Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 527

527. Rolling, Rolling… (8)

The experiment to float in the sky using a large kite concluded, confirming its feasibility.

The researchers and artisans in charge of the task began an in-depth analysis of the experimental results.

“The problem is still maneuverability…”

“We need to find a way to control it while suspended.”

To solve the issue of spinning around and crashing immediately after takeoff, the researchers and artisans continued experimenting with models.

Meanwhile, the team researching the concept of sky lanterns was also making progress. However, they encountered a roadblock when trying to theorize their experimental results.

“By the way… this idea of trapping and floating with heat… why is it only possible with heat?”

The researchers racked their brains to create the most plausible theory—in terms of Neo-Confucianism [a philosophical system emphasizing reason and moral self-cultivation]—regarding this fundamental question.

The one who came up with the most convincing theory was Wan. After all, he had benefited from the extensive lessons he had learned in the royal court.

-The energy of the world is divided into yin and yang, and heat belongs to yang. Looking at the characteristics of yang, it is light and active, with a tendency to rise.

When this yang energy is concentrated, it exerts great power.

The researchers and artisans who heard Wan’s theory all nodded.

“It’s clear!”

“I don’t think there is a more accurate explanation than this!”

“Is that so?”

Thus, Wan’s theory was compiled into a report and submitted to Jeong In-ji and Yi Cheon.

“It’s hard to argue against it. Don’t you think so?”

“That is correct.”

Eventually, Jeong In-ji and Yi Cheon submitted this report to Hyang.

Hyang, who had carefully read Wan’s report, licked his lips.

“There are so many things I want to point out, but the problem is that there are no words to replace them adequately.”

There were words and knowledge that could be substituted if he wanted, but there was a high probability that the current level of understanding in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] would not grasp them.

“This level of understanding is only possible when the general knowledge is higher… If I’m not careful, I might be considered an eccentric or even an outsider.”

Hiding his disappointment, Hyang stamped his seal on the approval document.

* * *

The team members, having established a suitable theory, soon began building models.

Starting with sky lanterns used in temple festivals, the team gradually increased the size. After creating a considerably large paper bag, they faced a new challenge.

-How to connect the part for carrying people or cargo with the bag containing the heat?

The initial idea was to attach hoops to the bag with iron or bamboo and connect ropes from the hoops to the boarding area.

However, this immediately revealed problems as soon as the experiment began. The bag tore at the points where rivets were used to fix the hoops.

In the end, after several attempts, they adopted a method of wrapping the bag with a net made of strong ropes and connecting the bag and the boarding area with these ropes.

Through this trial and error, the model grew to half the size of the expected real thing.

“Put the brazier in!”

“Yes!”

A large brazier was placed under the platform where the device called ‘Flying Ball (飛球)’ was positioned. Inside the brazier, the highest quality charcoal was burning white-hot.

“Pump it!”

The bellows installed on both sides of the platform moved, blowing air into the brazier. The heated air and smoke entered the bag through holes in the platform and pipes connected to the boarding area.

A device similar to the one made by the Montgolfier brothers [pioneers of hot air ballooning] was created almost 300 years earlier.

Thump! Sizzle!

“It’s rising! It’s rising!”

The hot air trapped in the bag began to generate noticeable buoyancy, causing it to twitch and slowly lift off.

“Release the ropes!”

As the ropes that had tethered the Flying Ball to the platform were released, the Flying Ball floated into the air.

“It’s floating~!”

“It floated! It floated!”

The researchers and team members shouted and hugged each other as they watched the Flying Ball rise into the sky.

* * *

“Huh? Huh?”

“Oh my?”

The researchers, who had been cheering and rejoicing, grew serious due to the unfolding situation.

“It’s rising higher than expected?”

“It is? Oh! It’s moving!”

They hadn’t anticipated it rising so high so quickly, and they hadn’t prepared a way to secure the Flying Ball. However, the Flying Ball, having ascended into the sky, began to drift, dancing in the wind.

“Chase it! Chase it!”

“Bring the horses! Horses!”

“We don’t have time to bring them! Head to the stables!”

The team members who ran to the stables hurriedly mounted their horses and burst out of the gate of Area 51.

“Catch it~!”

“Stop right there~!”

It wasn’t just the team members who were in chaos. The people of Hanseong, distracted by the Flying Ball suddenly floating in the air, stopped walking and became obstacles as they stared at the sky.

Heeheeing!

“Get out of the way!”

“Move! Move!”

“Oh my!”

“Ugh!”

The people, startled by the shouts of the team members who were hurriedly riding horses to catch the drifting Flying Ball, fell and stumbled, causing various minor accidents.

* * *

While this commotion was taking place on the ground, the Flying Ball, having lost buoyancy as the air inside the bag cooled, slowly descended.

Splash!

The problem was that the Flying Ball, having lost buoyancy, landed in the river instead of on land.

The team members, who stopped their horses by the Han River, simultaneously cursed as they watched the Flying Ball sink into the water.

“Damn it!”

“Son of a bitch!”

“Bring the boat!”

“Hey! Boatman!”

After much commotion, the team members retrieved the Flying Ball, completely wet and ruined, and returned to Area 51.

They were greeted by Jeong In-ji, who was glaring at them as if he wanted to devour them, and Wan, who was only looking at the ground.

“Write and submit a report detailing the beginning and end of this incident immediately!”

“…Yes.”

* * *

Although he was severely scolded by Jeong In-ji, the team members quickly recovered.

“The problem is that the heat trapped in the bag has stronger yang energy than expected, and the rate of decay is also faster than expected.”

“That is correct. We need to solve this. So….”

Lee Wan enthusiastically participated in the development of the Flying Ball.

He was completely different from when he first came to Area 51 and the laboratory as the person in charge.

“He got hooked….”

As Hyang said, Wan had become addicted to the sky and flying.

As the improvement work progressed, the material of the bag containing the heat was also changed from paper to silk.

“It’s lighter and tougher than paper, so it’s the best material. Let’s use silk.”

“The problem is the budget.”

“Trust me! I’m the Crown Prince!”

And Hyang sighed as he received the bill.

“I also have a history of misdeeds… Haa~. Hey! Send someone to the Royal Household Office (內需所) [the office in charge of managing the royal family’s finances and supplies]!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang decided to raid the royal treasury rather than be harassed by the Minister of Finance and Kim Jeom.

“Surely I won’t be summoned to Shinji [a type of royal reprimand], will I?”

* * *

With the funds obtained by raiding the royal treasury, Wan and the team members, whose pockets were full, made a large Flying Ball according to the initially designed dimensions.

There was one change in the completed Flying Ball from the initial plan: a device to supply heat to the heat bag was created within the boarding area.

A device was installed in an area surrounded by thin iron plates to prevent sparks from flying out, and a bellows installed alongside it was made to continuously inject air, allowing the Flying Ball to float for a longer time.

On the day of the first manned experiment, there was a small commotion at the experiment site.

“I will ride it myself!”

“Your Highness! Absolutely not!”

“Your Highness is the Crown Prince! It is impossible!”

“Please reconsider!”

Not only the team members but also Jeong In-ji and Yi Cheon, who had come to observe, had to intervene to stop Wan from insisting that he would ride it himself.

“We have prepared a calf and a dog in case something goes wrong! Your Highness will not be riding it!”

Even Manbok stepped in to stop him, but Wan did not give up his stubbornness.

“Since history will record this, this is the first experiment in which a person rises into the sky by their own will! How can I pass this glory on to a mere creature! I absolutely cannot yield!”

As Wan did not back down, the story was conveyed to Seunghwa Hall [the Crown Prince’s residence].

“It’s my turn to step in.”

Hyang burst out of Seunghwa Hall as if he had been waiting and headed to Area 51.

Seeing the situation still at a standstill, Hyang made a decision on the spot.

“Move the experiment site.”

“Yes?”

“Move the experiment site to the Han River. According to the report, the Flying Ball doesn’t crash immediately even if it loses heat, so wouldn’t it be acceptable to jump into the water from a reasonable height?”

Jeong In-ji, full of worry, questioned Hyang’s words.

“Are you really going to allow the Crown Prince’s decision?”

Hyang briefly retorted to Jeong In-ji’s question.

“Whose child is that child?”

“….”

Jeong In-ji immediately closed his mouth at Hyang’s question.

Jeong In-ji had directly seen and experienced Hyang’s eccentricities, starting with voluntarily inoculating himself with smallpox, which young people these days wouldn’t even believe to be true.

Although he had silenced Jeong In-ji’s objections, Hyang had to endure a tremendous scolding from the Crown Princess.

* * *

As the experiment resumed on the Han River, the residents of Hanseong who heard the story once again filled the riverbank.

Due to the rumors of the Flying Ball spreading widely because of the previous commotion, twice as many residents gathered than when they launched the kite.

Amidst the shouts of merchants calling customers from all directions, preparations were completed, and Wan and Manbok got into the basket.

“Is it necessary for you to ride it?”

“I handle the device better than Your Highness.”

Wan nodded at Manbok’s answer and stepped aside.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

As he answered, Manbok muttered inwardly.

‘If the Crown Prince gets even a scratch, my life will be worse than death! I’ll take full responsibility from beginning to end!’

And the experiment ended successfully.

The Flying Ball, filled with properly heated air, floated into the sky, and those gathered on the riverbank immediately shouted.

“It floated! It floated!”

“It really floated!”

“Long live! Long live!”

Amidst the shouts of ‘It floated!’ and ‘Long live!’, some old women rubbed their hands together towards the Flying Ball in the sky and offered their devotion.

Thanks to the rope tied to the basket of the Flying Ball, the incident of drifting away in the wind like last time did not occur. Thanks to Manbok’s desperate adjustments, the Flying Ball, which had risen to about 30 *jangs* (about 90m) [traditional Korean unit of length], was able to land safely.

Thump!

As the basket of the Flying Ball safely touched the sandy beach, the team members who were waiting rushed over and secured the basket. In the meantime, Wan, who jumped out of the basket, ran to Hyang, greatly excited.

“Did you see it? I ascended to the sky!”

“Yes, well done. Well done.”

“I ascended to the sky! Ahahaha!”

Wan repeated the same words several times, unable to hide his excitement. And Hyang smiled as he watched Wan.

‘Was I like that too?’

Meanwhile, it wasn’t just the commoners who came to see the experiment. All the officials of the court had also flocked out.

And among them, the movements of two groups became strange.

“Oh ho?”

“If we use that well….”

Starting with Jo Mal-saeng, the people of the military were smiling strangely and shining their eyes, while on the other side, Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance, and the officials of the Ministry of Finance were glaring at those military personnel.

“Those guys again….”