Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 648

648. The Bumpkins Come to Seoul (4)

“Your Majesty! It is only natural that water flows from top to bottom. Even a simpleton knows this! What you say is unjust!”

The eldest and most scholarly professor stepped forward to argue against Hyang’s words.

Hyang retorted with an indifferent expression to the professor’s claim.

“It’s natural? True. Even a simpleton knows? True. But, you see, aren’t you professors, not simpletons? Scholars, that is. Shouldn’t scholars scrutinize what others take for granted, discover the hidden truth within, and enlighten those simpletons? Isn’t that the duty of scholars like you?”

“B-But, still…”

When the professor stammered, Hyang asked again, “What is your name?”

“I am Camillo Rivero Corza.”

“Very well. Camillo of the Rivero family from the Corza lineage. I ask you this. You petitioned to debate with me, but a debate… in this situation, is what we are doing a debate, or is it education? A debate should involve mutual learning, but I don’t think that will happen. What do you think?”

Camillo’s face flushed at Hyang’s insulting words. However, Hyang continued his rebuke without concern.

“If we consider the value of the debate you desire, it is not worth taking away the time I need to discuss and decide on state affairs for the people. The reason being, first, your level is too shallow to even answer the question I posed earlier. Second, dismissing something as trivial just because even a simpleton knows it is not the attitude of a scholar. I cannot debate with those who do not even possess the proper attitude of a scholar. Go back, rest, and proceed with your scheduled activities.”

Having made that decision, Hyang turned sharply and entered Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

The professors, dismissed by Hyang, had no choice but to leave Gyeongbokgung Palace and return to their lodgings.

Back at the lodgings, the professors erupted in unison.

“To have to endure such humiliation!”

“Why must we suffer such insults!”

“Let’s return immediately!”

“Yes! Yes!”

As over 200 people began to speak at once, the lodgings became as noisy as a country marketplace.

While some hot-tempered individuals raised their voices to return immediately, the senior professors, gathered around Camillo, discussed the matter with faces full of difficulty and disappointment.

“This is truly disappointing.”

“Indeed. Based on what we’ve heard in the letters, I thought he was a sage, but he is so arrogant…”

“If he is so arrogant despite possessing such great knowledge…”

Camillo forcibly suppressed the words, ‘The future of the Empire is predictable.’

Amidst the surrounding commotion, the president of the University of Florence, who had been quietly silent, opened his mouth.

“Professor Corza, don’t you find something strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“The emperor’s character, as described in the letters we’ve received, was undoubtedly worthy of being called a sage. Of course, there were mentions of him being fastidious, but never arrogant. Furthermore, according to the second son of the Medici family, who actually met the emperor, he was a harsh critic but not arrogant. And yet, he shows such a demeanor from the very first meeting? I don’t understand.”

At the president’s remark, the noisy space began to quiet down. Even the professors who had been clamoring to pack their bags and return immediately closed their mouths and began to focus on the conversation between the president and the senior professors.

“So, Mr. President, you believe that the emperor’s behavior today was a facade?”

At Camillo’s question, the president nodded. At the silent response, another professor expressed doubt.

“Why?”

The president, having received the question, pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I think he was checking our qualifications.”

“Qualifications? What qualifications are you referring to?”

“Whether we are qualified to recognize the knowledge that the Empire has accumulated. Think about what he said to Professor Corza earlier. ‘To scrutinize what others take for granted and discover the hidden truth within. That is the attitude of a scholar,’ wasn’t it? I believe the answer lies in these words. The answer to why the emperor showed such an arrogant demeanor.”

At the president’s words, the professors closed their mouths and began to ponder carefully.

After a while, exclamations began to erupt from here and there.

“Ah! That’s it!”

“That’s what he meant!”

“To think there is someone so meticulous!”

Camillo also shook his head.

“I thought he was simply someone knowledgeable in academics who became emperor, but that wasn’t it. He was more cunning than anyone else.”

In the ensuing discussion, the professors came to the following conclusion.

-The knowledge that the Empire has accumulated is a precious treasure whose value cannot be measured. Sharing such knowledge is an extremely dangerous thing.

-Therefore, the emperor deliberately showed such an arrogant demeanor. Our scholars have strong pride. It was a scheme to wound that pride and make us return without properly examining anything.

Having analyzed up to this point, the professors renewed their resolve once more.

“We will examine everything thoroughly and meticulously!”

“We will never fall for such a scheme again!”

While renewing their resolve, some professors also emerged who analyzed Hyang’s words and actions from a different perspective, admiring him.

“To teach the correct attitude of a scholar with just a few words and questions! He is a sage!”

“He is the Socrates of the East!”

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had returned to his chambers in Gangnyeongjeon Hall [the King’s residence in Gyeongbokgung Palace], grumbled while recalling the scholars’ request.

“I’m already busy enough, what’s with all the debates… If I had that time, I’d rather indulge in my hobbies in Area 51 or sleep.”

* * *

The next day, the professors visited the research institute according to their schedule.

Those who greeted them at the research institute were monks led by Angelo and Giovanni.

“Welcome.”

“Welcome to the Empire.”

Representing the professors who received the monks’ welcome, the president stepped forward to return the greeting.

“You must have suffered greatly in this distant foreign land.”

“Not at all. Rather, we are truly happy to be able to conduct the research we want to our hearts’ content.”

“Is that so? That is also a blessing.”

“Please, allow us to guide you.”

While entering the research institute under the guidance of the monks, the president spoke to Angelo.

“By the way, I met the Emperor yesterday…”

Explaining what happened yesterday when he was rebuked by Hyang, the president complained.

“Water flowing from top to bottom is a natural phenomenon, but to ask for an explanation of the principle behind it, where is the sense in such a demand?”

At the president’s complaint, Angelo stared at the president intently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“First, I must explain that part. Would it be alright to change the schedule for a moment?”

“Very well.”

Having received the president’s permission, Angelo gave a small order to the young monks who were moving with them.

Soon, Angelo led the professors to a large lecture hall attached to the research institute.

After seating the professors in the semi-circular space with tiered seating, Angelo stood on the podium and began to explain.

“The answer His Majesty requested is this.”

With the tools brought by the young monks, Angelo explained the principle of the siphon [a tube used to transfer liquid upwards from a reservoir].

“… In this way, when the water levels on both sides become equal, the movement of water stops. If this principle is used well, water can be sent over long distances without separate tools or power.”

At Angelo’s explanation, the professors wore expressions of utter dismay.

“Ah…”

“Such a principle…”

“How did the Emperor of the Empire come to know this principle?”

At the president’s question, Angelo replied with a bitter expression.

“He said he learned it from records about the aqueducts of Rome.”

At Angelo’s answer, the professors once again wore expressions of utter dismay.

“Rome, you say…”

“How much have we lost, after all…”

That wasn’t the end of it. Angelo used the tools brought by the young monks to show various experiments and explain the principles applied to them.

When Angelo’s explanation ended, the professors wore grief-stricken expressions.

“How much have we passed over with the word ‘natural’ after all?”

“So many principles were hidden…”

Seeing the professors, unable to overcome their grief, beating their chests, Angelo continued.

“To tell you the truth, we have found these principles, but creating perfect formulas for them is still in progress. And, this part is designated as the highest level of the Challenge Log.”

“Huh?”

At the words ‘Challenge Log’ and ‘highest level,’ the professors’ gazes focused on Angelo all at once.

“Judging from the current situation, this part will be named ‘Mechanics (力學) [physics]’ and is expected to become a field of study.”

At Angelo’s words, the professors’ eyes began to shine all at once.

‘If we do well!’

However, at Angelo’s explanation that followed, the professors wore dumbfounded expressions.

“The tools used in the explanation just now are made as a set and supplied to the Samin Schools [schools for commoners] nationwide. All the children of the Empire attending Samin Schools learn the principles of causing these phenomena. Of course, the depth is shallow. But…”

“Those who are interested and willing to take on the challenge will continue to emerge, so there will be no shortage of talent.”

Angelo nodded at the president’s words, which cut off Angelo’s speech.

“That’s right. As a side note, this set of tools is one of the many educational tools that the Emperor created to educate his young siblings when he was still a young prince.”

“Heo!”

* * *

Jin-pyeong, who had a train accident due to the railroad, bet everything on the railroad.

What held back Jin-pyeong, who wanted to lay railroads all over Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] as soon as possible, was the shortage of talent and the problem of budget.

Knowing that it was far from enough to invest his own private wealth, Jin-pyeong reached out to his younger siblings.

He attempted to cause a train accident in his siblings, just as he had suffered, by showing them railroad models and various other models.

Those educational tools were created for the younger siblings who had entered the engineering field in this way, or, to put it differently, to prevent the future workforce from losing their motivation.

“It’s just a basic science kit and experimental tool level…”

And, seeing the effect of these created educational tools, Sejong decided to supply them to the Samin Schools nationwide.

* * *

“It’s getting late, shall we continue?”

At Angelo’s question, the president, with a tired expression, looked back at the other professors. Seeing that all the other professors also had tired expressions, the president shook his head at Angelo’s suggestion.

“We’ll go back today. Everyone is tired.”

“Understood.”

The professors, who had received a great shock in the lecture hall, returned to their lodgings with tired expressions.

The professors, gathered in the banquet hall for dinner, sighed repeatedly.

“That was… tools for educating children?”

“A new field of study?”

The professors, repeatedly recalling the shock they had received in the lecture hall, simultaneously came to the same thought.

‘To catch up with and overtake what we’ve fallen behind in the current situation, we need a definite guide! The Challenge Log!’

‘The Challenge Log is the only answer!’

* * *

At the same time, the young monks who were eating dinner in the research institute dormitory asked Angelo and Giovanni.

“How long will the research institute tour last?”

“Hmm… Judging from today’s situation, at least fifteen days?”

At Angelo’s answer, the young monks sighed in unison.

“Hoo~. We have a lot of work to do!”

“We’re going to get scolded by the chief!”

“They won’t understand even if we show them the formulas!”