As Lim Sunwook’s eyes sparkled with keen interest, Hyang continued.
“This substance called chicle is the sap of a specific tree that grows in the Mexica region of New Frontier. When this sap hardens, it becomes waterproof.”
At Hyang’s words, Lim Sunwook’s expression fell slightly with disappointment as he replied.
“Pine resin also becomes waterproof when it hardens.”
“That is true…”
Hyang paused for a moment, then reached into the sleeve of his dragon robe and pulled out a small, white ball.
“My lord, catch.”
“Pardon? Yes?”
“I’m throwing it.”
As he spoke, Hyang threw the ball at Lim Sunwook. He didn’t just toss it; he threw it down at the floor.
Thump!
The ball bounced lightly off the floor and flew into the air. A startled Lim Sunwook hastily reached out, but the ball merely grazed his fingertips before falling back to the ground.
Thump, thump, skitter…
After bouncing a couple more times, the ball rolled across the floor and came to a stop. Lim Sunwook, who had been watching it with astonished eyes, looked back at Hyang. A faint smile played on Hyang’s lips as he spoke.
“It’s a ball made of chicle. What do you think?”
At Hyang’s question, Lim Sunwook picked up the ball, examined it from all angles, and replied.
“The texture is smooth, it has elasticity, and you said it has waterproofing properties. If it can be easily processed, it seems it could be profitable in many ways.”
“Indeed. I knew a man like you, Lord Lim Sunwook, would see its potential at once.”
Hyang looked at Hyeon with a confident expression.
“I have several things to show Your Majesty and the ministers. May I ask for some of your time?”
Hyeon nodded enthusiastically at Hyang’s request.
“Of course! Please show us right away.”
“Thank you. You there, attendant. Go to Suganggung Palace and have them bring all the boxes marked with the character for ‘Chi’.”
“As you command.”
An hour later, an attendant entered and reported to Hyeon.
“Your Majesty, the items the Emperor Emeritus requested have arrived in the front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall.”
“Is that so? Let us go out and have a look.”
At Hyeon’s command, the ministers filed out of the throne hall without a word.
***
In the front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall, several large and small wooden crates brought from Suganggung Palace were arranged on the ground.
Standing before them, Hyang faced Hyeon and the ministers and began to speak.
“These are various items made using chicle. They are not mere curiosities or items for amusement, but things that will benefit the people. Of course, they will also help the empire’s finances. First, open ‘Chi-1’.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At Hyang’s command, attendants used claw hammers to pull out the nails sealing the crate.
The first thing to be revealed was a wheel.
“These small ones are wheels suitable for rickshaws, and the large ones can be used on carts or gun carriages. Have a look.”
As Hyang stepped back, Lim Sunwook was the first to rush forward, followed closely by Jang Hangseon, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Defense, all gathering to inspect the wheels. The ministers examined them from every angle, pressing on them and giving them a light roll.
After a thorough inspection, Lim Sunwook looked up at Hyang and Hyeon with a radiant face.
“This is truly wonderful! Until now, the outer rim of wheels was made of wood or iron, and then covered with leather. Thanks to the empire’s people loving meat, there has been no problem sourcing leather, but the price has always been an issue.”
The other ministers nodded in agreement. It was well-known that the people of the empire loved and consumed a great deal of meat. This produced a lot of leather, but leather was a material with many uses. In particular, rickshaw and cart wheels required cowhide, as it was the toughest. But no matter how tough, it was bound to wear out, and cowhide was expensive.
For this reason, poor farming households and the military, which had to transport heavy items like cannons over long distances, would overlay the wheels with iron plates instead of cowhide. However, iron plates were not cheap either. They also made the wheels significantly heavier than leather-covered ones. To support the heavier rims, the spokes had to be made thicker, which in turn made the entire wheel heavier, creating a vicious cycle.
Finally, in the winter when the roads froze or during rain when paved roads became slick, accidents causing injury or death were frequent as the wheels would slip uncontrollably, even with large spikes hammered into them.
Lim Sunwook continued excitedly.
“For the Emperor Emeritus to be so confident, it must mean this sap can be easily obtained in the Mexica region. If so, the price will be low, which will be a great help to the people. And, I see the outer surface of the rim is engraved with a bumpy texture, which will prevent slipping on rainy or icy roads, thus reducing unfortunate accidents.”
“You have a keen eye.”
Hyang smiled and nodded at Lim Sunwook’s words.
Following Lim Sunwook, Jang Hangseon spoke up.
“Examining these cart wheels, they seem excellent for military use as well. Adding iron plates creates problems with weight and noise, but it also necessitates more horses or draft vehicles to pull the carts and cannons, which in turn requires more hay, feed, coal, and fresh water. If we can make good use of these wheels, it will be a great help in solving those problems.”
“I concur.”
With even Jang Hangseon giving a favorable review, Hyang nodded with a look of pure confidence.
If those two have said that much, it’s a done deal!
Hyang proceeded to explain the wheels in more detail. The ministers, and even Hyeon, let out gasps of admiration, especially at the method of inserting a tube to reduce weight while strengthening the load-bearing capacity and improving the ride quality.
“Then, I think it would be best for New Frontier to produce and supply these chicle-based wheels. What are your thoughts, my lords?”
None of the ministers stepped forward to oppose Hyeon’s words. Han Myeonghoe stepped forward to represent them.
“If New Frontier can become self-reliant, the burden on the homeland, the Northern Territories, and the other domains of the empire will be greatly reduced. I am only slightly concerned whether these wheels alone will be enough to make that possible, but they seem to be a fine cornerstone.”
“My thoughts are the same. However…”
Hyeon paused, his gaze falling upon the other, still-sealed crates.
“I have a feeling that may change depending on what is inside those other boxes.”
“Ah!”
The ministers gasped in unison at Hyeon’s remark. Savoring their curious expressions, Hyang ordered an attendant.
“Open the ‘Chi-2’ box.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The side lid of a long, oblong box was opened, and out came a bicycle, or to be precise, a nostalgic “rice shop utility bicycle.”
“When you push the pedals on the large gear in the front with your feet, these chains transfer that power to the small gear on the back wheel. That force turns the wheel and moves it forward.”
After a brief explanation of the principle, Hyang hitched up the lower part of his dragon robe. The moment he did, all the ministers gasped in horror.
“Good heavens, Your Majesty!”
The word ‘Your Majesty’ slipped out reflexively, despite Hyeon being present. It was that shocking of a sight, but Hyang paid it no mind.
“Don’t worry about it.”
With a nonchalant expression, Hyang mounted the bicycle and pressed down on the pedals.
After making a wide lap around the spacious front courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang returned and looked at the ministers and Hyeon.
“What do you think?”
The first to recover his senses at Hyang’s question was Lim Sunwook.
“Can only one person ride it?”
“It is safest for only one person to ride it. However, it can carry more cargo.”
“How much weight can it carry?”
“Excluding the rider, it can handle up to one sack of rice (about 80kg). Of course, you can force it to carry more, but it will break down before long if you do.”
Lim Sunwook responded at once.
“Did you perhaps intend for that to happen?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
All the ministers nodded at Hyang’s short reply.
Of course! We know what kind of man he is!
Usually, items made of iron boasted a long lifespan. For that device to be able to carry a full sack of rice meant it must be extraordinarily sturdy. The common sense of the empire’s people was thus: ‘Made of iron = sturdy = can be used for a very long time.’ Therefore, Hyang had deliberately set a limit. It was a trick that would later gain infamy as the ‘Hyang Timer’ or the ‘Empire Timer’.
As if sensing Hyang’s thoughts, Lim Sunwook came up with an excellent excuse.
“It will last a long time if properly maintained, but if the user fails to follow the preliminary instructions and it breaks due to their own negligence, there will be no cause for complaint.”
“Exactly! So, what do you think?”
“I am not sure about the itinerant merchants who must travel rough mountain paths with overlapping ascents and descents, but it seems it would be very useful for traveling on the well-paved roads of cities and towns. It would be useful for those who make deliveries in urban areas or for couriers carrying official documents. Ah! It seems you could create a fine machine by combining this device with a rickshaw! Did you perhaps make one of those as well?”
“I only brought the schematics. The craftsmen of Area 51 should be more than capable of producing it.”
At Hyang’s reply, Lim Sunwook glanced at the Minister of Finance. Seeing the minister looked ready to dash over to Hyeon at any moment, Lim Sunwook immediately addressed the emperor.
“This device will be of great help to the people. The only issue will be the price.”
At Lim Sunwook’s words, Hyeon turned to look at Hyang. Responding to the unspoken question, Hyang answered immediately.
“The price can be set reasonably. It is a labor-intensive item, but wages in New Frontier are still low.”
Hyeon made his decision at once.
“Then, let us have this produced in New Frontier as well. By the way, what is the name of this device?”
At Hyeon’s question, Hyang replied with a slightly troubled expression.
“About that, I was hoping you would decide on one from now on. I couldn’t think of a suitable name…”
I thought about calling it an ‘iruncha’ (two-wheeled vehicle), but in this era, there are more than a few things with two wheels. I thought about ‘jajeongeo’ (bicycle), but the etymology is a problem… My naming sense is the worst!
At Hyang’s words, Hyeon and the ministers began a heated debate about what name would be fitting.
“It moves when you push with your feet, so how about jokdongcha (foot-powered cart)?”
“Carts also move when pushed by feet, be they the feet of a horse, an ox, or a person.”
“And foot-powered cart doesn’t the pronunciation sound a bit frivolous?”
“Foot… you have a point…”
After various names were proposed and rejected, Han Myeonghoe stepped forward.
“How about balgureumcha (foot-rolling cart)?”
“Foot-rolling cart?”
“Hmm…”
The ministers mulled over the name Han Myeonghoe had proposed and nodded.
“That seems decent…”
Having reached a consensus of sorts, the ministers all looked toward Hyeon and Hyang. Seeing their expressions, Hyeon nodded.
“Foot-rolling cart… it has a certain charm to it, but isn’t it too long? How about Gureumcha (rolling cart)?”
“That would be excellent!”
And so, the bicycle came to be named the ‘Rolling Cart’.