Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 306

While merchants in Alexandria were preparing for the ‘war of money’, Hanseong—more precisely, Area 51—was still busy.

From the areas producing weapons to the royal workshops selling to the royal family and private merchant groups, craftsmen and researchers in all districts were working tirelessly.

In one corner, taking a brief break, Pietro struck up a conversation with Raphael.

“I think Joseon’s Crown Prince would have been amazing if he were a merchant. As a Crown Prince, he could have stripped those Jews and Arabs bare, don’t you think?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about the Crown Prince?”

To Raphael’s question, Pietro answered while scratching his head.

“Ah… Thinking about crystal glass, I got that feeling…”

Raphael nodded at Pietro’s answer.

“This time, I agree with you.”

Since the end of last summer in the year of Gyeongsul (1430), Pietro and Raphael had sensed a strange atmosphere.

The glass workshop was running without any issues, but the atmosphere was a bit unusual.

“It seems like there are fewer people…”

Raphael, who had been examining the surroundings at Pietro’s keen observation, nodded.

“You’re right.”

As Raphael nodded, Pietro rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

“I can’t hold back my curiosity again. Hey! Mr. Kim!”

“Why are you calling me, Mr. P?”

“There are fewer people here. Is there some kind of illness going around?”

“No illness… It’s just that His Highness the Crown Prince ordered something, so they are absent.”

“What did he order?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Ah, come on! Don’t be like that!”

Pietro persistently pestered him, but Mr. Kim’s mouth didn’t open any further.

“Oh! So that’s how it’s going to be?”

Feeling defiant at Mr. Kim’s reaction, Pietro continued to grab other craftsmen and question them. However, the other craftsmen also gave answers similar to Mr. Kim’s.

“Damn it! In times like this, there’s no choice but to ask the person directly!”

At Pietro’s words, Raphael panicked and grabbed him.

“Hey, you bastard! Just when I thought you were quiet these days, you’re going crazy again! Do you have spare lives?”

“We need to know what we need to know!”

“Hey! You son of a bitch! Just stay quiet!”

“What the hell, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

“Why are you saying that now!”

As Pietro and Raphael were arguing, they even started fighting with their fists, and the surrounding craftsmen rushed in to break them up.

“They’re fighting again!”

“Stop them! Stop them!”

In the end, the situation was roughly resolved only after Hyang, who had heard the news, arrived.

‘This guy was living decently these days, but is he getting cocky?’

Looking at Pietro, who was bowing his head to one side, Hyang spoke.

“Pietro, I thought you had become a bit more well-behaved these days, but did you get itchy?”

“That’s not it.”

True to his Italian nature, Pietro had been involved in all sorts of incidents related to women.

As a result, he had spent several days in jail and had taken sick leave several times after being beaten up by the neighborhood men. However, after being beaten up a few times like that, he was living a relatively well-behaved life.

“Then why did you fight with your companion?”

Taking a deep breath at Hyang’s question, Pietro opened his mouth.

“I will ask Your Highness.”

“You son of a bitch, shut up!”

Raphael hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late.

“Yes, what are you curious about?”

As Pietro asked bluntly, Raphael turned pale and began to pray to the Virgin Mary in a small voice.

However, contrary to Raphael’s worries, Hyang answered with an expression as if it were nothing.

“Ah, is that why you fought? It’s nothing much. They are just researching ways to further improve the quality of glass.”

“No! How can you exclude me from such an interesting task?”

As Pietro confronted him, Hyang simply replied.

“Because you are foreigners.”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean by that?”

As not only Pietro but also Raphael failed to fully understand, Hyang explained in more detail.

“It’s been over 5 years since you came to our Joseon, and it will soon be the 6th year. That means, before long, you will have to return. How can we reveal secrets to such people?”

Pietro immediately asked back to Hyang’s explanation.

“Will you really let us go?”

“Isn’t it written in the contract? After completing 10 years of service, if you wish to return home, we will send you back. Our Joseon keeps its promises well.”

Pietro and Raphael fell silent at Hyang’s answer.

As Hyang said, Joseon definitely kept its promises.

There was no restraint on their freedom, and their salaries were paid accurately every month.

However, they had secretly given up on returning to their hometown.

Because they were precious glass craftsmen.

Even when they were in Venice, they lived almost like prisoners on the island of Murano.

Of course, when they were recognized as proper craftsmen after completing their apprenticeship, exchanges with guilds in other cities resumed under the name of journeyman travel, but the accomplished craftsmen could not leave the island of Murano.

The reason the two of them were able to embark on journeyman travel was because they were novice craftsmen.

Although they were novices, they were craftsmen recognized by the guild, so they were sent out with the calculation of being able to take care of both justification and practical interests.

Of course, they were kidnapped by pirates and ended up in Joseon.

When Hyang mentioned the possibility of returning home, not only Raphael but also Pietro fell silent. It was because the homesickness they had been forcibly suppressing was revived.

As their silence prolonged, Hyang stood up, dusting off his seat.

“Was that a sufficient explanation? Then, go and take care of your work.”

“Your Highness! Then what about our intellectual property royalties if we return home?”

Pietro asked about the intellectual property royalties they had been receiving.

The new techniques Pietro and Raphael had created in the process of producing glass in the glass workshop were registered with the Intellectual Property Office. And the amount generated from it was quite substantial, which was why Pietro asked.

To Pietro’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“That? If you want, we will regularly send it to you. However, we will take responsibility up to Alexandria, but beyond that… Well…”

Trailing off like that, Hyang continued with a grin.

“The same goes for your return home. We will take responsibility and send you up to Alexandria. However, what comes next is not within our jurisdiction.”

“That’s a bit…”

When the two men looked troubled at Hyang’s words, Hyang added.

“Ah! Come to think of it, I remember what Mansur, the head of the merchant group, said. He mentioned that there are many people over there who are interested in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the two men’s faces turned pale.

If what Hyang said was true, it meant that their journey home would be extremely dangerous.

“You’ll probably have to decide quickly. Just as the 6th year is approaching, the 10th year will come soon.”

“…”

Having finished speaking, Hyang returned to his office, while Pietro and Raphael stood frozen like statues.

***

While Pietro and Raphael were pondering their future, Master Craftsman Park and the other craftsmen were sweating to develop a new type of glass.

As always, it began with Hyang.

“Your Highness, did you summon me?”

“Have a seat.”

Hyang, who had secretly summoned Master Craftsman Park, brought up the matter at hand.

“It’s about the glass you’re making now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s made with the knowledge of Pietro and Raphael, right? That means there must be many glasses of similar quality to what Joseon makes in those western countries.”

Master Craftsman Park nodded at Hyang’s point.

“That is true.”

“So, I called you here to make glass of even better quality. I read books from the West and found that adding minerals to glass could produce something of higher quality.”

“Is that so?”

Master Craftsman Park’s eyes lit up at Hyang’s words. He, too, was a craftsman and had the ambition to create works that were ahead of others.

Moreover, it was something the Crown Prince said.

Based on the experience so far, there was hardly anything the Crown Prince had initiated that ended in failure.

Of course, the process in between was no joke.

And so, the development of crystal glass began.

Amidst the trial and error of Master Craftsman Park and the craftsmen, Hyang quietly added MSG. And gradually, results that met Hyang’s desired level began to emerge.

Looking at such results, Hyang muttered softly.

“The incident of breaking grandmother’s crystal tableware set and getting beaten up is proving to be helpful like this… Ah! Come to think of it… There was something else I broke and got beaten up for. Bone china…”

Recalling the painful memories created by fandom activities in the 21st century, Hyang felt his back aching for no reason.

***

After nearly four months of such trial and error and improvements through the addition of MSG, crystal glass was born.

“The quality has reached this level, and what remains is for the health of the craftsmen?”

Since a large amount of lead was used as a raw material for crystal glass, traditional blowpipes were fatal to the craftsmen.

Therefore, Hyang created a blowing system using a steam engine. The steam engine powered the blower, and the exhalation pipe connected to the blower was used to make objects such as bottles and bowls.

Of course, it couldn’t be stronger than human breath, so there was also a process of trial and error to adjust the appropriate air volume.

Next, Hyang instructed all the craftsmen involved in the production of crystal glass to wear masks.

As it was a strict order from the Crown Prince, no one dared to disobey.

***

The crystal glass created through this process was the best material for glass craftsmen.

Its luster and transparency were far superior to the existing ones, and what they liked the most was that it was easier to process—polishing, cutting, engraving—as the surface was smoother than the existing glass.

This characteristic stimulated the creative desire of the glass craftsmen, most of whom were originally potters or earthenware artisans, and soon, excellent products began to emerge.

Pietro and Raphael, who had examined the crystal glass on the side, began to agonize even more over whether to stay or return home. As long as the Crown Prince was there, it was certain that newer types of glass would continue to emerge. If they stayed, they could take part in the process of developing such glass and gain another opportunity. However, to return home, they had to risk their lives, and they were also worried about their life after returning.

In the end, Pietro and Raphael were gradually leaning towards staying. It was just that Pietro, who didn’t like being dragged into this situation, evaluated Hyang as a person who could even strip Jewish and Arab merchants bare.

And so, under Hyang’s guidance, the chandelier was born.

***

On the day when the chandelier that had passed Hyang’s eyes after several failures was hung from the ceiling of Geunjeongjeon, King Sejong and the ministers exclaimed in admiration.

“Truly remarkable! The Crown Prince has created something extraordinary again! Well done!”

“I have done little. All the credit goes to the craftsmen.”

To King Sejong’s praise, Hyang attributed the accomplishment to the craftsmen. Seeing Hyang like that, King Sejong showed a satisfied expression.

“Indeed. Crown Prince. You must not forget the merits of those who do their best for you.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“By the way. How long would it take to produce goods of this level?”

“Once the craftsmen’s hands become accustomed, it will be possible to make 1 to 2 per month. Of course, if we put in more manpower, we can make more, but there are many other things to make, so it’s unreasonable to go beyond that. Also, we need to produce in small quantities to maintain the value.”

As soon as Hyang finished speaking, Minister of Finance Kim Jeom interjected into the conversation.

“How much does the production cost?”

“It’s 20% more than the production cost of existing glass.”

“Then the selling price…”

As Kim Jeom began to calculate, Hyang immediately replied.

“We should charge as much as we can. That’s why we’re adjusting the quantity. Therefore, I have a request for you, Father.”

“Speak.”

“We should sell the minimum to Ming and refrain from selling to Japan for the time being.”

“What is the reason?”

“If we release a large quantity to Ming, the Emperor will intervene, and we should fatten up Japan a bit more before devouring them.”

“Then, where will you sell the ones you make?”

As if he had already thought about it, Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“We will sell them to the far West. They are already familiar with glass and love to show off, so we will obtain great wealth. And since we’re selling far away from Ming, it will be difficult for them to notice.”

King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.

King Sejong tapped the armrest and muttered.

“Ming always stands in the way.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who had been listening to Hyang’s explanation, asked Hyang a question.

“You said we will sell the minimum to Ming, but how many do you expect?”

“I’m thinking about 3 per year. But before that…”

Hyang paused for a moment to gather attention and continued.

“I ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance. If we present this item to the Emperor, how many pillars of the Forbidden City can you bring back?”

To Hyang’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun and Kim Jeom smiled wryly and asked back.

“How many do you want?”