Chapter 50: Rejoicing in Obsession, Weeping in Obsession. (15)
As promised, five days passed, and the ministers gathered at the Eastern Palace under the pretext of assessing the current status of the research institute. It wasn't just the ministers who came. Sejong was with them as well.
"We will go together."
"Your Majesty, there is no need for you to go personally..."
Hwang Hee stepped forward to dissuade him, but Sejong cut off his words.
"We are curious to see what the Crown Prince and those he leads have created during this time."
"Ah, yes..."
"Now, let us be on our way!"
As Sejong took the lead, the ministers followed behind him with expressions that said they had no choice.
When Sejong and the ministers arrived at the annex of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince and the officials of the research institute, who had been waiting outside, paid their respects with proper ceremony.
"We greet His Majesty the King."
"You have worked hard. Now..."
Sejong slowly surveyed those standing before the research institute. When they first sought him out, it had started with Jeong Cho, Jeong In-ji, and Yi Cheon, but now quite a number of people stood behind them.
"Has the staff increased significantly?"
"It is still insufficient."
"Still?"
At Hyang's answer, Sejong shook his head in disbelief. The number of people standing before his eyes appeared to be at least twenty. Yet his son was saying even that was not enough.
"Let us discuss personnel and budget matters again after seeing the results."
"Yes, Father. This way, please."
Hyang guided Sejong to the entrance of the research institute.
* * *
"Oh my?"
Upon entering the research institute, Sejong let out an exclamation filled with curiosity. Along the corridor of the institute, display shelves had been built into one wall, but instead of books, various instruments were exhibited there.
"Let us see... the Large Simplified Armillary and the Small Simplified Armillary..."
Sejong examined the instruments while looking at the nameplates placed in front of the displayed items, then turned to look at Hyang.
"Is this all? Compared to the budget that was invested..."
"The items placed there are all display specimens."
*Rattle!*
Answering Sejong's question, Hyang slid open the door of a nearby room—a nameplate reading 'Equipment Lending Room' was attached to it.
Inside the sliding door, cabinets with drawers stood in neat rows and columns. All the drawers of each cabinet were locked with thick padlocks. Hyang continued his explanation.
"The equipment actually being used is stored inside those cabinets."
"And the management?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang pointed to the eunuchs standing at the entrance of the room.
"Teams of two have been assigned to handle check-outs and returns."
"How meticulous."
Sejong nodded as he looked at the ledger placed on the desk. The ledger contained meticulous records of dates, names of visitors, equipment taken out, and return dates.
"We have heard that We are meticulous as well, but..."
Sejong continued nodding as he took his eyes off the ledger and praised the eunuchs standing in attendance.
"Truly, you have worked hard. Your labor is for the sake of this nation, so strive even harder."
"We are overwhelmed by Your Majesty's grace!"
After leaving the Equipment Lending Room, Sejong examined the instruments decorating the bookshelves once more.
"Hmm... wait. A level and a plumb bob?"
"They are instruments for measuring horizontal and vertical alignment."
"Hmm?"
His curiosity piqued, Sejong picked up the level. Inside a long wooden board, a component made of iron was embedded. Inside an iron plate with a long hole through the middle, there was also a cylinder made of iron.
*Roll. Roll.*
Each time Sejong moved the wooden board this way and that, the cylinder inside made sounds as it moved left and right.
"When that cylinder stops exactly in the center, it indicates horizontal and vertical alignment."
"I see!"
Having understood how to use the level and plumb bob, King Sejong's curiosity grew even stronger.
"So where is this used?"
"It is used in construction."
"In construction?"
"Yes. When installing instruments to measure celestial phenomena, the most important thing is for the foundation to be precisely horizontal and vertical. Using the level and plumb bob, this can be matched easily and accurately."
"Ah ha!"
At Hyang's answer, Sejong nodded greatly and burst into admiration. The ministers standing behind him did the same.
In particular, the Minister of Public Works, burning with desire, immediately made a suggestion to Sejong.
"Your Majesty! When repairing walls and government offices, or constructing embankments and reservoirs, the most important task is aligning the horizontal and vertical properly! If such instruments are used, that work becomes easier, so we must immediately mass-produce and distribute them!"
"We think the same. Crown Prince."
When Sejong called out, Hyang shook his head.
"I apologize, but what has been made now is not yet a finished product."
"Not a finished product?"
"Yes, Father. What you see now was made using iron and copper. Iron and copper rust easily. To prevent this, oil must be applied whenever there are gaps, and meticulous care must be taken to prevent rust from forming, which is troublesome work. We have devised a solution for this, and an improved version will come out soon."
"Your Highness! When will that improved version be available?"
"We are curious as well."
The Minister of Public Works, whose body was burning with impatience, clung on as if to devour. Seeing that Sejong also had a similar expression, Hyang gave a short answer.
"Do you remember the business trip report this humble son submitted some time ago?"
"Business trip report? Wait... you mean sending those Huihui Muslims to Shandong? Wasn't the purpose to recruit talent?"
"Yes. It depends on how quickly they complete their work."
"What kind of talents would make that so?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang answered immediately.
"Glass artisans."
"Glass?"
"Yes. With glass, management becomes easier."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong looked back at the Minister of Public Works.
"Though regrettable, it seems best to wait."
"No! Even what has been made now is sufficiently useful at the sites!"
The Minister of Public Works's expression and statement were simple.
'Quiet! Stop talking nonsense and give it to me right now!'
"What to do about this..."
* * *
Sejong fell into deep thought. Hyang's words made sense, and the Minister of Public Works's words also made sense.
During the past spring, when construction projects were underway nationwide, Sejong had left the palace under the pretext of comforting the people and inspected construction sites near Hanseong.
"We greet His Majesty the King!"
When the officials supervising the construction sites paid their respects, the people conducting the construction stopped their work and prostrated themselves on the ground or bowed at a ninety-degree angle to show proper respect.
"You have worked hard. Though it is difficult now, once this construction is complete, it will be of great help to farming, so persevere a little longer."
"We receive your command!"
"Long live His Majesty the King! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand ten thousand years!"
At Sejong's praise, the people shouted 'ten thousand years.' Thus comforting the people while inspecting the site, Sejong posed a question to the official in charge of supervision.
"What is the most difficult thing in conducting construction?"
At Sejong's question, the official answered immediately.
"It is aligning the horizontal and vertical."
"Why?"
"Simply put, reservoirs and embankments that hold water are simple tasks that end with digging deep. However, the sluice gates and waterways connected to them are not so easy. Sluice gates that are not properly aligned vertically make it difficult to open and close doors and block water, and waterways that are not properly aligned horizontally and with proper slope do not flow water well."
"I see."
At the official's answer, Sejong nodded.
Afterward, when construction was underway to build the annex of the Eastern Palace, he had watched briefly, and the part the master carpenter put the most heart and soul into was aligning the horizontal and vertical of the pillars and rafters.
* * *
Because he had heard and seen such information, Sejong could understand why the Minister of Public Works was making such a fuss.
"What to do about this..."
After repeated deliberation, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"Crown Prince. Though you say it is not yet complete, in Our view, it appears already sufficient to serve its purpose. Provide the related technology to the Ministry of Public Works."
"...I understand. I will follow Father's command. By the way, there are a few more instruments related to this; would you like to see them?"
"Yes, let us see."
Hyang showed several instruments to Sejong and the ministers. The instruments Hyang presented were compasses, triangular rulers, and a circular protractor that could measure the full 360 degrees, as well as an adjustable angle ruler that could adjust angles up to 180 degrees. In particular, the adjustable angle ruler had a locking device using screws, equipped with a function to firmly fix it once set to the desired angle.
"Master carpenters and various artisans have been using similarly shaped instruments for generations. These are instruments made to use those more accurately. They embody the dedication of those working at the research institute."
"Truly remarkable!"
Having grasped the value of the instruments Hyang presented, Sejong offered sincere admiration. Though Hyang spoke that way, it was certain from whose mind those thoughts had come.
'It definitely didn't come from the solidly hardened heads of bureaucrats!'
Sejong looked at the Minister of Public Works. The Minister of Public Works was not hiding his desire to take those instruments right this instant. With a proud expression, Sejong made a joke to the ministers following behind.
"Do you know how We feel right now?"
"We do not know, Your Majesty."
"The Crown Prince is so outstanding that We feel like issuing a special pardon to commemorate this."
"Your Majesty!"
"It is a joke, a joke."
Though he said it was a joke, Sejong's expression said otherwise.
'Look! My child is this brilliant! Do any of you have such a brilliant child?'
Having made a decision regarding the instruments related to architecture and civil engineering, Sejong began to view the instruments placed on the next shelf.
"Is this a ship?"
"Yes. What you are looking at now is the Byeongjeseon, the largest among the ships currently used by our Joseon navy. The next ones are new ships being researched."
"Hmm, the sizes are all different?"
"They are models made to the same ratio."
"Oh? Then..."
Examining the models once more, Sejong's gaze stopped at a sailing ship model at the very end.
"It is quite large?"
"It is a model of a sailing ship the Westerners are researching."
The sailing ship model that caught Sejong's gaze was a ship of the line.
"Ship of the line? No oars are visible?"
"It moves purely by wind power."
"And the armament?"
"The main armament is cannons. If calculated correctly, it can carry at least 80 cannons."
"80 cannons!"
Hyang explained about the ship of the line.
"...Therefore, these sailing ships adopt a method of forming a single column line to exert maximum combat power, then firing cannons. That is why it is named the ship of the line."
"A truly fitting name. So, Crown Prince, you and the researchers at the research institute have concluded through your research that for our Joseon's coastal waters, these Panokseon should be used, and for ships navigating the open ocean, these ships of the line should be used?"
"That is correct."
"Hmm."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong stroked his beard.
"Come to think of it."
Sejong recalled a report submitted through the Minister of Military Affairs not long ago.
It was a joint report from the newly established Joseon Army General Staff Headquarters and the Military Training Command due to changes in the international situation. It contained a petition about the need for reform of the navy and the necessity of creating a plan for this. At that time, Sejong had immediately approved the report.
"While land defense is important, it is true that maritime defense is also important, so We permit it."
Of course, at that time, the ministers except for the Ministry of Military had expressed opposition citing budget issues. However, Sejong did not bend his decision.
"If We do not even make plans because the budget is insufficient, that is something only fools would do! The budget is gradually increasing, so this is not a problem!"
When Sejong pushed forward strongly, the ministers became crestfallen. They did not want to follow in Ryu Jeong-hyeon's footsteps.
While examining the models and listening to Hyang's explanation, Sejong expressed a question. At the very end of the ship models, there was a noodle bowl.
"Why is this Myeonggi (noodle bowl) here?"
"It symbolizes making ships not of wood but of iron."
"Making ships of iron?"
Sejong and the ministers all looked at Hyang with surprised eyes.
* * *
"Did you say making ships of iron?"
"That is correct."
At Hyang's answer, everyone gathered, from Jeong Cho to Jang Yeong-sil, shook their heads.
"That is impossible."
"That iron sinks in water is a fact even a young child knows."
"You are correct. Making ships of iron is an impossible matter."
When everyone gave negative answers, Hyang countered.
"You are all mistaken. It is not impossible. You simply have not found the method yet."
"You say we haven't found the method?"
"That is correct."
After answering briefly, Hyang called a eunuch and gave an order.
"Go to the royal kitchen and bring a brass noodle bowl and a basin filled with water."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After a while, the eunuchs brought a basin filled with water and a cold noodle bowl.
"Place the basin on that table."
"Yes, Your Highness."
When the eunuchs placed the basin on the table, Hyang floated the noodle bowl on top of it.
Seeing the noodle bowl floating gently on the water, Hyang looked at the people.
"It floats, doesn't it?"