There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 257

Nitroglycerin surprisingly has the effect of dilating blood vessels and improving blood flow.

‘That’s why it’s used as a treatment for angina [chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart].’

I think I heard that Viagra was originally developed to treat heart disease.

Similar to Viagra, which had its use changed because it was more effective in an unexpected area, modern nitroglycerin was also following a similar path.

I remember it coming out as a gel and an oral medication.

“You’re saying you’re going to make gunpowder into a balm and apply it *there*?”

Doga looked at me with an absurd expression at my idea.

I understand.

Because even I think it sounds like crazy talk.

“What if it… what if it explodes?”

“What’s it gonna do?”

‘Nobun, receive a divine revelation.’

That’s a joke, and seriously, there’s no need to worry about that.

Because nitroglycerin loses its explosive properties when diluted in water.

All that remains is the potency-boosting component.

“Of course, the composition needs to be adjusted.”

At first, we should apply or administer the smallest amount possible, and then gradually increase the amount to find the right effect.

The problem is the clinical trial subjects….

Even if I explain that there’s no risk of explosion, they’ll probably be wary if they hear that gunpowder ingredients are being used.

But I don’t really want to hide it either.

I wonder if there will be any volunteers for such an experiment?

===

“Hey, don’t push!”

“Aish, there’s no space! Where am I supposed to stand if you push like this!”

In conclusion, my prediction was completely wrong.

I gazed at Nobun, seeing the scene of people crowded together to the point of overflowing.

“His Highness told me to gather as many as I could….”

Nobun lowered his head and made excuses.

It was my mistake for not expecting so many people to gather.

What nerve do they have when I even explained that it’s a potency drug made with gunpowder?

“If it’s a special product from the Crown Prince, it’s trustworthy!”

“My wife heard the rumors and pushed me to get some medicine. If something goes wrong, she said I can just get a job as a eunuch.”

“I’m already living like a eunuch anyway, haha!”

You’re all crazy.

I smacked the back of Nobun’s head, who was grinning at the thought of receiving a divine revelation, and I carefully examined the faces of the people who had gathered.

Most of them seem to be commoners….

“Huh?”

I rubbed my eyes.

Did I see wrong?

“……Why is the Retired King there?”

“To dedicate myself to the development of medicine in this country….”

Lee Bang-gwa, who was waiting in a corner with a parasol, glanced away and said.

‘What development of medicine.’

I was furious at this absurd sight.

“How can Your Majesty the Retired King do this, even if it’s you? Please be aware of your noble status.”

“Madou [a past embarrassing incident].”

“……That’s all in the past.”

Why do my family members bring up that story when they’re cornered?

It feels like it’s being used as a trump card to avoid responsibility to me.

But there’s no need to persuade him with words.

“Escort the Retired King to Induk Palace.”

Because I have something that the Retired King doesn’t have, namely power.

“Hing….”

Lee Bang-gwa returned with a sulky face.

What kind of disgrace is this for someone who’s old enough to know better?

If it’s successful, wouldn’t I take care of you?

I then ordered them to bring a paper board.

“Okay, I’ll explain it once, so listen carefully. The name of this medicine is Biak (飛岳, a large mountain rising), and it’s a medicine that stimulates the body’s blood and invigorates a man’s yang energy….”

Explanations about the ingredients and expected effects of the medicine, followed by side effects, continued one after another, but the people who gathered were just listening or not.

Well, is applying gunpowder *there* really any different from when women apply lead to their faces?

Anyway, it’s an era where they throw a party when they live past sixty.

There were plenty of humans who chose to live short and thick rather than thin and long.

‘Is this how science originally develops?’

===

The doctors busily moved, separating the subjects.

They were largely divided into plasters and oral medications, and then the subjects were divided by age within those categories, and the progress was observed and recorded.

Fortunately, it was the kind of experiment where the effects appeared immediately (?), so the doctors didn’t have to wait long to see the results.

“It, it’s revived! For the first time in twenty years!”

“Did such a medicine exist in the world? I’ve heard that Pyeonjak [a legendary doctor] saved a dead person, but I’ve never heard of saving a dead *object*!”

“Its name is Biak, and it really is a secret medicine (祕藥)!”

The people who saw the effects rejoiced with faces more joyful than if their deceased uncle had been resurrected.

“Don’t just talk to yourself, come here and tell the doctor!”

A doctor asked a man who walked over with difficulty.

“Symptoms.”

“My face is red and my pulse is racing.”

“Hmm… what about the *yangmul* [euphemism for male genitalia]?”

“It seems to be asleep, there’s no reaction.”

“You’re over fifty, so that can happen. Let’s increase the amount a little. Next!”

On one side, they were handing out one dose of the medicine to those who had finished the experiment.

“You’re giving me this again?”

“Yes. Actually use it and remember the unique points in detail and report them. Be sure to tell us if you or your wife show any abnormal symptoms!”

“Of course, I’ll remember. It will be an unforgettable night.”

The people who had an unexpected jackpot cheered.

There were also concerns about giving out expensive items like nitroglycerin.

It’s okay to check the effects of the medicine on the spot, but what if they sell this expensive item somewhere?

“We have given out this Biak, but if there is anyone who does not use it himself and sells it to others, he will be severely punished!”

But was it just a concern after all?

“We are the people who ran here without hesitation to apply gunpowder to our bodies, so why would we give this precious thing to others!”

“Why don’t you allow us to bring our wives here!”

As such jokes erupted here and there, people chuckled.

Few of these people seemed likely to sell it, and how many people would buy a suspicious medicine, especially a single dose?

Even if some people embezzled and sold it and lied, errors could be reduced through the symptom reports of others.

Some doctors who noticed this clicked their tongues.

“I heard that the Crown Prince is also deeply knowledgeable in medicine, but I didn’t know he would devise a medicine that would revive even dead *yangmul*.”

“The medicine is medicine, but the method devised by the Crown Prince is even more amazing.”

Until now, the verification of medicinal effects was done only through experience.

Even if a sick person got better by using a new medicinal ingredient, there was no way to verify whether it was just someone who was going to get better by chance, or whether it was due to the medicinal effect.

As a result, only medicinal ingredients that had been said to be effective over many years had been used continuously, and the criteria depended solely on experience and intuition.

“But if you classify patients according to His Highness’s words, doesn’t it clearly show who got better and who didn’t when using the medicine?”

It was different from when the Crown Prince created Madou [a vaccine against smallpox].

Madou was distributed to all the people after only a simple test that the Crown Prince stuck in his own body, but this time, an elementary but definite comparative test was being conducted.

In that respect, this was the first clinical trial in Joseon, or even the world.

“It’s not just this Biak (飛岳). It can also be used to find out the medicinal effects of other medicinal ingredients.”

Crown Prince Lee Je, the person in charge, had forgotten about it because it was such a bizarre experiment, but this would be recorded forever as an important turning point in the history of medicine.

Joseon was once again making great progress.

“Symptoms.”

“Doctor, my thing is weird….”

Great….

Yes, anyway.

It was a great progress.

===

“The Crown Prince gave a definite answer?”

Lee Je only said that he would try, but Hwang-eom was exaggerating.

He knew that if he answered ambiguously, he would only be branded as useless by the Emperor.

The Yongle Emperor clapped his hands, unable to hide his excitement.

He was so happy that he even thought about acknowledging him as his brother-in-law.

“As expected of the Crown Prince. What’s the point of having family? Isn’t it family that helps each other when there are happy or sad things?”

He couldn’t forgive him for stealing his younger sister, but the Yongle Emperor was a fair emperor who distinguished between public and private matters.

So he could give him a few words of praise.

If Lee Je heard this, he would grumble inwardly, asking if a fair emperor would send people to Joseon to find potency drugs.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Joseon produces many excellent medicinal ingredients such as ginseng, and the Crown Prince of Joseon is also a loyal subject of the Emperor, so you can trust him.”

“Indeed, Joseon has a miraculous pulse, so many medicinal ingredients for nourishing are produced. I want to install a *pojeongsa* [tribute procurement office] like Annam and sweep them all away.”

The Yongle Emperor stroked his chin and made a statement that was hard to tell whether it was a joke or serious, and sweat dripped down Hwang-eom’s back.

“Joseon does not lose its respectful attitude and presents sea cucumbers and shiitake mushrooms from time to time in addition to ginseng, so there is no need to use your precious heart.”

“Hmm, I enjoy eating those too.”

Dried sea cucumbers and shiitake mushrooms exported from Joseon are unrivaled popular products along with ginseng, a traditional export item.

To obtain these, there is even a scramble among merchants when the tributary envoys come.

“Thinking about it, the abuses are very severe. Wouldn’t it be better to strictly prohibit imports except for those purchased by the imperial family?”

“Please, please reconsider!”

Hwang-eom said in horror.

There was no way that such an order would be properly followed, and wouldn’t it only buy the dissatisfaction of the officials?

“I’m just joking.”

Hwang-eom stroked his chest at the Yongle Emperor’s words.

“But I’m curious as to why you seriously oppose a simple joke.”

“Please, kill me!”

‘Which beat should I match, damn it!’

Hwang-eom sobbed inwardly and banged his head.

The Yongle Emperor brought up the main point only after Hwang-eom’s training was over, as always.

“The Prince of Jo has been refining his character for the past few years, and he has a dignified and valiant spirit. As a father, I am very satisfied, but did you recommend it?”

It was an kind tone that seemed like he would praise him if he said yes, but Hwang-eom was not fooled.

“How could that be? It seems that only Prince Jo is determined to be a role model for the *Jongchin* [royal relatives].”

He did not know what reaction the Emperor would have if he heard that a eunuch had privately advised Prince Jo.

The Yongle Emperor nodded with a satisfied face after hearing his answer.

“Since the appointment of the Crown Prince, my sons have been acting coldly, but Prince Jo is an exception, so I asked.”

In particular, Prince Han Zhu Gaohu’s tyranny was at an unbearable level.

He did not go to his fiefdom and assaulted or plundered the people of the capital, so the resentment soared to the sky.

People thought this was also due to dissatisfaction with being deprived of the position of Crown Prince.

It was because of the promissory notes that the Yongle Emperor had scattered to his sons during the Rebellion of Jingnan, but he did not feel any particular guilt.

The same was true for his younger brother, Prince Yeong, to whom he had promised half of the world, and for his other son, Prince Jo.

‘One is hiding like a dead mouse, one is rampaging and resisting… the last one is the best among the three.’

The Yongle Emperor thought, recalling the faces of his brother and two sons.

Did he come to his senses after giving up the throne?

“I will have Prince Jo accompany this expedition as well. Go and prepare.”

The Yongle Emperor gave orders to Hwang-eom.

The Yongle Emperor, who thought he had ruined his sons, liked the way his son was friendly.

Just being able to take a son who listens well with him when he goes on a northern patrol or expedition is satisfying.

Especially when he thinks about the Crown Prince, who he doesn’t like, and Prince Han, who has become a rogue.

Thinking of them made the Yongle Emperor’s head throb.

‘It’s not easy being an emperor.’

He just wanted to take the potency drug that would be sent from Joseon soon.