Forging Iron, Printing Truth: The Geokmulwon Rises

Was Geokmulwon Chief Chun Bu-jang connected to Grandee Han Sang-gyeong as well?

This was King Munjong's final Gatong message from last night before bed. I'd tossed and turned, agonizing over how to handle it.

Han Myeong-hoe? No, not him. It was the price for that one impulsive Gatong I sent without thinking. In Munjong's eyes, I was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Joseon man away on some distant errand. The king might know his own court, but there was no way he'd know about Han Myeong-hoe. He'd logically inferred that my knowledge of Han Myeong-hoe meant ties to his family. Very reasonable. And very troublesome.

Han Sang-gyeong. Han Myeong-hoe's paternal uncle's husband—wait, more precisely, his clan's elder. A founding merit of Joseon who rose to Chief State Councillor. After King Sejong ascended, he passed the role to Shim On and retired. And Shim On's daughter was Queen Sohyeon, Munjong's mother.

I couldn't tell the truth. How do you explain that Han Myeong-hoe is dangerous without spilling everything? The day Munjong was supposed to die had passed, and the Gyeyu Coup wouldn't happen anymore. In the current situation, I couldn't say Han Myeong-hoe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was risky because he was scheming to help Prince ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Suyang with the coup.

I guess I'll have to lie for the first time since Gatong started.

After sending it, my heart raced. A long while later, Munjong replied.

It was the question I'd expected. I never thought Munjong would let it slide so easily.

I stared at the screen, waiting ages for Munjong's response.

A short sentence. I couldn't tell if those three words meant he believed me or was just letting it go.

I set down my phone and sighed. Video transmission mishap. Han Myeong-hoe slip-up. Recent mistakes amid tough times. But I'd nailed that conference presentation and was regathering my resolve. No more slip-ups from here on.

I changed the subject. No parent can resist talk of their kids, they say. Sure enough, a quick reply.

Here's what happened. After inspecting Jeongseon and Yeongwol, the Crown Prince bombarded Choi Gong-son, the special deputy from the Office of Military Armaments who accompanied him, with questions about iron ore and coal.

The Veritable Records of King Sejong: Geography mentions over 60 iron mines, most using sand iron primarily. There are records of stone iron in Ulsan and Miryang, but in tiny quantities. Smelting stone iron isn't hard, but yields little iron of uneven quality. Early Joseon used charcoal for smelting. It worked, but the quality was poor. So they favored cheap, easy-to-mine sand iron.

Today, the Crown Prince reported to the throne hall: Jeongseon's iron ore, Yeongwol's coal and limestone, Samcheok's coal and limestone—all clustered nearby. Ironworks should be in Samcheok.

A twelve-year-old saying that? Impressive.

I paused my fingers. Munjong had said no funds or grain for a navy. Even with funds, Ming's watchful eye. So I'd suggested branding red ginseng for Ming sales. I'd assumed he'd shelved the navy.

Apparently not.

Early Joseon had no ironclads? Actually, Munjong had stalled shipbuilding progress. Sejong adopted double-planked armored ships, but Munjong reverted to single-plank unarmored ones.

Checking the Annals: Sure enough, Munjong 1st year, 6th month, 12th day.

A long pause, then Munjong messaged again.

He thought of iron keels himself? Fitting for the king who built rain gauges with the Crown Prince and developed the Munjong clepsydra as king.

Building ironworks in Joseon. The biggest butterfly effect yet since Gatong began.

Not my field, so research took a week alongside hospital duties.

1709, Abraham Darby's coke blast furnace smelting.

Not just Joseon— the world used charcoal. Darby's was next-gen tech.

Problem: next-gen is 257 years away...

I pondered. But asking if he knew pi had already happened. Steam engines? Too soon. Infant mortality and maternal care would explode population. Sorry, Joseon folk—we'll use manpower for now.

Coke as briquettes, avoid modern terms.

Briquette production from coal. Blast furnaces. Limestone fluxing. Waterwheel blowers.

I compiled and sent the file.

Choi Gong-son would translate to Joseon terms and spread it. Another efficiency idea hit me.

Joseon already had metal type; Gutenberg's around 1440—right on time.

Self-justification time.

Munjong went silent for ages.

Printing tip led to Hunminjeongeum talk from Munjong.

Prince Suyang won't become Sejo anyway, but if he did, he'd steal all the Hangul credit...

Sejo pushed Hangul: Seokbo Sangjeol in Hangul, merged with Worin Cheon-gang Jigok into Worin Seokbo. The famous "Even our sovereign's speech in our land..." survived thanks to it.

Confucian Munjong era wouldn't produce them. This was true geokmul—investigating things to extend knowledge. First two steps of the Great Learning's eight.

Munjong said it himself. Days later, I checked the Annals.

Hong Yun-seong...

Hong Yun-seong. Twenty-eight. Youngest top merit in Gyeyu Coup. Prince Suyang's close warrior, drew sword to kill Kim Jong-seo. Now building furnaces instead.

His youthful fire redirected.

Evening call from Seo-yeon.

My grip tightened on the phone. She worked at Korea's top steel firm—HQ should be Pohang.

Butterfly effect as expected, but company culture changed.

Her colleagues used to chant "Steel for the Nation"—old gen stuff.

Father of Steel. Coup top dog becomes steel pioneer.

Call ended, I searched. Old company name: nothing.

Top domestic steel firm.

I set down the phone, staring at the ceiling.

Pohang citizens... sorry.