Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 86

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb.

86. The Tragedy of Concrete (1)

While the Joseon army was reporting victories near the Yalu River, Hyang was still working busily.

“Is the river connection mostly finished now?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang and his officials were sharing opinions while looking at a map spread out on a large table.

‘Connect the rivers throughout Hanseong [present-day Seoul], focusing on Cheonggyecheon [a major stream in Seoul] and major streams, to solve the sewage problem.’

If this was the ultimate goal of Hyang’s plan, then what had been done so far was the first phase of prioritizing the maintenance of small streams in areas where houses had been completely destroyed by fire.

According to Hyang’s plan, the exposed streams were densely connected using sewers.

Most of the sewers were waterways exposed above ground, but sewers crossing major roads were buried underground.

Of course, sewer pipes made in large quantities from slaked lime and rebar in District 51 were supplied for that work.

* * *

“Making sewer pipes with slaked lime and rebar? That’s amazing.”

“It’s called reinforced concrete.”

“Reinforced concrete? That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Sejong, who was receiving the report, as well as his ministers, tilted their heads at the word they were hearing for the first time.

“It is a combination of Hanja [Chinese characters used in Korean] and Western words. The Westerners call a mixture of slaked lime, sand, and gravel ‘concrete.’ I used it as is because I couldn’t think of a suitable name to replace it. I am sorry to Your Majesty for my lack of talent. I am deeply ashamed.”

“No. Everyone knows that the Crown Prince has a lot to do and time is limited, so it can’t be helped. Let’s think about how to change that unfamiliar name later. What do you think, gentlemen?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers all bowed their heads and answered in unison.

“It is a reasonable decision!”

However, there were those who were in an uproar over Sejong’s decision.

They were the historians who wrote the historical records and the scribes of the Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat] who wrote the royal diary.

‘How am I supposed to write concrete!’

The historians and scribes were in a state of panic and froze on the spot.

“But what is the use of combining that rebar and concrete?”

At Sejong’s question about its usefulness, the historians and scribes came to their senses and began to move their golden brushes diligently.

The place where the problematic ‘concrete’ would be placed was left blank using the parentheses () of the punctuation marks that were becoming more widely used, centered on the Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies] and the research institute.

Hyang explained its usefulness to Sejong’s question.

“Yes, mixing slaked lime, sand, and gravel is like making stone artificially. This stone is good at withstanding compressive force, but it is vulnerable to tensile force.”

“Is that so?”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Public Works immediately answered.

“That is correct. That is why in quarries, they use wedges to make gaps and then pull them with ropes to separate the stones.”

“I see, so?”

“Conversely, iron is good at withstanding tensile force, but weak against compressive force. Therefore, combining the two complements each other’s weaknesses and strengthens their strengths.”

“Hoo~.”

“Huh! Such a method…”

Exclamations of admiration erupted from all over the throne room at Hyang’s explanation.

“Heo! This is truly a symbol of harmony using the five elements of mutual generation and mutual destruction! It is a truly ingenious method!”

Sejong, as well as his ministers, seemed genuinely impressed.

* * *

“I understand. You must be busy with disaster recovery, so you may leave.”

“Thank you for your grace.”

Hyang bowed to Sejong after finishing the report that started with sewer pipes and ended with reinforced concrete.

After Hyang left, Sejong looked back at his ministers.

“Let’s take a break for a while.”

“Thank you for your grace!”

As soon as Sejong declared a recess, the historians and scribes jumped up and rushed out.

“Huh?”

Sejong, who was questioning the actions of the historians and scribes, quietly followed them.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Hyang, who was discussing the progress of the construction with those who were waiting as soon as he came out of the throne room, stopped when he heard someone calling him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Heo, ha~, heok. Yo, Your Highness… that is…”

“Catch your breath first and then speak.”

“I am grateful, Your Highness.”

“And get some exercise, how far is it from the throne room to here… tsk!”

While the historians, their faces red from Hyang’s nagging, were catching their breath, Hyang continued to share his opinions with the officials.

“It’s not that… how should we write the word concrete?”

Hyang, who was talking to the officials, reached out without looking back.

“Paper and brush.”

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

As soon as the historian hurriedly handed over the writing tablet and golden brush he was holding, Hyang moved the golden brush without thinking.

“Concre… Ack!”

“Your Highness!”

Everyone around him was horrified when Hyang suddenly screamed.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

Hyang hurriedly waved his hand to calm the people down, then dipped the golden brush in plenty of ink and smeared it all over the letters he was writing. After erasing the letters thoroughly, Hyang wrote new letters.

‘Concrete’

“This is how it is written in Western letters. If you can’t think of a suitable Idu [a system of writing Korean using Chinese characters], just use these letters as they are.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful.”

“Then I’m busy with work, so…”

After making sure that it was erased properly once again, Hyang strode away.

‘Hoo! That was close!’

Although he had a calm expression on the outside, Hyang was forcibly calming his wildly beating heart as he crossed the threshold of Gwanghwamun [the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

‘Get a grip! Lee Hyang! You almost caused a major accident, a major accident at the level of a meteorite falling!’

He was so engrossed in discussing the opinions on the construction site that he had unconsciously almost written ‘concrete’ in Korean.

Fortunately, he realized it halfway through writing and erased it, but even now, Hyang’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

‘If something goes wrong, I’m done for! I welcome doing what I like, but I refuse forced simping [unwanted or excessive attention]!’

“How do I translate this…”

The historian, who had learned the word from Hyang, was worried as he returned to the throne room.

The fellow historians and scribes walking alongside him were also struggling to find a suitable word.

“Should we use the 반절 (banjeol) [a method of indicating pronunciation] method after all?”

“That seems to be the best way… The problem is ‘크 (keu)’ and ‘트 (teu)’. ‘콘 (kon)’ combines ‘쾌 (kwae)’ and ‘온 (on)’…”

While they were discussing a suitable way to transcribe the word ‘concrete’, Sejong called them.

“You historians and scribes there. Come here for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Yes. What did you ask the Crown Prince?”

“Ah… I asked how to write concrete.”

“Can I see it?”

At Sejong’s question, the historians talked for a moment and then politely handed the writing tablet to Sejong.

“It’s not a historical record, so… it’s possible.”

Sejong received the writing tablet and read the word written on it.

“Con…crete…”

As Sejong read the word, the eyes of the historians and scribes widened.

“Are you able to read it, Your Majesty?”

“I came to know it while reading the Western books that the Crown Prince brought. But… what is this ink stain?”

“He suddenly smeared it with ink.”

“Suddenly? What letter was it?”

Among the historians, the one with the quickest eye answered Sejong’s question.

“It was a letter I had never seen before.”

“Never seen before? Are you saying it’s not the Western letter written here?”

“It was a completely different shape.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong answered briefly, thought for a moment, and then returned the writing tablet to the historian.

“I’ve seen it well here.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

“Ah! If you remember what it looked like, write it down and go.”

“I don’t remember it at a glance… Ah!”

The historian, who had exclaimed, wrote letters on the writing tablet.

“He wrote two letters, and both letters started with the same shape.”

Sejong received what the historian had written on the writing tablet.

‘ㅋㅋ’

“…”

Sejong, who saw the letters written on the writing tablet, frowned and tilted his head, then returned the writing tablet to the historian.

The historian, who received the writing tablet back, politely bowed and returned to the throne room.

Sejong, who had sent the historians and scribes back, stood like a stone statue with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.

‘Looking at the letters, no, the patterns, that the historian wrote down, it is true that it is a letter I have never seen before. Is it the letter of the Indians or the Muslims? No, as far as I know, there are no similar letters. And, there are Western words and Western letters, so there is no reason to use the letters of the Indians or the Muslims, is there? The same goes for the letters of the Jin or the Mongols… Then did he simplify the Chinese characters himself? The possibility is not low, but besides, there is no need to smear it with ink like that…’

What started as a simple curiosity was gradually growing in Sejong’s mind.

Sejong remembered the meeting he had at Jeong Cho’s house a while ago.

‘Everyone knows that the Crown Prince is outstanding. But, there are few who know how outstanding he is. Because that guy is trying not to reveal himself more than necessary. Why is that?’

Sejong, who was worried, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“He used his cunning to do only what he wanted to do. What a mean guy.”

“Your Majesty?”

“It’s just a soliloquy.”

Sejong, who answered briefly to the eunuch’s question, continued to sort out the situation.

‘That guy has been subtly mentioning our own Joseon letters since not long after he was appointed as Crown Prince. And, the most important thing is the phonology books… that guy had already read them all as soon as he came in.’

Even if phonology books came in through the purchasing agency that Sejong had requested, they did not go directly to Sejong.

In order to avoid the eyes of the ministers who liked to ask questions, they had to be kept for a considerable amount of time.

However, when I actually tried to borrow them, I had to hear this answer a considerable percentage of the time.

“I am deeply grateful, but it is already on loan…”

“Who borrowed it?”

“It is the Crown Prince.”

“I understand.”

Sejong, who was recalling his memories, realized that he had forgotten one thing.

‘Looking at the Crown Prince’s answers to the questions that I or the ministers throw out… that guy has read them all! He didn’t just read them!’

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who was organizing his thoughts, came to a conclusion.

‘That guy has already created some results! What a sly guy!’

It was the moment when suspicion turned into conviction.

Sejong, who had solidified his conviction, smiled and muttered.

“I was having some trouble these days anyway, so this is good. I’ll have to take some time and shake him down sometime.”

“Your Majesty?”

“It’s just a soliloquy. A soliloquy. Now! Let’s go back!”

Sejong stretched lightly once and walked towards Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

“Hey, Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who was walking leisurely, spoke to the eunuch who was following him.

“Don’t you think it’s a blessing to have a talented child?”

At Sejong’s words, the eunuch who was following him paused for a moment to recall his memories.

Since he was with Sejong almost 24 hours a day, he knew very well what Sejong was doing whenever he had time.

The eunuch, who had sorted out his thoughts for a moment, responded.

“That is true, but… too much is as bad as too little. He is still young.”

Sejong smiled slightly at the eunuch’s answer, which had a hidden meaning.

“Are you a person… is someone going to eat him up?”

At Sejong’s words, the eunuch silently looked at Geunjeongjeon.

The faces of the high and low officials walking towards Geunjeongjeon were full of fatigue.

“They don’t eat him up, but they push him just enough not to die…”

“Huh?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

* * *

“Heuk!”

Hyang, who was diligently directing the construction site, suddenly felt a chill all over his body and shivered.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

At Hyang’s suddenly pale face, the official hurriedly gestured to the eunuch.

“Call the royal physician!”

The royal physician, who was waiting in preparation for a safety accident, received a call from the eunuch and rushed to Hyang.

“Your Highness, let me take your pulse for a moment.”

“Do so.”

The royal physician, who took Hyang’s wrist and checked his pulse, examined Hyang’s temperature and complexion and made a diagnosis.

“You have accumulated a lot of fatigue. You need to rest.”

“I don’t have time to rest for the time being.”

“Even so.”

“I’m sleeping 4 hours a day, so wouldn’t that be okay?”

At Hyang’s firm answer, the royal physician sighed softly and answered.

“I will send you some herbal medicine.”

“I’ll ask you to do that.”

After the royal physician left, Hyang looked back at the official.

“Let’s start building Hanseongdae [Hanseong University] now.”

“Yes, Your Highness. All preparations are now complete.”

“Then. Let’s start with the road connecting Gyeongbokgung Palace and Sungnyemun Gate [Namdaemun Gate] as planned.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the official who received the order went out of the tent, Hyang stroked his still trembling body.

“What the hell is it? Suddenly, I have a bad feeling…”

* * *

“We must finish the construction before the rainy season begins!”

In order to finish the road construction before the rainy season, Hyang mobilized not only workers but also soldiers on a large scale to carry out the construction.

After digging the ground about 1 jang [approximately 3 meters] deep, they scooped out the gravel that had been dredged from the Han River and piled it up, filling the dug-out pits one by one.

After filling the pits to some extent, the workers began to tamp the gravel using a tool that looked like a large mallet.

After tamping the gravel firmly, the rebars made in District 51 were loaded one by one. After installing the intertwined rebars on top of the gravel, the supervisor shouted to the workers and soldiers.

“Pour the hoejuk [a mixture of lime, sand, and gravel]!”

By now, the word hoejuk had replaced the word concrete at the site.

At the supervisor’s command, handcarts containing well-mixed hoejuk lined up and poured the hoejuk over the rebars.

When the hoejuk was all poured, the workers standing next to them poked the hoejuk with long wooden sticks to make sure it went well between the rebars.

“There! I told you not to put your feet in the rebar hoejuk! Do you want to get 회독 (hoedok) [a pun, meaning ‘lime poisoning’ or ‘a hard time’]!”

“I’m sorry, sir!”

One of the workers, who had unknowingly stepped on the concrete, quickly stepped back at the supervisor’s scolding.

Without protective equipment such as rubber boots or waterproof safety shoes, the only thing Hyang could do was to proceed with the concrete pouring using the longest possible sticks.

“Going to South America is a pipe dream for now… reality is always a shithole.”

Hyang complained whenever he saw such a sight. However, Hyang was proceeding with the construction, weeping and eating mustard [doing something unpleasant but necessary], because he knew that if he did not take advantage of the opportunity created by the Great Fire, he would have to spend several times the cost later.