Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 249
Episode 249: Where did those papers go?
Although Challenger and Correspondence were completed, Hyang did not stop designing new ships.
“It is impossible for a challenger to cross the Pacific Ocean. Of course, you can create sufficient supply bases in the east, west, south, and north, but considering issues such as resource transportation, you need a large ship. When you start making things, the gap catches up. “You have to prepare in advance.”
Thinking about the future, the need was raised, and Hyang persuaded King Sejong about it.
“… therefore. I think we should at least design and make a scale model. If the opportunity arises, it would be a good idea to build one ship on a test basis.”
Upon hearing the description of the scent, King Sejong and his ministers opened their eyes and looked at the scent.
‘The reason is plausible…’
Sejong, who was looking at Hyang with a suspicious expression, looked at the report that Hyang had submitted together.
“Plan on developing new artillery?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“Why are there suddenly new artillery pieces?”
“I found out from the Huai people who trade with us, and they say that the Huihui and Westerners use artillery just like us.”
King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.
“If you have knowledge of gunpowder, you can make artillery. But why do we need to make new artillery? “Didn’t you buy artillery from us because you didn’t have any artillery?”
In response to Sejong’s point, Hyang explained the reason.
“The Hohoe people and the Westerners do not have small artillery pieces like those used by our Joseon Dynasty.”
“bantam?”
At Hyang’s words, the expressions of King Sejong and the ministers changed slightly. Joseon’s artillery was the pride of Joseon that made even Japanese and Jurchen people hesitate. When the Crown Prince called it ‘small,’ the pride of King Sejong and his ministers was slightly hurt.
Even after seeing the reactions of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang continued speaking.
“If you look at the Janggun Hwatong, the largest artillery gun that our Joseon Dynasty has, the weight of the Janggun Hwatong made before improvement is 104 geun and 10 ryang (approximately 67.2 kg). (Note 1) In the case of the Eulsik Janggun Hwatong, which was newly created through improvement, it weighs 140 geun ( Approximately 85 kg). However, in the case of the siege stone artillery used by the Seoyi, it weighs more than 11,000 geun (approximately 6.6 tons).” (Note 2)
“10,000!”
“It’s 11,000 geun. Of course, artillery pieces of this enormous size could not be loaded onto ships. However, for those who are accustomed to such large guns, the guns loaded on ships will be quite large and powerful.”
“I guess so.”
“And even now, the Seo-i, who are busy fighting with the Hohoe people and among themselves, will be able to safely operate such artillery and create a front line that will withstand attacks from such artillery.”
King Sejong and the ministers nodded with serious faces at Hyang’s point.
In the opinion of King Sejong and the ministers, Hyang’s words were reasonable.
This was because Joseon also tested its defense against artillery by building new Panokseons and Challenger sea emergency fronts.
If the Seoyi had the brains, it was clear that they would load artillery on the front line, and even if they were miniaturized, it was clear that the artillery would boast a considerable size. And it was clear that the defense power would have to be significant in order to win a battle between fronts equipped with such artillery pieces.
Sejong, who had been thinking about various things while listening to the description of the scent, looked at the scent.
‘But it’s too suspicious…’
“So, how much time is needed for development?”
“The more money you put in, the more time it takes…”
Hyang, who continued talking excitedly, subtly changed her trajectory as Sejong’s expression became increasingly fierce.
“There is a limit to the finances of the ship, and the research institute also has a limit to the budget and manpower…. We expect the ship to last about 5 years and the artillery ship about 10 years.”
“Hmm…”
Sejong stroked his beard and glared at Hyang.
‘No matter how much I think about it, I’m still confused? Is he really doing this for the future of Joseon, or is he doing it for his own pleasure?…’
However, the justification for rejecting the plan proposed by Hyang was weak.
As trade increased, the need for large and powerful wires and cargo ships increased.
In addition, intelligence had come in that the Ming Dynasty, having heard various rumors about Joseon’s artillery, had also begun improving its artillery.
* * *
Hyang, who thought it was necessary to quickly obtain information about the Ming Dynasty, persuaded King Sejong to put the upper part of the fishery on the Sanghang made in Shandong. On the outside, the upper part of the fishery was indistinguishable from the normal upper part. However, internally, the mission was to obtain rumors flowing from the Ming Dynasty court by recruiting high-ranking officials in Beijing and Ming Dynasty merchants who were in contact with them.
According to the intelligence that came in through Shandong’s upper echelon, information from the very few survivors of the Jurchen tribe who barely survived the battle with the Joseon army and from Ming merchants who saw the battle between the Joseon navy and pirates entered the Ming government.
The Ming Dynasty government, having received such information, also began improving artillery.
According to information received from the Eoyong Sangdan, there were subjects who suggested receiving artillery pieces from Joseon as tribute. It is said that Emperor Seondeok was furious at such a suggestion from his subjects.
“You idiots! “What will we do if we receive artillery from Joseon and the road to Joseon becomes blocked?”
“Then, if you tell me to send the craftsmen….”
“Have you forgotten the ancient story of Cheonbono from long ago? Are the people who live in the land of Samhan (三韓) such petty bastards? “There are idiots like these who are my subjects!”
Hyang informed King Sejong of the information that many of his subjects had been severely punished and expelled from their relationship by the enraged Emperor Seondeok.
“When Xiao Tzu spoke with the emperor, I got the feeling that this was not normal.”
“I see. But are you the only one who can do it?”
Hyang smiled and bowed her head at Sejong’s words.
“That is an undeserved compliment.”
Sejong muttered softly in response to Hyang’s answer.
“Did it sound like a compliment?”
“yes? What did you say? “I didn’t hear you clearly.”
When Hyang expressed his doubts, Sejong turned his head and continued speaking.
“I praised it. compliment.”
However, the merchant ship standing nearby knew how King Sejong felt.
* * *
Even if we put aside the Seoyi people, it was a cause for concern that the Ming Dynasty also began improving its artillery. The problem was not simply that the military power of the Ming Dynasty was becoming stronger, but that the weapons could be leaked to the Japanese or Japanese pirates.
There was a significant possibility that the loot could be stolen in battle, but the biggest threat was the merchants of the Ming Dynasty. If profit was the only thing important to merchants, there was a strong possibility that they would hand over their artillery to the Japanese or Japanese pirates.
‘In the end, no matter what happens, there is only one answer.’
With a bitter smile, Sejong had no choice but to come to a conclusion.
“I allow it. “Please proceed with the research as long as it does not put a strain on the coordination and finances of the research institute.”
“I follow your orders.”
The officer who recorded all of this added:
-… So, the Prime Minister allowed the development of new artillery and front lines.
The officer discusses.
Looking at the current situation, a huge amount of wealth is being consumed for national defense. However, it is inevitable because we cannot neglect national defense.
Is it a pipe dream for the Four Seas people to communicate with each other without conflict?
* * *
Since King Sejong’s order was given, the incense was designed immediately.
The first thing I thought about was at what stage I would proceed.
After mulling over various ideas, Hyang soon came to a conclusion.
“Let’s take out the battleships. “The cost-effectiveness is very poor.”
In general, battleships were considered the ultimate battle sailing ships, but they were not attractive in terms of cost-effectiveness.
When looking at the three elements of offense and defense, attack and defense were the best, but mobility was the problem.
Therefore, even in the era when ships of the line were the flower of naval warfare, smaller and faster frigates were the mainstay of maneuver operations.
However, due to the problem that only ships of the line could deal with ships of the line, ships of the line had to continue to exist.
But the township had a solution to this problem. It was cannons and shells.
“If the cannons, or shells, are well improved, the battleships will only become big targets.”
In the end, the final evolution of the combat sailing ship that Hyang thought would be used by the Joseon navy was the heavy frigate used by the United States.
“After that, we have to install an engine.”
He wrote ‘heavy frigate’, ‘engine’, ‘ironclad ship’, etc. on a piece of paper and circled them. Hyang, who raised his head to cool his head for a moment, shouted lightly and hit his forehead.
“ah!”
“What’s going on, sir?”
At the sound of the incense, the eunuch who was outside hurried in.
“It’s nothing. “Stay out.”
After sending out the inner coffin, Hyang scribbled ‘watch chronometer’ on a piece of paper with a gold pen.
“You forgot an important matter. “I guess I should call Jang Yeong-sil about this problem, right?”
After coming to a conclusion, Hyang dipped a gold pen in ink and drew lines across the letters written on the paper. As if that wasn’t enough, the incense that was covered in ink on the brush was painted over with ink. Hyang, looking at the paper covered in ink, grumbled in a low voice.
“How long should we do this? Shall we start laying the groundwork for Abama Mama? Or you can act crazy and say ‘We need our own text message’ in front of the officials! “Shout out?”
I was tired of looking for Chinese characters and writing them down one by one, so I started to get annoyed by writing them in Korean and then erasing them over and over again.
* * *
That night, as the scent entered the bed, the eunuchs moved. In the research lab in the study of the scent in the East Palace and the scent office in Area 51, the emissaries emptied the trash cans and cleaned.
“I’m done.”
“What is the quantity?”
In response to the senior eunuch’s question, the eunuch lifted the container he was holding and showed the inside.
“It’s a bit hostile today. “Take it there.”
“yes.”
The internal officers who received the order headed to Gangnyeongjeon.
The eunuchs who arrived at Gangnyeongjeon turned the corner and entered the back door of Gangnyeongjeon.
The eunuchs who entered through the back door entered a secret room built on one side of Gangnyeongjeon.
“I brought it.”
“Good job. where.”
The eunuch who received the container handed to him by the eunuchs who entered through the back door took out the papers inside and sorted them. The nae-gwan first selected the papers that were not inked at all and handed the selected papers to the nae-gwan who was waiting.
“Send it to Sejibang (洗紙房).”
“yes.”
Because paper was an expensive item, even in the Joseon Dynasty’s palaces, Hanji was washed and recycled. The papers selected for the first round were now to be moved for the process.
After placing the papers that had been selected, the emissaries carefully classified them again.
The eunuch, who gathered the inked Korean paper in one place and the yellow paper, which was also inked, separately, gave orders to the waiting eunuchs.
“Get to work.”
“yes.”
The internal affairs officers began the process of processing the papers that had been sorted.
The inked Korean paper was placed in a basin filled with water, washed, and then checked to see how much of the ink had fallen out. When the overpainted ink was missing to the extent that the letters underneath could be seen, the eunuchs hung the paper on a line to dry. Then, I took the dried papers from the previous day’s work and attached them to a folding screen on one side.
The yellow paper checked the letters written under the ink by shining a lamp.
“Let’s see… this shape.”
After confirming the shape of the letters visible in the light, the eunuchs copied the letters on another piece of paper, drew them, and then attached them to the folding screen.
* * *
“Are you finished with the work?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Sejong, who appeared as the work was about to be completed, approached the folding screen and looked at the papers.
“Hmm hmm… hmm…”
Sejong nodded with a light snort and looked back at the eunuchs.
“Good work. “Go and rest today.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Remember to keep secrets.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After sending out all the internal officials, King Sejong opened another secret door that had been closed.
Inside the secret room, there was a desk, a chair, and a lamp in the center.
However, except for the wall where the window facing out and the sliding door facing in were located, the remaining two walls had bookshelves filled with phonology books and grammar books written in Latin, Greek, and other Western languages. And the empty spaces on the walls as well as the floor were filled with papers with Korean letters and strange symbols that were neither Korean nor the alphabet.
Sejong sat down, lit the lamp, and opened a book.
“How far did you get yesterday?”
* * *
Note 1) Joseon’s weapons and armor. Written by Seunggi Min. Garam Planning.
Note 2) Cannon Sailboat Empire Written by Carlo Cipolla. Midge Books