Black Corporation: Joseon

“I greet Your Highness.”

“Yes. Do you have any good news?”

The Director responded cautiously to Hyang’s question.

“Yes. We’ve achieved quite positive results regarding the blue bacterial liquid.”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled at the Director’s words.

The “blue bacterial liquid” discussed by the Royal Infirmary and Hyang was penicillin – though primitive in form.

***

This is definitely a cliché, but…

Initially, Hyang hesitated considerably about producing penicillin.

“Though primitive, I know how to make it and have actually made it before.”

In the 21st century, a Japanese manga about a time-slipping doctor became a hit, leading to drama adaptations in both Japan and Korea. Penicillin production was a crucial element of these dramas.

Many blog posts were written about the penicillin production process shown in the drama.

Hyang – then Jin-ho – hadn’t let this situation pass. He read the manga, watched the dramas multiple times, researched the production method online, and actually made it.

Unfortunately, Hyang’s challenge ended there. Testing whether proper penicillin was produced and its effectiveness was illegal.

With this background, Hyang contemplated penicillin production.

I could make it since history’s already messed up – no, changed… The problem is I’m the Crown Prince with every move recorded in history.

Hyang’s biggest concern was his position.

Looking at my previous innovations, people might conclude ‘Ah, this person had talent in machinery.’ Sure, there’s also medicinal plasters, vaccination, and trot music, but those can be overlooked. But if penicillin appears, it’s different. All sorts of questions will emerge like ‘What kind of person is he?’ or ‘Is this really the same person?’ No need to wait hundreds of years. If we make it properly, people will immediately question whether I’m human!

These potential problems made Hyang hesitate about penicillin development.

But Hyang had overlooked something.

Vaccination.

While Hyang undervalued it because some in both Joseon and the Western Regions already knew about smallpox inoculation, this was his misjudgment.

He overlooked that recognizing vaccination’s value and implementing universal inoculation starting with himself was enough of an achievement to spawn “Hyang Alien Theory” in later generations.

If there weren’t already so many projects underway, I could charge ahead… What to do? Should I proceed? Or just leave hints in my miscellaneous notes for future generations?

***

Due to limitations from current technology levels and information quantity, and to prevent runaway development, Hyang conducted a small operation.

He created a document called “Miscellaneous Notes” as his personal record. In it, he left many items he knew from the 21st century in the form of hints or questions.

These notes would only surface after his death. If the hints and questions could be properly solved, along with the Challenge Records, they would become Joseon’s strongest hidden cards.

“At least if the Research Institute and Area 51 I’ve created continue operating properly, no fools will fail to recognize the notes’ value.”

***

What finally made Hyang decide to produce penicillin while contemplating its fate was the discovery of the New Lands.

“Pulled forward by at least 60 years?”

When the decision to incorporate the New Lands into Joseon followed their discovery news, Hyang made his decision.

“Dammit! No choice! Let’s make it!”

Hyang decided to produce penicillin because of syphilis, a disease reportedly originating from the New Lands.

Syphilis patients will definitely emerge during development. And naturally, it will spread to Joseon. Especially since Father’s definitely going too. We must have penicillin.

***

Having made his decision, Hyang visited the Royal Infirmary.

Gathering the infirmary’s administrators, physicians, and female physicians, Hyang cautiously began:

“While working at Area 51, I had a headache and was walking around Mount Mongmyeok…”

• -While walking around the mountain, I saw a wild boar rubbing its back against a tree.
• -Watching carefully, I saw it had a wound on its back full of abscesses.
• -I was going to ignore it since it seemed to be scratching due to the abscesses, but its behavior was unusual. It wasn’t rubbing against just any tree but carefully selecting them.

“…When I examined those trees later, they were all covered in this mold.”

At Hyang’s gesture, the eunuch behind him stepped forward with a tray holding small petri dishes.

The dishes contained abundant blue-green mold.

“Oho?”

The administrators and physicians’ eyes sparkled seeing the dishes while listening to Hyang’s explanation.

***

Excluding the Research Institute and Area 51, physicians were the most loyal and trusting group toward Hyang within Gyeongbok Palace.

This was because they had witnessed the effects of various medical policies Hyang implemented, starting with vaccination.

“Your Highness’s love for the people has created these results. Truly Joseon’s great fortune!”

Whenever physicians praised him thus, Hyang gave a bitter smile.

In a way, it’s all because I want to live long and healthy…

***

Having gained favorable reactions from the infirmary’s administrators and physicians, Hyang continued:

“This mold’s medicinal properties seem good for treating abscesses, but we can’t just apply the mold directly to patients, right? So I’ve thought about processing methods… Let me explain how…”

“Your Highness! Please wait a moment!”

When Hyang began explaining his experimental process, the physicians urgently interrupted.

“Yes?”

“Writing materials! Writing materials! Bring them immediately!”

The physicians gathered writing materials and concentrated intensely, not wanting to miss anything as they recorded Hyang’s words.

“We shall verify the effectiveness after processing according to Your Highness’s method.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Months later, the Director reported to Hyang.

“We’ve processed it following Your Highness’s instructions. We found those showing medicinal properties and plan mass production matching the conditions and variables that produced those results. Once adequate quantities are prepared, we’ll begin verification with volunteer patients.”

“Is that so? I look forward to good results.”

“We shall do our utmost. Ah! Please name this new medicine.”

At the Director’s request, Hyang thought briefly then rose from his seat.

“It would be overstepping for me to do so. Let’s go to Geunjeong Hall.”

Receiving the report, Sejong thought briefly then named the new medicine.

“Since it comes from blue mold and is in liquid form, let’s call it Blue Bacterial Liquid.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“If it works properly, it will greatly help the people, so do your best.”

“We shall engrave it in our bones and hearts!”

However, only failures continued over the next few years.

“It worked during infirmary testing…”

“Check carefully what the problem was.”

The physicians persisted despite failures. Many changes occurred in the process, with the biggest being the administration method. Initially given orally like normal decoctions, they later tried applying it to skin like medicinal plasters. Finally, they switched to injection using syringes Hyang had created.

After such tireless attempts, they came to Hyang with their results.

***

“You said quite positive – exactly how positive?”

At Hyang’s question, the Director handed over a report and answered:

“We saw improvement even in patients with dermatitis or internal abscesses like lung abscesses that medicinal plasters couldn’t treat.”

“Oho~”

With a light exclamation, Hyang opened the report while the Director continued explaining.

“We tested its efficacy with volunteers suffering from abscesses among beggars along Cheonggyecheon, Jungnangcheon, and within ten li of Hanseong’s four gates. We first used medicinal plasters to identify those showing no improvement, then used the blue bacterial liquid.”

“Hmm…”

Reading the report while listening to the Director’s explanation, Hyang nodded.

Seeing Hyang’s positive reaction, the Director spoke more confidently.

“After confirming effectiveness in experiments with beggars, we administered it to patients suffering from boils and lung abscesses among those visiting the Public Dispensary and Royal Relief Office. As a result, we can sufficiently confirm its medicinal properties.”

“Hmm… Well done. But…”

While examining the report hearing the Director’s content, Hyang asked a question.

“Earlier, you told me it was quite positive. Reading this report and hearing your results, it seems very positive – why use the word ‘quite’?”

The Director explained his reason to Hyang’s question.

“Because many aspects remain unconfirmed.”

First, what is the most appropriate concentration? Medicine isn’t good if too strong or too weak. They haven’t yet definitively determined this.

Second, they haven’t properly solved mass production of the blue bacteria for the liquid.

Third, the blue bacterial liquid’s medicinal properties don’t last long. They need to find ways to extend this time.

“The third problem can be somewhat solved if we properly resolve the second problem. We can either continuously make new medicine as we discard expired batches, or train many people who can make the blue bacterial liquid to produce it simultaneously in various places.”

“You’re anticipating the New Lands?”

The Director nodded at Hyang’s point.

“Yes, Your Highness. And the final problem is accurately identifying which diseases the blue bacterial liquid shows effectiveness against.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking deeply hearing the Director’s words, Hyang looked at him.

“Though there’s still far to go, obtaining such good results is truly excellent. This is all thanks to the efforts of the infirmary people including you, Director. I shall recommend rewards to Father.”

“No! We merely did what physicians handling life should naturally do!”

“Since many can’t properly do even such natural duties, rewards are appropriate.”

At Hyang’s words, the Director made a deep bow and exclaimed:

“Your grace is boundless!”

After dismissing the Director, Hyang muttered while writing a report for Sejong:

“Has the war against bacteria officially begun?”

***

Passing into King Sejong’s 25th year (1443, Year of Gyehae) after Hyang began his regency.

Sejong, beginning serious preparations to move to the New Lands, transferred almost all duties to Hyang.

“Unless war breaks out, have the Crown Prince handle all matters!”

“…I shall obey your command.”

Following Sejong’s decision, Hyang’s work increased further, and the Four worked until their mouths tasted sweet.

As peaceful but busy days flowed thus until July, urgent news arrived from Japan:

‘Shogun’s death.’