Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1046: The Age of War – The Age of Copycat. (5)

Before we knew it, the development of a new flying machine had become a competition between Areas 51 and 52.

“We have a prenatal situation!”

“We have a situation!”

“How are you? Don’t you know how great Tae Sang-tae is?”

“What the hell? Don’t you know how much you devote yourself to flying?”

Among the envoys passing between craftsmen, these debates accounted for almost 80%. And every time Sang-in Wan emphasized the sincerity of the blade, the artisans of Area 51 were slightly speechless. Although the original scent was excellent, it was not the only one that had been retouched. Even now, when people are bored, Hyang is the one who comes up with ingenious items that catch people off guard and push them into trouble.

“The ignition device also played a role.”

* * *

The masters had to go through a lot of trouble to actually make the fire starter, which was designed to imitate the 21st century Zippo lighter. Although the framework itself was extremely simple, the quality required for the small parts that made up the ignition was formidable.

“The wick itself was not simply made by twisting cotton thread, but also had to contain copper wire…”

However, the fire starter that came out after all this hard work became an unprecedented hit, following the golden pencil. Being able to easily start a fire was a huge advantage, regardless of whether it was in the East or the West. And the various price ranges also played a role. One of the reasons it became a hit was that it was available to suit everyone’s needs, from the cheapest with a plain body to the high-end with gold and silver threads and inlaid techniques.

However, this success was not possible simply by being able to easily start a fire. People who needed items that were easy to carry and could start a fire right away were housewives, pilgrims, soldiers, and peddlers. These people did not need expensive fire starters with inlaid techniques. One of the few cultural ideas that started from Shinji and began to spread was one that made the wealthy open their wallets.

It was a type of tobacco that indigenous people called tobacco. As tobacco spread not only throughout the Empire but also throughout Ming, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, fire extinguishers became a hugely profitable product.

“Okay… it would be strange if it didn’t spread…”

After receiving the report that the tobacco had started to spread, the scent showed an expression that it could not be helped.

* * *

When military doctors reported that coca leaves, which the natives of the Mesica region chewed for pain relief and other purposes, exhibited hallucinogenic symptoms and addiction as strong as opium, the imperial court immediately banned the chewing of coca leaves. This was not just a simple ban, but if violated, it was punishable by forced labor along with the Messicans. The natives immediately threw away the coca leaves when they realized that they would be treated in the same way as the Messika people, the enemies of Buldaecheon.

Even if there were no coca leaves, excellent medicines for pain relief and other treatments were being supplied, and this was because there was tobacco. Of course, because tobacco was also highly addictive, controversy arose in the imperial court.

“There are bad points, but there are also good points. And above all, isn’t it better than coca leaves?”

According to the decision of Wan, who was the emperor at the time, the use of tobacco was permitted. And as time passed, as tobacco began to gain popularity not only among the natives but also among the imperialists in the mainland and northern regions, the imperial government, and indeed Lim Sun-wook, acted quickly. Tobacco sales were made a national business.

“Cultivation is your heart, but purchasing and distribution are mine!”

The scent has given up on the explosive spread of tobacco.

“….In the end, this is also something that can’t be helped.”

And the flavor got rid of MSG in a different way. Through the Wan, the establishment of smoking areas was legislated.

“There are people who hate tobacco as much as there are people who like it. But we can’t take one side, so we create a separate space for smoking! Anyone who smokes in any other space will be punished!”

And the first places to create smoking areas were administrative agencies, including Gyeongbokgung Palace. This was because if even a spark accidentally started a fire in a place where papers were everywhere and all kinds of confidential documents were lined up, a huge disaster would occur.

“If you smoke tobacco in a place other than the smoking area, you will be thrown into the records office!”

* * *

During the reign of the prefecture, as tobacco spread worldwide, the scent was introduced. And as sales of this fire extinguisher skyrocketed, unauthorized copies of it soon began to appear. However, this was not an empire that would leave this as is. Thanks to this, merchants from other countries who experienced bitter taste took a detour. The framework of the imperial ignition was adopted, but a completely different shape was chosen.

-Creating fire with a spark created by rubbing flint is a method passed down from ancient times, so this is not just for the Empire!

It was a detour chosen because even the Empire’s Tribunal had already made this decision. But I wasn’t worried about the scent at all.

“It’s a way for printer manufacturers to make money. And that’s why I’ve finally brought out the fire starter again.”

What I thought was the real money maker in incense was the fuel that went into the fire starter.

* * *

In the past, when Hyang was a crown prince, I had already made a fire extinguisher once. Although it was made large and clunky due to the limitations of the technology at the time, it was a popular fire extinguisher. But that popularity did not last long. It was because of a fuel problem.

The fuel for early fire starters was alcohol. It had to be of very high purity so that even a small spark could ignite it. For this purpose, distillation had to be repeated several times, which meant that a lot of raw materials – alcohol – were needed. And to put it another way, it means that a lot of grain is needed.

“There is often not enough grain for the people to eat! It is no use using so much grain just to use it for fire extinguishers!”

There was a lot of opposition and the reasons were reasonable, so King Sejong at the time ordered the sale of fire extinguishers to be stopped. And as time passed, it became possible to distill oil, and as mass production and defense became possible, the incense fire was attempted again and was successful.

* * *

As Hyang expected, merchants from other countries were soon making and selling their own fire extinguishers. However, they also had to use imperial fuel. Using alcohol was not profitable for them either. However, it was not feasible to use a different oil. This was because it did not catch fire easily, or even if it did, a huge amount of soot was generated.

No matter how extravagant they were, fire extinguishers that produced a lot of soot were not of interest to the wealthy. Therefore, even though a different ignition was made from the Empire, the fuel made in the Empire was used.

* * *

Because of this brilliant record of incense, the artisans of Area 51 were running out of things to say to the Mara of the artisans of Area 52. In the end, whenever this situation arose, the craftsmen of Area 51 insisted on ‘Ugigi’. However, the more realistic craftsmen, both in Area 51 and Area 52, muttered the following.

“Regardless of the circumstances or circumstances, the fact remains that we must bear all the hardships.”

Although there was such fierce competition, there was something in common. First of all, the most important propulsion system was that both adopted new external combustion engines. At this time, the only power engines with excellent thrust-to-weight ratio were new external combustion engines.

“…Not really. I worked hard with Da Vinci and the craftsmen to increase the efficiency of this…but wow~.”

Hyang sighed long and looked at the drawing with an expression full of regret.

“However, it is true that when it comes to true efficiency, it cannot keep up with the internal combustion engine. In order to run the internal combustion engine properly, there are more than one or two technologies required, starting with electricity…” Hyang

’s concerns are faced with the topic of power engines. It got deeper.

“Turbines have come out, but gas turbines and jet engines are impossible. There is no technology yet to make alloys that can withstand high temperatures. Whoa.”

Hyang let out a long sigh and began writing a document to submit to Hyeon.

“Even today, the problems to be listed on the challenge record are piling up…”

Besides the new external combustion engine, the two sides had many things in common.

-Construct the frame of the fuselage using steel pipes and wood.

-The fuselage shell uses plywood.

-The area between the power engine and fuel tank and the cockpit is covered with a steel plate to ensure minimum safety.

-Finally, the pilot is issued a parachute.

As monks and self-flying monks appeared during the time of Hyang as crown prince, research on parachutes was also conducted. What is interesting is that the development of this parachute was not initiated by scent. Craftsmen themselves recognized the need and began development. The reason things happened like this was because of the craftsmen’s desire to survive.

“We made that thing, but can you guarantee that it will float 100 times and come down safely 100 times?”

“Nothing.”

“So what if something goes wrong and you fall right out of the sky?”

“I’m just doing my job in the world.”

“I need to find Sue.”

This was how the research on parachutes began, and when Hyang found out about it, he immediately gave permission. The use of plywood as a covering material for the fuselage shell was due to experience gained on the Challenger-class battleship.

-By overlapping the boards so that the wood grains intersect vertically or diagonally, the defense power increased.

-So, even if the thickness is thin, if multiple layers overlap, it will be stronger than a single thick layer, right?

There was more than one experience gained from Challenger-class battleships. The Challenger-class hull was divided into several bulkheads and compartments to prevent flooding if the flames spread. Craftsmen who remembered this applied it to flying machines.

“Even if we can’t do anything else, we need to block the space between the engine compartment and the cockpit to buy the minimum amount of time needed if something goes wrong.”

They were craftsmen who faithfully adhered to the ‘survivability-first concept’ that was emphasized so loudly that the scent was deafening.

* * *

After such fierce competition, several types of blueprints were finally completed. There were three types from Area 51 and three types from Area 52. The reason it came out so diversely was because Hyang and Wan allowed it. It was quite natural for Wan, who had always been serious about flying, but in Hyang’s case, it could be seen as unexpected. This was because there was only one concept that was initially handed over to Da Vinci. However, da Vinci was slightly dissatisfied with this.

“Your Majesty, I am very sorry to inform you, but Soin has a separate idea. Please allow us to devise it together.”

“Really? Let’s do that. Ah? Now that’s the way it is, if anyone else has a different idea, let them share it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

In this way, various types of blueprints emerged.