Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 665
Episode 665: A little seasoning makes it delicious. (6)
The place where those who received the call from the village gathered was the artillery testing site in Area 51. It was a magnificent place, stretching over 10 ri (approximately 4 km) from one end to the other.
What caught the attention of those gathered after receiving the call was the flying machine that had successfully flown on the banks of the Han River a few days ago.
Wan and the young craftsmen had a strange expression of joy and sorrow as they looked at the blades where the canvases had been placed.
On the one hand, it was a monumental object that demonstrated the self-powered flight they had dreamed of, and on the other hand, it was an object that made the work they had done meaningless.
“Is everyone gathered?”
Wan and the young craftsmen, who came to their senses at the sound of Hyang’s voice coming from behind, quickly bowed and bowed.
“I come to see your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Thank you for your hard work. It’s okay to give an example. “I came to this position not as an emperor, but as a senior research director.”
At Hyang’s words, Wan and the craftsmen straightened their posture. Hyang, who was looking at Wan and the artisans, asked Wan.
“I will ask the director. Don’t you think you’ve seen this flying machine somewhere?”
“yes?”
Wan, who had been carefully examining the blade, shook his head at Hyang’s words.
“I’m not sure.”
“Have you forgotten the things you first made to fly in the sky?”
In response to Hyang’s question again, Wan and the craftsmen looked at the blade again. Wan and the craftsmen, who had been looking at it for a while, let out exclamations at the same time.
“ah!”
“Come to think of it!”
Wan looked back at the scent and answered.
“The shape is very different from what you and the craftsmen made, but the framework seems to be similar.”
“Do you want to know what’s different?”
“The bird’s head-like shape has been removed, and a vertical tail has been added.”
“and?”
“And… eh…”
Wan and the young craftsmen, who were once again examining the flying machine from nose to tail, soon reported the differences one by one.
“More iron was used than what the minor gods used to make!”
“But it wasn’t used too much!”
“The area of the wings attached to the top and bottom is at least twice as large as the one made by the small gods!”
Wan, who was examining the blade with the craftsmen, tilted his head.
“If you do this, it will be difficult to maintain the shape… Ah! Is that why these wires went in? Are the wires supporting the shape of the wings?”
“The prince’s words are correct. And what difference has this change made?”
Hearing Hyang’s words, Wan and the craftsmen put their heads together and exchanged opinions. After much discussion, Wan answered Hyang.
“According to what Soja and craftsmen discovered at the time, the larger the wings, the more wind they can catch and the easier they can float. This is the same reason why a large crane or an eagle has large wings.”
“That’s right. So why did you fail and I succeed?”
“That is…”
When Wan and the young craftsmen were unable to answer properly, Hyang’s blunt words flew out.
“Why are you wearing a bird head? “It becomes difficult to maintain balance and control.”
“ah!”
After Hyang pointed out, Wan and the young craftsmen realized their mistake. Hyang’s tone had suddenly changed to plain language.
“It was nice to imitate the shape of a flying bird, but I should have thought twice about it.”
“Ah…”
“And the bigger mistake is… Prince, do you remember what I said back then?”
Wan, who had been briefly remembering Hyang’s question, answered with a red face.
“You just said that the guy who can roll his head is trying to jump.”
“right. I had already thought about adding a steam engine to the report I submitted at that time. Now you know why that’s a problem, right?”
“yes. “It weighs too much.”
“right. “We went too far ahead in a situation where we couldn’t even create a properly floating object.”
After finishing speaking, Hyang gave an order to Jang Yeong-sil, who was standing on one side.
“Please bring the internal combustion multi-wing thruster and explain.”
“yes. your majesty.”
Jang Yeong-sil brought a turboprop engine, a product of ‘Plan A’, and explained its structure.
Wan and the young artisans listened with sparkling eyes to Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation. It was not common to have the opportunity to see the inventions of Jang Yeong-sil, the ‘living legend of craftsmen’, while listening to the explanation from the person involved. Therefore, Wan and the craftsmen listened intently to the explanation, making sure not to miss a single thing.
After the explanation was over, Hyang asked Wan and the craftsmen.
“Do you understand what the problem is?”
“yes!”
“If we solve that problem and create a proper engine, or if we create a small, powerful steam engine that operates on a similar mechanism, we will be able to complete not only a flying machine but also a self-powered flying machine with even better performance!”
‘A steam engine again… No matter how much I’m a steampunk fanatic, you too…’
Hyang grumbled inwardly at Wan’s answer and ordered Jang Yeong-sil again.
“Bring it to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After a while, Jang Yeong-sil, along with other craftsmen, came pulling a cart covered with packaging.
When Jang Yeong-sil unwrapped the package, there was a miniature model of a blade reduced to 1/3 size.
“Find out what the difference is between that and that.”
Wan examined the scale model and reported to Hyang.
“More iron was used than a large blade. And there is no wind vane.”
“If I fly this, will it be able to fly?”
“I think it will be difficult because of the weight.”
“What if there is a strong driving force?”
“But I think it’s impossible because of the weight.”
In response to Wan’s answer, Hyang gestured to Jang Yeong-sil. At Hyang’s gesture, Jang Yeong-sil brought two medicine bottles and attached them to the wings of the scale model.
“Is it Soshingijeon’s medicine cabinet?”
“no? “It’s a little bigger than that?”
While the craftsmen were buzzing, Jang Yeong-sil lit the wick connected to the medicine cabinet.
Quaaa!
After a while, the scale model flew into the sky with a loud noise and smoke. The flying machine flew into the sky with its wings sparkling, flew nearly halfway through the shooting range, and fell to the ground.
Hyang saw that and asked Wan.
“It flew? “That’s pretty good too.”
“….”
* * *
When the demonstration ended, Wan and the craftsmen were completely discouraged.
‘What have we done?’
‘I heard you write a text message in front of Confucius… That’s exactly what we are like.’
Seeing Wan and the craftsmen so discouraged, Hyang continued speaking again.
“Why do you think me and Jang Yeong-sil showed me this today? “Is this just a boast?”
“….”
Wan and the craftsmen had no answer to Hyang’s question. This was because I could not possibly guess what the scent was trying to say. In the end, Wan came forward as the representative and waved the white flag.
“The child is still immature and does not know Abama’s deep meaning. “Please give me an answer.”
“Then let me change my words. As the Europeans say, ‘All roads lead to Rome.’ There is a saying. “What do you think this means?”
“Isn’t this the ‘manyu-gwi-jong’ that those who worship the embers speak of?”
“That would also be true. But think differently.”
Wan, who had been thinking deeply about Hyang’s words, looked at Hyang with a puzzled expression.
“Are you really talking about the dispute between the hundreds of disciples?”
“right. ‘All roads lead to Rome.’ If you think of this in another way, ‘there is not just one road to Rome.’ That makes sense. This is consistent with what you guys are doing now. ‘Fly in the sky.’ “Is the only way to realize this goal being a bhikkhu or flying?”
“Ah…”
Wan and the young craftsmen all nodded at Hyang’s words. Hyang continued speaking to the young people.
“The reason I did this demonstration today was not to brag to you. The ‘flying in the sky’ that I had at first. He did this because he seemed to forget the larger meaning and focus only on monks and steam engines. ah! However, it is not okay to immediately abandon the bhikkhu and practice Wu by hanging on to the flying machine. A bhikkhu is a bhikkhu, and a blade is a blade, so it has its own use. “What you should not forget is that I want to tell you not to forget your initial intention, but to keep your eyes wide open.”
At Hyang’s words, Wan and the young craftsmen simultaneously bowed their heads and responded in loud voices.
“I will keep this in mind!”
After the teaching of Hyang, the young craftsmen returned to the Bhikkhu development room. Meanwhile, Wan, who remained until the end, carefully spoke to Hyang.
“It was truly a teaching similar to that of Geumgwaokjo. “This is something to keep in mind.”
“That’s right. “This is also true of state affairs.”
“But if you look at it that broadly, it will take a lot of time and budget…”
“That’s up to you to solve. “Aren’t you the director?”
“….”
Wan fell into tears at Hyang’s words and kept his mouth shut.
As an aside. Jang Yeong-sil’s turboprop engine and rocket-propelled flying machine, which were shown in the demonstration that day, were sealed in the deepest part of the Area 51 storage facility.
The problem was this rocket-propelled flying machine. Since there was only a demonstration without a proper explanation, the officer who accompanied him recorded it as follows.
-The flying machine, made entirely of iron, flew about 5 miles away with a loud noise, emitting large flames and smoke behind it.
Later, when the Annals of the Empire were released, this part became a key subject of conspiracy theories.
A crashed UFO is hidden in Area-51. Looking at the officer’s description, it is clear that this is a rocket or a UFO.
-The level of technology at the time was so primitive that repairs could not be completed properly.
-The background of the great leap forward, the subsequent stagnation period, and the transcendental technological development in the early stages of the empire was technology acquired from UFOs!
When this conspiracy theory became a global issue, the federal response was simple and clear.
“Write nonsense, write nonsense.”
“Then reveal Areas 51 and 52, or the remaining 50 areas!”
“Areas 51 and 52 are top secret facilities. It cannot be disclosed. And the only ones that exist in the Federation are Areas 51 and 52.”
“nonsense! Then we have to go to Areas 1 and 2. Why do you start with 51 and 52!”
“It is a historical fact that the emperor’s naming skills at the time were the worst.”
“Do not lie!”
“When people say something, believe it! Do you want to fight? Would you like to join us?”
“Whatever you say, you mention war! “You gangsters who will go down in history like this!”
* * *
What Hyang said to Wan and the artisans in Area 51 soon spread to the officials as well.
Most of the officials who heard Hyang’s words through rumors nodded.
“Keep your original intention, but keep your eyes wide open… These are really good words.”
“It’s the same thing as gold and jade birds.”
Many people gave positive evaluations, but there were also those who gave negative evaluations.
The representative of these people was Lee Sa-cheol, the Minister of Education.
Three days after the Area 51 demonstration, Lee Sa-cheol filed an appeal to the local government.
The contents of the appeal were summarized as follows.
-What His Majesty said to the Crown Prince seems at first glance to be correct, but it is not correct.
-The fact that there is not one path to a goal can be transformed into a teaching that in order to achieve a goal, it is okay to walk not only the right path but also the wrong path. In other words, it can be a teaching that it is okay to harm others for one’s own gain.
– Although there may seem to be many paths, there is only one path. This is the same principle as learning the meaning of ancient sages through the teachings of Zhu Xi.
“Whoa~.”
Hyang, who received and read Lee Sa-cheol’s appeal, let out a long sigh and glared at Lee Sa-cheol from Geunjeongjeon.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Hyang asked Lee Sa-cheol.
“The Minister of Education, Jim, will ask. “Answer.”
“Please ask.”
Lee Sa-cheol, as well as the ministers around him, were very nervous as he answered. This was because the tone that came out of Hyang’s mouth just now was one that I had never heard before.
“When climbing the mountain, one person followed a known path from long ago, and the other person climbed the rough rocks, risking risks in order to climb more quickly. In this case, did the latter go to the apostle? Did you harm someone else?”
“No.”
“That’s what Jim said, but it’s not right?”
“Your Majesty, the example you just gave is just an extreme example to justify your words.”
“So what Jim meant was wrong?”
“At first glance, it seems right. However, the people are foolish and greedy, so no matter how good your Majesty’s intentions are, they often misunderstand them. Therefore, I think it is right to prevent such teachings in the first place.”
“Yes you bastard!”
As soon as Lee Sa-cheol finished speaking, Hyang’s shout rang out at Geunjeongjeon.
“What is your job? It’s education! It is your job to raise the same amount of intellectual wealth for future generations that will be responsible for the empire’s infinite development and well-being! But what do you mean by what you say now?
Are the original people foolish and greedy?
Have you forgotten that you are also a people?
okay! As you said, it is extremely bad to break the laws of humanity and heaven and harm public morals for one’s own ends! Isn’t education the way to prevent that? This doesn’t work because it’s this way, and it doesn’t work because it does that, so just learn what I teach and do it. Is this your education? “Is your education aimed at raising children who can look broadly and spread Hongik Ingan’s will, or is it about raising livestock that can understand letters and words?”
“your majesty. That’s not it…”
“Shut up! It is said that a scholar is one who has a firm mind but looks wide and looks around. But you’re trying to raise livestock, not a scholar! The empire doesn’t need officials like you! “Submit your resignation immediately!”
“your majesty!”
Lee Sa-cheol vomited blood and called Hyang, but Hyang shouted at Hwang Hee.
“Prime Minister, listen! “Get the author’s resignation letter and submit it to Jim right now!”
Hearing Hyang’s words, Hwang Hee quietly bowed her head.
“I follow your orders.”
In this way, Lee Sa-cheol became the first ‘subject to recommended resignation’ among imperial officials.