130 Expanding National Power (2)
In the summer of 1830, Easterfield’s Department of Science and Technology Research formalized the development of a new mode of transport.
That was the aircraft.
After the initial flight last year, the development of the aircraft accelerated and was in the commercialization stage.
Now, technology was being created that could cross continents and continents by plane.
But for now, I had to be content with flying airplanes and conducting operational activities in North America.
Lee Hwan received a confidential document containing these facts.
“The flight distance is only 2,000 km?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“Hmm, the problem is that the startup time is too short.”
“I think the biggest problem is the lack of space for fuel as we are now trying to reduce the weight.”
For now, flying an airplane itself was an innovation, and in fact, it was a technology that would be unimaginable for a flight of 2,000 km.
However, it would not be usable as a battleship or reconnaissance ship by itself.
Lee Hwan fell into deep trouble.
“The material is the problem.”
“Yes, it is. “If there was something lighter than steel, it could fly ten times farther than it is today.”
If the radius of operation was at least four times longer than it is now, it would not be a waste to destroy a city with an airplane.
Lee Hwan thought that the development of materials was essential in order to use airplanes for combat purposes.
At that moment, there was one subject that crossed his mind.
“How about aluminum?”
“Aluminum?”
“If you make an airplane out of aluminum alloy, it will be much stronger and fly farther than it is now.”
“Of course it will. But isn’t the problem money?”
Today’s aluminum was treated as a fairly expensive mineral.
The cost of refining it was much higher than that of steel, and the method was complicated, so it was recognized as a luxury item.
But what if Lee Hwan invented a new refining method?
Hwan Lee launched a department that could develop new materials right away and had them refine new materials for airplanes.
“Make sure to create a new department that will produce new materials, including aluminum.”
“You mean the new materials department?”
“I will take care of the overall formula design and chemical formula. Let’s hire talent first.”
“Yes, my lord!”
If ordinary people were to make things by refining aluminum in this place, they could point out that they are crazy.
But because of Lee Hwan, everything was possible.
At the same time, Lee Hwan decided to introduce additional new technologies.
“Make a carrier that can take off and land planes, and make a military tanker to refuel them.”
“A carrier carrying airplanes, isn’t that a moving military base?”
“right. It’s about making a moving military base.”
“iced coffee… … !”
If you could build a crude aircraft carrier and go back and forth between continents, Lee Hwan’s ocean fleet could literally rule the world.
Even if a world war breaks out, with one instruction from Yi Hwan, the war criminal state could disappear from the map.
For this purpose, Hwan Lee instructed the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish another research institute.
“Create a new division combining maritime and land technology.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“They are researching technology that can build various types of carriers, including aircraft carriers. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lord!”
If the development proceeds according to Lee Hwan’s will, the road to a top-notch country will not be a big deal.
***
Now the season turned into summer, and the temperature in the Netherlands was getting warmer.
Taken from noblemtl.com
Meanwhile, a ship arrived in Amsterdam.
They quickly came to the Ben Heren fleet.
“I need to see Ben-Herren!”
“Who are you?”
“Give this to the ball.”
Those who disembarked handed a gold brooch to Fleet Inc., claiming it belonged to Richard Ben-Herren.
Sundan Co., Ltd. had no choice but to go to the mansion with the name of the major shareholder.
“Who wants to pass this on to the Prince?”
“Huh, this is… … ?!”
As soon as the butler saw the brooch, he was startled and ran to Ben-Heren with it.
While Ben Heren, who had been busy with his duties since early hours, was taking a break, the butler ran and handed him a brooch.
“Benheren! A messenger has come from Asia!”
“… … in Asia?”
He got up immediately and rode Eaststellar’s Ghost to the fleet.
The driver was also nervous at Ben Heren’s particularly rigid expression.
“Are you okay? complexion… … .”
“Go quietly for now.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
Ben Heren never stopped eating from the people below him for a while.
That means he’s very nervous right now.
After a while, a vehicle carrying Ben Heren arrived at the fleet.
As soon as Ben-Herren got out of the car, he almost ran into the company on foot.
Then, a man waiting inside greeted me.
“grandee!”
“Yeah, it’s been a while. Is Andrew alive?”
“I was still alive until I left, but now I don’t know.”
“What the hell happened? You are already sending messengers.”
“Things got a little messy. Japan sent a navy to Qing, but Qing formed a navy surprisingly quickly and was moving south.”
“… … damn it.”
“Admiral André has asked the Archduke for further assistance.”
“I will provide you with rifles and ammunition. But no matter how fast I build a fleet, it will take some time.”
“it’s okay. Isn’t that unavoidable?”
Ben-Herren thought quietly.
Then he handed the brooch to Andre’s messenger.
“Let me take this with me. However, there are people who will go with you on the way.”
“Are you guys going with me?”
“Easterfield Kingdom Army.”
“Are you the Kingdom Army?”
“Not long ago, Baron Easterfield proclaimed a nation.”
“Aha! There are all kinds of slopes!”
“Anyway, there is only one person who can get you to Asia the fastest right now. I’m going to meet the King of Easterfield in person, so you guys should stay with our Fleet Co., Ltd. and collect the supplies. As thick as possible.”
After instructing Fleet Co., Ltd. to supply as many supplies as possible, Ben-Herren got into the car and drove straight to Ritterkirk.
With the recent opening of the highway, it takes less than five hours from the capital to the south.
Richard ran diligently without a break, and arrived at Lee Hwan in half a day.
“… … Ben Heren Ball?”
“Come on, give me some time.”
Ben-Heren, forgetting even the manners that the king should have for Lee Hwan, took him out of the second royal palace.
Then, he delivered a faded letterhead to Lee Hwan.
“Come on, assemble a fleet and go to Asia right now.”
“Asia?”
“Only you can save him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean Andre.”
“… … !”
“Now Andre has led the fleet to reclaim Joseon.”
Lee Hwan was truly amazed.
Until now, I wondered where Andre was doing what he was doing, that he was fighting in Joseon.
To Lee Hwan, who was surprised, Ben Heren emphasized the importance of the situation.
“Andre didn’t just go to Joseon for his own gain.”
“… … I don’t know how the hell this happened.”
“Yeah, that would be embarrassing. But you have to accept it. Andre gathered forces to overthrow the dominant government in Joseon and establish a true kingship. And that power came from our Ben-Heren fleet.”
Lee Hwan tilted his head.
It was because he knew that Ben-Heren was not the one to send a fleet to Joseon as far away as two stations without any profit.
Ben-Heren decided to confide everything in order to make Lee Hwan understand.
“Tell me the truth. The reason I brought Andre from Chosun and looked after you until you grew in power was to secure a trade route between Russia, Japan, China, and Korea.”
“Trade?”
“As you may know, the current Europe and Asia have a structure in which the more we trade, the more our balance of money will inevitably accumulate. If this continues, the Netherlands, my hometown, will have no choice but to continue to give away gold and silver to Cheong. So I thought. Let’s open a unique trade route and trade gold and silver without compromising on it.”
Ben-Herren wanted to become the king of the seas by expanding the Dutch trading base to Asia.
Despite knowing Ben Heren’s intentions, Lee Hwan still had a blank expression on his face.
“No, is that why you said you would become the king of the Netherlands?”
“To be honest, I don’t care who the king of the Netherlands is. What does that matter if only the country is prosperous?”
“iced coffee… … !”
“However, I opposed the accession of Elizabeth I because I feared interference from the Austrian Empire.”
“Ugh.”
“But I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are building the kingdom according to my will.”
“Are you glad that I founded the kingdom?”
“Of course. When Austria intervened in state affairs in the Netherlands, the things I was most worried about were you and the Eaststellar Company.”
“okay… … .”
“Because you and Elizabeth got married, the powers were divided, but the picture has been completed in which the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Easterfield can grow together through friendly relations. To be honest, I don’t have any free time anymore.”
Lee Hwan raised a question here.
What does Lee Hwan have to do with overthrowing the Joseon dynasty?
‘If Ben Heren predicted my growth, I don’t know, was there any reason he would have to take me out of Joseon?’
If Lee Hwan was someone who was different from the cotyledon, it could be.
However, it is true that Ben-Heren did not even know that Lee Hwan was such a talented person.
Then, Lee Hwan wondered if there was something secret about his birth.
“Then what was the reason when Na-ri brought me from Chosun?”
“It was just… … .”
“Even so, there is no reason to take away a little boy who has no one face to face. If it was to end the secular politics, wouldn’t it have been enough to bring only Father Andrew?”
“Well.”
“And when you just told me to build a fleet, it was as if I had to.”
Ben Heren said to Lee Hwan as if he had no choice but to do it any more.
“Well, if you say that, I can’t help it either.”
“Tell me.”
“Lee Gak, this is Father Andre’s real name.”
“… … elongation?”
“I’m a member of the Jeonju Iga, just like you.”
“Huh!”
“Lee Gak has been living as your uncle and descendant of Eunpyeong-gun, but he went to Qing and became a priest because he suffered all kinds of disrespect and persecution.”
It is still not known exactly what kind of life Lee Gak lived.
Hana Lee Hwan seemed to know how much Lee Gak had to live with the heart of sharpening his sword and shaving his bones.
Because Lee Hwan came from the future, he knew roughly what they were saying.
Eunpyeong-gun, the half-brother of King Jeongjo, died at the hands of the Andong Kim clan after accepting Catholicism along with the Silhak scholars of Joseon.
He was exiled for the rest of his life, and he died on a private drug. As a result, the descendants of Eunpyeong-gun had their names confiscated and were in danger of becoming slaves.
In such a situation, the only choice that Lee Gak could make would be a consultation with Washin.
It was only then that Lee Hwan started to understand everything.
“… … That’s why he pampered me so much.”
“Lee Gak worked as a trafficker between Cheong and the Netherlands. He was also a big man with a smuggling route that covered all of East Asia. But he gave up everything to make you king.”
Lee Gak, who gave everything he had to his nephew.
Now it was Lee Hwan’s turn to save him.
“I will send the navy right away. We will advance to Joseon quickly and secretly.”
“Well thought!”