Chapter 122: To Arabia (1)
"You said to give them cannons? And you, Crown Prince, you think positively about this?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong looked at him with a face full of worry.
"Surely you don't not know what kind of thing a cannon is?"
"How could I not know?"
At Hyang's answer, Sejong nodded. The troublesome son before him was the one most deeply involved in the new type of cannons whose deployment was imminent, as well as the various cannons still under research.
"I see... then what kind of cannon do you wish to give them?"
"The Il-chongtong."
"Il-chongtong..."
At Hyang's answer, not only Sejong but the ministers also showed expressions of relief. However, the ministers, having their responsibilities, continued their questioning of Hyang.
"Why the Il-chongtong?"
"According to reports, the ships these merchants arrived on this time are said to be large but don't appear to be strong. In the case of the Janggun-hwatong, even transport ships cannot withstand the recoil, so only a few can be mounted. Therefore, the Janggun-hwatong is a weapon they couldn't use even if we gave it to them."
At Hyang's words, the ministers who had experienced battles from the late Goryeo to early Joseon period, including the conquest of Tsushima, all nodded. This was because they had received similar reports several times since then.
Watching the ministers' reactions, Hyang continued speaking.
"Cannons below the I-chongtong have both range and lethality similar to or slightly better than bows. Their rate of fire is completely inferior to bows. That is why the military, not only the Royal Guards but also the Land Defense Army and the Naval Army, have all unified to use the Gap-sik Jang-chongtong and Gap-sik Masang-chongtong, and didn't we melt down the existing I-chongtong and below?"
At Hyang's point, the ministers faced reality once again.
"I see. That was indeed the case."
"Since we cannot newly manufacture cannons for those merchants, the I-sik Chongtong seems most appropriate."
When the ministers' reactions turned favorable, the Chief State Counselor expressed his concern.
"I understand well what the Crown Prince has said, but what if. What if those Western barbarians copy the chongtong? What if they mass produce them and attack us?"
At the Chief State Counselor's words, Hyang answered with a smile.
"You worry too much. Our Joseon is already armed with cannons of superior performance than the Il-chongtong."
At Hyang's point, the ministers nodded and muttered.
"That is true."
At the ministers' murmuring, the Chief State Counselor's face turned red. Seeing this, Hyang added an explanation.
"And copying also requires technique. Just looking at the shape of the chongtong and copying it exactly? If they had that level of technique, they wouldn't need to obtain cannons from us. Cannons are things that already spread to various countries during the Yuan dynasty."
"Ah..."
At Hyang's words, the Chief State Counselor fell silent.
With the Chief State Counselor's statement, there were no ministers who opposed Hyang's opinion. Confirming such reactions from the ministers, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"The ministers don't particularly oppose it, and I think the Il-chongtong would be appropriate as well. Very well, Crown Prince, how many will you give them?"
"First, I think it would be right to judge after seeing the condition of the ships they arrived on."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong nodded.
"That would be correct. Then what about the payment?"
"I am thinking of exchanging half with the qahwa they brought."
"Qahwa?"
Sejong examined the cargo list.
"Qahwa... qahwa... There's no such item?"
"It is written as Black Bean Tea."
At Hyang's explanation, Sejong rummaged through the cargo list again.
"Black Bean Tea... I see, there's also Green Bean Tea?"
"Black beans are roasted beans for drinking, and green beans are raw beans that haven't been roasted."
"Is that so? What is the efficacy of this tea?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang spoke of coffee's effects.
"If you drink it when tired, you can quickly regain vitality, and those who cannot urinate properly can urinate properly, and there are various other effects. However, what is most important is its distinctive flavor."
At Hyang's answer that flowed out smoothly, Sejong stroked his chin.
"How do you know so well?"
Hyang, who had been excitedly explaining at the thought of being able to drink coffee, momentarily showed an embarrassed expression at Sejong's question and made an excuse.
"I saw it in a book."
At the word book, Sejong's eyes gleamed.
"A book? Your father would like to see it as well."
"That got mixed in with the books burned last time... Please forgive this son's carelessness!"
"Goodness! Value books more dearly."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong gave a light warning and passed over it. However, the ministers did not let it pass.
"Your Highness, you burned books? Books are precious things. Books contain the knowledge of former sages."
At the Chief State Counselor's criticism, who was soaked to the bone with Confucianism, Hyang answered with an embarrassed face.
"It was a miscellaneous book..."
"Hoh~. It was Your Highness who said there are things to learn even from miscellaneous books! Do you not think this is an excuse?"
At the Chief State Counselor's point, Hyang quickly racked his brain.
'To overcome this difficulty... yes! If I say it was a book this man would hate, that's the end of it!'
Having found an escape route, Hyang answered with an embarrassed expression.
"It was a book about relations between men and women... so I burned it immediately thinking it would harm public morals."
"Oh my... you did well!"
As Hyang expected, the Chief State Counselor immediately changed his stance and praised Hyang.
However, Sejong and the other ministers' expressions turned fierce.
This was because the book that was the background of Hyang's notorious nightlife was the burned book—precisely speaking, the books Hyang said he had burned.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
"Cough!"
However, since it was not a subject to discuss out loud, Sejong and the ministers all coughed unnecessarily with uncomfortable expressions.
Seeing this, the Chief State Counselor muttered with a puzzled expression.
"No, why?"
Seeing that the gazes toward him were not friendly, the Chief State Counselor became flustered, and Sejong hurriedly changed the subject.
"Then what do you plan to do with the remaining half?"
At Sejong's continued question, Hyang explained methodically. Then the corners of Sejong and the subjects' mouths slowly rose.
"Very well! Crown Prince, hear this! I entrust this matter to you regarding this trade, so take full charge of the cannon matter as well. Do your best thinking of national interest!"
When Sejong made his decision, Hyang answered with a deep bow.
"I will faithfully carry out your command!"
* * *
Coming out of the Pyeonjeon, Hyang slapped his own mouth.
"You rascal! Can't you distinguish time and place? Let's stay tense."
Having warned himself, Hyang moved toward the Donggungjeon while muttering.
"Come to think of it... why were the Islamic kids late in cannon armament? It was the Islamic kids who transmitted gunpowder to the West. Why?"
While Hyang was pondering to resolve the suddenly arising question, the bell of the bell tower rang to tell the time.
Deeng~.
Hearing the bell ringing in the distance, Hyang recalled a passage from a book he had read before.
"As expected, was it thanks to bells?"
When cannons were first made in Western Europe, cannon makers created cannons by welding iron plates. However, cannons made this way, setting aside performance issues, had a very high risk of explosion.
However, since cannons were useful weapons, various European countries conducted all kinds of research to make safe and easy-to-use cannons.
What was born in that process was the bronze cast cannon. And bronze cast cannons quickly took their place.
Bronze cast cannons were able to quickly establish themselves because of the bells hanging in countless churches in Europe. Bell makers, skilled in casting objects made of bronze material and large in size, easily produced bronze cast cannons. (Note 1)
Bell makers' involvement in cannon casting was the same in Goryeo as well. The reason cannons usable in battle could be made not long after gunpowder was introduced was because there were capable bell makers.
Since Buddhism was transmitted to the Korean peninsula, the peninsula's casting technology developed rapidly. The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok proved the casting technology of the Unified Silla period.
It was in the Goryeo dynasty that this casting technology developed further.
As Buddhism flourished to its peak, many temples were built, and in the process of supplying the bells needed for each temple, casting technicians of excellent skill were produced.
Having reached this conclusion, Hyang smiled bitterly and muttered.
"Technology refined for a religion that preaches peace is used for slaughter... This is indeed one of the common contradictions of history."
* * *
Having been entrusted with the entire process by Sejong, Hyang diligently proceeded with the work.
"Contact the Ministry of War and tell them to confirm how many usable Il-chongtong without firing mechanisms there are."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Not long after, Jo Mal-saeng, having heard the words conveyed by the eunuch, came to Hyang and asked.
"Did you say Il-chongtong without firing mechanisms?"
"That is correct."
"Wouldn't Il-chongtong with firing mechanisms be more useful?"
At Jo Mal-saeng's question, Hyang pointed out one problem.
"It is because of the priming powder. We can barely supply the amount we use, yet you want to give it to them as well?"
At Hyang's point, Jo Mal-saeng had a look of realization.
"Ah! I see! I made a mistake!"
"It is fine. Thanks to that, another item to obtain from them has been added."
"What is it?"
When Hyang found a new item to add from his own statement, Jo Mal-saeng showed interest.
'If it's because of me, it must be related to the military!'
At Jo Mal-saeng's question, Hyang answered briefly.
"Mercury."
"Ah! I see! If only mercury comes in properly, we can increase the production of priming powder!"
At Hyang's answer, joy spread across Jo Mal-saeng's face.
To obtain mercury in Joseon, cinnabar had to be imported from Ming and processed.
However, since quite a few people were harmed in this process, mercury was not something that could be easily mass-produced. So Joseon had to take the alternative of purchasing mercury from Japan.
"But will they be able to bring much mercury?"
At Jo Mal-saeng's question, Hyang leaned back long in the chair and answered.
"That is something I do not know well. However, I only think it will be easy to obtain since Western barbarians used much mercury to research something called alchemy."
* * *
Thanks to Sejong's permission, the contract proceeded quickly.
"Before completing the contract, I need to check the ships you arrived on."
"Yes, why is that?"
At Hyang's words that he would check the ships, Mansur and the captains' faces became serious.
A ship was the captain's territory. Since they could not carelessly let outsiders into their own territory, the captains' faces hardened.
Hyang explained the reason why he needed to examine their ships.
"The recoil of cannons is great, so if the ship is weak, they cannot be mounted."
"Ah... I understand."
Two days later, military officers of the navy and craftsmen responsible for shipbuilding went down to Jeomulpo, examined the condition of the merchant ships Mansur's party arrived on, and submitted a report.
-Considering the size and strength of the hull, mounting Janggun-hwatong is absolutely impossible, and even Il-chongtong is possible only up to a maximum of 3 guns.
Having confirmed the report, Hyang negotiated with Mansur based on this.
"Very well. Then let's purchase a total of 9 guns, 3 per ship."
"What will you pay for the 9 chongtong, gunpowder to use them, and the purchase price of cha-daejeon and joran-hwan?"
At Hyang's question, Mansur answered with an embarrassed face.
"Right now it's difficult even to buy Joseon goods, so could we have some credit..."
"I refuse full credit. Then let's do this. Pay half of the purchase price with qahwa, and for the rest, make it credit, but we will send some of our navy personnel together."
"Qahwa?"
At Hyang's proposal, Mansur discussed with the elder Rajab.
"Ah! Calculate the qahwa at the price you bought it, without any profit."
At Hyang's additional demand, Mansur's party's expressions worsened. However, when Hassan quietly signaled with his eyes, they accepted Hyang's opinion.
"Very well. But why are you boarding Joseon navy personnel?"
"Would they be able to aim properly by learning how to mount and fire chongtong?"
"Ah..."
"It requires long training. Moreover, even though we started as a trade relationship, shouldn't we continue the connection for a long time to come?"
Hyang spoke gently with a benevolent expression.
At Hyang's completely changed behavior from just before when he had acted like he would devour them, Mansur answered with a dazed expression.
"Ah, that intention..."
"There will be sufficient training while going. Also, when you bring goods next time, wouldn't it be better if there are personnel who can figure out what has value?"
At Hyang's words, Mansur's party put their heads together and discussed again.
"That makes sense."
"Could they possibly be using a scheme to grasp the sea routes?"
At Rajab's words, Mansur made an expression that it was nothing.
"Of course that could be. But these are sea routes that merchants of the Great Ming already all know, so what's the problem?"
After a long discussion, Mansur accepted Hyang's proposal.
"We will proceed as the Prince suggests."
"Good. Then take the qahwa today itself."
* * *
That evening, Mansur had to greatly regret it.
"They said the entire quantity, and they really swept it all away!"
The Joseon officials took away all the coffee, even those that Mansur's party had left behind to drink.
* * *
(Note 1) 'Cannons, Galleons, Empires' by Carlo Cipolla, Mijibooks