Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 692

692. Gouging (3)

With Kim Jong-seo and the experts arriving, the revision of the estimate accelerated.

“Even so… there’s not a huge difference compared to the estimate we brought from Seoul….”

“It’s all thanks to the surveying team’s thorough preliminary investigation.”

As the employees in charge of the estimate were talking, the section chief, returning from seeing Kim Jong-seo, slammed the documents down.

“Hey! Scrap it all!”

“Yes?”

The employees, bewildered by the outburst, frowned.

“Ah, why!”

“If this were Seoul, wouldn’t you have inflated the estimate so much you’d be dragged to the police station for trying to scam people?”

The section chief’s expression twisted at his subordinates’ protest.

“Then, go argue with Lord Jeolje!” [Likely a high-ranking official or figure of authority].

“….”

At the section chief’s shout, the employees shut up, gathered the documents, and asked, “Which parts need correcting?”

“What ability do we have against… Lord Jeolje….”

Seeing his subordinates’ quick change of attitude, the section chief exploded.

“Hey, you bastards!”

“Waaah!”

“You avoid the lower ranks like loaches [slippery, bottom-dwelling fish, implying they’re hard to catch or pin down], and suck up to the higher ranks, huh? Fine, great! Let’s all die today, you bastards!”

“Section Chief, calm down!”

“Herbal medicine! Herbal medicine!” [Implies he needs calming remedies].

The employees tried to calm the section chief, whose stress as the middleman had finally erupted.

* * *

There was a reason for the section chief’s outburst.

Although the surveying team had done a thorough preliminary investigation, more detailed work revealed changes here and there.

Each time, the employees revised the estimate and submitted it to Kim Jong-seo.

Kim Jong-seo’s answer was always the same.

“Is this really enough? Increase the numbers a bit more.”

“We’ve already increased it enough….”

“Didn’t you feel anything coming all the way here? It’s definitely not an easy path. What about the climate, and the water? You can’t say it’s good, right?”

“That’s right.”

“That means, shouldn’t it take at least twenty, no, thirty people here to do the work that ten people would do back home? Is it just people? Shouldn’t we prepare enough spare parts to repair excavators and tow trucks? If they break down and there are no parts, we’ll sit around for half a year. Isn’t that all money?”

“…That’s true.”

“So, increase the numbers a bit more.”

“…Yes.”

The opposite case was just as frustrating.

“…According to the newly investigated data, we can reduce the cost of this part a bit.”

At the section chief’s report, Kim Jong-seo put down his black bean tea and stared intently.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

‘Why is he looking at me like that? Did I make a mistake?’

Reading the section chief’s thoughts, Kim Jong-seo replied with disdain, “Why reduce it?”

“Yes? Well, of course….”

“It may seem like you can reduce it now, but isn’t it a variable that can change as construction progresses? Didn’t you think of that?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the section chief lowered his head.

“I will fix it to the original estimate.”

“No, didn’t you understand that I said ‘variable’? A change means it can decrease, but it can also increase, right? Increase it a bit more.”

“…Yes.”

The section chief, scolded by Kim Jong-seo, sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate that the Ministry of Economy and Finance officials didn’t come along….”

The most difficult opponents when working on the railroad project were the officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance [equivalent to a treasury or budget department].

These officials would bring income and expenditure records for six months, or even three years in severe cases, and scrutinize every penny for wasteful expenditures. Dealing with them had accustomed the railroad corporation’s employees to entering accurate amounts.

Naturally, psychological resistance arose whenever they carried out Kim Jong-seo’s orders.

They were barely holding on by hypnotizing themselves with Kim Jong-seo’s excuses.

Watching the estimate gradually take shape through the employees’ hard work, Kim Jong-seo smiled with satisfaction.

“Hmm…. Isn’t it about time they came?”

Kim Jong-seo, looking at the allied representatives’ accommodations through the window, steeled himself.

“Dare to try to play tricks on the Empire?”

* * *

July of the 7th year of the Imperial Era (1455).

The high-ranking representatives of the allied nations finally arrived in Suez.

“They are later than expected.”

At his subordinate’s words, Kim Jong-seo chuckled. “Isn’t crossing the desert from up north to Suez time-consuming? Of course, that’s an excuse; they probably gathered to coordinate their stories.”

“Ah….”

Looking at the official nodding, Kim Jong-seo continued, “Now that they’ve arrived, an invitation will come in about five days, under the pretext of relieving their travel fatigue. Their true intention is to seize the initiative.”

“Is it to seize the initiative?”

“It’s to seize the initiative and put on a show of strength. But they made a mistake. They are the ones in a hurry, not us.”

“Ah….”

Looking at his subordinate nodding repeatedly, Kim Jong-seo leaned back in his chair, relaxed.

“Whatever they do, we just need to do our job. Ah! Don’t forget to keep the surveying team and the estimators quiet.”

“I will prevent them from approaching.”

“Preventing approach is important, but we must also be careful about what they carelessly leak. Tell them to refrain from using nearby bars for the time being.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Kim Jong-seo’s prediction was accurate.

Exactly five days later, an invitation came from the representatives of the allied nations.

“It’s finally starting.”

Kim Jong-seo, confirming the invitation, slowly got up.

* * *

The meeting between the Empire and the alliance began around sunset to avoid the midday heat.

“Nice to meet you. I am Kim Jong-seo, Minister of General Affairs of the Great Joseon Empire.”

Starting with Kim Jong-seo’s self-introduction, the representatives of the allied nations introduced themselves.

Henrique of Portugal, Giovanni of Florence, and confidants of the kings and sultans from France and the Ottoman Empire introduced themselves.

After introductions and simple greetings, the meeting, disguised as a banquet, began.

“Today, France has prepared the meal,” said the French representative.

Kim Jong-seo brightened his eyes. “Oh, really? I have high expectations for French cuisine, known throughout the world.”

“You will be fully satisfied.”

The French representative smiled and clapped, signaling the servants.

The servants brought bowls of water for the representatives to wash their hands and placed them in front of them.

The representatives watched Kim Jong-seo with curious eyes. According to their data, the Empire, Ming, and Waeguk [historical name for Japan] did not wash their hands because they used chopsticks.

If Kim Jong-seo didn’t wash his hands and did something else—for example, drank the water—they intended to use it to apply psychological pressure.

However, Kim Jong-seo’s actions defied their expectations.

“Certainly, this area suffers a lot from dust.”

Kim Jong-seo leisurely washed his hands and wiped them with the linen towel.

Seeing Kim Jong-seo acting elegantly according to European etiquette, the French representative clapped again, looking sour.

Kim Jong-seo, watching with a good-natured smile, muttered inwardly, ‘It doesn’t deviate from His Majesty’s expectations by even an inch.’

* * *

“They will use petty tricks to break our Empire’s spirit. We must prepare for this as much as possible,” Hyang said, summoning all the European university professors working at the research institute.

“Thoroughly educate them on the gait, behavior, and dining etiquette befitting European nobles!”

At Hyang’s order, the professors rigorously trained the delegation’s officials.

Some questioned Hyang about the rigorous training.

“The Empire also has excellent etiquette from ancient times. Is it necessary to learn the etiquette of those barbarians?”

Hyang immediately answered, “Everyone knows etiquette differs from country to country. However, they have a strong sense of superiority. They will laugh at those who don’t know their etiquette. But, if we properly observe their etiquette and they don’t properly practice ours, can’t we laugh at them? We can seize the initiative they were trying to take.”

The officials who had questioned Hyang nodded and shut their mouths.

As a result of the rigorous training, the Empire’s representatives enjoyed the banquet while accurately observing European etiquette.

Slightly shaking his head at the Empire’s delegation, he glared at the French representative.

‘Is this all they thought of….’

‘They still don’t know what kind of place the Empire is.’

Henrique and Giovanni came to the same conclusion.

‘It’s going to be difficult from the start.’

Their predictions were accurate.

* * *

Two days after the introductory banquet, full-scale talks began.

“You all requested to lay railroads in this area, so our Empire dispatched experts to investigate. Frankly, it’s not an easy task.”

Kim Jong-seo’s words, directly revealing his inner thoughts of, ‘You guys whined so much that I looked into it, and it’s going to cost a lot of money,’ made the allied representatives frown.

Henrique, emptying his glass of water, asked Kim Jong-seo on behalf of the representatives, “So, how much is the estimated cost?”

At Henrique’s question, Kim Jong-seo gestured to the officials behind him. They placed thick files of documents, one for each representative.

“The number on the second page is the estimated construction cost, and from then on, it’s a detailed record for each field.”

Listening to Kim Jong-seo’s words, the representatives opened their eyes wide at the numbers written in large letters.

“Gasp!”

“Hup!”

The representatives, inhaling sharply at the enormous amount, checked the numbers again. Eventually, Henrique asked Kim Jong-seo, “Is this amount accurate?”

“It is currently the minimum amount. Depending on what variables arise as construction progresses, it is highly likely to increase further.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s answer, the French representative shouted, “I can’t believe it!”

Kim Jong-seo, hearing the French representative’s cry through the interpreter, hardened his expression and put strength into his voice. “Are you looking at our Empire as a con artist? Considering the trade with our Empire, you should know what kind of country we are, right?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the French representative shut his mouth. The Empire’s goods were famous for their reliability. Expensive, but always worth the price.

Thanks to this, the ‘Land of Flowers’ was a symbol of trust.

“Still, it’s too much,” said Henrique.

Kim Jong-seo immediately replied, “Then, you can just give up on the railroad, right? I say again, you all requested it first. Our Empire has never asked you to let us lay railroads.”

Kim Jong-seo was taking a hardline stance of, ‘If you can’t do it, then break the table.’