There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 258

As the medicine is applied, the blood vessels begin to swell minutely.

As oxygen and blood flow are supplied along the dilated blood vessels, the muscles also twitch and react.

Although it was the result of gas secreted by nitroglycerin acting on the body to swell the blood vessels, it gave the user the illusion that lost virility was gushing out from the lower abdomen.

As a result.

‘As expected, ointment is more effective than oral medicine.’

Crown Prince Lee Je thought while collecting and organizing the reports.

After numerous experiments, he finally found the appropriate amount of nitroglycerin.

Clinical trials showed positive responses from most subjects.

Some energetic young men even complained that they couldn’t calm down.

‘At this point, there should be no problem selling it on the market.’

Of course, some subjects experienced minor side effects such as headaches, but who cares?

There would be no one in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] who would give up the great task of continuing the lineage because of a headache.

No, even the grand cause of continuing the lineage is not necessary.

‘I knew I could trust you!’

‘You are a hero, Crown Prince!’

Even the old retainers in the court who already have grandchildren are making such excited expressions.

‘Those old geezers are so silly.’

Well, it’s a legendary elixir that revives even dead Yang energy [vital energy in traditional Chinese medicine], so there’s no way the rumors wouldn’t spread.

“I heard that Minister of Taxation cried because he didn’t have to worry about his family line being cut off?”

“Ah, that family’s daughter-in-law is indeed ugly.”

“My child just has problems with being weak. I wonder, do you have any connections to the Crown Prince’s palace?”

However, unlike the excited and expectant vassals, some still vigorous (?) people were viewing this project with disapproving eyes.

Most of the court has become accustomed to the Crown Prince’s eccentric behavior and inventions, but not everyone.

Everyone seems to have forgotten, and the royal family is a family of warriors, so it’s not very noticeable, but Joseon is strictly a Confucian state and a state of Taoism.

The newly appointed officials who flood in during the regular and special civil service examinations are initially filled with Confucian righteousness.

And when these people take office, the first place they clash with is the East Palace [residence of the Crown Prince].

“There seem to be quite a few friends with their livers outside their bellies this time?”

“It seems like the scholars’ water hasn’t drained out of them at the training institute.”

Eo Byeon-gap and his colleagues clicked their tongues as they looked at those gathered in front of the Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat] far away.

“I understand. When they first come in, everything the Crown Prince does seems absurd.”

“Isn’t there a world of difference between hearing about it and seeing it with your own eyes?”

“They foam at the mouth saying that everything the Crown Prince does is not in the scriptures and contradicts the words of the sages. But these days, there aren’t many stiff friends like that.”

“Leave them alone. Those who will return to their hometowns will return, and those who won’t will stick around and adapt.”

The precedents set by their seniors were all defeats, but they don’t know it yet.

Even if they knew, they wouldn’t care.

They were new employees full of the ambition to discipline the unrestrained Crown Prince and leave their names in history.

And this time, the result was not much different.

===

“In general, Yang energy arises from nature and gradually declines. Just as humans cannot control birth, aging, sickness, and death, so too is Yang energy. How can an elixir of rejuvenation be compared to the natural order of things?”

“Sulfur is a valuable raw material for making gunpowder, and sulfuric acid is an expensive substance made by refining that sulfur. How can we use such great resources for extravagance?”

The vassals collectively wore expressions of ‘What the hell is this?’ at the memorial submitted through the Seungjeongwon.

‘What are these unkempt scholars talking about?’

‘Are they all crazy and want to be dragged to the gulag?’

Lee Bang-won felt the same way, but as a skilled politician, he did not show such an expression on his face.

Instead, he issued a slippery reply like a snake.

“Extravagance, extravagance. But isn’t Biak clearly a medicine that enhances Yang energy? Are these people not even going to offer ginseng if their father loses his energy?”

Lee Bang-won continued.

“Furthermore, the Emperor of the Great Ming [Chinese dynasty] is very interested in the Biak made by the Crown Prince, so we cannot stop making it as long as we follow the rites of serving the great. This memorial is not accepted.”

Lee Bang-won’s use of Emperor Yongle as a shield was a very effective strategy.

Ming China, especially Ming China under the rule of Yongle, is a formidable opponent whose demands are quite difficult to refuse.

Of course, that’s not the only reason.

“These… guys… are… trying to ruin the country…”

Even the retired King, who usually doesn’t speak about current issues, was furious, so Lee Bang-won couldn’t help but be mindful of him.

‘I don’t have any particular problems yet, but…’

But you never know what might happen.

And the more, the better.

He was eager to verify the efficacy of the Biak made by his son, so he couldn’t ban it.

Thus, Lee Bang-won concluded this matter by rejecting the Seungjeongwon’s memorial, but he failed to notice that the eyes of the old retainers had changed.

‘Just which impudent bastards…’

‘They must be saying that they are still young…’

The old monsters of the court, whose hearts were wounded, began to move.

===

Expectations for Biak were sweeping through the capital.

I heard that more than ten trucks of people came up from the provinces to get some Biak, but I don’t know if it’s true.

Do seemed wronged that the nitroglycerin he had worked so hard to create was only being spotlighted as an aphrodisiac, but there was nothing he could do.

Since nitroglycerin is already expensive, people will definitely say that we should just make black powder.

‘But aphrodisiacs are different.’

Since there are no substitutes, people rush in with bundles of money.

If the demand for Biak explodes, facilities will naturally be expanded, production will increase, and the unit price will fall.

Just for the sulfuric acid extractor alone, plans have been established to produce several more units since the invention of Biak.

‘Perhaps we can establish a system capable of mass-producing smokeless gunpowder surprisingly quickly.’

It was a very satisfactory situation where everyone benefited, but there were always a few clueless guys.

I frowned at the news that the atmosphere was ruined for a while because of the memorial.

“It’s nothing for Your Highness to worry about. The senior officials who were angered by this are determined to dismiss them, so there will be a bloodbath soon.”

The one who brought this news was Nam Jae, who had built a deep friendship with Tal-ui Jenga.

He is one of the leading figures among the senior officials in the court, so it’s good to get these kinds of sources.

“Weren’t you also sharpening your knife?”

When I asked Nam Jae, he subtly avoided my gaze.

Since the senior officials who have been rolling around in the court have stepped up, it is safe to say that this is unavoidable.

It may not be under the pretext of dissing Biak, but there are endless things to find fault with, whether it’s conduct or something else.

It’s confirmed that they will be blown away unless a powerful person like me shields them.

But why should I shield them?

They are the ones who dissed my secret invention?

“Oh dear, it looks like several people’s careers are going to be twisted.”

So I just clicked my tongue and said it as if it were someone else’s business.

Nam Jae agreed and replied.

“I heard that the one who passed the state examination with the highest score two years ago is also among them. It’s like kicking the table with his own feet. Let’s see, his name was Park Yeon (朴堧)?”

“Park Yeon?”

I widened my eyes at the familiar name.

I’ve only heard the name, so I don’t know exactly what achievements he left behind, but I remember that he was active in music.

‘He was a nobleman?’

And he was the top scorer.

I thought he was a commoner because of his job as a musician.

Well, music is included in the education of scholars.

But making it a profession is something that only commoners do.

‘Hmm, what should I do?’

Should I make a preemptive move and save him?

The old retainers would take their hands off if I stepped in, but they would be very dissatisfied.

Even Nam Jae in front of me was watching to see if I would show any mercy.

‘Why bother?’

There’s no need to shield him while creating an awkward relationship with the old retainers.

Rather, it would be right to openly feed them cider [refreshing drink, metaphorically meaning to please them].

I shouted as if I was angry.

It’s a famous saying bombardment after a long time!

“Just as their youth is not a reward they earned through their efforts, the old age of the elders is not a punishment they received for their mistakes.”

“Your Highness…”

Nam Jae said with a face as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer.

Why did the concept of respecting the old and young come about?

As long as they are alive, there is no human who does not age.

I reminded them of that point once again.

‘Why do I have to say this while making Viagra?’

I had a moment of existential crisis, but I continued to shout.

“It is a natural instinct for people to want to rejuvenate, so how can we degrade the desire to nourish Yang energy as mere extravagance?

I will tell His Majesty to issue an order to Park Yeon and the leaders to be assigned to the Jeonakseo (典樂署) [Office of Music]!”

Nam Jae’s eyes widened.

The Jeonakseo is an institution in charge of court music. It is under the Ministry of Rites, but it is not a very important position.

Sending the top scorer to the Jeonakseo is more than just a demotion.

‘Well, I know his aptitude.’

Instead of making him go around to strange places under the pretext of managing his career as the top scorer, it’s better to assign him to a place that suits his aptitude in advance.

I almost had a headache because he was the top scorer, but I’m glad I caught a good opportunity.

However, Nam Jae, who doesn’t know this fact, had a touched expression.

“Your Highness is going this far for us…”

I nodded in satisfaction at his appearance as if he had poured cider down his throat.

This is a real win-win situation.

===

“I’m exhausted from appeasing the sulking old men.”

When I grumbled, the heavily pregnant Joo So-hwa smiled bashfully and said.

“We don’t have much use for it, but you’re suffering because of innocent people.”

“I know.”

Of course, the person I have to take care of most carefully is my brother-in-law.

If Emperor Yongle goes down due to possible side effects, it will be a disaster.

I told him not to overuse it as much as possible, but I don’t know if the Emperor will understand properly.

It would be a headache if he approaches it with a mindset like ‘If the medicine is not effective enough, just use more.’

‘But we’ve done enough at this point.’

I nodded and thought.

We’ve shown this much sincerity, so even if something goes wrong, they won’t blame us.

Emperor Yongle is originally a shameless person, but he won’t be in this world at the time of the ‘wrong’.

The Crown Prince is a conscientious person, unlike Emperor Yongle’s son.

“Did you send it to Ming China?”

“I’m going to send it with this year’s envoy for the winter solstice. Samples will also go to Japan and Jawa [Java].”

You don’t have to worry about the other party copying it.

‘They don’t even have sulfuric acid manufacturing equipment, so how are they going to make it?’

Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and fatty acids extracted from biological oils are needed.

In other words, it’s a product that only we can make because we can manufacture sulfuric acid, so we can charge whatever we want.

Even if they send ninjas to kidnap the artisans, it will be difficult.

If they have the tenacity to make this a success, we’ll just have to give them the technology, what else can we do?

‘And everyone who tries it will think it’s the effect of ginseng.’

I had already ordered ginseng scent to be added to Biak.

‘We have to keep selling ginseng together.’

Joseon ginseng has already succeeded in becoming a luxury brand in East Asia.

Even if they try to copy it and apply a lot of ginseng water, there’s no way it will have any effect, so they’ll think, ‘You can’t do without Goryeo ginseng!’

Then, wouldn’t red ginseng also sell like hotcakes as a package?

Since it’s a high-end elixir in the first place, adding a few root hairs won’t even make the unit price go up.

I thought so and lay down.

I was going to get a lap pillow from my wife, but her belly was too big, so it was difficult.

On a whim, I put my ear to her belly.

Let’s see, is our baby growing well?

– Thump! Thump!

…What is this sound?

“It seems like the baby wants to come out quickly.”

Joo So-hwa said with a troubled smile, and I nodded awkwardly.

W, well. It’s good as long as it’s healthy.

The month of delivery was approaching.