He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 155

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Joseon Steel Mill (7)

Iron is the foundation of industry.

This fact was well known even to Joseon, which was ignorant about commerce, but due to realistic circumstances, they couldn’t produce much iron.

All the successive kings of Joseon, including King Taejo Lee Seong-gye, King Jeongjong, Lee Bang-won, and King Sejong, found this problem quite regrettable.

But that’s all in the past now.

“The steel mill built in Jaeryeong can now produce 50,000 geun of refined steel and 100,000 geun of wrought iron annually. This is truly a great blessing for our nation.”

The amount of iron produced by the steel mill that Kim Dae-bung built in Jaeryeong in just a few months exceeded twelve times the production of what was previously known as Joseon’s largest iron works.

Moreover, according to the official report Kim Dae-bung submitted, he said this could be doubled by next year, and if such steel mills were installed in various locations nationwide…

He submitted a very hopeful official report saying that producing over 2 million geun of iron annually would not just be a dream.

With this level of iron production, if the production capacity of workshops around Hanyang, including Gungi-si, could support it, they would be able to provide chest armor to all soldiers.

And for those who mainly engage in close combat like shield bearers and long spear soldiers, they could provide full body armor.

“Is that not so, Minister of Public Works?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Moreover, according to the official report submitted by Iron Production Administrator Kim Dae-bung, this is merely the beginning.”

King Sejong’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

Even with the current level of iron production, there shouldn’t be any difficulties due to iron shortage, but to produce even greater quantities of iron?

Then it would be possible to make not only the armor and weapons worn by soldiers, but also all the farming tools and implements used by the common people entirely from iron.

For example, the ox-drawn plows currently widely used in Joseon have only the tip of the plowshare made of iron, while the body of the blade is wood, making it weak in durability and unable to plow the ground deeply.

However, if the entire blade were made of iron—no, if even the parts connected to the blade that bear the force were all made of refined steel…

They would be able to plow the ground very deeply.

If other tools could also be made using iron, the quality of tools would be revolutionized and production would increase dramatically.

“The Iron Production Administrator says that what he built now was relatively small to gain experience before constructing large blast furnaces. Therefore, as the craftsmen continue to accumulate experience, he said they would be able to build blast furnaces 5 or 6 times the current scale.”

If an official who didn’t know about Kim Dae-bung had heard this, they would have thought:

‘What does that guy know to act so presumptuous when he’s not even a craftsman?’

However, those who have worked with Kim Dae-bung in the Royal Court do not raise even the slightest doubt about Kim Dae-bung’s work skills.

Nothing else was needed – just the fact that he alone drafted the difficult Bangwon Method and directly implemented it to increase tax revenue several times over was beyond human capability and entered the realm of supernatural powers.

So when such a Kim Dae-bung built blast furnaces and greatly increased steel production, they heard this and thought, “Ah, I see,” and even when he said he could increase it further, they just accepted it thinking, “That makes sense.”

“And what the Iron Production Administrator also reported is that there are places where coal can be found in the Liaodong region (Southern Manchuria) bordering Hamgyeong Province, and if we mine and use it, we could produce much more iron. So he said we must secure that area from now on to supply coal. He warned that if we don’t supply coal from that area, the timber in the surrounding regions could be completely depleted in as fast as 7 years, or at most within 10 years.”

“At most 10 years. Then does that mean the Steel Mill in Jaeryeong might stop operating in 10 years?”

“I humbly apologize, Your Majesty.”

“This is not the Minister of Public Works’ fault, so you need not worry about it.”

This was exactly the biggest reason why Kim Dae-bung emphasized coal.

If they continued operating the Steel Mill at the current rate, all the trees in Jaeryeong would be depleted in 10 years.

When that happened, the Steel Mill would have no choice but to stop.

Moreover, if Joseon’s population grew and ondol heating systems spread to help people survive winter…

According to his calculations, by the early to mid-16th century, almost all the trees in the Eight Provinces of Joseon would be depleted.

That’s why he wanted to replace all the firewood used for heating and industry with coal if possible.

“Ten years is absolutely not a long time, so we must prepare for this problem in advance.”

“But can’t we use coal that comes from Joseon instead of the Liaodong region? According to the official reports submitted by governors of the Eight Provinces, coal can be commonly found in Joseon as well.”

During this period, they did not classify coal types in detail.

Therefore, King Sejong naturally had to think that they could just mine and use the anthracite coal found in Joseon.

“According to the Steel Mill craftsmen, the coal mined in Joseon produces no smoke and has weak heat, so it can be used for heating ondol or cooking. However, they said it’s impossible to use it in places like blast furnaces or reverberatory furnaces at the Steel Mill.”

“I hadn’t thought that there would be different types of coal with such different uses. Then how is the Liaodong coal near the border region different from Joseon’s coal?”

“While Border Defense Commander Lee Sun-mong was searching for coal, iron, gold and such near Liaodong at Kim Dae-bung’s request, he was able to obtain coal that could be surface-mined, so he brought it back and tried lighting it… It not only caught fire very well but also had fierce heat.”

“Who would have thought that even the same coal could be so different.”

“Therefore, to build and operate multiple Steel Mills in the Eight Provinces of Joseon, we must secure coal mined from Liaodong.”

King Sejong also agreed with those words.

If the Steel Mill stopped due to wood depletion, Joseon’s development would also slow down, so while they had the capacity and the expedition was still ongoing, they had to secure the coal mines now.

“Right State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you think the expeditionary forces have the capacity to advance further north?”

“If His Majesty desires it, we could advance another 100 ri (40km) north, or even 200 ri (80km). Supply lines would be somewhat problematic, but won’t our Iron Production Administrator take care of that when he arrives?”

Jo Mal-saeng decided to pass this troublesome matter on to Kim Dae-bung.

By his common sense, the supply lines were already far too long as it was, and extending them another 200 ri north seemed completely unreasonable.

However, Kim Dae-bung had created an entirely new concept of iron furnaces to mass-produce iron when iron was lacking, and had even prepared measures to increase production several times beyond current levels…

It seemed like he could somehow manage extending the supply lines by 200 ri.

Since ancient times, wasn’t it the duty of a true senior to assign more important tasks to capable people, giving them opportunities to further develop their abilities?

“Good, then I shall command the Supreme Commander to advance further north to the regions where coal can be mined and occupy those areas. After completing the occupation, I will select appropriate personnel and establish a county there centered around them. Just as Kim Dae-bung did.”

Hwang Hee responded to those words.

“I, Chief State Councilor Hwang Hee, humbly report. Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, who served as State Council inspectors, have outstanding abilities. And Jang Ho-mun, who served as Jinhae County Governor until recently, is also someone who knows how to care well for the people. How about promoting them to important positions?”

“Then I shall make Kim Jong-seo the magistrate of the newly occupied land, have Jang Ho-mun assist him, and have Hwangbo In manage the coal mines.”

“They too will surely rejoice at being entrusted with great tasks for the nation.”

Hwang Hee thought to himself.

Since he wouldn’t be the one grinding away there, it wasn’t something he needed to worry much about.

And those three were indeed quite capable people in his view, so they would certainly do their assigned tasks well.

“And Kim Dae-bung is said to be returning to Hanyang soon. Please command him to compile all the knowledge necessary for pioneering and governing new counties.”

“You mean to have Kim Dae-bung’s knowledge and actions recorded in a book?”

“Since Joseon’s national power has grown tremendously, it seems likely that we will frequently occupy new lands and pioneer new counties in this manner going forward. We cannot send Kim Dae-bung every time to spend his entire life tending to people’s livelihoods in the outer regions, can we? So if we record his secrets of success in a book for all magistrates pioneering new counties to read and reference, it would be of great help.”

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

While letting out a deep sigh inwardly.

If Kim Dae-bung’s written policies were recorded in a book, the magistrates pioneering new counties would know the methods for what they should do and could start their work comfortably at first…

But later, it was obvious they would end up working tremendously hard to digest the contents written in that book.

The standards by which the nation evaluated them would also rise.

So Maeng Sa-seong seriously pondered.

Should he have his grandson, even if he passed the Civil Service Examination while Kim Dae-bung was alive, not enter government service, but instead go to some remote local area to live teaching scholarship?

Rising to Fame and Honor is good, but if you try to achieve Rising to Fame and Honor only to be compared to Kim Dae-bung…

‘My grandson would be ground down by overwork like beans crushed in a millstone.’

“Indeed, the Chief State Councilor is truly wise. Then sending Kim Dae-bung to Jiphyeonjeon is…”

At that moment, Hwang Hee suddenly changed direction.

“Your Majesty, Kim Dae-bung is someone who must soon go to the Ming Dynasty as Secretary. Therefore, when he returns, please do not burden him with many tasks, and let him prepare only for his dispatch as Secretary.”

King Sejong spoke with an expression that couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“So be it.”

Not long after that, a bombshell announcement arrived at the Royal Court from the Ming Dynasty.

They were demanding that the Crown Prince also be brought on this diplomatic mission.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————