Forging the Perfect Flintlock
Even if we secure perfect purity, steel that's too hard will eventually shatter. The problem is that in this era, we have to rely purely on feel. Quantifying it with numbers is damn near impossible. But that's fine. Solve it by feel? Isn't that the true path to becoming a master craftsman? At least it's better than slapping up wooden pillars without blueprints, cobbling together some eyesore of a thatched hut.
That said, if every artisan does it their own way, it's meaningless. A few we made that way shattered right away. The heat treatment process wasn't consistent. I had the artisans at the Yoyang furnace heat springs simultaneously. A few turned out perfectly. Now, just have the others follow their methods for mass production. They nailed the perfect feel. Those who've been rolling in the firearms workshop for years can time it right.
"Hmm, this should do it."
The first elite flintlock, assembled from perfectly heat-treated springs and steel plates of optimal strength. The artisans watched me grip it, their eyes sparkling, every inch crafted by their painstaking hands.
"Please let it succeed!"
"We poured every ounce of blood and sweat into making it!"
"May it become the vital weapon to defend Liaodong."
This time, it's the real deal. With that mindset, I called in a seasoned matchlockman.
"Here, give it a try."
"Yes, Commander."
The matchlockman flipped open the powder pan cover on the right side, just as I'd instructed. He poured in fine priming powder— this would catch the flint spark and carry the fire to the main charge. Then he closed the cover to block out moisture and wind. That's the perfect difference between a matchlock and an elite flintlock.
Next, he cocked back the flintlock hammer to full load. The rest is obvious. Shoulder the gun, aim at the distant target, pull the trigger.
The flint strikes the steel frizzen hard, sparks fly, and the frizzen flips up to open the pan. The sparks ignite the priming powder. The flame shoots through the touch hole to the main charge in the barrel, and finally, the bullet fires.
Bang!
The bullet slammed powerfully into the distant target.
"Hit!"
A Byeolcho Army soldier at the target waved his flag for this demo.
Yes. The first shot was a resounding success. This will fuel mass production of elite flintlocks going forward.
"Woooaaah! No need to fuss with a lit match!"
"We actually made it work!"
The artisans beamed, thrilled their creation proved useful.
"See, with this, you can prep to fire even in rain or wind. Compared to matchlocks, the difference is huge. And that's assuming no prior training—it's way faster than a matchlock."
Imagine training musketeers armed with these elite flintlocks, honing their skills. We'd already produced a batch once, so scaling up shouldn't be hard. They've got the feel now; no real hurdles left.
"Now we just mass-produce these."
Even this alone will be plenty useful. Rifling the barrels would be ideal, but in this era, it's all about brute force and volume. No rifling machines or pullers exist. Even if we made them, it'd only be a handful. This is good enough. Maybe add rifling tools later. For now, this suffices in this age.
"So, we'll produce only elite flintlocks from now on, not matchlocks?"
Kim Jun fiddled with the matchlock behind the flintlock as he asked me.
"Elite flintlocks as the mainstay."
Matchlocks aren't bad, but factoring in misfires on ignition, flintlocks are the future. No room left for matchlocks.
"What about the leftover matchlocks?"
Kim Jun, drenched in sweat from pushing the artisans on barrel-making, asked me that.
Hmm. What to do? Sell them to the Mongols or Jin?
"Sell 'em to the Mongols or Jin."
"Wouldn't that squander our edge? Better to scrap and recycle them. We can repurpose parts for flintlocks."
"Oh, not a bad idea."
True, too early for that. Selling to Jin or Mongols nullifies our tech advantage. As I said, they'd catch up fast. Even if it leaks later, we need enough national power first that they won't dare touch us, even with guns. Right now, we need untouchable strength.
Kim Jun's got a sharp eye. He sees the risk of tech leakage—not just a brute warrior.
"Time to upgrade the cannons too."
We've relied on bronze guns so far, but flintlock development advanced our metallurgy. I documented standardized specs from watching the artisans. Now we can mass-produce cast iron cannons on this base. With those, how far can we go? Up to hongyippo caliber, probably.
"First, line the Liaodong defenses entirely with cast iron cannons. Push the artisans hard on it."
For now, at least. Later, the real heavy hitters. Gotta plan those too. So much to do. But in original history, this was impossible. No Liaodong resources, no mass artisan recruits from Jin refugees—we'd never reach this point. So, to keep those advantages, ensure defenses are ironclad.
"I'm a general now, you know."
"Generals handle weapons, right? And no one around me knows gunpowder arms better than you."
Even as a general, Kim Jun's stuck in the firearms workshop—or rather, now the Liaodong flintlock factory. We'll train cavalry too, but for the foreseeable, our trust is in overwhelming firepower. Arm ships with cannons, and we can push into Japan. Our current ships suffice, but I want keel warships. Length issues aside—solved with this era's lumber—it'll take time. I'd supervise personally, but shuttling back and forth is a pain. Sketch blueprints first, handle the rest later.
I was deep in thought when—
"Commander, false ginseng cultivation has begun."
Finally, false ginseng in the Goryeo heartland.
"About time. This expands our trade goods."
With national strength built, import luxuries like glass and jewels. Vanity items matter too. Glassmaking is key for future Goryeo. New crops abound. Sell what sells, import garlic, cucumber, onion, carrot seeds to boost yields and diversify diets. Goryeo merchants use Mongol steppe routes, but leading my own isn't bad.
So I summoned my go-to merchant, Song, for advice.
"Time we establish a trading company."
"A trading company, milady?"
"Yeah. Thinking of calling it Great Goryeo Trading House. What do you think?"
It's essentially under me, but a merchant guild managing all trade. Like a guild.
"Not bad. So you're seeking merchant advice from me."
"Exactly. I've been selling soap, fireworks, porcelain—odd for a non-merchant, right?"
"True enough. You're a bit late to the game."
Yeah, yeah. Subtly ribbing me? Fine. As long as it helps.
"Gaegyeong's Byeokrando as international port, Yoyang as eastern start of the endless steppe route. Need one in Gaegyeong too, but base Great Goryeo Trading House here."
"Including the Jurchens as much as possible."
"Yep."
"Sounds good. I've been thinking of expanding lately."
"What do you mean?"
Song glanced around, then whispered.
"Lately in the homeland—Song—they're talking about striking Jin."
"To reclaim North Song lands."
"Spot on."
Better ally with Mongols. Suddenly? Song crumbling or not doesn't matter. Expanding here means settling in. We've seen more Song folk in Goryeo lately.
"But that's no reason to relocate your base to Goryeo."
"Think about it, Commander. I've been profiting big selling fireworks and soap dear to Jin. Relocating's easy."
"Even in wartime?"
"North of the Huai is vast. Areas spared the flames, or folks wanting to forget war's reality."
True, people crave entertainment anywhere. Mongols haven't razed every corner; some live on fine, becoming Mongol subjects. Those Jin folk might crave fireworks now. Song merchants sniffed that out, jacking prices.
"War with Jin will hurt sales."
"Exactly. To keep earning, base in Goryeo."
"We might fight Jin or Mongols later—okay with that?"
"Not now. So no issue."
Lucky bastard. Trading house for selling goods, then. Silk Road means Mongol trade essential. What to import from them?
"Pushing into Mongol lands. Hmm."
Copper first? Precious metals, spices good too. Worth a shot. Liaodong's authority is delegated to me; trading via merchants with Mongols—who cares?
"What can we get from Mongols?"
"Come to think, steppe route's bringing Dai Viet folk to Goryeo."
"Really?"
"Yes. Talents from Mongol-conquered lands dragged to the homeland. Some cross over instead of cooperating."
Hoo. Heard of forced migrations to Mongol core.
"Hoo, such people exist."
Makes sense—better cling to Goryeo than aid Mongols. If they know astronomy, math, medicine, jackpot. Huge gain for Goryeo. Leverage for trade.
"Then you'll handle big things in the new trading house. Help lots with Goryeo-Mongol trade."
"Of course."
Byeokrando still does its job. Now, milk the honey while we can—focus on Silk Road trade. Best if no more Mongol wars for a while.
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire's war with Jin had entered a lull.
"Chief Secretary."
"Yes, Great Khan."
"Lately, Goryeo porcelain's coming in. Is it fine? Shouldn't we expel all those Goryeo merchants now?"
Of course it was fine. Proof of reconciliation with Goryeo. Plus, Goryeo porcelain and soap were hits among Mongol nobles.
"Formal trade's not bad. Better than granting tax rights and lands to imperial kin, generals, and meritocrats."
Ögedei had been setting up to distribute taxes and lands to meritocrats and Genghisid clan lately. Yalu Choeje pointed it out.
"Hmph, thorns in your words."
"Your Majesty, granting fiefs is a big issue. This is for Mongol's millennium."
"But distribution to meritocrats is a military and political matter."
True. Especially with Goryeo—who beat Mongol—forces domestic politics unstable. Losing all Liaodong meant short on spoils. Thus, tax collection and land grants were all.
'That damn Goryeo. That damn Goryeo.'
If Goryeo conquest succeeded, he could've blocked distributions somehow. But failure against Goryeo rattled the empire, sapped morale. To fix, Khan's way was right.
"I know. War with Goryeo went poorly, so stabilize. But can't revoke Goryeo transit passes or trade rights. Trade's just expanding; halt it, and Goryeo might take offense, threaten our flank."
Yalu Choeje had seen Goryeo's elite troops up close. Military regime's forces looked invincible. As if Goryeo's prosperity existed solely to sustain that regime's military might.
Yet Great Khan still craved revenge on Goryeo. At least postpone, push back.
"Truly regrettable. How did we end up humiliated by those Goryeo bastards?"
"Goryeo (Goguryeo) unified the Central Plains, beat Emperor Yang of Sui—who never knew defeat—sent Emperor Taizong of Tang—the Central Plains' greatest sage king—packing, only fell after long wars in his son's era thanks to Silla. On our turf, we'd win. But their land? Tough. They're strong. Conserve strength for now."
Yalu Choeje could only play it up. Even mighty ancient Central Plains states barely won against them after a struggle. Had to say that much.