Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 87

Episode 87 Tragedy of Concrete (2)

The first construction section of the paved road was a road that started from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun and ran through the north and south of central Hanseong.

Because it was the most important road in Hanseong, along with Unjong Street, which runs through the interior of Hanseong from east to west, the township mobilized all available labor.

While coordinating the schedule, the township discussed plans for manpower mobilization.

“If the manpower that can be mobilized in Hanseong is insufficient, mobilize manpower from nearby departments and counties.”

“The busy farming season is just beginning.”

“Mobilize one person from each house, but only for ten days. “After those 10 days, we mobilize people from different households one by one.”

The official, who had been thinking about Hyang’s words for a moment, nodded.

“I think it’ll be okay.”

After deciding how to mobilize manpower and taking a short break, Hyang complained.

“Whew~ Is it a good thing that they didn’t bring people from the Samnam region like they did during the reign of King Taejo and King Taejong?”

Hyang let out a long sigh at the fact that it was fortunate that manpower could be mobilized near Hanseong.

“Whoa~. “If only there had been a few excavators and bulldozers… and ready-mixed concrete…”

As construction began, I felt a particular nostalgia for the construction machines of the 21st century.

The village became even more determined when faced with the reality of having to use oxen or donkeys to do some work if it seemed too difficult to do with manpower.

“No matter what happens, let’s build a steam engine first!”

“huh? “I suddenly got a chill…”

“You too?”

Officials and craftsmen who were researching steam engines and various other objects in the research center and Area 51 suddenly felt chills all over their bodies.

“I have to make some medicine and take it…”

“Do you know a doctor who is brave?”

* * *

Even in the 21st century, construction of this magnitude had to be done in sections, so the township also had to proceed with the construction in sections.

However, the size of that section was so small that it was tearful compared to the 21st century.

Still, Hyang tried his best to increase efficiency as much as possible.

Not only did they mobilize manpower from the area around Hanseong, but they also created equipment that increased efficiency.

Among them, the most made were concrete agitators and wheelbarrows.

The incense sticks, which ranged from small ones that were manually operated to large ones that used oxen or donkeys, explained how to use them to officials and directors.

“You can use a large agitator on the main road from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun, and use a small agitator on the small roads around it.”

“It will be okay. “For plaster, it is important to mix sand, gravel, and slaked lime well, and I think this stirrer will be really useful.”

Officials and directors were very pleased with the agitator. As reported to Hyang, the most important thing when using plaster was that slaked lime, which is the main element of plaster, and sand gravel should be well mixed.

In the case of traditional lime dough, a mixture of water and sand-lime was stirred by pressing it against the wall, but this was not easy for plaster, which was thinner than lime dough.

This problem was the first thing pointed out in Area 51 when slaked lime was first made.

In the end, Hyang came up with the idea of a stirrer through memories of the 21st century, and craftsmen were able to create the stirrer after many trials and errors.

* * *

“stop! stop!”

The people who were pouring mortar over the gravel and rebar stopped their work when the construction supervisor shouted at them.

“This plaster here! “Someone mixed it up!”

There was a cart standing at the location pointed out by the construction foreman, and the foreman was running around looking at the plaster loaded on the cart.

“This plaster! “Who mixed it up?”

“At the stirrer over there….”

“Drag that damn thing and follow me!”

The worker who was pulling the cart followed the director with a tearful expression on his face.

“Are you here?”

“yes.”

After hearing the worker’s answer, the director lifted the tablet he was carrying next to him. The director, who found the name of the person in charge on the list attached to the tablet, raised his voice.

“Chief Jang! Jang Mangok Banjang! “Where is the class president?”

At the director’s shout, a furry man came running towards him.

“What’s going on?”

“What are you going to do if we mix the plaster like this and send it to you? ok? Is this plaster? “It’s beautiful!”

“yes?”

In response to the director’s scolding, Captain Jang looked at the plaster in the cart and looked frustrated.

The plaster in the cart looked very thin even to him.

“If I spray this on, I think it will harden properly! “No, let alone hardening, do you think my strength will come out?”

“I’m sorry!”

“Make the dough again and send it to me! “If something like this comes again, I know you’ll be blown away!”

“I’ll do it right and send it to you!”

“Egh! Time is already running out! “You can’t even pick a piece of plaster properly!”

The supervisor, who poured out his insults to Captain Jang, clicked his tongue and left.

Captain Jang, who was scolded by the director, glared at the workers in charge of stirring with an angry face.

“Which guy did this?”

“….”

When no one raised their hand in response to Captain Jang’s question, Captain Jang shouted.

“Which bastard made this plaster! “If you don’t come out for three counts, I’ll make you all play stick figures under the scorching sun!”

At Captain Jang’s shout, all the workers’ eyes focused on one person.

“Is that you?”

“I’m sorry!”

“bastard! I said to shovel the plaster. Who said to shred the porridge? “I told you to get the proportions right even though it was difficult, but you didn’t!”

“I’m sorry!”

“it’s okay! Take this and use it properly! “If you mess up like that again, I’ll cut you off right away!”

“Yes yes!”

The worker who received the warning dragged the cart and headed to the agitator he was in charge of.

As this happened several times in the field, reports were made to the local government.

“Are you not even good at supervising the mixing of the plaster?”

“I’m sorry!”

All the supervisors had to bow their heads in response to the village’s reprimand.

“It is clear that there is not enough time for work. And I know very well that it is not an easy task, but what are we going to do when such poor work occurs?”

“We will make sure this never happens again!”

“Don’t forget that you are officials who have received orders. And don’t forget that this type of civil engineering work will continue in the future.”

‘If you’re wrong, there’s no promotion!’ The directors all responded in loud voices to the warning of the scent, which was full of meaning.

“I will do my best!”

After this road construction, a new proverb was born among the people.

‘Because it’s called ash porridge, I porridge porridge.’

It was a proverb that compared a task given to someone but not being able to do it properly.

* * *

Many tools suggested by the local government and made by craftsmen were used at the road construction site.

Among those items, there was one item that not only those working in the field but also the general public liked very much.

It was a cart.

Even in Joseon, carts were already common items.

However, the height of the luggage compartment of the existing cart was very high.

However, Hyang created a new cart based on the wheel cart that was commonly used in the 21st century.

The carts made of pig iron, which were mass-produced at the first state-run steel mill built in Anju last year under the direction of Kim Deok-su, were much stronger than the carts up to that time.

“This is a monster!”

Workers who used the handcart for the first time all gave rave reviews.

After seeing the workers’ reactions, the directors reported straight to the top.

“Float, float, more float!”

Of course, since there was no rubber, the wheels had to be made with wood and iron plates, which was the only regret of the fragrance.

It was a moment for the general public to realize the value of carts used at construction sites.

“Does that look really good?”

The merchants who saw the people’s reaction smelled money.

“It flies! Fly! “It smells like money!”

The merchants who smelled the money and searched for the source of their carts lamented as soon as they found out the source.

“Area 51 again!”

“You’re the crown prince again!”

But the really fast merchants hurried to the government office.

“Hey, Nari. Where do I go to the Intellectual Property Management Office?”

The official who received the merchant’s question looked up and down the merchant’s movements and then opened his mouth.

“Do you want to register or use it?”

“I want to use it.”

In response to the merchant’s answer, the official raised his hand and pointed in the direction.

“Go into Hojo over there, turn left, and go through the door on the right side of the building.”

“Thank you.”

“You can make a lot of money and pay a lot of taxes. Hojo bastards die. Damn bastards… they’re talking about budgets…”

“Yes?”

“Okay, just mind your business.”

“Yes…”

After ending the conversation, the official and the merchant went their separate ways.

* * *

The ‘Intellectual Property Management Office’ was an organization created by Hyang at the request of King Sejong to make it an official central agency.

“Eh…. ‘The property rights of the person who first created a new object are guaranteed.’ I understand what it means. However, since you say it is intellectual property, it appears that knowledge is also included, correct?”

Hyang nodded to Hwang Hee’s question.

“you’re right. “The idea is to include skills and knowledge as well.”

“Tangible objects, such as objects, are easy to prove because they are visible, but knowledge is intangible. “Wouldn’t it be difficult to admit it easily?”

“That’s right. So, you have to write it in visible sentences and get reviewed.”

“But isn’t it beautiful to share knowledge with each other?”

When Hwang Hee and the other ministers showed expressions of not understanding, Hyang gave an example.

“Do you know why the saying ‘Retirement of the Chief of Staff’ came about?”

“yes.”

“The superintendent has created a very beautiful sentence after refining it over the years. But what if someone else takes that sentence and uses it however they want and becomes famous? What would you do if you used that sentence to pass the state examination to Daegwa and everyone thought it was his?”

Ultimately, what the Intellectual Property Management Office deals with includes all intangible knowledge.

Many patents began to be registered in the intellectual property management office created in this way. Most of them came from Hyang’s lab and Area 51, but there were some that didn’t.

As this intellectual property management office began to operate, interesting things began to happen. Among those who had registered their original technologies or objects, those who became successful overnight began to appear.

As a result, the number of artisans, merchants, and poor noblemen who devoted themselves to inventions or developing new technologies began to increase.

It was Joseon, where the industrial revolution was slowly beginning to burn.

* * *

As the handcart was establishing itself as a new hit product, there was someone who was looking at the handcart carefully.

“Do you have any grudge against Jang Jeong-rang’s cart? Why are you glaring so fiercely?”

In response to a question from a passing colleague, Jang Yeong-sil smiled awkwardly and stood up.

“Ah… I wanted to see the structure in more detail.”

“If it’s a rescue, you can go to the Area 51 library or the research lab library… If you’re friends with Jang Jeong-rang, can’t you take it out of the East Palace safe and look at it?”

“Drawings are important, but seeing them with your own eyes really makes sense…”

“Hahaha! “Jang Jeong-rang is also really special!”

‘Jang Yeong-sil is showing interest in handcarts.’ The rumor reached Hyang’s ears a beat late. This was because the town was extremely busy with recovery from the great fire and road paving construction.

After hearing the rumor, Hyang immediately called Jang Yeong-sil.

‘I guess that’s not the case?’

“Jang Jeongrang. “I heard you’re showing interest in handcarts these days.”

“Yes sir. Actually, I’m thinking of making a new kiln, and I think the structure of a handcart will be helpful. The way this kiln works is that you build it yourself…”

“Never try to build it alone! Order! Create a development team immediately and proceed! And everything must be done with your permission!”

Hyang was shocked and interrupted Jang Yeong-sil. Jang Yeong-sil was puzzled by the reaction to the scent, which was completely different from usual, but bowed her head under the harshness of the scent.

“Yes yes! “I will!”

Jang Yeong-sil said she would, but Hyang, who was not relieved, called the eunuch.

“Bring Chief Jeongcho and Chief Icheon here immediately!”

“Yes sir!”

After giving the order to the eunuch, Hyang glared at Jang Yeong-sil.

‘You idiot! If you do it wrong, your head will fly off! ‘Why are you looking so unfair?’

Jeong Cho and Icheon, who rushed to the village after receiving a call from the village, were ordered by the village to organize a development team.

“Is it necessary to form a development team to build a kiln?”

“Jang Jeongrang. “Please explain.”

“yes? “Yes sir.”

At the Hyang’s command, Jang Yeong-sil explained the kiln she wanted to build.

After hearing Jang Yeong-sil’s explanation, Jeong Cho and Lee Cheon looked a little perplexed.

“The kiln moves on its own?”

“Is it possible to move on your own?”

Hyang intervened in Lee Cheon’s reaction.

“If you think about it that way, wouldn’t it be the same for locomotives?”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s point, Lee Cheon says, ‘Ah!’ He made a face like that, but Jeong Cho raised a counterargument.

“A locomotive is a large piece of equipment that moves on a dedicated road. However, a palanquin moves on an already paved road and is smaller than a locomotive.”

“So, let’s form a development team. If successful, don’t you think it will be useful in many ways? “Not only in the livelihood of the people, but also in the military aspect.”

Jeong Cho and Icheon fell into deep thought at Hyang’s words.

After much deliberation, Jeong Cho and Icheon came up with an answer.

“It’s worth a try.”

“Even if I fail, I think I will gain something.”

“Good!” Form a development team immediately!”

In this way, the ‘agreement’ that caused Jang Yeong-sil to disappear from history bounced off in an unexpected direction.