Chapter 328

Chapter 328

After securing the promise from the Franciscan monks, Hyang led them to the research institute.

“Wow...”

“Oh my...”

The alchemists, scholars, and monks exclaimed in admiration at the various artifacts and models displayed in the institute’s exhibition hall.

As they looked at the displayed items, the alchemists began to feel uneasy.

Finally, unable to suppress his anxiety, one alchemist asked Hyang:

“We are not blacksmiths. Is there work for us to do?”

As all the other alchemists nodded in agreement, Hyang explained why he had called for alchemists.

“To be honest, I don’t believe alchemy is possible. The same goes for the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ or ‘Elixir’. What I want is not knowledge about alchemy, but knowledge about minerals.”

“Knowledge about minerals, you say?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

Hyang led the alchemists to a separate room. As the alchemists followed Hyang, the scholars and monks also trailed behind.

The room Hyang entered with the alchemists was filled with rows of cabinets.

“Currently, only about 20% of these cabinets are filled.”

As he explained, Hyang pulled out several drawers from the cabinets. Each compartment of the opened drawers contained a different type of mineral.

“As you can see, these minerals were collected by our Joseon prospectors during their explorations. While some are well-known from before, there are quite a few we don’t know about. That’s why we need your expertise. Your job will be to classify and analyze not only the minerals currently in these drawers but also those that will come in the future.”

The alchemists nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

-Through the process of creating gold by alchemy, one reaches enlightenment and attains a higher state.

This was the goal of alchemists. For this purpose, they had accumulated and passed down knowledge through generations.

However, there seemed to be something lacking in Hyang’s explanation. No, it wasn’t lacking, it was dissatisfaction.

‘Are you saying we were called here just for such classification work? Just for such a task?’

Not realizing how much time and manpower the ‘classification and analysis’ Hyang mentioned would consume, the alchemists’ faces began to show signs of discontent.

“If it’s just for such classification and analysis, you wouldn’t have needed to gather alchemists like us from far away, would you?”

Hyang chuckled at this statement, which implied, ‘We’re too high-level for such menial work.’

‘These fellows are thinking the job is too easy, aren’t they?’

“Hah! If you think it’s simple classification and analysis, you’re mistaken. The classification and analysis of these minerals must be based on very specialized work. For example, you need to analyze and classify whether they react to acids or bases, and if they do react, whether they react to all acids and bases or only to specific ones, and so on.”

As they listened to Hyang’s explanation, the alchemists looked up and around. The room, large enough to host a royal or noble banquet, was filled with rows of cabinets.

He had said that only 20% of those many cabinets were filled, but even that was an enormous quantity.

And experimenting and analyzing with acids and bases was something that only professionally trained individuals, such as alchemists, could do.

As the alchemists realized the enormous scale of the work they had to do, their faces began to turn pale.

Watching the alchemists’ faces grow increasingly pale, Hyang continued with a mischievous smile.

“Ah! And while we won’t be doing alchemy, we’ll be doing similar work. You’ll also be in charge of that related work.”

“When you say similar work, do you mean creating gold?”

“No, the goal is to create better quality steel. Making stronger and tougher steel. Creating rust-resistant iron, and so on. Ah! Talking about making gold reminds me of something I forgot. We also need to research methods to extract gold from ore more efficiently.”

At Hyang’s words, the alchemists stood with blank expressions, their mouths opening and closing.

Like carps, the alchemists gaped for a moment before coming to their senses and asking Hyang:

“Rust-resistant iron? We’ve never heard of or seen such a thing.”

“I’ve never seen gold made through alchemy either. But wouldn’t iron be easier than gold? I believe that rust-resistant iron can be made.”

‘I’ve seen plenty of stainless steel, you know!’

The alchemists who were about to argue back closed their mouths when they saw Hyang’s face.

Hyang’s face, as he looked at the alchemists, showed strong conviction.

‘Someone who doesn’t believe in alchemy believes that rust-resistant iron can be made! And with such certainty!’

***

After informing the alchemists of their tasks, Hyang turned to the mathematicians.

“I have many tasks for you as well.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars swallowed hard and asked:

“What kind of work, Your Highness?”

Of course, it was equally distant from the pursuit of pure knowledge, but the tasks were sufficient to give a sense of intellectual achievement.

***

Feeling the positive change in the reactions of the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang dangled one last tempting bait.

“Ah! I forgot something... If someone develops a substance or knowledge with sufficient commercial value, they will receive ample compensation.”

“When you say compensation...”

“Have you heard of patents?”

After hearing Hyang’s explanation about patents and royalties, the eyes of the alchemists and mathematicians began to shine fiercely.

They needed money too. To them, for whom finding a sponsor for more comfortable and stable research was most important, what Hyang said was like sweet honey.

‘It’s like they’re shooting lasers from their eyes! Indeed, the power of capitalism!’

Seeing the gleaming, almost sparkling eyes and once again feeling the power of money, Hyang asked one last question.

“Well? Will you work in Joseon? Will you sign the contract?”

To Hyang’s words, the alchemists and mathematicians answered in unison.

“We’ll sign!”

In the distant future, the records they left all contained the same words.

‘We shouldn’t have signed the contract.’

***

After finalizing the contract with the alchemists and mathematicians, Hyang explained the next steps.

“The first thing you need to do is learn the language and writing system used in our Joseon.”

At Hyang’s words, the scholars nodded and looked at the Chinese characters. Some nodded as if they were slightly familiar.

To them, these were known as Kitai characters.

“Even if you don’t become familiar with the writing, you need to be able to converse in the language to be assigned to work, and to receive your salary normally.”

“Understood.”

As they responded to Hyang, the alchemists and mathematicians simultaneously had similar doubts.

‘Why do these people, who have such advanced technology and use their own language, use Kitai characters?’

But they soon found the answer to their question.

‘Well... We use Latin characters too, after all...’

Although they were born and raised in various places from Greece to France and England, it was common for them to use Latin when recording research results or writing papers.

Therefore, they took this issue lightly.

***

Contrary to Hyang’s expectations, the alchemists and mathematicians were able to converse in Korean after about two months.

When reports came in that they had not only mastered conversation but also acquired Joseon’s unique mathematical knowledge, including mathematical symbols, Hyang called for Jeong-cho.

“Can we assign them to practical work now?”

“It seems more than possible, Your Highness.”

“Then let’s assign them.”

Upon Hyang’s decision based on the report, Jeong-cho assigned the alchemists and mathematicians to practical work.

“These are the Western scholars who will be working with you from now on. Don’t cause any discord, work in harmony to produce good results.”

“Yes, sir.”

Three days later, after a brief introductory meeting, the researchers began working with the foreigners.

“Alright! Before we start working, let’s shout our motto!”

“Only Mathematics Can Answer[1]!”

After shouting the motto loudly, the researchers immediately got to work.

As more time passed, the Western scholars and Joseon researchers became close enough to laugh and chat together.

When this happened, a mathematician who couldn’t suppress his curiosity asked a researcher he had become friendly with:

“What’s the meaning of the motto we shout every morning?”

“Oh, that? It means ‘Only mathematics can answer.'”

“That’s amazing!”

“It’s profound, isn’t it? But it’s been true so far, and it will continue to be!”

唯數能答[↩]