Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 386

Episode 386 That, Jang Yeong-sil. (3)

While Jang Yeong-sil was building a Challenger-class model ship with a wind-up power plant with his subordinates, a water tank was being built in a corner of Area 51.

“Rather than a tank like this, actually floating it would be the best… If you can’t decide, wouldn’t it be better to just float it in one water?”

When one of the researchers supervising the creation of the water tank complained, a colleague next to him scolded him.

“Look! “Have you forgotten what His Majesty the Crown Prince said?”

* * *

When the government ordered an experiment using a model ship and a water tank, the researchers in charge of development refuted it.

“There is a large error between the model and reality! “Even if it is small, we need to conduct experiments using real ships!”

The developers’ backlash was reasonable. As construction progressed and all kinds of objects were created, measuring instruments also developed. The problem was that despite such progress, there were still significant errors.

However, in this regard, it felt unfair to place all the blame on the measuring instrument. Even the wood most commonly used as main material was of variable quality. The next most commonly used steel was also produced by national steel mills, but there were differences in quality.

Of course, this was not something to just ignore, so continuous quality control was being implemented and new methods were being applied to maintain quality consistency, but compared to the 20th and 21st centuries, it was still a ‘tear-inducing’ situation.

* * *

For this reason, researchers wanted to experiment by building actual ships and engines, even if it meant building a slightly smaller ship.

However, these researchers’ objections and claims had to be immediately buried in a single word.

“If you really want to, go directly to Captain Kim and get the budget.”

“….”

Because something like that happened, the mouth of the researcher who was once again insisting on the real thing was closed like a clam.

* * *

As promised, Jang Yeong-sil built an experimental model ship in five days and submitted it to the township.

“Someone would misunderstand that it was a hermit who used Taoist magic to shrink his stomach.”

Jang Yeong-sil responded with a smile to Hyang’s compliment, who was impressed by the model ship, which was a precise miniature replica of an actual Challenger-class battleship.

“It’s been a while since I tried my hand at something.”

“also! That was Director Jang’s skill! “I thought it was somehow amazing!”

“ha ha ha.”

Hyang, who was observing the model ship that Jang Yeong-sil had made with happy eyes, looked at the paddle wheels installed on the left and right sides of the ship and looked back at Jang Yeong-sil.

“Are these paddle wheels easy to remove?”

“Yes, as requested by the research department, we made it easy to attach and detach paddles of various sizes and shapes.”

“okay. “Hmm…”

He snorted and stroked his beard.

‘No matter how much you think about it, it’s still a screw propeller… How do I make people understand this?’

After thinking for a moment, Hyang asked Jang Yeong-sil.

“Can you make another clockwork mechanism that produces the same force as the one on this model ship?”

“yes? “It is possible.”

“Then build a cart that weighs the same as this model ship. Put a clockwork mechanism on it so it can move. Is that possible?”

“It’s not that difficult, but why are you doing that?”

In response to Jang Yeong-sil’s question, Hyang pointed to the paddle wheel and explained the reason.

“You can’t know how effective it is when it’s sweetened like that, right?”

Jang Yeong-sil nodded in response to Hyang’s question.

“I guess so.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be possible to compare more clearly if you had something to visually compare from the side?”

Jang Yeong-sil, who thought for a moment about Hyang’s words, answered.

“I guess so. “I will make it and upload it within five days.”

“It’s great because the tank will be completed by then. please.”

“Please leave it to me.”

* * *

Not long after Jang Yeong-sil stepped down, Jeong In-ji and Lee Cheon entered Hyang’s office.

“I heard that the model ship has been completed.”

Hyang, who was just about to place the model ship on the conference desk and wind it up, welcomed their visit.

“ah! You’ve come to the right place. Director Jang had been making it and was about to give it a test drive.”

“Is that so?”

The three people’s eyes lit up at Hyang’s words. Although they were all of different ages, they had evolved into geeks who couldn’t help but roll their eyes whenever they saw a moving machine.

Tap, tap, tap.

When the butterfly-shaped wind-up winder was inserted and turned, the wind-up wound with the sound of gear teeth engaging. After winding the mainspring to some extent, Hyang pulled out the reel and released the stop attached to the side of the clockwork mechanism.

Jeeee.

With the sound of the mainspring being released, the water wheels on the left and right sides of the model ship placed on the pedestal began to turn.

“Oh~.”

“Hoo~.”

Jeongcho, who was looking at the spinning water wheel with various exclamations, asked Hyang.

“Is it possible to adjust the speed?”

“According to Director Jang’s explanation, it can be adjusted in three stages. wait a minute.”

Hyang, who had stopped the water wheel, moved another lever attached to the side.

click! Cheeeeee!

With a louder sound, the water wheel began to spin at an even faster speed.

“Hmm…”

“Huh…”

The three people who had been observing the movement of the water wheel until the mainspring was completely unwound took a step back.

“How is it?”

The faces of the three people who were organizing their thoughts in response to Hyang’s question did not look very good.

The first to speak was Jeong Cho.

“It seems quite useful, but I have an unanswered question. According to Wu Jing Chong Yao, such paddle boats were already introduced during the Song Dynasty, so why are the Ming naval forces not using them now?”

As soon as New Year’s Day’s words were finished, Jeong In-ji received the words.

“It’s the same for me too. “If that paddle were useful, it would still be in use now. If you look at the battle lines or merchant ships of the Ming Dynasty navy today, there is nothing using paddle wheels, right?”

When asked by Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji, Hyang presented a plausible reason.

“Isn’t it a question of power? “Wouldn’t it take a lot of manpower to turn the scaffolding on the ship to turn that water wheel?”

Jeong In-ji immediately shook his head at Hyang’s words.

“Don’t you have soldiers rowing on the front lines anyway? If you think about it…”

Jeong In-ji paused for a moment and came to a conclusion.

“If the results using the steam engine do not produce better results than the methods using manpower and axial power described in the books of Mugyeong Chongyo and Seo Yi Deul, we will have to look for another method.”

Jeong Cho nodded at Jeong In-ji’s conclusion. Seeing that, Hyang looked back at Icheon.

“What do you think, Captain?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Lee Cheon immediately declared.

“I think the navy probably won’t like it very much.”

* * *

After a while, the three people left Hyang’s office. After seeing the three people off, Hyang returned to her seat and muttered with a happy face.

“I think I chose the right people.”

At the beginning of the New Year, Jeong In-ji and Icheon made negative predictions, but did not say that the current plan should be overturned.

What those three had in common was that they did not unconditionally reject challenging plans presented by their subordinates.

Unless it was a really vain plan, those three said the same thing to their subordinates.

“Please organize it a bit more and bring it back.”

No, even if it was a really absurd agenda, if it was armed with reasonable logic, those three would accept it.

After several rounds of revisions and supplements, when the level of completeness was improved, we moved on to the next step.

“Then let’s try an experiment.”

And at the end of the experiment, regardless of success or failure, a mountain of analysis reports were requested.

Because of this, the skills of researchers and craftsmen continued to improve.

Of course, there were exceptions here as well, and those were the plans put forth by the fragrance. Every time the village presented a plan, the three people immediately assigned personnel and proceeded with the work without discussing katabuta.

* * *

The day after the tank was completed, a public experiment was finally conducted.

Model ships and carts appeared amidst the gathering of craftsmen from the Development and Verification Departments, as well as researchers and craftsmen who heard the story, and commanders from the naval forces.

“Then let’s get started.”

“yes.”

At Hyang’s command, two researchers stepped forward and wound the spring.

“Start!”

As soon as Hyang’s command was given, the model ship and cart, with the stops released, began to move forward.

When the day-long test was over, the researchers’ faces were not very good.

“No matter how much there is a difference between land and water…”

In a race that lasted nearly 20 times, the model ship could not beat the cart even once. In a race in which various types of water wheels of different sizes and shapes were used, the race was never won.

“This is the result of the difference between land and water. “You may be slower on land, but on water you will be faster than anyone else!”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Hyang, who nodded slightly at the researchers’ argument, looked back at the naval commanders.

“What do you think?”

The naval commanders responded immediately to Hyang’s question.

“I don’t know if it’s for civilian use, but it’s not allowed on the front lines!”

Researchers strongly opposed the naval commanders’ remarks that it was impossible.

“Why!”

When the researchers questioned, the naval commanders explained the reason.

-The number of guns is reduced by the amount of space occupied by that outer ring. This is absolutely unacceptable.

-That paddle has a high probability of becoming a target even at a glance. If the outer ring is damaged, it is highly likely that not only will mobility be lost, but it will also become an obstacle that prevents proper maneuvering.

-To prevent this, armor, either wooden or iron armor, must be installed on the outside of the outer ring, but this increases the weight of the wire unnecessarily.

Hyang muttered to himself at the naval officer’s explanation.

‘Captain Icheon was right. By the way, the first thing that both the Vice Admiral of Icheon and the Navy pointed out as a problem was the decrease in the number of cannons mounted. As expected, the ancestors of the Artillery Defense Department….’

While Hyang was thinking that, the researchers and the Navy were engaged in a war of words.

“If the number of guns decreases, wouldn’t it be okay to load more powerful guns?”

“If you can load more powerful artillery, wouldn’t it be better to load more guns?”

“That paddle is big, but it moves faster! “Wouldn’t that reduce the risk of being hit?”

“The front line is not always fought in the middle of the sea.”

In the end, after a war of words, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“The paddle method is not bad, but it is not suitable for military use. “Does this seem like the most appropriate conclusion?”

Jeong Cho, Jeong Inji, Icheon, and the naval commanders all nodded at Hyang’s conclusion.

The researchers all had gloomy faces as they saw the ‘high-ranking people’ and the ‘orderers’ coming to the same conclusion.

“Although the results showed that it is not suitable for military use, I still think it is a good method. At least you don’t have to wait for the wind. Thank you for your effort.”

With encouragement from the scent, the researchers opened their faces with difficulty.

“Thank you very much for your positive review.”

“Now that we know what’s lacking, we just need to go a little further. “I hope you try a little harder.”

“yes.”

In this way, the experiment took on the task of ‘development of a new propulsion method’.

* * *

While researchers were staying up all night for several nights to solve the task of ‘development of a new propulsion method’, which was close to ‘heading to the ground’, Jang Yeong-sil visited Hyang.

“Lowering. “It’s about the method of promotion.”

“yes!”

‘if!’

When Jang Yeong-sil mentioned ‘a new method of promotion,’ Hyang’s eyes sparkled and his voice rose.

Looking at that scent, Jang Yeong-sil cautiously opened her mouth.

“How about imitating the shape of a pinwheel?”

‘also!’

Cheering inwardly, Hyang offered Jang Yeong-sil a seat.

“Let’s talk in detail!”