Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 776

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776. A Self-Inflicted Disaster… (11)

While the Portuguese wore strange expressions, the crew and captains of Browe’s fleet moved busily.

“Two months! We have to make them useful within two months!”

“At least make them understand what we’re telling them to do!”

Browe’s fleet trained the slaves right in front of the port of Ceuta.

They diligently trained them on how to raise and lower sails, and how to turn the yards to the left and right according to the wind direction.

And, in this process, slaves who couldn’t adapt properly were sold back to the slave market, and new slaves were brought in.

The sailors treated the slaves harshly, but the slaves desperately followed the sailors’ words.

This was because they had heard from the clumsy translations of the English interpreter that they would gain freedom if the voyage was successful.

And, because they saw that even a little lagging behind would immediately result in being put up for sale in the slave market, the slaves had no choice but to desperately cling on.

Just as the English tried hard to find the most useful slaves, the slave traders of Ceuta also had headaches.

“Another return?”

“Why are they so picky….”

One of the conditions put forward by the English was quite demanding.

-They should be able to understand some Latin.

At that time, the common language of the Mediterranean region was Latin, so captains and senior sailors – those aiming for executive positions such as captain or navigator – used Latin proficiently.

Therefore, they demanded that the slaves be able to understand simple commands given in one or two Latin words.

However, more than 60% of the slaves entering the slave market of Ceuta were slaves who had just been captured from Africa.

The slaves who met the standards required by the English were the slaves coming from the Suez Railroad construction, but the problem was that the English were not the only ones looking for them.

The language used between the Imperials and their allies at the Suez construction site was also Latin – albeit at the level of listing words – so the slaves from the Suez site understood Latin.

Also, thanks to the thorough management of the Imperials, the slaves from the Suez site were strong and quick in their work.

As an aside, one word from the Empire spread throughout the Mediterranean through the slaves from the Suez construction site and the allied people who managed the construction site.

This was because there was an Imperial word that the slaves who managed the slaves or the employees kept saying.

“Quickly! Quickly!”

When that word came out, the slaves from the construction site moved faster.

* * *

The Imperials managing the site increased the efficiency of the slaves by using a method that they had used well from the home country.

This was also a method where Hyang added MSG [Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer].

The slaves were divided into groups of a certain size, and a leader was selected from each group. And, the group that did well was given more food than the other groups, and even provided with holidays.

Finally, in the case of the group leader who commanded the group, an additional portion was given in addition to the food provided, and even some money was given.

Ultimately, if they recorded good results for more than 6 months without any accidents, the group leader became a free citizen and was hired as a regular employee at the site.

The slaves who saw a slave like themselves become a free citizen and be treated well in front of their eyes went wild.

“Quickly! Quickly!”

When they heard that word, the slaves squeezed out strength they didn’t have and increased their speed.

“Praise makes even whales dance, but incentives make even whales fly in the sky.”

That was what Hyang muttered when he first introduced the ‘reward system’.

* * *

Thanks to these advantages, the slaves from the Suez site were very popular.

The Ottomans bought the most slaves from Suez, followed by the Italians.

And the English jumped into the competition.

Thanks to this, the slave market in Ceuta was booming every day.

* * *

When Browe’s fleet had stayed in Ceuta for almost two months, Browe reported to the clan’s representative.

“I think we can depart now.”

“Can we depart right away?”

“We can depart as soon as we fill up with food and water.”

“Then let’s depart as soon as possible!”

As soon as the decision was made from above, the captains and sailors moved busily.

As the captains and sailors went around the Ceuta market buying all kinds of food, beer, and wine, the Ceuta merchants introduced the most popular products these days.

The merchant that Captain Thomas met was the same.

“You said you’re going far? Then this is the best!”

“What is it?”

“It’s called ‘Geonryang’ made in the ‘Land of Flowers’ [a common term for Korea].”

“Geonryang?”

When Captain Thomas showed interest, the merchant brought a large paper bag from one side and opened its mouth.

“This is it.”

“Is it grain flour?”

“It’s a mixture of grain, jerky, and dried vegetables made into powder. If you just add hot water to it….”

The merchant poured Geonryang powder into a small cup, poured hot water, and handed the cup over with a small spoon.

“Try it.”

“Hmm… slurps!”

Captain Thomas, who had scooped up and eaten the Geonryang in the cup, nodded lightly.

“It’s not bad. It’s not a bad flavor.”

“Originally, you carry dried bread for long voyages, but is that bread? It’s a stone.”

Captain Thomas nodded at the merchant’s point.

When he used to sail a Portuguese ship to the Land of Flowers, the most difficult thing was eating the bread in question.

It was okay because there were stopovers in between, but if they couldn’t stop at the stopovers due to epidemics or storms, they had to endure by eating that damn bread.

‘Honestly, I ate it to avoid dying….’

Captain Thomas, recalling painful memories, asked the merchant.

“How much should I eat per meal?”

“If you eat it with salted meat, about….”

The other captains were similar to Thomas.

“Do we have to eat porridge instead of bread?”

The clan’s representative wore a tearful expression, but the sailors’ expressions brightened instead.

“We don’t have to eat that damn bread?”

The Imperial goods purchased by the fleet were not only Geonryang. The soju [Korean distilled liquor] still modified freshwater generator that Hyang made and supplied was also loaded onto the ship.

“This is a bit expensive….”

When the captains showed difficulty at the considerable price, the merchants pointed to the ‘flower crest’ stamped on the generator and Geonryang bag and raised their voices.

“Do you see that? It’s a ‘Land of Flowers’ product! Both the freshwater generator and Geonryang are cheaper from Ming, but buying cheap and failing is what Ming products are!”

“That’s true….”

The captains opened their wallets at the merchants’ words.

* * *

When the preparations for departure were completely finished, Captain Browe told the clan’s representative and held a dinner.

Captain Browe, who had rented the largest pub in the port, went up on the table and raised his glass high.

“For the success of the voyage!”

“Cheers!”

“Let’s drink!”

The captains and sailors, responding to Captain Browe’s lead, soon began to empty their glasses.

Amid the boisterous noise overflowing from all directions, Captain Browe and the clan’s representative had a friendly conversation.

“I’m glad we could make the timing.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m a little worried about the slaves we brought in last, but will it be okay?”

“We have no choice but to train them on the way, but I think it will be okay.”

While the pub was noisy, those in charge of security duty smacked their lips with envious eyes.

“Tsk. If only I hadn’t been caught in the damn lottery….”

“But they say they’ll bring us food and drinks in a little while, so we have to be patient until then.”

Two days later, Browe’s fleet, having completely finished preparations, departed from Ceuta.

“God’s blessing!”

While the people working at the port and the women in the pub flocked to the pier and enthusiastically sent them off, several sturdy men moved secretly.

“Tell them we’ve departed.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Browe’s fleet, which departed from Ceuta, headed towards the entrance of the Mediterranean at a rapid pace.

“I’m glad the wind is helping us. It’s a blessing.”

Thanking the timely wind, Captain Browe ordered the sailors.

“Keep a good lookout! From now on, it’s a place where pirates roam!”

“Yes!”

“Raise the signal flag too!”

As the signal flag was raised on the mast of the flagship ‘Golden Browe’, signal flags were also raised on the other ships.

The sailors of Browe’s fleet carefully looked around. The sailors, who were very nervous and looking around, all cursed Portugal.

“Damn Portuguese bastards….”

* * *

The entrance to the Mediterranean was famous for being infested with pirates.

The original plan was to accompany the Portuguese fleet departing from Ceuta to Lisbon. However, for some reason, the Portuguese refused to accompany them.

“The departure has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.”

“How long has it been postponed?”

“At least a month?”

“Damn it!”

Browe, hearing the Portuguese’s answer, explained the situation to the clan’s representative.

“Perhaps the Portuguese are interfering.”

“Portugal? Why?”

“Who would suffer the most if we succeed in the exploration?”

“Ah….”

In the end, Browe’s fleet had no choice but to decide to depart on its own. This was because there were financial problems with staying in Ceuta any longer.

* * *

Just as Browe’s fleet was approaching the entrance to the Mediterranean, the lookout on the watchtower shouted.

“Forward to port! Multiple unidentified ships!”

At the lookout’s shout, Captain Browe ran to the forecastle and took out his spyglass.

“It’s not Portuguese, and it’s not Spanish either… It’s likely to be pirates.”

Captain Browe, confirming the ships approaching, gave a loud order.

“Prepare for battle! Raise the signal flag!”

Ding ding ding ding!

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

Amid the sound of bells ringing to announce the emergency from the ships of the fleet that saw the signal flag, the sailors moved busily.

The shutters covering the gunports were opened, and the muzzles of the cannons that had finished loading poked out.

While the cannons located on the main deck were finishing their battle preparations. On the upper deck, archers and musketeers wearing leather armor took their places.

“Preparation complete!”

Captain Browe, receiving the report from the deputy, said to the clan’s representative next to him.

“It’s dangerous. It would be better to go into the cabin.”

At Captain Browe’s advice, the clan’s representative drew the longsword he was wearing.

“Even if I look like this, I’m from a knight background.”

“If that’s the case….”

Captain Browe, smiling slightly at the representative’s appearance full of fighting spirit, raised his spyglass and looked at the fleet in question.

Captain Browe, confirming the ships rushing straight without turning their bows, shouted.

“It’s pirates! It’s war!”

* * *

The battle that took place at the entrance to the Mediterranean was fierce.

The fleet’s flagship, ‘Golden Browe’, and the ‘Golden Mary’ commanded by Captain Thomas were quite large even among carracks [a three- or four-masted sailing ship].

Thanks to this, the two carracks were equipped with 10 main guns, 5 on each side, and a number of light guns on the forecastle and sterncastle. The three caravels [a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship] did not have main guns, but each ship was equipped with about 10 light guns.

Thanks to this, it was a fairly powerful fleet in terms of firepower.

The pirates who attacked them were a group of about 20 small and fast dhows [a traditional Arab sailing vessel].

They replaced the inferiority in firepower with mobility and quantity.

And what they were aiming for was not the powerful carracks, but the caravels.