Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 222

Episode 222: Ocean Fleet. (2)

Although they complained, ‘At what time~’, the Hyang and Joseon naval forces did their best to shorten that time.

As soon as the possibility of the new ship was confirmed, the Navy increased the speed of construction at the shipyard in Wonsan. It was not only the speed of construction that was increased. As soon as the construction of the shipyard was completed, preparations began so that work could begin immediately.

The township and navy did not only focus on the construction of shipyards. Attention was also paid to nurturing sailors who would operate the new ships.

“It is not possible to simply train using existing wires or panokseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the officials of the Byeongjo, including Jo Mal-saeng, and the provincial governors of the Sugun nodded their heads.

“I agree with this. “But this is a problem because the only ship that can be used for training right now is the Challenger.”

“Here’s something I thought about.”

Hyang placed the paper scroll he had brought with him on the table and unfolded it.

“this is?”

“It’s a mock ship for training purposes. To put it simply, it’s like putting a ship broken in half on land?”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Hyang’s explanation, the soldiers’ officials and the navy’s military magistrates carefully examined the blueprint.

The naval officers who had been looking at the blueprint for a long time were the first to express their opinions.

“It seems good. “Although it is training on land, if you get used to the rescue through this, you will be able to adapt quickly when you board the actual boat.”

“I feel the same way about Sogwan.”

When all of the navy’s provincial priests agreed, Jo Mal-saeng opened his mouth.

“The question is where to build it. “If you are thinking about the immediate future, it would be better to install it in Namyang, but if you are thinking about the future, wouldn’t Wonsan be better?”

In Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Dojeoljesa of the Jeolla naval forces pointed out the problem.

“That’s right. However, the Wonsan shipyard has the problem that it takes time to build auxiliary facilities in addition to the dry dock.”

The Gyeongsang Naval Dojeolje raised a counterargument to Jeolla Dojeolsa’s point.

“But wouldn’t there be a budget problem to build training facilities in both places? “Hojo won’t sit still.”

Everyone, including Hyang and Jo Mal-saeng, nodded to the point made by Dojeolje of the Gyeongsang Navy.

“That’s the problem…”

All ministries of the Joseon Dynasty government – especially the soldiers who only spent money and earned nothing – were busy watching what Hojo thought.

To put it bluntly, ‘In Joseon, it is Hojo Panseo, not Yeouijeong, who is above one person and above all people.’ The word was so widely circulated in public relations.

Of course, every time he heard these rumors, Kim Jeom screamed.

“What kind of stupid son of a bitch would say such nonsense? Who is it that makes you crazy for poison? No, actually, to put it bluntly, have you seen Man-in-ji-sang, who suffers from working overtime every day? “Did you see it?”

However, Hojo’s power to control and control the budget was enormous. This was because sometimes Hyang had to pay attention to Hopan’s feelings.

“Abama, please give me a budget…”

When these words came out, Sejong immediately looked at Kim Jeom. Depending on Kim Jeom’s expression, ‘Is that so? ‘Let me think about it.’ and ‘Get out you bastard!’ Since it was decided, a situation arose where Hyangdo was also concerned about Kim Jeom.

Therefore, even when hearing rumors about Hojo and Hopan, Hyang only shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Even in the 21st century, the pinnacle of central government civil service work was finance.”

* * *

When Hyang was taking major classes at university, the professor in charge said this.

“How is the power of the finance ministry? Let’s take an example. The Kwantung Army, which even looked down on the main commandery. When the budget manager of the Ministry of Finance came, they even held a review to welcome him. “You know what this means, right?”

At the professor’s words, all the students in class burst into laughter. The professor at the time concluded with the following words:

“It’s no joke that time and budget rule the world.”

* * *

In the end, the township was given a choice when it came to the issue of ‘where to build training facilities’. After thinking for a moment, Hyang immediately came to a conclusion.

“Let’s build it in Wonsan. “After all, the East Sea is the only place where Challenger and other ocean-going ships can properly train comfortably.”

“All right.”

There was no opposition from those present to the township’s decision.

After confirming that no one was objecting, Hyang looked back at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Then, please let Abamama sit down like this and speak to the king.”

“yes. “I will document it soon.”

Hyang always showed a genius talent for passing on tasks.

* * *

King Sejong confirmed the content posted through the military service and immediately approved it.

“Let it be implemented immediately.”

“I am devastated!”

When Jo Mal-saeng answered promptly, Kim Jeom came forward.

“Your Majesty, the budget for military support is increasing.”

King Sejong waved his hand at Kim Jeom’s words after secretly objecting.

“Of course, wouldn’t it be cheaper than spending a lot of money or losing the ship due to mistakes made by poorly trained sailors?”

“You are right!”

When Jo Mal-saeng answered in a loud voice, Kim Jeom had to keep his mouth shut.

* * *

As King Sejong’s approval fell, facilities were quickly built in Wonsan.

Once the facility was completed, township officials headed to Wonsan to check the situation.

“They actually broke a ship into pieces and put it on top.”

All naval officials who saw the completed facility said the same thing.

The facility created for the training of sailors was completed in the same shape as if the bottom of the hull of a new ship and the outer wall of one side of the hull had been cut out.

After seeing the completed facility, Hyang muttered with a satisfied expression.

“Does watching the making-of of a drama or movie help in times like this?”

As Hyang said, the training facility built in Wonsan was created based on the concept of a set created for filming the interior of a movie or drama.

In the training area, which was built to provide clear visibility, a space for instructors was created according to the height of the deck. The purpose was for instructors to conduct training while observing the crew’s movements in that space.

After completing the inspection of the facility, Hyang looked back at the officials.

“Then let’s get started.”

“Yes sir.”

At the direction of the township, instructors sent sailors to the facility to receive training.

“Raise anchor and sail!”

The instructor’s command over the loudspeaker was echoed from all directions.

“Raise anchor and sail!”

“Raise anchor and sail!”

The sailors who received the order ran to their respective parts.

The sailors headed towards the bow and clung to the handle of the capstan, which was like a large cart wheel lying on its side.

“Turn!”

“Hey car! Hey car!”

While the sailors holding on to the handle chanted the slogan and turned the windlass to raise the anchor, other sailors began to work hard to turn the pulley attached to the mast.

Sigh! Sigh!

As the sailors turned the pulley, the sails on which the sails were hung began to rise one by one along the mast.

This was an experimental challenge for incense.

In a traditional galleon, the beam on which the sail was hung would have been hoisted when the ship was first built and then permanently fixed to the mast. And in order to unfold or fold the sail, sailors had to climb the mast and hang from the bow pole to unfold or fold the sail.

However, this seemed like a very dangerous thing to do.

“If the waves are even a little turbulent, it’s a good idea to become an idiot or die, right?”

Therefore, Hyang applied an oriental method to this part of the sail. A pulley was used to raise the beam on which the sail was attached to the mast.

Of course, the sail itself was a Western-style sail, but the driving method was a compromise between the Eastern style.

After fixing the bow to the mast, the direction of the sail was controlled using pulleys and ropes. This was a common method in the East and the West.

Hyang muttered softly as he watched the actual sail being raised.

“Do you hang the bow and lower the sail, or do you pull up the bow with the sail on it? I don’t know which one will be better, but the next version will definitely be better. The problem is…”

Hyang’s face became even more serious.

“Sailboats require too much manpower.”

The township worked desperately to reduce the number of sailors needed for operation. That was the reason for the active use of pulleys. However, in order to reduce crew fatigue, a certain number of crew members were needed. And sailing ships required a large number of sailors.

Once the anchor was raised and the sails were fully deployed, the instructors checked the time. The instructors, who checked the time using hourglasses made as the supply of glass became common, talked a lot.

“It took 3 rounds (about 45 minutes).”

“Is it taking too long?”

The instructors did not like the fact that it took three hours to prepare for departure by unfolding six sails on two masts and hoisting a chain with a 20-tube (approximately 75 kg) anchor.

“I’m not really used to it yet, so it would be reasonable to say it’s too late. “Then let’s take a look at the firefight.”

“yes!”

The instructors nodded and responded to the training commander’s command.

Ji-ing~.

After a while, a loud gong sounded and shouts broke out.

“Enemy ship discovered! “Ready for battle!”

“Ready for battle! “Ready for battle!”

Once again, sailors were busy moving around as boat spears popped out here and there. The sailors who had been wrestling with the pulleys and ropes on the first floor deck quickly dispersed and began preparing for battle.

The door of the warehouse at the aft end of the first floor deck opened, and small shotgun shells and gun shields were lifted out and placed in fixed gun carriages built on the deck. The gunnery chief shouted at each gun that was properly assembled.

“Ready! “Bring gunpowder and pills!”

While it was moving like that on the first floor, it was also busy on the second floor deck.

“Opening the powder keg!”

When the door to the gunpowder magazine, which had been tightly closed for safety, was opened, the waiting sailors were handed bags of propellant gunpowder and ran to their respective guns.

Meanwhile, sailors were busy moving around the guns separated by bulkheads. The lids of the boxes containing iron rounds that had been taken out for immediate use were opened, and the gunnery chiefs inspected the condition of the gun detonators.

Other sailors waited for gunpowder to arrive, holding rods to load gunpowder and iron rounds into the guns.

“Set the distance to maximum!”

At the command of the military officer in command of the artillery, the gunsmith turned the handle attached to the car to adjust the angle of the gun barrel.

“Gunpowder has arrived!”

When a soldier carrying a gunpowder gun in both hands arrived, the gunnery commander grabbed one of the gunpowder guns, stabbed it with a skewer, and handed it to the soldier in charge of loading it.

Once the gunpowder loading was completed, the sailors pulled the thick rope that was connected between the train and the hull ribs. When the rope was pulled, the car was moved into the firing position and secured.

Finally, the gunnery commander, who inserted the detonator into the trigger and pulled the gun, held on to the lanyard connected to the gun and shouted loudly.

“Ready!”

“Bangpo!”

“Bangpo!”

Simultaneously with the recovery, the gunnery commanders pulled the lanyards.

Kwakwakwak!

Fire bombs were fired from the artillery with a loud explosion, and after a while, water columns rose in the distant East Sea.

The instructor counted the number of water columns with a monoscope and reported it to the training commander.

“Everything was launched without a problem.”

“okay? time is?”

“It’s a little smaller than half size.”

The training commander sighed slightly upon hearing the instructor’s report of checking the hourglass.

“Whoa~. At least the battle preparations were quick. “There’s a long way to go.”

The training commander who made the evaluation looked back. At the head table in the back, high-ranking nobles, including the mayor, would be giving their evaluations.

“I hope people will look at it favorably…”

He was a commander who was worried about the harshness that higher-ups would see.