Chapter 150: Dabbling. (1)
Not long after the launch and bidding of the "Automatic Loom" ended, joyful news arrived from District 51.
Although research had begun simultaneously with the creation of the research institute and District 51, it was only after consuming nearly 6 years of time and a massive budget that results—ones that could be used commercially—were finally produced.
"Success!"
"It's a success!"
"Wow!"
The researchers and craftsmen of the institute, including Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji, embraced one another regardless of rank and shed tears of joy.
"Your Highness! This is a momentous occasion!"
"Indeed! Your Highness!"
"To complete it in just 6 years! Sob!"
Watching people who were so overjoyed they were even crying, Hyang responded with a smile.
"Truly, everyone has worked hard."
As he organized the report to submit to Sejong, Hyang grumbled quietly.
"It wasn't 6 years 'only'—it took 'as long as' 6 years...."
Hyang, though they were models in the 21st century, had actually built steam engines and steam locomotives that boiled water and moved.
At first, he had explained the concept of steam engines using the model of "Hero's aeolipile," but the researchers and craftsmen were floundering—no, they couldn't even begin to make progress.
In the end, Hyang had to use his own self as a cheat key.
"I've been thinking...."
Hyang created blueprints of the early steam engines made by Savery and Newcomen and began educating the researchers and craftsmen.
Even with Hyang's intervention, it took a year and a half for the researchers and craftsmen to build a model of James Watt's steam engine.
After building the model and confirming proper movement, that was when the true floundering began. There were countless things the researchers and craftsmen had to experiment with and build to create a proper—no, commercially valuable—steam engine.
The first things built were measuring instruments.
To create equipment to measure the magnitude of force produced by steam engines, equipment to measure steam pressure generated in the steam engine's boiler, and equipment to measure water quantity and temperature, the researchers and craftsmen literally had to "bang their heads against a wall" without a moment to breathe.
During this process, unexpected byproducts were created.
* * *
The first was the pencil and pencil sharpener.
"Using a gold brush to dip in ink every time to write and calculate is annoying!"
"We need to find some alternative!"
Looking for a method to find an alternative, their eyes fell on graphite.
One craftsman, examining graphite powder that was used for coating various gunpowders and had started being used as a lubricant for armor-pressing machines, made his own item.
He mixed graphite with clay, kneaded it with water, dried it, wrapped it in paper, and tried writing with it, then tilted his head.
"It writes somewhat, but it's too soft? It breaks easily too...."
He experimented whenever he had the chance, but unable to find an answer, the craftsman eventually sought out Hyang.
"What is the matter?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
At that time, Hyang was around 10 years old. Seeing Hyang's still childlike face, the craftsman waved his hands dismissively and stepped back. At the craftsman's suspicious behavior, Hyang became interested instead.
"If you came to find me, didn't you come because there was some problem? Speak."
Though young in age, pressed by the formidable background of "Crown Prince," the craftsman soon spoke of his troubles.
Listening to the craftsman's concerns, Hyang's eyes sparkled intensely.
'A pencil! I kept saying I'd make one someday, and here it pops up!'
"This is interesting. If done well, a good product might come out. Let's research it together."
Hyang soon began research with the craftsman. No, he pretended to join while providing guidance.
"Let's try baking it instead of simply drying it."
"Baking, you say?"
The craftsman thought for a moment at Hyang's words, then nodded.
"I see. Earthenware that is simply dried breaks easily, but properly baked ceramics are more durable."
Thus the experiment began. Quality clay and graphite were evenly mixed, formed into thin rod shapes, then placed in a smelting kiln and fired.
Hyang wrapped the graphite rod that came out of the kiln in paper and quickly wrote on blank paper.
Checking the result, Hyang looked back at the craftsman.
"It's decent, but let's experiment a bit more."
Through experiments conducted by varying the ratio of clay and graphite and changing the kiln temperature, they produced graphite rods with useful strength.
"These three types of strength here seem useful for various purposes."
"Indeed."
Once the graphite rod was completed, Hyang began actively using his tricks.
Thus the world's first pencil was created.
A mixture of clay and well-mixed graphite was put into a noodle press, extruded like noodles, then placed in a kiln and fired. The core created this way was placed between two wooden boards with grooves carved into them, then glued together with adhesive.
After various post-processing steps, the completed pencil soon became a favorite item of the researchers and craftsmen at the institute.
Seeing this, Hyang registered a patent together with the craftsman who first proposed it and immediately prepared for commercial sale.
At Hyang's gleeful appearance, Jeong Cho spoke with a slightly troubled face.
"I don't think this will sell well...."
"Hmm? Why?"
"First, there's the inconvenience of having to sharpen it to use."
"That's the same with ink...."
"Ink can be ground without much thought, but with a pencil, if you do that, you'll see blood immediately, won't you?"
"That's true...."
Jeong Cho pointed out the next problem.
"Second, it has an overwhelmingly shorter lifespan than gold brushes or hair brushes. People will say it's not worth the money."
"That problem can be solved with mass production...."
"How many people in this land of Joseon write enough to use pencils in bulk, besides the research institute and District 51?"
"Can't we sell it to the Ming Dynasty?"
At Hyang's counter-question, Jeong Cho immediately answered.
"That brings up the third problem. When sharpening pencils, a large amount of wood shavings and graphite powder is produced. Disposing of that is also work. If done carelessly, the carefully prepared paper will be ruined. Scholars who value neatness before doing calligraphy will dislike it, saying it lacks refinement."
Thinking Jeong Cho's words made sense, Hyang muttered with a face full of disappointment.
"I see."
At Hyang's disappointed expression, Jeong In-ji, who was nearby, urgently continued.
"Certainly those problems exist, but if we solve only the first and third problems, it has some commercial value!"
"Is that so?"
"It is!"
At Jeong In-ji's answer, Hyang recalled memories from the 21st century.
'I need to make a pencil sharpener too!'
Having made up his mind, Hyang looked at Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji.
"For the time being, we'll be the only ones using pencils. Pencils are more convenient than gold brushes for us."
"Yes."
Thus the 'commercialization of pencils' sank beneath the surface.
However, it would take a long time for pencils to surface.
That was because of the pencil sharpener.
Since it was a blade, quality steel was needed—and in large quantities at that.
The next problem was one of size.
Blacksmiths who saw the pencil sharpener prototype, similar in shape to a miniaturized plane, all sighed at once.
"To individually trim those tiny blades...."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Hyang knew what the rest meant.
"The navel will be bigger than the belly."
Returning to his office, Hyang organized the problems and muttered.
"To make the cost performance work, blades need to be mass-produced too. But human hands have limitations. To stamp them out with machines... we need a steam engine... A steam engine again? This is like 21st century politicians who blame others whenever something happens...."
While grumbling, Hyang diligently sought solutions. But pencils coming out as a commercial product took longer than expected.
* * *
The pencil was concluded as for internal use only, but there were numerous problems piled up regarding making measuring instruments and building a practically usable size of steam engine.
In the end, Jeong Cho gathered Hyang and other key officials to explain what the problems were.
"First is the problem of weights and measures. Even simply measuring length has many standards, starting with the Yellow Bell Ruler (Huangzhongchi), then the Zhou Ruler (Zhouchi), Construction Ruler (Yingzaochi), Ritual Vessel Ruler (Zaoliqichi), and others. Unification is needed in this area."
At Jeong Cho's words, Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon immediately agreed and spoke up.
"The same problem existed when making various new weapons, including the Gap-sik Long-barrel Cannon. Just as we unified with the Yellow Bell Ruler at that time, it would be right to unify with the Yellow Bell Ruler this time as well."
Hearing the opinion, Hyang nodded.
"That is reasonable. Let us unify using the Yellow Bell Ruler."
Once the weights and measures issue was decided, Jeong Cho brought up the next problem.
"Next is the problem of measuring instruments. The researchers at the institute have calculated formulas and finished the design and measurement units for the instruments, but proper verification is not being done."
At Jeong Cho's words, Hyang clicked his tongue slightly.
'Tsk! I have nothing to say about this part... I also just bought finished products and attached them...'
Having nothing to say about this part, Hyang could only give a fundamental answer.
"I think we have no choice but to learn through actual experiments."
At Hyang's words, Jeong Cho made a slightly disappointed expression.
'So even His Highness the Crown Prince has no answer for this part? I thought some clear solution would come out.'
Jeong Cho, who had expected an answer from Hyang and was disappointed, soon steadied his mind.
'I should reflect! His Highness the Crown Prince is just entering his 11th year of age! No matter how outstanding he is, if he knew even this at 11, would that be human?'
Having steadied his mind, Jeong Cho nodded.
"I too think that only hands-on experience is the answer for this part."
Thus the repeated experiments that would make the researchers shudder were decided.
* * *
During those exhausting repeated experiments, Jeong Cho, who discovered a problem, sought out Hyang again.
"This is what I believe to be the final problem. Though it is the last, I evaluate it as the most important problem. The final problem is the matter of materials."
At Jeong Cho's words, Hyang immediately grasped the meaning.
"By materials, you mean? The problem of iron? Let's try making it with brass first."
At Hyang's words, Jeong Cho shook his head.
"We thought so too and experimented with brass. But an error problem arose."
At Jeong Cho's answer, Hyang's expression became serious.
"Why?"
In response to Hyang's question, Jeong Cho explained the cause.
"The problem is that even brass has different ratios of copper and other components depending on the craftsmen."
"Then...."
"Yes, we are experimenting to find the optimal alloy ratio. But the biggest problem is that time will be consumed again. Budget is also a problem."
At Jeong Cho's words, Hyang unconsciously put his hand on his forehead. But after a moment, Hyang answered with a determined face.
"I will do my best regarding the budget. Minister Jeong, please research ways to reduce the time."
"Yes, I understand."
Having finished speaking with Jeong Cho, Hyang went to find Sejong.
However, before Hyang could even finish speaking, he had to get an earful from Sejong.
"No budget! You rascal, get out!"
But Hyang didn't back down and tenaciously persisted, and in the end, he managed to extract the budget.
Watching Hyang return gleefully after extracting the budget, Sejong grumbled.
"That thing... I can't even stuff him in the Office of Records...."