Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 420

420. Cargo Culture (3)

Despite the commotion, construction progressed steadily and smoothly, finally connecting Dongbing Port to the mainland by land.

The railroad, using Nokdu Island in the lower Tumen River as a stepping stone, stretched along the coastline to Dongbing Port.

The initial plan considered routes crossing the Tumen River near Hanyeopyeong-ri or Josan-ri as primary options. However, Hyang stepped forward and insisted on planning the route via Nokdu Island.

“Your Highness, that would require a significant detour,” Jin-pyeong said, representing the opposition. He pointed out the inconvenience caused by the detour, but Hyang did not back down.

“Of course, it requires a detour, but the proposed routes would traverse unexplored forest areas. This raises several issues.”

Hyang outlined the problems with the existing plans.

“First, we don’t know the terrain within the forest area well. There’s a possibility of incurring additional construction costs if things go wrong.”

“Second, there’s the issue of the Jurchen people who have settled in the forest area. If we fail to properly appease them, unnecessary military expenditure may continue.”

“…Especially!”

Hyang, emphasizing the second problem, glared at Jin-pyeong and continued, “There is someone who insists on unconditional subjugation concerning these Jurchen people, which I believe is wrong. Do you think it will be successful if those who know nothing about the primeval forest try to subjugate those who have settled in it and know it better than anyone else?”

Jin-pyeong had to shut his mouth, his neck shrinking at Hyang’s rebuke.

Having seen Hyang suppress the rebels in the coup incident in the year Gi-yu [1429], Jin-pyeong had been unable to stand up to Hyang in matters related to force ever since.

Hyang, having silenced Jin-pyeong, continued speaking.

“Third, once Dongbing Port is connected by rail, a large quantity of goods such as timber logged from the forests near Dongbing Port and various medicinal herbs must be transported. In particular, timber is the most important, and a warehouse is needed in the middle to store reserves for a stable supply.”

“Fourth, the route connecting to Dongbing Port is one of the longest among the routes constructed in Joseon. Therefore, facilities must be built in the middle to maintain the iron horses [trains], passenger cars, and freight cars.”

“…Therefore, considering the above conditions, I believe that going through Nokdu Island is the optimal route.”

Hyang’s plan was to build a marshalling yard, maintenance facilities, and various logistics warehouses on Nokdu Island.

In the end, Sejong made the decision on this route. After listening to both sides, Sejong sided with Hyang after much deliberation.

That was how the Northeast Route, with Nokdu Island as an intermediate stop, began to be constructed.

* * *

The Northeast Route, constructed with such a backstory, added great momentum to Joseon’s development as soon as it was completed.

People and goods gathered in Wonsan and Gilju headed to Dongbing Port on this route.

Using the railroad, which was less affected by the weather than sea routes, many workers and their families headed to Dongbing Port. The workers who arrived in Dongbing Port soon found employment at the shipyard and nearby logging sites.

With rumors of great wealth in Dongbing Port, more and more people took the train to Dongbing Port in search of jobs and markets.

In this way, Dongbing Port began to develop from a small naval port and shipyard into an increasingly large metropolis.

As soon as it was completed, the Northeast Route became one of the busiest routes in Joseon.

Trains carrying naval soldiers to be deployed on newly launched battleships, workers looking for work, merchants looking for new markets, and large and small steam engines and machine parts needed for the shipyard and logging sites departed from Nokdu Island for Dongbing Port three times a day.

Conversely, trains from Dongbing Port carrying timber that had been logged and primarily processed, medicinal herbs and furs collected nearby, and all sorts of reports and people headed to Nokdu Island three times a day as well.

As a result, Nokdu Island, following Dongbing Port, also began to develop into an increasingly large metropolis.

* * *

Seeing this example of Nokdu Island, the Ministry of Finance and Economy soon moved quickly.

‘It is a waste to build separate marshalling yards and logistics warehouses on this small land of Joseon,’ they thought.

Only in the early stages of railway construction did the Ministry of Finance and Economy have such thoughts. This was because they judged that carts could be mobilized or ships could be used to replace the railroad if necessary.

However, as it was reaffirmed that a large amount of cargo could be regularly transported using the railroad, the Ministry of Finance and Economy soon changed its policy.

They stored and managed large quantities of cargo through marshalling yards installed along the main line and major branch lines, and warehouses built adjacent to them.

Through this, the Ministry of Finance and Economy was able to manage prices more efficiently.

However, as everyone expected, the military and merchants benefited the most from the opening of the railroad.

Being able to move large-scale troops and large quantities of weapons using the railroad enabled the military to improve its power and operate efficiently.

Merchants also had a wider range of activities. People in more distant regions were able to taste specialties that only people in the place of origin and its vicinity could taste.

As a side note, the branch line that was completed the fastest was the route from Cheongju, where Chojeong [a mineral spring known for its carbonated water] is located, to Hanseong [Seoul].

A large amount of carbonated water was supplied to Hanseong through this route. A significant amount of this supplied carbonated water was used in the palace for Sejong’s health, but most of it was used in the production of Bbongsu [a type of soda or flavored water].

With a stable supply of large quantities of carbonated water, mass production of Bbongsu became possible, and thanks to this, Bbongsu became popular not only in Joseon but also in distant foreign countries.

To the extent that European royalty and nobles called it ‘Ponsu’ and enjoyed it as much as wine.

Kim Jeom, who received the related report, once again shouted ‘Jihwaja! [Hooray!]’, and Hyang scratched his head and muttered.

“What is this… Joseon’s Choco Pie [a popular Korean snack cake]?”

And another group of people who received economic benefits were those living on Daeseol Island.

* * *

Joseon was in a situation where the amount of coal used as fuel in increasingly large steel mills and ordinary households was gradually increasing. In addition, with the railroad taking hold, the demand for coal skyrocketed.

At this time, the coal from Daeseol Island was like welcome rain during a drought.

“With a little bit of work, the coal from Daeseol Island becomes the best fuel that can be used in steel mills,” the report stated.

After receiving the report, Sejong ordered that the coal mined from Daeseol Island be supplied to the steel mills, and that the coal mined from Gangwon-do and Aoji be diverted to other uses.

Thanks to this, Joseon’s coal market could be operated stably.

Meanwhile, as the main line took hold and major branch lines gradually took their place, the railroad soon became a part of Joseon’s daily life.

The sight of an iron horse spewing black smoke and pulling a long string of passenger and freight cars was no longer a novelty.

However, this was not the case elsewhere.

* * *

April of the 19th year of Sejong (1437, Jeongsa year).

“Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from General Choi Yun-deok of Hamgil-do,” Hwang Hee said, representing the ministers attending the meeting. He informed Sejong that a report had come from Hamgil-do.

“From Hamgil-do?”

At the word ‘Hamgil-do,’ Sejong’s expression became serious. It was because of the Jurchen people.

* * *

After suppressing the rebellions of Yi Man-ju and Meonte-mu, the Jurchen people in the Amnok River region were only watching Joseon’s every move.

However, the Oljeokhap tribes in the Tumen River region, more precisely, north of the region of the naturalized Oryanghap tribes, were a group to watch out for.

Joseon was constantly trying to appease them, but they were either playing both sides between Ming [China] and Joseon, or they were plundering while going back and forth between the two.

At least, with the opening of the Northeast Railroad, the number of tribes approaching Joseon was increasing, but they were still refusing naturalization.

* * *

With such a background, Sejong was nervous at the words ‘Hamgil-do’ and ‘urgent report.’

Sejong, receiving the report through the Royal Secretary and the eunuch, unfolded the scroll and read the contents.

“Hmm…. Huh? Huh? Uh-huh? Oh?”

Sejong, tilting his head while reading the report, read the report again several times. After confirming that he had not misread it, Sejong asked Hwang Hee.

“Are you sure this is not a false report?”

“It is a properly written report.”

At Hwang Hee’s confirmation, Sejong made an absurd expression.

“The news that the Jurchen people who have settled in the area connected to Dongbing Port and the northern forest area are coming in droves to naturalize is truly good news. But… they are asking to lay down the ‘Dragon’s Road’…. What on earth is this ‘Dragon’s Road’?”

Hwang Hee answered Sejong’s question.

“I was also curious about that, so I asked General Choi Yun-deok, who is in charge of that area. According to the reply sent by General Choi Yun-deok, it is a ‘railroad.'”

“Why is it connected like that?”

Hwang Hee answered Sejong’s question immediately.

“We don’t know either. So, I ordered them to submit a related report again.”

“Huh…. Suddenly, the Dragon’s Road….”

Sejong and the ministers could not understand the contents written in the report at all.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who heard the story, shook his head and muttered.

“Could it be cargo cultism [a belief system where people attempt to acquire wealth and status by imitating the behavior of those who possess it]?”

* * *

To the Jurchen people who encountered the railroad connecting to Dongbing Port, the iron horse was an ‘incomprehensible’ object.

“How does that thing move?”

“The Joseon people say that it moves with the power of steam that comes from boiling water with fire?”

“Do you think that makes sense?”

The Jurchen man who was answering the question of his fellow Jurchen shook his head.

“Not at all.”

The Jurchen people, who were talking about the iron horse, the principle of which they could not understand with their common sense, came to an unexpected conclusion.

“That thing… could it be a dragon in disguise?”

“Dragon?”

“Look. It has such a long body and carries so many people and things, and it runs as fast as a horse. Do you think people made that? Don’t joke around.”

“But to say that a dragon is disguised….”

“Then what is it?”

“….”

“Look. They use something called coal to move that iron horse, and coal is not common, right? They keep feeding it such precious things like that. Is that an ordinary object? It’s a ghostly object.”

Kweeeeeeeek~

As they were talking like that, a loud whistle sounded from the iron horse passing nearby.

The Jurchen man who was arguing for the ‘disguise theory’ put strength into his voice at the sound of the iron horse’s whistle.

“Listen! Have you ever seen an object or animal that makes such a sound?”

“No….”

“That is definitely the sound of a dragon, the sound of a dragon.”

“Hmm….”

“And when the sun sets, its bulging eyes emit light, and you have never seen such bright light, right? But is that all made by people? It’s a dragon in disguise.”

The last train on the Northeast Railroad arrived at Nokdu Island or Dongbing Port around sunset. Therefore, the iron horse turned on its lights, and the brightness of the lights was very bright.

This was not a simple lamp, but a carbide lamp using carbide made by Hyang.

* * *

“We can’t even dream of electricity yet, so we have to use coal…,” Hyang thought.

In the process of experimenting with creating ‘a kiln with the highest temperature that can be produced using coal,’ Hyang was able to produce carbide.

“It’s an intermediate process, but if we use this, we can replace the lamp.”

Carbide, which emits a much brighter light than the lamps that had been used until then, soon replaced the lamps and became a useful lighting device.

And the officials sighed again.

“I was going to go home early on the pretext that the lights were dim…. Damn it!”