Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 870

870. Generational Shift (1)

Cosimo’s decision became the crucial key, and Florence and the Empire moved swiftly.

Among them, Giovanni and Lorenzo were, as always, the fastest and most enthusiastic.

As soon as Cosimo’s permission was granted, Giovanni crossed the Mediterranean again, heading for Suez.

Upon arriving in Suez, Giovanni looked perplexed as he checked for available ships.

“There are no ships…”

All the merchant ships belonging to the Medici family had already set sail.

* * *

During this period, the port of Suez was bustling with trading ships from Europe, the Empire [Joseon], the Middle East, Ming [China], and Japan.

From sunrise to sunset, most of the trading ships entering and leaving the port of Suez belonged to European countries.

Suez at this time was truly the starting point of the ‘Golden Route’ [a major trade route connecting East and West].

Not all European trading ships were heading to the Empire.

Even more trading ships were heading to India than to the Empire.

Indian spices and various dyes had been famous in Europe for a long time.

Until the Suez-Prince Henry Port was connected, Indian spices and dyes were monopolized by Islamic and Italian merchants.

The machinations of Italian merchants to monopolize this spice and dye trade were among the causes of the Crusades.

However, through the Crusades and the subsequent course of events, Islamic merchant power gained dominance.

In this situation, the construction of the Suez-Prince Henry Port railway was like opening a new era.

European merchants, either bypassing the African continent or using ships built in the Suez shipyard, flocked to India and the Empire.

And, as a chain reaction related to this, maritime traffic in the Mediterranean became active.

This was because, in order to take the cargo arriving at Prince Henry Port from Suez to their home countries, they had to cross the Mediterranean.

And, by acting as agents for this cargo transport or operating warehouses, Italian merchants once again established themselves as the central force in the European economy. And the Medici family had the greatest influence on these Italian merchant forces.

Amidst various rumors, Cosimo’s insight, recognizing and acting on the existence of Shinji early on, shone brightly.

* * *

Upon hearing the news that all of his family’s ships had already set sail, Giovanni took his party straight to the Empire’s military port.

This was because there was a very high possibility of exposing secrets if he boarded ships from France or other countries.

“Do you think those guys are clueless? They must have been watching my movements all along, so there’s no need to give them a chance on their own.”

To prevent the leakage of secrets and ensure his personal safety, Giovanni headed to the Empire’s military port.

“And the Empire’s military port always has the Empire’s ships.”

The Empire’s ships, whether warships or merchant ships, stayed in the Empire’s military port. Therefore, those who missed their ships among those heading to the Empire, Ming, Japan, or India unconditionally headed to the Empire’s military port.

This was because there were always at least two ships heading to the Empire at the Empire’s military port at any time.

Having boarded a ship heading to the Empire, Giovanni and his party secluded themselves in the cabin and checked their requirements.

“This must be obtained if possible. This should be obtained if possible, and this would be good to obtain….”

After carefully adjusting the priority of the requirements they would present, Giovanni and his party took a long sigh and put down their pens.

“First of all, the arrangement is over….”

“Will the Empire really listen to our demands?”

“To be honest, I agree.”

At his subordinates’ concerns, Giovanni smiled slyly and replied.

“The Empire had already intended to intervene from the moment they made the offer to us. Having joined the huge gambling game called ‘Italian Unification,’ the Empire has no choice but to continue betting in order not to lose its stake.”

‘That’s what Father said.’

“Ah. I see!”

“As expected, Giovanni! You are truly amazing!”

At his subordinates’ praise, Giovanni waved his hand with an embarrassed smile.

“Amazing, what… Now! Review it one more time instead of that!”

“Yes!”

Watching his subordinates seriously review the requirements again, Giovanni muttered inwardly.

‘Not realizing the Empire’s intentions until Father told me is my mistake and my inadequacy! I need to work harder! There are no second mistakes!’

* * *

With such a firm resolution, Giovanni visited Shin Suk-ju again as soon as he arrived in Seoul.

Shin Suk-ju, having received the requirements presented by Giovanni, sent the original to the Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat] and immediately submitted a copy to Hwangbo In.

“Hmm….”

Hwangbo In, reviewing the copy presented by Shin Suk-ju, ordered the aide who was waiting.

“Go and bring the Deputy Prime Ministers.”

“Yes, sir.”

After a while, the Deputy Prime Ministers gathered upon hearing the news, and Hwangbo In presented them with Florence’s requirements.

“Hmm….”

“Heo….”

Among the Deputy Prime Ministers who carefully checked Florence’s requirements, Kim Jong-seo was the first to speak.

“It seems they also realized that our Empire intends to join the game.”

As Kim Jong-seo’s words ended, Lee Gyeon-gi added to them.

“They are saying that since we have joined the game, we should bet properly.”

Hwangbo In also nodded at Kim Jong-seo and Lee Gyeon-gi’s words.

“I think so too. Then what should we do? Shall we try betting properly once?”

“That’s not it.”

“I don’t think so.”

At Hwangbo In’s words, Kim Jong-seo and Lee Gyeon-gi shook their heads at the same time.

“I think it’s a bad idea to bet all the money from the beginning.”

“I agree. It’s foolish to bet unconditionally without knowing the hidden cards of those who are joining the game.”

Hwangbo In nodded silently at Kim Jong-seo and Lee Gyeon-gi’s words. At that sight, Shin Suk-ju opened his mouth with a surprised expression.

“Do all three of you enjoy gambling?”

“It’s just a level of enjoying it as entertainment.”

“It’s a pastime, a pastime.”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

At the three people’s reactions, Shin Suk-ju muttered inwardly.

‘It’s not like the rumors say….’

According to the rumors, the three people’s gambling skills were considerable. Although they enjoyed it to the extent that they would not be caught by the Board of Audit and Inspection, they boasted skills that could be called masters in various gambling games, including baduk [go] and janggi [Korean chess], as well as ssangryuk [backgammon] and golpae [a type of card game].

“Ahem! Ahem….”

Hwangbo In, who turned his attention with a cough, quickly came to a conclusion.

“We will have to discuss it again in Daejeon, but let’s start by betting moderately. Can I report this to His Majesty?”

“I agree.”

“Let’s do that.”

As the conclusion was reached, Hwangbo In gave an order to the aide.

“Make several copies of the copy and hand them over to the ministers of each department. Also, tell them to prepare thoroughly because His Majesty will ask for an answer soon. No, no. Tell them to think about the answer by tomorrow and come to me. We must avoid hearing disapproving sounds.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Three days later, Wan summoned the ministers.

“Have you seen the requirements sent by Florence? It seems to me that they are demanding that the Empire also bet in the game created in Italy?”

At Wan’s question, Hwangbo In stepped forward and answered.

“Your subjects also think so.”

“Is that so? Hmm….”

Wan, who was thinking for a moment at Hwangbo In’s answer, soon asked the next question.

“Then it seems right to bet, but how much should we bet?”

At Wan’s question, Im Soon-wook stepped forward and answered.

“Betting in a gambling game is because you are confident that you can win the game and win money. There are two main ways to win big money in a gambling game. One is to bet big only when you have a good hand. Then the opponent will unconditionally suspect that I have a good hand if I bet a lot of money and will back down. If this suspicion accumulates, even if I have a bad hand, if I bet a lot of money, they will back down.”

“Hmm… that’s good… Then what is the other one?”

At Wan’s question full of curiosity, Im Soon-wook continued.

“The other is to lose little by little at first. If you lose little by little like that, the damage is small, and you can continue to observe the game and learn about the opponent’s habits. Once you know the opponent, you can win in the biggest game.”

“Interesting. Then what method does the Minister of Finance and Economy want to use?”

At Wan’s question, Im Soon-wook immediately answered without delay.

“If it were me, I would use the second method.”

“Why?”

“I can’t guarantee that the game taking place in Italy is a proper game. While losing little by little, you must first find out who is a yabaoui [a cheat] – one of the Chinese gambling games that wins money by trickery – and who is a decoy, and you must also know whether Florence can stay in the game with the Empire until the end. Therefore, I think we should use the second method.”

“That sounds plausible. Then are there any other opinions?”

At Wan’s question, Han Myung-hoi stepped forward.

“I think it is more appropriate to bet big from the beginning.”

“Why?”

“If the game continues, not only will we know the opponent well, but the opponent will also know us. However, if it is the first or second game, they will not know us properly and will only guess. If we bet big from the first game, they will be intimidated and shrink back. If that happens, we can spend less time, money, and people than expected.”

“Is this using a bluff?”

“It’s closer to not hiding it than using a bluff.”

“Hmm… the Chief Secretary’s words also make sense…”

Wan and the ministers all nodded at Han Myung-hoi’s words. In fact, Wan and the ministers already knew Im Soon-wook and Han Myung-hoi’s arguments.

This was because Im Soon-wook and Han Myung-hoi had already had a verbal battle at a meeting hosted by Hwangbo In before Wan summoned them.

-It is a task that requires a long time and cost from preparation to conclusion anyway. It is right to aim for a proper game while testing the waters little by little.

-The cost of the preparation period is unavoidable. However, when the game starts, it is best to create and win the biggest game from the beginning, rather than waiting sluggishly for a chance to win that may never come.

Both of their opinions made sense, so it was not easy to come to a conclusion, and Hwangbo In passed the decision on to Wan.

“Both make sense. However, since we cannot make a decision easily, let’s report to His Majesty and wait for an answer.”

That’s how the verbal battle was held again in front of Wan now. And Wan, who already knew about their verbal battle through various channels, was reviewing it once again.

The difference was that the ministers who attended Hwangbo In’s meeting were divided into factions and participated in the verbal battle. To adopt their supported opinions, the ministers added to the two people’s opinions.

The problem was that the way they expressed it was compared to gambling.

The historian who recorded this situation added this to the record.

-… So, when the Emperor asked for an answer to Florence’s request, the ministers presented various methods and had a verbal battle.

The historian says.

The Daejeon [Royal Court] became a gambling den.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who learned the situation through the letter Wan sent after some time, burst into laughter.

“Im Soon-wook did it like Im Soon-wook, and Han Myung-hoi did it like Han Myung-hoi.”

Im Soon-wook, who had lived as a solid merchant even before entering public service as a government official, presented a conservative yet solid plan, and Han Myung-hoi, who was a stormy figure even in the history before Hyang intervened, was, as expected, aiming for one big hit.

Analyzing the situation of the Empire and Europe, Hyang looked at the map and muttered.

“Is the ‘Great Game’ [a geopolitical rivalry] being played over Italy in the 15th century?”