Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Although he grumbled When will that ever happen~, Hyang and the Joseon Navy did their best to shorten that time.

As soon as they confirmed the potential of the new warships, the Navy accelerated the construction speed of the shipyard they were building in Wonsan. It was not just the construction speed they increased. They began full-scale preparations so that they could immediately start work as soon as the construction of the shipyard was completed.

Hyang and the Navy paid attention not only to the construction of the shipyard but also to the cultivation of sailors who would operate the new ships.

We simply cannot train them with the existing warships or turtle ships.

At Hyangs words, the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs, starting with Jo Mal-saeng, and the Naval Commanders nodded their heads.

I agree. However, the problem is that the only ship currently available for training is the Challenger.

I have something in mind.

Hyang placed the paper scroll he had brought on the table and unfolded it.

What is this?

Its a training mock ship. To put it simply, its like placing a ship split in half on land.

Hmm

At Hyangs explanation, the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Naval Commanders carefully examined the blueprint.

After examining the blueprint for a while, the Naval Commanders were the first to express their opinions.

I think it will be good. Although its training on land, if we become familiar with the structure through this, we will be able to quickly adapt even when boarding an actual ship.

I also think the same.

When all the Naval Commanders agreed, Jo Mal-saeng opened his mouth.

The problem is where to build it. If we think about the immediate situation, it would be good to set it up in Namyang, but if we think about the future, wouldnt Wonsan be better?

At Jo Mal-saengs words, the Naval Commander of Jeolla Province pointed out a problem.

Thats right. However, there is the issue that the construction of the shipyard in Wonsan takes time not only for the construction of the drydock but also for the construction of auxiliary facilities.

In response to the Jeolla Commanders point, the Naval Commander of Gyeongsang Province raised an objection.

But there is a budget problem if we build training facilities in both places, isnt there? The Ministry of Taxation will not stay still.

At the Gyeongsang Naval Commanders point, everyone, including Hyang and Jo Mal-saeng, nodded their heads.

Thats the problem

Currently, all the departments of the Joseon government especially the Ministry of Military Affairs, which only spent money and did not earn anything were busy being mindful of the Ministry of Taxation.

So much so that there was a saying openly circulating in the government circles, In Joseon, the one person below ten thousand^[1] is not the Second State Councilor but the Minister of Taxation.

Of course, every time he heard such rumors, Kim Jeom would shout angrily.

Who the hell is the stupid bastard spouting such nonsense? Does anyone want to feed them poison? No, actually, have you ever seen a one-in-ten-thousand who suffers from overtime work every day? Have you?

However, the authority of the Ministry of Taxation, which held and shook the budget, was mighty. Sometimes even Hyang had to be mindful of the Minister of Taxation.

Your Majesty, about the budget

When such words came out, Sejong would immediately look at Kim Jeom. Depending on Kim Jeoms expression, it was decided between Yes? Lets think about it. and Get out, you bastard!

So even when rumors about the Ministry of Taxation and its Minister were heard, Hyang would just shrug his shoulders.

Well, it cant be helped. Even in the 21st century, the flower of central government officials was the fiscal department.

***

When Hyang was taking a major course at university, the professor in charge had said this:

How powerful is the fiscal department? Shall I give an example? Even the Kwantung Army^[2], which looked down on the Imperial General Headquarters. When the budget officer from the Ministry of the Army came, they even held a parade to welcome him. Do you understand what this means?

At the professors words, all the students taking the class burst into laughter. The professor concluded with the following words at that time:

Its no joke that time and budget rule the world.

***

In the end, the choice of the construction site for the training facility was given to Hyang. After pondering for a moment, Hyang immediately reached a conclusion.

Lets build it in Wonsan. After all, the only place where the Challenger and other ocean-going ships can train comfortably and properly is the East Sea.

Understood.

There was no objection from the participants at Hyangs decision.

Confirming that no one objected, Hyang turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

Then, please report this to His Majesty as is.

Yes. I will organize the document right away.

Hyang, who always showed genius-level talent in delegating work.

***

Confirming the contents submitted through the Ministry of Military Affairs, Sejong immediately approved it.

Tell them to implement it right away.

Your grace is immeasurable!

As Jo Mal-saeng immediately bowed and answered, Kim Jeom stepped forward.

Your Majesty, the budget going into the Ministry of Military Affairs is gradually increasing.

At Kim Jeoms words, implicitly objecting, Sejong waved his hand.

Of course, its a costly matter, but wouldnt it be cheaper than losing ships due to the mistakes of improperly trained sailors?

Your words are absolutely correct!

As Jo Mal-saeng answered in a loud voice, Kim Jeom had to shut his mouth.

***

With Sejongs approval, facilities were quickly established in Wonsan.

Once the facilities were completed, Hyang and those involved headed to Wonsan to check the situation.

They really split a ship in half and placed it up.

Seeing the completed facility, all the Navy officials uttered the same words.

The facility built for the training of sailors was completed in a form that looked like the bottom part of the hull of the new ship and one side of the hulls outer wall had been completely cut out.

Seeing the completed facility, Hyang muttered with a satisfied expression.

Watching the making films of dramas or movies helps at times like this.

As Hyang said, the training facility built in Wonsan was created by bringing in the concept of a set created to film the interior in movies or dramas.

In the training ground, which was made to be able to see through like that, a space for instructors was created to match the height of the deck. The purpose was for the instructors to observe the movements of the sailors and conduct training from that space.

After inspecting the facility, Hyang turned to those involved.

Then lets start.

Yes, Your Highness.

At Hyangs order, the instructors put the sailors to be trained into the facility.

Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!

At the order of the instructor, who put a megaphone to his mouth, a shout was heard from all directions.

Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!

Raise the anchor and hoist the sails!

The sailors who received the order ran to the parts they were in charge of.

The sailors who headed to the bow clung to the handles of the capstan, which looked like a large wagon wheel laid down.

Turn it!

Heave-ho! Heave-ho!

As the sailors holding the handles turned the capstan in unison, pulling up the anchor, other sailors began eagerly turning the pulleys connected to the masts.

Creak! Creak!

As the sailors turned the pulleys, the yards holding the sails began to rise one by one along the masts.

This was Hyangs experimental challenge.

If it were a traditional galleon, the yards holding the sails would have been pulled up once when the ship was first built and then remained fixed to the masts. And to unfurl or furl the sails, the sailors would have to climb up the masts, hang on the yards, and unfurl or furl the sails.

However, in Hyangs view, this seemed to be an extremely dangerous task.

If the waves sway even a little, its perfect for becoming disabled or dying.

Therefore, Hyang applied the Oriental method to this sail part. It was to use pulleys to pull up the yards holding the sails onto the masts.

Of course, the sails themselves were Western-style sails, but the operating method was a compromise with the Oriental method.

After fixing the yards to the masts like this, the method was to adjust the direction of the sails using pulleys and ropes. This was a common method in both the East and the West.

Watching the actual sails being raised, Hyang muttered softly.

Hanging the yards and unfurling the sails, or pulling up the yards with the sails attached. I dont know which one will be superior, but the next version will definitely be even more superior. The problem is

Hyangs face became even more serious.

Sailing ships require too much manpower.

Hyang racked his brain desperately to reduce the number of sailors required for operation. That was the reason for actively using pulleys. However, to reduce the fatigue of the sailors, a somewhat ample number of crew members was necessary. And the number of sailors required by sailing ships was not small.

As the anchor was raised and the sails were fully unfurled, the instructors checked the time. The instructors, who checked the time using the hourglass made as the supply of glass became abundant, talked among themselves.

It took 3 gak (about 45 minutes).

It takes too long.

The instructors were not satisfied with the 3 gak spent preparing to depart by unfurling 6 sails on 2 masts and pulling up the chain with a 20-gwan (about 75kg) anchor attached.

It is reasonable to consider it slow because it is not yet properly familiar. Then lets take a look at the artillery battle.

Yes!

The instructors answered with a salute at the order of the training commander.

Ding~.

A little later, a loud bell sound rang, and a shout erupted.

Enemy ship spotted! Prepare for battle!

Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!

With the shouts popping out from here and there again, the sailors moved busily. The sailors, who were wrestling with the pulleys and ropes on the 1st deck, scattered in an instant and began preparing for battle.

The doors of the warehouse at the stern of the 1st deck opened, and small canister shots and gun shields were brought out and took their places in the fixed gun mounts built on the deck. The gun captain shouted for each properly assembled gun.

Preparation complete! Bring gunpowder and chain shot!

While they were moving like that on the 1st deck, they were also busy moving on the 2nd deck.

Open the powder magazine!

As the door of the powder magazine, which was tightly closed for safety, opened, the waiting sailors received sacks containing propellant gunpowder and ran to the artillery they belonged to.

Meanwhile, sailors were also busy moving around the artillery pieces separated by bulkheads. The lids of the boxes containing the iron balls, which had been taken out in advance for immediate use, were opened, and the gun captains examined the condition of the artillery fuses.

Other sailors, holding loading sticks to load gunpowder and iron balls into the artillery, waited for the gunpowder to arrive.

Set the distance to maximum!

At the order of the military officer commanding the artillery, the gun captain turned the handle attached to the carriage to adjust the angle of the barrel.

The gunpowder is here!

As the soldier arrived carrying sacks of gunpowder in both hands, the gun captain grabbed a powder bag, poked it with a skewer, and handed it to the soldier in charge of loading.

After the loading of gunpowder and the loading of shells were completed, the sailors pulled the thick rope connecting the carriage and the ribs of the hull. As the rope was pulled, the carriage moved to the firing position and was fixed.

Finally, the gun captain, who inserted the fuse into the firing mechanism and pulled the lanyard, grabbed the cord connected to the lanyard and shouted loudly.

Ready!

Fire!

Fire!

With the shouts, the gun captains pulled the cords.

Boom boom!

With a loud explosion, shells were fired from the artillery, and a little later, columns of water rose in the distant East Sea.

The instructor who counted the number of water columns with a monocular telescope reported to the training commander.

All fired without any problems.

Really? The time?

Just under half a gak.

At the report of the instructor who checked the hourglass, the training commander let out a small sigh.

Phew~. At least the battle preparation was fast. We have a long way to go.

The training commander, who made the evaluation, turned around. On the seat located in the back, Hyang and other high-ranking gentlemen would be making an evaluation.

I hope they look at it favorably

The commander was already worried about the fastidiousness the high-ranking people might show.

1. , holding a lofty position or wield real power[]
2. Imperial Japanese Army from 1919 to 1945[]