Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 420 Cargo Culture (3)

Despite the commotion, construction progressed steadily and smoothly, and Dongbing Port was finally connected to the land route.

The railway, which was connected to Nokdundo Island downstream of the Duman River as a stepping stone, continued along the coastline to Dongbing Port.

The original plan was to use the route crossing the Duman River near Hanyepyeong-ri or the route crossing from Josan-ri as the main candidate site. However, the head of government insisted on planning a route via Nokdundo Island.

“Then you have to take a lot of detours.”

Jinpyeong came forward as a representative of the opposition and pointed out the inconvenience caused by the detour, but Hyang did not back down.

“Of course there must be a detour, but the lines proposed now must pass through uncultivated woodlands. “Some problems arise here.”

The township pointed out problems with the existing plan.

-The first problem is that we do not know the terrain within the woodland well. If done incorrectly, there is a possibility of additional construction costs.

-The second problem is that of the Jurchen people who settled in the forest area. If we do not properly placate them, unnecessary war spending may continue.

“…especially!”

Hyang, who pointed out the second problem, glared at Jinpyeong and continued.

“There are people who call for unconditional subjugation of the Jurchen people, but I don’t think this is right. Do you think it will be successful if those who know nothing about the virgin forest set out to subjugate those who have set up in the primeval forest and know it better than anyone else?”

Jinpyeong had to keep his mouth shut due to Hyang’s reprimand.

Jinpyeong, who saw Hyang suppressing the rebels in the Beomgwol Incident in the year of Giyu, was unable to show strength to Hyang regarding military force since then.

Hyang covered Jinpyeong’s mouth and continued speaking.

-Thirdly, once Dongbing Port is connected to the railway, large quantities of goods such as wood and various medicinal herbs cut from forests near Dongbing Port must be transported. In particular, wood is the most important, and to ensure a stable supply, a warehouse is needed to store surplus.

-The fourth route connecting to Dongbing Port is the longest among the routes being built in Joseon. Therefore, it is necessary to build facilities that can maintain iron horses and passenger wagons.

“…Therefore, considering the above conditions, I think that passing through Nokdundo is the optimal route.”

The township’s plan was to build a yard, maintenance facilities, and various logistics warehouses on Nokdundo Island.

Ultimately, the decision on this route was made by King Sejong. After listening to both sides’ opinions, King Sejong gave Hyang’s hand after much deliberation.

In this way, the construction of the Northeast Line began, with Nokdundo Island as an intermediate stopover.

* * *

The Northeast Line, which was built with such a backstory, added great impetus to the development of Joseon as soon as it was completed.

The people and cargo gathered in Wonsan and Gilju took this route and headed to Dongbing Port.

Many workers and their families headed to Dongbing Port using the railway, which was less affected by weather than the sea route. The workers who arrived at Dongbing Port soon found employment in shipyards and nearby lumber yards.

With the rumor that there was big money to be made in Dongbing Port, more and more people took the train to Dongbing Port to find jobs and markets.

In this way, Dongbing Port gradually began to develop into a large urban area, moving away from being a settlement with a small military port and shipyard.

As soon as it was completed, the Northeast Line became one of the busiest routes in Joseon.

Trains carrying naval forces to be deployed to the newly launched front lines, workers looking for work, merchants looking for new markets, and large and small steam engines and mechanical parts needed for shipyards and lumber yards depart from Nokdundo Island three times a day to Dongbing Port. headed.

On the contrary, trains carrying lumber cut and processed at Dongbing Port, medicinal furs collected nearby, and all kinds of reports and people also headed to Nokdundo three times a day.

As a result, Nokdundo Island, following Dongbing Port, began to develop into a larger city.

* * *

The Ministry of Finance and Economy, seeing this example of recklessness, quickly acted.

‘It is a waste to build a separate yard and logistics warehouse on this palm-sized piece of land in Joseon.’

Even in the early stages of railroad construction, the Ministry of Finance and Economy had this idea. This was because it was judged that, if necessary, railways could be replaced by mobilizing carts or ships.

However, as it was reaffirmed that large quantities of cargo could be moved regularly using rail, the Ministry of Finance and Economy soon changed its policy.

Large amounts of cargo were stored and managed through warehouses built adjacent to the yard installed along the main line and major branch lines.

Through this, the Ministry of Finance and Economy was able to manage prices more efficiently.

However, as everyone expected, those who benefited the most from the opening of the railroad were the military and merchants.

As large-scale troops and large quantities of weapons could be moved using railroads, the military was able to improve its power and operate more efficiently.

Merchants also had a wider range of activities. People from further afield could now taste special products that were only available to residents in the place of origin and nearby areas.

As a side note, among the branch lines, the one that was completed the fastest was the line from Cheongju, where Chojeong was located, to Hanseong.

Through this route, large quantities of carbonated water were supplied to Hanseong. A significant amount of the carbonated water supplied in this way was used at the palace for King Sejong’s health, but most of it was used to produce mulberry water.

With a stable supply of large quantities of carbonated water, mass production of mulberry water became possible, and thanks to this, mulberry water became popular not only in Joseon but also in distant countries.

To a certain extent, it became a drink as favored as wine by European royals and nobles, calling it ‘Ponso’.

After receiving the related report, Kim Jeom once again shouted ‘Jihwaja!’ and Hyang scratched his head and muttered.

“What is this… Choco Pie from Joseon?”

And others who received economic benefits were those living on Daeseol Island.

* * *

Joseon was in a situation where steel mills were getting bigger and the amount of coal used as fuel in ordinary homes was increasing. In addition, as the railroad became established, the demand for coal increased rapidly.

At this time, the coal from Daeseol Island was like a sweet rain during a drought.

– With just a little bit of handling, Daeseol Island’s coal becomes the best fuel that can be used in steel mills.

After receiving the report, King Sejong issued an order to supply coal mined from Daeseoldo to steel mills and divert coal mined from Gangwon-do and Aoji for other purposes.

Thanks to this, Joseon’s coal market was able to operate stably.

Meanwhile, as the main line was established and major branch lines were established one by one, railroads soon became part of Joseon’s daily life.

The sight of an iron horse emitting black smoke pulling a long string of carriages and freight cars was no longer a wonder.

But that wasn’t the case elsewhere.

* * *

April, 19th year of King Sejong’s reign (1437, Jeongsa Year).

“Your Majesty, we have received an urgent message from General Choi Yun-deok of Hamgil Island.”

On behalf of the ministers attending the meeting, Hwang Hui informed King Sejong that Jang Gye had arrived from Hamgil Island.

“On Hamgil Island?”

King Sejong’s expression became serious when he heard the words ‘Hamgildo’. It was because of the Jurchen tribe.

* * *

After suppressing the Yi Man-ju and Muntemu rebellions, the Jurchen people in the Yalu River region were keeping an eye on Joseon.

However, the Duman River region, to be precise, the Olcheokhap tribes further north than the area of the noble Ollyanghap tribes, were targets of attention.

Although Joseon was constantly making conciliations, it was either fighting between Ming and Joseon or going back and forth between both sides to plunder.

Fortunately, with the opening of the Northeast Railroad, the number of tribes approaching Joseon increased, but the noble family still refused.

* * *

Because he had such a background, King Sejong was nervous about the words ‘Hamgildo’ and ‘Urgent Janggye’.

King Sejong, who received the instructions through Tao Seung-ji and merchant ships, opened the scroll and read its contents.

“Hmm… Huh? huh? Yes? uh?”

King Sejong tilted his head while reading the precepts and read the precepts again and again. After confirming that he had not misread, King Sejong asked Hwang Hee.

“Are you sure it wasn’t a mistake?”

“This is a well-written account.”

Upon hearing Hwang Hee’s confirmation, King Sejong made an expression of bewilderment.

“It is truly good news that the Jurchen people who settled in the area connected to Dongbing Port and the northern forest area are returning to their homes in droves. But… you ask me to lay the ‘Dragon’s Path’… What on earth is this ‘Dragon’s Path’?”

Hwang Hee answered King Sejong’s question.

“I was curious about that too, so I asked General Choi Yun-deok, who is in charge of that area. According to the reply sent by General Choi Yun-deok, it is called ‘railway.’”

“Why is it so connected?”

Hwang Hee answered King Sejong’s question right away.

“Even the gods don’t know. Therefore, I have ordered you to submit a related report again.”

“Huh… suddenly the path of the dragon…”

King Sejong and the ministers could not understand what was written in the banquet.

Meanwhile, after hearing the story, Hyang shook her head and muttered.

“Surely cargo faith?”

* * *

To the Jurchen people who managed the railroad leading to Dongbing Port, the iron horse was an ‘incomprehensible’ piece of equipment.

“How does that thing move?”

“The Koreans say that it moves with the power of the steam produced by boiling water over fire?”

“Do you think that makes sense?”

While answering her colleague Yeo Jin-in’s question, Yeo Jin-in shook her head.

“at all.”

The Yeojin people who talked about the iron horse, the principles of which they could not understand with their own common sense, came up with unexpected results.

“That thing… Could it be that it has disguised itself as a dragon?”

“dragon?”

“look. Even with such a long body loaded with people and goods, it runs as fast as a horse. Did humans make it? “Even jokes are oily resin.”

“But that doesn’t mean he was transformed into a dragon…”

“Then what is it?”

“….”

“look. Coal is used to move that iron horse, but coal isn’t common, right? They keep giving away such precious things like that. Is that a normal piece? “It’s a precious thing.” As

he

was talking like that, a loud whistle sounded from an iron horse passing nearby.

At the sound of the iron horse’s whistle, Yeo Jin-in, who claims the ‘transformation theory’, added strength to her voice.

“listen! Have you ever seen an object or animal that makes that sound?”

“There is none….”

“That is definitely a dragon sound, a dragon sound.”

“Hmm….”

“When the sun goes down, those two beady eyes light up, and I’ve never seen such a bright light. But is that all made by humans? “He has taken the form of a dragon.”

The sun was almost setting when the last train on the Northeast Railroad arrived at Nokdundo or Dongbing Port. Therefore, the iron horse turned on the light, and the light was very bright.

This was not just a simple lamp, but a carbide lamp using carbide made from incense.

…

_

_ I was able to.

“It’s an intermediate process, but it can replace a lamp.”

Carbide, which produced a much brighter light than the lamps used up to that time, soon replaced lamps and became a useful lighting device.

And the officials sighed again.

“I tried to leave work early with the excuse that the lights were dark… Damn it!”

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