Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 444

444. The Western Barbarians Come to Joseon (1)

Sejong 20th Year (1440, Gyeongshin Year)

In August, trade ships arrived in droves, carried by the seasonal winds.

These trade ships anchored in the designated waiting area off Dalido Island, a short distance from the Mokpo Naval Base.

This was one of Joseon’s measures to prevent the spread of epidemics.

Regardless of their origin, all trade ships anchoring at Dalido Island were required to undergo a five-day quarantine before being allowed to enter the trade port near the Mokpo Naval Base.

The arrival and departure of these trade ships was quite a spectacle for the local residents.

The ships, with their unfamiliar designs and brightly colored hulls, were a sight to behold. They were also welcome visitors.

Residents in small wooden boats would approach the trade ships to sell fresh fruits, food, and alcohol. The sailors, who often craved proper meals after their long voyages, warmly welcomed them. As a result, veteran sailors who had visited Joseon multiple times carried Joseon currency and could even speak a few simple phrases.

Most of their vocabulary consisted of “Alcohol!” and “Expensive!”

While watching the ships arrive at Dalido Island, a resident named Chi-seok nudged his companion.

“What?”

His companion, who had been busy examining the other ships, asked nonchalantly. Chi-seok retorted,

“Did the Challenger go out and come back with babies?”

“Is the Challenger some runaway goat? How could it come back with babies? You must be eating too well and talking nonsense.”

Annoyed by his companion’s dismissive reply, Chi-seok pointed towards the ships and raised his voice.

“Open your eyes and look over there!”

Seeing what Chi-seok was pointing at, his companion muttered in disbelief.

“Is that so?”

Trailing behind the Challenger-class warship heading towards Dalido Island were three ships of similar design but much smaller size.

Although shorter in length, the ships, with their high prows and sterns, were almost identical copies of the Challenger-class warship.

“Where did those ships come from?”

The ships following the Challenger-class warship had been sent from Portugal.

* * *

“Your Highness, we have arrived in Joseon.”

At the captain’s announcement, Prince Henry stepped out onto the deck.

“It looks lively.”

That was Prince Henry’s impression as he gazed at the distant Mokpo Naval Base and the adjacent trade port. The captain nodded.

“Indeed, it seems very vibrant.”

Nodding in agreement, Prince Henry clenched his fist and muttered,

“Now that I’ve come to the ‘Land of Flowers’ [a poetic name for Joseon, referring to its beautiful landscape], I must achieve results. I must do my best in the negotiations. Negotiation is the only way.”

There was an undeniable sense of desperation in Prince Henry’s voice as he steeled himself.

* * *

Recently, Prince Henry had been in dire straits.

‘Superficial splendor, internal poverty.’

This aptly described Prince Henry’s current situation.

To surpass his rivals—Spain, England, France, especially Spain—in the race to find a sea route around Africa, Henry had invested enormous sums of money.

The problem was that the Kingdom of Portugal simply couldn’t sustain such massive expenditures.

Therefore, Henry had been forced to partner with Florentine capital, represented by Cosimo de Medici.

However, as competition intensified, even more funds were required, and Henry had to borrow money from other capitalists—mainly Portuguese nobles.

These new investors were less patient than Cosimo. They constantly demanded results, forcing Henry to distribute territories in the colonies acquired through exploration and supply them with slaves.

The nobles began to generate substantial profits by exploiting these distributed lands with large numbers of slaves.

However, Henry was barely managing to stay afloat. He had earned the reputation of being a ‘staunch supporter of explorers,’ but he had little to show for it.

As this situation persisted, even the royal family began to view Prince Henry with suspicion, and the merchants sent by Cosimo de Medici started scrutinizing the account books more closely.

“To overcome this difficulty, the ‘Land of Flowers’ is the only answer!”

Firmly resolved, Prince Henry had crossed the desert to Suez. He awaited the arrival of the fleet that had sailed around Africa according to their prearranged plan. Coincidentally, the ships sent from Joseon were also in Suez at that time.

“I’ll travel to Joseon with the Joseon ships! If I can secure exclusive trading rights with Joseon, everything will be resolved!”

This was Henry’s plan.

“With the power of Portugal, we can obtain exclusive trading rights!”

Henry was even prepared to use force if necessary.

However, Henry’s confidence gradually began to erode over time.

* * *

Henry’s confidence began to crumble the moment he saw the Joseon ships anchored in Suez.

-Hull length 120 to 140 cubits (approximately 62m).

He had heard rumors in Alexandria and received reports summarizing information gathered in Suez, but seeing the Joseon warships in person, he was struck by their enormous size and sturdy construction.

Slightly intimidated by the towering hulls, Henry tried to remain optimistic.

“Judging by the fact that they only send about two ships at most, they can’t have many of these large ships. If we assemble a proper fleet, we still have a chance.”

As he made this hopeful assessment, the fleet he had been waiting for finally arrived.

While the Portuguese fleet rested in Suez, Henry, accompanied by an interpreter, sought out the Joseon representatives.

“I would like to follow you to Joseon with my fleet.”

The Joseon representative listened to Henry’s request and consulted with his colleagues. After a brief discussion in their unfamiliar language, they nodded in agreement and conveyed their answer through the interpreter.

“The journey is arduous, but you are welcome to follow if you are confident.”

Henry immediately responded to the interpreter’s words.

“I am confident. Thank you.”

Returning to his lodgings, Henry chuckled and mocked the Joseon representative.

“‘The journey is arduous if you are confident?’ These are the people who have braved the triangular waves at the tip of Africa [referring to the Cape of Good Hope]. They are looking down on us.”

The triangular waves, formed by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents, were notorious for destroying ships and drowning inexperienced sailors. These were the people who had navigated those treacherous waters.

Henry, confident in the skills of his sailors and the strength of his ships, dismissed the Joseon representative’s words as absurd.

Three days later, the Joseon ships departed from Suez.

* * *

As the Joseon ships sailed east from Suez, passing through Aden, Henry’s confidence continued to dwindle.

The first factor that shook Henry’s confidence was the sight of the large Joseon ships effortlessly cutting through the sea ahead.

The number of these large Joseon ships, which he had believed to be limited, increased by three more in Chittagong.

“Just from what we’ve seen so far, there are five ships. Considering maintenance and supplies, there must be at least ten….”

Henry shook his head slightly as he estimated the approximate number.

“Ten of those large ships…. Is that even possible? Ships are not cheap to build…. And if we consider the supply of sailors….”

Drawing on his experience supporting explorations, Henry recalculated the numbers and reached a conclusion.

“More than ten is impossible. Ten is the limit.”

Despite reaching this conclusion, Henry’s expression remained grim.

“Ten of those large ships…. We’d have to mobilize at least 1/3 of our fleet. If we miscalculate, we could end up bankrupt.”

However, it wasn’t long before Henry was forced to revise his calculations once again.

The firepower of the Challenger-class warship was the reason for this latest reassessment.

Before departing from Chittagong, Henry hired a guide for a considerable sum.

“You know the way to Kitai [an old name for China] and Joseon well?”

“I know it very well.”

The Kitai guide answered confidently.

“We are going to Joseon with those Joseon ships.”

At Henry’s words, the guide immediately frowned.

“There are many pirates on the way from here to Joseon. Is your armament strong?”

At the guide’s question, the captains’ expressions hardened, and they subtly drew their swords.

However, the guide chuckled at their display of aggression and burst into laughter.

“Swords are not enough. Do you have cannons?”

“We do.”

“Many?”

“Enough.”

“It will have to be many. The Joseon people’s ships have many cannons, so the pirates don’t bother them. But they know how to pounce on weak ships like ghosts. Of course, the Joseon ships step in to stop them, but still, a few get eaten. Well, it’s like a school of sharks.”

“We have cannons and arquebuses [early firearms].”

“I don’t know what that is, but you’ll have to be prepared. Especially the route from here through Chittagong to Malacca is infested with pirates.”

* * *

The guide’s words were no exaggeration.

The moment they entered the narrow straits leading from Chittagong to Malacca, pirates ambushed them from all directions.

As the pirates swarmed in, the fleet of Arab merchant Mansur, which had been following the Joseon ships, clustered together, and the Joseon ships formed a protective perimeter around them.

“Get in there quickly! Hurry!”

At the guide’s urging, Henry’s fleet joined Mansur’s fleet. With the Joseon ships guarding the outside, a fierce battle erupted.

Henry was forced to recalculate once more, this time based on the firepower displayed by the Joseon army.

The five Challenger-class warships maintained a circular formation, but the gaps between them were relatively wide.

The battle consisted of pirate ships attempting to breach these gaps and seize merchant ships as hostages, while the Challenger-class warships maneuvered to intercept them.

Having fought countless battles since the beginning of Joseon’s long-distance trade, both the Joseon army and the pirates were seasoned veterans.

“Amazing. Both sides….”

The pirates, displaying incredible piloting skills as they tried to exploit the gaps, and the Joseon army, relentlessly blocking them and unleashing fire bombs, were beyond anything Henry had imagined.

As the battle raged, Henry’s face grew paler and paler.

“We have to face those guys?”

Both the pirates, as cunning as sharks and adept at exploiting weaknesses, and the Joseon army, tearing those pirates to shreds, were far superior to the competitors and Arab pirates that he and his subordinate captains had encountered before.

“Even if the road to Joseon is open, we still have to worry about the pirates.”

As Henry nodded in agreement with the captain beside him, a strange noise erupted from a nearby Joseon ship.

Tatatatatatang!

Along with the unfamiliar sound, one of the pirate ships that had targeted a blind spot in the Joseon army’s defenses was instantly bathed in red—the blood of the pirates on board.

Henry could see it clearly. A strangely shaped cannon mounted on the deck of the Joseon warship was unleashing a hail of bullets upon the unfortunate pirate vessel.

The fierce battle concluded with the pirates, unable to penetrate the Joseon army’s defenses, retreating.

The guide, who had been hiding during the battle, reappeared and said to Henry.

“It will be safe until Malacca.”

“Is that so?”

That night, sitting at his desk in his cabin, Henry muttered as he recorded the day’s events.

“Would it even be possible if we mobilized the entire fleet?”