Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 72

Episode 72 People (5)

As the Gyeongjang progressed, Joseon’s artisan society, especially the Yajang (冶匠), suffered greatly.

The reason I suffered from physical aches was because of a chain reaction that started from a feeling of exhaustion.

As a large number of craftsmen belonging to the Military Police were moved to the research institute and Area 51, the Military Police was in need of craftsmen.

“Select skilled artisans from among the artisans belonging to Yuksu-gun, Giseon-gun, and Yeongjin-gun throughout Joseon and elevate them to Hanseong. Let’s look at the skills of the craftsmen who have risen through the ranks and fill in the gaps in military discipline.”

“I follow your orders.”

Following King Sejong’s command, an uproar broke out in military camps across the country.

Among the craftsmen who made weapons such as swords and bows in the military camp, those who were reputed to have good skills came to Hanseong.

King Sejong also attended the screening of craftsmen who would work at the military headquarters.

King Sejong’s greed for talented people shone through even here, as he selected about 30% more people than the military commander’s quota.

“Those who have met the military captain’s quota, send those remaining to Area 51.”

“…I obey your orders!”

Hyang was excited about the unexpected gift and bowed deeply to King Sejong.

“I’m devastated, Abama!”

It was natural for a chain reaction to occur in this situation.

“What will we do if the craftsmen who make swords are taken away?”

“It is reprehensible to only choose and eat meat from a banquet table, but if you take people like this…”

In a county that was suddenly deprived of skilled craftsmen, it was necessary to search for craftsmen who were well-known in the private sector and bring them into the county.

If there was one good thing that came out of all that commotion. The perception of artisans had changed somewhat positively.

Both the government and the people began to value craftsmen with good skills, and their treatment also improved.

It was a butterfly effect created by Sejong and Hyang, who were greedy for people.

* * *

As soon as the decision was made to create a state-owned enterprise dedicated to the production of iron, the township and ministers exchanged opinions on the preparation process for this.

To be precise, the scent was forced into the meeting where the ministers were exchanging opinions.

“Even if you don’t, you do a lot of work, so even if you don’t get involved in this…”

“Considering the amount of supplies that will be consumed at the research center and Area 51, it is absolutely necessary.”

Wanting to avoid a situation where her sister-in-law, who was even more obnoxious than her mother-in-law, got involved, Hwang Hee tried to stop her, but Hyang steadfastly took her place.

“I will be in charge of reviewing everything that happens in Area 51!”

“You don’t have to go that far….”

“It’s the great cause of the nation! As the crown prince, I must step forward!”

“… please do so.”

Hyang, who said he would be in charge of judging, persuaded King Sejong and received permission.

“Are you going to be okay?”

Hwang Hee answered the worried questions of the ministers with an expression that said it was no big deal.

“Isn’t this good for us? “There is already a lot of work to be done.”

* * *

The primary selection criteria for artisans related to steelmaking was suggested by the fragrance.

-A region with a high ratio of pure iron to the overall amount of donations.

When we set the standard as a place that produced a relatively large amount of siwoosoe, rather than a place with a large amount of siwoosoe, regardless of whether it was cast iron or siwoosoe, a significant number of areas fell out.

Through the first screening, one place was selected in Chungcheong-do, and Gyeongju and Hapcheon were selected in Gyeongsang-do.

Although there were other places with large production volumes, these three places had a higher production rate of raw iron and raw iron than other places.

As soon as the first candidate was decided, the cavalrymen, holding in their arms a seal containing the name of the deceased, rode away.

“What a shame!”

Upon hearing the call that a royal decree had come from Hanseong, the local officials neatly arranged their robes, bowed deeply toward Hanseong, and politely received the seal.

After breaking the seal and checking the contents of the seal, the local officials sighed.

“Ha~. “It’s happened again.”

* * *

According to the royal decree, people selected from three iron camps came to Hanseong.

“We need a place to compete against them.”

Hearing Hwang Hee’s words, King Sejong looked back. The scent immediately responded to the unspoken command.

“We will make room for you in Area 51.”

“Sure.”

In this way, a place to compete was decided, but problems arose among the craftsmen.

“Artisans are refusing to smelt in the same place.”

After receiving the report from the late head, Hyang frowned and asked the reason.

“what’s the reason?”

“It is said that extracting iron is a secret of secret techniques and cannot be shown to competitors.”

“Oh my…”

Faced with an awkward situation, Hyang looked back at the ministers. Among the ministers who had similar expressions, Hwang Hee opened his mouth.

“Can’t we just force it?”

At Hwang Hee’s suggestion, Go Yajang shook his head.

“Then they will just leave.”

“Even though it is the government’s business?”

“Thanks to hard work, they all have tough personalities and a lot of pride. “These are people who would never force someone to do anything, even if they would rather have their head cut off.”

“Wow… Tsk!”

In response to the late leader’s answer, Hyang looked at the map of Area 51.

“How much space does it take to make a soedukburi kiln? “I think it would be possible if we make space in the empty lots here, here, and here, so they won’t overlap.”

“Please wait a moment!”

After hearing Hyang’s words, Go Yajang, who was looking at the map, immediately went outside and started taking measurements.

After wandering around the vacant lot and measuring the location, the late manager returned and reported to the township.

“I think it’s possible.”

“Then talk to the bonesmiths (heads of the blacksmiths).”

The goalkeepers immediately accepted Hyang’s proposal.

The golpyeonseo, who decided on a location by drawing lots, led the people they brought with them and settled in that location.

Hyang, who was watching the bone craftsmen and his subordinates moving around in one corner of the laboratory, looked back at Go Yajang.

“There are quite a few people with you, right?”

“It’s quite a lot if you do the work of bone repair, repair of dams in Pyeonpyeonsu, firebucks, and charcoal carpenters.”

“is it?”

Listening to Go Yajang’s answer, Hyang rubbed his hands excitedly.

“It will be fun when the competition begins in earnest.”

“Will you continue to watch?”

“When will we see something like this again?”

“… That’s right.”

The scent was exciting.

When I was taught by a traditional swordsmith in the 21st century, I saw small kilns making small iron, but I had never seen the full-scale process of making iron like this.

Once the location was selected, the villagers gathered together.

“The place has been prepared and the materials you need have been prepared. “Let’s check to see if anything is missing.”

“Yes sir.”

At the command of the head, the bone craftsmen headed to the place where the ingredients prepared in advance were located.

The first thing the bone craftsmen checked were the most important materials, iron ore, and charcoal to be used as firewood.

And it was the first testing process prepared by Hyang.

“uh?”

All of the bone craftsmen who went to the place where the raw material, iron ore, was piled up looked at the incense with embarrassed expressions.

“Is it stone iron that needs to be removed from the iron?”

Hyang nodded to the question asked in his unique dialect.

“Most of them are made of stone. I found some good iron ore not long ago. “Why can’t I?”

“It’s a little inconvenient, but there’s nothing you can’t do.”

“It’s right.”

“There’s nothing you can’t do.”

In response to the skeleton guards’ answers, Hyang muttered softly to the eunuch standing behind her.

“Everyone gets 1 extra point.”

“Yes sir.”

Hyang’s eyes, which were evaluating the bone craftsmen, soon opened round. This was because the bone hunters were showing unexpected behavior.

The smiths picked iron ore at random from various piles of iron ore, took out hammers from the baskets they were wearing, and smashed the iron ore.

Once there was an appropriate amount of iron ore powder, the smiths took out iron needles and lamps from the basket.

The bone smiths sucked the iron needle once, moistened it with saliva, and then coated the metal needle with iron powder.

The craftsmen who put an appropriate amount of iron powder on an iron needle lit the lamp and pushed the iron needle into the flame.

As the iron needle went in and the color of the flame changed, all the bone craftsmen muttered.

“Isn’t there a lot of sulfur in this?”

This is where the scent was most effective.

‘I knew about the flame reaction!’

After confirming the condition of iron, the most important raw material, the bone cutters moved to the red clay piled on one side. Regardless of who they were, the bone craftsmen picked up the red clay with their fingers, tasted it, and shook their heads slightly.

“What’s the problem?”

“There is a lot of sulfur mixed in stone iron. “To make good iron, you have to remove the sulfur energy, but it’s a bit difficult with the energy this soil has.”

“That’s right!”

“The soil is a little soggy.”

In response to the goalkeepers’ answers, Hyang immediately organized the situation.

“Then you guys find suitable soil.”

“I can’t see any limestone.”

“I’ll save you.”

In the selection process that followed, the goalkeepers found themselves in an awkward situation.

“What is this stone?”

“It’s called coal. I’ll use it instead of charcoal. “Go Yajang.”

“Yes sir.”

At the command of the township, the Go Yajang came forward and explained coal to the smiths.

After prospectors found coal, the first people to use it were the artisans working in Area 51.

That is why Go Yajang, who had the most experience with coal, stepped forward.

As if the explanation from a person in the same industry had helped, the masters immediately nodded.

“Coal… looks fun, right?”

“Did you say it has better firepower than charcoal? Hmm… How should I get the ratio right?”

“They say it’s mixed with sulfur too… Add more red clay and lime…”

“Can’t you do it?”

In response to Hyang’s question, all of the bone hunters shook their heads.

“Then, as soon as I prepare the materials, I will build the kiln. Since the Gyeongju palanquin takes the most time, we will begin the competition as soon as the Gyeongju palanquin is completed.”

“Yes sir.”

Hyang, who returned to the East Palace that day, scratched his head and mumbled nervously.

“You even knew about the flame reaction… How on earth! “How much has this damn Joseon forgotten about what it had!”

* * *

As the bone knitters obtained the necessary materials and began to build the kiln, the county carefully recorded and reviewed the process.

“The kiln is square?”

“If you make it this way, it will be easier to stack iron ore and charcoal.”

“Isn’t this palanquin a bit tall?”

“The higher the height, the better the metal.”

“is it?”

While Hyang was talking with the bone players, the eunuchs standing behind recorded the conversation and checked Hyang’s hand signals to add or subtract points.

In the process of making the kiln, it was Gyeongju that caught Hyang’s attention.

While other places mainly made earthen kilns using clay, Gyeongju made kilns mainly using stones.

“Is there any benefit to making it out of stone? “Do you think it can withstand the heat well?”

“Stones alone cannot withstand the heat. You have to apply dirt. But if you keep talking like this, there’s no need to smoke every time, right?”

“is it?”

After hearing the answer, Hyang made a small gesture.

At Hyang’s hand signal, the inner officer recorded the score on the table.

“2 extra points for racing.”

Once the kiln was built, the bone cutters began the process of extracting iron.

There was trial and error when using coal instead of charcoal, but the scent was not an issue.

“This is a process you have to go through, so I won’t make an issue of it!”

After a short period of trial and error, the bone smiths began cutting iron in earnest.

The competition had begun.

* * *

Excluding the time spent making the palanquin, the winner of the competition that lasted for 15 days was Gyeongju’s goal number.

Hyang explained to King Sejong why Gyeongju won.

“The first reason is that Gyeongju used stones to build stone kilns. It’s not that other craftsmen don’t use stones, but clay was the main material, whereas in Gyeongju, stone was the main material. Because of this…”

“I guess we can continue to use the kiln?”

“That’s right. Next comes the manpower that goes into the process of producing polished iron. In other kilns, the raw iron that comes out of the kiln is heated again in the kiln, and then workers beat it with hammers to make it into pure iron.”

“It’s going to take a lot of manpower.”

“That’s right.”

“What about racing? “Did you use another method?”

“Gyeongju mixes the raw iron produced in this way with selected miscellaneous iron and melts it again.”

“Mel it again? Doesn’t that seem like a waste of time?”

“It wasn’t in vain. When the molten iron that was melted again was cooled, most of it was pure iron, and a significant amount of steel was also produced.”

“Huh~. “It’s amazing!”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s evaluation.

I didn’t know the scent, but the method used by Gyeongju, the double melting process, was a denaturation process similar to the Bassemer converter.

Simply put, it was similar to the 20th century steelmaking method in that it dramatically reduced the amount of carbon mixed in iron during the two melting processes. (Note 1)

* *

The ministers were all called to a place where they were seated.

Golpyeonsu, who had been summoned to the gathering of not only the heavenly Sangammama but also all the prominent ministers known throughout the world, was trembling and lying flat on his back, just breathing.

“Take it easy on your bones.”

Golpyeonsu answered King Sejong’s command in a loud voice.

“Seong Seong Seong Eun is ruined!”

“So and so… Gwain has something to ask you. This time, we are opening the largest iron cage in the country. Are you willing to take on the task?”

“If you just tell me to do it, I will risk my life to do it!”

Sejong smiled at Golpyeonsu’s question.

“There is no need to risk your life… The place where a large iron ore was discovered is Pyeongan Island. Coal was also found in Pyeongan Island. But there is some distance between the two places. Where do you think would be a good place to build an iron cage?”

When a problem in his area of expertise came up, Golpyeonsu suddenly relaxed.

In response to Sejong’s question, Golpyeonsu asked a question.

“I don’t know much about geography because I’m from the countryside and only know Gyeongju. “How far is the distance between the two places?”

“It’s 100 miles. Fortunately, there is a river so we can use water transportation.”

After gathering his thoughts for a moment in response to Sejong’s answer, Golpyeonsu answered.

“When building a cage, stone or charcoal are important, but the most important thing is clay. If the soil is good, the iron will come out good. This time, I saw that both stone and iron and coal were mixed with a lot of sulfur. “To catch this sulfur, you need good soil and a lot of lime.”

“then?”

“I need to go and see it with my own eyes to know. Even if you have to transport stone, iron and coal, you have to go to a place with good soil. “The most important thing is the soil.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right!”

King Sejong was lost in thought at Golpyeonsu’s firm answer. Sejong thought in silence for a while and came to a conclusion.

“good night! I give you the rank of Taoist! You go and examine the situation, find the best place, and build a cage!”

“I obey your orders!”

“What was your name?”

“I don’t have a last name, I just call him Deoksu.”

“I give you the surname Kim! “As my family name is Iron and Gold, I hope that your descendants will also inherit your legacy!”

“I am devastated!”

Golpyeonsu, who was suddenly given the castle, went out crying profusely.

As Golpyeonsu went out, Hwang Hui and the ministers all looked at King Sejong.

“why? “Are you dissatisfied with giving the rank of 5th grade to a simple iron master?”

“It’s not that I don’t know your Majesty’s true feelings, but I’m afraid your rank is too high…”

“Is there anyone among you who knows how to make iron?”

“… doesn’t exist.”

“But are you looking at me with contempt because I’m just a swindler?”

“… I come to you Hwang-gong.”

“I keep saying this, but don’t do anything that would be embarrassing.”

“Here comes the Emperor.”

“Tsk!”

If it were like Jang Yeong-sil’s time, there would have been a lot of excitement over giving a government post to someone with a low level of vocation, but now that has become less common.

Because once is difficult, twice is not.

And with the newly discovered personality of Sejong, it was certain that words like this would come out.

“Then, would you like to make a sutra?”

* * *

Ten days after Deoksu was given the castle in Pyeonjeon, people dressed in official uniforms and military uniforms flocked to Deoksu’s house in Gyeongju.

“What a shame!”

“huh? “What does this mean?”

Deoksu’s family members who were working at the house and at the blacksmith shop next to it were confused and confused.

“Golpyeonsu Kim Deok-su’s associates, come out and receive orders!”

“Kim Deok-su? “It is true that your father’s name is Deoksu, but is he Mr. Kim?”

“Is that the problem? “They say it’s a mystery now!”

Deoksu’s family rushed out and knelt in the yard.

The official standing in front of Deoksu’s family unwrapped the scroll and read it aloud.

“I give Deoksu, the master of iron bars in Gyeongju, the title of 5th rank Taoist master! “I also give Deoksu the last name Kim!”

After reading for a while, the official wrapped the scroll around it and asked a question.

“Who is Master Kim’s eldest son?”

At his question, a large young man from the blacksmith stood up.

“It’s my name.”

“Congratulations.”

With congratulatory words, the official handed the young man a scroll with his name written on it, various documents recording his concubines, and a reward.

“Where is your father?”

“Master Kim left for Hwanghae-do immediately after receiving the royal decree.”

That day, Deoksu’s family threw all their belongings and had a feast.

And the story of the Deoksu family’s miraculous rise to status has become a local legend.

———

Note 1) A study on the operation method of a stone-type steel mill. Shin Kyeong-hwan, Kim Kwon-il, Choi Young-min.

Outdoor Archeology No. 22 (2015.03)