Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 482

482. Regency (7)

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Yes. Do you have some good news?”

At Hyang’s question, the Executive cautiously replied.

“Yes. There have been quite positive results regarding the Blue Mold Solution.”

At the Executive’s words, Hyang’s eyes sparkled.

The ‘Blue Mold Solution’ that the Royal Clinic and Hyang spoke of was penicillin, though at a primitive level.

* * *

“It’s definitely a cliché….”

Initially, Hyang had considerable concerns about manufacturing penicillin.

“I know how to make it, even if it’s primitive, and I’ve actually made it before.”

In the 21st century, a Japanese manga about a time-traveling doctor became a hit, and dramas were made in Japan and Korea based on that manga. And an important element in that drama was the production of penicillin.

Moreover, quite a few blog posts were written about the penicillin manufacturing process shown in the drama.

Hyang—then Jin-ho—wouldn’t have simply overlooked this situation. He read the manga, watched the dramas several times, researched the manufacturing method on the internet, and then actually made it.

Unfortunately, Hyang’s challenge ended there. Testing to see if penicillin was properly made and whether it had medicinal effects was illegal.

Because of this past experience, Hyang was concerned about the production of penicillin.

“Since history is already messed up—no, altered—I can make it, but the problem is that I’m the Crown Prince, and all my actions are recorded in history.”

The biggest reason Hyang hesitated was his status.

“If you look at the incidents I’ve caused so far, it would end with, ‘Ah, this guy had a talent for making machines.’ Well, there’s Hair Growth Tonic and smallpox vaccination, and trot music, but those can be overlooked. However, if penicillin pops up, the situation will change. ‘What on earth is this guy?’ or ‘Is this even the same person?’ All sorts of comments will come out. I don’t even need to go hundreds of years into the future. If I make it properly, there will be people all around me right now suspecting whether I’m even human.”

Hyang hesitated to develop penicillin because of the problems that would arise.

However, there was something Hyang overlooked.

It was the smallpox vaccination.

Hyang underestimated its value because there were already people in Joseon and even in the West who knew about cowpox, but this was Hyang’s misjudgment.

The fact that he recognized the value of smallpox vaccination, experimented on himself, and then had all the people vaccinated was an achievement that would lead to the ‘Lee Hyang Alien Theory’ in later generations.

“If I hadn’t already started so many things, I could have gone ahead right away… What to do? Should I release it? Or should I just leave hints in *Japsangrok* [miscellaneous records] and pass it on to future generations?”

* * *

To prevent recklessness, Hyang took some measures, considering the limitations of current technology and the amount of information available.

He created a document called *Japsangrok*, which was Hyang’s personal record. And in that document, he left many items that he knew from the 21st century in the form of hints or questions.

*Japsangrok* would only surface after his death. If the hints and questions in it could be properly resolved, it could become Joseon’s strongest hidden card, along with the Challenge Log.

“At least if the research institute and Area 51 that I’m creating now continue to operate properly, there won’t be any idiots who don’t recognize the value of *Japsangrok*.”

* * *

As Hyang was deciding on the fate of penicillin, what made him decide to manufacture it was the discovery of the New World.

“Has it been pulled forward by at least 60 years?”

As the news of the discovery of the New World was followed by the decision to assimilate it into Joseon’s territory, Hyang made a decision.

“Tch! I have no choice! Let’s make it!”

Hyang decided to manufacture penicillin because of syphilis, a disease known to have originated in the New World.

“There will definitely be syphilis patients in the process of exploration. And, of course, syphilis will spread to Joseon. Especially since it’s confirmed that Father is going. Penicillin is a must.”

* * *

Having made the decision, Hyang visited the Royal Clinic.

Hyang gathered the officials, doctors, and female doctors who managed the Royal Clinic and subtly broached the subject.

“While I was working in Area 51, I had a headache and took a walk on Mount Mokmyeok….”

-While walking around Mount Mokmyeok, I saw a wild boar rubbing its back against a tree.

-So I looked closely and saw that it had a wound on its back, full of abscesses (膿瘍, pus-filled blisters).

-It seemed to be itchy because of the abscesses, so I was about to pass by, but the boar’s behavior was unusual. It didn’t just go to any tree and scratch itself, but it chose a tree to rub its body against.

“…So, I later examined those trees and found them full of these molds.”

A court lady behind Hyang came forward at Hyang’s gesture and presented a tray containing a small petri dish.

The petri dish on the tray was full of blue mold.

“Hoo?”

The officials and doctors who heard Hyang’s explanation looked at the petri dish with sparkling eyes.

* * *

Apart from the research institute and Area 51, the group with the highest loyalty and trust in Hyang within Gyeongbok Palace was the doctors.

This was because they had seen with their own eyes the effects of all the medical policies that Hyang had implemented, starting with smallpox vaccination.

“Your Highness’s love for the people (愛民, *aemin*) has created these results. It is truly Joseon’s great fortune (洪福, *hongbok*)!”

Hyang gave a bitter smile every time the doctors praised him like that.

‘In a way, it’s all because I want to live a long and healthy life….’

* * *

Having elicited a favorable response from the officials and doctors of the Royal Clinic, Hyang continued to speak.

“The medicinal properties of this mold seem to be good for treating abscesses, but we can’t just stick these molds on patients right away, can we? So, I’ve been thinking about a kind of processing (法製, *beopje*) method. What I did was….”

“Your Highness! Please wait a moment!”

As Hyang began to explain to the doctors the experimental process he had done, the doctors urgently stopped Hyang’s words.

“Huh?”

“Writing tools! Writing tools! Bring them immediately!”

Having prepared the writing tools, the doctors concentrated on writing down Hyang’s words, not wanting to miss a single one.

“We will process it according to the method Your Highness has told us, and then verify the effect.”

“Please do so.”

Several months later, the Executive reported to Hyang.

“We have processed it according to the method Your Highness mentioned. And we were able to find those that showed medicinal properties, and we plan to process them in large quantities according to the conditions and variables that produced those results. If a sufficient amount is prepared, we plan to enter into practical testing with the support of patients.”

“Really? I look forward to good results.”

“We will do our best. Ah! Please give this new medicine a name.”

At the Executive’s request, Hyang pondered for a moment and then got up from his seat.

“It would be an overstep for me to do that. Let’s go to Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace].”

After receiving the report, Sejong pondered for a moment and named the new medicine.

“It came from blue mold and is in the form of a liquid, so Blue Mold Solution would be good.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

“If it works properly, it will be of great help to the people, so do your best.”

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

However, for several years after that, only failures continued.

“It was successful when we experimented in the Royal Clinic….”

“Let’s carefully check what the problem was.”

The doctors continued to challenge without giving up despite the failures. In the process, there were several changes, the biggest of which was the method of administration. Initially, it was administered orally like a general decoction, but later, they also tested a method of applying it to the skin like Hair Growth Tonic. And, finally, it was changed to administration using a syringe made by Hyang.

It was with the results of such tireless challenges that they came to Hyang.

* * *

“You said it was quite positive, but exactly how much?”

At Hyang’s question, the Executive handed over a report and answered.

“Even patients with skin inflammation or internal abscesses such as lung abscesses that cannot be treated with Hair Growth Tonic have shown improvement.”

“Hoo~.”

With a light exclamation, Hyang opened the report, and the Executive continued to explain.

“We experimented with the medicinal properties with the support of beggars suffering from abscesses in Cheonggyecheon, Jungnangcheon, and the Seongjeosibri area around the four fortresses of Hanseong. First, we used Hair Growth Tonic and screened out those who did not show improvement with Hair Growth Tonic, and then used Blue Mold Solution.”

“Hmm….”

Hyang nodded as he read the report and listened to the Executive’s explanation.

As Hyang showed a positive reaction, the Executive put more strength into his voice.

“After confirming the effect in experiments on beggars, we administered it to patients suffering from boils and lung abscesses among those who visited Hyeminseo [a medical relief agency] and Daebiwon [another medical relief agency]. As a result, we can sufficiently confirm the medicinal properties.”

“Hmm…. You’ve worked hard. But….”

Hyang, who was looking at the report while listening to the Executive’s explanation, asked a question.

“Earlier, the Executive told me that it was quite positive. Listening to the contents of the current report and the Executive’s results, it seems very positive, but why did you use the word ‘quite’?”

At Hyang’s question, the Executive explained the reason.

“Because there are still many parts that have not been properly verified.”

“First, what is the most appropriate concentration? A medicine is not good if it is too much, and it is not good if it is too little. We have not yet clearly figured out this part.”

“Second, we have not yet properly solved the problem of mass production of blue mold that goes into the Blue Mold Solution.”

“Third, the time that Blue Mold Solution maintains its medicinal properties is short. We need to find a way to increase this time.”

“The third problem can be solved to some extent if the second problem is properly solved. As much as we throw away due to its short lifespan, we can continue to make new medicines, or we can train many people who know how to make Blue Mold Solution and produce it simultaneously in various places.”

“Are you anticipating new territories?”

At Hyang’s point, the Executive nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. And the last problem is to accurately identify the types of diseases that Blue Mold Solution shows medicinal properties for.”

“Hmm….”

Hyang, who was thinking deeply while listening to the Executive’s words, looked at the Executive.

“There is still a long way to go, but it is still a very good thing that we have obtained quite good results. All of this is the result of the efforts of the people of the Royal Clinic, including the Executive. I will suggest a reward to Father.”

“No! As a doctor who deals with life, I have only done what I should have done!”

“There are many who do not do that obvious thing properly, so a reward is a natural thing.”

At Hyang’s words, the Executive bowed deeply and shouted.

“Your grace is boundless!”

After sending the Executive out, Hyang muttered while writing a report to send to Sejong.

“Has the war with germs officially begun with this?”

* * *

In the year Sejong 25 (1443, Gyhae Year), after Hyang began his regency.

Sejong, who had begun to prepare in earnest to move to the new territories, handed over almost all 업무 (*eommu*, tasks) to Hyang.

“Unless it is a situation similar to a war breaking out, the Crown Prince shall handle all matters!”

“…I obey the command.”

According to Sejong’s decision, Hyang’s work increased even more, and the Fantastic Four were worked so hard that their mouths tasted bitter.