“Y-Your Majesty, h-have I done something wrong…?”
Seeing Hyang’s deeply contorted expression, Jang On asked with a frightened, stammering voice. At Jang On’s question, Hyang waved his hand and answered.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Y-Yes…”
Though he answered, Jang On kept cautiously observing Hyang’s expression. Regardless, Hyang carefully examined the new iron horse.
“Hmm? This cowcatcher is very small?”
At Hyang’s observation, Jang On hurriedly replied.
“W-well, the animals in the New Frontier are literally mountain-sized, so even with cowcatchers, the iron horse and passenger cars tend to derail.”
“Then shouldn’t you attach a larger cowcatcher?”
“There are limitations to cowcatchers, so we’re trying to apply another method.”
“Another method?”
“Please wait a moment!”
Jang On urgently gestured to the artisans standing behind him. Seeing Jang On’s gesture, the artisans brought a large paper scroll and a table.
The artisans placed the table in front of Hyang and unrolled the scroll on it.
Looking at the drawing on the scroll, Hyang looked at Jang On.
“Are you proposing to build a bridge over a plain, not a valley or river?”
“That’s correct, Your Majesty. Observing the movements of deer herds and bison herds, we found they follow certain routes. Since problems occur when the railway crosses these routes, we want to build a bridge that passes over the routes used by bison and deer herds.”
“Hmm…”
Hyang made a nasal sound as he examined the drawing again. The piers in question formed a gentle arch.
“The arch is gentle, and considering the gap between the iron horse and passenger cars, you’d need to build a bridge of enormous size.”
“Since land is abundant in the New Frontier, size shouldn’t be a problem.”
Hearing Jang On’s answer, Hyang asked Jinpyeong, who was staring intently at the drawing beside him.
“What do you think?”
At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong immediately replied.
“It seems feasible. The issue would be the budget.”
As soon as the word “budget” was mentioned, Hyang frowned. This was because he imagined Sejong’s face with a mischievous smile directed at him.
I definitely feel like I’ve fallen into a trap card…
While grumbling inwardly like this, Hyang had no choice but to nod at Jinpyeong’s words.
“Then let’s look into it positively.”
Having settled the matter thus, Hyang turned to Jang On.
“Since the topic of budget came up, how much does it cost to build that new iron horse?”
At Hyang’s question, Jang On responded hesitantly.
“It costs quite a lot.”
“Of course it would cost a lot. How much compared to the existing iron horses?”
“With the cost of making three existing iron horses, we can make one of these. However, once the ironworks start operating properly, we can reduce the cost further.”
“Enough. Jinpyeong… Let’s focus on laying the tracks first, and keep using the existing iron horses.”
“Your Majesty!”
Jinpyeong looked at Hyang pitifully, tears welling in his eyes. But Hyang was firm.
“The budget is the issue. The priority is to concentrate the budget on the tracks first. Isn’t that right?”
At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong replied with a gloomy voice.
“That is true.”
Hyang’s words were sound reasoning. No matter how fast and powerful an iron horse might be, it would be useless without tracks. With proper tracks laid, even the existing iron horses could be used effectively.
Having settled on this approach, Hyang turned to Jang On.
“Then let’s examine the next development and research buildings.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
***
Area 52 was a city. And everything within it was deeply imbued with Jang Yeong-sil’s flavor. This struck Hyang’s interests perfectly.
“This is where we research and develop aircraft and flying devices.”
“Wow…”
Hyang examined the building with his mouth agape.
This could easily fit three or four 747s!
In that enormous space, there were not only things similar to what Hyang had made in Seoul but also what appeared to be improved versions scattered everywhere.
The real spectacle was outside the building.
As soon as they exited the building, a huge lake filled their view, and in front of it stood what was clearly an artificially constructed high hill and a U-shaped launch ramp.
“So the aircraft coming down from the top of that hill take off through that launch ramp?”
“That’s correct!”
Jang On replied with a surprised face.
To understand it immediately upon seeing it! As expected of the Emperor Emeritus!
Jang On’s surprise continued.
“Hmm… I see it’s built facing the lake to prepare for crashes?”
“That’s correct!”
“How are people deployed to prepare for crashes?”
“Whenever flight experiments are conducted, we put people skilled in swimming on boats on the lake.”
“Pay more attention to safety.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
As Hyang was examining the external facilities, he stopped in his tracks upon seeing a tall tower rising on one side.
Could that be…
As if perceiving Hyang’s thoughts, Jang On immediately began explaining.
“We’re researching a device that allows soldiers on board to safely escape when aircraft crash. The Venerable Emperor called it a ‘parachute,’ saying its shape resembles a scoop.”
“I’d like to see the actual item!”
“Yes!”
Following Hyang’s order, a demonstration of the parachute was arranged.
“Drop! Drop! Drop!”
After three warnings, a heavy sack fell from the tower, about 20 jang (about 60m) high.
Flap!
As the white cloth attached to the sack unfolded, the sack wobbled left and right, falling to the ground at a speed that was definitely slower than its initial speed.
“Not bad. Have you not yet experimented with actual people?”
“We’re preparing, but no one is stepping forward…”
Jang On trailed off, but Hyang nodded.
“I understand. Life is precious. Don’t neglect research until it becomes safe enough for people to trust.”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s move on. Where to next?”
“The shipyard!”
“Shipyard?”
***
“You’ve built a proper shipyard…”
Seeing the dry dock of the shipyard before him and the Challenger-class warships floating at the dock, Hyang’s expression became completely resigned.
These people, what on earth are they doing in the New Frontier…
Having completely given up, Hyang turned to Jang On.
“Were there any difficulties when building the Challenger-class warships?”
“None at all. The most important material, timber, is abundant everywhere.”
“But why build them?”
“To train the natives.”
“Hmm… So you send them from here to the east coast?”
“No. There is a river connecting the Great Lakes to the East Sea, but there’s a section in the middle where it flows rapidly downhill, so we can’t do that.”
“I see…”
He’s talking about the St. Lawrence River. To properly utilize that river, we’d need to dig a canal. I should draw up a plan.
While internally formulating his own plans, Jang On cautiously spoke.
“However…”
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes, the navy is having difficulties with an order from the Venerable Emperor.”
At Jang On’s words, Hyang’s face became seriously stiff.
“Tell me in detail.”
According to Jang On’s explanation, the problem began with oak trees harvested in the eastern region of the New Frontier.
The wood quality of these harvested oaks was much denser and harder than those from the homeland.
And Challenger-class warships made with this timber gained greater defensive strength—approximately 40% more—than those from the homeland.
Upon receiving this report, Sejong immediately issued an order.
- Reduce the thickness of the timber used in the outer walls of the hull by 30%.
“The navy is having difficulties because of this order.”
“Does reducing it by 30% cause problems with defensive strength?”
“It was found to have almost identical defensive strength to warships from the homeland.”
At Jang On’s answer, Hyang made a decision on the spot.
“Is that so? Then have them proceed according to the Venerable Emperor’s order. I’ll talk to the navy.”
“Yes.”
After making that important decision, Hyang continued touring the shipyard.
At the research facility attached to the shipyard, Hyang was hit with the final blow prepared by Sejong and Jang Yeong-sil.
***
“What is this?”
“It’s a new engine to be mounted on warships.”
“Does it use a turbine propeller?”
“That’s correct.”
“Wow…”
Hyang, looking at the engine before him, once again had a dejected, or rather, a completely resigned expression.
A turbine propeller! These people, did they capture aliens from somewhere?
Watching Hyang’s expression, Jang On continued his explanation.
“It works by injecting steam from the heating furnace into the turbine propeller to turn the shaft attached to the propeller.”
“It doesn’t seem to be completed yet?”
At Hyang’s observation, Jang On bowed his head and replied.
“I apologize, but with current technology, we cannot make the iron material needed to construct that propeller.”
“I understand. Continue focusing on research.”
“We will certainly do so!”
Having received encouragement instead of a reprimand, Jang On and the artisans were all moved and bowed their heads as they replied.
Giving them a slight nod in response, Hyang muttered inwardly.
Of course it should be impossible. If they had succeeded with this too, I would have been out looking for aliens.
***
After consuming almost three days, Hyang was finally able to complete his inspection of Area 52.
Resting at the Area 52 guesthouse, Hyang muttered while looking at the Area 52 buildings visible through the window.
“The entire Area 52 is Jang Yeong-sil’s legacy…”
And it’s a trap card.
As mentioned earlier, the entire Area 52 struck Hyang’s interests directly.
However, two-thirds of the whole was still just marked out land.
And here, Hyang could understand Sejong’s intentions.
- Don’t waste time making useless things; focus on what I’ve already prepared!
- You saw what I’ve prepared, right? It’s exactly to your taste, isn’t it? So you should work hard, shouldn’t you?
“Sigh~”
Letting out a small sigh, Hyang grumbled while looking at the pile of documents on a desk.
“Wrestling with the budget comes before indulging in hobbies. And…”
Hyang continued, gazing at the distant western sky.
“The more you try to stop me, the more I want to indulge in my hobbies.”
***
Upon returning from his inspection of Area 52, Hyang immediately summoned Shin In-son, the Commander-in-Chief of the New Frontier Navy.
“You called for me, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. I heard you’re having difficulties with the Challenger-class warships being built in the New Frontier.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve ordered that you proceed according to the Venerable Emperor’s instructions.”
“B-but that could cause problems with defensive strength.”
“According to the experiments by the artisans of Area 52, there’s no problem. So, don’t worry.”
“And there’s a reason we need to expand the space.”
“I’ve been informed that the current cargo capacity is sufficient for defending the eastern coast.”
“To move south, we need to carry more supplies. And…”
Pausing briefly, Hyang moistened his throat lightly and continued.
“We need to move east before Europe moves west. I plan to plant at least one dagger at their throats.”