Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 659

659. This Time, Firewood Too, and Lots of It. (5)

The weakening bonds within the academic network, coupled with the lingering resentment among professors stemming from the artisan recruitment wars, had created significant rifts in their professional relationships.

In the past, it was common practice for professors to freely share their research findings, regardless of their origin or country of residence. However, over time, this collaborative spirit diminished.

The scope of knowledge and research shared by professors narrowed considerably, largely confined to those within the same country and, even more restrictively, to colleagues actively researching together at the same institution.

As this network weakened, the frequency of student exchanges also began to decline.

* * *

Meanwhile, the professors who had been unsuccessful in the artisan recruitment wars contemplated how to reverse their fortunes and devised a plan.

The plan they conceived involved directly contacting political leaders.

The political leaders they approached readily agreed to support their cause.

For example, Charles VII of France openly declared:

“A Frenchman, born and raised in France, working to benefit another country! This is nothing short of treason!”

Charles VII then issued a decree prohibiting French artisans from leaving France.

Charles VII’s decision garnered strong support from the French populace. The Hundred Years’ War had fostered a deep sense of belonging to ‘the fatherland of France’ and ‘the French people.’ Moreover, the prospect of achieving significant advancements by completing the steam engine before other nations fueled their enthusiasm.

Following Charles VII’s firm decree, artisans who had existing contracts with foreign scholars were compelled to break those agreements and return to France.

In response to France’s actions, foreign artisans residing in France were also ordered to return to their respective countries.

Later, many historians summarized this period with the following observation:

-The saying ‘There are no borders in learning (Vestibulum non finibus sapien)’ evolved to ‘There may be no borders in learning, but there are borders for scholars (Etsi scientia fines non habet, scholares faciunt).’

Many aspects of academic collaboration, with the exception of the traditional exchange of published papers and scholarly discussions, began to close off.

* * *

The changes did not stop there.

As political leaders in various European countries became increasingly involved, the very nature of research began to transform.

-For more efficient research, we must emulate the example of the Empire.

Under this directive, research institutes and facilities modeled after the 51st District [a highly advanced research facility], originally created by Hyang, began to spring up across Europe.

The scholars who gained entry into these research institutes and development facilities were able to pursue their research endeavors with generous state support.

Before long, the political leaders of each country recognized another potential application for these research institutes.

-It’s the perfect way to silence those noisy bastards!

Regardless of their specific field, scholars invariably required research funding to conduct their work.

Previously, to secure this funding, they had to seek patronage from wealthy merchants or nobles, such as Cosimo de Medici. [a powerful and influential Florentine family].

However, by joining state-funded research facilities, they were relieved of the burden of constantly seeking research grants.

Consequently, prominent scholars fiercely competed for positions within these research facilities, and once accepted, they desperately tried to avoid being expelled.

And before long, scholars came to a crucial realization.

-To avoid being pushed out, achieving results is important, but keeping your mouth shut is even more important.

This observation was quickly noticed by those in positions of power, who began to exploit it to their advantage.

* * *

As state-funded research facilities and private research facilities supported by nobles or wealthy merchants proliferated like mushrooms, steam engine research in Europe experienced a surge in momentum.

Through countless trials and errors, and even unfortunate accidents involving personnel, European scholars encountered another significant obstacle.

-It is difficult to construct a functional steam engine using bronze.

-No, it is possible to build one, but it is difficult to create a commercially viable steam engine.

-The answer is iron. Iron. Iron. Only iron holds the solution.

The scholars and artisans who arrived at this conclusion began to concentrate their efforts on ironmaking technology.

-A method to produce large quantities of iron more easily and cheaply.

“We must acquire this technology first!”

Scholars and artisans from various European countries initiated research on ironmaking technology concurrently with their steam engine research.

In the course of this research, increasingly large blast furnaces were constructed, and the techniques for pre-processing ore were refined.

However, European scholars encountered another significant challenge here.

It was the problem of fuel.

Until this time, the fuel used in ironworks was wood and charcoal. To produce high-quality iron in large quantities, high-quality charcoal was needed.

And to supply this fuel wood, European forest areas began to be indiscriminately logged.

Moreover, wood was a resource with many uses besides fuel.

The problem was that it took a long time to grow to a size that could be properly used.

In response, scholars and artisans began research to find a substitute for fuel wood, and political leaders sought out easier methods.

It was to use force to acquire forest areas.

The religious conflicts that had claimed the lives of many had barely subsided, but the embers of conflict began to flare up again.

* * *

“What would be a good substitute for wood….”

French scholars, who were struggling to find a replacement for fuel wood, soon recalled a forgotten memory.

“Come to think of it, doesn’t the Empire use coal, not fuel wood, as fuel to move the Iron Horse [train]?”

“Ah! That’s right! Wait…. Could coal be a viable option?”

“Do you think so too?”

The scholars, who had overlooked coal, remembered it again and began experimenting with it.

The scholars and artisans who confirmed the experimental results clapped and rejoiced.

“We finally found it!”

“Let’s report to His Majesty the King!”

* * *

“Wonderful! Truly wonderful!”

Charles VII, upon receiving the scholars’ report, was overjoyed. He generously rewarded the scholars and artisans who made this discovery and issued orders to his vassals.

“Order the prospectors to search for coal mines in addition to iron mines!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

After giving that order, Charles VII paused for a moment and added another instruction.

“If necessary, you may cross the border.”

The prospectors, upon receiving the king’s order, began investigating not only throughout France but also beyond its borders.

* * *

While competing fiercely with each other, various European countries attempted to establish connections with the Empire.

‘A country that produces many high-quality luxury goods.’

Until the professors’ visit to the Empire, the perception that European leaders held of the Empire—then Joseon [Korean Dynasty]—was as described above.

Of course, according to the letters sent by the monks, it was a very developed country, but at the time, it was common for leaders to regard this as mere exaggeration.

However, after the professors returned, this perception was completely reversed.

In particular, after learning that the door to overwhelmingly advanced studies, including Sanhak [mathematics and related sciences], was quite open, the leaders of various European countries tried to make connections more secretly and enthusiastically.

-We must send talented individuals to learn advanced studies and return!

However, due to the battle taking place in Egypt, it was impossible to make direct contact with the Empire.

Therefore, the leaders of various European countries—except for Genoa and Spain, who were parties to the war—and their envoys secretly sought out the Medici family.

Cosimo accepted the bribes disguised as gifts they brought, with a face full of mixed emotions.

“Hmm…. The situation is evolving in this way.”

In the past, he would have been the one offering these bribes disguised as gifts, but the situation had been reversed.

Anyway, since he had received a substantial amount, Cosimo conveyed the message to the Empire through Giovanni.

The reply from the Empire consisted of a test paper that filled a compartment of the ship’s warehouse, sealed answer sheets, and 10 officials in charge of grading.

Hyang’s reply sent through the officials was simple and clear.

-We will accept those with excellent test scores.

“I don’t know if it’s because they have big guts… or if it’s confidence that the leakage through them is not a big deal.”

Cosimo shook his head as he reviewed Hyang’s reply and soon moved on to the next matter.

“But I have the answer, so I have to move.”

Cosimo conveyed Hyang’s reply to the leaders who had contacted him and also communicated this information to the University of Florence.

Before long, the universities of Europe became lively once again.

* * *

To obtain the qualification of an Empire student, university students burned with enthusiasm for learning.

And the residents of the villages around the university showed a curious appearance as they watched this scene.

Cambridge, England.

The topic at the tavern where the residents of Cambridge, where Cambridge University is located, gathered these days was ‘The university students have changed.’

“What’s wrong with those Gowns [students] these days?”

“I heard they’re doing that to be selected as international students to the Land of Flowers [Empire].”

The resident who spoke scoffed at the neighbor’s answer.

“Humph! They should have done well normally!”

* * *

At this time in Europe, the relationship between the university and the village where the university was located was quite bad.

Students and residents growled at each other, calling each other by the nicknames ‘Gown’ and ‘Town.’

This was because they lived in the same space but moved as separate entities.

Usually, the university was built with the support of the church, so it was subject to church law rather than the civil law of the city where it was located.

Also, because professors and students only used Latin, the residents in the same space could not understand what they were saying at all. And this made the relationship between the two sides even worse.

Finally, as university students and professors formed guilds and managed their interests, problems arose in economic aspects as well.

These things piled up and the relationship between university students and residents became hostile.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Seoul, the officials who received Hyang’s decision to accept international students were worried.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask His Majesty to reconsider?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, Hwanghee shook his head.

“Isn’t this a decision that was made in anticipation of this happening from the past? There is no need for reconsideration. Rather, it is wise to think about how to complete the order given by His Majesty.”

Hyang’s order to Hwanghee and the officials can be summarized as follows.

‘You can let them in as you please, but I can let them go as I please.’

And the words added to it were this.

‘Don’t make it obvious.’

Kim Jong-seo, who pondered Hyang’s order, sighed.

“Hoo~. In a way, it’s a good thing because the number of people to exploit in the research institute is increasing. There are many research tasks that need to be solved urgently for the Empire.”

“That’s right! If you look at it positively, only good things always happen!”

Saying that, Hwanghee muttered inwardly.

‘You know if you look at me? It’s so comfortable to give up resignation altogether!’

Hwanghee was trying to ignore the fact that he was nagging his subordinates more.