Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 980

980. The Lunatic with Clear Eyes (5)

“Haa~.”

Kang Baek-du, looking up at the sky, let out a long sigh and continued with difficulty.

“I was out of my mind….”

Kang Baek-du’s face was full of regret as he uttered words similar to those someone had said long ago.

“What was I thinking, joining hands with a madman… No….”

Kang Baek-du, who suddenly stopped speaking, looked around and then spat out the words he wanted to say.

“What am I doing amidst madmen, moderately madmen, and even more moderately madmen… Of course, I was a madman too….”

* * *

The development objectives of the ‘Self-Propelled Fire Bomb’ proposed by Kang Baek-du and Leonardo da Vinci were as follows:

– The front lines of enemy countries hostile to the Empire will become larger and stronger in the future.

– In line with this, our Empire’s front lines will also become larger and stronger.

– However, the larger a front line becomes, the more disadvantages it has.

(Omitted)

– Therefore, the ‘Self-Propelled Fire Bomb’ is essential in terms of efficient budget management and securing firepower.

Kang Baek-du and Da Vinci’s proposal perfectly addressed the critical needs of national defense, particularly for the navy. In the naval battles fought in Italy, especially around Corsica, the Imperial Navy had suffered considerable losses.

“If only we had four more Assault Turtle Ships….”

However, the Assault Turtle Ship was a ‘money-eating monster’ in all aspects, from construction to operation. Therefore, the financial officers of the Navy quipped about the Assault Turtle Ship:

“The Assault Turtle Ship is a starfish. It’s not made of metal, but a starfish that only eats money.”

Small warships also presented challenges. Being small, they couldn’t carry large and powerful cannons. Therefore, small warships were forced into close combat, where they sustained the most damage. To solve this problem, the Navy, Area 51, and Area 52 devised two improvement plans:

– Increase mobility by installing a small, high-output steam engine.

– Develop weapons with small but powerful firepower.

The new engine, combining a multi-wing engine with a simple steam engine, was the first solution.

As an aside, a major terminology reorganization was implemented regarding steam engines. To avoid confusion caused by the overlapping terms ‘propeller’ and ‘propeller,’ the part that generates power using steam was designated as an ‘engine,’ and the entire assembly combining the steam generator and the engine was called a ‘power plant.’

“This way, we can clearly distinguish between internal combustion engines, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or whatever else later on.”

The answer to the first improvement plan was found, but the second proved elusive. Many proposals were made, but none were quite right. That was the situation when Kang Baek-du and Da Vinci conceived the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb. However, with Hyang’s intervention, Kang Baek-du was now lamenting the situation.

However, Hyang also had something to say.

“Who is calling who a madman?”

* * *

Hyang’s role in the development of the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb was review and consultation.

“In the old days, I would have jumped into the field without question, but now, ‘Am I going to do this at my age?’ suits me better….”

With that, Hyang, having assumed a suitable title, entered the development site and glared at Kang Baek-du, Da Vinci, and the artisans after examining the initial blueprint and the reduced model.

“The proposal clearly stated ‘Self-Propelled Fire Bomb,’ but why are you sitting here making a ‘Suicide Fire Bomb’?”

‘I was expecting a torpedo, but why is there a suicide boat like those used by Japanese lunatics during World War II?’

Kang Baek-du stepped forward to explain the reason for Hyang’s criticism.

“The warship floating on the sea is always moving. Especially when a battle breaks out, it moves even faster and more violently, so it is easy to miss the target. Therefore, we put someone in charge of piloting to maximize the hit rate.”

“I know that there is a mindset that our Imperial Army must uphold, which is the determination to die [a willingness to fight to the death], but not the certainty of death [unnecessary suicidal actions], right?”

“It’s not suicide. When approaching an enemy ship, the pilot is designed to jump out.”

“Haa~.”

Hyang, who let out a long sigh at Kang Baek-du’s words, asked again.

“You know how to ride a horse, right?”

“Yes, I learned it at the military academy.”

“Do you know how difficult it is to jump off a running horse?”

“…..Yes.”

“Do you think the pilot can calmly jump out of a ship running much faster than a horse at full speed, even in a situation where enemy bullets and fire bombs are raining down?”

“…..I will improve it.”

“I’ll be expecting it….”

A few days later, Hyang put his hand on his forehead after seeing the report and blueprint documenting the improvements.

“Are we developing ejection seats now?”

– In the first design, the pilot stood and steered the ship. However, in the improved plan, the pilot sits in a chair and steers the ship.

– When approaching an enemy ship, the pilot pulls the trigger cord connected to the chair.

– As soon as the pilot pulls the trigger cord, the ship’s rudder is fixed. Then, the gunpowder installed under the chair where the pilot is sitting explodes, ejecting the pilot out of the ship.

– When the chair lands on the sea surface, the pilot releases the safety rope and disengages.

“….Eunuch!”

Hyang, who was reviewing the proposal and blueprint, called for the eunuch.

* * *

“Suddenly asking me to come to the shooting range, and even the one in Sugang Palace? Do you know what’s going on?”

At Da Vinci’s question, Kang Baek-du shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know either. However, I feel a little uneasy.”

“Don’t tell me they’re going to use us as targets?”

“Don’t even joke about that!”

“S, sorry.”

Kang Baek-du stopped Da Vinci by shouting, but he was just as anxious. When the two arrived at the shooting range, Hyang was waiting for them.

“Follow me.”

Hyang, who led the two to the shooting range, continued while loading a shotgun.

“I read the improvement plan well. Ready! Using the power of gunpowder to launch the pilot into the sky… Launch!”

Bang! Pow! Shatter!

As soon as Hyang’s order was given, the soldiers launched the target using a small catapult. Hyang aimed at the target flying into the sky and pulled the trigger. The target, made of earthenware, was shattered upon impact. Hyang turned around and glared at Da Vinci and Kang Baek-du.

“You know what I’m trying to say, right?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Kang Baek-du and Da Vinci answered immediately to Hyang’s words. It meant that even if the pilot escaped safely, he would end up like that target due to the enemy’s gunfire and shelling.

“In addition, how are you going to bring that escaped pilot back? How in the middle of a battlefield where bullets and shells are fiercely exchanged?”

“……”

Kang Baek-du and Da Vinci fell silent at Hyang’s last remark, and Hyang clicked his tongue while looking at them.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

‘You should have thought this far!’

“I’ll make a decision here. Forget about putting people on the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb! An arrow that has left the bow, a cannonball that has left the cannon, and a bullet that has been fired from a gun cannot change direction in mid-flight. So why did you have such unnecessary greed?”

“Compared to bullets and fire bombs, the manufacturing cost of the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb is very expensive. We thought it would be a serious problem if we spent a lot of money to make it but the hit rate was low.”

“Also, we thought that there was no weapon that could instill as much fear in the enemy as a fire bomb chasing after them.”

“That’s no reason to risk a person’s life. This is an order.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

In this way, the ‘manned guidance function’ was removed from the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb.

“If this happens, it will only go straight forward like a wild boar……”

“It can’t be helped. The words of the Supreme Emperor are not wrong….”

Da Vinci and the artisans suppressed their disappointment and designed the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb without the manned function.

“Hmm… It’s getting better now.”

Hyang nodded only then after looking at the blueprint. However, after a while, he picked up a gold pen and wrote a document.

“However, a torpedo must be torpedo-like.”

And Da Vinci, Kang Baek-du, and the artisans who received Hyang’s document all tilted their heads.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

– The launched Self-Propelled Fire Bomb will cruise underwater and strike the enemy ship.

Da Vinci, Kang Baek-du, and the artisans who received Hyang’s requirements simultaneously had the same thought.

‘This crazy person!’

* * *

In the meantime, the body of the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb designed by Kang Baek-du, Da Vinci, and the artisans was shaped like a traditional ship.

‘Moving in the sea = moving above the water.’

This was the common understanding so far, so as soon as they saw Hyang’s requirements, everyone thought, ‘Crazy!’ And the officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy who heard these requirements looked for Woo, and Woo looked for Hyun.

And Hyun looked for Hyang.

“I am ignorant and do not know why the Supreme Emperor requested these conditions. Please, have mercy on me and tell me the answer.”

Hyang explained the reason for Hyun’s request.

– If you cruise on the water, you will be greatly affected by wind and waves. However, if you cruise underwater at a suitable depth, you will be less affected by wind and waves, so you can use it more effectively.

– If you cruise underwater, it is difficult for the enemy to detect it until you get close, so it is very advantageous for surprise attacks.

“…Therefore, I requested underwater cruising.”

“I see.”

Hyun nodded at Hyang’s explanation, but his expression was full of worry.

“However, I am worried about whether it will succeed properly because it is an unprecedented request.”

“So, you have to think hard.”

And the artisans who heard Hyang’s answer, who came down the stairs again, sighed deeply.

“Hoo~.”

However, Da Vinci began to shine his eyes.

“Unprecedented… In other words, if I succeed, I will be the first in the world? Everyone! Cheer up!”

Kang Baek-du shook his head alone at Da Vinci’s appearance, encouraging the artisans.

“This seems like a crazy thing….”

However, the situation was getting worse.

Hyang personally visited the workshop in Area 51 after hearing the news that ‘Da Vinci is encouraging the artisans and focusing on ideas.’

“…Thank you for your hard work. The safety of our Empire is protected by your hard work.”

“You flatter us.”

Hyang, who praised the artisans, finally headed to Da Vinci.

“It’s an unprecedented task, and the difficulties will be unimaginable. But if you succeed, the results will be enormous. Think about it! If the underwater cruising of the Self-Propelled Fire Bomb succeeds, can’t we make a warship that goes underwater? Imagine a warship moving underwater and firing Self-Propelled Fire Bombs at enemy ships! Wouldn’t it be amazing!”

“Oh! Oh oh! Oh oh! That’s right! That’s right!”

Kang Baek-du screamed inwardly as he looked at Da Vinci, who was enthusiastic about Hyang’s idea.

‘No! Everyone is crazy! I have to get out of here!’

However, he could not leave the spot.

“You have to help Da Vinci diligently! His talent is outstanding, but he lacks a lot in military matters, especially in the Navy, so your help will be essential.”

“I will do my best to help.”

Kang Baek-du had no choice but to answer with a weeping and eating mustard expression at Hyang’s words.