Black Corporation: Joseon

1″If it’s difficult for Father to leave the palace, couldn’t we bring the mineral water here?”

“Considering the amount needed for daily bathing, face washing, and drinking, a considerable quantity would be required. The effort to transport that would be substantial…”

“We can use the traction engine.”

At Hyang’s words, the Royal Physician stopped speaking and immediately bowed his head. Seeing this, King Sejong made a decision.

“Have it brought using the traction engine.”

“We humbly accept your command.”

After the meeting ended, Hyang, who left Geunjeongjeon Hall, excitedly headed to Area 51.

“Yes! I can hear the sound of money coming in!”

***

Ten days later, the traction engine returned, pulling freight cars loaded with large wooden barrels full of mineral water.

Of course, it didn’t take ten days for the round trip. The time for the round trip and filling the water took only four days in total. The remaining six days were spent making dedicated wooden barrels – similar to oak barrels – for containing the carbonated water.

“It feels refreshing to the eyes!”

King Sejong, who washed his eyes with the transported carbonated water, was very satisfied with the feeling. Then, a eunuch respectfully offered King Sejong a tray with a bowl full of carbonated mineral water.

“Ah! The water is truly spicy!”

King Sejong exclaimed, wiping the tears that involuntarily formed in his eyes from the intense stimulation of the carbonation in the water.

“It’s spicy, but it feels like it’s clearing out my insides! I’ve been feeling stuffy inside, but this is very good!”

After that, King Sejong took light baths and washed his face with the Chojeong mineral water and drank it as a beverage.

Whether it was the effect of the hot spring bath followed by the carbonated mineral water bath, King Sejong’s skin condition subsided considerably. Of course, the bath wasn’t everything. Accepting the strong recommendations of the Royal Physician and Hyang, he started getting up from his seat every shi-jin (about 2 hours) to walk around Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, and he also consistently resumed skipping rope, which he had often skipped doing until now.

“This alone is a bit lacking… I should make those things I’ve been saying I’d make but have been neglecting.”

Hyang made the exercise equipment he had only planned until now and installed it in the backyard of Gangnyeongjeon Hall.

Of course, although it was called exercise equipment, it wasn’t like the grand equipment found in 21st-century gyms. It was an imitation of simple equipment that guaranteed minimum performance, very similar to the simple exercise equipment installed at mineral springs or riversides.

Hyang was able to make this because when he lived in Yangsan, it was his job to maintain the exercise equipment placed in front of the village community center.

While installing the exercise equipment in the backyard of Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Hyang grumbled with a face full of regret.

“I wanted to make things like those used in gyms… But for that, we’d need to unify weights and measures first, and that’s impossible…”

Hyang stopped speaking and sighed.

“Sigh~. Even with such strict supervision, the fact that weights and measures aren’t unified yet, damn it!”

***

The units of weights and measures used in Joseon during this period were literally ‘chaotic confusion.’

Even the chi (尺), the most commonly used unit of length, was used in several types, such as the construction chi (營造尺) and the Zhou chi (周尺).

Of course, each of these chi had different uses, but it was certainly less efficient than having a unified standard.

Therefore, when the reforms began, efforts were made to unify the length units based on the construction chi, but the situation was not yet perfectly unified.

As a side note, the reason for choosing the construction chi as the standard was because of its characteristics – it was mainly used as a carpentry chi – which gave it a strong character as a standard chi, and also because Hyang was familiar with it.

“Even in the 21st century, 1 ja was about 30cm… It’s good to use what’s familiar, right?”

***

The exercise equipment made in this way showed considerable effect on King Sejong. King Sejong was very pleased because using the equipment for about 1 shi-jin invigorated his body, but Hyang unexpectedly became depressed.

“Does this mean Father’s physical age was at the level of old men at mineral springs?”

Watching King Sejong repeatedly saying “This is very good!” while using the exercise equipment, Hyang became depressed and kept grumbling.

“What’s the use of building up the body during the Crown Prince period? It all goes to waste when you become king…”

***

What the Crown Prince learned was not just Confucian classics. With the goal of ‘excelling in both literary and martial arts’, he had to learn archery, horsemanship, and wrestling to quite a high level, using military officers from the Inner Palace Guard as instructors. Because of this, a Crown Prince who received proper education would develop a considerably strong physique.

However, Hyang came to have a different perspective.

“It seems like they’re building up the body in advance to have many children. Is this some kind of Joseon seed spreader…”

While grumbling like this, looking at King Sejong’s robust physique, there was something that even Hyang had forgotten.

King Sejong was not someone who had been educated as the Crown Prince from a young age. He had lived as a grand prince, and soon after being invested as Crown Prince, he was abdicated to.

***

Anyway, when the exercise equipment thus made showed its effect, orders came down from the Queen’s quarters as well. Thanks to this, Hyang had to make exercise equipment for Queen Soheon, the royal concubines, and his own women.

And seeing its effect, requests also came in from the Inner Palace Guard and the military.

“It seems more effective than just making them run and lift stones.”

Hearing the words of Jo Mal-saeng and the commander of the Inner Palace Guard, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~. Talk to the Ministry of Finance, no, the budget executor, and bring the budget first.”

And the rumors of these exercise equipment crossed the West Sea.

***

“Are these the rumored exercise equipment?”

“That’s right. Has this rumor spread even to the Ming Empire?”

At King Sejong’s question, the Ming envoy nodded heavily.

“Yes, rumors are rampant that it’s very helpful for health cultivation. Very rampant indeed.”

Grasping the hidden meaning in the envoy’s words, King Sejong immediately responded.

“Then we’ll make and send them right away for His Majesty the Emperor. Crown Prince.”

Hyang, who was listening to King Sejong’s words from the side, immediately answered.

“Yes. I will gather the best craftsmen and make them with the highest quality and utmost effort.”

At the words of King Sejong and Hyang, the Ming envoy beamed with a broad smile.

“Thank you so much! His Majesty will truly be pleased!”

“Isn’t it our duty to do our best for the friendship between the great country and our Joseon?”

King Sejong spoke with a smile, but Hyang felt there was some hidden meaning.

And there were no ministers who opposed this proposal.

King Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers all had the same thought.

‘The current Emperor is the best counterpart! We must avoid at all costs having some strange fellow ascend to the throne by dying early!’

The ‘spy incident’ that only the ministers and a very small number of working-level officials knew about and had buried never occurred again.

“Why?”

There was an intense exchange of opinions about why it didn’t recur, and the conclusion reached by King Sejong and the ministers was as follows:

-It’s certain that it wasn’t an incident that occurred under the Emperor’s orders, but one carried out independently by those below him. And it’s certain that the Emperor, upon learning of this, stopped it.

Of course, it was a conclusion with a fairly high probability of not being true. But even if that wasn’t the case, the Xuande Emperor was a very good counterpart for Joseon. There was clearly something coming in return for what was sent, and there was no forceful demand.

The Xuande Emperor was someone who strived to maintain good relations with Joseon to the extent that rumors circulated saying ‘The current Emperor of Ming is not the Emperor of Ming but the Emperor of Joseon’, ‘The current Son of Heaven is the Son of Heaven of Goryeo’.

Therefore, Joseon was earnestly praying for the Xuande Emperor to remain in his position for a long time.

And whether the prayer worked, or due to the butterfly effect, the Xuande Emperor was gradually changing.

‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is doing his utmost to prevent his father, the King, from getting fat!’

Hearing this rumor, the Xuande Emperor called the Imperial Physician and asked a question.

“Is getting fat bad for health?”

Looking at the Xuande Emperor, who had a considerably obese physique, though not as much as his father the Hongxi Emperor, the Imperial Physician carefully chose his words and answered.

“In all things, maintaining moderation is the best, Your Majesty.”

At the Imperial Physician’s answer, the Xuande Emperor smacked his lips.

“You’re telling me to lose weight.”

Thanks to this, when the rumored exercise equipment arrived from Joseon, the Xuande Emperor was very pleased.

“Only the King of Joseon truly cares for me!”

***

While Hyang was doing his best for King Sejong’s health like this, on the other hand, he was also making something not so good.

“I missed cola! And the best money-making business is selling water!”

What Hyang was trying to make was carbonated drinks.

As a large amount of Chojeong mineral water was steadily supplied using the traction engine, Hyang rushed to King Sejong.

“What is it?”

“I would like to have one barrel of the supplied mineral water for a while, if possible.”

“Mineral water? Why?”

“I have something I want to make, Father.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong narrowed his eyes and asked.

“What is there to make with mineral water? Are you trying to make something strange again?”

“No, not at all!”

Although King Sejong’s expression was still full of disbelief, he soon made a decision.

“Alright, I permit it. But! Don’t make anything dangerous!”

“Yes, Father!”

***

Having received King Sejong’s permission and obtained the barrel of mineral water, Hyang moved it to Area 51 and immediately gave orders.

“Go to the ice storage right away and bring some of the fruit preserves we’ve been keeping.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“And tell Pietro and Raphael to bring those glass bottles I mentioned before!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“And tell Director Jang Yeong-sil to bring that machine I talked about before!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“And transfer some of that water from the barrel outside into smaller containers and bring them in!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Ah! Also, tell Lord Jeong Cho and Elder Jeong In-ji to come!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s orders pouring down like a sudden shower, the eunuchs and staff moved busily here and there.

A moment later, Pietro, Raphael, and Jang Yeong-sil entered carrying glass bottles and a machine with a lever attached.

Following them, eunuchs entered carrying various types of fruit preserves.

Finally, small containers filled with transferred carbonated water were brought in, and Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji arrived.

When the preparations were complete, Hyang opened his mouth, looking at the people.

“Then, let’s begin.”

***

Through the tasting process that followed, the appropriate ratio of fruit preserves, and the mixing ratio of carbonated mineral water and plain water were determined.

“I didn’t know the carbonated water of this period would be this strong.”

Hyang muttered, looking at the undiluted Chojeong mineral water. As if the rumor heard in the 21st century – that the carbonation of Chojeong mineral water had weakened – was true, the 15th-century Chojeong mineral water was so strong it made one’s eyes water.

Thanks to this, Hyang and the people had to drink the beverage to the point of satiation to find the dilution ratio that would give just a pleasant refreshing feeling.

After finding the mixing ratio of fruit preserves, carbonated water, and plain water like this, Hyang filled it into pre-made glass bottles and sealed them with bottle caps.

Of course, the ring-shaped sealing rubber that goes inside the metal bottle cap to prevent carbonation from leaking was not available in this situation. So thick paper was used as a substitute.

When properly sealed beverage bottles were produced after several experiments, Hyang took them and went to see King Sejong.

“Is that the rumored sweet water?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Well, let me taste it.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang, who answered confidently, pulled out a bottle opener from his sleeve. King Sejong’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the bottle opener.

“What is that? It looks like a rice paddle with a hole in it.”

“This is for opening the cap that seals the bottle’s mouth.”

Pop!

Along with his answer, Hyang opened the bottle cap. As the bottle cap came off with a cheerful noise, Hyang handed the bottle to the Chief Royal Secretary.

King Sejong, who received the bottle through the Chief Royal Secretary, immediately brought it to his mouth.

“Ah!”

King Sejong, who involuntarily let out an exclamation, turned to Hyang.

“This is truly a delicious drink!”

“I will mass-produce this. Please provide some royal finances.”

“Huh?”

King Sejong, who paused for a moment at Hyang’s words, soon nodded.

“I see, to use the country’s finances more soundly, the royal family should also be as self-reliant as possible.”

And so, the ‘Royal Joseon Beverage Company’, called ‘the never-drying spring of the Joseon royal family’, was born. It was the birth of a massive beverage company that was held onto until the end even as numerous royal businesses were privatized.

The carbonated drink, which was released under the name ‘Balpo-gamisu (發泡甘味水, bubbly sweet water)’, soon received enthusiastic love from the people of Joseon.

“Hey! Have a cup of Ppong-su!”

“Sure, sounds good!”

The people called it by the nickname ‘Ppong-su’ instead of that long name.

It was because of the cheerful noise made when opening the cap.