After finishing the matter with Jeong Choho, Hyang turned to look at Icheon and Choi Hae-san.
"General Choi Hae-san. General Icheon."
"Yes."
"There is an important task to be done with the craftsmen of the Military Equipment Bureau."
"If it's an important task?"
"The improvement of the musket."
Hyang unfolded the blueprints as he continued.
"If we make it properly, it can change the tide of the battlefield."
"You said it can change the tide of the battlefield?"
"Yes."
Hyang spread out the blueprints on the table so everyone could see them.
"This is the musket I designed."
"Hmm…"
"Wow…"
The moment the blueprints were unfolded, everyone in the meeting room began to examine them with bright eyes.
After a while, Jang Yeong-sil was the first to speak.
"Your Highness, from the blueprint, it seems that when the ring-shaped part at the bottom of the barrel is pulled, the curved part moves. How do you use the fuse then?"
"Mr. Jang, what would you do?"
In response to Hyang's question, Jang Yeong-sil pointed to the hammer and nipple on the blueprint and answered.
"I would attach the fuse to this part and either drill a hole or place a pan for the gunpowder here. Then, this lower part…."
Pointing to the trigger part, Jang Yeong-sil continued his explanation.
"When this crescent-shaped part is pulled, the part where the fuse is attached will move, igniting the gunpowder in the pan, and the resulting fire will enter the barrel and cause an explosion."
"Hmm…"
"Indeed…"
Jang Yeong-sil's explanation made Choi Hae-san and Icheon nod. Choi Hae-san, who had nodded, then spoke.
"Listening to Mr. Jang's explanation and looking at Your Highness's blueprint, it is indeed a clever device. This way, we won't need a separate soldier to light the fuse, and the time from lighting the fuse to firing will definitely be reduced. That was the problem."
Choi Hae-san's observation surprised Hyang.
'They even knew about the lock time concept?'
Although Choi Hae-san gave a positive evaluation, Jang Yeong-sil shook his head.
"However, in Your Highness's blueprint, there is an unknown protrusion instead of the hole or pan I mentioned."
"Indeed."
At Jang Yeong-sil's comment, everyone's gaze turned to Hyang. In particular, the eyes of Icheon and Choi Hae-san, who were most directly involved, were as intense as lasers in 21st-century terms.
Hyang, receiving everyone's gaze, began his explanation.
"I have a separate idea for that part. You didn't notice it properly."
Hyang searched through the blueprints on the table and brought up the one at the bottom. The blueprint he found contained the design and specifications for the nipple part and the percussion cap to be used.
Pointing to the parts drawn on the blueprint, Hyang continued.
"This cap is used by fitting it over the nipple part. The cap contains gunpowder. Mr. Jang, what do you think will happen then?"
Hyang's question prompted Jang Yeong-sil to examine the blueprint and immediately answer.
"If that's the case, this long part above…."
"Call it the cock."
"Yes. The cock moves to strike the cap fitted over the nipple, right?"
"Yes."
Hyang's answer made Jang Yeong-sil tilt his head and immediately ask another question.
"But what do you mean by 'nipple' and 'cap'? I understood the term 'cock' because it resembles a rooster's head, but…?"
At Jang Yeong-sil's question, the others also nodded. Hyang immediately answered.
"Ah! These are names given by the Westerners who developed a similar type of musket. Since they are Western terms, it's natural that you haven't heard them before. The term 'cock' is what the Westerners called it, but I thought 'cock' was more fitting. I just used the other terms because I couldn't think of better ones, but you can suggest names."
"Then we need to understand the meanings of the terms given by the Westerners."
At Choi Hae-san's words, Hyang immediately explained the meanings of the nipple, cap, and trigger. During this process, there was a brief comedy of errors when explaining the meaning of the nipple.
"Goodness… the meaning… is… really…"
"Do the Westerners lack decorum…"
"According to the records of the Westerners, the original term was different, but the nickname given by the soldiers became so widely used that it became the official name. It's easier for the soldiers to understand during training."
"Soldiers are the same in the East and West, it seems."
"Yes."
Hyang's answer made Choi Hae-san and Icheon nod in understanding.
This was because the soldiers of the Joseon army also gave all kinds of obscene nicknames to the weapons they used.
"Shall we think about it?"
As Jeong Choho and Jeong In-ji showed enthusiasm for naming, Choi Hae-san put on the brakes.
"Before that, there is a problem with the gunpowder that will go into this cap. The gunpowder used by our Joseon army has issues."
"Is that so?"
Regarding gunpowder, which was a dangerous material, Icheon immediately nodded at General Choi Hae-san's observation, but the others were puzzled. In response to Choi Hae-san's observation, Hyang got up from his seat.
"Please wait a moment."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Hyang swiftly headed to a side room, and Jeong Choho asked Choi Hae-san.
"General, what do you mean by a problem with the gunpowder?"
"Well… gunpowder, or 'yeoncho' as it is known, is a truly troublesome material. Soldiers even call it 'wangcho' (useless gunpowder)."
According to Choi Hae-san's explanation, black powder was a series of dangerous processes from the moment of its manufacture.
-Mixing the individual ingredients was dangerous. If the finely ground materials are shaken too much during the transfer process, they can rub against each other and explode. The containers for the gunpowder must be made of wood, paper, or brass.
-Storage was also difficult and dangerous. After mixing the materials, if they are not properly managed, they can separate back into their individual components. To prevent this, the mixture is moistened and formed into lumps, which are then dried and ground to a usable consistency.
-The next issue was that the main component of the gunpowder, saltpeter, absorbs moisture very easily. When this absorption and drying process is repeated, the gunpowder can clump together and harden like a rock. This makes it extremely dangerous. If you try to break it with a hammer, it can explode, and if you throw it into a fire, it can also explode.
"…Therefore, the army mixes soil into the gunpowder. It's not just to save money by increasing the quantity. The soil absorbs the moisture instead."
"Ah, I see."
"Indeed."
With a sigh, Choi Hae-san concluded his explanation, and Jeong In-ji spoke up.
"Does that mean, General, that Your Highness's design is useless?"
In response to Jeong In-ji's question, Choi Hae-san answered cautiously, as it could become a political issue.
"Without experimenting with a physical model, I can't give a definitive answer. However, one thing is certain: it's impractical with the gunpowder we use."
"General Choi's words are correct."
"Goodness!"
"Wow!"
People were startled by Hyang's sudden interjection.
"I apologize if I startled you. Eunuch! There will be a loud noise in a moment, so do not panic!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
After warning the eunuch, Hyang placed a wide copper plate on the table and opened the lid of the wooden container he had brought.
"What is that?"
"Shall we call it gunpowder I made? I named it 'paegun' (explosive silver)."
"Paegun? Surely you didn't use real silver?"
In response to Hyang's words, Choi Hae-san asked with a worried face. As an expert in gunpowder, he knew well how much of a monster it was in terms of resources.
'But silver?'
Hyang smiled and answered Choi Hae-san's question.
"I didn't use silver. It's made with nitric acid, mercury, and ethanol. I named it 'paegun' because mercury is one of the ingredients."
"I see."
Hyang's answer made Choi Hae-san look somewhat relieved. Although mercury was mostly imported due to limited production in Joseon, it was easier to obtain than sulfur or copper.
Seeing Choi Hae-san's expression, Hyang placed a flat copper plate on the table and used a small spoon to scoop a tiny amount of paegun powder onto the center.
"Mr. Jeong."
"Yes?"
Hyang handed the hammer to Jeong In-ji.
"Judging by your curious expression, why don't you try it?"
"Me? Me? Yes!"
"Go ahead."
Jeong In-ji, who received the hammer from Hyang, alternated between looking at the hammer and the paegun powder, then clenched his teeth and struck the powder.
Bang!
"Ouch!"
The loud explosion made the table shake, and Jeong In-ji involuntarily screamed and dropped the hammer.
Hyang chuckled inwardly at the sight.
'You're going to have a lot of trouble from now on!'
"Let's see."
Hyang, maintaining a calm expression, moved the hammer aside and examined the plate. Not only Hyang, but everyone except Jeong In-ji, who had stepped back, leaned in to examine the plate.
"Wow!"
"Wow!"
Seeing the black scorch marks radiating from the center of the plate, people gasped in amazement.
"General Choi, General Icheon. What do you think?"