Black Corporation: Joseon

Though an institution for researching and teaching technology was being established by Emperor Xuande’s order, the process wasn’t smooth.

Both Ming and Joseon looked down on craftsmen equally.

Therefore, when it was suggested to place the institution for researching technology and craftsmen under the Imperial Academy, all officials of the Imperial Academy—from the Director down to the lowest-ranked lecturers—staked their lives in opposition.

Eventually, this institution named the “Training Institute” was decided to be placed under the Ministry of Works.

Though they weathered that commotion, the obstacles didn’t end there.

Merchant groups owning famous craftsmen refused to release them.

“If we give them up, we’ll starve to death!”

The merchant groups fiercely resisted, but this time Xuande wouldn’t bend.

“Would you rather die by my hand or starve to death? If you release the craftsmen, I’ll not only compensate you but definitely return them after ten years. But if you refuse, I’ll kill you all!”

Though they thus got the merchant groups to release craftsmen and gathered renowned craftsmen from across Ming, another obstacle appeared.

“Share the secret techniques refined by my ancestors for generations and throughout my lifetime? Even if it’s the emperor’s order, I cannot accept!”

“Just kill us instead!”

At the craftsmen’s fierce resistance, Xuande put his hand to his forehead.

“These damned…”

Though he wanted to immediately order their execution, he could somewhat understand their position.

“Is this why Joseon’s Crown Prince kept going on about ‘intellectual property rights’? Was it not just about monopolizing Joseon’s products?”

Finally, Xuande issued the following imperial edict:

-Recognize the value of craftsmen’s secret techniques and compensate them monetarily.

-Recognize craftsmen assigned to research and education at the institute as equal in rank to eighth-grade assistant instructors of the Imperial Academy.

Only after this imperial edict came down did the craftsmen enter the research institute and the educational institution began taking shape.

“Is proper operation all that remains now?”

Just as the officials responsible for implementing the emperor’s orders were breathing sighs of relief, the final obstacle appeared.

The issue was with the talents who were supposed to receive education from the craftsmen selected as assistant instructors and enter practical work.

The first entrants to the Training Institute were the children and apprentices of the craftsmen who entered as assistant instructors.

The problem was that factions formed among them.

“My father is the best!”

“My master is the best!”

Naturally, conflicts arose between these factional divisions. Starting with verbal arguments, the conflicts soon escalated to the level of using force.

Fighting in a place filled with all sorts of dangerous tools led to casualties, and upon receiving reports, Xuande became enraged and issued orders.

“Execute all those involved in the incident, and establish new standards for recruiting talent!”

Thus dozens more were beheaded. Some craftsmen emerged in protest, but they too were beheaded as well.

Only after such a bloody storm did the Training Institute begin to function properly.

The remaining craftsmen devoted themselves wholeheartedly to education and research, while the lucky surviving children and apprentices, along with those who volunteered after seeing the emperor’s proclamation, studied diligently.

Xuande, who knew how to use both carrot and stick, bestowed considerable wealth upon them. Thanks to this, both teachers and students at the Training Institute gave their all.

However, catching up to Joseon’s level remained distant.

Thus, it became routine for Xuande to burst with frustration whenever he received reports.

“This is my empire, with land dozens of times larger and population many times greater than that tiny Joseon! Yet why is it like this!”

This was because they didn’t know the uncrossable gap between Ming and Joseon was due to Hyang.

While accumulated technology before Hyang’s intervention might have favored China, this no longer applied after Hyang stepped in. This was because Hyang had nearly 600 years of refined technological experience.

It was the basic knowledge ingrained in 21st century Hyang’s education, and various knowledge and quality standards learned through his intense interest in technology.

To summarize the situation, the Research Institute and Area 51 were desperately working to meet Hyang’s standards, while Ming was struggling to catch up with their intermediate results. This was not something easily caught up with no matter how much Xuande pushed.

***

After such intense efforts, Ming was able to produce iron horses with their own hands.

Of course, there were countless struggles in the assembly process. When assembling the prototype, Joseon craftsmen had set up tents and worked on several crucial parts.

“Remove the tents!”

“This is our secret technique! We cannot reveal it!”

“Want to die?”

“Try killing us! What happens next? Want to go to war?”

Because of this, Ming craftsmen had to figure out several parts themselves, which became one of the reasons Xuande created the Training Institute.

Though Ming-made iron horses were born after such struggles, they weren’t 100% Ming-made. First, the most important blueprints were provided by Joseon, and various measuring instruments ensuring safe operation—pressure gauges, speedometers, thermometers, etc.—had to be purchased as finished products from Joseon.

“Is copying impossible?”

To Xuande’s question, the Minister of Works answered with a troubled expression.

“Well… As soon as we separate the frame for disassembly, all the parts scatter everywhere…”

“Did Joseon tamper with them?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Oh dear…”

At the Minister’s answer, Xuande had to smack his lips with a face full of regret.

When making measuring instruments except thermometers, Hyang had built in tricks from the design stage.

He designed it so that when the case was disassembled for copying, hidden springs would scatter parts everywhere. Since the parts in measuring instruments were very small, they were hard to find once scattered. Even if lucky enough to find all parts, the problematic springs would cause confusion.

“What is this part for?”

Eventually, Ming had no choice but to purchase finished measuring instruments from Joseon.

Through such struggles and tricks, iron horses and tracks of lower performance and quality compared to Joseon’s were produced.

Once iron horses and tracks were made, rail laying began in earnest.

However, the situation with rails in Ming was very different from Joseon.

“This is interesting?”

Having obtained related reports, Hyang whistled lightly with sparkling eyes.

Unlike Joseon where railways became the core of land transportation, in Ming they were secondary rather than primary.

***

The Grand Canal was responsible for Ming’s land transport.

Not the famous Grand Canal of Sui Yang Di, but the one begun during the Yuan Empire and completed during Emperor Yongle’s era.

This Grand Canal, connecting China’s north and south by linking the five major water systems, was moving massive quantities between north and south.

Therefore, railways took on a supporting role of efficiently moving goods and people from major canal transit points to outlying areas.

Due to this nature, not a few intellectuals in both Ming and Joseon doubted the railways’ utility.

“Even in a supporting role, isn’t the difference between what people or animals can move and what iron horses can transport as far apart as heaven and earth?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong, who was there for approval, nodded strongly.

“Absolutely! Iron horses and steam engines are the future!”

At Jinpyeong’s firm answer, Hyang nodded with a bitter smile.

What a tech enthusiast!

***

The biggest reason iron horses were pushed to a supporting role was the presence of the two largest rivers connected to the Grand Canal – the Yellow River and Yangtze River.

Due to their size, railway bridges couldn’t be built across the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Therefore, Ming couldn’t lay rails penetrating north and south.

Looking at Ming’s planned railway construction map, it resembled three large rectangles stacked in three layers.

Beijing and north of the Yellow River, between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, and south of the Yangtze.

Therefore, everyone who saw this plan had similar thoughts.

This is perfect for splitting into three parts?

Given Central Plains history where periods of division lasted longer than unified dynasties, it was a well-founded concern.

Therefore, many intellectuals warned Xuande of this danger.

And at the forefront of these was Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen.

“…Therefore, railways will only incur great costs while providing little utility. They must be withdrawn immediately.”

To Zhu Qizhen’s memorial, Xuande answered firmly.

“Denied.”

“Fath—no, Your Majesty! Why?”

To Zhu Qizhen’s protest, Xuande explained the reason in an equally firm voice.

“Though railways may only play a supporting role to the Grand Canal, their transport capacity is incomparable to humans or animals.”

“If we’re not careful, it could become a seed of division…”

“That is a matter for me who rules the country, and the emperors who will succeed me, to handle properly. Since ancient times, imperial dynasties fall not because of such things as railways, but because emperors misgovern. Do not mistake the root for the branch.”

“However…”

As Zhu Qizhen tried to continue, Xuande raised his hand to stop him.

“Railways are essential for this country’s thousand years of prosperity. When great troubles threatening our Ming someday arrive, these railways will play the most crucial role.”

“Are you anticipating troubles? Is the Northern Yuan stirring again…”

“Do not presume.”

Raising his hand to stop Zhu Qizhen’s words, Xuande gave a strange smile.

“Crown Prince, I’ll give you homework. Try to predict what troubles I speak of and report back. If you report the correct answer, I will no longer compare you to Joseon’s Crown Prince. The deadline… Well, Joseon’s Crown Prince would probably answer within three days, so I’ll give you three days too.”

At Xuande’s words, Zhu Qizhen ground his teeth and answered.

“Grr! Yes! I will definitely submit the correct answer and gain your acknowledgment before three days pass!”

“I look forward to it!”

Two days later, Zhu Qizhen told Xuande what he thought.

“It’s the Northern Yuan.”

“Wrong. You still have much to learn. Return to Nanjing and work harder.”

***

The conversation between Xuande and Zhu Qizhen made its way to Gyeongbok Palace through various channels.

After calling Hyang and relating this story, Sejong asked him.

“What do you think the answer is? Ah! The ministers will find it boring if we just tell them, so shall we answer together? I’ll count to three. One, two, three.”

At the count of three, Sejong and Hyang answered simultaneously.

“Joseon.”

“Our Joseon.”

Seeing Hyang give the same answer as himself, Sejong smiled broadly and spoke.

“Then shall we talk about where the battlefield will be? Again, I’ll count to three. One, two, three. Liaodong!”

“Liaodong.”

“Ahaha!”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong burst into laughter and praised him.

“Truly worthy of being Crown Prince!”