Black Corporation: Joseon

In the process of making various attempts, the most urgent issue to resolve was the material problem, and Hyang devoted all his efforts to solving this problem together with the craftsmen.

“At least steel isn’t much of a problem…”

As he summarized the situation, Hyang tapped his fingers on the desk and showed a slightly relieved expression.

In the early days of the reforms, the method of the craftsman who won the competition held among those who could make steel was similar to the way steel was produced in the 20th and 21st centuries. (Note 1)

As a result, after continuous improvements and modifications at the site and in Area 51, the quality and production volume of steel produced by Joseon became the best among the three Northeast Asian countries.

“The problem is that alloy steel is essential to make more superior performing objects, including steam engines…”

To solve this part, Hyang mobilized alchemists. However, Hyang still felt it was lacking.

“This alone is not enough. To get better results, we need furnaces and kilns that are more efficient or can withstand higher temperatures.”

Based on this situational awareness, Hyang proceeded with research on new furnaces and kilns together with the craftsmen.

“No, Your Highness! Didn’t you say that the current furnaces are already highly efficient? So why research new furnaces and kilns!”

Of course, Kim Jeom, tasked with setting the budget for the next year, was groaning.

Amidst this, what Hyang focused on was kilns that could withstand high temperatures.

“Since we can’t make electric furnaces, I need to create a kiln that can produce the highest possible temperature using resources that I, that Joseon can use stably now.”

Thus, prototypes of kilns that could operate at increasingly higher temperatures were created.

“The problem is that there are no measuring instruments that can precisely measure these temperatures…”

What Hyang found while pondering something suitable to check the performance was carbide.

***

Hyang learned about carbide in the 21st century when he was running a blacksmith shop in Yangsan. It was something he discovered in a barn while helping a nearby farm’s grandmother.

“So this is the carbide I’ve only heard about?”

Curious, Hyang immediately delved into carbide like a miner, and now he was putting that knowledge to use.

***

After a series of challenges and failures, a kiln that could maintain high enough temperatures to produce carbide was completed.

And Hyang presented the carbide produced as a result of the experiment to Sejong.

“Recently, Father has been saying his eyes are dim at night…”

Sejong was greatly satisfied when he saw the bright light of the carbide lamp made by modifying existing glass oil lamps.

“It’s so bright! And amazing! To light a fire using ores that aren’t even coal!”

Admiring the brightly shining carbide lamp, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“Can you mass-produce this?”

“If we increase the number of kilns, it’s possible, but…”

Hyang trailed off slightly and looked at Kim Jeom. From the moment Sejong mentioned mass production, Kim Jeom’s expression had become complicated. Seeing Kim Jeom like this, Sejong casually brought up:

“Aren’t the prices of oil used in lamps and candles quite expensive?”

At that moment, Kim Jeom’s expression brightened, and he immediately answered:

“I will prepare funds to build new kilns!”

And the court historian recording this event added the following:

The historian says:

According to rumors circulating, there are quite a few merchant groups waiting for Kim Jeom to resign. It’s said that not only his connections but also his management skills are evaluated as the best in Joseon. The problem is that His Majesty absolutely won’t allow his resignation.

As the quality of steel and processing technology gradually developed, and other related technologies progressively advanced, all sorts of new things began to emerge in Joseon.

***

“Prince, the Iron Horse is ready.”

“I’ve been waiting.”

At the interpreter’s notification, Henry’s party left the guest house.

“What is this?”

Seeing the rickshaws lined up at the entrance of the guest house, Henry questioned the interpreter. The interpreter smiled and answered Henry’s question.

“An honored guest of the country has come, how could we let you walk? So, we prepared rickshaws.”

“Is this the rumored rickshaw?”

At the interpreter’s answer, Henry’s eyes shone as he examined the rickshaw. It was something mentioned in rumors that had leaked from the Vatican.

“It has an interesting structure.”

As he examined the rickshaw, Henry muttered with an intrigued expression. What caught his eye was the axle part of the rickshaw. The seat and axle were positioned between two curved steel plates connected like a closed clam shell. In simple terms, the axle wasn’t directly attached to the passenger area but was in a suspended state.

“It’s really interesting.”

Muttering to himself like that, Henry sat in the chair and looked around it. In front of the chair was a pole that served both as a handle for getting on and off and for hanging lanterns.

And the chair he sat on had a cleanly dyed cushion laid on it.

“We’re departing!”

Following the interpreter’s shout, the rickshaws carrying Henry’s party began to move towards the Iron Horse station.

On the way to the station, Henry looked around again.

“Despite the smell, the roads are very clean.”

Unlike the offensive odor – the smell of Joseon’s fermented soybean paste – stimulating his nose, the roads were clean. Compared to European roads full of all sorts of filth, these Joseon roads were literally spotless.

“Hmm…”

As he observed the clean roads, Henry examined the Joseon people walking on them.

“Their clothes are clean, and their faces are clean too.”

Observing the neatly dressed Joseon people, Henry unconsciously muttered:

“Even ordinary people all walk around in clean attire, and there’s not a speck of dust on the roads… Just how prosperous a country is this Joseon?”

Unlike when he first arrived in Suez, Henry was becoming increasingly intimidated.

And when he saw the rumored Iron Horse at the station, Henry almost collapsed, his legs giving out.

Chik! Chwiik!

A huge mass of iron made of expensive steel stood there, puffing out black smoke. And behind this steel monster were luxuriously decorated passenger cars.

“You can board this way.”

“I understand.”

Boarding the train, Henry diligently examined his surroundings.

They said it was a car for honored guests, and indeed the interior was splendid. Large chairs with comfortable cushions were spaciously arranged, and tables of appropriate size were placed between each chair.

Queeeak!

A moment later, with a loud whistle, the Iron Horse departed. Henry and his party exclaimed in admiration as they observed the scenery outside the window.

“It’s faster than I thought!”

As the party marveled at the Iron Horse they were riding for the first time in their lives, after some time passed, they came to their senses and began to exchange opinions.

“On the way here to ride this Iron Horse, I noticed that all the Joseon people were clean.”

At Henry’s observation, his close aides and captains all nodded.

“That’s right. Except for that unidentifiable stench, both the people and the streets were clean.”

“It’s not just cleanliness. The men’s beards all looked different.”

“That’s right!”

“They seemed to have put quite some effort into them!”

“Beards…”

“That’s not all. Looking at the men we met at the guest house, except for the slaves, most of them had a fragrance coming from their bodies!”

Henry’s face grew increasingly serious as he recalled the faces of the men he had seen on the streets. Even ordinary people, not just nobles, manage their beards and wear perfume? This meant that even ordinary people had an abundance of economic leeway.

Finally, Henry cursed:

“This damned country really was a terrifying one…”

***

The technologies Hyang intervened in and developed were not only related to large, heavy, long, and big things.

Rather, Hyang paid more attention to light, thin, short, and small objects.

Among such small objects, there were those that were most influenced by the development of iron processing technology, and they were cutting tools, especially razor blades.

Regardless of East or West, men have had to pay attention to managing their beards since ancient times. The reason was not simply a matter of fashion, but it was directly linked to hygiene issues.

This was the same in Joseon. Regardless of status, Joseon men had to manage their beards once they started growing.

Joseon men trimmed their beards with small scissors and knives. However, the small scissors were cumbersome to use, and knives were dangerous.

As barbershops increased and competition became fierce, establishments that even offered shaving services increased. However, in places that didn’t properly manage their blades, conversations like this would pop up:

“Are you trying to shave my beard now, or are you trying to cut my neck?”

This was the same in the palace. The eunuch who trimmed the king’s beard was the one the king trusted most.

In this situation, through continued technological development, razor blades were born that were as thin as paper yet elastic, and could maintain an extremely sharp edge when sharpened.

And Hyang used this steel plate to make safety razor blades. After several attempts, Hyang created safety razor blades and razors to his liking and cheered.

“Finally! I can shave it all off!”

And when Kim Jeom saw the prototype – razor blade, facial lotion – that Hyang had made, he immediately rolled up his sleeves. (Note 2)

“How much budget do you need?”

‘Not only that razor blade thing, but it’s certain that the facial lotion will sell well too! This will definitely make money!’

“And this too…”

Seeing Kim Jeom’s reaction, Hyang took out scissors. Seeing the scissors boasting a gleaming blade unlike any he had seen before, Kim Jeom immediately replied:

“I’ll add this too!”

At Kim Jeom’s smooth answer, Hyang inwardly rejoiced.

‘As expected of Lord Kim Jeom! He recognized the value of the scissors!’

Knowing that in the 21st century, the scissors favored by hairdressers in beauty salons and barbers started at a minimum of several hundred thousand won, and most of them were Japanese-made, Hyang couldn’t just let the scissors go.

‘If we start building brand recognition now for at least a few hundred years, an unbreakable wall will be created afterward!’

And as such thin blades were created, Hyang smiled with satisfaction.

“Finally, I can bring out what I’ve been holding back!”

What Hyang had been holding back was the pencil.

***

With the discovery of graphite, Hyang immediately thought of pencils.

After several trials and errors, Hyang produced a usable pencil and soon fell into contemplation.

“The problem is that paper is an expensive item… And there’s the inconvenience of sharpening, and the eraser problem too…”

Thinking about these various issues that came with pencils, Hyang soon sorted them out one by one.

“Paper is now mass-produced as hwangji, so it’s just a matter of time, and as for erasers… This is also a matter of time. If it doesn’t work out, we can find things that can be used as erasers or just erase with saliva. The problem is the pencil sharpening issue. In a situation where alternatives like brushes or metal pens are already firmly established, it won’t sell if there’s the inconvenience of having to sharpen with a knife every time… Why do you think mechanical pencils were invented? We need a pencil sharpener that can sharpen easily…”

As a result, pencils had to exist only as a small number of prototypes until pencil sharpeners came out.

And the birth of razor blades also brought about the birth of pencil sharpeners, and pencils finally saw the light of day.

***

Note 1) Research on the operation method of stone-built iron furnaces. Shin Kyung-hwan, Kim Kwon-il, Choi Young-min. Outdoor Archaeology No. 22 (2015.03)

Note 2) If you look at the folk paintings of Kim Hong-do and Shin Yun-bok, you can often see images of noble men walking around with their beards completely shaved.