Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 409: A short story. (6)

“If it is difficult for Abama to leave the palace, wouldn’t it be okay to bring some mineral water?”

“If you consider the amount you consume and the amount you will eat when bathing and washing your face every day, you will need a significant amount. It takes a lot of effort to transport it….”

“You can just use a tow truck.”

At Hyang’s words, Eui stopped talking and immediately lowered his head. Seeing that, Sejong made a decision.

“Please use a tow truck to bring it.”

“I follow your orders.”

After the meeting, Hyang left Geunjeongjeon and excitedly headed to Area 51.

“Cheer up! “I can hear the money coming in!”

* * *

Ten days later, the tow truck returned, pulling a freight car loaded with large wooden barrels containing mineral water.

Of course, the round trip did not take ten days. The total round trip time and water storage time was only four days. The remaining six days were spent making a wooden barrel – similar to an oak barrel – specifically for storing carbonated water.

“My eyes feel refreshed!”

Sejong washed his eyes with the carbonated water brought in and was very satisfied with the feeling. Next, the eunuch politely presented King Sejong with a tray filled with carbonated mineral water.

“Wow! “The water is really spicy!”

Sejong let out an exclamation as he wiped away the tears that naturally formed at the corners of his eyes due to the strong stimulation provided by the carbonation in the water.

“It’s spicy, but it feels like my stomach is full! “I’ve been feeling stuffy for a while, but it feels so good!”

After that, King Sejong took a light bath and washed his face with Chojeong mineral water and drank it as a beverage.

The hot spring bath followed by a carbonated mineral water bath seemed to be effective, and King Sejong’s skin disease subsided considerably. Of course, bathing wasn’t everything. I accepted the advice of the royal family and the local government, got up from my seat every hour (about 2 hours), walked around Gyeonghoeru, and began to regularly skip rope again, which I had often skipped.

“This alone is not enough… I need to make things that I have been neglecting while making and making things.”

Hyang made exercise equipment that had been planned for some time and installed it in the backyard of Gangnyeongjeon.

Of course, even though it was exercise equipment, it was not the kind of grandiose equipment found in 21st century health clubs. It was an imitation of equipment that was simple but guaranteed a minimum level of performance, almost similar to simple exercise equipment installed at mineral springs or riversides.

Hyang was able to create this because when he lived in Yangsan, his job was to repair the exercise equipment placed in front of the village hall.

Hyang grumbled with a face full of regret as he set up exercise equipment in the backyard of Gangnyeongjeon.

“I wanted to make things like those used in health clubs… but to do that, the first thing we need to do is to unify weights and measures, but that is a waste…”

Hyang stopped talking and sighed.

“Whoa~. “Damn it, even with such strict supervision, there is still no unification of weights and measures!”

* * *

The unit of weights and measures used by Joseon during this period was literally ‘chaos of chaos.’

Even the most commonly used unit of length, Cheok (尺), had several types in use, including Yeongjocheok (營造尺) and Jucheok (周尺).

Of course, all of them had different uses, but it was clear that they were less efficient than if they were all unified.

Therefore, with the beginning of the gyeongjang, the length units were unified based on Yeongjocheok, but the situation was not completely unified yet.

As an aside, the reason Yeongjocheok was used as a standard was because Yeongjocheok had a strong character due to its characteristics – it was mainly used as a woodworking chuck – and its scent was familiar.

“Even in the 21st century, one character was about 30cm… so it’s better to be familiar, right?”

* * *

The exercise equipment created in that way was quite effective against King Sejong. Sejong liked it very much because using the exercise equipment for just one hour would energize his body, but Hyang had a surprisingly depressed expression.

“Abamama’s physical age was the same as that of old people at mineral springs?”

‘Is it really good?’ Hyang, who was depressed, continued to grumble while watching Sejong turn the exercise equipment while repeating.

“What do you do when you become a crown prince? When you become king, you eat everything…”

* * *

Confucian scriptures were not the only things the Crown Prince learned. With the goal of becoming a master of both civil and martial arts, he had to use military officers from the Naegeumwi as instructors and learn archery and magic fighting skills to a fairly high level. Therefore, a properly educated crown prince had a fairly strong body.

But the scent took on a different perspective.

“I think they are preparing their bodies in advance to have many children. “What kind of Joseon seedling…”

It was the scent that made people complain while looking at King Sejong’s plump body, but there was something that the scent had forgotten.

King Sejong was not educated as a crown prince from a young age. He lived as a grand prince, and it was King Sejong who was appointed crown prince and was elected shortly after.

* * *

In any case, as the exercise equipment created in this way became effective, orders came down from the royal palace that saw it. Thanks to this, Hyang had to make exercise equipment for Queen Soheon, her concubines, and her own women.

And after seeing the effect, requests came from the Internal Security Commission and the military.

“It seems to be more effective than simply having people jump and lift stones.”

After hearing Jo Mal-saeng and Naegeumwijang’s words, Hyang let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. “Talk to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, or the budget executor, and get the budget first.”

And the rumor about these sports equipment crossed the West Sea.

* * *

“Is this the rumored exercise equipment?”

“exactly. But did this rumor spread to the Ming Kingdom?”

In response to King Sejong’s question, the envoy of Myeongguk nodded his head loudly.

“Yes, it is widely rumored that it is very helpful for health. “It’s very self-assured.”

King Sejong, who understood the hidden meaning of the envoy’s words, immediately received them.

“In that case, I will make it and send it right away for Your Majesty the Emperor. Crown Prince.”

Hyang, who was listening to Sejong next to him, responded right away.

“yes. “We will gather the best craftsmen and do our best to make it with the highest quality.”

The envoy of Myeongguk smiled brightly and liked what Sejong and Hyang said.

“Thank you! “Your Majesty will really like it!”

“Isn’t it right to do our best for the sake of peace between our country and Joseon?”

Sejong said it with a smile, but it was a scent that made you feel like there was some bone in it.

And there were no ministers who opposed this agenda.

King Sejong and the local ministers all had the same idea.

‘The Emperor of Tang Jin is the best opponent! We must avoid as much as possible the possibility of a strange person dying early and becoming emperor for no reason!’

The ‘Ganja Incident’, which was known only to ministers and a very small number of working-level officials and was buried, never occurred again.

“why?”

A fierce exchange of opinions ensued as to why it would not recur, and the conclusions reached by King Sejong and his ministers were as follows.

-It is certain that this did not happen according to the orders of the emperor, but was carried out arbitrarily under him. And it is certain that the emperor, knowing this, blocked it.

Of course, it was a conclusion that had a very high probability of not being true. But that wasn’t all, Emperor Seondeok was a very good opponent for Joseon. If something goes, something comes, and there was no forcing.

‘The current emperor is not the emperor of Ming, but the emperor of Joseon. ‘ ‘The current emperor is the emperor of Goryeo.’ It was Emperor Seondeok who tried to maintain good relations with Joseon, to the extent that rumors circulated.

Therefore, Joseon was earnestly hoping that Emperor Seondeok would remain in office for a long time.

And whether it was the origin or the butterfly effect, the Seondeokje system was changing little by little.

‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is doing his best to prevent his father, the King, from gaining weight!’

Emperor Seondeok, who heard the rumor, called the royal doctor and asked a question.

“Is gaining weight bad for your health?”

Looking at the appearance of Emperor Seondeok, who was quite obese, although not as obese as his father Honghui Emperor, the royal doctor chose his words carefully and answered.

“It is best to maintain integrity in all things.”

Emperor Seondeok whetted his appetite at Eui’s answer.

“You’re telling me to lose weight.”

Thanks to this, Emperor Seondeok was very happy when the rumored exercise equipment arrived from Joseon.

“The only person who truly cares about me is the King of Joseon!”

* * *

Although the fragrance was doing its best for Sejong’s health, on the other hand, it was also creating bad things.

“I was hungry for cola! And the best way to make money is by selling water!”

What the flavor was trying to create was a carbonated beverage.

As a large amount of Chojeong mineral water was steadily supplied using a tow truck, Hyang ran to Sejong.

“What’s going on?”

“For the time being, I would like to ask you to give us just one can of mineral water supplied.”

“Medicine water? why?”

“There is something I want to make.”

Sejong narrowed his eyes at Hyang’s answer and asked.

“What can I do to make mineral water? “Are you trying to create something strange again?”

“no!”

Sejong was still full of disbelief, but he soon made a decision.

“I allow you to come. instead! “Don’t make anything dangerous!”

“yes!”

* * *

Hyang, who had obtained permission from King Sejong and moved the bottle of medicinal water to Area 51, immediately gave an order.

“Go to the bingo right away and bring back some of the fruit juices we have in storage.”

“yes!”

“And tell Pietro and Raphael to bring those vials I mentioned before!”

“yes!”

“And I told Director Jang Yeong-sil to bring the machine I mentioned before!”

“Yes sir!”

“And the container out there is too big, so move it into a smaller container and bring it back in!”

“Yes sir!”

“ah! “I told the new chief inspector and old man Jeong In-ji to come too!”

“Yes sir!”

The officers and staff were busy moving around in response to the orders of incense pouring down like a shower.

A little while later, Pietro and Raphael Jang Yeong-sil came in carrying glass bottles and a mechanical device with a lever.

Afterwards, the eunuchs came in with various kinds of fruit syrup.

Finally, a small container containing carbonated water was brought in, and Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji arrived.

When preparations were completed, Hyang looked at the people and opened his mouth.

“Then let’s get started.”

* * *

Through the tasting process, the appropriate mixing ratio of carbonated mineral water and water was determined.

“I didn’t know that carbonated water at this time would be so hot.”

Hyang muttered while looking at the concentrated liquid of Chojeong mineral water. The rumor heard in the 21st century – that the carbonation of Chojeong mineral water has become weaker – seems to have been true. The Chojeong mineral water of the 15th century was so spicy that it brought tears to my eyes.

As a result, people had to drink the drink tirelessly to find a dilution ratio that would provide only a pleasant refreshing feeling.

After finding the mixing ratio of fruit juice, carbonated water, and plain water, Hyang put it in a pre-made glass bottle and sealed it with a bottle cap.

Of course, the ring-shaped sealing rubber that goes inside the iron bottle cap to prevent carbonation from leaking was not available. So I used thick paper as a substitute.

After several experiments produced properly sealed beverage bottles, Hyang took them and visited Sejong.

“Is that the sweet water rumored to be?”

“yes.”

“Let’s try some.”

“yes.”

Hyang responded confidently and took out a bottle opener from his sleeve. Sejong’s eyes lit up when he saw the bottle opener.

“What is that? “It’s like having a hole in a rice spoon.”

“This is to remove the cap covering the spout of this bottle.”

Bong!

As soon as he answered, Hyang took the cap off the bottle. When the bottle cap was opened with a cheerful noise, Hyang held the bottle out to the merchant ship.

King Sejong received the bottle from a merchant ship and immediately brought it to his mouth.

“Kya!”

Sejong let out an exclamation without realizing it and looked back at the scent.

“What a delicious drink!”

“We will mass produce this. “Please give me some of the royal finances.”

“huh?”

Sejong, who paused for a moment at Hyang’s words, soon nodded.

“I see, in order to use the country’s finances more soundly, the royal family should become as self-reliant as possible.”

In this way, the ‘Royal Joseon Beverage Company’, known as the ‘inexhaustible fountain of the Joseon royal family,’ was born. It was the birth of a super-large beverage company that did not let up until the end even as many royal businesses were privatized.

The carbonated drink, named ‘Frothy Sweet Water’, soon received enthusiastic love from the Joseon people.

“hey! Let’s have a glass of mulberry water!”

“That’s good!”

Instead of that long name, the people called him by the nickname ‘Bongsu’.

It was because of the light noise made when the cap was removed.

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