Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 690

690. Overcharging (1)

The data compiled by the surveying team in Suez was immediately transmitted to the Empire via the Imperial warships and merchant vessels arriving there.

Based on this data, the Railway Administration’s budget department began estimating costs, and the construction team researched suitable construction methods.

“As expected, the main problem is dealing with the sand, even if we ignore all other factors.”

“That’s right.”

The subordinate nodded in agreement with his chief.

“Yes, sir. The construction department plans to apply the railroad-laying method used in the northeastern forest region.”

“The method from the Northeast Forest region? Hmm….”

The budget department chief stroked his chin, pondering his subordinate’s words.

* * *

When the railroad was first conceived, the most challenging areas were the Northeast region—specifically, the railroad from the Tumen River to Dongbing Port—and the railroad connecting Dongbing Port to the northern forest region.

This initial railroad network was intended to be the foundation for further expansion westward and eastward.

The ultimate goal was to connect the railroad to the Northwest Great Lake—what we now know as Lake Baikal—and the Eonwol Peninsula—now the Kamchatka Peninsula—locations confirmed by the Joseon exploration team [Joseon was a Korean kingdom] at the time.

Constructing the railroad from the Tumen River to Dongbing Port was relatively straightforward, aside from the harsh winter cold. The land along the coastline leading to Dongbing Port was solid and continuous.

The real challenge was the railroad that would cut through and develop the dense forest region north of Dongbing Port.

Laying a railroad through the dense forest to the Great Northern Lake was far from easy.

The soil in the forest region was unstable. Centuries of decayed leaves had created a ground where feet sank easily. Beyond the forest region lay uninhabited wilderness. In winter, the frozen ground would thaw, creating swamps and wetlands everywhere.

Faced with these seemingly insurmountable problems, those in charge of construction at the time expressed serious doubts.

“Do we really need to lay it here?”

“Should we just bypass it altogether?”

A bypass proposal was considered, but at the time, the Liaodong region was under the control of the Ming Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644].

Ultimately, even the esteemed Jinpyeong [likely a high-ranking official] looked troubled and sought advice from Sejong [King of Joseon, known for his wisdom] and Hyang [the Crown Prince].

“What should we do?”

Sejong looked perplexed by Jinpyeong’s question. Sejong had demonstrated genius in politics, literature, Confucianism, and even music, earning him the assessment of being ‘out of standard’ from Hyang. However, even Sejong couldn’t immediately solve this problem.

In the end, Sejong opted for a simple solution.

“What does the Crown Prince think?”

At those words, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘Ah! Why me!’

However, Sejong, Jinpyeong, and the ministers were all looking at Hyang. Desperately racking his brain, Hyang’s expression brightened, and he spoke.

“Dig the ground as deeply as possible.”

Sejong immediately retorted.

“To lay a railroad, you naturally dig the ground, and you dig it deeply. Is that all you have to offer?”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s criticism.

“Dig deeper than you would when laying a railroad on ordinary ground. Then, build a bridge, similar to the railroad bridge over the Han River.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Sejong looked as if he understood Hyang’s answer, while the others looked completely clueless.

Seeing their expressions, Hyang continued.

“There’s an old saying: ‘A tree with deep roots does not fall in the wind.’ The tall trees in the Northeast Forest region stand straight because their roots are anchored in solid ground. In other words, even if the surface soil is terrible, the subsoil is solid. So, we dig until we reach that solid ground. Then, we build pillars on that ground and lay a railroad bridge on top of them. If we fill the remaining space with soil again, the railroad will remain intact, regardless of whether the ground freezes or becomes muddy.”

“Ah!”

Jinpyeong and the ministers simultaneously exclaimed in admiration at Hyang’s explanation.

“It may take some time, but it seems to be the best way!”

“Indeed, the Crown Prince!”

Hyang let out a small sigh of relief as Sejong and the ministers praised him.

‘Hoo~. It’s so hard to maintain this image!’

* * *

In this way, railroad construction began in the Northeast Forest region using the method proposed by Hyang.

The workers mobilized for the construction began to dig the ground in front of them deeply, unconditionally deeply.

“How long are we supposed to dig?”

“How should I know? Just keep digging until they tell us to stop.”

While grumbling, the workers dug for a long time and eventually discovered the permafrost layer deep down.

“It’s still frozen, even though the weather has warmed up?”

Jinpyeong and the officials who discovered the permafrost layer soon brightened up.

“This is where we start!”

Piers and bridges were built on the permafrost layer using iron-clad bamboo, filled with gravel, and then the railroad was laid.

As a side note, the method used by the Russian Empire to construct the Trans-Siberian Railway in the history before Hyang’s intervention was remarkably similar.

Of course, it consumed manpower and budget like a swamp, and the construction period was several times longer than in other areas.

These difficulties were eventually resolved with the creation and deployment of steam-powered excavators and tractors. However, it remained a challenging section, causing considerable stress for the Ministry of Finance officials.

* * *

The chief, having considered the situation after hearing the proposal to ‘use the construction method used in the Northeast Forest region,’ quickly reached a decision.

“If the construction team, who know the most about laying railroads, recommends it, then that must be the answer. Good! Get me an estimate based on the cost of that construction method!”

“Yes, sir!”

A month later, Kim Jongseo [a high-ranking official] visited the railroad construction site.

“I heard the estimated cost is ready?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Let me see it.”

“Yes.”

Kim Jongseo received the estimate from the vice president of the railroad construction company, looked around, and asked.

“By the way, is Duke Jinpyeong still in the Northern region?”

“Yes, he is.”

Kim Jongseo clicked his tongue softly.

“Tsk! What’s so great about such a desolate place…. Seoul is the best….”

Grumbling, Kim Jongseo checked the numbers on the estimate and shook his head slightly.

“This is a number that’s just asking for criticism….”

“Should we reduce it a bit?”

“No, we need to increase it more. I’ll report it to His Majesty first.”

Kim Jongseo took the estimate and headed back to Gyeongbok Palace [the main royal palace of Joseon].

* * *

“This is the first estimate prepared by the railroad construction company.”

“Let’s see.”

Hyang received the estimate from Kim Jongseo and frowned slightly at the numbers.

After carefully examining the numbers and items several times, Hyang turned to Kim Jongseo.

“What do you think, Lord Kim?”

“I think it’s too low.”

“I think so too. Tell them to rewrite it and bring it back.”

“I obey your command!”

* * *

Kim Jongseo returned to the railroad construction company and handed the estimate back to the vice president, conveying the royal order.

“His Majesty has assessed that the amount is excessively low. Have it recalculated.”

The vice president looked troubled.

“Even now, internally, there is concern that we are already charging quite a bit extra….”

“Hoo~.”

Kim Jongseo sighed briefly and continued.

“Listen carefully. Do you know where this construction is taking place? It’s in that far-off Suez. It takes at least three months to reach by ship.”

“Isn’t it two months?”

“Do you think you can move that fast carrying those heavy iron lumps?”

“….”

“Even if the Challenger-class warships or merchant ships are large, it would be impossible to load an entire Iron Horse [early locomotive] and move it. So, you have to disassemble it, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then the artisans who will assemble the Iron Horse on-site must go with them, right?”

“That’s right. So, that’s already included….”

“What if they get sick in an unfamiliar and barren land? There are costs for treatment, costs for sending replacement personnel, and the time lost should also be counted, right?”

“That’s already included….”

“Add a little more generously. Can you trust those Westerners’ medicine?”

“Ah….”

Only then did the vice president nod.

Looking at his expression, Kim Jongseo continued to explain.

“The same goes for the Iron Horse. As you go north from Suez, you will transport materials using the Iron Horse, right?”

“That’s right.”

“The report says that the water quality of the freshwater in that area is poor? That means many Iron Horses will break down before they can be operated properly, right? Then, there’s the cost of repairing those Iron Horses, and the cost of scrapping and introducing new ones if they can’t be repaired should also be generously included.”

“That’s also estimated….”

“That estimate is too stingy. Isn’t it based only on the phrase ‘water quality is not good’ in the report? You don’t know how bad it really is, and neither do I, right? So, you have to be as generous as possible. Don’t you think so?”

“… That’s right.”

“And the railroads that the Iron Horses run on too. If you load and transport so many heavy materials, the railroads will wear out, right? Then, you have to generously include the cost of replacing them. How quickly will they wear out in a place full of sand everywhere?”

Kim Jongseo continued to explain in detail why the estimate was too small.

“Now, do you understand why His Majesty gave the order?”

“Yes.”

“Then revise it again. Will two days be enough?”

The vice president’s face turned pale.

“You need to give me at least six days….”

“The calculating machine does all the calculations, so why does it take so long? Submit it within three days.”

“…Yes.”

“Then good work!”

Kim Jongseo, having passed on the task, got up and left the office leisurely. Watching Kim Jongseo’s back as he strode towards the carriage, the vice president grumbled.

“Does he think the calculating machine is omnipotent? This means more overtime. But I can’t just write it roughly…. Hoo~.”

The vice president sighed deeply. Sejong and Hyang had a common characteristic: they were amazingly good at spotting careless work. And when they did, there would be consequences.

Meanwhile, the employees of the budget department, facing unexpected overtime, shook their heads.

“I don’t know who it is, but they’re definitely going to get ripped off!”

At the same time, Kim Jongseo, in the carriage heading to Geunjeongjeon [the throne hall in Gyeongbok Palace], looked out the window and strengthened his resolve.

“I’ll go as quickly as possible, finish as quickly as possible, and come back! No one can interfere with my Seoul life!”

* * *

Three days later, Kim Jongseo visited the railroad construction company again.

“Let’s see….”

Kim Jongseo frowned at the revised estimate.

“It’s a bit low….”

“It’s an estimate calculated with as much leeway as possible!”

“It’s still low. Give me a gold pen.”

Kim Jongseo received a gold pen from the vice president, changed the numbers in some parts, and then changed the first digit of the final amount.

“Now it looks a little better. Have it neatly written and bring it to me.”

“…Yes.”

Soon after, the revised estimate with the numbers changed by Kim Jongseo was submitted.