Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Gunpowder and Hygiene (4)
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In the privy council chamber, King Sejong was left dumbfounded upon hearing the new report.
He wondered, What am I even listening to? and even questioned, Is this really happening?
It was understandable—he had just heard something so ingenious that he had never even dreamed of it.
"Junior Councillor, read aloud the key portions of the report submitted by Acting Military Commander Kim Hak-jik once more."
The Junior Councillor reread the main parts of the report.
"Your servant, Acting Military Commander Kim Hak-jik, tested the new saltpeter production method proposed by Ministry of Military Affairs Assistant Administrator Kim Dae-bung. Before beginning, I could not shake my doubts about whether saltpeter could truly be obtained this way. However, if the Assistant Administrator's words proved true, we could produce saltpeter more easily and in greater quantities using only manure without the need for soil. Thus, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the experiment."
Kim Hak-jik had written the report as if he had diligently pursued the proposal out of agreement with Kim Dae-bung's ideas, but the reality was somewhat different.
In truth, Kim Dae-bung had threatened him, warning that failure to cooperate would lead to very unfortunate consequences.
Parts of that process had been omitted or embellished, but no one cared about such details.
This was a pivotal moment when Joseon was transforming into a gunpowder superpower—personal matters of a lowly Acting Military Commander who had scraped by on literary recommendations held no one's interest.
"Ministry of Military Affairs Assistant Administrator Kim Dae-bung instructed us to pile up manure, urine, ash, mountain soil, and straw into a compost heap, then manage it like fermenting soy sauce, periodically sprinkling urine to prevent it from drying out. Following his directions precisely, after three months, white saltpeter crystals began blooming on the compost heap."
King Sejong and the ministers had already heard this once through the Junior Councillor.
They knew the rest of the content as well.
Yet, just as one rereads an university acceptance letter or job offer notice multiple times without boredom—each read feeling fresh and delightful...
Hearing the same content again was not dull; instead, it felt newly wondrous, astonishing, and overflowing with joy.
"As a result, we obtained 15 geun of saltpeter from a compost heap measuring 3 cheok in width, length, and height. According to Assistant Administrator Kim Dae-bung's method, it should be aged at least six months or up to two years. Following that fully would likely yield even more saltpeter."
Manure, leaf mold gathered from mountains or forests, straw, urine, ash.
Gathering even that much was no easy task.
Still, it was far easier than collecting soil, which had always been agonizing and a nuisance to the people.
Moreover, the yield from the same volume was incomparably higher than from the old saltpeter fields Kim Dae-bung proposed, and further aging promised even greater results than current output?
Having heard the report again, King Sejong broke into a pleased smile.
"All this is possible only because we have such capable retainers."
Jo Mal-saeng seized the moment to offer flattery.
"Taegong Mang was once merely an ordinary fisherman, even abandoned by his wife as a good-for-nothing. Yet when the king recognized his talents and employed him, his true worth shone through. Kim Dae-bung's brilliance dare not compare to Taegong's, but Your Highness's wisdom and insight rival Taegong's without exaggeration, leading to these great achievements, do they not?"
In Confucian Joseon, Confucius was an inviolable sacred figure.
To exaggerate slightly, insulting Confucius was tantamount to denying the national ideology.
Yet Confucius had praised the founder of the Zhou dynasty endlessly, and Taegong was the father of that founder.
In short, Jo Mal-saeng's flattery equated King Sejong with the Zhou founder whom even Confucius revered wholeheartedly, elevating him grandly.
King Sejong did not find the flattery unpleasant.
"The Minister of Military Affairs' words seem a bit excessive."
"I beg your pardon."
"However, Kim Dae-bung devised a new saltpeter method, greatly reducing the labor and cost of producing gunpowder so desperately needed to confront the Jurchen barbarians in the north and the Japanese pirates in the south... His merit is great, so we shall reward him handsomely. The Executive Office shall discuss appropriate rewards for Kim Dae-bung and report back. The Ministry of Military Affairs shall swiftly inform the gunpowder factories to manufacture all gunpowder henceforth using Kim Dae-bung's method."
"Your benevolence overwhelms us."
A smile crept across Jo Mal-saeng's lips.
As he did, he glanced toward Hwang Hui.
Hwang Hui was a bit more incorruptible and capable—a fine minister.
Thus, until he resigned, ascending to Chief State Councillor would be difficult...
But if he could continue riding on Kim Dae-bung's shoulders like this?
Left or Right State Councillor was well within reach.
"The Ministry of Finance shall provide the Ministry of Military Affairs' budget requests without stint, and the Ministry of Works shall cooperate to the fullest with the Ministry of Military Affairs' endeavors."
Minister of Military Affairs Jo Mal-saeng smiled once more upon receiving the king's command.
He felt as if his world had arrived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This was the first time I'd seen the Ministry of Military Affairs officials so elated since transferring here.
It had been just over half a year, but...
I focused on my duties regardless of others' moods, but the other officials gathered in groups, chatting excitedly about the good fortunes ahead.
"Assistant Director Cham-ji, you look absolutely thrilled today."
"With Jurchen barbarians in the north and Japanese pirates in the south constantly plaguing us, my head ached endlessly. Now with abundant saltpeter... When they invade, we can unleash gunpowder without restraint, eh? Just thinking of it makes me grin."
"We're among ourselves here—be honest. Is that all?"
"Haha, you rascal. Truth be told, there's one more thing, and you saw right through it. A fellow exam passer from my year became Finance Ministry Assistant Director and subtly mocked me for going to the Ministry of Military Affairs. Now the tables have turned completely. That thought alone brings the smile."
Senior positions were appointed by the king based on merit.
In other words, barring major moral flaws, the one with the greatest achievements during tenure became Chief State Councillor.
Thanks to my success in mass-producing gunpowder, the Assistant Director could legitimately claim some of my credit... boosting his promotion chances immensely.
Well, political maneuvering be damned.
If I'm capable, promotions will come in time.
Even if they don't, the true priority is a public career without regrets upon retirement.
"How can we best collect manure in Hanyang?"
The success of my new gunpowder method hinged on efficient manure collection.
While at it, improving hygiene across Joseon's eight provinces, starting with Hanyang, should go hand in hand.
Mountains of work lay ahead—far too early to rest on laurels.
As I racked my brains for the next step, Jo Mal-saeng approached.
A suspicious smile played on his face.
"All the ministry officials are overjoyed, expecting promotions or top evaluations in the upcoming review, thanks to you, Assistant Administrator Kim. Yet you don't seem particularly pleased. Do you feel the road ahead is still long?"
"As Your Excellency well knows, even devising a new gunpowder method yields little if the supporting systems aren't in place. Besides, as officials, we must prioritize public duty over personal glory with a 'serve the people first' mindset."
In my past life at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, I could have walked the fast track to success with eyes closed.
But I couldn't abandon official integrity, so I forwent advancement.
That led to my sudden demotion to a backwater.
Colleagues chided me for it then... but no regrets.
I'll uphold that here in Joseon too.
With kings like Yi Bang-won and King Sejong, walking the straight path brings success and glory anyway...
This place is better for an administrator.
"Minister of Military Affairs, have you ever considered how much manure and urine Hanyang discards daily?"
Jo Mal-saeng tilted his head at my question.
But he quickly grasped my intent and beamed.
"Collecting soil was a huge nuisance to the people, but gathering waste from Hanyang homes—where fertilizer isn't needed for farming—poses no issue at all."
"Exactly. To maximize my new method, we must collect every bit of manure in Hanyang, where it's not needed as fertilizer. No..."
Joseon had several large towns beyond Hanyang.
Places like Pyongyang, Kaesong, Uiju, Jeonju, Naju.
Collecting their waste too would yield massive gunpowder quantities.
"Shouldn't we turn all the manure from Joseon's major cities across the eight provinces into gunpowder? After all, Joseon never lacked sulfur for gunpowder."
"Quite right."
Then I uttered the magic words to stimulate Jo Mal-saeng, who was as capable as Hwang Hui but fonder of advancement and graft.
"If we can produce over 10,000 geun of gunpowder yearly, His Highness will rate Your Excellency's abilities very highly. Then the Three Reforms... Ah, nothing."
Jo Mal-saeng responded to my words.
"Assistant Administrator Kim, do whatever you want. From now on, anyone opposing you opposes me, Jo Mal-saeng himself. Touching you is tantamount to scorning me."