Black Corporation: Joseon-Chapter 203

In the 21st century, before moving to Yangsan, Hyang didnt even know about medicinal plasters. To be precise, he knew the name but had never actually seen the product.

However, after settling down in Yangsan, Hyang became familiar with medicinal plasters.

This was because medicinal plasters were a staple medicine for the elderly living in the area.

Whenever Hyang went to repair farm tools or fix the electrical facilities at the village hall, he would say with a worried expression:

But why dont you go to the big hospitals in Yangsan City right next door?

Whenever Hyang asked, the elderly peoples answers were similar.

We do go. But its bothersome to travel back and forth.

Well, its not like we have any serious illnesses

Despite their words, the elderly relied heavily on medicines. The familiar medicines Hyang saw every time he visited their homes were digestive medicines, painkillers, medicated patches, and medicinal plasters.

It was inevitable for medicinal plasters to be common in the homes of the elderly. As people age, it is unavoidable for all bodily functions to weaken. In particular, problems with blood circulation were the most common, leading to frequent occurrences of skin diseases, including boils.

It would be better to just go to a dermatologist

Hyang would grumble whenever he saw those elderly people, but he gradually became curious.

So Hyang sought out the traditional medicine clinic that made and sold medicinal plasters to the elderly.

Hyang visited the clinic with a few bottles of good soju and probed the old traditional medicine doctor about medicinal plasters while treating him to a drink.

Why do you make and sell medicinal plasters? Theyre sold at pharmacies, arent they?

They do sell them. But those old folks complain that the efficacy isnt the same as in the past. Thats why I make them myself.

There must be a prescription for medicinal plasters, right?

Ha! This is a different secret method from that!

Could it be that the efficacy is lower?

If the efficacy was lower, would those old hags buy them?

The more Hyang conversed with the doctor, the stronger his curiosity grew, so he scoured the internet.

After obtaining information about medicinal plasters through a few clicks, Hyang showed a surprised expression.

Oh? The origin of this was Western medicine?

According to records about the most famous medicinal plaster, Lee Myeong-raes Medicinal Plaster, it was created by Lee Myeong-rae, a Catholic, by combining the knowledge of herbology learned from a Western priest with traditional Korean medicine. (Note 1)

This unexpected information piqued Hyangs curiosity even more.

In this village, the traditional medicine doctor makes them. Whats the difference?

Hyang kept visiting the doctor and asking about medicinal plasters.

Why do you keep asking about medicinal plasters? Are you going to make and sell them yourself?

When the doctor asked with suspicion, Hyang waved his hands in denial.

Without a medical license, why would I make and sell them and face the consequences? Im just curious because the elderly use them a lot.

The doctor gave a rough answer to Hyangs response.

Ill only tell you two things. Purslane and pine roots.

Could you be more specific

Not transmitted to non-humans!

*

What the hell is not transmitted to non-humans

As Hyang recalled his memories about medicinal plasters, he soon moved to the bookshelf.

Medical books

While searching for medical books, Hyang suddenly hit his forehead.

Idiot! Why should I suffer by looking it up myself?

Hyang, who had a change of thought, immediately visited the Royal Clinic.

Who is the most knowledgeable about medicinal herbs?

At Hyangs question, the royal physicians pointed to one doctor.

Whats his name?

It is Oh Han-byeok.

Alright, Doctor Oh, work with me on something.

Pardon?

Having recruited a doctor in this way, Hyang immediately began developing medicinal plasters with Doctor Oh.

*

The development of medicinal plasters was, as expected, a series of trial and error.

Selecting and combining medicinal herbs that were said to be effective for boils full of pus, and then boiling them down into the sticky form of a medicinal plaster, required a lot of effort.

Therefore, even the female physicians were mobilized to help make the medicinal plasters.

When prototypes of medicinal plasters made with various combinations were produced, Hyang prepared for the next step.

We need to conduct clinical trials

As Hyang pondered over finding a suitable subject, he recalled his memories from the 21st century.

According to records he had seen through the internet in the 21st century, Lee Myeong-rae had visited beggar villages to confirm the efficacy of the medicinal plasters he had made. (Note 1)

Hyang clicked his tongue after recalling and confirming his memory.

Tsk. Ill have to use my authority. Eunuch! Im going to Geunjeongjeon Hall! Prepare for departure!

Entering Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang told his purpose to King Sejong. After hearing the details, King Sejong reconfirmed with Hyang.

You want permission to experiment with a new medicine on patients at Public Medical Service, Hyeminseo[1], and Relief Center, Hwarinwon[2]?

Yes, Father.

At Hyangs words, King Sejong fell into deep thought while stroking his beard.

Indeed, boils may seem minor, but they are unexpectedly serious diseases. It would be good if a medicine that can easily treat them is developed. However, my son. It is a medicine to be used on people. Are you certain?

In theory, it seems to be the answer, but we need to confirm it because we dont know for sure in practice.

At Hyangs response, King Sejong looked around at his ministers.

What do you think, ministers?

The ministers could not easily answer King Sejongs question.

After all, medicine was something related to human life. Therefore, they had to oppose the immediate use of a new medicine.

However, they could not thoughtlessly oppose it because of the case of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

If they had blindly opposed it, they could have ended up drinking poison like Ryu Jeong-hyeon and his colleagues or being sent into exile for an indefinite period.

After a long silence, Chief State Councilor Lee Jik took the lead.

If what the Crown Prince said is true, it would indeed be a wonder drug, but what concerns me is that its efficacy has not been proven.

Hyang immediately responded to Lee Jiks answer.

It is natural that the efficacy has not been proven. We havent even used it on patients yet. Thats why were proposing to conduct experiments, isnt it?

That is true, but

In the end, King Sejong had to decide whether to approve or reject this matter.

After pondering silently for a long time, King Sejong finally made a decision.

Alright. The Crown Prince may conduct experiments on patients at Public Medical Service and Relief Center. However! Coercion is not permitted! Only conduct experiments on volunteers!

When King Sejong gave his permission, Hyang bowed deeply.

I accept your command! I am immensely grateful for your permission!

With that, they began recruiting volunteers among the patients with boils who visited Public Medical Service and Relief Center.

Who made this medicine?

It is a medicine that the Crown Prince made together with the royal physicians.

Then, I will try it. The Crown Prince is trusted by His Majesty, so how could it be unreliable!

Surprisingly, the volunteer rate among the patients was very high.

In the background was the smallpox inoculation that Hyang had pushed forward. The people who had experienced the effectiveness of the smallpox inoculation firsthand were showing full trust in Hyang.

Thanks to this, Hyang and the royal physicians were able to confirm the efficacy of different types of medicinal plaster prototypes.

Fortunately for Hyang and the patients, all the prototypes showed some degree of efficacy.

Its because we gathered medicinal ingredients that originally had such effects

Relieved by the positive results, Hyang began to select the combinations with the best effects among them.

Although they started with half doubt and half distrust, when positive results emerged, the royal physicians and female physicians began to work on the project enthusiastically. They were not the only ones.

Some of the royal physicians who heard the news volunteered to join the project.

If we can properly treat boils, we can save many lives! Please give us a chance too!

Youre welcome to join.

As the research team was further reinforced, the development of medicinal plasters gained even more momentum.

Thanks to this, the final version of the medicinal plaster was unveiled before the year of Musin (1429) had passed.

When it showed good results not only among the patients at Public Medical Service and Relief Center but also among those who came from nearby Hanseong after hearing the rumors, Hyang immediately went to see King Sejong.

It was a success! We must sell this medicine to the people!

All the ministers expressed their agreement with Hyangs proposal.

It would be right to sell it through the royal stores!

Agreed!

Please allow the sale through the royal stores!

When all the ministers agreed and came forward, King Sejong also gave his consent.

In this way, the medicinal plaster began to be sold through the royal stores established nationwide.

The medicinal plaster, named Balgeun-go'[3], meaning to pull out the roots of boils, began to be sold nationwide under the official product name Royal Secret Formula Balgeun-go'[4].

*

Not long after Balgeun-go officially went on sale, its sales began to rise vertically through word of mouth from the people who experienced its efficacy.

Although the price of a soy sauce cup-sized container of the medicinal plaster was quite expensive, equivalent to one doe of white rice, people purchased it without hesitation.

Thats how much boils tormented the people.

The body must be clean to prevent boils from forming!

Following King Sejongs subsequent proclamation, the sales of bino (soap) also naturally increased.

*

The medicinal plaster that began to be sold in this way became a hit product not only in Joseon but also internationally.

It was not only Joseon that suffered from boils.

Boils were quite a troublesome disease in Japan, which suffered from a humid climate, as well as in Ming, where people enjoyed oily foods.

Merchants from Japan and Ming who saw Balgeun-go at the trading posts in Waegwan and Shandong and experienced its efficacy vied to purchase it.

It was not only Ming and Japan. Merchants from Dai Viet and Siam, who frequently visited the trading post in Shandong, also purchased large quantities of Balgeun-go.

This Balgeun-go proved effective in an unexpected place, which was the settlements of the Jurchen people.

There were quite a few Jurchen people who suffered from boils as they spent a lot of time sitting on horse saddles.

*

As Balgeun-go recorded tremendous sales, attempts to replicate it naturally occurred.

However, within Joseon, no one dared to dream of replicating it thanks to the four characters (Royal Secret Formula) and the apricot blossom engraved on the lid.

Therefore, the places that mainly attempted to replicate it were Ming and Japan.

However, the results of those attempts were not very good.

This was because all the characteristicssuch as scent and colorof the ingredients used disappeared during the numerous manufacturing processes required to make the medicinal plaster.

Therefore, they also searched through medical books and tried to manufacture by gathering medicinal ingredients with similar effects, but they failed to create a product with the same efficacy as Balgeun-go.

The reason was that Hyang had played a little trick with the raw materials and manufacturing process.

It was due to a few ingredients that Hyang added based on his memories from the 21st century, in addition to the ingredients recorded in traditional medical books.

*

Through this huge hit product, the royal stores were able to firmly establish their position.

In particular, in the pioneer region of the northeast, the royal stores became the most powerful institution for absorbing the Jurchen people into Joseon.

The fact that they could proudly purchase products such as salt, candy, and Balgeun-go just like the Joseon people as long as they had goodslater moneywas a great shock to the Jurchen people.

There was no need to feel humiliated while receiving charity like before, and there was no need to risk their lives to plunder.

They could simply visit the royal stores with their loyalty certificates and goods and obtain what they needed without discrimination.

Moreover, they could legally obtain these goods by volunteering at the labor support centers or selling the horses, cattle, and sheep they raised.

Finally, as the naturalized Jurchen people received the same identity tags as the Joseon people instead of loyalty certificates, they pledged their loyalty to Joseon.

*

Note 1) Korea Agricultural Policy News. 2017.04.15.

http://www.ikpnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=29703

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