Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 718

Episode 718: Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (16)

Not only the Navy was happy.

The Army also began expanding defense facilities in the Liaodong region, which had not been able to do so at full speed due to budget issues, and began supplying infantry-type freight cars and assault rifles in earnest.

That wasn’t all. As military rifles were supplied to the cavalry, full-scale modification work began on the recovered horseback rifles.

The project was to remodel the chamber that used existing paper casings and detonators into a chamber that uses integrated bullets.

In addition, as the propellant gunpowder changed from Eul-style gunpowder to Deokgap-style smokeless gunpowder, the gun body also changed. Durability has been improved, and the method of filling the chamber with bullets has also changed. While the existing horse gun was a folding type, the new horse gun had a side opening type (called a swing out), which gave it greater durability.

And this modified horseback rifle was distributed as a secondary weapon not only for existing cavalry units but also for officers above the military school level.

In addition, communication networks in the Liaodong region began to be installed on a large scale. Communication towers, which had been installed along railroad tracks until now, began to be installed in more and more areas and began to establish a more efficient communication network.

As communication networks using light-emitting communication devices became established, faster and more efficient communication became possible than the existing methods of messenger or jeonseogu.

Hyang, who received the related report from Wan and checked the results, muttered to himself.

‘Now all we need is electricity and rubber to complete the telegraph network!’

Building a communication network not only in Liaodong but also throughout the empire was an expensive undertaking.

However, because its effectiveness was excellent, the Ministry of Finance and Economy did not express much opposition.

With the Ministry of Finance, which holds the purse strings for the empire, executing the budget without saying a word, the empire’s communication network has almost reached its completion stage.

Communication with islands far away from the empire’s headquarters, such as Jeju Island, Tsushima Island, Daeseol Island, and Jongjang Island, inevitably took time by boat, but even within those areas, quick communication was possible using light-emitting communication devices.

And here, Lim Soon-wook revealed his presence for the first time in a long time.

* * *

“Hmm… if I do this well…”

Lim Soon-wook, who was checking a report on building a communication network using light-emitting communication devices, muttered to himself for a moment and then gave an order to his subordinate.

“Go to the General Affairs Department and check the status of changes in last year’s family register.”

“Do you mean change in family register?”

“that’s right. ah! “It is not a change due to birth or death, but a change due to a change in family register.”

“All right.”

The subordinate official who came out after receiving Lim Sun-wook’s order let out a small sigh.

“Whoa~. “I’m sure I’ll hear some unpleasant comments from my friends in the General Affairs Department.”

And the response from the General Affairs Department was not much different from his expectations.

“no! “What are you going to do if you increase the workload when reducing the workload isn’t enough?”

It was inevitable that records of changes in family register would be made every year. However, reclassifying them according to conditions was time-consuming.

Of course, the final numbers for each item were recorded separately. But it was clear that what was wanted above was not that simple.

Three days later, the documents Lim Soon-wook requested were sent from the General Affairs Department. Lim Soon-wook, who accepted this, smiled slightly bitterly.

“I didn’t want it to this extent…”

The documents he received recorded in detail how much the family register had been changed by region and how far it had been moved.

* * *

A few days later, Lim Soon-wook submitted a plan to the Minister of Finance and Economy.

“It’s okay. “I’m going to be upset.”

Finance Minister Lee Gyeon-ki, who evaluated Lim Soon-wook’s plan positively, sent it to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kim Jeom and the left and right deputy prime ministers, who gave the same evaluation as Lee Gyeon-gi, submitted it to Wan and Hyang.

“Soja thinks it’s okay. “What do you think, Your Majesty?”

“Hmm… It’s okay, but this isn’t something the Ministry of Finance and Economy can do alone. “It would be a good idea to call First Vice Minister Lim Soon-wook, the person involved, to hear the story in more detail and to hear the opinions of other ministers.”

“I will do so.”

Soon after, Lim Soon-wook, who had been called, came into Geunjeongjeon. Lim Soon-wook, who saw the incense, bowed politely.

“I come to see your Majesty.”

“It’s been a while since I last saw you. “I would like you to explain this plan in detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lim Soon-wook must have already prepared, so he hung up a large map and started talking.

The plan submitted by Lim Soon-wook was ‘communication business using light-emitting communication network.’

-Even now, many people in the empire live in the place where they were born until they die.

-However, more and more people are leaving their hometowns and migrating to larger cities or other regions.

-Even if they migrate, most of their close relatives, such as parents and siblings, remain in their hometown.

-For this reason, people often return home according to the season or send letters to ask about each other’s well-being.

-The problem is that there is no means of informing parents of their critical condition or other urgent information.

-In addition, the top brass of the empire often encounter situations that require urgent contact with their branches, but there is no means of quickly delivering the news.

-As a solution to this problem, the military’s communication network is used.

-Light-emitting communication devices can be used to quickly deliver news to desired areas.

-However, the use of a light-emitting communication device is only possible by paying money. This is to prevent unrestrained use.

After Im Soon-wook’s explanation was over, Hyang began to ask Lim Sun-wook questions.

“You said you would receive money, but how much do you think is reasonable?”

“I think it would be nice to receive 10 won in coins for each letter of the text excluding the address and name of the recipient.”

Many ministers tilted their heads at Lim Sun-wook’s answer. Even though it was a coin, 10 won was enough to buy one meal.

Hyang, who saw the expressions on the ministers’ faces, asked Lim Sun-wook again.

“What is your basis for thinking that?”

“First of all, you must first send the address where the person who will receive the news resides, and at the final destination, you must make this into a document and deliver it to the recipient. However, since it is urgent, of course we have to move the Pabalma. “This part must also be factored into the cost.”

“But isn’t it too expensive?”

“It’s because of the emergency. It should only be used by those whose situation is urgent enough to send an urgent message. Otherwise, if an emergency situation arises for the empire, we may end up in trouble.”

“So, think carefully and use it only for those who really need it?”

“That’s right.”

“How about building a separate communications network instead?”

“I believe this is an unnecessary expense until the empire’s population increases by at least three times its current size.”

Hyang nodded slightly in response to Im Soon-wook’s answer and looked back at Wan and the ministers.

“What do you think, Prince?”

“I think it’s a good plan. “This is because it can reduce the risk of resentment due to missing the time when something urgent happens.”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s a good plan. As the Crown Prince said, this is because it can prevent you from becoming resentful at the wrong time.”

“It is a time when the headquarters of the empire and the northern region are vast, but there is a railroad so you can travel back and forth in just a few days or three. “It is considered good because if you can receive urgent information properly, you can prevent failure.”

In this way, a new information transmission business was created using the imperial military’s communications equipment.

This service, named ‘Bitgeul’ because it used a light-emitting communication device, soon began to be useful to the people.

However, the nickname ‘Aggeul’ spread faster among the people than the name ‘Bitgeul’.

This was because most of the urgent news delivered through Bitgeul was mostly bad news, such as informing people of their parents’ critical condition.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang made a plan for a new research institute and called Wan.

“When you say ‘war research institute,’ does it mean a place where military techniques are studied?”

“The art of war is the art of war, but you can think of it as a place to study how to avoid war.”

“yes?”

When Wan tilted his head, Hyang explained in more detail.

-The empire has been able to reap many benefits through the large and small wars and conflicts that have taken place, including the last two wars.

-Through this experience, a tendency to resolve everything through war may emerge.

-But this is definitely not a good trend.

-There were a lot of benefits from past wars and conflicts, but there were also a lot of expenses.

-However, if we are only focused on the benefits and ignore the burden that these expenditures will bring, this is the path to ruin.

“We are trying to establish a research institute to prevent this. Rather than simply gathering soldiers to study war, we are gathering people with outstanding talent in various fields to study how it affects the empire when a war breaks out.”

What Hyang wanted to create was an institution similar to the strategic research institutes that all major powers of the 21st century had.

Hyang lightly quenched his throat and continued his explanation.

“As the Crown Prince experienced this time, war is not fought by soldiers alone. War is impossible to wage if there are no people to provide everything, including the weapons the soldiers will use, the uniforms they will wear, and the food they will eat. In other words, war is when all of a country’s capabilities are concentrated. “If you take this lightly and become aggressive, you will end up doing everything wrong.”

“Ah…”

Wan nodded at Hyang’s words. After thinking for a moment, Wan asked Hyang.

“So, the existing Weapons Research Institute and Tactical Research Institute will also be integrated here?”

“That would be better, right?”

“I think that’s better. “This is because we need to study how changes in weapons and tactics will affect war.”

In response to Wan’s answer, Hyang smiled and accepted the words.

“You are right. “You take responsibility for this matter and move forward with it.”

“How about Ye Soja?”

“Your thoughts are truly deep and trustworthy. So, proceed with confidence.”

“But your Majesty is here…”

“I’m busy packing. So you have no choice but to do it.”

Wan had no choice but to bow his head at Hyang’s firm answer.

“I will do my best.”

“I only trust you.”

After escaping from the sediment of incense, Wan let out a small sigh and muttered.

“Whoa~. “It happened again.”

* * *

In the end, Wan, who took on the burden from Hyang, did his best to promote the establishment of the ‘War Research Institute’.

There were various controversies over the nature of the new research institute, but the atmosphere was generally positive.

In particular, the ministries that most supported it were the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of General Affairs.

“Do you know how much trouble we have from financial management issues once a war breaks out?”

“Is it just finances? “How do I organize my family register?”

Meanwhile, a positive atmosphere prevailed within the military.

“You know when you look at the Ming Dynasty, right? War is also gradually changing. “You have to prepare in advance.”

In this way, the War Research Institute finally emerged.

* * *

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Bukji.

A subordinate quickly rushed to Jinpyeong, who was leading the railroad construction.

“dismissal! “His Majesty has sent a message of light!”

“Give it to me!”

Jinpyeong, who quickly received the telegram, opened the envelope and looked at the contents.

-Pack your bags. let’s go.

“at las!”