# Chapter 72: People (5)
As the reforms progressed, Joseon's artisan community, particularly the smelters, went through a period of upheaval.
The reason for this turmoil was a chain reaction that began with the Military Ordnance Directorate.
As the artisans belonging to the Military Ordnance Directorate moved en masse to the research institute and Area 51, the directorate found itself in need of artisans.
"Select skilled artisans from among those belonging to the Land Defense Forces, Mounted Naval Forces, and Garrison Forces throughout Joseon and bring them to Hanyang. After examining their skills, have them fill the vacancies in the Military Ordnance Directorate."
"Your command shall be obeyed."
At King Sejong's royal decree, chaos erupted in military garrisons across the nation.
Artisans renowned for their skill in crafting weapons such as swords and bows in the garrisons made their way to Hanyang.
King Sejong himself attended the examination of artisans who would work at the Military Ordnance Directorate.
Sejong's desire for talent shone even in this setting—he selected about 30 percent more artisans than the directorate's authorized capacity.
"Send those who remain after filling the Military Ordnance Directorate's quota to Area 51."
"... Your command shall be obeyed!"
Delighted by this unexpected gift, Hyang bowed deeply to Sejong.
"Your Majesty's grace is boundless, Father!"
With things turning out this way, a chain reaction was only natural.
"If you take away the artisans who make our swords, what are we supposed to do!"
"Taking all the meat from a feast table is bad enough, but taking people like this..."
The military, suddenly stripped of their skilled artisans, had to seek out renowned artisans from among the civilians and bring them into service.
Amidst this commotion, there was one positive outcome. The perception of artisans improved somewhat.
Both the government and civilians began to value skilled artisans more highly, and their treatment improved as well.
This was the butterfly effect created by Sejong and Hyang, both of whom had a strong desire for talented people.
* * *
As soon as the decision was made to create a state-owned enterprise dedicated to iron production, Hyang and the ministers exchanged opinions about the preparation process.
To be precise, Hyang forced his way into a discussion where the ministers were exchanging views.
"You already have many duties to attend to; you need not involve yourself in this matter as well..."
"Considering the materials that will be consumed by the research institute and Area 51, this is absolutely necessary."
Hwang Hee tried to dissuade him, wanting to avoid the situation of a sister-in-law butting in more annoyingly than a mother-in-law, but Hyang firmly claimed his spot.
"Since we're doing this at Area 51, I will personally oversee the examination!"
"There's no need to go that far..."
"This is a great undertaking of the state! As Crown Prince, I must step forward!"
"... Very well, do as you wish."
Having volunteered to oversee the examination, Hyang persuaded Sejong and obtained permission.
"Will it be alright?"
At the ministers' question filled with worry, Hwang Hee replied with an expression that said it was nothing.
"Isn't this good for us? We already have more than enough work to do as it is."
* * *
The first round of selection criteria for artisans related to ironmaking was proposed by Hyang.
- Regions where the ratio of wrought iron is high in the overall tribute amount.
Rather than selecting places that simply produced large quantities regardless of pig iron or wrought iron, the criteria focused on areas that produced relatively more wrought iron, which eliminated quite a few regions.
Through this first round of examination, one location was selected from Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongju and Hamchang were selected from Gyeongsang Province.
While there were ironworks with high production volumes in other places, these three locations had higher ratios of wrought iron compared to elsewhere.
Once the first candidates were decided, cavalrymen carrying royal decrees spurred their horses.
"A royal decree!"
Upon hearing that a royal decree had come down from Hanyang, local officials straightened their attire, bowed deeply toward Hanyang, and respectfully received the decree.
After breaking the seal and checking the contents, the local officials sighed.
"Haah~. More work, I see."
* * *
According to the royal decree, people selected from the three ironworks came up to Hanyang.
"We need a place to test their skills."
At Hwang Hee's words, Sejong looked at Hyang. At this wordless command, Hyang immediately responded.
"I will prepare a place at Area 51."
"Do so."
Thus the location for testing skills was decided, but a problem arose among the artisans.
"The artisans are refusing to smelt in the same location."
Receiving the report from Chief Smelter Go, Hyang frowned and asked the reason.
"What is the reason?"
"They say that extracting iron is the most secret of secret techniques, and they cannot show it to their competitors."
"This is..."
Facing a difficult situation, Hyang looked at the ministers. Among the ministers making similar expressions, Hwang Hee spoke up.
"Can we not simply force them?"
At Hwang Hee's suggestion, Chief Smelter Go shook his head.
"If we do that, they will simply pack up and leave."
"Even though this is state business?"
"Thanks to their rough work, they all have coarse personalities and considerable pride. These are people who would rather have their heads cut off than be forced to do something."
"Good heavens... tsk!"
At Chief Smelter Go's answer, Hyang examined the map of Area 51.
"How much space is needed to build a bloomery furnace? If we create spots here, here, and here in these empty lots, they won't overlap, so it should be possible, don't you think?"
"Please wait a moment!"
At Hyang's words, Chief Smelter Go, who was examining the map, immediately went outside to take measurements.
After going around the lots and measuring the locations, Chief Smelter Go returned and reported to Hyang.
"It seems possible."
"Then tell the head blacksmiths."
The head blacksmiths immediately accepted Hyang's proposal.
After determining their spots through drawing lots, the head blacksmiths led the people they had brought and established themselves in the respective locations.
Watching the head blacksmiths and their subordinates moving about in one corner of the research institute, Hyang turned to Chief Smelter Go.
"Quite a few people accompanying them?"
"With the head blacksmiths, assistant blacksmiths, furnace tenders, firewood handlers, charcoal burners and all, there are quite a few."
"Is that so?"
Listening to Chief Smelter Go's answer, Hyang rubbed his hands together with excitement.
"Once the competition begins in earnest, it will be interesting."
"Will Your Highness continue to watch?"
"When else would I see such a spectacle?"
"... That is true."
Hyang was excited.
When he had learned from a traditional swordsmith in the 21st century, he had seen small amounts of steel being made in small furnaces, but he had never seen the full-scale process of making iron like this.
Once the locations were selected, Hyang gathered the head blacksmiths.
"The places are ready, and the materials you requested have been prepared. Check if anything is lacking."
"Yes, Your Highness."
At Hyang's command, the head blacksmiths headed to where the prepared materials were.
The first thing the head blacksmiths checked was iron ore, the most important material, and charcoal to be used as fuel.
This was also the first test process Hyang had prepared.
"Huh?"
Upon going to where the iron ore was piled, all the head blacksmiths wore embarrassed expressions and looked at Hyang.
"Your Highness, is this stone iron the iron we're to extract?"
At the question posed in their characteristic dialect, Hyang nodded.
"Most of it is stone iron. We found a good iron vein recently. Why, can you not do it?"
"It's a bit troublesome, but it's not impossible."
"That's right."
"Well, it's not like we can't do it."
At the head blacksmiths' answers, Hyang quietly muttered to the eunuch standing behind.
"Everyone gets 1 bonus point."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Hyang's eyes, which had been evaluating the head blacksmiths, soon widened. The head blacksmiths were showing actions even Hyang hadn't expected.
The head blacksmiths randomly selected iron ore from various parts of the pile, then took hammers from the baskets they were carrying and began breaking the iron ore.
When a suitable amount of iron ore powder was produced, the head blacksmiths took iron needles and oil lamps from their baskets.
The head blacksmiths licked the iron needles once to moisten them with saliva, then dipped the needles in the iron powder.
After coating the iron needles with an appropriate amount of iron powder, they lit the oil lamps and pushed the needles into the flames.
As the needles entered and the color of the flame changed, the head blacksmiths all muttered.
"This has quite a bit of sulfur in it."
This was exactly where Hyang was astonished.
'They knew about flame reaction!'
Having confirmed the condition of the iron, the most important raw material, the head blacksmiths moved to the yellow earth piled up nearby. Without exception, the head blacksmiths picked up the yellow earth with their fingers, tasted it, and slightly shook their heads.
"Is there a problem?"
"There's a lot of sulfur mixed in with the stone iron. To make good iron, we need to remove the sulfur's energy, but with the energy this earth has, it's a bit difficult."
"That's right!"
"The earth is a bit lacking."
At the head blacksmiths' answers, Hyang immediately summed up the situation.
"Then find suitable earth yourselves."
"And we don't see any limestone."
"I've had it prepared."
During this selection process that continued, this time the head blacksmiths found themselves in a difficult situation.
"What is this stone?"
"It's called coal. Use it instead of charcoal. Chief Smelter Go."
"Yes, Your Highness."
At Hyang's command, Chief Smelter Go stepped forward and explained coal to the head blacksmiths.
After the prospectors found coal, the first to use it were the artisans working at Area 51.
Therefore, Chief Smelter Go, who had the most experience with coal, stepped forward.
Whether the explanation from someone in the same industry worked, the head blacksmiths soon nodded.
"Coal... looks interesting."
"They said it has better heat than charcoal? Hmm... how should we adjust the ratio?"
"They say sulfur is mixed in too... we'll need more yellow earth and limestone..."
"Can you not do it?"
At Hyang's question, all the head blacksmiths shook their heads.
"Then, once you've prepared the materials, build the furnaces immediately. Since Gyeongju's furnace will take the most time, we'll begin the competition as soon as Gyeongju's furnace is completed."
"Yes, Your Highness."
That day, upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Hyang scratched his head and muttered irritably.
"To think they even knew about flame reaction... Just how much had this damned Joseon forgotten!"
* * *
As the head blacksmiths who had obtained the necessary materials began building furnaces, Hyang conducted the examination while carefully recording the process.
"The furnace is square?"
"If we make it this way, it's easier to stack the iron ore and charcoal."
"This furnace is a bit tall?"
"If the height is high, the iron improves."
"Is that so?"
While Hyang conversed with the head blacksmiths, the eunuchs standing behind recorded the conversations and, checking Hyang's hand signals, added or subtracted points.
During the furnace construction process, what caught Hyang's attention was Gyeongju.
While other places mainly built earthen furnaces using soil, Gyeongju was building a furnace mainly using stone.
"Making it with stone, is there an advantage? Does it withstand heat well?"
"Stone alone can't withstand the heat. We need to plaster it with earth. But if we make it this way, there's no need to rebuild it every time, right?"
"Is that so?"
Hearing the answer, Hyang made a small hand signal.
At Hyang's hand signal, the eunuch recorded points on the chart.
"Gyeongju, 2 bonus points."
Once the furnaces were built, the head blacksmiths proceeded to extract iron.
There were some trial and errors as they used coal instead of charcoal, but Hyang did not consider it a problem.
"This is a process you must go through, so I will not consider it a problem!"
After brief trial and error, the head blacksmiths began extracting iron in earnest.
The competition had begun.
* * *
Excluding the time spent building the furnaces, in the competition that lasted for fifteen days, the winner was the head blacksmith from Gyeongju.
Hyang explained to Sejong the reason why Gyeongju claimed victory.
"First of all, Gyeongju built a stone masonry furnace using stones. While other artisans didn't avoid using stones, earth was primary, whereas for Gyeongju, stone was primary and earth secondary. Because of this..."
"The furnace can be used continuously?"
"That is correct. Next is the labor involved in producing wrought iron. In other furnaces, after taking out the pig iron from the furnace, they heated it again in the furnace, then workers hammered it to make wrought iron."
"That would require a lot of labor."
"That is correct."
"Then what about Gyeongju? Did they use a different method?"
"Gyeongju mixed selected scrap iron with the pig iron produced that way and melted it again."
"Melt it again? That seems like wasted effort?"
"It wasn't wasted effort. When they cooled the molten iron melted that way, most of it was wrought iron, and a considerable amount of steel was also produced."
"Heoh~. How mysterious!"
At Sejong's evaluation, Hyang nodded.
Though Hyang didn't know it, the method Gyeongju used—the process of melting twice—went through a transformation process similar to the Bessemer furnace.
It was a method of dramatically reducing the carbon content mixed in the iron through the twice-melting process, which was similar to 20th-century steelmaking methods when simply compared. (Note 1)
* * *
The head blacksmith from Gyeongju, who became the final winner through the competition, was called before Sejong and the assembled ministers.
Summoned to a place where not only His Majesty who was like the heavens, but also the renowned powerful ministers of the realm had gathered, the head blacksmith trembled violently, prostrated flat, and did nothing but breathe.
"Head blacksmith, be at ease."
At Sejong's command, the head blacksmith answered at the top of his lungs.
"Y-your M-majesty's g-grace is b-boundless!"
"My, my... I have something to ask you. This time, the country intends to open the largest ironworks. Will you take on this task?"
"If, if, if you just c-command me, I will d-do it with my life!"
At the head blacksmith's answer, Sejong smiled.
"There's no need to go so far as to risk your life... The place where a large iron vein was discovered is Pyeongan Province. Coal was also found in Pyeongan Province. But there is some distance between the two places. If it were you, where do you think would be good to build the ironworks?"
When a question in his area of expertise came up, the head blacksmith's tension had already faded.
At Sejong's question, the head blacksmith asked in return.
"I'm just a country fellow who only knows Gyeongju, so I don't know the geography well. How far apart are the two places?"
"A hundred li. Fortunately, there is a river, so water transport can be used."
After briefly organizing his thoughts at Sejong's answer, the head blacksmith replied.
"When making an ironworks, stone iron and charcoal are important too, but the most important thing is earth. Only with good earth does good iron come out. Looking at this time, both the stone iron and this thing called coal have a lot of sulfur mixed in. To control this sulfur, you need a lot of good earth and limestone."
"So?"
"You have to go see with your own eyes to know. Even if it means hauling stone iron and coal, you need to go to where the earth is good. The most important thing is earth."
"Is that so?"
"That's right!"
At the head blacksmith's firm answer, Sejong fell into thought. After pondering silently for a while, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"Good! I grant you the rank of Investigator! Go, assess the situation, find the optimal location, and build the ironworks!"
"I, I, I obey your command!"
"What is your name?"
"I have no surname, I'm just called Deok-su."
"I bestow upon you the surname Kim! Since the surname Kim contains the character for gold, I hope your descendants will also inherit your craft!"
"Your grace is boundless!"
The head blacksmith, suddenly granted even a surname, went out weeping freely.
Once the head blacksmith went out, Hwang Hee and the ministers all looked at Sejong.
"Why? Are you dissatisfied that I gave a mere head blacksmith of an ironworks a rank of junior 5th grade?"
"It's not that we don't understand Your Majesty's benevolent intentions, but isn't it too high a rank..."
"Among you ministers, is there anyone who knows how to make iron?"
"... There is not."
"Yet you look down on him as a mere head blacksmith of an ironworks?"
"... We are deeply ashamed."
"I have said repeatedly, there is no need to be ashamed."
"We are deeply ashamed."
"Tsk!"
In the past like with Jang Yeong-sil, they would have been up in arms about granting an official position to someone with a lowly occupation, but now such things had decreased.
Once is difficult, but twice is not.
And knowing Sejong's newly revealed personality, it was certain such words would come out.
"Then would you ministers like to try making it?"
* * *
Ten days after Deok-su was granted a surname in the royal presence, people dressed in official robes and military uniforms flocked to Deok-su's house in Gyeongju.
"A royal decree!"
"Huh? What is this?"
Deok-su's family members who were working at the house and the blacksmith next door fell into confusion and scurried about.
"Family members of head blacksmith Kim Deok-su, come out and receive the royal decree!"
"Kim Deok-su? Your father's name is Deok-su, that's right, but Kim surname?"
"Is that the problem right now? They said it's a royal decree!"
Deok-su's family members who came running out knelt in the courtyard.
The official standing before Deok-su's family unrolled a scroll and read it aloud.
"We grant head blacksmith Deok-su of Gyeongju ironworks the position of junior 5th grade Investigator! Furthermore, we bestow upon Deok-su the surname Kim!"
After reading for a long while, the official rolled up the scroll and asked.
"Who is Kim Investigator's eldest son?"
At his question, a sturdy young man who had come out of the blacksmith stood up.
"That's me."
"Congratulations."
The official offered words of congratulations along with the scroll containing the royal decree, documents recording various official appointments, and rewards.
"Where is your father?"
"Kim Investigator received a royal command and immediately left for Hwanghae Province."
That day, Deok-su's family held a feast spending all the wealth they possessed.
And the story of Deok-su's family's miraculous rise in status became a legend of that region.
---------
Note 1) Study on the Operation Method of Stone Masonry Iron Furnaces. Shin Gyeong-hwan, Kim Gwon-il, Choi Yeong-min.
Outdoor Archaeology No. 22 (March 2015)