Black Corporation: Joseon

“You summoned me?”

“I apologize for calling such a busy person.”

“Not at all. What is the matter?”

At Lee Cheon’s question, Hyang got straight to the point.

“I’d like you to prepare production of the Type A Long Gun (Inferior) model that we previously only prototyped.”

Lee Cheon smiled slightly and answered.

“I’ve already prepared for it. We can begin production as soon as you give the order.”

“How did you know?”

“I heard about the envoy from the Ouchi clan. I predicted that if Joseon was sending envoys to Japan, orders for the Inferior model would follow.”

At Lee Cheon’s response, Hyang glanced at the Four waiting nearby and spoke.

“Indeed, General. You’ve lifted a weight from my mind.”

“I’ve served in the military for decades. A general must see at least two moves ahead.”

Hyang glanced at the Four again while responding to Lee Cheon’s words.

“Is that only true for generals? Anyone aspiring to high positions should maintain such mindset. Anyway, if we start production now, how many can we produce monthly?”

“We can produce 100 units per month. If we postpone production of the Type A Long Gun (Improved) model, we could reach 300 units.”

“Won’t this strain the production of explosive shells requested by the Ouchi clan?”

“It’s fine as they’re handled by separate production teams.”

Hearing Lee Cheon’s answer, Hyang immediately gave the order.

“Then please begin production.”

“Yes. We’ll start right away. Ah! We’ll need to send more people to Mount Annam.”

“Mount Annam? For the flints?”

“Yes. The igniters are quite popular.”

Hyang immediately nodded at Lee Cheon’s response.

“The Finance Ministry will be pleased. Yes, we’ll send people. Ah! Please provide the unit cost tables for both the Inferior model and explosive shells.”

“I’ve already brought them.”

“As expected!”

Impressed by Lee Cheon’s foresight, Hyang openly glared at the Four. Each time they received such looks, the Four flinched.

It stings, it stings!

Just curse us out directly instead!

***

After Lee Cheon left, Hyang handed the documents to the Four.

“Set appropriate selling prices based on these and report back.”

“Do you intend to sell these to the Ouchi clan?”

“What, should we give them away for free? Is Joseon that wealthy?”

“Ah…”

“Also, draft the orders for Mount Annam and bring them to me.”

“Yes.”

The Four quickly answered and hurried out of Hyang’s office.

Left alone, Hyang muttered softly.

“My obsessive research from the 21st century proves useful again.”

***

The rifle named ‘Type A Long Gun (Inferior)’ was a downgraded version of the Type A Long Gun. More precisely, it was a degraded version of the Kentucky rifle that had inspired the Type A Long Gun. No, it was a flintlock musket commonly known as a matchlock or handlock rifle.

“Why create such a regressed firearm?”

When first shown the prototype designs, all the managers expressed doubts. Hyang explained the reasoning to these doubtful managers.

“We’ve sent bronze guns to Ming. But the performance of those bronze guns is somewhat lacking, isn’t it?”

The managers all nodded at Hyang’s words. Hyang continued:

“Ming will develop superior versions based on those. What concerns me is these guns flowing to other countries. If any of those countries might harm Joseon, we’ll release these to countries that could benefit us. No matter how urgent, we can’t give them our Type A Long Guns, can we?”

The managers nodded vigorously at Hyang’s words. They had participated in development since the weapon was called the Type A Gun. Knowing the Type A’s capabilities better than anyone, they immediately grasped Hyang’s purpose.

“Though far inferior to the Type A Long Gun, it would still overwhelmingly outperform bronze guns and other firearms.”

Hyang nodded at Lee Cheon’s words.

“That’s the goal.”

Examining the design while listening to Hyang, Lee Cheon spoke up.

“The firing mechanism is somewhat more complex, but not overly so, and without rifling in the barrel, it’ll actually require less work.”

“That’s the point.”

This is a musket, not a rifle after all!

However, Lee Cheon pointed out an issue in another area.

“Flints will be the problem. It won’t be easy to obtain large quantities of quality flints.”

Hyang immediately answered Lee Cheon’s concern.

“About that. When I went undercover in the marketplace, I heard rumors. They say excellent flints come from Mount Annam.”

“Is that so? Then we’ll send people to investigate.”

Lee Cheon initially tilted his head at Hyang’s words but soon accepted them.

The Crown Prince’s eccentric behavior was well-known!

Though quiet now, in youth Hyang was famous for frequent incognito outings.

Of course, most of these outings were due to Princess Jeongseo’s hunger strikes. Hyang went undercover to find snacks for Jeongseo to eat secretly.

But few ministers criticized Hyang’s frequent excursions.

“What’s wrong with leisure time after completing all duties?”

With King Sejong defending thus, and royal authority at its peak after purging Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction, no minister dared raise objections.

***

Anyway, based on Hyang’s words, extensive exploration began at Mount Annam.

“Indeed, there are many quality raw stones!”

Receiving the report, Hyang immediately proposed to Sejong:

“We should process the stones and sell them through monopoly shops.”

“Flints through monopoly shops?”

When Sejong hesitated slightly, Kim Jeom, then Minister of Finance, jumped in:

“A brilliant idea! The people expend much effort managing fire! But with quality flints, that effort could be greatly reduced!”

“Is that so? Then, let it be done…”

Overwhelmed by Kim Jeom’s enthusiasm, Sejong immediately approved.

When the monopoly shops began selling quality flints, the people’s praise followed.

Hearing this, Hyang muttered internally:

My research on Kentucky rifles in the 21st century proves useful in many ways.

***

In the 21st century, Hyang – then Jin-ho – running a forge, had received an order from an American reenactor to make a Kentucky rifle. After completing the rifle, Hyang became slightly troubled.

“The flint is a problem…”

Actual testing required suitable flints.

“Should I find and break some quartz?”

While searching the internet for suitable flint materials, Hyang learned about Gyeyang Mountain, famous for flints in late Joseon period.

There was a military officer named Jeong Du-won from the Gwangju Jeong clan. Having suffered terribly in the Imjin War, Joseon began making and researching matchlock guns. Jeong Du-won and his subordinates realized that fuses and flints were as important as the guns themselves and searched nationwide for flint sources. Thus, they found the finest raw stones at Gyeyang Mountain.

Afterward, merchants selling flints in Joseon marketplaces regarded Mount Annam’s flints as the finest.

“Flints from Bupyeong’s Mount Annam! Whetstones from Baromoe!”

The flints from Bupyeong’s Mount Annam and whetstones from nearby Baromoe Pass (now Geomam-dong) became renowned as Joseon’s finest.

Seeing the internet records, Hyang had considered seriously.

“Should I visit Gyeyang Mountain?”

But the attempt was aborted. Shortly after, a visiting cousin knocked some sense into him.

****

Once sufficient stock of Type A Long Gun (Inferior) models accumulated for the Ouchi clan, Hyang sent people to them.

Send envoys to negotiate gun purchases.

“An Ouchi clan envoy has arrived with our returning envoys.”

“Send them in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Ouchi envoy who entered with the eunuch bowed respectfully.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“You must be tired from your journey. Oh?”

After acknowledging the greeting, Hyang’s eyes sparkled.

“You’re not dead?”

At Hyang’s question, the envoy bowed his head and answered.

“Thanks to my lord’s great mercy, this worthless life continues.”

“Is that so? Serve your lord well.”

“Hai!”

After this exchange of not-quite-pleasantries, Hyang got to the point.

“We’ve made guns for the Ouchi clan as requested. However, guns are money-eating demons, so we can’t just give them away.”

“Then, at what price will you provide them?”

“Properly speaking, we should charge 20 silver yang per gun, but given the relationship between the Ouchi clan and Joseon, we’ll accept 12 silver yang per gun.”

“Huk!”

The envoy was shocked by the higher-than-expected price. Seeing his reaction, Hyang continued:

“Is there a warrior familiar with guns among your companions?”

“Yes, there is.”

“Examine it with him. Then you’ll know its worth.”

“Eh? Yes.”

***

Shortly after, Hyang and others appeared at the archery range built in a corner of Gyeongbok Palace.

“This is the gun we’ll provide you.”

At Hyang’s signal, a waiting Royal Guard officer handed the Inferior model gun to the envoy.

The envoy passed it to the accompanying samurai.

The samurai’s eyes widened as he examined the gun.

“Ko, kore wa! Teppō desu!”

“Hm? Teppō?”

Hearing a very familiar word, Hyang immediately looked at the envoy. The envoy quickly explained.

“The Shogunate bastards call guns ‘teppō.’ Because they’re made of iron.”

“Oh? Does the Shogunate have people skilled enough to make iron guns?”

Well, the source is obvious though.

At Hyang’s question, concealing his thoughts, the envoy immediately answered:

“How could those bastards have such skill? They say they’re imported from Ming.”

“Is that so… Ming…”

When Hyang appeared to consider this slightly, the envoy hastily added:

“Not sent by Ming’s court, but diverted by merchants, they say!”

“Is that so? The Shogunate must have spent quite a bit.”

The envoy immediately understood what Hyang meant.

No negotiation. Take it or leave it, those are the only options?

“Hah…”

Sighing deeply as if resigned, the envoy spoke:

“We would like to see its performance.”

“Of course we’ll show you.”

***

Ten days later, returning to Ouchi, the envoy reported to Mochiyo:

“…thus, we agreed to 12 silver yang per gun. And we’ve brought 100 guns initially.”

“12 yang per gun! Even for a teppō! No, if it’s a teppō, shouldn’t it be cheaper?”

Mochiyo exploded.

As Mochiyo said, considering material costs alone, copper was more expensive than iron. And poorly refined iron couldn’t withstand gunpowder explosions as well as copper.

The envoy immediately answered Mochiyo’s outburst:

“How could I not know that? But isn’t it also true that guns made from properly refined iron are superior to copper ones?”

At the envoy’s response, Mochiyo calmed down and asked:

“You’re saying they’re that superior?”

“They’re made by Joseon, and Joseon’s Crown Prince confidently provided them.”

“Hmm…”

At the envoy’s answer, Mochiyo stroked his chin, deep in thought.

The envoy spoke truth. Joseon was far ahead of them technologically, and Joseon’s Crown Prince had confidently provided these weapons.

After brief consideration, Mochiyo ordered one retainer:

“Go summon the katanashi.”

“Hai!”

After dismissing the retainer, Mochiyo glared at the envoy.

“We’ll see the assessment of our domain’s finest swordsmith. If it’s mediocre, I’ll hold you responsible, and don’t expect the luxury of seppuku.”

“Hai!”