“First, I’ll guide you to where the iron horses are manufactured.”
At Jang On’s words, Hyang shook his head.
“Let’s go to the ironworks first. All iron horses, rails, and other implements need quality iron materials, so it’s appropriate to see the ironworks first.”
Jinpyeong, sitting beside Hyang, also nodded at his words. Seeing their reaction, Jang On immediately grabbed the communication device attached to his side and changed the destination.
“Move to the ironworks.”
-Yes, we’ll go to the ironworks first.
Soon after, the towing vehicle pulling the imperial carriage changed direction.
Inside the carriage heading toward the ironworks, Hyang muttered inwardly.
According to the report I received two years ago, they were researching a new ironmaking method under Jang Yeong-sil’s leadership. And the report I received just before coming here said they were preparing for mass production using this new method.
If that’s true, we should immediately apply it to the homeland as well. But Jang Yeong-sil working on ironmaking methods… I wonder if it’s properly developed?
With a face mixing expectation and concern, Hyang looked out the window.
***
Before long, the imperial carriage arrived at the ironworks.
Stepping out of the carriage, Hyang exclaimed in admiration at the enormous ironworks facility spread before his eyes.
“This is truly massive!”
At Hyang’s admiration, Jang On replied with a face full of pride.
“I can confidently say it’s no less in size compared to the ironworks in the homeland!”
“Indeed it is… Let’s go inside.”
“I’ll guide you! Please come this way!”
Following Jang On’s guidance into the ironworks, Hyang couldn’t stop his admiration.
“This is the blast furnace facility.”
“It’s enormous!”
Four-story-high iron structures were interwoven in all directions, and many natives and artisans from the homeland were working among them.
“To be honest, it gives the strong impression of being more refined than the ironworks in the homeland.”
“That’s because we built it with the problems encountered there in mind from the beginning.”
“Is that so?”
Hyang nodded at Jang On’s answer.
The ironworks in the homeland were closer to being based on traditional ironmaking methods, enlarged and gradually modified to be suitable for mass production.
They had replaced stone and earth furnaces with large blast furnaces using cement, iron, and firebrick, and used steam-powered blowers instead of bellows.
Even with just these changes, the amount of steel produced by two ironworks exceeded the total steel production of the entire Ming. Moreover, the quality was superior.
But the blast furnaces and production facilities here looked almost identical to 19th-century ironworks that Hyang had seen in documentaries and other historical books.
If not just the facility design and layout but also the production method and output are similar, this is a revolution!
With growing expectations, Hyang immediately asked Jang On:
“Do you also melt it twice here?”
The steelmaking method Hyang had chosen through a demonstration involved reducing the carbon content by first melting the iron, cooling it, and then melting it again.
This process allowed for the mass production of high-quality steel, but the increased coal consumption had to be accepted.
At Hyang’s question, Jang On smiled brightly and answered.
“We melt it only once!”
“Is that possible with just one melting?”
“It’s possible using the converter!”
“Converter? Let me see!”
“This way!”
At the place Jang On guided them to, a massive vessel resembling a giant teapot was moving.
The vessel, which collected molten iron from the blast furnace’s outlet through its spout, raised its spout upward and was pulled by a towing vehicle to a new location.
The new location was surrounded on three sides by rounded dome-shaped fireproof walls.
Once the vessel was in position, a large air pipe was connected. After some time, through the raised spout, large flames and droplets of molten iron spurted out like erupting lava.
Seeing this, Hyang inwardly shouted.
I know, I know! I’ve seen this on the internet!
This is a Bessemer converter!
Whether aware of Hyang’s thoughts or not, Jang On excitedly explained.
“…by blowing hot air in like that for a certain period, we can easily obtain steel of the desired quality.”
“So you adjust the time of air injection?”
At Hyang’s question, Jang On replied with a surprised face.
“That’s correct! To understand the principle just by seeing it once—as expected of Your Majesty!”
“You flatter me. What about the annual production?”
“It approaches the annual production of the No. 1 Ironworks in the homeland.”
“Is that so?”
Hmm? That’s lower than expected.
Seeing Hyang’s disappointed expression, Jang On quickly added.
“Currently, only about 1/3 of the entire area is operating properly.”
“What? So with just 1/3 operating, you’re producing the annual output of the No. 1 Ironworks?”
“That’s correct.”
“Why is only 1/3 operating?”
“Most of the remaining areas are still under construction, and we’re also severely short of manpower.”
“Then are all those many buildings I saw from outside just shells?”
“They have only roofs and pillars at present.”
At Jang On’s words, Hyang slightly furrowed his brow.
“Wasn’t it too hasty to build roofs and pillars when they weren’t needed yet? Maintaining them must cost a considerable amount?”
“Of course, that’s true. But by securing the locations in advance, we can immediately know the positions convenient for transporting people and materials…”
Hyang stroked his chin and muttered inwardly.
So they ran a 1:1 scale simulation…
Seeing Hyang’s deeply furrowed brow, Jang On hurriedly played his evasion card.
“It was proposed by the former director and approved by the Venerable Emperor. However, if you command it, we will dismantle them immediately.”
At Jang On’s words, Hyang waved his hand.
“It must have been necessary for the Venerable Emperor to approve it. And dismantling them would also cost money, so just maintain them well.”
“I receive your command!”
“Then let’s see what’s next.”
“Yes! Then I’ll show you the process of making tracks laid on railways!”
“Your Majesty! Let’s go quickly!”
No sooner had Jang On spoken than Jinpyeong’s eyes sparkled as he urged Hyang. Seeing Jinpyeong like this, Hyang sighed slightly and replied.
“Sigh~ Alright, let’s go.”
“I’ll prepare the imperial carriage!”
“Is it a distance that requires the imperial carriage?”
“Yes, it is.”
At Jang On’s answer, Hyang grumbled quietly.
“This damned piece of land…”
***
After seeing the manufacturing process at the track-making factory, Hyang shook his head lightly and offered his impression.
“Indeed, it’s possible because the land is so vast.”
Along the endlessly long factory, elongated pillar-shaped steel pieces were going through the rolling process to become tracks.
When rail tracks were first made in the homeland, they used casting. However, this made it difficult to achieve uniform quality and posed problems for mass production.
As a result, Hyang, starting with Jang Yeong-sil, worked together with the artisans of Area 51 to research rolling methods.
With the smooth supply of steel and the advent of steam engines, the development and introduction of the rolling process went smoothly.
If there was just one problem, it was the lack of space.
Area 51 was already almost full, and the same was true for the surrounding areas.
Spaces suitable for factories were already occupied by residential areas and fields.
Of course, the nationalization of land had been completed due to the “all land belongs to the king” concept. But even so, it was problematic to unconditionally evict residents.
As a result, Hyang and the officials had no choice but to acquire just enough land around Area 51 and the ironworks to build track-making factories without causing discontent.
Consequently, the tracks laid in the homeland were never longer than 8 jang (about 24m).
***
The factory form Hyang was now seeing was a typical one that sacrificed space for production efficiency.
“What is the length?”
“From end to end, about 400 jang (about 1.2km).”
“Including the heating furnace and warehouse?”
“If you include the yard, it’s about 10 li (about 4km).”
“10 li…”
At Jang On’s answer, not only Hyang but even the normally composed Jinpyeong gaped in amazement.
But soon regaining his composure, Hyang nodded with an understanding expression.
“Thanks to this, you can greatly reduce the time and resources that go into the production process.”
“That’s correct!”
Jang On nodded with a satisfied face.
The process of making tracks in the factory Jang On showed was as follows:
Once steel from the yard entered the heating furnace via crane, it never moved to another location until the final product was completed. Placed on long roller tables, all processes started and ended on a single line.
Simply put, it was a production method that would be difficult to even conceive without endlessly vast land.
This is the epitome of scientific design, focused solely on production efficiency.
Whether aware of Hyang’s thoughts or not, Jang On excitedly continued his explanation.
“We’re not just producing 8-jang short tracks used in mountainous or curved areas, but mostly producing 20-jang (about 60m) standard tracks.”
At Jang On’s words, Jinpyeong immediately interjected.
“In the homeland, 8 jang is the standard, but here that’s considered short?”
“That’s right. Most of the land is flat and straight, so longer tracks are advantageous.”
To that, Hyang raised an objection.
“There’s a problem with tracks expanding in summer, so we limit the length and space out the joints. Is it really okay for them to be so long?”
“We’ve found the optimal joint spacing through experiments and measurements for that issue. And we continue to research the steel material. So our ultimate goal is to produce 100-jang (about 300m) extra-long tracks.”
“100 jang! You must succeed!”
While Jinpyeong was earnestly pleading with Jang On, holding his hand, Hyang examined the factory once more.
This factory size… so they were aiming for long welded rails…
Looking at the absurdly long factory with a dumbfounded expression, Hyang asked Jang On.
“Was this factory also designed by the former director?”
“Yes! And the Venerable Emperor approved it!”
At Jang On’s answer, Hyang placed his hand on his forehead.
These gentlemen!
In the report Sejong had sent from the New Frontier, it had only said:
-Track production factory construction. -Ironworks under construction. -Details omitted due to space constraints.
Shaking his head back and forth, Hyang looked at Jang On.
“This was only possible in the New Frontier.”
Hyang’s words carried multiple meanings.
- -When conducting large-scale construction and civil engineering projects, the most concerning thing is the budget.
- -And where this budget is most spent is on materials and wages.
- -However, in the case of the New Frontier, building materials including timber were abundant everywhere. Compared to the homeland, the cost of obtaining and transporting materials was negligible.
- -They had also found quality iron and coal mines, and could greatly reduce transportation costs using waterways through the Great Lakes. -And by employing natives of the New Frontier as workers, they could greatly reduce labor costs. Of course, as time passed, they would have to pay these skilled workers wages without discrimination compared to those from the homeland, but that’s not the case now in the early stages.
- -Most importantly, it’s difficult for officials from the homeland—especially from the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Office—to come and scrutinize in detail. In other words, within the given budget range, crazy feats like what is now seen are entirely possible!