Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 140



Only Noblemtl

#140. World’s collide (1)

“Hmm, it’s a bit simplistic for a blueprint, but I definitely get the point.”

Captain Peyre, who was inspecting the Mle1897 field guns at the 1st Armory in Samcheong-dong, greeted me warmly.

In the distance, test firing was continuing at the shooting range, and 75mm shells could be seen flying from the shooting range with a thunderous noise.

Well, it was certainly solid. All the incoming field guns and machine guns were inspected and test-fired here before being shipped out, and occasionally a random lot number was selected to test fire rifles as well.

Captain Peyre’s quality control was extremely meticulous, and at times, he even tested the firearms in harsh environments, which led to considerable complaints.

Of course, most people have forgotten that thanks to such quality checks, the Mosin-Nagant rifles produced to date have been supplied to the military without any particular problems.

“Can you make this?”

“There’s nothing we can’t do, but this grenade… It’ll be a bit difficult to make the fuse. But don’t worry. We’ll ask the home country. We also make grenades, and if we replace this with the fuse we use for them, there shouldn’t be a big problem… As for the gunpowder that goes into the grenade shell or inside, we can use the ones produced here.”

But it was fortunate that the words “impossible” never came out of his mouth.

Captain Peyre also seemed to be quite knowledgeable about weapons, and even after I told him that it was possible, he asked me various questions.

“I have a question for you. Does your country currently have the industrial capacity to make canned food?”

“Well, it’s not much, but it’s there.”

Recently, Hongik Trading Company, which Mr. Choi has been leading with great enthusiasm, has been bringing in a canning factory and its equipment, saying that they will supply it for military use.

“Then that’s fortunate.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“If that level of industrial power does not exist, I was going to talk about reconsidering the production of grenades. Looking at this, it consumes the same amount of high-performance gunpowder as shells. In other words, the production of the newly introduced 75mm shells decreases as much as the number of grenades produced. If only the fuses could be produced properly, you could make a makeshift grenade by putting gunpowder, a rusty nail, and a fuse into a can…”

“You even took that into consideration.”

“Not only that. In your country, you’ve been producing a lot of beverages and alcoholic beverages in glass bottles, but this new product is unusually shaped like a screw.”

“Is that so?”

“If we can produce a bottle that meets these specifications, it can also be modified into a makeshift explosive. It depends on what it is supposed to contain, though…”

I looked at Captain Peyre with surprised eyes.

“This is basic. When preparing for war, improvisation is always essential.”

“What a wonderfully insightful opinion.”

“That’s too much praise. It’ll take some time anyway. In order to produce a prototype, I need to get the fuse from my country first, and it’s my job to see if the fuse works properly on the grenade. I’ll need some budget allocation first, but how can I do that?”

“According to the Director of the Arsenal, there is some general reserve fund left in the armory, so if we proceed with that···.”

“Oh, that would be a bit difficult.”

Captain Peyre shook his head.

“Yes? I’m sure it’ll be here···.”

“Your Majesty the Emperor has allocated reserve funds for the production of infantry and artillery blanks for the parade and exercises to be held in the year after next. So it is a bit difficult to arbitrarily take that away.”

“this.”

“By the way, have you looked into other budget agencies?”

“The Director of the Air Force just told me to come here because there was some money left over. It’s really difficult.”

“Hmm···.”

He thought deeply for a moment. Captain Peyre also seemed to be interested in the grenade thing, and rather than saying, “It’s too bad I don’t have money. Well, let’s go now,” he was thinking about where to get the budget.

He even took out his accounting books to look for a way to take the money out, but it wasn’t enough.

“Ha, in times like this, the problem is that I’m too meticulous. There’s no room for budget omission.”

“This is difficult.”

“Or it doesn’t matter if it’s private capital. Since it’s a form of investment in development costs by a private company, all we have to do is process the paperwork.”

It meant that I should try to do it even if it was by tricks. Hmm, I didn’t have any intention of getting a budget right now.

It was obvious that asking Yoon-Joong Eo instead of the Ministry of Finance would be difficult, and it was also a bit awkward to secretly tell Director Lee Yong-Ik of the Ministry of Finance.

Because the closest aide who managed the Emperor’s purse strings was likely to reveal to the Emperor the information I had been in contact with.

And recently, as the Records Investigation Office began reporting that sensitive information within the Korean Empire was being leaked overseas through the Imperial Household Agency, they became even more reluctant to contact them.

80% of the information leaking overseas would be from Japan, and who knows what they might do if they heard that we were developing hand grenades.

It wasn’t for nothing that I went to the armory. At least Captain Peyre, the French officer who was the armory’s advisor, was not the type of person to leak information to the Japanese. Even if he did, he would probably leak it to his own French ambassador.

First, I left the armory building in Samcheong-dong, saying that I would try to secure a budget in the near future.

If this happens, will I have to ask the elders for help again?

When I was walking down the street, thinking for a long time.

“excuse me···?”

“ah.”

I was startled by someone calling me from behind, so I turned around and saw her standing there, wearing casual clothes today.

“Brother, why didn’t you answer when I called you like that? I was so heartbroken because I thought you were the wrong person.”

“Oh, sorry. I have something to think about.”

“Hehehe, since you are such a busy person, I guess that’s understandable. But it’s not closing time, so why are you here in Myeongryebang? It seems like you came a bit far from the main office.”

“I think it was Loha,” the cheeky girl said with a grin.

“Oh, I came here because I had some business to attend to in Samcheong-dong. Well, I guess I should go back. I still have some official business to attend to, so I’ll leave now.”

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about.”

She said, grabbing the sleeve of the dress that was about to leave.

“Please eat before you go. It will be dinner soon, and my house is nearby. My father is also inside at the moment…”

Come to think of it, I didn’t even get to eat properly today. I was busy with the enemy’s artillery station and the Samcheong-dong armory since morning, so I couldn’t eat properly.

I was so busy that I didn’t even realize I was hungry, but once I relaxed, I started to feel hungry.

And then, without even realizing it, my stomach started growling, and I blushed in embarrassment.

“Your body is honest. Let’s go eat.”

“Yes? But-”

“There are some pretty important guests coming today, so there’s a lot of delicious food. How about we go together and learn some European dining etiquette?”

As he said those words, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him practically dragging me into his home.

I pretended not to win and followed her. It was definitely a large house that stood out. It was said to be built in a grand European style, and it was true.

It was the most popular social gathering place in Seoul recently, and it was also a place where major economic and political figures came and went, so it was strange that it wasn’t fancy. The place we entered, guided by a woman who seemed to be quite excited, was where people were having a meal.

“No, what are you doing here?”

The surprised old man ran towards me, using his fork and knife in a way that looked awkward to anyone.

“Oh, that’s-”

“I brought you here as you were returning from work at the Samcheong-dong Armory.”

“Welcome. Since you’re having a meal, let’s chat.”

The meal he served me was a Western-style course meal that I once received when I was invited to a fancy place.

If a meal of this size is served, it means that you are talking to some pretty important people.

“This young man is the one you praised so much. Nice to meet you. My name is Pechika Choi. In Korean, my name is Choi Ga Jae-hyeong.”

The man in the suit sitting right next to the old man extended his hand to me.

I never thought such a big shot would be here. If I do it right, the problem I’ve been struggling with might be easily solved.

I immediately grabbed his hand.

“It is an honor. I hear you are a great help in running the firearms factory in Hamheung.”

“Thanks to you, the Russians are dying. In the development of the Maritime Province, firearms are life, and you and I are playing a role in giving them life. To this extent, isn’t it not an exaggeration to call them a member of parliament who saves people?”

Then, laughter erupted from the audience. Not only did he have a firm grip on the commercial districts of the Hamgyeong Province region, he was also responsible for supplying military supplies to the Russian military in the Far East, and now he was trying to join hands with his elders to take control of the maritime transportation industry along the East Coast.

Here, it seems that the Korean Empire’s Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry was providing financial support, and the Bezobrazov Group, which had recently been ordering a hard-line policy in the Russian Empire’s Far East policy, was collaborating with them by putting its own companies in the Far East at the forefront, so it seemed that the two empires, Korea and Russia, were preparing to completely encroach on the Japanese Empire’s maritime transport pie.

···Of course, if that happened, the Japanese Empire would have gone beyond a fit and come out with two swords, saying it would declare war early.

If the maritime transportation industry on the Korean Peninsula, their lifeline, begins to be pushed out by South Korea and Russia, their delusion of persecution will uncontrollably shake up the cabinet and the people, and further stimulate their military, which is sharpening its sword.

“By the way, did something happen at the armory?”

“I need to speak with Captain Peyre about this for a moment.”

I secretly showed him the blueprint.

“Hmm, is that a blueprint? It’s a pretty interesting looking structure.”

Mr. Choi Jae-hyung looked at it and became lost in thought.

“Is it a bomb?”

“Well, that’s true, but it’s something you can throw with your hand. That’s why I went to the armory.”

“I guess it can be made. This priest is a problem, but the French will be able to get it in no time.”

“There is a problem. It is difficult to secure the budget, so actual production may be delayed···.”

I told them what had happened, from why I had made the blueprints for the grenade to why there was no budget.

The old man and Mr. Choi Jae-hyung, who heard the whole story, immediately opened their mouths.

“Can’t we just make it?”

“No, think about it. We are merchants. If we have something useful, we make it, and if there is someone who will pay the highest price for it, we sell it to them. That grenade you came up with, I know less about war than you, but it looks like it will sell well.”

“If we can get the priests, it seems like we can produce them at the Hamheung Arsenal. I don’t think we need to worry about the priests, since they’ll come out if we bribe the Russian military officers I deal with.”

The two have already begun to discuss fiercely how to set up the line, how much to produce, and what the price should be.

Those who attended the meal together also began to get interested and join in.

“Sir, I think I can get it for about 250 won per foot.”

“If mass production were to take place, the price would be even lower. Considering that each and every infantryman would be given one···.”

“There… This one hasn’t even been produced yet. And since this is a matter that has received official approval from the Director of the Firearms Bureau, the Samcheong-dong Armory also needs a budget. I’m grateful that you guys are producing it, but-”

“I’ll pay that much. Well, let’s think of it as an investment.”

Then, looking at the documents I showed him, he was an old man who signed the budget without thinking. The budget alone would have been over 10,000 won, but it was not an ordinary decision.

“Besides, it would be difficult for the arsenal to produce the entire required quantity alone, so how beautiful would it be if the military cooperated with the civilians in such a case?”

“I’m sorry I feel like I’m just receiving help.”

“It’s nothing special. It’s thanks to you that I was able to grow the company this much.”

The old man continued to talk even as he told us to finish eating.

Fortunately, the budget was resolved in this way.

It would take quite some time until the actual prototype was produced, but if there were no major issues, formal adoption and production would begin.

It might save the lives of thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers.

Whoever developed the Gatling must have had similar thoughts.

With that thought in mind, I quietly finished the noisy meal.

A storm was approaching in the distance, and it was time to prepare for it.