Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 458

458. Changing People pt.2 (3)

The invention of the fan, or rather the wind-maker, came about through Hyang’s direct intervention.

Early summer was becoming increasingly hot.

Hyang loosened the collar of his official robe and exclaimed.

“Seriously! You’ve invented the screw, shouldn’t making a fan be the next logical step? Are we really going to suffer through this heat without any relief?”

Bang!

“I can’t take it anymore!”

Hyang, leaping from his seat, straightened his collar and stormed out of his office.

As he marched towards the workshop responsible for screw-related research and development, Hyang continued to grumble.

“I can understand the centrifugal blower! It’s a completely different design! But we already have the screw! The groundwork is laid! Do I have to spell everything out for them?”

There was some justification for Hyang’s frustration. The concept of the screw propeller—documented in the Challenge Log as a windmill-type propeller—had been around for quite some time.

“It’s been years, not just months, since it was added to the Challenge Log! If they still haven’t figured out this application, it’s a serious problem!”

As Hyang burst into the workshop, the researchers and artisans working there immediately stood and bowed respectfully.

“We greet you, Your Highness!”

“You’re all working hard.”

“Is there anything you require…?”

Seeing Hyang’s displeased expression, the development manager inquired. Hyang got straight to the point.

“It’s getting hotter, isn’t it? I’m here to see if we can apply the propeller technology we’re currently developing.”

The development manager’s face took on a peculiar expression at Hyang’s words.

“Huh? Why that face?”

“Actually, I’ve been doing some research on my own, but there are still some unresolved issues, so I haven’t been able to report it yet.”

Hyang immediately ordered.

“If you have a prototype, bring it to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Soon after, researchers and artisans from the development department brought out two bulky iron contraptions with large windmills attached.

Hyang, watching two strong artisans unload the mechanical devices from a cart, asked the development manager.

“Are you using a steam engine?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Hyang continued without pause.

“I can see three immediate problems. First, the weight. Second, the safety of the windmill. Third, heat management.”

“That’s correct. The first prototype weighs 120 *geun* [approximately 72kg], and the improved second one weighs 110 *geun* [approximately 66kg].”

“It doesn’t look that heavy.”

“That’s the weight when it’s fully loaded with coal and water.”

“I see. Let’s see it in operation.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Hyang’s command, the development manager and his team began preparing for the demonstration.

They filled the tank with boiling water and the firebox with burning coals from the brazier.

Before long, the pressure in the steam engine reached the proper level, and the development manager, confirming this, moved the lever attached to the machine.

Tattle-tattle!

With a loud mechanical sound, the windmill attached to the machine began to spin, generating wind.

Hyang, after feeling the wind for a moment, turned to the development manager.

“The Police Bureau would love this. It would be perfect for interrogating criminals.”

The heat generated by the steam engine, the power source, was directly transferred to the wind, creating a blast of hot air that could turn a healthy person into jerky.

“What about safety?”

At Hyang’s question, the development manager brought a long pole with radishes tied to the end and held it up to the spinning blades.

Thwack!

The radish that touched the blade was instantly shredded. The development manager put down the pole and explained to Hyang.

“Because of this danger, we installed a safety net on the second prototype. We also reduced the weight. But the heat management problem remains unsolved.”

“Keep working on it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After encouraging the development manager and his team, Hyang muttered to himself as he stepped outside.

“I wonder if we could use a spring?”

Having conceived his own solution, Hyang turned and headed for Jang Yeong-sil’s office.

* * *

“…So, I want to make a wind-maker powered by a spring.”

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, Jang Yeong-sil stood up without a word.

“I happen to have something I made for fun…”

Trailing off, Jang Yeong-sil placed a wind-maker with a windmill the size of his head on the desk.

Behind the windmill was a copper box the size of an earthenware pot, and behind the box was a crank.

Click, click.

As Jang Yeong-sil turned the crank, the spring wound with a loud noise. After turning the crank almost forty times, Jang Yeong-sil pushed the lever attached to the base of the wind-maker.

Tick-tock!

With the sound of the spring unwinding, a cool breeze began to blow, and Hyang glared at Jang Yeong-sil.

Sensing Hyang’s unusual expression, Jang Yeong-sil hurriedly began to make excuses.

“Let me reiterate, this started as a simple amusement! And I’m getting old and nearing retirement. I can’t reveal all my secrets, can I? I thought you would be able to figure this out on your own.”

“So, you were hiding it?”

“Yes.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s admission, Hyang shouted.

“Hey, Director Jang! What did I tell you before? You shouldn’t hide anything from me! Are my words a joke to you that you hid this!”

At Hyang’s outburst, Jang Yeong-sil immediately prostrated himself on the floor.

“How could I have such a wicked intention! It’s just that, compared to other heavy and large objects, this is a light and small item…”

“The value of an object is not in its size but in its utility! Are you making excuses now!”

“Please forgive me!”

Hyang, glaring at Jang Yeong-sil prostrate on the floor begging for forgiveness, turned his head.

“Royal Attendant! Summon the development manager of the propeller research department immediately!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After giving the order to the royal attendant, Hyang ordered Jang Yeong-sil.

“Get up.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang sternly warned Jang Yeong-sil, who got up hesitantly.

“This is the second time. I’ll let it go this time, but if this happens again, I will immediately hold you accountable.”

“I am deeply grateful! I will never make this mistake again!”

Listening to Jang Yeong-sil’s answer, Hyang grumbled sincerely.

“Seriously, a person should have some sense of ethics. Always having fun by himself…”

* * *

“Ah! Such a solution!”

The development manager, who had rushed over after being summoned, exclaimed as he looked at the wind-maker made by Jang Yeong-sil. He examined the wind-maker from every angle, looking at Jang Yeong-sil with admiration.

“As expected of the director! To have such extraordinary ideas! I respect you!”

At the development manager’s praise, Jang Yeong-sil waved his hand with an embarrassed expression.

“Extraordinary… I still have a long way to go. There are still many problems to solve with this.”

Hyang interjected.

“What problems need to be solved with this wind-maker?”

“The first is safety. The blades of that windmill are as sharp as knife blades, so even a small mistake could cause a major accident.”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s point, the development manager tilted his head.

“It looks like it’s made of wood?”

Jang Yeong-sil rolled up a piece of paper next to him and held it against the rotating blade.

Rip!

The development manager’s face became serious as he watched the paper being torn to shreds with a loud noise.

“I thought wood would be okay…”

Jang Yeong-sil’s expression was also troubled.

Seeing their concerned faces, Hyang joined the conversation.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to make the frame with bamboo and the wings with paper?”

“Although high-quality Korean paper is tough, wouldn’t it tear if it spins so fast?”

“It’s highly likely if it spins that fast. But isn’t our goal now not a wind that feels like it’s blowing you away, but a cool breeze that creates comfort? Then, is there a need for it to spin that fast?”

“Ah!”

“Brilliant!”

Jang Yeong-sil and the development manager exclaimed at Hyang’s suggestion.

Jang Yeong-sil opened his mouth, his face alight with excitement.

“Then almost all the problems are solved. The second problem is that it has to run for at least half a *shichen* [about 1 hour] once the spring is wound, but there are plenty of solutions for that! As expected of Your Highness!”

“You flatter me.”

Hyang waved his hand, feigning embarrassment.

The development manager, who had been pondering while listening to the discussion about the spring-powered wind-maker, sighed softly.

“Hoo~. ‘A frog in a well’ [idiom for someone with limited knowledge]… The things I was so worried about become meaningless. I will discard all the wind-makers I am currently researching.”

At the development manager’s words, Hyang shook his head.

“Why discard them when they have their uses?”

“Yes?”

The development manager tilted his head, while Jang Yeong-sil’s eyes lit up.

Hyang, seeing Jang Yeong-sil’s expression, smiled slyly and asked.

“Does Director Jang know what I’m thinking?”

Jang Yeong-sil answered immediately.

“Are you going to use it in the winter?”

“That’s correct.”

The development manager expressed his doubts.

“We use *Ondol* [Korean floor heating system] or braziers in the winter, so would it be effective?”

Jang Yeong-sil spoke on behalf of Hyang.

“It takes time to heat up *Ondol*, and the brazier only warms the immediate area, right? But if you can send hot air far away, it will warm up quickly. Of course, *Ondol* is more than enough for ordinary houses or bedrooms, but places like government offices are difficult to heat even with *Ondol*, right?”

“Ah!”

The development manager greatly admired Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation.

* * *

In this way, the development of wind-makers for summer and winter began in earnest.

“This is really good!”

Sejong, who received the prototype of the summer wind-maker, was genuinely happy as he felt the cool breeze.

Thanks to Hyang’s ‘Making Healthy Pigs’ initiative, Sejong had become healthier, but he was still quite obese.

As a result, he sweated a lot in the summer and suffered from skin diseases due to the layers of clothing he had to wear.

In this situation, the prototype of the wind-maker became like ‘welcome rain in a drought’ [idiom for something much needed].

“What do you all think?”

The ministers, feeling the wind coming from the wind-makers installed in all directions of Geunjeongjeon [main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], answered immediately.

“It’s really good!”

No sooner had the words been spoken than Kim Jeom and the Minister of Finance made a suggestion.

“Many people suffer from the heat in the summer, so this will be very beneficial! It would be good to start mass production right away!”

“We will analyze whether to produce it at the royal workshop or delegate it to a private merchant group!”

Sejong smiled and replied.

“Are the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance just wanting to feel the money wind, not just the breeze? But I think it’s a good idea, so please consider it and report back.”

“We will follow your orders!”

* * *

After the matter of the wind-maker was settled, Sejong praised Hyang.

“The people suffer from the heat in the summer. Although this device cannot eliminate all the heat, it still helps them regain their energy. You have created a truly wonderful device. You have worked very hard.”

“You flatter me.”

Hyang answered humbly, but he was inwardly steeling himself.

‘The fan is a stopgap measure! The biggest problem still remains!’

Hyang stroked the sleeves of his dragon robe and strengthened his resolve.

‘I will definitely do it! Clothing reform!’