical values and applied. If you analyze all these correlations, wouldn’t you be able to predict the harvest yield to some extent before the harvest season arrives? Instead of a rough estimate like, ‘The weather was good this year, so there will be a large yield,’ you would be able to predict, ‘We can harvest at least this much,’ wouldn’t you? And if such predictions are possible, you can use them as a basis to calculate the expenditures for the following year in advance.”

Everyone stared blankly at Hyang, who had poured out a flood of information under the guise of a simple explanation, before regaining their senses and answering,

“W, well, yes, that’s true.”

“It is possible.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s explanation. However, at Hyang’s subsequent words, the scholars’ faces turned as pale as the alchemists’.

“Ah! The agricultural aspect I just mentioned is already nearing completion in terms of quantification. You must perform such quantification work on other areas. It’s not just about quantification; you must also create relational expressions, methods for creating statistics, and methods for analyzing those statistics.”

“Even analysis methods?”

“Wouldn’t those analysis methods only have value if they are made into formulas?”

“That is true.”

“Follow me first.”

As the mathematicians nodded, Hyang led them to another room.

* * *

The room that Hyang led the mathematicians into was the very room that had once entranced Kim Dam.

“This is!”

“Ooh!”

The mathematicians exclaimed as they saw the blackboard filling one wall and the numbers filling that blackboard.

Among the symbols filling the spaces between the numbers, the only recognizable one was the addition symbol, but they could immediately discern the profoundness of those formulas.

Hyang, standing with his back to the blackboard, continued his explanation to the mathematicians.

“Do you remember the river you traveled upstream when coming here from Jemulpo?”

“We remember.”

“These are the calculations being performed to design a bridge to be placed on that river.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the mathematicians recalled the vast Han River.

“The river is indeed very wide, but is it necessary to perform such complex calculations?”

Hyang immediately answered the mathematicians’ question.

“The reason for performing such calculations is to withstand the heaviest load with the fewest possible piers. Therefore, a large amount of iron will be used. You will learn more about this in detail later when you formally join the project.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians simultaneously muttered,

“So, the research on iron….”

“That’s correct. The better the iron, the fewer piers will be needed.”

“If that happens, the entire formula must be changed….”

As one of the mathematicians muttered, the mathematician next to him pointed out the error.

“The formula itself won’t change much. You can just set the quality of the iron itself as a variable.”

“That’s correct.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s words.

Angelo, who had been quietly examining the blackboard, asked Hyang a question.

“If you have already created formulas to this extent, aren’t we unnecessary?”

At Angelo’s remark, Hyang explained the reason for calling them.

“Unfortunately, our Joseon is short on people. We continue to cultivate talent, but it will still take a long time to meet the demand. That is why I called you. If you, who have mastered the essence of mathematics that has been studied since ancient times, can quench the thirst of our Joseon now.”

At Hyang’s words, the eyes of the mathematicians and alchemists began to shine.

Although Islamic countries favored mathematicians and alchemists, there were religious issues.

However, continuing academic activities in Italy and Western Europe meant being treated with disdain (白眼視) [baekanshi, literally ‘white-eye sight,’ meaning to be scorned or looked down upon], and in severe cases, being branded as heretics and subjected to torture.

Finally, the conflict with the Ottomans was a problem for those who remained in their homelands.

The nobles and emperors who could support them wanted technologies that could be used immediately in war and materials that could be used as weapons, rather than pure academic achievements.

However, Joseon was different.

Of course, it was the same in that they were not pursuing pure knowledge, but there were tasks that were sufficient to feel intellectual accomplishment.

* * *

Feeling the alchemists’ and mathematicians’ reactions turning positive, Hyang shook one last tempting bait.

“Ah! I forgot to mention something…. If someone develops a substance or knowledge with sufficient commercial value, they will be given ample compensation.”

“Compensation, you say?”

“Have you heard of a patent?”

The eyes of the alchemists and mathematicians began to shine menacingly as they heard Hyang’s explanation of patents and royalties.

They needed money as well. Finding sponsors for more comfortable and stable research was the most important thing for them, and what Hyang said was like sweet honey.

‘They look like they’re shooting lasers from their eyes! As expected, the power of capitalism!’

Hyang, realizing the power of money once again as he saw their eyes sparkling to the point of flashing, asked one last question.

“What do you think? Will you work in Joseon? Will you sign the contract?”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians answered in unison,

“We will sign!”

In the records they left behind in the distant future, the same words were written:

‘We should not have signed the contract.’

* * *

Having finished the contracts with the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang explained the subsequent tasks.

“The first thing you must do is learn the language and writing used in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars nodded and looked at the Chinese characters. Some nodded as if they were somewhat familiar.

It was known to them as Kitai script [referring to Khitan script, often used to describe Chinese characters in this context].

“Even if you don’t become proficient in the writing, you must be able to converse in the language to be put into work, and your salary will be paid normally.”

“Understood.”

The alchemists and mathematicians, answering Hyang, simultaneously had similar questions.

‘Why do these people, who have such excellent technology and use their own language, use Kitai script?’

However, they soon found the answer to their question.

‘Well…. It’s the same for us using Latin script….’

Although they were born and raised in various places, starting with Greece, France, and England, it was common for them to use Latin when recording research results or writing papers.

Therefore, they took this issue lightly.

* * *

Contrary to Hyang’s expectations, the alchemists and mathematicians were able to converse in Joseon by the time two months had passed.

When a report came up that they had acquired not only conversation skills but also Joseon’s unique mathematical knowledge, including mathematical symbols, Hyang called Jeong Cho.

“Would it be okay to put them into practical work?”

“It is believed to be entirely possible.”

At Hyang’s decision upon receiving the report, Jeong Cho put the alchemists and mathematicians into practical work.

“From now on, these are the scholars from the West who will be working with you. Do not cause any discord and cooperate to produce good results.”

“Yes.”

Three days later, after a short introductory meeting, the researchers began working with the foreigners.

“Now! A slogan before we start working!”

“Only mathematics can answer! (唯數能答) [yuisuneungdap, a declaration of mathematics’ problem-solving power]!”

The researchers, who shouted the slogan loudly, immediately began working.

As time passed, the Western scholars and Joseon researchers became so close that they laughed and chatted together.

As that happened, a mathematician, unable to overcome his curiosity, asked a researcher he had become close to,

“What is the meaning of the slogan you shout every morning?”

“Ah, that? It means, ‘Only mathematics can answer.'”

“Amazing!”

“Arrogant! But that’s how it has been until now, and that’s how it will be in the future!”