Black Corporation: Joseon

Two days later, a new official document was posted on the large bulletin boards of the research institute and Area 51.

-New Entry in the Challenge Record.

Date: 7th day of the 1st month, Year of Gyechuk (1433).

Proposer: Prince Jinpyeong.

Content:

Connect a land transportation route by building a bridge between the Maritime Province and Jongjangdo.

Grade: Moving Mountains (愚公移山) Upper Level

Proposer’s Rank: Pioneer (先驅)

Although it was a brief official notice, everyone who read its contents nodded their heads.

“As expected, it’s His Highness Prince Jinpyeong.”

“Who else but him would think of such an idea?”

“It says land transportation, but it must mean a railway, right?”

“Of course.”

As they discussed, all the researchers and craftsmen had the same thought.

“If it’s been added to the Challenge Record, doesn’t that mean they think it’s possible?”

“Even though the grade is Moving Mountains… But the fact that it’s in the Challenge Record itself means it’s possible, right?”

The researchers considered it potentially feasible simply because it had been added to the Challenge Record.

***

The Challenge Record was created by Hyang to inspire a spirit of challenge among the researchers and craftsmen of the research institute.

Hyang created this when he realized that the researchers and craftsmen were too passive.

Until then, the vast majority of tasks carried out in the research institute and Area 51 were based on Hyang’s instructions.

“His Highness the Crown Prince will think of something.”

“That’s right. We just need to do what His Highness tells us to do.”

Most researchers and craftsmen held this mindset while diligently carrying out their assigned tasks.

Upon confirming this situation, Hyang clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! I went through all those trial and errors to avoid seeing this sorry state…”

When first establishing the research institute and Area 51 and proceeding with weapon development, Hyang had endured numerous trials and errors and wasted time. The reason for this was to prevent the current passive situation.

However, as time passed, the researchers and craftsmen became passive.

But this couldn’t be entirely blamed on the researchers and craftsmen.

They had become passive because they were overwhelmed just by turning the various concepts and ideas Hyang had presented into proper theories and proving them.

“This won’t do! If we don’t come up with something…”

Displeased with this passive atmosphere, Hyang racked his brains to find a solution, and thus the Challenge Record was created.

“There are two things that make even a whale fly in the sky. One is incentive, the other is honor. We’re already using incentives well, so we should use honor.”

Hyang stimulated people’s desire for honor.

If an idea passed the strict review of Hyang, Jeong-cho, Jeong In-ji, Lee Chun, and other top executives and was registered in the Challenge Record, the date of registration, the proposer, and its contents were announced and accurately recorded.

As long as that record existed, everyone would know who first came up with the idea.

There were 9 grades created in this way.

First, 3 main grades:

Lone Army’s Struggle (孤軍奮鬪): Difficult, but seems solvable within one generation.

Grinding an Axe into a Needle (磨斧作針): Extremely difficult, but there’s a possibility of solving it within three generations.

Moving Mountains (愚公移山): It will take more than three generations of time and effort, but there’s a possibility.

These 3 grades were further divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, creating a total of 9 grades.

Moreover, those who solved the challenges listed in the Challenge Record would also have their names recorded in it.

After announcing this Challenge Record system, the atmosphere among the researchers and craftsmen gradually began to change according to Hyang’s intentions.

One by one, creative opinions and ideas that even Hyang hadn’t anticipated began to emerge.

***

Believing in the feasibility of the project due to its inclusion in the Challenge Record, the researchers flocked to the archive attached to the research institute.

After examining the relevant reports and maps sent by the Ministry of National Defense, all the researchers shook their heads.

“Even at its narrowest point, it’s said to be a full 8 kilometers…”

“Even if the grade is Moving Mountains…”

“Do His Highness the Crown Prince and Minister Jeong-cho really think this is possible?”

“They must think it’s possible, since it’s in the Challenge Record, right?”

The researchers discussing this all shook their heads.

“Even if it’s the Moving Mountains grade, and even the upper level at that, this is a bit…”

“I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince is thinking too lightly of this…”

Even as they voiced these concerns, the researchers’ eyes were shining.

“But the fact that it’s in the Challenge Record means there’s a possibility of realization! The moment we succeed, our names will go down in history! Even though it’s more than three generations, even just creating a provable theoretical method will be recorded!”

***

Area 51, Engine Research Department.

“The construction folks have been busy lately, is something going on?”

To the junior researcher’s question, the senior researcher answered in a dull voice, his eyes fixed on the blueprint.

“They’re all worked up about building a bridge that’s 8 kilometers long.”

“8 kilometers? You’d start crossing after breakfast and finish by lunchtime.”

“Never mind that, did you find what I asked you to look into?”

Realizing the senior researcher’s mood wasn’t good, the junior researcher hurriedly put down the books.

“Ah, yes! I found some good material in the Wujing Zongyao[1] you mentioned.”

At the junior researcher’s answer, the senior researcher’s face brightened.

“Really? So my memory wasn’t wrong! Let me see!”

At the senior researcher’s words, the junior researcher flipped through the book, opened the relevant section, and handed it to the senior researcher.

“It’s this part!”

“Hmm…”

Taking the book, the senior researcher examined the content of the relevant section.

“Chariot Raft[2]… Inside the boat, sailors step on pedals to turn the wheels outside…”

After checking the illustration and content, the senior researcher ordered the junior researcher.

“The picture is small, so copy it onto a larger sheet of paper.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

The enlarged copy of the illustration by the junior researcher was soon posted on the wall of the Engine Research Department.

“A wheeled raft… Are they suggesting using wheels?”

To the deputy head’s question, the senior researcher nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… Not bad.”

At the deputy head’s words, the researchers and craftsmen of the department nodded.

A monk who was examining the illustration with them joined the conversation.

“I’ve seen a similar illustration before.”

“Where?”

“Please wait a moment!”

The monk, who had dashed off somewhere and returned, pulled out a thick parchment book from his chest.

“It’s a book called ‘De Rebus bellicis’. It mentions that ancient Rome used a similar boat.”

“Let me see.”

The researchers huddled around the book, putting their heads together.

After examining the contents for a while, the researchers nodded.

“Is it using oxen instead of people?”

“It should be more powerful than the wheeled raft in the Wujing Zongyao.”

“It seems to be an application of the donkey-powered millstone.”

After listening to the researchers’ opinions and organizing his thoughts, the deputy head concluded.

“Let’s try to adapt this to the steam engine.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Remember, we need to prepare a report and blueprints to submit to His Highness as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

Ten days later, Hyang received the report and blueprints and examined them with a face full of curiosity.

As he looked over the records of similar ships conceived in both the East and West, Hyang chuckled.

“They say human thoughts are all alike… By the way, is this China where people are abundant? Almost everything relies on manpower…”

After making his own assessment, Hyang asked the deputy head.

“Looking at the blueprints, are you planning to build a test ship based on this?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s going to be quite costly, isn’t it?”

To Hyang’s question, the deputy head answered with a resigned expression.

“It can’t be helped. We must prove it empirically.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment at the deputy head’s words, Hyang stood up.

“I’ll try to find another method.”

‘If I submit this directly to Father, Minister Kim Jeom will try to eat me alive!’

“Yes, I understand.”

As Hyang left the office, he muttered while walking.

“Paddle wheels aren’t very efficient, how can I lead them to a propeller method?”

As Hyang was pondering how to find a good method, another thought occurred to him.

“Wait a minute… Mounting a steam engine on the already formidable Challenger-class warships? The Europeans would curse like mad. They’d say we have no sense of fair play.”

As Hyang let his imagination run wild about the butterfly effect that would occur with the installation of steam engines, he smirked and concluded.

“Not my problem.”

***

The place Hyang visited after leaving the office was Jang Yeong-sil’s workshop.

After moving to Area 51, Jang Yeong-sil had been promoted repeatedly from Byeoljwa to Jeongrang.

When the organizational structure of the research institute and Area 51 changed through reforms, he was offered the position of Head Director of the Development Department, but Jang Yeong-sil refused.

“I am a craftsman who works with objects, not a civil servant who handles documents! The position of director doesn’t fit me. My place is where I wield saws and hammers.”

Hyang gave a wry smile at the sight of Jang Yeong-sil, who, befitting someone in the realm of the ‘incomprehensible’, refused a high position.

‘That man has become a true enthusiast too.’

Thanks to this, Jang Yeong-sil received a new position.

‘Director of the Technical Verification Department’

It was a department that created physical prototypes to verify whether the blueprints or technologies produced by the research department were actually usable.

It was the perfect position for Jang Yeong-sil.

***

“You could have called for me, why have you come to such a humble place?”

Jang Yeong-sil couldn’t hide his embarrassment as he welcomed Hyang to his workshop.

“Haha! Sometimes moving like this is good for health! And…”

Hyang continued as he looked around Jang Yeong-sil’s workshop.

“I heard you’ve been making many interesting things lately, so I came to see.”

“Ah…”

At Hyang’s words, Jang Yeong-sil’s eyes lit up playfully as he offered a seat.

“Please, have a seat first. Apprentice! Bring two cups of black tea here!”

“Yes, Master!”

Seeing this, Hyang’s eyes brightened.

“I did receive a report that you had taken on an apprentice.”

“Yes. He’s a good boy.”

A moment later, a young man who looked about the same age as Hyang entered carrying a teapot.

The young man stood at the opposite end of the conference table where Jang Yeong-sil and Hyang were seated, placed two cups on a tray held by a small doll, and wound up the spring on the doll’s back.

Char-rrr~

With the sound of the spring unwinding, the doll holding the tray slowly moved towards Jang Yeong-sil. Using wheels hidden between its legs, the doll glided smoothly and stopped right in front of Jang Yeong-sil.

Seeing Hyang frozen with a surprised look on his face, Jang Yeong-sil smiled slightly and took a cup from the tray, placing it in front of Hyang.

“Your Highness, please drink.”

Click!

As the two cups were removed from the tray, with a small mechanical sound, the doll turned 180 degrees and returned to its original position.

Hyang, who had been staring blankly at the doll, turned to Jang Yeong-sil.

“What’s that?”

“Ah! It’s a spring-powered doll I made for entertainment while working on self-moving chairs and precision clocks. It’s very good for enjoying leisure time.”

As Jang Yeong-sil spoke with an expression that suggested it was nothing special, Hyang inwardly exclaimed.

‘People! There’s a monster here!’

It was the appearance of something akin to the automatons that began to be made in 17th century Europe and the karakuri (からくり) made in 19th century Japan, now in the 15th century.

A moment later, having regained his composure, Hyang looked around once more and spoke.

“Do you have any other entertainment items?”

At Hyang’s question, Jang Yeong-sil held up a complex wooden bundle hanging on one wall.

“This is something I made after being inspired by watching the deolmi (puppet shows) performed by traveling entertainers.”

After finishing his explanation, Jang Yeong-sil slipped his arm into the wooden frame and put his hand into the attached glove. Thick threads were connected to each finger of the glove, leading into the wooden frame. And at the end of the wooden frame were model fingers mimicking human fingers.

Kki-gi-gik.

As Jang Yeong-sil moved his gloved fingers, the wooden model fingers moved in exactly the same way.

As an unexpected object revealed its existence, Hyang could only open and close his mouth in amazement.

武經摠要. Also known as ‘The Complete Essentials for the Military Classics, is a Chinese military compendium written from around 1040 to 1044.[↵]車輪舸圖[↵]