Joseon Ironworks (7)

The foundation of industry is iron.

Joseon, despite being quite ignorant of commerce, knew this fact very well, but practical circumstances had prevented it from producing much iron.

All the kings of Joseon, including Taejo Yi Seong-gye, Jeongjong, Yi Bang-won, and Sejong, had considered this a great regret, however.

But that was all a thing of the past.

"To think that the ironworks we built in Jeryeong can now produce 50,000 geun of steel (refined iron) and 100,000 geun of wrought iron (pig iron) every year. This is a great joy for the state."

The amount of iron produced at the ironworks Kim Daebung had built in Jeryeong in only a few months exceeded twelve times the amount produced at the place known until then as Joseon's largest ironworks (a place responsible for producing iron).

Even the memorial Kim Daebung submitted said this could be doubled next year, and if ironworks like this were established in various places throughout the country....

He had sent up a very hopeful memorial, saying that producing more than two million geun of iron every year was no mere dream.

At that level of iron production, if only the manufacturing capacity of the workshops around Hanyang, including the Military Supplies Office, could keep up, we should be able to equip every soldier with at least a breastplate.

Those who mainly engaged in close combat, such as shield bearers and long-spearmen, could even be given full-body armor.

"Isn't that so, Minister of Works?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Moreover, according to the memorial submitted by Ironworks Commissioner Kim Daebung, this is merely the beginning."

Sejong's smile stretched from ear to ear.

If iron continued to be produced at the current rate, we would apparently never have trouble because of an iron shortage, but we were going to produce even more than this?

Then not only the armor and weapons worn by soldiers, but even all the farm implements and tools used by the people, could be made entirely of iron.

For example, on the ox-drawn plow widely used in Joseon today, only the tip of the plowshare is made of iron, while the body of the blade is wood, making it too fragile to plow deeply.

But if we made the entire blade of iron—no, if even the parts connected to the blade that bore the strain were made entirely of steel...

It would be able to plow the earth very deeply.

If we could make other tools with iron as well, their quality would be revolutionized and productivity would increase dramatically.

"The Ironworks Commissioner said that for now, they had built only relatively small furnaces to gain experience before constructing large blast furnaces. Thus, he said, if the artisans continued to accumulate experience, they would eventually be capable of building blast furnaces five or six times the size of those currently in use."

Any official who heard this without knowing anything about Kim Daebung would have thought:

'What does that bastard know, when he's not even an artisan, to be acting so cocky?'

But those in court who had worked with Kim Daebung never raised even the slightest question about his ability.

Setting aside everything else, the fact that he had single-handedly drafted and personally implemented the difficult Bang-won method, multiplying tax revenues several times over, was less an indication of human ability than of the realm of supernatural powers and strange spirits.

So when they heard that Kim Daebung had built blast furnaces and greatly increased steel production, they simply thought, Ah, I see, and accepted it; even when told he could increase it further, they merely thought, That figures, and took it at face value.

"The Ironworks Commissioner also reported that there is a region in Liaodong near the border with Hamgyeong Province (southern Manchuria) where coal is found, and that if we mine and use it, we can produce even more iron. Therefore, he said we should secure that area now and arrange a coal supply. He warned that if we do not supply coal from there, the timber in the surrounding area could be completely depleted within seven years at the earliest and ten years at the latest."

"At the latest, ten years. Then does that mean the Jeryeong Ironworks could shut down ten years from now?"

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."

"This is not the Minister of Works' fault, so do not take it to heart."

This was precisely the biggest reason Kim Daebung emphasized coal.

If the ironworks continued to operate at its current pace, all the trees around Jeryeong would be depleted in ten years.

If that happened, the ironworks would have no choice but to shut down.

Moreover, if Joseon's population grew and ondol heating and the like became widespread to help people survive the winter...

According to his calculations, nearly all the trees in Joseon's eight provinces would be depleted by the early to mid-sixteenth century.

That was why he wanted to replace as much firewood used for heating and industry as possible with coal.

"Ten years is not a long time at all, so we must prepare for this problem in advance."

"But can we not use coal produced in Joseon instead of coal from Liaodong? According to the memorials submitted by the magistrates of all eight provinces, coal can supposedly be obtained readily in Joseon as well."

During this period, coal was not divided into detailed types.

Therefore, Sejong could not help but think that they should simply mine and use the anthracite produced in Joseon.

"According to the ironworks artisans, the coal mined in Joseon produces no smoke and is not very powerful. It can be used to heat ondol floors or for cooking, but they say it is impossible to use it in places such as the blast furnaces or reverberatory furnaces at the ironworks."

"I had not realized that coal came in different types with such different uses. Then how is the Liaodong coal near the border different from Joseon's coal?"

"Right Army Military Commander Yi Sun-mong, at Kim Daebung's request, was searching near Liaodong for coal, iron, gold, and other such things when he obtained some coal that could be mined from the surface. He brought it back and tried setting it alight... Not only did it catch fire very well, but its heat was also fierce."

"Who would have thought two kinds of coal could differ so greatly despite both being coal."

"Therefore, to build and operate several ironworks throughout Joseon's eight provinces, we absolutely must secure the coal mined in Liaodong."

Sejong agreed.

If the ironworks shut down because the trees were depleted, Joseon's development would slow along with it, so they had to secure the coal mine now, while they still had the capacity and the expedition was still underway.

"Right State Councillor."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Do you think the expeditionary army still has the capacity to advance farther north?"

"If Your Majesty wishes it, we could march another 100 ri (40 km) north, or even 200 ri (80 km). Supply would be somewhat difficult, but once our Ironworks Commissioner arrives, would he not take care of that himself?"

Jo Mal-saeng decided to pass the headache on to Kim Daebung.

By his own common sense, the supply line was already far too long, and extending it another 200 ri north seemed absurd.

But if anyone could make an entirely new kind of iron furnace and mass-produce iron when supplies were scarce, and had even devised measures to multiply production several times beyond its current increased level, it was Kim Daebung...

He felt that extending the supply line by 200 ri was something they could somehow manage.

From ancient times, was it not the true duty of a senior to entrust more weighty tasks to those with ability, giving them the opportunity to further develop their capabilities?

"Good. Then I will order the Commander-in-Chief to advance farther north, seize the area where coal can be mined, and occupy it. Once the conquest is complete, we will select a suitable official and establish a county there with him at its center. Just as Kim Daebung did."

Hwang Hui replied.

"I, Chief State Councillor Hwang Hui, submit this memorial. Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, who served as officials in the State Council, are exceptionally capable. And Jang Ho-mun, who served as magistrate of Jinhae until recently, also knows how to look after the people. How about appointing them to important posts?"

"Then I will appoint Kim Jong-seo as the magistrate of the newly conquered land, have Jang Ho-mun assist him, and put Hwangbo In in charge of the coal mine."

"They will surely be delighted to have been entrusted with such important work for the sake of the state."

Hwang Hui thought to himself.

I am not the one who will be worked to the bone there, so it is not something I need to worry much about.

Besides, all three were indeed quite capable in his eyes, and would surely handle their assigned tasks well.

"And I hear Kim Daebung will be returning to Hanyang soon. Order him to compile all the knowledge necessary for opening up and governing a new county."

"You mean we should record in a book what Kim Daebung knows and has done?"

"Joseon's national power has grown tremendously, so I expect that from now on we will frequently conquer new lands in this manner and open up new counties. We cannot send Kim Daebung out to attend to the people's welfare in the provinces for the rest of his life every time that happens, can we? It would therefore be a great help to record the secrets of his success in a book for every magistrate opening up a new county to read and use as a reference."

Upon hearing this, Minister of Personnel Maeng Sa-seong shook his head.

At the same time, he sighed deeply to himself.

If Kim Daebung's policies were preserved in a book, the magistrates opening up each new county would learn the methods explaining what they ought to do, allowing them to begin their work comfortably enough at first...

But later, it was obvious they would have to overwork themselves terribly in order to digest the contents written in that book.

The standards by which the state evaluated them would rise as well.

That was why Maeng Sa-seong seriously considered whether...

He should prevent his grandson from entering government service even if he passed the civil-service examination while Kim Daebung was alive, and have him go live somewhere quiet in the provinces, teaching scholarship.

Achieving fame and honor was all well and good, but if he pursued it only to be compared with Kim Daebung....

'My grandson will be worked to the bone like beans ground between millstones.'

"As expected, the Chief State Councillor is truly wise. Then, as for sending Kim Daebung to the Hall of Worthies..."

At that moment, Hwang Hui abruptly changed tack.

"Your Majesty, Kim Daebung is someone who must soon go to Ming as the secretary of a diplomatic mission. Therefore, when he returns, please do not entrust him with many tasks; allow him to focus solely on preparing for his dispatch as a secretary to Ming."

Sejong spoke with an expression unable to conceal his disappointment.

"Do that."

Not long afterward, a bombshell announcement arrived at the royal court from Ming.

They demanded that the Crown Prince be brought along on this diplomatic mission as well.