< Chapter 44: Joy in Obsession, Sorrow in Obsession. (9) - This is the end of free episodes. >
Chapter 44: Joy in Obsession, Sorrow in Obsession. (9)
Hyang continued his explanation to Jang Yeong-sil, who had buried his head in the blueprints.
"As you can see, we divide it based on the twelve shichen, then split each in half to mark 'cho' (initial), and split that in half again. So the minimum unit ends up being 2 ke."
"I understand."
"But there's a problem. It's quite difficult to connect it to a device that announces time with sound. I'd like you to handle this part."
"However, His Majesty the King has already given a command..."
"Isn't it the same clock either way? Think of it as a warm-up before making that large one. And I'll speak well to Father, so don't worry."
At Hyang's words, Jang Yeong-sil began to agonize over the decision. Seeing Jang Yeong-sil's face grow serious, Hyang prayed inwardly again and again.
'Please ask, just ask!'
Whether knowing Hyang's mind or not, Jang Yeong-sil, who had been pondering, opened his mouth.
"To be honest, I really want to make Your Highness the Crown Prince's clock. But His Majesty the King has given a solemn command..."
"That problem! I will solve it!"
Hyang hastily cut off Jang Yeong-sil's words.
"Pardon? Pardon?"
"I'll handle the matter with Father! And, you said the calculations are difficult earlier, right? Then do you know anyone who's good at that?"
Caught off guard by the suddenly shifting situation, Jang Yeong-sil stammered as he answered.
"Well, there's Minister Jeong Cho, and Minister Jeong In-ji, and I've heard rumors that Minister Lee Cheon is also skilled at arithmetic calculations, and um..."
"That's enough! I understand. Hold onto those blueprints properly!"
"Pardon? Par-pardon? Pardon? Your Highness? Your Highness!"
Jang Yeong-sil, holding the blueprints that Hyang had practically thrown at him, called out desperately as he watched Hyang disappear into the distance. But the sound didn't reach Hyang's ears at all.
"If I can only do basic calculations, and Jang Yeong-sil can only do basic calculations, then I need to find people who are good at calculating!"
While moving hurriedly toward Geunjeongjeon, a warning light flashed in Hyang's mind at one person's name.
"Wait? Jeong In-ji? That Jeong In-ji? The one who conspired with Suyang?"
Hyang, who paused for a moment at the name Jeong In-ji, immediately reached a conclusion.
"Fine! Jeong In-ji, you're definitely working overtime and overworking!"
* * *
"Crown Prince His Highness has arrived~."
"Let him enter."
Sejong, who had been handling state affairs with his ministers, permitted entry upon hearing that Hyang had come without being summoned.
"What brings you here?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered immediately.
"I have come with a request for you, Father."
"A request?"
At the word 'request,' all the ministers starting from the Chief State Councillor froze. The beginning of the bloodstorm that had stained the beginning of the Gapjin year with blood was precisely that 'request.'
Sejong also asked Hyang with a tense face.
"A request? Very well, what request is it?"
"Please give me people!"
"People?"
"Yes! Jeong Cho of the Ministry of Public Works, Lee Cheon of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and Jeong In-ji of Jiphyeonjeon. Ah! Lastly, I need Jang Yeong-sil, and personnel from the Military Ordnance Directorate will be needed from time to time."
"Jeong Cho, Lee Cheon, and Jeong In-ji..."
Sejong began to search for information about the relevant people by recalling his memories. While Sejong was reminiscing, the ministers of the departments to which the people in question belonged turned pale.
"Your Majesty! They are..."
"Why? Is there some problem with them?"
"That's not it, but..."
Seeing the ministers trailing off, the Minister of Taxation took the lead.
"Those whom His Highness the Crown Prince desires are important talents of each ministry. If they are taken away, work will become very difficult. Judging by His Highness the Crown Prince's character, he must have requested this for important work, but state affairs are also important..."
Simply put, it was 'How can you take away the ones who work well? We can't give them!'
"Is that so? Crown Prince, why do you want them?"
"I have conceived of several devices for the flourishing of this Joseon. However, while I have worked out the principles, precise calculations are needed to implement them physically, and for this, I need people skilled in arithmetic."
"Hmm... devices..."
Seeing Sejong becoming interested, Hyang quickly added MSG.
"The first thing I want to create is a clock!"
"A clock?"
"Yes. The water clock that Father has currently ordered is so large that it requires a separate building."
"That is true."
"However, the clock I wish to create now can be made small enough to be the size of an adult man, or large enough to be installed on top of a pavilion."
"The size of an adult man?"
"Indeed! If completed properly, it can be installed not only in the palace but also in the offices of the Six Ministries and local government offices! If that happens, all the people of this Joseon will be able to check the time conveniently, so wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Hmm... placing them in every palace and government office... even throughout the country..."
Sejong, who was pondering while being tempted by Hyang's words, reached a conclusion.
"Good! I will attach those you desire to you! However, this is only temporary. Crown Prince, if you properly create a clock, then I will remove the word 'temporary' at that time! This is because those you desire are talents needed for state affairs as well!"
"Your grace is boundless!"
Hyang answered in a loud voice and performed a grand bow.
Thus, the 'Dream Team that would later make Joseon soar' began to slowly take shape.
Those selected according to Sejong's royal command gathered at Donggungjeon.
"Oh! Minister Jang! Have you been well?"
"Minister! It has been a long time!"
Jeong Cho and Jang Yeong-sil asked after each other's well-being with glad faces.
After Jang Yeong-sil was specially appointed by Sejong, the first person he formed a connection with was Jeong Cho. After lightly exchanging greetings, Jeong Cho posed a question to Jang Yeong-sil.
"Is it true that His Highness the Crown Prince is making a clock?"
"Yes."
"Is it true that he said the size can be freely determined?"
"Yes."
At Jang Yeong-sil's answer, others summoned to Donggungjeon also gathered nearby. Once people gathered, Jang Yeong-sil brought out a bundle of blueprints he had set aside and spread them out.
"These are the blueprints of the clock that His Highness the Crown Prince drew. It's a method using the fall of this weight instead of water."
"Hmm..."
"My..."
While listening to Jang Yeong-sil's explanation, the people examined the blueprints. While tracing the movement paths with their fingers on the parts, Jeong Cho spoke up.
"It seems... he's determining the day using the fixed time method (Jeongsibeop)?"
"That is correct."
At Jang Yeong-sil's answer, the people fell into thought. The method of distinguishing time in Joseon was to use the fixed time method of 12 shichen during the day, and the unfixed time method (Bujeongsibeop) of dividing the night into 5 gyeong. However, the unfixed time method had the problem that the length of time varied according to the seasons.
"His Highness the Crown Prince said he wants the common people to use it as well, but wouldn't this be a problem?"
While Jeong In-ji was pointing out the problems, Hyang's voice was heard from behind.
"Since the length of time changes according to the length of the night, wouldn't problems arise during the day as well? If so, I think it would be better to make the fixed time method familiar instead. For the sake of the future as well."
"We greet His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Those who discovered Hyang all paid their respects together. After lightly returning the courtesy, Hyang made a gesture.
"Please take your seats."
At Hyang's command, the people sat around the conference table. Hyang, who sat in the seat of honor, placed the bundle of papers he had been carrying under his arm on the table and continued speaking.
"His Majesty said 'temporary,' but I think I will be able to remove that label easily. Have you seen those blueprints?"
"We have, Your Highness."
"What do you think?"
"There is the problem of using only the fixed time method, but I believe it will operate with certainty."
"I think the same."
At Hyang's question, all those gathered were convinced of success. Hyang, who nodded lightly, opened his mouth.
"I think so as well. The problem is creating a device that connects to this and announces the time with sound. I would like you to handle the calculations and design for that part."
"Hmm..."
After pondering for a moment, the people answered in one voice.
"We will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's command!"
Though they hesitated briefly, the people accepted immediately. It was because they were also interested.
Hearing the answer, Hyang held out the bundle of papers to them.
"First, I'd like to see your arithmetic skills. Please try solving these problems."
Hyang held out problems he had found from mathematical texts of the Eastern Roman Empire. Those who received the test papers soon took out brushes and ink from their sleeves and began calculating.
"Stop."
After about half a shichen (1 hour) passed, Hyang declared the end. After collecting the test papers, Hyang checked the answers against an answer sheet he had prepared in advance.
"Hmm..."
After grading while looking at the answer sheet, Hyang looked back at the people.
"First, let's start with making the clock. Since you have come under my command, there will be no concurrent positions. Therefore, devote yourselves fully to completing the clock prototype first."
"We will obey your command!"
"How long will it take?"
At Hyang's question, the people put their heads together and whispered. After a brief discussion, Jeong Cho answered as the representative.
"The design for the most important part that measures time is already complete, so we only need to design the part that announces with sound. Therefore, I think we can make a prototype in about a month."
"Then I will report to Father that it will take a month. Not only my honor but also your honor is at stake, so you must do your best."
"We will do our best!"
After assigning workspace for the dream team he had conceived, Hyang returned to his study and muttered.
"This is a bit precarious..."
What Hyang called precarious was the mathematical skills of the dream team members. The problems he had selected in advance for such an occasion were taken from mathematical texts of the Eastern Roman Empire. The problems were at middle and high school levels - excluding calculus. When Hyang himself solved them, they were at about an 80-point level, but among them, the highest score was 70, and on average they were hitting around 50 to 60.
"I heard the hobby of Joseon scholar-officials was solving math problems? What should I do about this?"
What Hyang found troublesome was that his own skills were insufficient to teach mathematics. After pondering for a while, Hyang soon found a solution.
"Ah! There were the Muslims!"
* * *
One month later, the dream team kept their promise. Sejong was greatly satisfied upon seeing the completed clock.
"Mass-produce these and install them first in the palace and the Six Ministries' offices!"
"We will obey your command!"
Thus, clocks were installed in various places throughout the palace and at key locations in the Six Ministries' offices.
And these clocks became the nightmare of the officials.
As the balance of power clearly tipped toward Sejong, the royal lectures were greatly reduced to half a shichen during Si (9~11 AM) and half a shichen during Sin (3~5 PM). This was because he felt they were unnecessary since there was no longer a need to break the ministers' arrogance through royal lectures.
When the time for royal lectures came, the ministers and high officials hurriedly moved to the lecture hall. If they were even slightly late, Sejong, who had been waiting in advance, would silently glance at the tardy minister and then glance at the clock.
Without a single word, the tardy minister had to break out in cold sweat each time.
If the ministers broke out in cold sweat, then for the officials of the Six Ministries, the gates of hell opened.
"When will this report be possible?"
"It will be possible by Sin-hour sharp (4 PM)."
"Is that so? Understood."
And when the promised time came, the superiors would pester their subordinate officials.
"Hey! It's already Sin-hour sharp! Is it still not done?"
"I apologize. Just a little more time..."
"Ugh! Hurry up!"
As such incidents became frequent, subordinate officials tried tricks, but that too became subject to scolding.
"When will this report be possible?"
"By Yu-hour sharp (6 PM) would..."
"Just this? It's currently Jin-hour (7~9 AM)! Have you given up on advancing in your career?"
"N-no, sir!"
"Ugh! A talent who graduated from Sungkyunkwan being this slow with work... tsk tsk tsk."
"I apologize."
"Just get to work quickly!"
Eventually, the officials who were thoroughly stressed made it a daily routine to rush to gisaeng houses or nearby taverns to drink as soon as they left work.
* * *
Sejong kept his promise.
"Very well. Those you wanted are now your people from now on. What will you do now?"
"Please create an independent government office for me."
"An independent government office?"
Hyang explained in detail to Sejong. After hearing the explanation, Sejong fell into thought. After pondering for a while, Sejong opened his mouth.
"It is difficult to decide immediately. I will give you an answer in five days."
"Yes, Father."
Five days later, Sejong made his decision.
"I permit it."
"Your grace is boundless!"
Hyang performed a grand bow, unable to hide his joy.
Thus, 'The Joseon Science and Technology Development Research Institute,' the largest research institution in Joseon, was created.
< Chapter 44: Joy in Obsession, Sorrow in Obsession. (9) - This is the end of free episodes. > End
ⓒ Gukppong