Chapter 151
Chapter 151
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Joseon Steel Mill (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Are you really saying you'll step up and lighten the load for our Office of Works?”
“For Joseon's development, producing weapons and tools is more important than anything else.”
For example, even something as simple as cleaning shows a massive difference in efficiency depending on whether you have tools like dustpans, brooms, and mops.
That's why humans have always created tools to make difficult, time-consuming, and laborious tasks more efficient.
Thanks to this instinct-like ability, humans—who are physically no better than other animals aside from our throwing power—were able to become the rulers of the Earth.
“In truth, the Office of Works' workload will only grow, never shrink.”
First, we'll build the steel mill, then toss blueprints for all sorts of new machines to the Office of Works and have Jang Yeong-sil make them.
Hand-cranked washing machines, lathes and drilling machines powered by animal or water power, looms, carding machines, spinning wheels, and so on...
If I come up with the ideas, sketch rough diagrams, and add a bit of explanation, Jang Yeong-sil will handle the rest and make them all.
I only gave him a very rough sketch and idea for the matchlock musket...
And he made it perfectly.
With his skill in crafting automatic water clocks like the clepsydra, anything is possible.
“But the biggest problem right now is that our workload keeps piling up, while we have far too few officials to handle it, isn't it?”
Yi Cheon nodded in agreement with my words.
“What's the point of holding the civil service exams frequently and selecting lots of people? All the new officials get snatched up by the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War, leaving the Office of Works with barely three new hires a year. I know the Ministry of Revenue is busy and has more work than before, but they get nearly a hundred new officials every year, while we... Ha, if they just gave us ten percent of the people heading to the Ministry of Revenue, we'd be set.”
“In my view, the Office of Works is just as important as the Ministry of Revenue or Ministry of War. The fact that our workload has increased so much compared to before is proof of that.”
There is a hierarchy even among the ministers of the Six Ministries.
Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Office of Works—in that order.
Among them, the Ministry of Personnel ranks highest, and the Office of Works lowest.
That's why if a Minister of Personnel transfers to Minister of Works, it's seen as a massive demotion.
Even though both are the same rank of Junior Second Grade.
Because of this, the Office of Works always gets pushed down the list for personnel increases, yet the work just keeps piling up—imagine how tough it's been for them all this time.
“To broadly benefit the nation, collecting taxes well is important, raising soldiers to protect the ancestral temples and state altars from border threats is important, and we need officials to manage it all... But to collect taxes, we need ships for transport, and to defend the nation well, we need to make good weapons and armor for the soldiers. The Office of Works doesn't stand out much, but like Xiao He of the Han Dynasty, it plays a crucial supporting role from behind the scenes.”
“The Office of Works is like Xiao He...”
When founding the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang ranked Xiao He—the 'chief supply officer' who created the environment for his blood-soaked warrior comrades to fight—as the top merit subject.
At first, all the ministers opposed it, but Liu Bang silenced them with these words, it's said.
'So, could you fight while starving? Could you kill Xiang Yu without weapons?'
“I'll make sure to explain this well to the Chief State Councillor—no, to Your Highness.”
“Oh, I had no idea Military Commander Kim thought so highly of our Office of Works.”
“So, please lend me Supervising Official Jang (Jang Yeong-sil) and Supervising Official Jeong (Jeong Bin) for a while.”
“......What do you plan to do with them?”
Iron is essential not just for strengthening Joseon's military, but also for improving industrial capacity and agricultural production.
We need to make iron, and keep making it.
The more we produce, the more the industry can take root.
Even if I don't live to see ironclad ships, iron vessels, or steam engines, I need to lay the foundation.
No, I might even see practically usable steam engines for industry.
If I keep pushing Jang Yeong-sil for 20-30 years and steelmaking technology develops well, it could happen.
Early Industrial Revolution steam engines and machines were often made directly by skilled blacksmiths, after all.
“I plan to build a massive forge—no, a steel mill dedicated solely to iron production in Yellow Sea Province's District Magistrate of Je-ryeong. If it succeeds there, we'll build similar facilities across Joseon's eight provinces.”
“......Is that why you want to increase the Office of Works' personnel?”
“We've set up shipyards in each naval station for building ships, but while that's fine for warships, shouldn't the Office of Works handle all merchant ships for civilian use?”
Yi Cheon tilted his head at my words.
“If the Office of Works takes full responsibility for building civilian merchant ships, people commissioning them will offer appropriate gifts (bribes) to you, Minister.”
“Would the steel mill be the same?”
“Since it's a state-run steel mill, won't the Office of Works decide how much iron to release to civilians and how much the state uses?”
“......Good grief, my workload is going to pile up like a mountain. Haha.”
In early Joseon, civilians couldn't properly run steel mills.
The capital required is enormous, the technical expertise lacking, and the venture itself far too critical.
“The work will increase, haha. But how could one who entered service to loyally serve king and country shun hard labor? In that spirit, I'll lend you Supervising Officials Jang and Jeong—my two prized aides.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
For reference, the current Minister of Works, Yi Cheon, is cut from the same cloth as Prime Minister Hwang Hui or Jo Mal-saeng.
Exceptional ability, numerous achievements as a technician, but he loves bribes so much that he's faced massive impeachments.
So even if the work increases, he's thrilled at the prospect of more 'bribes' opportunities.
He already has plenty of money, yet his greed for more is endless—looks like he'll end up with a lifetime prison sentence too.
Blissfully unaware of my thoughts, Yi Cheon smiled at me.
“Military Commander Kim is truly a loyal subject.”
Soon after, Sejong held a special exam at Sungkyunkwan and selected over fifty additional officials.
All of them turned into slaves for the Office of Works...
No, assigned to handle Office of Works duties.
Not long after, some officials submitted resignation memorials, saying they couldn't endure it.
But Sejong rejected them with edicts, refusing their resignations.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ King Sejong the Great had promoted me yet again.
Filled with his desire to make me a senior-rank official as soon as possible.
He created a new subordinate office under the Office of Works called the Steel Mill Office, a Junior Third Grade bureau, and installed me as its head.
“Jeong Assistant Commissioner, do you think this aligns with protocol?”
Jeong Bin laughed incredulously at my question.
“Isn't this because Steel Mill Commissioner objected that too rapid a promotion disrupts the nation's order?”
“Honorary Junior Fourth Grade, Numbered Steel Mill Commissioner. Good lord, words fail me.”
Joseon has a system called the proxy ranks.
Prefixing 'acting' to a title is like a brigadier general stuck as a regimental commander for various reasons in modern terms; 'numbered' means brigadier rank but appointed to a division commander's post that requires two stars.
By this principle, upon promotion to Junior Fourth Grade, I was exceptionally allowed to take a position normally reserved for Junior Third Grade or lower officials.
“I've never met anyone besides you, sir, who dislikes promotions.”
“Rising too fast at a young age means you won't die peacefully.”
In King Sejong's era, prime ministers purged for political reasons were only Sim On and Gang Sang-in—nobody else.
So rapid advancement won't lead to political impeachment and a miserable death.
The problem is being trapped forever in King Sejong's grip, who squeezes his officials like university professors wringing out every drop.
In short, it's becoming another Hwang Hui.
No retirement, forced to commute and serve until death.
How terrifying is that?
“Since His Highness has entrusted me with such an important duty, all that's left is for us—myself included—to repay his grace with utmost loyalty and hard work. Isn't that right, Military Commander Jang?”
Jang Yeong-sil replied.
“Yes, sir. If my talents can aid Joseon, I'll work diligently, ready to give this body entirely.”
“An excellent answer. I like it. Then, make these from now on.”
These were diagrams of various machines I'd sketched in my spare time while working at the Ministry of War, compiled into book form. I handed it to Jang Yeong-sil.
He opened the book and clicked his tongue in amazement.
“What's this blast furnace here, and what's the converter marked on it?”
“The blast furnace is a massive forge for smelting iron ore. The converter refines pig iron into steel.”
“......You're telling me to build all this just by looking at it?”
“I plan to build a large steel mill in Pocheon, Yellow Sea Province's District Magistrate of Je-ryeong. But first, make a working blast furnace and converter there to test. If budget's short, His Highness said he'd gladly provide from the inner treasury, so focus solely on the work without worrying about funds. Start with those, and once done, make the other machines in this book.”
Jeong Bin and Jang Yeong-sil went pale as ghosts.
I have no idea why they're acting like I'm some man-eating demon.
“Oh, and Jeong Assistant Commissioner, compile a report on the steel mill's required size and how to transport the iron ore, and submit it as soon as possible. If ready, head to the site right away—sound good?”
“Yes, sir...”
Now I just needed to stay here, help with Ministry of War duties, and wait for their preparations...
Suddenly, Gap-seok appeared at the temporary Steel Mill Office building.
“Sir, the lady's been having labor pains since earlier.”
Hearing that, I immediately had the office slave relay a message to the Minister of Works that I was leaving for the day, and clocked out on my own authority.
And I sent word of this to Kim Man-deok right away.