Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 700

700. Jubilee (7)

However, the professors did not give up and persistently looked for opportunities.

“The fact that there’s a tool to break the seal means there will be a situation where the seal needs to be broken! We’ll seize that opportunity!”

“Machines are bound to break down! We’ll wait for that moment!”

While the professors circled around, looking for opportunities, the Empire’s engineers steadily assembled the equipment, checked its condition, and made thorough preparations.

“Don’t just focus on the railroad construction! We need to proceed with the naval base construction as well!”

“Double-check the inventory of materials and equipment!”

The Imperial Railway Corporation employees and military administrators in charge of managing supplies struggled fiercely with computers and reports in front of them.

“At least, it’s fortunate that the naval base construction is supported by the engineering corps.”

“We’re told that the army will also provide a significant number of personnel.”

Kang Dong-il Man-ho, the administrator overseeing the Suez naval base construction, breathed a sigh of relief at his subordinate’s report.

“Hoo~. That’s a relief.”

The subordinate expressed doubt at Kang Dong-il’s words.

“We’re already short-handed, and the soldiers are complaining about giving up their men to the ‘seals’ [referring to the construction project]. Wouldn’t it be better for us to acquire laborers?”

At the subordinate’s words, Kang Dong-il glared at him for making such a problematic statement.

“How are you going to get that budget? Are you going to go to the Ministry of Economy and Finance and get it?”

“Of course, budget issues are a concern, but if we resell them after the construction is finished, wouldn’t we minimize the budget expenditure?”

“Where are you going to sell them? To do it properly, we need to maintain at least 5,000 at all times. Where are you going to resell those 5,000 after the construction is finished?”

At Kang Dong-il’s point, the subordinate immediately replied as if he had already thought about it.

“Wouldn’t it be possible to sell them to the railroad construction site? I heard that the distance is only about 400 li (approximately 160 kilometers), but they’re expecting it to take 10 years because of that desert. We could use that site, couldn’t we?”

Kang Dong-il pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Impossible. Since before the enthronement, the Empire has made it a principle to reduce slavery. But openly buying and selling laborers? It would tarnish the reputation of the military, no, the navy. That’s why it’s not allowed.”

“However, it’s a very useful plan for increasing the efficiency of construction progress and efficient budget execution.”

“It’s not allowed because of that budget.”

“Excuse me?”

Seeing his subordinate blinking, not understanding his words, Kang Dong-il explained in more detail.

“Broadly speaking, the entire military lives on a budget. And the army and navy divide and use that budget. The problem is that there has never been a time when the budget was abundant. However, it’s not so insufficient that we’re extremely strapped, but we only receive just enough to be slightly strapped. But are we going to tarnish the navy’s reputation to save a few pennies? Wouldn’t that be unacceptable? The army ‘landlubbers’ would seize on that and slash the navy’s budget first thing, wouldn’t they?”

Understanding the problem with Kang Dong-il’s explanation, the subordinate immediately bowed his head.

“I apologize. My thinking was short-sighted!”

Kang Dong-il nodded at his subordinate’s apology but did not forget to warn him.

“Whether you’re a commander fighting the enemy on the front lines or an administrator fighting numbers at a desk, you can only succeed by looking broadly and thinking deeply. I’ll let it go this time, but if you make another mistake like this, I guarantee I’ll make sure you live a life completely cut off from success. Don’t forget that there are still many empty positions in the records office.”

At Kang Dong-il’s warning, the subordinate sweated profusely and repeatedly bowed his head.

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

“Then go back and re-examine the numbers in the report, and review the measures for the second contingent that will arrive soon!”

“Yes, sir!”

After dumping a lot of work on his subordinate, Kang Dong-il looked out the window and sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Is there no one smart around here?”

* * *

The second contingent arrived at the Suez site, where numerous mid-level officers were suffering while being tossed around.

With the arrival of the second contingent, which was larger than the first, the Empire was almost ready to complete its preparations.

The professors, who were once again watching for opportunities with hawk-like eyes, froze as they saw the huge transport ship docking at the pier.

“A chimney on the ship? Could it be!”

“Has the Empire already put steam engines on ships!”

The professors, seeing the steamship spewing black smoke from its chimney, rushed to the ship without asking questions.

“Oh! Oh, my!”

“Such a size!”

The professors, seeing the steamship up close, repeatedly exclaimed in admiration. No, it wasn’t just the professors. The laborers who had come to get work and the Alliance soldiers guarding the port all had their eyes fixed on the huge ship in front of them.

The professors, who had been staring blankly at the ship as huge as a castle floating on the sea, soon came to their senses and began to observe the ship here and there.

What caught their eyes was the ship’s nameplate attached to the stern.

The nameplate, made of copper, was as large as the ship. The ship’s name was engraved on the nameplate in both Imperial and Latin.

“Magna Orientem (The Great East, 大東方)?”

The professors, reading the Latin name engraved on the nameplate, thought for a moment and nodded.

“A fitting name for the ship.”

“The Empire is the strongest in the East… It’s a fitting name.”

However, this Great East was Hyang’s trick to turn Europe’s shipbuilding direction in the wrong direction.

* * *

‘Create a paddle steamer that is much less efficient than a wind turbine propulsion system to mislead Europe.’

Under this plan, a new large transport ship was created.

Construction went smoothly because of the experience accumulated since the first steamship was built.

However, Hyang constantly added seasoning to it.

-Use only wood for the structures supporting the ship to maximize its size.

-Attach many ornate decorations to the exterior.

The transport ship that resulted from adding various seasonings was not only huge but also quite ornate in appearance.

When it was time to name the ship after the successful launch, the name Hyang chose was ‘The Great East.’

When Wan heard the name Hyang had chosen, he immediately objected to Hyang.

“Although it is a name Your Majesty has carefully chosen, wouldn’t ‘Great Joseon’ be better for such a large ship?”

At Wan’s suggestion, Hyang smiled and shook his head.

“Crown Prince, what is the purpose of building that ship?”

Wan pondered for a moment at Hyang’s question, then immediately bowed his head.

“Ah! My thinking was too short-sighted! I was just taken by the size!”

“It’s good that you realized it right away.”

Meanwhile, the ministers who were listening to their conversation from behind all had the same thought.

‘His Majesty’s naming skills are still not good.’

Whether he knew the ministers’ thoughts or not, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Considering the fate of that ship, The Great East is a fitting name.’

The origin of The Great East was the ‘Great Eastern’ ship.

In the history before Hyang intervened, the Great Eastern was the largest ship of its time. The purpose of its creation was to build a ship capable of circumnavigating the world without refueling.

However, the future of the Great Eastern, which was created in this way, was bleak.

With the opening of the Suez Canal, the route from Europe to the East was greatly shortened. However, the size of the Great Eastern made it impossible to pass through the Suez Canal at that time. Naturally, it had to go around the African continent, and profits were always in the red.

In the end, the Great Eastern disappeared from history without any significant activity.

That’s why Hyang gave the newly created ship that name.

-It seemed to be ahead of its time, but in the end, it became outdated.

* * *

Whatever the background, the Great East, which docked at the pier, was a marvel.

“Cargo is coming out endlessly!”

“Such an enormous load capacity!”

While the laborers and soldiers were amazed by the enormous load capacity, the professors nodded as they looked at the chimney and the huge wheels on the side of the hull.

“That’s right, that’s right… Steam engine and wheels… It’s a good combination.”

“I think we can apply it too.”

“I want to see the engine room.”

While the professors were burning with academic and research enthusiasm, the Alliance officials who had come after hearing the rumors were becoming serious in a different sense.

The beginning of the conversation was the discomfort that the ship’s name brought.

“The Great East… It implies that the East has surpassed us.”

“And that the strongest of the East is themselves. In the end, it’s right to see it as a declaration that they are stronger than us.”

“It’s arrogant, but it’s probably true now.”

As they were talking, a French official suddenly looked back at the Portuguese and Ottoman officials with surprised eyes.

“Come to think of it… I heard that the Empire recommended building a canal in the past. Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, from that time on, was the Empire already eyeing Europe?”

The Portuguese and Ottoman officials could not hide their bewilderment at the French official’s muttering, who had suddenly become serious.

“What are you talking about?”

At the Portuguese official’s question, the French official told his thoughts.

“Look at the size of that ship. It’s only carrying cargo now, but what if it carried cannons instead of cargo?”

At the French official’s point, the Portuguese and Ottoman officials imagined the expected outcome.

‘Even now, the Empire’s battleships are famous for carrying an enormous number of cannons. But with that size, just one or two ships could take on a decent fleet!’

The Portuguese and Ottoman officials’ expressions also became serious, and the French official put more strength into his voice.

“In a situation where a waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea from Suez is completed, what if warships as large as that ship enter the Mediterranean Sea through the waterway? The worst situation, like the Mongol invasion in the past, will happen again.”

“That’s right. Was this the background for the Empire’s demand for a naval base?”

“Then, shouldn’t we consider a plan to nullify all treaties?”

At the Ottoman official’s words, the Portuguese official shook his head.

“That’s impossible. Considering the economic losses we’ve seen so far, it’s impossible to start from scratch.”

Following the Portuguese official’s words, the French official added.

“As long as there is no waterway, the nightmare I mentioned will not happen. However, guarding against the Empire must not be neglected even for a moment.”

“Let’s send a report to the home country.”

“Let’s do that.”

The officials, who had reached an agreement, hurriedly began to write reports to be sent to their home countries.

In this way, The Great East brought about a butterfly effect that Hyang had not even anticipated.

-As long as the Empire’s military threat exists, the waterway will never be dug!

-Be as careful as possible not to provoke the Empire recklessly! Do not give the Empire an excuse!

In this way, the birth of the Suez Canal was pushed back considerably. In addition, the Western advance into the East proceeded very cautiously. This was because most of the Eastern regions were under the influence of the Empire.

Later, Wan and the ministers, who heard the rumors through the merchants, looked at Hyang with surprised eyes.

“Did you even think this far?”

“No, I think I was lucky.”

It was an answer that came with an embarrassed smile, but Wan and the ministers all thought differently.

‘He said that, but he definitely calculated that far!’

‘Such a deep meaning was in that clumsy name!’

‘As expected, His Majesty’s mind is deep and meticulous!’