Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 328
Episode 328: Those who wait, those who move. (5)
After receiving a promise from the Franciscan monks, Hyang led them to the research institute.
“Huh….”
“Oh….”
The alchemists, scholars, and monks who saw the various objects and models on display in the laboratory’s exhibition room let out exclamations of exclamation.
The alchemists who were looking at the items on display began to slowly become anxious.
In the end, one of the alchemists who could not overcome his anxiety asked Hyang.
“We are not blacksmiths. Is there anything we can do?”
While all the alchemists present nodded, Hyang explained the reason for calling the alchemist.
“To be honest, I don’t believe that a pension is possible. The same goes for ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Elixir’. “What I want is not knowledge about pensions, but knowledge about minerals.”
“You mean knowledge about minerals?”
“exactly. “Follow me.”
Hyang took the alchemists and moved to one side of the room. As the alchemists moved after the incense, scholars and monks also followed behind the incense.
The room that Hyang brought the alchemists into was filled with chests of drawers.
“Right now, only about 20% of the space between those drawers is filled.”
At the same time as explaining, Hyang pulled out several drawers of the dresser. The drawers that came out contained one type of mineral in each compartment.
“As you can see. These minerals were collected by Korean prospectors while prospecting. There are some minerals that we have been familiar with for a long time, but there are also quite a few that we do not know what they are. That’s why we need your knowledge. “It is to classify and analyze not only the minerals that are in that drawer now, but also the minerals that will come in the future.”
The alchemists nodded at the explanation of the scent.
-In the process of making gold through refinement, one realizes the truth and reaches a higher state.
This was the alchemists’ goal. For this purpose, knowledge was accumulated and accumulated from generation to generation.
However, there was something lacking in the description of the scent. No, it wasn’t a lack, it was a dissatisfaction.
‘Are you saying you called us just to do that sorting? Just to get them to do something like that?’
Dissatisfaction began to appear on the faces of the alchemists who did not realize how much time and manpower the ‘classification and analysis’ that Hyang had mentioned would take up.
“For such classification and analysis, you wouldn’t have needed to gather alchemists like us from far away places, right?”
‘We’re too advanced to even do something like that.’ Hyang burst into laughter at the remark containing the true meaning.
‘Are these guys taking things too easily?’
“Heh! If you think it is simple classification and analysis, you are mistaken. The classification and analysis of those minerals must be based on very specialized work. To put it simply, if it reacts with an acid or base, you need to analyze and classify whether it reacts with all acids or bases or only with specific acids or bases.”
The alchemists who were listening to the explanation of the scent raised their heads and looked around. The room was large enough for kings and nobles to hold banquets and was filled with chests of drawers.
They said that only 20% of the drawers were still full, but that alone was a huge amount.
And experimenting and analyzing acids and bases had to be done by professionally trained people, such as alchemists.
The faces of the alchemists began to turn white as they realized the enormity of the work they had to do.
Hyang continued speaking with a wicked smile as he watched the alchemists’ faces gradually turning white.
“ah! And although I don’t do pensions, I will do similar work. “You will also be responsible for the work related to that.”
“If it’s a similar task, is it making gold?”
“No, the goal is to make better quality steel. To make harder and tougher steel. Making iron that doesn’t rust, etc. ah! Speaking of making gold, I remember something I missed. “We also need to research ways to extract gold from ore with higher efficiency.”
At Hyang’s words, the alchemists gaped with stunned expressions on their faces.
The alchemists, who were mouthing like carp, soon came to their senses and asked Hyang.
“I have never heard or seen iron that does not rust.”
“I also have never seen gold made through alchemy. But wouldn’t iron be easier than gold? “I believe that we can make iron that won’t rust.”
‘He’s someone who was sick of stainless steel!’
The alchemists who were about to refute something fell silent when they saw Hyang’s face.
There was strong faith on Hyang’s face as he looked at the alchemists.
‘A person who does not believe in alchemy believes that iron that does not rust can be made! ‘And very firmly!’
* * *
After telling the alchemists what to do, Hyang looked back at the mathematicians.
“I have many things to ask of you as well.”
At Hyang’s words, the scholars swallowed their dry saliva and asked.
“What is happening?”
“It is natural to study mathematics. It is to accurately quantify everything that is done in the government and all the information needed and analyze the meaning behind it.”
“I understand….”
“It’s too abstract.”
Hyang immediately gave an additional explanation to the mathematicians’ words.
“To give a simple example, we would survey and tabulate how much fertilizer is used in rural areas across Joseon every year just before planting. Also, the amount of grain harvested during the harvest season is tabulated. If these records are accumulated over several years, wouldn’t it be possible to analyze the correlation between the amount of fertilizer used and the yield? Of course, there are natural variables such as droughts and floods, but these can also be converted into numbers and applied. If we analyze all these correlations, wouldn’t we be able to predict a certain amount of harvest before the harvest season? ‘The weather was good this year, so there will be a lot of fruit.’ It’s not a knee-jerk prediction, but ‘at least we can reap some amount.’ Wouldn’t that be predictable? And if you can make predictions like this, wouldn’t you be able to calculate next year’s expenses in advance based on this?”
It was a simple explanation, and everyone looked at the incense with dumbfounded faces as the story poured out in one room, but then they came to their senses and answered.
“That’s right.”
“it’s possible.”
The mathematicians nodded at the explanation of the scent. However, the faces of the scholars turned as white as the alchemists as they heard Hyang’s next words.
“ah! In the agricultural sector that I just mentioned as an example, the quantification work is already nearing completion. You have to work on quantifying other parts like that. “It doesn’t just end with numbers, we also have to create relationships, create statistics, and create methods to analyze those statistics.”
“You mean the analysis method as well?”
“Wouldn’t that analysis method be of value only if it were converted into a formula?”
“I guess so.”
“Follow me first.”
When the mathematicians nodded, Hyang led them to another room.
* * *
The room that Hyang dragged the mathematicians into was the same room that had once made Kim Dam fall into a trance.
“This!”
“Oh oh!”
The mathematicians exclaimed in exclamation after seeing the blackboard that filled one wall and the numbers that filled it.
The only thing I could recognize among the symbols that filled in between the numbers was the addition sign, but the profundity of those formulas was immediately recognizable.
Hyang, with his back to the blackboard, continued his explanation to the mathematicians.
“Do you remember the river we crossed when we came here from Jemulpo?”
“I remember.”
“These are the calculations used to design a bridge to be built over that river.”
The description of the scent reminded mathematicians of the wide Han River.
“It is a very wide river, but is there a need to make such complicated calculations?”
Hyang immediately answered the mathematicians’ questions.
“The reason for making such calculations is because the goal was to withstand as heavy a load as possible with as few piers as possible. Therefore, a large amount of iron will be used. “I will find out more about this part later when I officially join the work.”
At Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians muttered at the same time.
“So the study of iron….”
“That’s the correct answer. “As better steel is produced, the number of piers can be reduced.”
“If that happens, we have to change the entire formula…”
One of the mathematicians muttered, and the mathematician next to him pointed out the mistake.
“The formula itself will not change much. “You just have to set the quality of the steel itself as a variable.”
“That’s the correct answer.”
The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s words.
Angelo, who was quietly examining the blackboard, asked Hyang a question.
“If we’ve already created that level of formula, aren’t we unnecessary?”
In response to Angelo’s point, Hyang explained the reason for calling them.
“Unfortunately, we in Joseon are short on people. We are continuing to develop talent, but it still takes a lot of time to fill all the demand. That’s why I called you. “If you have mastered the essence of mathematics that has been studied since ancient times, you will be able to quench the thirst of our Joseon Dynasty.”
The eyes of the mathematicians and alchemists began to shine as they heard Hyang’s words.
It is said that mathematicians and alchemists are favored in Islamic countries, but there were religious problems.
However, in order to continue academic activities in Italy and Western Europe, it was essential to be white-eyed (looking down on others, treating them poorly, or treating them poorly), and in extreme cases, they had to be accused of being heretics and even punished.
Lastly, conflict with the Ottomans was a problem for him to hold out in his hometown.
The nobles and emperors who could support them wanted to create technology that could be immediately used in war and materials that could be used as weapons rather than purely academic achievements.
But Joseon was different.
Of course, it was difficult to pursue pure knowledge, but the tasks were enough to give me a sense of intellectual accomplishment.
* * *
Hyang sensed that the reactions of the alchemists and mathematicians were changing positively, and finally waved a tasty bait.
“ah! “I forgot something… If someone develops a material or knowledge that has sufficient commercial value, sufficient compensation is provided.”
“What if you say it’s compensation?”
“Have you ever heard of a patent?”
The eyes of the alchemists and mathematicians who heard Hyang’s explanation about patents and royalties began to shine frighteningly.
They also needed money. For them, the most important thing was to find a sponsor for a more comfortable and stable research, and what the scent said was like sweet honey.
‘It’s like it’s shooting lasers from its eyes! Indeed, this is the power of capitalism!’
Hyang, who felt the power of gold again while looking at the twinkling eyes, asked the last question.
“How is it? Would you like to work in Joseon? Would you like to write a contract?”
The alchemists and mathematicians responded unanimously to Hyang’s words.
“I will write it!”
In the distant future, the records they left behind all contained the same words.
‘I shouldn’t have signed the contract.’
* * *
After completing the contract with the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang explained what happened next.
“The first thing to do is to learn the language and characters used in Joseon.”
At Hyang’s words, the scholars nodded and looked at the Chinese characters. Some people nodded, looking a little familiar.
It is known to them as Kitai script.
“Even if you can’t get used to writing, you will only be put to work if you can communicate verbally, and your salary will be paid normally.”
“All right.”
The alchemists and mathematicians who answered the question had similar questions at the same time.
‘Why do people who have such outstanding technology and use their own language use the Kitai script?’
But they soon found the answer to their question.
‘Hagiya…. Because we also use the Latin alphabet…’
Although they were born and raised in various places, starting from Greece to France and England, it was common for them to use Latin when recording research results or writing papers.
Therefore, they took this issue lightly.
* * *
Contrary to Hyang’s expectations, the alchemists and mathematicians became able to communicate in Korean after two months.
When reports surfaced that Joseon had acquired its own unique mathematical knowledge, including mathematical symbols, as well as conversation, the local government called for a memorial service.
“Can we put it into practice?”
“It is considered quite possible.”
“Then let’s put it in.”
Upon receiving the report, Zheng Chu put alchemists and mathematicians into practice.
“From now on, we are scholars from the western region who will work together. “Let’s not cause conflict, but work together to achieve good results.”
“yes.”
Three days later, after a short meeting, the researchers began working with the strangers.
“ruler! Slogan before work!”
“Yusu test!”
The researchers shouted loud slogans and immediately got to work.
As time passed, Western scholars and Korean researchers became closer to the point where they laughed and talked together.
Let’s do that. The mathematician, unable to overcome his curiosity, asked a researcher he had become friends with.
“What is the meaning of the slogan we shout every morning?”
“Oh, that? ‘Only mathematics can answer.’ “That’s what I’m saying.”
“That’s amazing!”
“I’m crazy! But it has been that way and it will always be that way!”