Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1049: The Age of War – The Age of Copycat. (8)

“However, the content of the appeal is not unfair, so I would like to hear the opinions of the officers.”

The ministers began to deliberate upon the prefect’s order. But the answer was to some extent determined. This was because when an appeal was submitted, the royal office that received it copied it and delivered one copy to the emperor, another copy to the prime minister, and another copy to the minister of the relevant department. Therefore, the answer to the appeal was formulated to some extent in advance through a meeting between the Prime Minister and the ministers.

The emperor’s job was to listen to the answer and add his own thoughts or point out problems. Thanks to this, the answer came quickly. Prime Minister Han Chi-hyeong stepped forward, bowed his head, and spoke to Hyeon.

“The story about the flying machine is already known to some extent. Also, among those who witnessed this event were many merchants and sailors from foreign countries. It would be impossible to stop all of them. So, it would be too much too little to stop them all. “There it is. I think it’s best to erase only the appropriate parts.”

In response to Han Chi-hyeong’s answer, Hyeon immediately followed up with a question.

“What do you mean by an appropriate part?”

“I think we just need to remove the part about the new external combustion engine.”

“Hmm… I see. Then let’s do it. Organize it in documents and send it to the censorship department.”

“I follow your orders.”

Hyeon’s decision was refreshing. This was because Hyun had already made a similar decision.

* * *

Hyeon, who received the appeal through Seungjeongwon, discussed it with Hyang Wan.

“What do you want the emperor to do?”

Hyun answered Wan’s question right away.

“I think it would be better to delete only the new external combustion engine part. Doesn’t everyone already know about flying machines? There are more than one flying machine that Hansoo has flown so far.”

Both Wan and Hyang nodded at Hyeon’s answer.

“I think that would be good. The new external combustion engine is still known only to our empire, so it is best to keep it hidden, but it is not a flying machine, is it? From what I heard, there are more than a few people in foreign countries who are already flying something similar.”

“What do you think, Taesang?”

Hyang nodded to Hyun’s question.

“I agree.”

In this way, the county also entered the meeting with its own initiative. What’s interesting is that although Hyang agreed with what Hyeon and Wan said, his intentions were slightly different.

‘If you look at the current situation, whatever the empire makes, they are just copying it. It’s no fun like this. To be honest, that new external combustion engine is like that too. With a little more work, an internal combustion engine could be created, but it’s still messing around over there, right? ‘Something externally stimulates me.’

The new external combustion engine used in various objects made by the empire, especially the monks and blades, could be seen as a type of O-parts.

* * *

When petroleum first began to be used as a fuel, the wick was used to ensure safe and efficient combustion. It was a method that used the frame of an oil stove to control the heating power by adjusting the height of the wick. Although it had the advantage of being easy to control and operate, there were also problems. It was said to be too inconvenient to be applied to the engines of assault vehicles or front lines.

“But you can’t directly light a barrel of oil like coal…”

“If you make a mistake, you’ll be reduced to ashes in one hit, right?”

Researchers at the research institute and artisans from Area 51 and 52 worked together to create a safe and efficient combustion device.

“I think there might be something good…”

While researchers and craftsmen were struggling, the existence and characteristics of air and oxygen became known.

“Hmm… I think something could happen if I do this well…”

In order to catch a vague clue, researchers and craftsmen devoted little sleep to research and development. And this was also true of scent.

“I feel like I’m going to catch something… This is going to be really crazy.”

Even though the scent was so broad that it was called ‘Gwangdeok’ in the 21st century, it did not know everything. While I was wandering around like this, I finally got an answer from Area 51.

-Some oil catches fire easily, while others do not.

– Oil that does not catch fire easily can be ignited when heated.

-If you spray hot oil like that like a fog, it will catch fire even more easily.

“Wait? What would happen if I mixed this hot oil with hot air, sprayed it, and then set it on fire?”

“That’s it!”

The craftsmen who discovered the method began making all kinds of attempts to bring it to life. The framework that came out after all that hard work was as follows.

-Use a preheater to mix heated oil with air, spray it into the combustion chamber, and then ignite it.

-Add a high-pressure air storage tank and compressor for smooth operation.

When Hyang saw the new steam engine made with this framework, he cried out inwardly.

‘I’ve seen this before! ‘It’s definitely there!’

At that moment, the scent brought back memories I had forgotten. When I lived in the 21st century, it was a large oil burner that I saw at a neighborhood party and a World War II British Navy training video that I saw on an Internet video site. In the case of oil burners, I only saw them briefly when I was young, and later on, I completely forgot about them as I only used gas burners.

In the case of the video, it was a scene of starting the engines of a battleship. When explaining the procedure for starting an engine, the example used was an oil burner. It was a video that I got caught, and it was a scent that I didn’t pay much attention to because I was absorbed in other fields at the time. In any case, the new combustion device created by craftsmen showed very excellent performance, and the newly created steam engine based on this combustor was used in the empire’s new battle line and assault vehicles.

And the new external combustion engine in question was applied by joining a closed combustion chamber to this new combustion mechanism. Thanks to the new combustion mechanism, the blades equipped with the new external combustion engine were able to tilt their fuselages to the left and right significantly, and by taking advantage of this, they were able to change direction quickly. Of course, flying backwards or somersaulting was still impossible. And the incense made the costume explode.

“No, a closed combustion chamber and a mixture were introduced, so why stop here?”

In a situation where ‘the notice is right there, but it has stopped’, Hyang, who burst into tears, was in favor of easing censorship. No, it didn’t stop there; it was a scent that thought of another trick.

‘Wait a minute… How about using the wheat to sneak it out? And if something good pops out, just use the mill to scoop it up!’

But Hyang stopped thinking there.

“This is it. If I were living alone, it would be worth it, but if I do it wrong, the empire will suffer a nosebleed. Let’s stop thinking about it.”

* * *

As the county’s approval fell, letters containing parts related to flying machines headed to Europe. It wasn’t just letters. Foreign merchants and tourist crews who watched the test flight on the banks of the Hansu River were talking loudly.

“In the empire, bhikkhus without pockets fly in the sky!”

“It’s a joke, right?”

“It’s true!”

Most people who heard the story just reacted in amazement, but there were others as well.

“Huh? Are you saying that the crazy things that crazy guy in our town did weren’t just crazy?” ”

Are you saying that something that has only been rumored for a long time will finally be made?”

“It means that if the Empire openly announces it, there is a high possibility of it becoming a reality. In that case, I too…”

Those who believed in rumors heard in the past and were obsessed with experiments were re-evaluated, and some started taking on the challenge belatedly. And there were also those who thought of profit.

“All the objects made by the empire are These are things that make a lot of money. The Empire won’t just create flying objects for fun. I’m sure they’re doing it because it makes money. Then…”

Those who thought they would make money contacted people who were said to be conducting similar experiments and invested. Those who had devoted themselves to research and development alone, enduring criticism and ridicule from all directions, shed tears over their investment decision. I was grateful.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

However, on the contrary, scams trying to take advantage of this to get a share of the investment money began to run rampant. A speculative craze, later called the ‘flying bubble’, began to spread both in the East and the West.

* * *

Information about flying was available in each country. It also went into the military.

“Wait…..You can fly even if you don’t have air sacs? And is it more free to maneuver?”

Military figures showed great interest in the military value of flying machines. They had already witnessed aerial battles between self-propelled flying aircraft during the war between France and the Habsburgs. It is possible to maneuver more freely than that. It was impossible to just ignore this flurry of action. Among them, the first to move most enthusiastically were France and Habsburg. France and

Habsburg stopped the fierce fighting and took a breather. France and Habsburg were keenly aware of the importance of securing air superiority. As soon as they received the information, they immediately gathered together scholars and craftsmen.

“We must control the sky to control the battlefield!”

Following France and the Habsburgs, it was Japan that showed strong will. Thanks to the characteristics of its territory as an archipelago, Japan was able to monitor the sea. He was sincere. However, it was unreasonable to rely entirely on the front. Not only did he have to keep an eye on the empire, but his economic power itself also had its limits.

“Fronts are not something worth a penny or two, but it is necessary to maintain a naval force by commandeering those fronts. It also costs a lot of money….”

In this situation, Japan showed interest in the empire’s self-powered flying aircraft. The small number of self-powered flying aircraft that were introduced showed excellent capabilities, and Japan, satisfied with them, continued to introduce more. Licensed production was also carried out. Japan was satisfied with the large-scale operation of self-propelled aircraft, but there were also things it was dissatisfied with.

“It’s a trade-off…” They were

dissatisfied with the range and speed and researched ways to solve this problem. As soon as Japan heard about the flying machine, they immediately took action.

“We can’t just look at the empire’s back forever!” At the very least, we have to catch up to the point just behind the empire!”

Japan focused the manpower it had trained so far on developing flying machines. And, following Japan’s lead, it jumped into the development of Mingdo flying machines.

“For scouting large areas bordering Mongolia, flying machines may be better than horses. there is. And since he will soon be crowned king, shouldn’t he make a mark to hand over to the crown prince?’

Although it was for military and political reasons, there were no ministers who opposed it.

* * *

While the East and the West were boiling over in a heated battle, Hyun was looking through the blueprints at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“Where was that? I definitely left it somewhere here…”

Hyun, who was searching every nook and cranny of his personal studio, soon found a blueprint and smiled brightly.

“This is it!”

On the blueprint it was written ‘Self-powered flight aircraft carrier’.