Black Corporation: Joseon

“It floats, see?”

With this one statement, the situation was resolved. Those who had insisted that it was impossible to build a ship out of iron had no choice but to be utterly flabbergasted.

Hyang spoke to them, “Let me reiterate, it’s not that it’s impossible, it’s that you just haven’t found a way yet.”

He then explained to the flabbergasted people concepts associated with this, such as fragments of knowledge, volume, weight, density, and so forth. After a lengthy explanation by Hyang, Jeong-cho opened his mouth.

“So, if we spread the iron sheets as thinly as possible and attach them together, we can make a ship… is that correct?”

“To put it extremely, yes.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong In-ji pointed out a problem, “However, there is a problem. That is the method of attaching the iron sheets. Is there a way to connect the iron sheets to each other firmly while ensuring that no water seeps in?”

“That is your task to research.”

“So that is why the bowl noodle is here.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong and his ministers nodded their heads. However, Hwang Hee, representing the ministers, pointed out another problem, “To make a ship out of iron… According to your explanation, it’s clear we can build a large ship. But can we find that method?”

“If we do our best to research, we can find it.”

“Is it possible?”

Hwang Hee’s negative reaction sharpened Hyang’s expression. Sejong’s expression was the same.

“Do you think it’s impossible?”

Seeing the expressions of Hyang and Sejong, Hwang Hee evaded the question, “It may be possible, but I think the time and cost involved are the problem.”

“We can’t just give up because of that. There are many people like me who think the same. If we can make a ship out of iron, which is much stronger than wood, we can make a larger and stronger ship, which means we can sail further. Do you want our Joseon to just sit and watch while other countries are running around?”

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

Seeing Hwang Hee hesitate, Hyang spoke again, more resolutely this time, “In order for our Joseon to be known throughout the world, the development of iron ships must be achieved, even if it takes time!”

At Hyang’s resolute answer, the ministers closed their mouths and looked at Sejong.

Sejong, who had been pondering with a serious expression, opened his mouth, “It’s clear that it will take a lot of time and budget. You feel the same, Crown Prince?”

“Yes, I do. But…”

“But you insist that this is necessary. And you keep mentioning the Westerners, is there a connection?”

“It’s not irrelevant. As you know, I have read many books by Westerners.”

“I know.”

“In those Western books, there are things about history. The history of the West is a history of struggle. And the ones who understand the importance of wealth through that history better than anyone else are the Westerners.”

‘Did they say that the outcome of the Thirty Years War taught them that ‘the outcome of war is determined by the economy’?’

“And so?”

“For that reason, the Westerners are doing everything they can to find ways for their country to become wealthy. But they realized that there are limits if they only look inward. So, they are turning their eyes outward.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong took over. “So, the Westerners will eventually head to the sea, and they will come to Joseon? All the way to this distant country?”

“Already, Christian missionaries have been coming and going to this land for hundreds of years, can’t the Westerners come?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

When Sejong nodded his head, Hyang continued, “When the Westerners see a way to gain wealth, they conduct fair trade if they are equal or stronger, and if they are weaker, they immediately use force to take what they want. Of course…” After stopping for a moment to catch his breath, Hyang added, “Of course, international relations is a place ruled by the law of the jungle, so every country behaves like that. However, the Westerners, who don’t know the concept of saving face, would act blatantly. Ah! To be precise, they do save face among themselves. Among themselves, that is.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong muttered quietly, “As if it’s only the Westerners who do that…”

“Exactly.”

“That’s enough, I understand what you’re trying to say.” Sejong, who had interrupted Hyang’s words, fell into thought.

Seeing Sejong’s serious face, the ministers and Hyang quietly waited for Sejong to speak.

After a while, Sejong opened his mouth, “Crown Prince, do you think we can produce an iron ship in my reign?”

“Of course, there is a higher probability that we won’t see it in my reign either.”

“Despite such a low probability, do you think we should continue to research? Accepting the expenditure of time and resources we don’t know the extent of?”

“Yes, I think if we give up now because the odds are low, our descendants will pay the price many times over.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s resolute answer, Sejong fell into thought again. Sejong, who had been stroking his beard and looking at the models of ships, reached a conclusion.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“Thank you!”

“But we can’t blindly invest time and money. Prepare a detailed plan and submit it.”

“I am at your command!” Hyang responded to King Sejong’s order with a vigorous affirmation.

The heated debate about the iron ship, which began over a cold noodle bowl, ended with King Sejong making the final decision. The sight of King Sejong, who had overcome the hurdle, was drawn to the strange device placed under the display cabinet.

“What is the purpose of that object?”

At King Sejong’s question, Hyangresponded immediately, “It’s a Heron’s steam ball.”

“Heron? Steam ball?”

A scholar who was well-known in the old times in the West.

Hyang’s argument about the potential of iron ships was convincing, but Jeong-cho had a feeling something was missing.

‘I feel like I’m overlooking something…’

As he was contemplating what he might have missed, Jang Yeong-sil pointed out the area in question.

“Even if we could use iron to build a ship, and even if we could make it larger than one made of wood, there is a problem. Wouldn’t there be a problem moving the ship just with sails and oars if the ship gets larger?”

“You’re right!”

“That’s it!”

At Jang Yeong-sil’s insight, Jeong-cho and Jeong In-ji exclaimed in unison. At the reaction of these two men, Hyang muttered internally, ‘I thought they were about to shout “Eureka.”‘

While complaining internally, Hyang, who seemed to have been prepared already, responded immediately, “The problem of propulsion is something I have anticipated. Therefore, there is something I would like to research with you all. Call the attendant!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s call, the attendant, who had been outside, came in, and Hyang issued the following order: “Bring the device sent from the Military Arsenal department some time ago.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A little later, two attendants came in, grunting under the weight of a large device made of bronze.

“What is this? It’s a very uniquely shaped object.”

The first to express curiosity was Jang Yeong-sil. The others also gathered around the bronze object, their eyes sparkling.

“Hmm?”

“Oh….”

The object the attendants had brought in was indeed unique. Two bronze tubes protruding from a cylinder held up by four legs were inserted into the sides of a bronze ball made of bronze. From the bronze ball, four tubes extended out, and their shape looked somewhat like the character ‘卍’ (which refers to a Buddhist swastika (refer to picture above)). The ends of the tubes that extended were drilled with small holes.

“Bring a brazier with a flame and a kettle with water.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After some time, the attendants brought in a brazier with a flame and a kettle.

Hyang then put the lit charcoal in the lower part of the cylinder, opened the cap on the top, and poured in water. After closing the cap again, he gazed at the people surrounding him.

“Have you ever watched rice being cooked in a kitchen?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s question, everyone nodded. Unlike the late Joseon period, it was not considered inappropriate for men to go into the kitchen at this time.

“Have you ever seen the lid of a rice pot moving when cooking rice? The power source I thought of uses water and fire. I named it a steam engine.”

“Steam engine? You’re using the energy created when water boils?”

“Yes.”

“Can that really be a power source?”

“It’s the power that moves the heavy lid of a rice pot. I believe it’s completely possible.”

Despite Hyang’s confident answer, people were still skeptical. Seeing their skepticism, he grumbled internally, ‘What an era of disbelief! Don’t they know that faith brings blessings?’

Anyway, as time passed, the water started to boil, and steam began to seep from the holes in the tubes that extended from the bronze ball.

“There’s no particular movement yet?”

“Please wait a bit longer. Just a little more.”

And as time passed, the bronze ball slowly started to rotate.

Whistle~.

With the sharp whistling sound made by the steam spouting through the small holes, the rotation of the bronze ball gradually sped up.

“What do you think?”

At Hyang’s words, the faces of the people became serious. The device was heavy enough to require two attendants to move it.

Of course, it was only the bronze ball at the top that was moving, but it was obviously not a light object just by looking at it. But the steam created by boiling water was turning that bronze ball.

Jeong-cho, who had been silently observing ‘Heron’s steam ball’, opened his mouth, “It seems worth studying. If we can produce good results, it would be very good to use on a ship. Even beyond the use with iron ships. There’s no need for us to wait either for a favorable wind or to manual rowers.”

“My belief is just that! Moreover, this engine is not only used in ships!”

“Not only used in ships?”

“What would happen if we made a carriage powered by that engine?”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

At Hyang’s words, the people’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Therefore, among the ongoing research, there is also research related to the steam engine.”

King Sejong, who had been watching Heron’s steam ball, turned to look at Hyang upon hearing this explanation.

“Making a carriage that moves with a steam engine?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Will that be of any use?”

“Why wouldn’t it be useful?”

At Hyang’s question, King Sejong pointed out a problem. “Ultimately, a carriage is a vehicle for transporting loads. However, for the steam engine that you’ve mentioned, in order for it to work properly, it constantly needs to be supplied with water and fire. The issue is that to do this, the water and firewood need to be loaded onto the carriage, leaving no space for the actual load, wouldn’t it?”

‘This gentleman is sharp. As expected of King Sejong!’ Hyang internally exclaimed but then answered the man’s question, “You may think so. However, the steam engine exerts a tremendous amount of force relative to its size. It doesn’t just pull a single carriage but can move several carriages at once, which is indeed useful.”

“It pulls several carriages?”

Still unable to hide his doubt, King Sejong, along with his ministers, watched as Hyang raised his hand, pointing inside the research institute.

“Please, come this way.”

‘Let me show you the ultimate result of the indulgence that’s been called the ‘ultimate end-game!’

“Here it is.”

The place Hyang led them to was a room guarded not only by court officials but also by soldiers armed with swords. At the sight of Hyang and King Sejong, the officials and soldiers saluted in unison.

“Good work.”

“Your graciousness is boundless!”

As the saluting court officials straightened their bodies, Hyang commanded, “Open the door.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Wow!”

“Whoa!”

Entering through the door opened by the court officials, King Sejong and his ministers let out exclamations.

In the middle of the large room, about two rooms wide (approximately 4.8m) and five rooms long (approximately 14m), a huge table was placed. On that table, there were mountains, plains, lakes, rivers, and oceans. And a railroad track was laid out in this small, artificially created world.

Looking at the surprised King Sejong and his ministers, Hyang smiled.

‘It’s a model railway, which was also called the ‘ultimate end-game’ of indulgence in the 21st century!’

“I will show Your Majesty a carriage with a steam engine in use. Official! Prepare the locomotive!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Hyang’s orders, the officials placed a model locomotive and connected passenger and freight cars onto the railroad track. As the officials stepped back after connecting the model train cars with hooks, King Sejong began to examine the model locomotive closely.

“You’ve connected the steam ball and the wheel you were talking about earlier?”

“Yes.”

The model locomotive that Hyang had created was a primitive contraption placed on a wooden carriage, with a small model of ‘Haeon’s steam ball’ on top, connected to the wheel with a leather strap.

“Since it’s small, we will first use alcohol as fuel.”

As he explained, Hyang pushed a lamp filled with ethanol under the steam ball and lit the wick.

Squeak!

As time passed, steam started to escape from a pipe sticking out of the steam ball, making a sharp noise.

At that sound, Hyang released the brake that had been holding the wheel. As the brake was released, the model locomotive slowly began to move, pulling the passenger and freight cars with it.