Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 124

Episode 124: In Arabic (3) After

tasting coffee, King Sejong introduced coffee to his ministers.

“This is the kahuwa that those people brought with them.”

“Is that so?”

The ministers sitting around the conference room next to the main hall of Geunjeongjeon stared blankly at the teacup in front of them as King Sejong spoke.

“The color is truly unique.”

Lee Jik expressed his appreciation while looking at the color of the black coffee.

‘It’s not true that the color is black.’ What I wanted to say was said in as many words as possible.

Sejong smiled and agreed with Lee Jik’s words.

“That’s right. The color is truly unique. “When I first saw it, I thought it was medicine.”

“The scent is also unique.”

Sejong nodded in response to Maeng Sa-seong’s assessment of the unique bitter aroma of roasted coffee.

“I felt that way too. ruler! Let’s drink! First, just take a light sip and add some candy to suit the flavor. If you add corruption, the flavor becomes softer, but corruption is hard to find, and it is easy to drink even without corruption.”

“Yes, yes…”

When King Sejong offered coffee, the ministers kept nodding. But his face was full of hesitation.

‘Just by looking at the color, it looks like a tonic… The tonic and the poisonous medicine are the same color. Is this tea called Kahuwa a tonic or a poisonous medicine?’

“huh? “Why aren’t you drinking it?”

“I’m drinking!”

In response to King Sejong’s greeting, the ministers closed their eyes tightly and raised their teacups.

‘Write, write!’

After taking the first sip, the ministers quickly found the candy cane and unwrapped the candy.

As sweetness was added and it became easier to drink, the ministers began to savor the coffee with a more relaxed look.

“How do you feel?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the ministers expressed their impressions one by one.

“At first it was just bitter, but later on, you can feel a slight nutty and sour taste, which is truly mysterious.”

“The scent is also unique. “It’s hard to define it in one word, but it has its own flavor.”

“yes? “I think so too.”

In this much warmer atmosphere, King Sejong and the ministers chatted about various things and enjoyed coffee.

After drinking a cup of coffee, King Sejong returned to Jeongjeon and went to the party house to ask the ministers.

“How do you feel?”

The ministers answered King Sejong’s question with surprised faces.

“How amazing! “Before I drank that tea, I was physically and mentally tired, but now I feel energized!”

“you’re right! “What a strange difference!”

King Sejong looked satisfied as he looked at the faces of the ministers, who were more energetic than before drinking tea.

“The Crown Prince has known something truly good.”

“Yes!”

“Well then, since you seem to have regained your energy, let’s get to work. Day!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Oh, and this kahuwa powder will be distributed to each government office in moderation, so have a drink whenever you feel tired.”

“I am devastated!”

Later, Hyang heard this news through the eunuchs and laughed.

“People who used to drink green tea all the time started drinking coffee… In the 21st century, it would be like drinking only coffee and then drinking a highly concentrated caffeine beverage. Would you kill one of them? “If Abamama knew what she did, she is truly an evil person.”

It was the scent of Sejong shaking his head at his trick and bringing the coffee cup to his mouth.

* * *

Soon, the ministers were astonished by King Sejong’s tricks.

“I can’t sleep!”

The officials who had dinner and drank coffee leisurely were surprised to learn that they had been freed from the demon that had been tormenting them as always.

“For what?”

Officials who escaped from Suma looked for the cause.

“The only thing that is different from usual is that Kahuwa. Could it be that it not only energizes you, but also drives you away from sleep?”

After learning the reason, the officials looked at Gangnyeongjeon and Donggungjeon.

“Now you’re telling me to work without sleeping!”

* * *

As they said, the great and small officials, starting with King Sejong, immediately became addicted to coffee.

When you wake up at sunrise with sleepy eyes and drink a cup of coffee, you can’t escape the powerful, high-concentration caffeine effect that focuses your eyes and energizes you.

“As expected, it was evil medicine!”

“But why can’t I quit?”

The officials shed tears as they filled their empty cups with coffee.

When I first tasted the effects of caffeine, I thought, ‘You’re telling me I shouldn’t even sleep!’ The reaction of the officials who had been complaining changed to this.

“You have to drink this to survive!”

As large and small officials sought coffee, the number of servants and government servants who did chores in government offices increased.

Before the officials arrive, they put a kettle full of water on the stove and prepare clean cotton cloths for the coffee. Afterwards, the morning routine was to prepare a jar of roasted coffee powder and a jar of candy.

And whenever he had time, he cleaned the cups that officials served after eating, kept replenishing cotton cloths that had been washed and dried, and finally, he roasted and ground raw coffee beans to replenish the consumed coffee powder.

However, after several trials and errors, officials who understood the importance of roasting made a request to King Sejong, and a new job called ‘Heukduchawon (黑豆茶員)’ was established as the 9th rank of Jongjong.

And this job became the first official barista in Joseon, and indeed in the world.

All of this happened less than a month after Hyang introduced Sejong to the taste of coffee.

* * *

But the side effects of coffee occurred in unexpected places.

A sleeping quarters in the middle war. King Sejong, who had fallen asleep after having an affair with Queen Soheon, asked in a sleepy voice as Queen Soheon, who was lying next to him, continued to move.

“What makes you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s just that I couldn’t sleep…”

King Sejong woke up at Queen Soheon’s words.

“Are you worried about something?”

“No. “I just can’t sleep.”

“Shall I call the royal family?”

“Not to that extent. Ah…”

Queen Soheon muttered to herself, her words slurred.

“Is it because of that car?”

“car? “What car?”

“I feel a bit depressed these days, so I drank some black bean tea.”

“Ah… I can’t sleep if I drink that tea.”

King Sejong nodded at Queen Soheon’s words. King Sejong lightly patted Queen Soheon on the shoulder.

“Don’t be too conscious of not being able to sleep, just relax and you will be able to sleep quickly. “Let’s grab it.”

“Aiyi~”

At King Sejong’s words, Queen Soheon snorted and acted coquettish. As Queen Soheon snuggled into her arms and acted coquettishly, King Sejong cleared his throat.

“greatness! Hmm… It’s late at night…”

“Aiyi~.”

“Oh my…”

Anyway, Sejong, who had just turned 30, was also in the prime of his life. King Sejong started the engine at the coquetry of his wife whom he had not seen in a long time.

The next day, Sejong ended up oversleeping for the first time in a long time.

As this happened frequently not only to Queen Soheon but also to her concubines, King Sejong eventually had to issue an order.

-Weirs are prohibited from drinking more than two cups of black bean tea per day!

-Do not drink black bean tea after dinner!

* * *

Meanwhile, merchants who heard rumors about black bean tea visited Hojo.

“Even small people want to buy black bean tea.”

“Black bean tea?”

At the words of the merchants, the Hojo official looked at the records and looked embarrassed.

This was because the amount of coffee beans that Mansour and his party brought was not a large amount, and even though only a month had passed, the amount consumed by the palace and government was significant.

“If we go this time, it won’t be until a year later… Then, if we subtract the maximum amount to be kept…”

answered the Hojo official, who was calculating the quantity by flicking an abacus.

“There isn’t much stock coming in this time. “If we sell it, it can be as much as 1 tube (about 3.75 kg).”

“Is it one for each merchant?”

“No, 1 building in total.”

“I’ll buy it!”

“No, I will buy it!”

In response to the merchants’ clamor, the Hojo official asked with a relaxed expression, raising his coffee cup to his mouth.

“Okay, how much would you like to buy it for?”

After a fierce price competition, a merchant was chosen, and a Hojo official asked, handing over a bag containing one cup of coffee beans.

“But has the rumor about this car already spread?”

“oh my! Don’t even talk! “There are a lot of people preparing for the civil service exam!”

Some of the officials working at the government office took a small amount of coffee and took it home, and the rumor about coffee spread among the civilian population.

‘If you drink just one drink, you can stay up all night without any problems!’ As the rumor spread, coffee was even nicknamed ‘mathematics tea.’

At the merchant’s answer, the Hojo official who was drinking coffee chuckled and muttered.

“Even if you pass the state exam, what good is it when you get a lot of trouble…” Hearing

the official’s words, the merchant grumbled inwardly.

‘going to be! ‘You can say that because you’ve already done it!’

Whether in the 21st century or the 15th century Joseon, ‘civil servants’ were a symbol of ‘stability’. In particular, as King Sejong promoted the construction of gyeongjang, the hiring of government officials increased, and as green bonuses were given out to the point where they could be used in real life, the number of people studying the civil service examination increased.

In addition, ‘The ban on Northwesterners and Westerners from going to work will be lifted soon!’ As the rumor spread, even discouraged Northwesterners and locals joined the competition.

* * *

As Joseon was gradually changing, the departure of Mansour and his party was getting closer.

“Has the investigation into the ship the Huihoe people came on been completely completed?”

“yes.”

King Sejong continued to confirm Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

“Is there anything new?”

“The strength of the hull is nothing compared to our panokseon, but the waterproof material used was truly unique.”

“What did you use?”

“We used bitumen. Although it is called bitumen, it is not made from resin as we know, but rather from black, sticky oil that comes out of the ground.”

“is it? Huh~.”

Sejong let out an exclamation.

“There are still many things in this world we don’t know.”

“That’s right.”

“Abama, Soja, there is something I would like to ask the Captain of Byeongpan for a moment.”

“I allow it.”

“I am devastated.”

After expressing gratitude to King Sejong, Hyang asked Jo Mal-saeng a question.

“Do you know the cost of the bitumen they use?”

“yes. I did some research. “It was 1/10th the price of bitumen made using rosin.”

In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Hyang proposed to King Sejong.

“Abama. Waterproofing is the most important thing in building and maintaining a boat. I think we can do this cheaper if we buy their bitumen. “Why don’t you add bitumen to the list of purchases you will require from them?”

“I guess it’ll be okay. “So be it.”

“I am devastated!”

Once the ‘import of bitumen’ was decided, Sejong moved on to other agenda items.

“Has the selection of naval officers and interpreters who will accompany us on this voyage been completed?”

King Yejo Panseo and Jo Malsaeng immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“Preparations have already been completed. “We selected six young people from among the interpreters who were fluent in the Ming language.”

“The navy also selected six people with deep expertise in artillery and navigation.”

“Good job. “I’m sure you made them aware that there is a lot to do on this voyage, right?”

“We have already given enough attention and everyone is very motivated.”

“is it?”

Sejong, who was thinking about something for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Prepare a banquet for the military officers and interpreters who are leaving this time. “I will encourage them.”

The ministers responded to King Sejong’s decision by bowing their heads in unison.

“If the Chief Minister personally encourages them, they will do their best. “Seong-eun is devastated!”

Two days later, a banquet was held at Gyeonghoeru. At the event for those who left Northeast Asia for the first time in the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejong personally filled the cups of military officers and interpreters and encouraged them.

“When our Joseon leaves this corner and moves to distant foreign countries, the work you have done will shine. So, do your best to complete your mission on this voyage.”

“I will keep each and every bone in mind and reform myself!”

Five days later, Mansur’s fleet left Chemulpo.

They were the first people of Joseon to go to the ocean.