Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 646

646. The Country Bumpkins Come to Seoul (2)

After some deliberation, Hyang permitted the European university professors to visit.

The next day, Heo Hu informed Giovanni of Hyang’s decision. Giovanni, upon hearing the news, expressed his gratitude, his face beaming.

“I am truly grateful that Your Majesty has made such a decision.”

“Then, when and how many will be coming?”

At Heo Hu’s question, Giovanni paused, calculating before answering.

“Considering the travel time, preparation, and the return journey, it will likely be around autumn. And, the number of people…”

Giovanni stopped, his expression troubled as he continued.

“To be honest, I don’t know the exact number. People from all over Europe are eager to participate.”

“Oh? Are there so many universities in Europe?”

“There are quite a few. And those who were studying in monasteries are also interested…”

“Still, can’t you estimate roughly how many there will be?”

At Heo Hu’s words, Giovanni calculated again and gave an approximate number.

“I think it will be about 100 people.”

“Maximum? Minimum?”

“Perhaps?”

Heo Hu sighed at Giovanni’s uncertain answer.

“Hoo~. Just in case, I will estimate and report it as 150 people.”

“Thank you so much!”

After sending the delighted Giovanni away, Heo Hu clicked his tongue and grumbled.

“Tch! What kind of work is this! If he were a manager in our court, he would have been told, ‘He’s as reliable as mixing black bean tea with tonic!'” [Meaning, he’s completely unreliable.]

* * *

Thus, the year Gyeong-o began and progressed smoothly. There were no major floods or droughts, and consequently, no widespread epidemics. Isolated cases of waterborne diseases were reported, but the prepared doctors and nurses were quickly mobilized to prevent them from spreading. Thanks to the consistently maintained irrigation systems, the farming yielded an average harvest. As the food situation stabilized, so did the market, and those engaged in commerce and industry diligently pursued their livelihoods.

In the meantime, there was joyous news within the imperial family.

The Crown Princess was pregnant.

The people who saw the notice posted on the bulletin boards of government offices across the country shared stories full of anticipation.

“I wonder how many extra days off we’ll get this year?”

* * *

Meanwhile, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a ship filled with Europeans entered the trade port of Mokpo.

The ship docked directly at the pier where the quarantine station was located, and nearly 200 Europeans disembarked via the gangway.

“This is the inspection team from Europe. Here is the permit issued by the Empire, the letter of guarantee personally signed by the Gonfaloniere of Florence [a high-ranking official in Florence], and the list of names.”

The quarantine officer, who received the list of names from Giovanni, looked at the Europeans lined up behind him. Slightly daunted by the sight of these unusual people swarming around, the officer looked back at Giovanni.

“I need your cooperation to verify this against the list of names.”

“Of course.”

After disembarking from the ship, the European professors were checked against the list of names and then guided to their accommodations.

* * *

Giovanni and the professors headed to the quarantine station’s VIP waiting room. It was a place mainly used by envoys from distant countries, so the facilities were quite luxurious.

“You can use these buildings. Are there any religiously prohibited ingredients for your meals?”

“No.”

After confirming that there were no dietary restrictions like Islam’s halal, the officer guided the professors inside the building.

The officer assigned rooms to the professors and then guided them to the auxiliary facilities.

“This is the bathhouse. Each of you can take one of these baskets containing a loofah and a towel.”

At the officer’s words, some professors asked in slightly frightened voices.

“Do we have to take a bath?”

To the professors’ question, the officer replied firmly.

“You must do so to remove the saltiness that has permeated your body during the sea voyage. And, in the Empire, you must bathe regularly for public hygiene.”

“I see….”

The officer carefully observed the professors’ reactions.

‘Interesting. The reactions are divided into two groups.’

The professors’ reactions were indeed divided. One side showed curiosity, acting as if it was nothing special, while the other side clearly disliked the idea.

* * *

In fact, in medieval Europe, opinions on bathing were divided. Northern Europe, such as Norway, and Southern Europe, such as the Iberian Peninsula, had less aversion to bathing. However, Central Europe, such as France, had considerable aversion to it.

This stemmed from bathing customs passed down from the Roman era and the impact of the Black Death. Although the Middle Ages are often called the Dark Ages, bathhouses commonly used by many people did exist. Compared to ancient Rome, the facilities were poorer, but public bathhouses were still in operation.

However, these public bathhouses were used more as places for prostitution than for cleaning the body.

Therefore, religious figures fiercely criticized them, and public bathhouses gradually disappeared.

The bathhouses that had disappeared in this way reappeared after the Crusades, but they had to close again as the Black Death swept through Europe.

It was rumored that the hot water and air in public bathhouses carried the Black Death.

* * *

The officer who introduced the bathhouse led the professors to the next place.

“You can relieve yourselves here.”

“Huh?”

At the officer’s introduction, the professors’ eyes began to shine.

The Empire’s flush toilets were not unfamiliar to them. Among the products that the Empire sold to Europe, porcelain flush toilets were a prized item.

Of course, they were expensive items that ordinary people could not even dream of owning.

However, the European upper class, who learned about the existence and convenience of flush toilets through letters sent by monks, willingly purchased them.

What the professors were really curious about was a slightly more specific detail.

“How do you fill the water in the Empire’s toilets?”

In Europe, a servant or maid holding a water container was waiting outside the bathroom every time the toilet was used. This was quite cumbersome, so the use of flush toilets naturally became a symbol of the upper class. Servants or maids had no choice but to use traditional chamber pots or outdoor toilets.

Eventually, unable to overcome their curiosity, the professors asked the officer a question.

“How do you fill the water in the tank after using the toilet?”

At the professors’ question, the officer replied as if it were nothing special.

“It fills up on its own.”

“Fills up on its own? How?”

Seeing the professors’ expressions, the officer pressed the handle attached to the tank down.

Swaaaaa~.

As soon as he pressed the handle, water poured out with a loud noise. As the water drained, the sound of water filling the tank began to be heard.

After a while, when the sound of water stopped, the officer looked at the professors.

“It’s full.”

“I can’t believe it!”

One of the professors shouted and pressed the toilet handle.

Then, water poured out of the toilet again.

“H, how?”

“There is a large tank outside, and water is supplied from there.”

“Not that, what is the principle by which the toilet fills itself with water?”

At the professor’s question, the officer replied with a troubled expression.

“I am not a researcher at the research institute, nor am I a craftsman….”

“There was no such explanation in the letters they sent!”

The professors all nodded.

This was Hyang’s doing. The letters sent by the monks contained stories related to this. However, Hyang, who was censoring the letters at the time, immediately erased them.

“There are more than one or two principles hidden in this simple device. And, if they are in a hurry, they will fill in the blanks themselves.”

It was a result of mixed motives and spite.

“Can I open it a little?”

“Yes.”

The professors, who received permission from the officer, removed the tank lids of the toilets and examined the inside of the tank.

“Hmm….”

The professors, who were examining the inside of the tank, pressed the toilet handle.

Swaaaaaaa~.

After the water drained, the professors, who were watching the water fill up again, simultaneously exclaimed.

“Oh! What a clever trick!”

“How did they think of this!”

* * *

The professors, who were admiring the process of water being supplied to the toilet tank, asked the officer to see the large tank that supplied water to the toilet.

“This is the tank.”

At the officer’s introduction, the professors’ gazes all turned upward.

A large wooden tank was located on top of a steel structure about 7 to 8 cubits (about 11.5 to 13 feet) high. Pipes extended from the side of the tank to the surrounding buildings, and a thick pipe was connected to the upper side.

“The upper pipe is the one that supplies water to that large tank, and the lower pipes are the ones that supply water to the toilets and bathhouses in nearby buildings.”

“How do you draw water up to that tank?”

At the professors’ question, the officer pointed to a large circular structure installed on the ground next to the tank.

“We use this water pump.”

The officer, who answered simply, called the servants nearby.

“Hey.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Show these people how to use the water pump.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servants, who received the officer’s order, clung to the handles on both sides of the water pump and began to turn them.

“If you turn it like that, water will be supplied to the tank.”

“Can I see the structure?”

At the professors’ request, the officer replied with a troubled expression.

“Only those in charge of maintenance can open and close the water pump. And those in charge are on land.”

“I really want to see it….”

“If you go to the exhibition hall at the research institute in Seoul, you will be able to see the framework.”

“Is that so?”

The professors, who forcibly suppressed their disappointment, soon asked questions to satisfy their other curiosities.

“How do you know when to fill that tank with water?”

“We go up to the tank every morning and evening, twice a day, to check the remaining amount.”

“What if the usage suddenly increases and it empties faster than expected?”

“A device similar to the one attached to the toilet tank rings an alarm. Then we come and fill it.”

“Ah, I see.”

* * *

In that way, the day was almost over with explanations and tours about the toilet.

The professors, who had finished bathing and changed into clean clothes according to the quarantine station’s rules, gathered in the banquet hall to eat and chat.

“Heo-eo~. When I was young, I went to Byzantium, Cairo, and Edirne. Those places were also very developed, but this place is even more so.”

When one of the professors, who was enjoying the coffee tea that was served as a drink, shared his impressions, the surrounding professors all nodded.

Similar sentiments were expressed from various corners.

“The facilities of a mere quarantine station, not even the capital, are this good! I’m getting more and more excited about Seoul!”

“Now that I think about it, we will finally be able to see the iron horses [trains] and railroads! I have very high expectations for this!”

“If we arrive in Seoul, won’t we have the opportunity to meet the Emperor? I heard that many of the devices that surprised us came from the Emperor’s ideas, so I definitely want to meet him and have a discussion!”

“That’s right!”

The professors, filled with anticipation, looked forward to the moment they would leave the quarantine station.

As a side note, quite a few professors flushed the toilet water in the bathroom all night long to learn more about the water supply method of the toilet tank.

Thanks to that, the alarm rang three times all night, and the servants had to turn the handle of the water pump until they were exhausted to fill the tank.

“Damn it! Do these guys just eat and poop!”

And, the next morning, doctors, wary of the outbreak of possible infectious diseases, flocked to the waiting room.