Starting with the Prime Minister, and continuing through the Ministers and Vice Ministers, the highest echelons of the Imperial administration were once again thoroughly shaken up by Woo.
“Tsk! Look at this, you lords! If you have eyes, look!”
As Woo fluttered documents packed with various points of criticism written in red and blue ink and scolded them, the ministers gathered in the grand hall could only prostrate themselves flat on the floor and bow their heads.
“W-We apologize!”
“Your subjects were incompetent…”
While repeatedly muttering words seeking forgiveness, the ministers screamed internally.
- Why did the Grand Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor Emeritus handle things so meticulously!
- My knees, oh my knees! Kneeling like this at my age!
- How many times have we been hit by the Grand Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor Emeritus now!
- Why, just why!
The ministers screamed inside. They had taken a beating during the last inspection, and now they were taking another one. The bigger problem was that it was impossible to make any excuses. Those suffering humiliation in the grand hall were all experts boasting brilliant careers and achievements in their own right. However, Hyang and Wan were people playing above their heads. Eventually, the ministers could only continue bowing their heads to Woo and screaming internally.
“They say such things didn’t happen when Lord Hwang Hui or Lord Kim Jong-seo were around, so what on earth are you lords doing!”
“W-We apologize!”
“Your subjects were incompetent…”
- No! How can you bring up legends! That’s foul play!
As Hyeon’s reign began, an implicit rule came into being.
- No matter how messy things are, let’s avoid mentioning Hwang Hui or Kim Jong-seo ‘if possible’.
To the ministers currently running the Empire, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo were like the ‘perfect son of a friend’s mother’.
Ironically, that was why they couldn’t mention them recklessly.
- I can’t do this anymore!
If they wrote a resignation letter saying this, the one with the headache would be the Emperor. Of course, the reverse case could also exist.
“The late King…”
Ministers could subtly pressure the King by bringing up the late King like this. However, this method became unusable starting from Sejong’s era. When Sejong ascended the throne, Taejong was watching with eyes wide open, and it was the same even after declaring the Empire. When Hyang was Emperor, Sejong was alive; afterward, starting with Hyang, they were all alive and holding out. If one recklessly mentioned the ‘Emperor Emeritus’ or ‘Grand Emperor Emeritus,’ the person in question would appear immediately.
“Did you look for me?”
“I did that? I don’t remember?”
If this happened, the ones in a difficult spot would be the ministers. Funny enough, that was why even the Emperor stopped recklessly mentioning famous ministers of previous generations like Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo. There were plenty of other cards to play, and as mentioned before, pushing too hard might lead to resignation letters, which would be even more troublesome.
***
While the Street of Six Ministries in Jongno was facing a catastrophe and spending a time of hardship, the craftsmen of Area 51 were also facing a catastrophe.
- Notification of Development of Flying Machine for New Flying Machine Carrier.
- The flying machine to be used on the flying machine carrier must satisfy the following conditions:
- a) The width of the flying machine must not exceed 4 jang (approx. 12m) based on the wings.
- b) The length must not exceed 3.5 jang (approx. 10.5m).
- c) The height must not exceed 1 jang (approx. 3m).
- d) At least one ‘byeong’-type hwacha or a new hwacha must be fixed to the flying machine. Also, it must carry more than 500 rounds of ammunition used for this hwacha per gun.
- e) The flying machine must be capable of carrying at least one self-propelled rocket.
- f) The flying machine must be able to take off after running a distance shorter than 40 jang (approx. 120m) while fully loaded with all armaments and fuel.
- (Omitted)
Reading the official document packed with all sorts of preconditions, the young craftsmen rubbed their eyes repeatedly and examined the document meticulously several times.
“This is a dream…”
“At this level, shouldn’t we just upload it to the Challenge Records immediately?”
The craftsmen, striking all sorts of poses of despair, immediately sought out Leonardo da Vinci and Master Artisan Gong.
“Aren’t the conditions too harsh?”
Master Artisan Gong, who happened to be looking at the problematic document with Leonardo da Vinci, slightly frowned at the young craftsmen’s grumbling.
“Hmm… It’s a bit difficult, but I don’t think it’s to the extent of being too harsh?”
“It’s easy to say! Is a flying machine satisfying all these conditions even feasible? It’s impossible!”
At the young craftsmen’s protest, Master Artisan Gong shouted abruptly.
“These guys are making whining noises without even trying! Have you made flying machines only once or twice?”
“I’m asking if those conditions are feasible!”
“You brats! In my time! There wasn’t even the concept of a flying machine!”
Master Artisan Gong’s lecture, starting with ‘In my time…’, continued for nearly one sijin (approx. 2 hours).
“…So, before arguing whether it’s possible or not, think about how to make it possible first!”
“Y-Yes…”
Exhausted and battered by Master Artisan Gong’s long and stormy lecture, the young craftsmen answered weakly and trudged away.
“Tsk!”
Clicking his tongue while watching the young craftsmen, Master Artisan Gong complained to da Vinci.
“Young things these days have no spirit! How was it when you and I stepped up to make a flying machine? When everyone except the Grand Emperor Emeritus said it was impossible, didn’t we and our colleagues do it, forgetting the night?”
“We did, we did…”
“Things these days lack that spirit! Tsk!”
“Right, right…”
Da Vinci’s gaze, answering Master Artisan Gong’s complaints perfunctorily, was fixed on the document.
“Good grief! When a person is talking… Hm?”
Master Artisan Gong, about to get angry at da Vinci answering perfunctorily, saw da Vinci’s appearance, stopped talking, and leaned in close.
“Did you find some answer?”
“It seems so.”
“What is it?”
“A light but powerful power system.”
“Power system? Perhaps that thing being pondered these days? That’s the answer?”
“That is the answer.”
“Hmm…”
Pondering da Vinci’s answer for a moment, Master Artisan Gong soon nodded.
“Thinking about it, that seems to be it.”
***
At the same time, Hyang and Wan were having a conversation with similar content.
“Aren’t the conditions too harsh?”
“Do you think it is possible?”
“Then, what do you see as the proper way to solve first?”
“It is for a proper improved version of the new power system brought by the Emperor Emeritus to come out first.”
“Ah…”
At Hyang’s words, Wan soon nodded. However, Wan’s face did not relax easily.
“I am worried because the frame of the flying machine or other parts are not easy either.”
At Wan’s worry, Hyang answered with a bright face.
“Do not worry too much. How many years have we researched that flying machine? It is safe to say that things like the structure of the frame or the control method have already reached a masterful level. The problem was power.”
“That was true.”
Wan answered with a distant expression. It was thanks to remembering the long period of hardship that continued after being fascinated by flying machines during his Crown Prince days.
“However, considering the fixed armament and the loading capacity of the self-propelled rocket, the conditions seem too harsh.”
“If the conditions cannot be met, the answer will be one. The power system is too weak.”
“Is that so?”
At Hyang’s positive reaction which seemed excessive, Wan nodded but couldn’t hide his anxiety.
- I acknowledge that Father is extraordinary, but this is a bit unsettling?
However, Hyang also had his own conviction.
- After the Wright brothers first flew an airplane, it didn’t take even twenty years for dogfights to occur and bombers and torpedo bombers to appear! As I said earlier, the airframe structure and control method are already systematized! The only thing left is the engine!
As time passed, Hyang’s words were also conveyed to Area 51 and 52. Afterward, a maxim related to the development of all means of transport and combat weapons equipped with power systems was created.
- You say the desired mobility isn’t coming out? Increase the output of the power system!
- First, make the power system and match the rest to it.
- If the power system becomes powerful, the rest naturally becomes powerful!
And according to this maxim, the craftsmen of Area 51 and 52 concentrated their full power on the development of the improved power system devised by Wan.
- Let’s make a proper power system first, and worry about the rest later!
***
While the Empire was spending busy days experiencing this and that commotion, the European powers were also spending noisy and headache-inducing days. There were largely two issues rotting the headaches of the powers.
One was the ‘Road to Persia,’ and the other was the ‘Suez Canal.’ First, the road to Persia was the essence of ‘albakgi’ (a speculative real estate tactic of buying a small plot to block development). The places where Korkut and Ahmed, who lost in the Sultan succession war, settled were truly cunning. It was a position blocking the shortest land route connecting the capital Konstantiniyye and the biggest source of funds, Suez.
The land route to Persia was the same. To go to Persia from Suez, one had to cross a vast desert, and the route starting from Lebanon was prone to being robbed by bandits of unknown identity. What was unexpected was the reaction of the Sultan, Selim.
“It is true that they are a thorn in the eye, but power is still lacking, and the justification is weak.”
Selim continued to strengthen his naval power with this excuse. And as time passed, the European powers came to know Selim’s aim to some extent.
- Secure complete command of the sea in the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, then advance to Baku and Persia from the north!
If it went according to Selim’s plan, Selim would monopolize the land route to Persia. If that happened, the value of Korkut and Ahmed would disappear. Of course, one could use Korkut and Ahmed’s bases as bridgeheads to go to Persia. However, like other powers, they would suffer fatal damage from ‘bandits of unknown identity.’
In other words, if Selim’s plan succeeded, the Habsburgs and England would have to wash their hands of it, and Selim would deal with Korkut and Ahmad more comfortably. France, Italy, and Portugal, realizing Selim’s aim, gathered in one place to weigh their interests.
“It is not a bad plan.”
“I agree. If Selim succeeds, the Habsburgs’ position will shrink further.”
“England as well.”
“That’s not all. It is profitable because only we can sell the warships Selim wants.”
At the Italian representative’s words, the representatives of France and Portugal also nodded. Although there was a powerful competitor called the Empire, the Ottoman Empire was already accustomed to warships manufactured by France, Portugal, and Italy. Eventually, France, Italy, and Portugal agreed to support Selim’s aim.
However, not long after, rumors coming from Persia made them overturn their decision and worry again.
- Three countries of the East have preempted Persia!
“What does this mean!”
It was a rumor that terrified all European powers, including Portugal, France, and Italy, as well as the Habsburgs and England. Hearing the rumor, the powers hurriedly sent spies to Persia to confirm the truth.
And confirming the reports sent by the spies, the monarchs and politicians of the powers all wore expressions of dismay.
“We’ve been had.”