Episode 883: Generation Change (14)
While Lim Soon-wook’s eyes were shining brightly, Hyang continued speaking.
“This chicle is the sap of a specific tree that grows in the ssika region of Shinji. “When this sap hardens, it becos waterproof.”
Lim Soon-wook responded to Hyang’s words with a little disappointnt.
“Once the rosin hardens, it becos waterproof.”
“That’s not true…”
Pausing for a mont, Hyang reached into the sleeve of his dragon robe and took out a small white ball.
“Take a look at it.”
“yes? yes?”
“Dungio.”
As soon as she spoke, Hyang threw the ball to Lim Sun-wook. He didn’t just throw it either, he threw it to the floor.
container!
The ball lightly bounced on the floor and rose into the air. Embarrassed, Im Soon-wook hurriedly stretched out his hand, but the ball hit his fingertip and fell to the floor.
Thong thong degurrrrr.
The ball bounced lightly on the floor, rolled on the floor, and then stopped. Lim Soon-wook, who was looking at the ball with surprised eyes, looked at the incense. Seeing that, Hyang smiled and opened his mouth.
“It’s a ball made of chiclo. “How do you feel?”
In response to Hyang’s question, Lim Soon-wook held the ball, looked around, and answered.
“You said it has a soft texture, elasticity, and waterproof performance, so if it can be processed easily, I think it will make money in many ways.”
“I thought Captain Lim Sun-wook would recognize it right away.”
Hyang looked at Hyeon with a confident expression.
“I have many things to show your Majesty and the ministers. “Can I ask for so ti?”
Hyeon nodded his head loudly and responded to Hyang’s request.
“Of course! “Please show right now.”
“Thank you. Look inside. “Go to Sugang Palace and bring back all the boxes that are being kept with ‘Chi’ in the middle.”
“I understand.”
After half an hour (about an hour), an internal officer ca in and reported to Hyun.
“The luggage that His Majesty the Great Emperor asked us to bring has arrived at the front yard of Geunjeongjeon.”
“Is that so? “Let’s go out and take a look.”
Following the Hyun’s order, the ministers left Geunjeongjeon without a word.
* * *
In the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, several large and small wooden boxes brought from Suganggung were placed.
Hyang, standing in front of the boxes, looked at the prefecture and the ministers and opened her mouth.
“These are various objects made using chicle. These are not items made for re curiosity or entertainnt, but are items that will be beneficial to the people. Of course, these are also things that will help the empire’s finances. “Let’s open ‘Chi-1’ first.”
“yes.”
At Hyang’s command, the eunuchs used a presser bar to pull out the nail that sealed the box.
The first thing to appear was the wheel.
“These small ones are wheels suitable for a rickshaw, and the larger ones are wheels that can be used on carts or gun carriages. Please take a look.”
Imdiately after speaking, Hyang stepped back, and Lim Soon-wook was the first to follow, followed by Jang Hang-seon and the Minister of Finance and Economy and the Minister of National Defense ran over to inspect the wheels.
The ministers looked at the shapes of the wheels here and there, pressed them once, and even rolled them lightly.
Im Sun-wook, who was looking around, raised his head with a bright face and looked at Hyang and Hyeon.
“This is truly a pleasure! Until now, the outer rim of the wheel was made of wood or iron and covered with leather. “Because the people of the empire loved at, there was no problem with the supply of leather, but the price was an issue.”
The ministers nodded at Lim Sun-wook’s words. It was famous that the people of the empire loved at and ate a lot of it. Thanks to this, a lot of leather was produced, but leather was an item that was used in many places.
In particular, rickshaw wheels and cart wheels had to be made of cowhide. This was because cowhide was the toughest. However, no matter how tough it was, it was bound to wear out, and cowhide was an expensive item.
Therefore, poor farrs and troops who had to move long distances while carrying or dragging heavy objects such as artillery used iron plates instead of cowhide.
But the iron plate was not a cheap item. Additionally, the weight beca much heavier compared to leather. To support the heavier rim, the spokes of the wheel beca thicker, creating a vicious cycle in which the entire weight of the wheel beca heavier again.
Lastly, in the winter, when the pavent becos slippery due to freezing or rain, even with large studs installed, it often slips without any counterasures, resulting in fatal accidents.
Lim Soon-wook continued speaking excitedly.
“If Tae Sang-tae can guarantee this, it ans that this sap can be easily obtained in the ssika area. If so, the price will be cheaper and it will be helpful to the people. And if you look at the outside of the rim, you will see that there are irregularities engraved on it, which will prevent it from slipping easily even on rainy or icy roads, thus reducing the number of mishaps.”
“Good to see.”
Hyang smiled and nodded at Lim Soon-wook’s words.
Following Im Soon-wook, Jang Hang-seon spoke.
“After looking at the wheels used on this cart, I think it would be good for use in the military. Adding steel plates increases the weight and noise, but also requires more horses and tow trucks to pull carts or artillery, and more hay, fodder, coal, and fresh water. “If you use this wheel well, it will be a great help in solving that problem.”
“I agree.”
When Jang Hang-seon gave a good review, Hyang nodded with a confident face.
‘If those two had said that, the situation would have been over!’
Hyang went on to explain these wheels in more detail. In particular, not only the ministers but also the prefectural governnt expressed their admiration for the thod of inserting a tube to reduce weight while strengthening load-bearing power and improving ride comfort.
“Then I think it would be a good idea to manufacture and supply wheels using this chicle in Shinji. “What do you think?”
There were no ministers who ca forward to express opposition to Hyun’s words. Han Myeong-hoe ca forward on behalf of the ministers.
“If Shinji can beco self-reliant, the burden on other strongholds of the empire, including the main region and the northern region, will be greatly reduced. “The only thing I’m a little worried about is whether it will be possible with just these wheels, but I think it will be fine as a cornerstone.”
“Jim feels the sa way. But…”
Hyeon paused for a mont, looked at the other boxes that were still sealed, and continued.
“I guess it depends on what’s in those other boxes.”
“ah!”
At Hyun’s words, the ministers unanimously exclaid in exclamation. Enjoying the curious expressions of Hyeon and the ministers, Hyang ordered the eunuch.
“Open the ‘Chi-2’ box.”
“yes.”
The side lid of the elongated box was opened, and what ca out inside was a bicycle, to be exact, the ‘Rice House Bicycle’ of mories.
“When you roll your foot to turn the footrest on the large gear on the front, these chains transmit the force to the small gear on the back wheel. Then, with that force, the wheel turns and moves forward.”
After briefly explaining the principle, Hyang rolled up the lower hem of the dragon robe. At that mont, all the ministers who saw this cried out.
“Oh, Your Majesty!”
It was an unconventional scene to the point where the word ‘Your Majesty’ ca out without realizing it even though Hyeon was in front of her, but Hyang didn’t mind.
“Never mind.”
Hyang got on the bike with an expression that it was no big deal and pedaled.
After taking a long walk around the wide front yard of Geunjeongjeon, Hyang returned and looked at the ministers and Hyeon.
“How do you feel?”
The first to co to his senses in response to Hyang’s question was Lim Soon-wook.
“Can only one person ride it?”
“It is safe for only one person to ride. But we can carry more luggage.”
“How heavy can you carry it?”
“You can carry up to one bag of rice (approximately 80kg), excluding the person riding it. Of course, you can load more if you overdo it, but then it will get damaged in no ti.”
Lim Soon-wook imdiately responded to Hyang’s words.
“Is this really what you were aiming for?”
“Half and half.”
The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s short answer.
‘Then yes! ‘What kind of person is he!’
Usually, items made of iron boasted a long lifespan. That object could also carry up to a bag of rice, so it would not have been an ordinary sturdy object. And the general common sense of the imperial people was this.
‘Made of iron = sturdy = can be used for a very long ti.’
Therefore, the scent was deliberately limited.
It was a trick that later gained notoriety as the ‘incense tir’ or ‘imperial tir’.
Im Soon-wook, who must have known this Hyang’s thoughts, ca up with a great excuse.
“If you take care of it properly, it can be used for a long ti, but if you do not follow the precautions explained in advance, it will be damaged due to your own negligence, so there is no need to get criticized.”
“That’s right! So what do you think?”
“I don’t know about pedestrians who have to go on rough mountain paths with overlapping uphills and downhills, but I think it will be very useful when going back and forth on well-trodden paths in cities and villages. I think it will be useful for those who make deliveries or move official docunts in cities or villages. ah! I think it would be nice to combine this piece with a rickshaw! “Did you make that too?”
“I just brought the drawings. “The artisans in Area 51 will be able to make it.”
In response to Hyang’s answer, Lim Soon-wook glanced at the Minister of Finance and Economy. Lim Soon-wook, who saw the Minister of Finance and Economy looking like he was about to jump out at Hyeon at any mont, imdiately told Hyun.
“This equipnt will be of great help to the people. However, the price will be an issue.”
Hearing Lim Soon-wook’s words, Hyun looked back. Hyang imdiately answered the unspoken question.
“We will be able to set a reasonable price. “It’s a piece that requires a lot of work, but Shinji’s wages are still cheap.”
Hearing Hyang’s words, Hyeon made a decision right away.
“Then let’s produce this in Shinji as well. “By the way, what is the na of this object?”
Hyang responded to Hyun’s question with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“I want you to decide that from now on. I couldn’t think of an appropriate na….”
‘When I tried to make it a two-wheeled vehicle, there were only two wheels in an era, and when I tried to use a bicycle, the etymology was a problem… I’m terrible at naming!’
Hearing Hyang’s words, the prefecture and ministers began to argue over what a suitable na would be.
“You have to stomp your feet to get there, so how about a foot car?”
“Even the cart has to roll its feet to go. “Whether it is a magical foot or a human foot.”
“And jokdongchara… Isn’t the pronunciation a bit frivolous?”
“Group… I guess so…”
As various nas were repeatedly ntioned and pushed out, Han Myeong-hoe ca forward.
“How about a stomping wheel?”
“Stomping wheel?”
“Hmm…”
The ministers who were pondering the na Han Myeong-hoe gave nodded.
“It seems okay, but…”
The ministers who had reached their own agreent looked at Hyeon and Hyang at the sa ti. Hyun, seeing the expressions of the ministers, nodded.
“It kind of feels like a kick, but isn’t it too long? “How about a cloud car?”
“That would be great!”
That’s how the bicycle was given the na ‘Cloud Car’.
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