Black Corporation: Joseon

After securing the promise from the Franciscan monks, Hyang led them to the research institute.

“Wow…”

“Oh my…”

The alchemists, scholars, and monks exclaimed in admiration at the various artifacts and models displayed in the institute’s exhibition hall.

As they looked at the displayed items, the alchemists began to feel uneasy.

Finally, unable to suppress his anxiety, one alchemist asked Hyang:

“We are not blacksmiths. Is there work for us to do?”

As all the other alchemists nodded in agreement, Hyang explained why he had called for alchemists.

“To be honest, I don’t believe alchemy is possible. The same goes for the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ or ‘Elixir’. What I want is not knowledge about alchemy, but knowledge about minerals.”

“Yes. Follow me.”

Hyang led the alchemists to a separate room. As the alchemists followed Hyang, the scholars and monks also trailed behind.

The room Hyang entered with the alchemists was filled with rows of cabinets.

“Currently, only about 20% of these cabinets are filled.”

As he explained, Hyang pulled out several drawers from the cabinets. Each compartment of the opened drawers contained a different type of mineral.

“As you can see, these minerals were collected by our Joseon prospectors during their explorations. While some are well-known from before, there are quite a few we don’t know about. That’s why we need your expertise. Your job will be to classify and analyze not only the minerals currently in these drawers but also those that will come in the future.”

The alchemists nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

-Through the process of creating gold by alchemy, one reaches enlightenment and attains a higher state.

This was the goal of alchemists. For this purpose, they had accumulated and passed down knowledge through generations.

However, there seemed to be something lacking in Hyang’s explanation. No, it wasn’t lacking, it was dissatisfaction.

‘Are you saying we were called here just for such classification work? Just for such a task?’

Not realizing how much time and manpower the ‘classification and analysis’ Hyang mentioned would consume, the alchemists’ faces began to show signs of discontent.

“If it’s just for such classification and analysis, you wouldn’t have needed to gather alchemists like us from far away, would you?”

Hyang chuckled at this statement, which implied, ‘We’re too high-level for such menial work.’

‘These fellows are thinking the job is too easy, aren’t they?’

“Hah! If you think it’s simple classification and analysis, you’re mistaken. The classification and analysis of these minerals must be based on very specialized work. For example, you need to analyze and classify whether they react to acids or bases, and if they do react, whether they react to all acids and bases or only to specific ones, and so on.”

As they listened to Hyang’s explanation, the alchemists looked up and around. The room, large enough to host a royal or noble banquet, was filled with rows of cabinets.

He had said that only 20% of those many cabinets were filled, but even that was an enormous quantity.

And experimenting and analyzing with acids and bases was something that only professionally trained individuals, such as alchemists, could do.

As the alchemists realized the enormous scale of the work they had to do, their faces began to turn pale.

Watching the alchemists’ faces grow increasingly pale, Hyang continued with a mischievous smile.

“Ah! And while we won’t be doing alchemy, we’ll be doing similar work. You’ll also be in charge of that related work.”

“When you say similar work, do you mean creating gold?”

“No, the goal is to create better quality steel. Making stronger and tougher steel. Creating rust-resistant iron, and so on. Ah! Talking about making gold reminds me of something I forgot. We also need to research methods to extract gold from ore more efficiently.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists stood with blank expressions, their mouths opening and closing.

Like carps, the alchemists gaped for a moment before coming to their senses and asking Hyang:

“Rust-resistant iron? We’ve never heard of or seen such a thing.”

“I’ve never seen gold made through alchemy either. But wouldn’t iron be easier than gold? I believe that rust-resistant iron can be made.”

‘I’ve seen plenty of stainless steel, you know!’

The alchemists who were about to argue back closed their mouths when they saw Hyang’s face.

Hyang’s face, as he looked at the alchemists, showed strong conviction.

‘Someone who doesn’t believe in alchemy believes that rust-resistant iron can be made! And with such certainty!’

***

After informing the alchemists of their tasks, Hyang turned to the mathematicians.

“I have many tasks for you as well.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars swallowed hard and asked:

“What kind of work, Your Highness?”

“Of course, you’ll be researching mathematics, but you’ll also need to accurately quantify all the work done by the government and all the information they need, and analyze the hidden meanings within.”

“I’m not sure I understand…”

“That’s too abstract, Your Highness.”

At the mathematicians’ words, Hyang immediately provided a more detailed explanation.

“Let me give you a simple example. If we investigate how much fertilizer is used just before planting each year in all the rural areas of Joseon and submit that data, you’ll create a table from it. And then you’ll create another table for the amount of grain harvested when harvest time comes. If these records accumulate over several years, couldn’t you analyze the correlation between the amount of fertilizer used and the harvest yield? Of course, there would be natural variables like droughts or floods in between, but these factors could also be converted into numerical data and applied. If we analyze all these correlations, couldn’t we predict the harvest yield to some extent before the harvest season? Not a rough estimate like ‘The weather was good this year, so the yield will be high,’ but a prediction like ‘We can harvest at least this much.’ And if such predictions are possible, couldn’t we use them as a basis to calculate next year’s expenditure in advance?”

After hearing this explanation, which was supposed to be simple but came out all at once, everyone looked at Hyang with dumbfounded expressions before coming to their senses and answering.

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“It’s possible.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s explanation. However, their faces also turned pale like the alchemists’ at Hyang’s next words.

“Ah! The agricultural sector I just used as an example is already nearing completion in terms of quantification. You’ll need to do similar quantification work in other areas. It doesn’t end with just quantification; you’ll also need to create relational equations, develop methods for creating statistics, and methods for analyzing those statistics.”

“Even analysis methods?”

“Isn’t it those analysis methods that become valuable when expressed as mathematical formulas?”

“That’s true.”

“First, follow me.”

As the mathematicians nodded, Hyang led them to another room.

***

The room Hyang took the mathematicians to was the very same room that had once sent Kim Dam into ecstasy.

“This is…!”

“Oh my!”

The mathematicians exclaimed in admiration at the blackboard that filled one entire wall and the numbers that covered that blackboard.

Among the symbols interspersed between the numbers, the only recognizable one was the addition sign, but the profundity of those equations was immediately apparent.

Standing with his back to the blackboard, Hyang continued his explanation to the mathematicians.

“Do you remember the river you came up when traveling here from Jemulpo?”

“Yes, we do.”

“These are the calculations being done to design a bridge that will span that river.”

At Hyang’s explanation, the mathematicians recalled the vast expanse of the Han River.

“The river is indeed very wide, but is such complex calculation really necessary?”

Hyang immediately answered the mathematicians’ question.

“The reason for such calculations is to aim for supporting the maximum weight with the minimum number of piers. Therefore, a large amount of iron will be used. You’ll learn more details about this part when you formally join the work later.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians muttered simultaneously.

“So that’s why the research on iron…”

“Correct. The better the iron we produce, the fewer piers we’ll need.”

“If that happens, we’ll have to change the entire equation…”

As one of the mathematicians muttered, another mathematician beside him pointed out the error.

“The equation itself won’t change much. We can set the quality of iron as a variable.”

“Correct.”

The mathematicians nodded at Hyang’s affirmation.

Angelo, who had been quietly examining the blackboard, posed a question to Hyang.

“If you’ve already developed equations to this extent, aren’t we unnecessary?”

To Angelo’s point, Hyang explained why he had called them.

“Unfortunately, our Joseon lacks people. We’re continuously nurturing talent, but it will still take a lot of time to meet all the demand. That’s why we called you. You, who have mastered the essence of mathematics studied since ancient times, should be able to quench Joseon’s current thirst.”

At Hyang’s words, the eyes of the mathematicians and alchemists began to shine.

Although Islamic countries were said to treat mathematicians and alchemists well, there were religious issues.

On the other hand, continuing academic activities in Italy and Western Europe meant facing disdain at best, and in severe cases, being accused of heresy and facing punishment.

Lastly, the conflict with the Ottomans was a problem for staying in their homeland.

The nobles and emperors who could support them wanted technology that could be immediately used in war and substances that could be used as weapons, rather than pure academic achievements.

But Joseon was different.

Of course, it was equally distant from the pursuit of pure knowledge, but the tasks were sufficient to give a sense of intellectual achievement.

***

Feeling the positive change in the reactions of the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang dangled one last tempting bait.

“Ah! I forgot something… If someone develops a substance or knowledge with sufficient commercial value, they will receive ample compensation.”

“When you say compensation…”

“Have you heard of patents?”

After hearing Hyang’s explanation about patents and royalties, the eyes of the alchemists and mathematicians began to shine fiercely.

They needed money too. To them, for whom finding a sponsor for more comfortable and stable research was most important, what Hyang said was like sweet honey.

‘It’s like they’re shooting lasers from their eyes! Indeed, the power of capitalism!’

Seeing the gleaming, almost sparkling eyes and once again feeling the power of money, Hyang asked one last question.

“Well? Will you work in Joseon? Will you sign the contract?”

To Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians answered in unison.

“We’ll sign!”

In the distant future, the records they left all contained the same words.

‘We shouldn’t have signed the contract.’

***

After finalizing the contract with the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang explained the next steps.

“The first thing you need to do is learn the language and writing system used in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars nodded and looked at the Chinese characters. Some nodded as if they were slightly familiar.

To them, these were known as Kitai characters.

“Even if you don’t become familiar with the writing, you need to be able to converse in the language to be assigned to work, and to receive your salary normally.”

“Understood.”

As they responded to Hyang, the alchemists and mathematicians simultaneously had similar doubts.

‘Why do these people, who have such advanced technology and use their own language, use Kitai characters?’

But they soon found the answer to their question.

‘Well… We use Latin characters too, after all…’

Although they were born and raised in various places from Greece to France and England, it was common for them to use Latin when recording research results or writing papers.

Therefore, they took this issue lightly.

***

Contrary to Hyang’s expectations, the alchemists and mathematicians were able to converse in Korean after about two months.

When reports came in that they had not only mastered conversation but also acquired Joseon’s unique mathematical knowledge, including mathematical symbols, Hyang called for Jeong-cho.

“Can we assign them to practical work now?”

“It seems more than possible, Your Highness.”

“Then let’s assign them.”

Upon Hyang’s decision based on the report, Jeong-cho assigned the alchemists and mathematicians to practical work.

“These are the Western scholars who will be working with you from now on. Don’t cause any discord, work in harmony to produce good results.”

“Yes, sir.”

Three days later, after a brief introductory meeting, the researchers began working with the foreigners.

“Alright! Before we start working, let’s shout our motto!”

“Only Mathematics Can Answer^[1]!”

After shouting the motto loudly, the researchers immediately got to work.

As more time passed, the Western scholars and Joseon researchers became close enough to laugh and chat together.

When this happened, a mathematician who couldn’t suppress his curiosity asked a researcher he had become friendly with:

“What’s the meaning of the motto we shout every morning?”

“Oh, that? It means ‘Only mathematics can answer.'”

“That’s amazing!”

“It’s profound, isn’t it? But it’s been true so far, and it will continue to be!”

1. 唯數能答[↩]

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