Chapter 60: New Weapons (8)
At Sejong's command, Hyang and Choi Hae-san led Sejong and the ministers to a building prepared on one side.
Inside the building, in the largest room, chairs had been prepared, and Sejong and the ministers were able to sit comfortably.
Once all preparations were complete, Hyang stepped forward and began explaining the new armor in earnest.
"Examining the armor our Joseon military uses, soldiers generally wear chainmail or scale armor. However, these armors require much effort to produce and maintain. Furthermore, since both the armored soldiers who serve their shifts and the soldiers fulfilling their military service must all procure their own armor, the quality varies enormously."
At Hyang's explanation, Sejong and the ministers all nodded. This was because memoranda reporting the people's suffering related to this matter and demanding solutions frequently came up.
"Among the soldiers, due to financial constraints, some wear paper armor or cotton armor, but it is also true that their defensive capability falls short compared to iron armor."
"That is indeed the case."
Sejong nodded at Hyang's explanation. Hyang pointed at the stud armor with his command baton and continued speaking.
"This is stud armor that began to be used newly from the late previous dynasty. It reinforces defensive capability by nailing iron plates behind cotton armor made of cotton cloth and pine. In terms of defensive capability alone, it can block arrows shot from 50 paces. It is the armor with the strongest defense."
At Hyang's words, Sejong and the ministers nodded. Even in the previous conquest of Tsushima Island, the stud armor had boasted its strongest defensive capability. Hyang continued speaking.
"However, this stud armor has several problems."
Hyang pointed out the problems with the stud armor.
- First, production requires much time and labor. The iron plates fixed with studs require each piece to be individually forged, and each must be nailed one by one with studs.
- Cost is also a problem. While iron and cotton cloth are one thing, the silk used as lining and the fur for the cuffs, sides, collar, and front closure are not cheap. Of course, many cases use cotton cloth or silk instead, but to make it properly, rabbit fur, deer fur, or fox fur must be used.
- While it has the strongest defensive capability, it also has many weaknesses. First, the cuffs as well as the front closure and sides are all open. When receiving arrow attacks from a distance, unless one is terribly unlucky, this is not a problem statistically, but if close combat occurs, this becomes a problem. To prevent this, underarm protectors and groin guards must be worn additionally. However, even in this case, the front closure problem remains.
- It is difficult to endure wearing it for long periods. This is because the armor takes the form of a robe. Since all the weight of the armor is borne by the shoulders, one becomes fatigued easily.
"To solve the above problems, the new armor changed its form as follows."
- The iron plates inside the cotton armor were replaced with a single steel plate. The upper body's protective capability was secured with two steel plates, front and back.
- The defense problems of the front closure and sides were solved. Since it is a single steel plate, the front closure problem was solved, and the side problem was solved by making the front and back plates overlap by about half an inch. The underarm problem was solved by attaching circular iron pieces to the defensive parts covering the shoulder and arm.
- The armor was divided into two parts named the upper armor and lower armor. By doing this, instead of bearing all the weight of the armor on the shoulders, it was distributed throughout the body so that one would be less fatigued even after wearing it for a long time.
- Newly shaped armor plates were added to the shin, elbow, and knee areas to reinforce protective capability.
"The armor created in this way is this armor."
Hyang pointed to the armor hanging on the final rack and finished speaking.
"Hmm~"
"Hmm…."
After Hyang's explanation ended, Sejong and the ministers carefully examined the armor in question. Sejong, who was examining the armor, threw a question at Hyang.
"How much has the weight increased compared to the existing stud armor?"
"It increased by 8 geun (approximately 4.8kg). This is the weight increased by adding the elbow, knee, and shin guards."
"It only increased by that much?"
When Sejong made a dubious expression, Hyang immediately explained.
"First, the number of studs was drastically reduced, and instead of cotton armor covering the iron plates, cotton cloth was substituted."
At Hyang's report, Sejong stroked his beard and calculated.
"So with those adjustments, the total increased weight is 10 geun."
"Who will wear these armors?"
"Those wearing full body armor will be cavalry and sword soldiers, and the modified upper armor will be used by arquebus soldiers and artillery soldiers. The helmet will be used in common by all branches."
"What did those who wore these say?"
"They say that while the weight increased slightly, since the weight is distributed throughout the body, it is surprisingly bearable. Also, they said that with more parts covered by iron armor, their minds became stable and much of their fear disappeared."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong stroked his beard.
"That part is something that must be experienced in actual combat to know. I would like to see the structure of this armor in more detail."
"I have already prepared it."
At Hyang's hand signal, soldiers entered carrying a large chest. On top of the chest, iron armors with the outer cotton cloth removed were laid out.
"Hmm… The shapes of the iron armors are truly peculiar."
Sejong, who saw the shapes of the iron plates including the breastplate and backplate, had shining eyes. At Sejong's reaction, Hyang smiled inwardly.
'Even I was a bit surprised when I made it!'
When he first confirmed the prototype of the new armor, Hyang slightly shook his head.
'What is this terrible hybrid?'
The armor Hyang designed was a combination of Western full plate mail and stud armor.
While researching the armor's problems, Hyang stood at a crossroads. This was because full plate mail was slightly superior in defensive capability, while stud armor was slightly ahead in mobility.
"Hmm. What should I do? Should I just skip the armor part?"
However, Hyang could not simply pass over the armor part. This was because of the sword soldiers who had to take charge of close combat.
"This is really…"
What made Hyang, who was worrying over the armor, ultimately decide on the armor's improvement was the maintenance problems of chainmail and scale armor, and the production cost of stud armor. The cost to make proper stud armor was 16 seok 10 du for the armor, and 4 seok 5 du for the helmet.
"Why is this so expensive!"
At the price higher than expected, Hyang looked into the reason. What he found after digging deep was that not only did material costs run high, but labor costs were also substantial.
Eventually, Hyang reached a conclusion.
"Let's just change it! Let's reduce material costs as much as possible and labor costs as much as possible too!"
For that purpose, Hyang adopted the design of full plate mail.
While Sejong was expressing his impressions about the new armor, Hwang Hui, who had been carefully observing the armor, threw a question at Hyang.
"Crown Prince Your Highness."
"Yes."
"As far as I can see now, it appears that from the helmet to the iron plates of the armor, everything is made from single steel plates. Is that correct?"
"That is correct."
"Then this means that craftsmen hammered those plates one by one to process them, doesn't it? Wouldn't this require too much labor? Cost problems could arise."
At Hwang Hui's point, Hyang nodded.
"That is a valid point. I had the same concern, so…."
After pausing briefly, Hyang looked at Hwang Hui with a smile and continued speaking.
"We made them by stamping."
'The beginning of mass production is the press!'
This was the reason Hyang had to adopt the design of full plate mail.
* * *
Sejong asked Hyang with a stern expression.
"You said the new armor would be worn by cavalry and sword soldiers. But as far as I know, there is no such military branch as sword soldiers. Is this a newly created branch?"
"That is correct. We integrated the existing pengbaesu (shield bearers), changsu (spear bearers), and janggeomsu (longsword bearers)."
"The reason?"
"Looking at the performance of the newly created arquebuses and explosive shells, our Joseon military will henceforth be operated centering on arquebuses, artillery, and cavalry. Then, subdividing and training pengbaesu, changsu, and janggeomsu separately would burden the budget. Therefore…."
"You integrated those branches into one, is that it?"
"That is correct."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong immediately pointed out the problem.
"At first glance, your words seem correct. However, it is normal for battlefield situations to change in an instant, so there may be situations that sword soldiers alone cannot handle. If the firepower of arquebuses and artillery is insufficient to suppress the enemy and the enemies break through the sword soldiers' defensive line, what would you do?"
At Sejong's point, Hyang nodded.
"I am aware of that part as well. Therefore, I prepared the numbers with long arquebuses. The long arquebus can also be used as a short spear. Furthermore, I have devised and am teaching spear techniques using the long arquebus to arquebus soldiers."
"Using the long arquebus as a short spear? Hmm…."
Sejong, who heard Hyang's explanation, searched his memory and gauged the possibility. The length of the gap-sik long arquebus he saw at the demonstration ground was considerable.
'Attaching a spearhead to that? Hmm… perhaps….'
Sejong, who was gauging various possibilities, nodded.
"It seems to have potential. However, I will postpone adjusting the entire Joseon military organization according to your opinion. I think it would not be too late to decide after confirming the results of actual combat."
At Sejong's decision, Hyang bowed his head and accepted it.
'I follow Father's decision.'
* * *
After the demonstration of the new weapons created by Hyang, Choi Hae-san, Yi Cheon, and the researchers and craftsmen of the research institute ended, Sejong and the ministers prepared for a full-scale document audit.
"However, I am a bit hungry."
Sejong, who had his energy drained from watching the demonstration that started early in the morning, felt hungry and looked at the ministers.
"How about returning to the palace briefly for a meal?"
At Sejong's words, Hyang interjected.
"Father, would you like to try the field rations prepared for the soldiers?"
"Field rations? Are they tasty?"
At Hyang's suggestion, King Sejong showed curiosity. However, at Sejong's question about taste, Hyang slightly shook his head.
"Field rations are food that soldiers eat when they cannot cook rice on the battlefield. I cannot boast about the taste."
'It's not that famous French military combat rations!'
"Hmm… what should I do…."
Sejong, who was stroking his beard and thinking for a moment, soon made a decision.
"Alright, let's try it. We should eat field rations to know the hardships of soldiers, shouldn't we? Ministers, let's eat together."
"We receive your royal command."
The ministers answered with less than enthusiastic voices. This was because they had to eat food that the Crown Prince openly could not guarantee the taste of.
After a while, soldiers entered carrying a pot steaming hot. Following them, other soldiers entered carrying bowls filled with white kimchi and empty bowls. After placing the pot and kimchi on the empty chest where armor parts had been cleared, the soldiers took their places behind.
"Father. Please try it."
"Hm? Yes, let's do that."
When Sejong stood before the chest, a soldier who respectfully paid his respects ladled thick porridge from the pot into a bowl, then extended the bowl with both hands.
Sejong emptied a bowl of porridge cleanly, as if it suited his taste. After handing the bowl to the attendant, Sejong continued asking questions to Hyang.
"Do soldiers also eat that amount as one meal?"
"That is correct."
"It is porridge, not rice; how long can they endure?"
"They can sufficiently endure until the next meal at the very least. This is because not only barley and rice but also a lot of meat goes into it."
While nodding at Hyang's words, Sejong continued asking questions to check for problems.
"In making porridge, a lot of water goes in. However, when waging war, the greatest difficulty encountered is securing drinking water. What is the solution for this?"
"I have made a tool to use when it is difficult to find clean drinking water."
"You made a water purification tool? Let me see."
"I will guide you."
Hyang led Sejong to a place outside the building. There, a wooden frame about three cheok (approximately 90cm) high was placed, with square rice cake steamer frames stacked on top of a wooden stand about the length of an adult man's calf.
"This is the water purification tool."
"What principle does it work on?"
"From the very bottom going up, charcoal or wood ash and sand are stacked in layers 3 ch (approximately 10cm) thick, and on the very top, gravel is spread 2 ch (approximately 7cm) thick."
After explaining, Hyang signaled the soldiers nearby. Seeing Hyang's hand signal, the soldiers put water and soil in a large earthen vessel to make muddy water and poured it where the gravel was spread.
After a while, clear water trickled out from the iron pipe driven into the steamer at the very bottom. Hyang, who received water in a gourd, extended it to Sejong.
"It is clear water."
"While visible turbidity has been filtered, there may be invisible impurities, so it can be eaten after boiling once."
"Hmm… With this tool, there would be some countermeasure even if enemies employ scorched earth tactics."
The most commonly encountered tactic when subjugating the Jurchen tribes beyond the border was scorched earth tactics. Upon seeing the Joseon army advancing, the Jurchens would commonly throw dead animals into wells or block them with stones to destroy water sources. Because of this, subjugating the Jurchens over a long period was not an easy task.
Most of the military officers at the Joseon Army General Staff Headquarters or the Military Training Directorate who had experience fighting against the Jurchens pointed out this problem, and as a countermeasure, Hyang had created a simple water purifier.
"Hmm…."
Sejong, who was examining the water purifier while listening to Hyang's explanation, turned his head and looked at the ministers.
"When drought or flooding occurs, the greatest difficulty the people face is securing drinking water… wouldn't this problem be solved by using this? It is easy to make, doesn't require great expense, and the performance is very excellent."
At Sejong's words, the ministers, who had been thinking for a moment, all bowed their heads together.
"Truly a wise judgment!"
"It will be the best countermeasure for the drinking water shortages caused by drought or flooding!"
There were no ministers who opposed.
When drought came, the people dug wells to find drinking water. Even when water rose from the wells they dug, they could not drink it immediately because the first water to rise was muddy water. The people had to endure thirst until the mud in the well settled.
The same was true when flooding occurred. Since streams and rivers as well as wells all turned completely muddy, the people had to suffer from thirst even though water overflowed. When people who could not endure thirst drank such muddy water, they immediately fell ill, and this became the root cause of epidemics spreading, which was also a common occurrence.
When even the ministers agreed, Sejong ordered Hyang.
"Create documents related to making this tool and submit them. I will distribute them to all government offices nationwide."
"I receive your royal command!"
"And since the field rations seem usable as relief food as well, once it is confirmed that they can be preserved for a long time, find ways to mass produce them."
"I receive your command."
"That field ration was tastier than I thought. It would be good as a snack when feeling peckish in the palace."
"I am grateful!"
'You say the only-salty field ration is tasty? Father! Do you perhaps have a military constitution?'