Chapter 173: Feedback (2)
Seeing that Sejong's reaction was favorable, Hyang spoke again.
"Your Majesty, this humble son has another request for Father."
'Strike while the iron is hot!'
As soon as the word 'request' came out, Sejong answered in a stern voice.
"Another one? If it's about the budget for District 51, the answer is no."
"This is not about District 51. It is for the national defense of our Joseon."
Sejong, who had tensed up worried that 'we need more budget...' would come out again, relaxed slightly at Hyang's words.
"Speak then."
"Yes. Attendant, go to the Eastern Palace and bring the 'barrier model.'"
"Yes, Your Highness."
At Hyang's command, the attendant left Geunjeongjeon Hall.
Seeing this, the ministers—especially the Ministers of the Taxation Ministry, Personnel Ministry, and Public Works Ministry—swallowed dry saliva and prayed inwardly.
'Please! Anything but something that costs a lot!'
'Something that doesn't require many people!'
'Best of all, His Majesty refusing it!'
A short while later, when the ministers saw four attendants grunting as they carried in a large board covered with cloth, they squeezed their eyes shut. The size alone was extraordinary.
'It's huge! It's huge!'
'Look at that size! I can already hear funeral dirges!'
'I won't look! I absolutely won't look!'
Sejong, who saw the model placed on a large conference table that other attendants had brought, looked at Hyang.
"Quite large, isn't it? What is it?"
"Since we made a terrain model, the size became large. The actual thing is not this big."
The ministers, who had been keeping their eyes tightly shut and refusing to look, slowly opened their eyes and looked at the model at the conversation between Sejong and Hyang—particularly at Hyang's words that 'it's not that big.'
"Remove the cloth."
"Yes, Your Highness."
When the attendant removed the cloth, a mock terrain made of plaster and miscellaneous grasses was revealed.
At the very center of the terrain sat a slightly elevated hill.
Hyang picked up a pointer and began his explanation.
"Examining the geography, our Joseon's land has a topography that is high in the east and low in the west. Therefore, looking at the records of invasions that have continued since the ancient Three Han period, the western plains were the main attack routes."
"That is correct."
"However, even these western plains have limited transportation routes, and they must pass through mountain passes and valleys."
"That is also correct."
At Hyang's words, Sejong nodded and answered. While faithfully answering Hyang's questions, Sejong couldn't hide his doubt.
'Why is he so eagerly talking about things everyone already knows?'
Whether he knew Sejong's feelings or not, Hyang continued his explanation enthusiastically.
"Stationing defensive troops at all those key transportation points is wasteful. No, it is impossible with Joseon's military budget."
"I am well aware of that."
"Therefore..."
Hyang pointed to a wooden model installed at the hilltop.
"Therefore, I propose installing rockfall obstacles at these key transportation points."
At Hyang's explanation, Sejong began to show great interest.
"Rockfall obstacles?"
"Simply put, it means causing a landslide by human hands."
What Hyang proposed was an anti-tank rockfall obstacle that could still be seen occasionally in the northern regions of Seoul even in the 21st century.
'In the 21st century, it's an item that has lost much of its luster, but now its effectiveness is immense!'
Sejong, who had come down from the royal throne, carefully examined the model Hyang had made. The ministers also gathered around Sejong and carefully examined the models.
"Hmm... So those pillars are supporting it, and you place that square structure on top?"
"That is correct. Just like this."
When Hyang lightly tapped the support holding up the rockfall with his pointer, the square wooden pieces on top of the support came tumbling down.
"Oh my?"
Seeing the wooden pieces blocking the road, Sejong let out a small exclamation and his eyes gleamed. Hyang pointed at the wooden pieces and continued speaking.
"Since this is a model, we used wood, but if we actually build it, we will make it with iron-mixed stone."
"If it's iron-mixed stone, the weight would be considerable, so the supports would need to be sturdy."
The Minister of Public Works interjected at Hyang's explanation. Hyang nodded at the Minister's words.
"That is correct. Therefore, the supports will also be made of iron-mixed stone."
At Hyang's answer, the Minister of Public Works raised the problem he had thought of.
"The iron-mixed stone I know has incomparable strength. If we make supports with that, wouldn't it take a long time to trigger the rockfall?"
At the Minister of Public Works' point, all the ministers nodded. After catching his breath for a moment, the Minister of Public Works continued.
"It's meant to block the enemy's advance, but if done incorrectly, it could block our allies' retreat or be too late, allowing the enemy's advance. Wouldn't its effectiveness be diminished?"
"That is a valid point."
At the Minister of Public Works' criticism, Hyang nodded without any rebuttal. At Hyang's reaction, which was different from usual, the Minister of Public Works momentarily made an expression that said 'this isn't right?'
Leaving the Minister of Public Works' reaction behind, Hyang continued his explanation to Sejong and the ministers.
"Naturally, if we use purely human or animal power, it would take considerable time. In the urgent situation of a battlefield, this is a very dangerous thing. Therefore, in situations where we need to block the road with rockfall, we use gunpowder."
"Gunpowder? Gunpowder..."
When Sejong made a skeptical expression, Hyang showed a model he had placed to the side.
"This is a miniature model of the support. As you can see, a hole of appropriate size has been预先 made in the middle of the pillar. If necessary, we put gunpowder in this hole and detonate it."
"Is it scaled proportionally?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sejong, who was gauging the size of the hole in the pillar, looked back at Hyang.
"Is the amount of gunpowder that goes into this hole enough to bring it down?"
"Yes. We have tested it."
"Hmm..."
At Hyang's answer that they had already tested it, Sejong fell silent. He wanted to ask 'when?', but considering the evaluation of District 51, there was no need to ask.
District 51 was a place evaluated with the standard that 'if the sound of gunpowder exploding isn't heard, it means a major accident has occurred.' It was a place where various equipment, gunpowder, firearms, and cannons were tested every single day.
Sejong, who had been examining the rockfall obstacle model, looked at Kim Jeom.
"I think the Minister of Taxation has the most to say, so please speak first."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Kim Jeom, who had been stamping his feet behind them, immediately began questioning Hyang as soon as Sejong gave him the opportunity.
"I understand what His Highness the Crown Prince has said. I also understand its effectiveness well. However, the problem is cost. It may be called a rockfall obstacle, but it is still a structure. Structures require continuous maintenance. Considering that problem, wouldn't the cost be too high compared to the effect?"
At Kim Jeom's words, Hyang readily nodded.
"That is true. However, since these rockfall obstacles don't have doors or windows, they don't require much cost or time for construction. For maintenance, we only need to manage structural problems like cracks."
"Well, if that's the case..."
At Hyang's clear explanation, Kim Jeom clicked his tongue and stepped back.
After that, several ministers took turns asking questions. But Hyang answered without hesitation.
Finally, Sejong asked the last question.
"Well... Listening to your explanation, Crown Prince, it seems it would be effective in tying down the enemy's feet, but conversely, wouldn't it also be an obstacle when we chase the enemy?"
"If we prepare horses and cattle in advance, that will be sufficient."
"Wouldn't that be the same for the enemy?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang explained again the purpose of installing these barriers.
"The purpose of this rockfall is not a barrier that completely blocks the enemy, but to delay the enemy's advance temporarily while buying time for our forces to reorganize. Whether the enemy removes the rocks, climbs over them, or finds a detour, whatever method they choose, they will waste that much time. We use that time for our forces to reorganize. And while reducing our casualties at that."
"'Reducing our casualties'..."
Sejong pondered Hyang's words.
Sejong was not ignorant of military strategy. According to strategy, the situation where an army suffers the most damage is when it is attacked by the enemy while retreating.
The saying 'sweeping away like breaking bamboo, defeated in a single battle' was a truly pleasant phrase for the attacking side, but it was a phrase the receiving side never wanted to hear. Therefore, in such cases, it was not uncommon to organize units that would grab the enemy's ankles while prepared for sacrifice.
'But. Using the equipment the Crown Prince mentioned, we can grab the enemy's ankles while reducing sacrifices. However, the problem is...'
Having organized his thoughts, Sejong asked Hyang one last question.
"Everything is good, but I don't like the assumption that we've allowed an enemy invasion. Are our Joseon forces that weak?"
At Sejong's question, Jo Malsaeng answered in a loud voice.
"That is absolutely not so! Our Joseon forces will never allow an enemy invasion! I, Jo Malsaeng, answer with my life on the line!"
At the Minister of War's answer, Sejong looked at Hyang.
"He says that's the case?"
At Sejong's words, Hyang answered calmly.
"The Minister of War's words are correct. The primary purpose of our Joseon forces is to defend the land and protect the peace of Your Majesty and the people. Therefore, they are training fiercely even now, and risking their lives to guard against enemies at the borders. This is beyond doubt."
At Hyang's words, Jo Malsaeng and the generals of the military nodded vigorously. Glancing at them, Hyang continued speaking.
"However, it was said that preparedness averts peril. By assuming and preparing for 'the worst situation,' we can establish countermeasures more easily. This is not a matter of pride, but a matter of survival."
"Not pride, but survival..."
Sejong, who mulled over Hyang's words again, let out a long sigh.
"Hoo~. Minister of Taxation, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Personnel."
At Sejong's call, starting with Kim Jeom, the called ministers bowed their heads.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You all will need to put in some effort. And Chief Ministers, please examine the matter and coordinate with other departments if necessary."
"...We obey your command."
The ministers answered while bowing their heads.
'More work increases again...'
'The fact that there's no justification to stop it is a regret of a lifetime.'
* * *
Sejong, who had returned to the royal throne, looked at Jo Malsaeng.
"Is this the end of the military matters?"
"No, it is not."
At Jo Malsaeng's answer, Kim Jeom asked with a trembling voice.
"There's more?"
At Kim Jeom's question filled with despair, Jo Malsaeng answered quietly.
"I'm sorry."
"Minister of War, state what the problem is."
At Sejong's command, Jo Malsaeng immediately brought up the matter.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Though mentioning it itself is disloyal, during the process of suppressing the recent rebellion, His Highness the Crown Prince used a new long firearm. The Royal Guard and Inner Royal Guard who saw that firearm all praised its excellent performance, so we must mass-produce it and deploy it to the Joseon forces."
"Hmm? A new type of firearm? Come to think of it..."
Sejong, who was trying to recall, looked at Hyang. In his memory as well, the Crown Prince at that time was holding a long firearm he was seeing for the first time. He didn't see it properly, but it was definitely not an armor-piercing long firearm.
'But, this fellow hid it away as soon as the situation was resolved?'
Sejong, who was trying to recall, glared at Hyang.
"I remember too. Crown Prince, you definitely used a new firearm at that time. Explain what happened."
At Sejong's words, Hyang glared at Jo Malsaeng.
'Damn it! Why is that man's mouth so loose!'
While cursing Jo Malsaeng inwardly, Hyang explained to Sejong.
"Yes, it is true that I used a new firearm. However, that firearm was only made experimentally, and there are many problems for the Joseon forces to use it in large quantities."