Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1057

1057. Gambling (1)

During this period, the Suez Railway was operating at full capacity. This was due to the high volume of goods traveling between Asia and Europe, as well as between Terra and Gloria.

* * *

Regarding Terra and Gloria, there were established shipping routes to Europe and routes directly between them. However, ships traveling from Terra to Europe had to navigate the west coast of Africa, and those from Gloria had to cross the Atlantic diagonally. This wasn’t just about time; the high risk of encountering dangerous situations during these voyages was a major concern.

Many ships were lost in the vast and treacherous waters of the South Pacific and South Indian Oceans. After surviving those perilous seas and approaching Africa, they faced pirates instead of dangerous waves. While the established routes, especially those patrolled by the Imperial Navy, saw fewer pirate attacks, the problem was that the Imperial Navy wasn’t present on the direct routes connecting Terra, Gloria, and Europe.

With the Imperial Navy securing Gibraltar and patrolling the entrance to the Mediterranean and the Moroccan coast, the situation improved slightly, but it was still insufficient. Consequently, pirates, who had moved their bases to southern Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania in the 21st century, targeted ships coming from Africa and European merchant ships crossing the Atlantic. Eventually, ships from Terra and those from Gloria via Terra were forced to use the Suez route.

* * *

This situation led to the Suez Railway’s overload. The railway station and port of Suez were in complete chaos, with cargo flowing from Suez to Prince Henrique Port [a major trading hub] and various supplies being sent from Prince Henrique Port to Suez. Merchants and cargo owners competed fiercely to have their goods shipped first, and the shouts of workers soliciting business added to the confusion. To resolve this chaos, the countries with vested interests, including the Empire, had to convene in an atmosphere of strained cooperation.

“Diplomacy is diplomacy, and Suez is Suez. Let’s focus solely on Suez.”

“Agreed.”

The representatives of other countries readily agreed with the Imperial representative.

‘Diplomacy is diplomacy, and money is money. Of course!’

As a result of the countries managing the Suez Railway working together, the size of the Suez railway station and port was significantly expanded. Following this, a proposal was made to expand the existing double-track Suez Railway to quadruple-track, which was unanimously approved. Soon, substantial funds were invested, construction commenced, and traffic control at the port and station was implemented. The areas for processing cargo going from Suez to Prince Henrique Port and cargo being sent from Prince Henrique Port to Suez were reorganized, and supervision was strengthened to restrict access to authorized personnel only.

“We’ve gained some breathing room with this, but it will soon be overwhelmed again.”

Imperial officials made pessimistic forecasts as they observed the increasing volume of cargo.

“I agree. Things will be a bit quieter once the expansion is complete.”

The Portuguese representatives shook their heads at the words of the French representative.

“Looking at the current rate of transport increase, it will be chaotic again even after the expansion is finished.”

“Then, wouldn’t we need some new measures?”

The Imperial representative responded succinctly to the French representative’s question.

“A canal. Digging a large and magnificent canal.”

The French representative looked incredulous at the Imperial representative’s suggestion.

“A canal? Wasn’t the railway chosen because canal maintenance is too difficult?”

When discussing a traffic route connecting Suez and the Mediterranean, a canal was the first idea considered. Historical records showed that a canal had existed in this area in ancient times, and since the terrain from Suez to the Mediterranean was entirely flat, a canal seemed like a natural choice. However, the canal idea was quickly dismissed due to the enormous construction costs and ongoing maintenance challenges.

“The canal was immediately rejected because of the sand blowing in from that cursed desert. We’d constantly have to dredge the accumulated sand from the bottom. Who can afford that?”

All the representatives except the Empire nodded in agreement with the French representative. The Imperial representative also temporarily conceded the point.

“That’s not wrong. The cost of maintaining the railway due to the sand is also considerable. However, the railway has clear limitations. We will have to seriously consider the canal again soon.”

* * *

As time passed, the European powers began to seriously deliberate on the ‘Suez Canal’ project.

“Building a canal requires a massive investment. But the situation is very different now compared to before. It was unthinkable before, but now it seems achievable with a reasonable effort.”

Thanks to their ventures in Africa, Terra, and Gloria, the economic power of the European powers had grown significantly. While they had incurred substantial military expenses due to ongoing conflicts, they recovered much faster than before. And the substantial profits generated by the Suez Railway made them view the canal project more favorably.

“Even Italy, with the smallest stake, receives considerable profit. Imagine if only Osman [Ottoman Empire] and we jointly built a canal! How enormous would the profit be?”

“It’s not just the canal’s profit. Think about oil, oil! Soon, oil, not coal, will power the world!”

* * *

Rumor had it that the Empire was already refining oil and using it as fuel. In particular, there was speculation that they had already considered ‘oil’ in the fuel requirements for the competition [likely a technological or industrial competition]. And all the artisans and scholars participating in the competition agreed with this hypothesis.

“It’s difficult to succeed with anything other than oil.”

“That mana gunpowder [a fictional energy source] was as promising as oil, but it was completely excluded! In the end, oil is the only viable option.”

With these analyses, the monarchs, capitalists, and scholars of the European powers all reached the same conclusion.

“Whoever controls oil controls hegemony!”

They couldn’t challenge the Empire, which was already proficient in using oil, and Osman controlled access to many other promising oil-rich areas.

“Then, all we have to do is cultivate a good relationship with Osman.”

“If I get the canal and oil in my hands, hegemony is mine!”

They reached this conclusion, but the European powers couldn’t act rashly.

“The problem is that the current Sultan of Osman is not an easy man to deal with at all.”

* * *

The current Sultan ruling Osman was Bayezid II. Hyang [a character, likely an advisor] evaluated Bayezid II as follows.

“A moderate Islamic fundamentalist. The problem is that he is still a fundamentalist. Whether moderate or extreme, fundamentalists are troublesome people.”

Unlike the previous Sultan Mehmed II, who was pro-European, Bayezid II favored Islamic traditional culture.

Dealing with Bayezid II, who was so devout that he was called ‘Just Bayezid,’ was by no means easy. Of course, Bayezid II also displayed a fairly tolerant attitude towards other religions. A prime example was his decision to keep Jerusalem open, like Mehmed II, and allow pilgrimages for Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

In addition, he maintained a diplomatically moderate stance. Instead of focusing on expansion like Mehmed II, he concentrated on stabilizing the territory that Mehmed II had conquered. However, that didn’t mean Bayezid II was weak. Bayezid II followed Mehmed II’s example and reformed the military system, emphasizing gunpowder weapons and strengthening the army. As a result, Osman’s neighboring countries, especially those in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, could never be complacent.

It was because of this Bayezid II that the European powers couldn’t move easily.

‘How can I cultivate a good relationship with Osman and get him to cooperate with me?’

The monarchs and vassals of the European powers, troubled by this question, soon found a solution: Bayezid II’s age and the succession issue.

* * *

Bayezid II was already over 60 years old. While some individuals remained energetic even past 90, like Hyang, it was generally accepted in this era that someone over 60 didn’t have much time left. Therefore, Bayezid II’s succession competition was sure to begin soon. Osman’s successor selection was a bloody affair.

The Sultan appointed his children as governors throughout Osman. Upon the Sultan’s death, the children who received the news would immediately return to the capital, and the first to arrive would become the Sultan. The problem was that this race was never fair. As soon as it became clear that the Sultan was aging, the children would begin their competition. First, they would secure their appointed governorships and then start plotting against their brothers.

And, when the race began, they would engage in a civil war, or something close to it, with their competing brothers while heading to the capital. In this race, collusion or alliance was absolutely impossible. This was because the winner who ascended to the Sultan would immediately execute all his brothers. Therefore, the brothers who lost the race had to be executed or flee Osman.

It was an ‘All or nothing’ race.

* * *

The European powers analyzed this bloody race.

“Oh ho~. If we play this right……”

If they chose a suitable candidate, allied with them, and helped them succeed in the race, they were sure to reap huge rewards.

“Who would be a good choice?”

The European powers sent spies and merchants to Osman to find a suitable candidate.

“Someone too promising is not good, and someone with too low a chance is not good either.”

If he was the most likely successor, he would know his own strength, making it difficult to form an alliance. However, choosing someone with too low a chance was also problematic. Low probability meant weak power, requiring a larger investment than expected. Of course, success would bring a fortune……

“The problem is that we are not the only ones thinking this way.”

Knowing that other powers would be making similar calculations, the odds of winning were too low.

“Then, we have to pick and choose suitable people among those in the winning circle.”

The monarchs and powerful figures of the European powers, having reached this conclusion, awaited the information that their spies and merchants would bring. And those who analyzed the incoming intelligence shook their heads.

“It’s a free-for-all.”

“To be more precise, is it a three-way battle?”

Bayezid II’s three sons were secretly but fiercely competing for the succession: Korkud, the governor of Anatolia; Ahmed, the governor of Amasya; and Selim, the governor of Trabzon. The European powers began to seriously evaluate these three promising candidates.

“Who should we invest in to ensure a sure success?”

Meanwhile, the Milwi [likely a spy network], who had settled in Europe, reported the movements of the powers to Seoul [likely the capital of the Empire]. Hyun [a character], who received the report, immediately put his hand on his forehead, and Hyang, who received the report later, cursed.

“These damn bastards… Would it hurt them to just do politics quietly and methodically?”