Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 44

Jjanggeura

Hello, Bomb!

44. Laughing and Crying at Fangirling (9)

Hyang continued explaining to Jang Yeong-sil, who was engrossed in the blueprint.

“As you can see, it’s divided based on the 12 divisions of the day, then halved in the middle to mark the ‘cho [a unit of time, approximately 15 minutes],’ and halved again. So, the smallest unit is 2 gak [a smaller unit of time].”

“I understand.”

“But there’s a problem. Connecting it to a device that announces the time with sound is quite difficult. I’d like you to take a shot at it.”

“But, right now, His Majesty has given me an order…”

“It’s the same clock anyway, isn’t it? Think of it as a warm-up before making that big one. And don’t worry, I’ll talk to Father, so don’t worry.”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil began to contemplate. Seeing Jang Yeong-sil’s deeply serious face, Hyang prayed inwardly.

‘Please agree! Agree!’

Whether he sensed Hyang’s eagerness or not, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been pondering, opened his mouth.

“To be honest, I really want to make the Crown Prince’s clock. But, His Majesty’s stern order…”

“That problem! I’ll solve it!”

Hyang hurriedly cut off Jang Yeong-sil’s words.

“Yes? Yes?”

“I’ll solve the problem with Father! And, you said the calculation is difficult, right? Then do you know anyone who is good at it?”

Jang Yeong-sil, unable to keep up with the rapidly changing situation, stammered.

“First of all, there’s Lord Jeong Cho, and Lord Jeong In-ji, and rumor has it that Lord Yi Cheon is also good at arithmetic calculations, and, uh…”

“That’s enough! I understand. Keep that blueprint safe!”

“Yes? Y-yes? Your Highness? Your Highness!”

Jang Yeong-sil, holding the blueprint that Hyang had almost thrown at him, called out desperately to Hyang, who was disappearing into the distance. But Hyang couldn’t hear him at all.

“If I can only do basic calculations, and Jang Yeong-sil can only do basic calculations, then we need to find people who are good at calculations!”

While hurrying towards Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main throne hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace], a name flashed in Hyang’s mind with a warning light.

“Wait? Jeong In-ji? That Jeong In-ji? The one who’s in cahoots with Suyang [Prince Suyang, later King Sejo, a controversial figure in Joseon history]?”

Hyang stopped for a moment at the name Jeong In-ji and thought, then immediately came to a conclusion.

“Okay! Jeong In-ji, you’re confirmed for overtime and overwork!”

* * *

“The Crown Prince is here!”

“Let him in.”

Sejong, who was handling state affairs with his ministers, allowed Hyang to enter when he heard that Hyang, who had not been summoned, had arrived.

“What brings you here?”

Hyang answered Sejong’s question immediately.

“I have a request to make of you, Father.”

“A request?”

At the word ‘request,’ all the ministers, starting with the Chief State Councilor, froze. The beginning of the bloody storm that had stained the beginning of the year Gapjin [a year in the sexagenary cycle] with blood was that very ‘request.’

Sejong also asked Hyang with a tense face.

“A request? Yes, what is your request?”

“Give me people!”

“People?”

“Yes! Jeong Cho of the Ministry of Public Works, Yi Cheon of the Ministry of War, and Jeong In-ji of the Hall of Worthies. Ah! Lastly, Jang Yeong-sil is needed, and personnel from the Military Supplies Command are needed from time to time.”

“Jeong Cho and Yi Cheon, Jeong In-ji…”

Sejong began to search for information about the people in question, recalling his memories. While Sejong was recalling his memories, the ministers of the departments to which the people in question belonged turned pale.

“Your Majesty! They are…”

“Why? Is there something wrong with them?”

“It’s not that…”

Seeing the ministers hesitating, the Minister of Finance took the lead.

“The people the Crown Prince wants are important talents in each department, and if they leave, things will become very difficult. Judging from the Crown Prince’s character, he must have something important to do, but state affairs are also important…”

In short, it meant, ‘What are we supposed to do if you take away the people who are good at their jobs? We can’t give them to you!’

“Is that so? Why does the Crown Prince want them?”

“I have thought of several devices for the advancement of Joseon. However, although the principles have been implemented, precise calculations are needed to make them into real objects, and for this, people who are skilled in arithmetic are needed.”

“Hmm… Devices…”

Seeing Sejong showing interest, Hyang quickly added fuel to the fire.

“The first thing I want to make is a clock!”

“A clock?”

“Yes. In the case of the water clock that you have ordered now, it is so large that it requires a separate building.”

“That’s true.”

“However, the clock that I want to make can be made as small as the size of a jeongnam [丁男, adult male], and as large as to be installed on a pavilion.”

“About the size of a jeongnam?”

“That’s right! If it is properly completed, it can be installed not only in the palace but also in the government offices of the Six Ministries and the local government offices! If that happens, all the people of Joseon will be able to check the time easily, so wouldn’t that be great?”

“Hmm… Place them in the palace and government offices… All over the country…”

Sejong, intrigued by Hyang’s words, pondered and came to a conclusion.

“Good! I will give you the people you want! But this is only temporary. Crown Prince, if you make a clock properly, then I will remove the word ‘temporary’! This is because the people you want are also necessary for state affairs!”

“Thank you for your grace!”

Hyang answered in a loud voice and bowed deeply.

In this way, the ‘Dream Team that will make Joseon fly’ began to take shape.

The people selected according to Sejong’s order gathered at Donggungjeon Hall [the Crown Prince’s residence].

“Oh! Officer Jang! How have you been!”

“Lord! It’s been a while!”

Jeong Cho and Jang Yeong-sil greeted each other with happy faces.

After Jang Yeong-sil was specially recruited by Sejong, the first person he formed a relationship with was Jeong Cho. After exchanging brief greetings, Jeong Cho asked Jang Yeong-sil a question.

“I heard that the Crown Prince is making a clock, is that true?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that the size can be determined freely, is that true?”

“Yes.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s answer, the others who had been summoned to Donggungjeon Hall gathered nearby. As people gathered, Jang Yeong-sil brought a bundle of blueprints that had been gathered in one place and spread them out.

“This is the blueprint of the clock drawn by the Crown Prince. It uses the fall of this weight instead of water.”

“Hmm…”

“Huh…”

While listening to Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation, people looked at the blueprint. While pointing at the parts with their fingers and examining the path of movement, Jeong Cho opened his mouth.

“This… It seems like you have set the day with the fixed time method (定時法) [a method of dividing time into equal intervals regardless of the season]?”

“That’s right.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s answer, people fell into contemplation. The method of dividing time in Joseon was to use the fixed time method using 12 divisions of the day during the day, and the indefinite time method (不定時法) [a method of dividing time where the length of the intervals varies depending on the season] dividing into 5 경 [watches] at night. However, the indefinite time method had the problem that the length of time varied depending on the season.

“The Crown Prince said that he wants the people to use it as well, so wouldn’t this be a problem?”

While Jeong In-ji was pointing out the problem, Hyang’s voice was heard from behind.

“Since the length of time changes according to the length of the night, wouldn’t there be a problem during the day as well? Then, I think it would be better to make the fixed time method familiar. Even for the future.”

“We greet the Crown Prince!”

The people who found Hyang all paid their respects at once. Hyang, who returned the greeting lightly, gestured.

“Please sit down.”

At Hyang’s command, people sat around the conference table. Hyang, who was sitting in the seat of honor, put the bundle of papers he had been holding on the table and continued to speak.

“His Majesty said ‘temporary,’ but I think I will be able to easily remove that label. Have you seen those blueprints?”

“I have seen them, Your Highness.”

“What do you think?”

“There is a problem of using only the fixed time method, but I think it will be able to operate reliably.”

“I have the same thought.”

To Hyang’s question, those who gathered were all confident of success. Hyang, who nodded lightly, opened his mouth.

“I think so too. The problem is to create a device that connects to this and announces the time with sound. I want you to calculate and design that part.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a while, people answered in unison.

“We will follow the Crown Prince’s order!”

After hesitating for a while, people immediately accepted. It was because they were also interested.

Hyang, who heard the answer, handed them the bundles of paper.

“First, I would like to see your arithmetic skills. Please solve these problems.”

Hyang handed them problems found in mathematical books of the Eastern Roman Empire. The people who received the test papers soon took out gold brushes and inkstones from their sleeves and began to calculate.

“Stop.”

After about half a sh辰辰 (1 hour), Hyang declared the end. Hyang, who collected the test papers, checked the answers while looking at the answer key he had made in advance.

“Hmm…”

Hyang, who graded the papers while looking at the answer key, looked back at the people.

“First, let’s start with the production of the clock. There is no dual job (兼職) [working multiple jobs simultaneously] as long as you are under my command. So, do your best to complete the prototype of the clock first.”

“We will follow your order!”

“How long will it take?”

To Hyang’s question, people put their heads together and whispered. After a short discussion, Jeong Cho answered as a representative.

“The design of the most important part of measuring time has already been completed, so we only need to design the part that announces the sound. Therefore, I think we can make a prototype in about a month.”

“Then, I will report to Father that it will take a month. Not only my honor but also your honor is at stake, so you must do your best.”

“We will do our best!”

Hyang, who assigned the space where the dream team he had thought of would work, returned to his study and muttered.

“This is a bit risky…”

What Hyang said was risky was the math skills of the dream team members. The problems that had been drawn in advance in preparation for such times were selected from mathematical books of the Eastern Roman Empire. The problems were at the level of middle and high school – excluding calculus. When Hyang himself solved them, they were about 80 points level problems, but the highest score among them was 70 points, and the average was around 50 to 60 points.

“I heard that the hobby of Joseon’s Sadaebu [scholar-officials] was solving math problems? What should I do with this?”

Hyang’s difficulty was that it was difficult to teach mathematics with his own skills. After 고민 [agonizing] for a while, Hyang soon found a solution.

“Ah! There were Muslims!”

* * *

A month later, the dream team kept its promise. Sejong was very satisfied with the completed clock.

“Make these in large quantities and install them primarily in the palace and the government offices of the Six Ministries!”

“We will follow your order!”

In this way, clocks were installed in various places in the palace and in the government offices of the Six Ministries.

And these clocks became the nightmare of the officials.

As the balance of power clearly tilted towards Sejong, Gyeongyeon [royal lectures] was greatly reduced to half a sh辰辰 [hour] at Sasi (9-11 o’clock) and half a sh辰辰 at Sinsi (15-17 o’clock). It was because he felt it was unnecessary as the need to break the noses of the ministers through Gyeongyeon disappeared.

When it was time for Gyeongyeon, the chief and ministers quickly moved to the Gyeongyeon Hall. If they were even a little late, Sejong, who had come and waited in advance, glanced silently at the minister in question and then glanced at the clock.

There was not a single word, but each time the tardy minister had to sweat cold.

If the ministers were sweating cold, the gates of hell were opened to the officials of the Six Ministries.

“When will this report be possible?”

“It will be possible by Sinsijeong (申時定, exactly 16 o’clock).”

“Is that so? I understand.”

And when the promised time came, the superiors urged their subordinates.

“Hey! It’s already Sinsijeong! Is it still far away?”

“I’m sorry. Just a little more time…”

“Ugh! Hurry up!”

As this happened frequently, the subordinates played tricks, but that also became the target of nagging.

“When will this report be possible?”

“If it’s until Yusijeong (酉時定, exactly 18 o’clock)…”

“Only with this? It’s Jinsi (辰時, 07-09 o’clock) now? Have you given up on success?”

“Ah, no!”

“Ugh! How can a talent who even came out of Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution] be so slow at work… Tsk tsk tsk.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hurry up and work!”

In the end, the officials who were full of stress found it routine to run to the gibang [a type of Korean tavern or restaurant] or nearby tavern to drink alcohol as soon as they left work.

* * *

Sejong kept his promise.

“Yes. The people you wanted are now your people. What are you going to do now?”

“Please create an independent government office.”

“An independent government office?”

Hyang gave Sejong a detailed explanation. Sejong, who heard the explanation, fell into 고민 [deep thought]. Sejong, who had been 고민 for a while, opened his mouth.

“It’s hard to decide right away. I’ll give you an answer in five days.”

“Yes, Father.”

Five days later, Sejong made a decision.

“I permit it.”

“Thank you for your grace!”

Hyang bowed deeply, unable to hide his joy.

In this way, Joseon’s largest research institute, the ‘Joseon Science and Technology Development Research Institute (朝鮮科學技術開發硏究所),’ was created.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong