Joseon Devours an Engineering Student (6)

A smile spread across Sejong's face.

The reason was that, ever since Hongikwon had been established, all sorts of new technologies had been pouring into the royal court.

"Let's see... This farming method is truly excellent. Gyeonjongbeop—furrow planting."

Sejong began reading the document submitted by the newly established Hongikwon concerning gyeonjongbeop, turning its pages as carefully as though he were handling a treasure.

"First, plow the land and make furrows between the ridges. Then sow crops such as barley and wheat, which are planted in autumn and harvested in summer, in those furrows, cover them with soil, and cultivate them. This produces a harvest roughly two-tenths greater than nongjongbeop (the method of sowing on flat ground) and reduces the damage crops suffer from cold weather."

It also contained detailed information on such matters as how barley should be sown when growing barley and rice as double crops in paddy fields.

Sejong was extremely happy whenever he read new information submitted by Hongikwon.

As Confucius said, "Is it not a pleasure to learn and practice what one has learned?" Learning something new was a thrilling pleasure in and of itself...

Moreover, this new farming method was a new technology that would benefit everyone living throughout Joseon's eight provinces, giving him the best of both worlds: helping all the people while enjoying his studies.

"We must first assess the usefulness of this farming method. Let us entrust one gyeol of farmland to Kim Hojang, who lives in Yangju and proposed this method, and have him farm it himself before granting him a reward."...