Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 249

Although the Challenger and Haeung had been completed, Hyang did not stop designing new ships.

“It’s impossible to cross the Pacific with just the Challenger. Of course, we could establish sufficient supply bases in all directions, but considering issues like resource transportation, we need large ships. If we start building only when the need arises, the gap will catch up. We must prepare in advance.”

Considering the future and raising the necessity, Hyang persuaded Sejong about this.

“…Therefore, I think we should at least make designs and scale models. If there’s an opportunity, it would be good to experimentally construct about one ship.”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong and the ministers looked at Hyang with wide eyes.

‘The reason sounds plausible, but…’

Sejong, who had been looking at Hyang with a dubious face, examined the report Hyang had submitted along with it.

“A proposal for the development of a new firearm?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why the sudden new firearm again?”

“According to what we found out from the Muslims who trade with us, Muslims and Westerners also use firearms like us.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the ministers nodded.

“If they have knowledge of gunpowder, they should be able to make firearms too. But why do you say we need to make new firearms? Didn’t they buy firearms from us because they didn’t have any?”

At Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the reason.

“That’s because Muslims and Westerners don’t have small firearms like the ones Joseon uses.”

“Small?”

At Hyang’s words, the expressions of Sejong and the ministers changed slightly. Joseon’s firearms were the pride of Joseon that made even the Japanese pirates and Jurchen tribes tremble. Hearing the Crown Prince call them “small,” Sejong and the ministers’ pride was slightly hurt.

Even while seeing Sejong and the ministers’ reactions, Hyang continued speaking.

“Even looking at Joseon’s largest firearm, the Janggunhwatong, the weight of the Janggunhwatong made before improvements was 104 geun 10 nyang (about 67.2 kg).(Note 1) In the case of the newly made Eulsikjanggunhwatong through improvements, it is 140 geun (about 85 kg). However, in the case of the stone-throwing siege cannon used by Westerners, it exceeds 11,000 geun (about 6.6 tons).”(Note 2)

“11,000!”

“It’s 11,000 geun. Of course, firearms of such enormous size cannot be mounted on ships. However, for those accustomed to such large firearms, the firearms mounted on ships will also be considerably large and powerful.”

“Indeed.”

“And for Westerners who are busy fighting Muslims and among themselves, they will make warships that can safely operate such firearms and withstand attacks from such firearms.”

At Hyang’s point, Sejong and the ministers nodded with serious faces.

Sejong and the ministers also thought Hyang’s words were reasonable.

It was because Joseon had also experimented with the defensive capabilities against firearms while newly making the Panokseon, Challenger, and Haeung-class warships.

If Westerners had brains, they would definitely mount firearms on their warships, and those firearms would certainly boast considerable size even if miniaturized. And to win in battles between warships equipped with such firearms, the defensive power would also have to be considerable.

While pondering over various matters while listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong looked at Hyang.

‘But it’s too suspicious…’

“So how much time do you need for development?”

“The more funds are invested, the time…”

Hyang, who had been eagerly continuing, changed course slyly when Sejong’s expression gradually became fierce.

“There are limits to the government’s finances, and the research institute also has limitations in budget and manpower… We expect about 5 years for ships and about 10 years for firearms.”

“Hmm…”

Sejong stroked his beard and glared at Hyang.

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s confusing. Is that guy really doing it for Joseon’s future, or is he doing it for his own enjoyment…’

However, there was little justification to reject the plan Hyang had presented.

It was because as trade increased, the need for large and powerful warships and cargo ships was growing.

On top of that, there was also intelligence that Ming China, which had heard various rumors about Joseon’s firearms, had also begun improving firearms.

***

Hyang, who thought it was necessary to quickly obtain information about Ming China, persuaded Sejong to insert a royal merchant group into the trading post established in Shandong. From the outside, the royal merchant group was indistinguishable from ordinary merchant groups. However, internally, its mission was to win over Ming Chinese merchants connected to high-ranking officials in Beijing and obtain rumors leaking from the Ming court.

According to the intelligence that came in through the royal merchant group in Shandong, information from a very small number of Jurchen survivors who narrowly survived the battle with the Joseon army and Ming Chinese merchants who witnessed the battles between the Joseon navy and pirates had entered the Ming court.

Having obtained such information, the Ming court had also begun improving firearms.

According to the information sent by the royal merchant group, there were officials who proposed receiving firearms from Joseon as tribute. At the suggestion of such officials, Emperor Xuande reportedly became furious.

“Stupid fools! If we receive and use firearms from Joseon like that and the route to Joseon becomes blocked, what will we do then?”

“Then if you tell us to send craftsmen…”

“Have you forgotten the old tale of the thousand-step crossbow! Are those fellows living in the land of Samhan easy to deal with? To have such stupid fools as officials!”

Many officials who had angered Emperor Xuande received severe punishment and were expelled from their posts. Upon this information, Hyang reported to Sejong.

“When I spoke with the emperor, I felt he was not ordinary.”

“I see. But aren’t you the only one?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang smiled and bowed his head.

“That is too much praise.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong muttered softly.

“Did it sound like praise?”

“Pardon? What did you say? I didn’t hear well.”

When Hyang expressed confusion, Sejong turned his head and continued.

“I praised you. Praise.”

However, Chief Eunuch, who was standing nearby, knew Sejong’s true feelings.

***

Putting aside Westerners, it was a worrisome matter that Ming China had also begun improving firearms. The issue was not simply that the Ming military’s power would increase but that those weapons could be leaked to Japan or Japanese pirates.

There was a considerable possibility of leakage through plunder in battles, but the biggest threat was Ming Chinese merchants. If it was Ming Chinese merchants who valued only profit above all else, there was a high probability they would hand over firearms to Japan or Japanese pirates.

‘In the end, no matter what, there is only one answer.’

Smiling bitterly, Sejong had no choice but to reach a conclusion.

“I permit it. Proceed with the research to the extent that it does not strain the finances of the government and the research institute.”

“I receive your command.”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

-…Thus, His Majesty permitted the development of new firearms and warships.

The historian discusses:

Looking at the current situation, enormous resources are being consumed for national defense. However, as we cannot neglect national defense, it is unavoidable.

Is it a vain dream for the people of the four seas to interact with each other without conflict?

***

As Sejong’s order had been given, Hyang immediately began designing.

The first thing he considered was up to what stage he should proceed.

After pondering over this and that, Hyang soon reached a conclusion.

“Let’s exclude ships of the line. The cost-effectiveness is too low.”

Generally, the ultimate weapon of combat sailing ships was considered to be ships of the line, but in terms of cost-effectiveness, they were not an attractive option.

Looking at the three elements of offense, defense, and mobility, their attack power and defensive power were unmatched, but mobility was the problem.

Therefore, even in the era when ships of the line were the flower of naval battles, the main force in mobile operations were the smaller and faster frigates.

However, due to the problem that only ships of the line could face ships of the line, ships of the line had to continue to exist.

But Hyang had a countermeasure for this problem. It was cannons and cannonballs.

“If cannons, no, cannonballs are well improved, ships of the line will just become big targets.”

In the end, the final evolved form of combat sailing ships that Hyang thought the Joseon Navy would use was the heavy frigate used by the United States.

“Next, engines should be installed.”

Hyang wrote “Heavy Frigate,” “Engine,” “Ironclad,” etc. on paper and circled them. Hyang, who lifted his head for a moment to refresh his mind, lightly shouted and hit his forehead.

“Ah!”

“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”

At Hyang’s voice, the eunuch outside hurriedly entered.

“It’s nothing. You may go.”

Hyang sent the eunuch out and scribbled “Clock, Chronometer” on the paper with a gold pen.

“I was forgetting an important issue. For this, I’ll have to call Jang Yeong-sil.”

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang dipped the gold pen in ink and drew lines through the words written on the paper. Not satisfied with that, Hyang thickly dipped the brush in ink and scribbled over it. Looking at the paper covered in ink, Hyang grumbled in a small voice.

“Until when do I have to do this? Should I slowly lay the groundwork with Father? Or should I pretend to be crazy and shout ‘We need our own writing system!’ in front of the ministers?”

Hyang was getting tired of having to find and write each Chinese character one by one and repeating the process of writing in Hangul and then erasing it.

***

That night, when Hyang retired to his bedchamber, the eunuchs moved. The eunuchs emptied the trash cans and cleaned Hyang’s study in the Eastern Palace, his office in the research institute, and Area 51.

“It’s finished.”

“The quantity?” 𝗳r𝚎e𝘄𝐞b𝚗𝗼ve𝚕.co𝗺

At the senior eunuch’s question, the eunuch lifted the bin he was holding and showed the inside.

“It’s a bit less today. Take it there.”

“Yes.”

The eunuchs who received the order headed to Gangnyeongjeon.

The eunuchs who arrived at Gangnyeongjeon went around the corner and entered through the back door of Gangnyeongjeon.

The eunuchs who entered through the back door in this way went into a secret room created in one side of Gangnyeongjeon.

“We brought it.”

“Good work. Let’s see.”

The eunuch who received the bin handed over by the eunuchs who had entered through the back door took out the papers inside and sorted them. The eunuch first picked out the papers that had no ink stains at all and handed those sorted papers to the waiting eunuch.

“Send them to the paper washing room.”

“Yes.”

Paper was an expensive item, so even in the palace of Joseon, hanji (Korean traditional paper) was washed and recycled. The papers picked out first this time would be moved for that process.

Having sorted the papers once, the eunuchs carefully sorted them again.

The eunuch gathered the ink-stained hanji in one place and separately collected the ink-stained hwangji (yellow paper), then ordered the waiting eunuchs.

“Begin the work.”

“Yes.”

The eunuchs began the process of handling the sorted papers.

The ink-stained hanji were soaked in a basin filled with water and washed, then checked to see how much ink had been removed. If enough of the ink coating had been removed to reveal the letters underneath, the eunuchs hung the papers on a line to dry. And they took down the papers from the previous day’s work that had finished drying and attached them to a folding screen located on one side.

For the hwangji, they held them up to a lamp to check the letters written under the ink stains.

“Let’s see… This shape is…”

The eunuchs, after confirming the shape of the letters revealed by the lamplight, copied those letters onto another paper and attached them to the folding screen.

***

“Is all the work finished?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who appeared around the time the work was being completed, approached the folding screen and examined the papers.

“Hmm, mm… Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been nodding his head with light nasal sounds, turned to the eunuchs.

“Good work. Go and rest for today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t forget to keep it secret.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who had sent all the eunuchs out, opened another secret room door that had been closed.

Inside the secret room, there was a desk, a chair, and a lamp located in the center.

However, on the remaining two walls, excluding the wall with the outward-facing window and the sliding door entrance, there were bookshelves, and they were filled with books on phonology and grammar books written in Latin, Greek, and other Western languages. And not only on the floor but also on the empty spaces of the walls, numerous papers with Hangul letters and strange symbols that were neither Hangul nor the alphabet were attached.

Sejong, who sat down, brightened the lamp’s flame and opened a book.

“Where did I leave off yesterday?”

***

Note 1) Weapons and Armor of Joseon. Written by Min Seung-gi. Garam Planning.

Note 2) Gunpowder and Galleys: Changing Technology and Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the 16th Century. Written by Carlo Cipolla. Miji Books.

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