Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 789

Episode 789. Noblemen, go to Shinji. (1)

As soon as spring arrived and the northern sea routes were cleared, the empire organized a transport fleet. In order to successfully carry out tasks such as adjusting the types of ships that will make up the fleet and the date of the ship, Kim Jong-seo took over as the top manager.

Some said that it was excessive for Deputy Prime Minister Kim Jong-seo to step in, but many people thought that things could run smoothly if someone of Kim Jong-seo took charge.

This was because it was the empire’s first large-scale expedition.

Of course, the empire also had experience fighting wars and battles in which more troops were mobilized, such as the wars fought in Liaodong and the Battle of the Yellow Sea.

However, at the time, most supplies and troops were transported by land. This was the first time I had been on a long-distance transport or expedition by sea between the main site and the new site.

That is why Kim Jong-seo became the top person in charge.

* * *

“It’s fortunate that Area 52, located in Shinji, is doing its job. Huh~.”

Kim Jong-seo, who was looking at the records of the supplies to be loaded on the transport ship, sighed with an expression of relief. However, Kim Jong-seo, who was looking at the list, shouted at Han Myeong-hoe with a grim expression.

“Look, Apgu! The numbers here are wrong! Are you not doing your job properly? Should I send you to the records office?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s shout, Han Myeong-hoe ran up to him and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry!”

“If you apologize, don’t make something to apologize for!”

“I’m sorry!”

“Review it again and bring it back!”

“yep!”

Kim Jong-seo continued to beat as he watched Han Myeong-hoe quickly gather the documents.

“Did you forget to take proper care of it since it is the Empire’s first large-scale expedition? You must have forgotten that your name will be included in the report sent to the Emperor!”

“I will do my best.”

* * *

When Han Myeong-hoe first became Vice Minister of General Affairs, people around him did not look well.

-A man who rose to prominence simply because he served His Majesty nearby since he was crown prince.

This kind of backstory applied not only to Han Myeong-hoe but also to all four people.

Kim Jong-seo, who was the Minister of General Affairs at the time, gave this advice to Han Myeong-hoe.

“Try your best. If you make a mistake, not only will you be criticized, but it will also tarnish His Majesty’s prestige. What could be more disloyal than tarnishing the prestige that His Majesty has built up since he was crown prince?”

Han Myeong-hoe responded to Kim Jong-seo’s request by bowing his head.

“I will do my best!”

“I have high expectations.”

Afterwards, the Constitutional Council did its best. And Kim Jong-seo had a lot of fun with this Hanmyeonghoe.

“The fact that His Majesty has him in his inner circle means that he has that much ability, right? But is this really it?”

“I’ll try my best!”

Perhaps thanks to those efforts, the negative views toward Han Myeong-hoe and the gang of four gradually disappeared. However, because it did not completely disappear, the four could not relax.

* * *

“I’ll say it again, this is the Empire’s first large-scale maritime expedition! There can’t be any mistakes! I’ll say it again, your name will be included in the report sent to the Emperor. Don’t forget that it was the Emperor who selected you. “Don’t!”

“yep!”

Han Myeong-hoe, who answered in a loud voice, took the documents and left Kim Jong-seo’s office.

“Han Myeong-hoe, who came out, looked at the sky and sighed.

“Whew~. It’s been a while since I turned 50. Still getting beat up… Is this such a damn thing?”

Han Myeong-hoe, who was complaining while looking at the sky, looked towards where the prime ministers’ offices were and grumbled.

“People who are already over 80 are still lively, so they say, ‘Jeong Seung! Is it true that ‘longevity is essential to success?’”

Han Myeong-hoe, who returned to the General Affairs Department saying a mixture of jokes and seriousness, screamed as

soon as he passed through the entrance. “Jump under me right now!”

He was surprised by Han Myeong-hoe’s shout .

Executives quickly gathered in Han Myeong-hoe’s office. Han Myeong-hoe threw the report in his hand onto the desk and screamed,

“I’m going to work like this!”

“I apologize!”

“Don’t do anything that makes me sorry!”

Outside of Han Myeong-hoe’s meeting. The middle-level officials and low-level officials who were listening to the shouts sighed softly,

“I guess it’s going to break again…” “This is

why I hate layering…

”

Throughout the process, the expedition team prepared for departure step by step.

However, as Kim Jong-seo said, the burden was greatly reduced as Area 52 was operating normally in Shinji.

Various weapons and ammunition and gunpowder were smoothly produced in Area 52, and the wide fields of Shinji were maintained. Horses and cows were growing profusely in the empire.

Thanks to this, most of the preparations at the headquarters of the empire were completed by simply preparing the soldiers and the food and medicine they would eat during the voyage. What was

causing the officials the most trouble now was transportation and nature. It was a problem of the environment.

Even though the minimum battleship strength for the empire’s defense was gathered, it was impossible to transport 30,000 troops at once.

– At least 10 times.

The military had to make at least 10 round trips to transport 20,000 troops. We had concluded that it was possible. Considering the time it would take to travel to and from Shinji and the Northern Sea Route, which freezes over from early winter, it would take at least a year just for transportation, and it was a possible operation

only when there was no damage from typhoons or other natural disasters.

It would be nice…”

“It would be best to have a transport ship as big as the assault return ship…”

Those involved, especially the navy, could not hide their disappointment upon seeing the assault return ship.

* * *

Everyone involved in ships, including the navy and merchants, was keenly aware of the need for large ships.

-More bigger guns on bigger ships!

If this was the navy’s slogan, this was the merchants’ slogan.

– A big ship that can carry more cargo and move!

The demand for these larger ships grew, but it was not an easy task.

This was because the ship they requested was an iron ship, not a wooden ship.

Even in history before the intervention of the township, battleships and trade ships larger than the Challenger-class ships were made of wood.

However, people who saw the assault return ship came to think that ‘big ships are always iron ships.’

“We have already launched several iron assault ships, so why can’t we build bigger ships?”

Navy officials and merchants used to talk like this, and whenever they heard it, the artisans in Area 51 would swear.

“Fuck! You guys should make it!”

“If I had just said it would work, I would have already launched 100 pieces (approximately 300m) of iron boats!”

Steel and wood were materials with completely different characteristics. And the front lines and transport ships were different in design.

This meant that a lot of trial and error still awaited, which meant that more time and budget were needed. Although time was inevitable, budget was an issue.

In this situation, the news that Crown Prince Hyeon was fascinated by iron ships was the worst of bad news.

Hyeon, who saw the sudden return, fell into the iron ship and frantically devoured information about it.

When Jeong In-ji and everyone involved in Area 51 saw that, they all thought of ‘Duke Jinpyeong’.

“Even though he’s a master, that blood doesn’t go anywhere…”

“It’s been that way since the beginning…”

However, the ship officials in Area 51 started to get angry on their faces.

“The crown prince is interested? It’s a thousand years old!”

While the complexions of the ship’s officials were getting brighter, the complexions of the flying crew’s officials were getting worse.

Although it was a flying research department that was favored by the emperor, the real power of Area 51 of the research center was held by the crown prince. Since the Crown Prince was fascinated by iron ships, it was clear that more budget would be allocated to that area.

Of course, the budget would be adjusted once by Jeong In-ji and ultimately adjusted and approved by Emperor Wan. However, since the crown prince gave his support, it was certain that even a little more budget would go to the ship research department.

With a limited budget, it was natural for one party to receive more and the other to receive less.

While the joys and sorrows of the ship research department and the flying machine research department were going through each other, there were some who were carefree.

First, there was the Institutional Research Department and the Artillery Research Department.

“No matter how hard you work, if you don’t have an institution, you’re in vain.”

As the employees of the agency’s research department said, the Empire was focusing on improving and improving steam engines.

The same was true for the artillery research department. As long as the Ministry of National Defense was at the back and Ming and Japan were on both sides, there was almost no chance of the artillery research department’s budget being cut.

“By the way. Anyway, isn’t life a lot easier these days? Is it because the situation is in Shinji?”

“Is that so? That’s because Sang-tae is not here and old man Jang Yeong-sil is not there.”

The craftsmen of Area 51 were still burdened with a lot of work, but they felt psychologically comfortable without the two incomprehensibles of Hyang and Jang Yeong-sil.

It was because I didn’t know what Hyang was planning in Shinji.

* * *

“Let’s just wait…. What is the word ‘rubber’ in the local language? Hmm… Oh, that’s right! Chicle! Chicle is probably right!”

The scent that came up with the word ‘chicle’ immediately called the naegwan.

“Go get ‘shit’.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A little while later, after being called, Seok bowed down on the floor and bowed.

“See you, Your Majesty.”

“I’m still not good at the imperial language, but I’ve improved a lot.”

“Thank you!”

“Try harder.”

“yes!”

After praising the couple’s improved imperial language skills, Hyang got to the point.

“Perhaps. Do you know that when the juice from a tree dries, it turns into an elastic lump?”

“What gives you elasticity?”

“Hmm… let’s see…”

As various questions and explanations continued, Seok finally understood what Haeng wanted, closed his mouth, and searched through his memories. After taking a moment to remember, Seong immediately answered with a bright smile.

“Ah! There it is! There is a tree that produces juice like that! That juice is called chicle!”

At Seung’s answer, Hyang’s face also brightened.

“Oh! Is that so? Can you recognize that tree?”

“yes!”

“I see! So how does your tribe use the juice?”

“In the tribe of small people, they apply it to their feet during the rainy season. Apply it thickly and then cut it off when it dries. Then, your feet won’t get wet and it will be comfortable.”

‘These are natural boots.’

Hyang, who was muttering under his breath at Seok’s explanation, tilted his head to look at Seok’s face.

“You don’t look good. What’s going on?”

“We had to offer the juice to the Aztecs. Then the Aztecs made balls out of it and had us compete against each other.”

“Hmm… If I lose there, will I die?”

“Yes…”

“Tsk! Okay. I’m going to punish them soon, so prepare yourself too.”

“Thank you!”

Hyang, who let out a sigh, clicked her tongue again and muttered.

“It definitely feels different from reading it as a record and hearing it in person… Anyway, the conquering army will come soon, so we can sort things out.”

As for the Aztec, after wrapping that up, I moved on to the real interest.

“By the way, they even mentioned lightning and made people call it brain power, but how do we draw attention to this? Should we really fly a kite on a day when lightning strikes?”