Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 119

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb

119. Made in Joseon. (2)

The chieftain’s confusion, after touring the market, only intensified with the captains’ reports.

“Though we couldn’t see inside the Joseon naval base, we observed the warships departing. Not only the ships that escorted us but also slightly smaller vessels were equipped with cannons.”

“All of them?”

The captains responded briefly to the chieftain’s question, filled with disbelief.

“Every single one.”

“Hmph…”

The chieftain exhaled deeply at the captains’ response. Seeing this, Sulaiman, the most experienced captain—captain of the ship that carried the chieftain of the Ottabi family—added,

“Of course, the ships equipped with nearly 20 cannons are of the same class as those that escorted us. The smaller ships had about two to four cannons. The even smaller ones had no cannons at all.”

The chieftain shook his head at the captain’s report.

“I can’t understand this country’s identity at all. The market I saw during the day was as backward as a village market far from Aden [a port city in Yemen], but the restaurants in the alleyways have expensive porcelain and glass cups on their tables, and the navy’s warships are loaded with those expensive cannons… What kind of country is this Joseon, anyway?”

Sulaiman replied concisely to the chieftain’s words.

“I have no idea.”

“I also find this country incomprehensible.”

Seeing the chieftain in confusion, a veteran who had visited Joseon before stepped forward.

“Hassan and Said, who work as officials in Joseon, said that it is developing rapidly since the current king ascended the throne and the crown prince was appointed.”

“That’s right.”

The chieftain nodded slightly at the veteran’s reply and sighed softly.

“Hoo~. I must reflect. I was disappointed by the scenery of the market outside the base. If I hadn’t seen those porcelains and glassware…”

The chieftain deeply regretted his initial judgment.

* * *

Having learned that the Joseon goods brought by the veteran were of great value, the chieftain boarded the ship with great hope.

“We’re starting a bit late, but let’s work hard. There’s a lot of money at stake!”

It took some time to find the good breeds of horses requested by the Joseon prince, but the chieftain wasn’t particularly worried.

The merchant fleet, departing from Aden, endured great hardships, passing through the pirate-infested Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.

Arriving at the Joseon market after overcoming those precarious crises, the chieftain was plunged into disappointment.

In his youth, the chieftain had lived in China during the Yuan Dynasty [a Mongol-led Chinese dynasty, 1271-1368], especially in Hangzhou [a major city in China]. Comparing the humble Joseon market scene to the splendid civilization of Hangzhou, he couldn’t help but be disappointed.

“Could there really be something profitable in this country? Was the last time just a stroke of luck? I can’t believe that a country right next to China is this shabby.”

However, the moment he saw the small items hidden within that shabbiness, the chieftain had to change his mind.

‘A fellow with the goal of making the family great! A fellow aiming to be a great merchant! I’ve told others countless times not to be deceived by appearances, yet I was the one who forgot!’

The chieftain was deeply reflecting on his mistakes.

Five days later, the Vice Military Commissioner, having received a reply from Hanseong [the capital of Joseon, modern-day Seoul], conveyed the message through an interpreter.

“His Majesty orders you to depart immediately at dawn tomorrow and come to Hanseong. Our navy’s ships will provide escort and guidance.”

The chieftain was delighted at the Vice Military Commissioner’s words.

“Thank you!”

With the departure date set, the fleet’s sailors prepared for departure all night long.

The next morning, at the bow of the ship heading north, the chieftain firmly resolved.

“There will be no second mistake!”

* * *

After several days of sailing, the merchant ships arrived at Jemulpo [a port in Joseon, modern-day Incheon] and began unloading their cargo.

The amount of cargo unloaded from the six large dhows [a type of sailing vessel] was substantial, so the chieftain of the Ottabi family requested carts from the Joseon residents waiting at the pier.

“We will prepare them soon.”

“I appreciate it.”

While the carts were being arranged, the unloaded cargo was meticulously inspected by the Ministry of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue official, having recorded the list, quantity, and price of the cargo, diligently worked the abacus and then spoke to the interpreter. The interpreter then spoke to the merchant’s translator in Chinese, and the translator conveyed the information to the chieftain.

“They say you have to pay 40 gold nyang [a unit of currency in Joseon] as customs duties.”

“40 gold nyang? Even though these are goods brought at the request of the Joseon prince?”

To be precise, only the stallions were requested by the prince, but the chieftain emphasized ‘the prince’s request’ because he didn’t want to pay taxes.

However, despite the emphasis, the Ministry of Revenue official remained unmoved.

Eventually, a dispute began between the Ministry of Revenue official, the interpreter, and the merchant’s translator.

The dispute subsided somewhat when the relative who had gone to arrange the carts arrived.

“If you look at this license, there is an item stating that you must pay customs duties at the set rate.”

“Even for the goods and horses brought at the request of the Joseon prince?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph…”

The chieftain, with his merchant instincts kicking in, wore a bewildered expression. Seeing this, the veteran comforted the chieftain.

“Think of it as an investment. An investment.”

The chieftain groaned at the veteran’s words.

“Ugh… I suppose I have to think that way. But why are these officials so inflexible?”

“Well… they may be inflexible, but they aren’t corrupt, are they?”

“Ugh…”

The translator, who was listening to the conversation between the chieftain and the veterans, conveyed the words to the interpreter as they were. The translator felt the same way as the chieftain.

The interpreter smiled and replied to the translator’s words.

“Have you heard of the Record Office?”

“The Record Office?”

After that brief dispute, the chieftain of the Ottabi family, having paid a hefty sum of 40 gold nyang, or 400 ducats [a European currency], soothed his aching heart and headed to Hanseong.

* * *

The chieftain of the Ottabi family led his people to the Huihui [a term for Muslims in China] people’s residential village south of Hanseong.

While the chieftain of the Ottabi family was resting after unpacking, Hassan and Said, who had left their government posts for the day, sought out the chieftain.

“Hassan and Said greet the chieftain.”

The chieftain reciprocated the greeting with pleasure at the sight of Hassan and Said, who were polite but welcoming.

“It’s truly a pleasure to see that Hameed’s children have grown up so well! Especially, Said looks even better than when he came to Aden last time… or does he not? Are you sick somewhere?”

The chieftain asked with concern, seeing the dark circles under the brothers’ eyes.

“It’s nothing. I’ve just been busy lately…”

“Oh dear! Our family will be strong only if you are healthy. Should I give you some medicine?”

As soon as the chieftain mentioned the word ‘medicine,’ the Hassan brothers frantically waved their hands.

“Ah, no! We don’t need medicine! Thank you for your concern, but we absolutely don’t need medicine!”

“Huh?”

When the chieftain expressed his doubt, the Hassan brothers’ father, Hameed, explained the reason.

“Among the officials of Joseon, ‘medicine’ or ‘tonic’ is a forbidden word.”

“Huh?”

The chieftain couldn’t hide his doubt at Hameed’s words.

Recently, among the officials working in the court, the act of ‘gifting medicine or tonic’ had the same meaning as ‘You’re dead!’ For a superior to give medicine to a subordinate meant ‘I’m going to work you to death!’ and for peers to present medicine to each other meant ‘I’m going to screw you over soon!’

The brief commotion subsided, and the Hassan brothers handed a document to the chieftain.

“This is His Majesty’s order to enter the palace tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I understand. Hmm… Will I be able to enter the royal palace every time I come to Joseon from now on?”

Hoping for any possible opportunity, the chieftain asked with great anticipation, but Hassan gave a negative answer.

“No. This time, it’s because you brought the things requested by the Crown Prince, and you came in person, so you were summoned as a matter of courtesy. From next time, you will probably be talking to the person in charge of the office called the Ministry of Revenue.”

“Is that so? That’s a bit disappointing. Tsk.”

The chieftain couldn’t hide his disappointment at Hassan’s answer and clicked his tongue.

* * *

The next day, the chieftain, properly dressed, headed to the palace with the Hassan brothers and the veterans.

“These are envoys who have come with His Majesty’s order.”

At the gesture of the gatekeeper, who received and checked the document presented by Hassan, Gwanghwamun [the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace] opened, and the merchants moved inside.

The eyes of the gatekeeper and his subordinates, who were looking around with curious faces, soon widened.

“What is that?”

* * *

“His Majesty the King is here!”

At the usher’s cry, the merchants politely bowed.

“You have worked hard to come from a long way. Be comfortable.”

The merchants carefully rose at King Sejong’s command through Hassan.

‘He’s young! Is that why he’s so active?’

The chieftain, having glanced at Sejong’s face, politely introduced himself.

“Mansur Muhammad Kamal al-Ottabi, the chieftain of the Ottabi family, is honored to meet His Majesty the Great King of Joseon!”

Sejong, having received Mansur’s greeting through Hassan, replied with a smile.

“I am also pleased to meet you. Chieftain Mansur, stand straight.”

“Thank you.”

After a brief introduction, Sejong immediately got to the point.

“I heard that you brought the horses requested by the Crown Prince. Did they arrive safely?”

Mansur replied immediately to Sejong’s question.

“Yes, they are all safe, although they are tired and thin from the long voyage.”

“Can I see them now?”

“They are standing outside the gate now, so you can see them right away.”

At Mansur’s answer, anticipation began to appear on the faces of Sejong and the officials who had come out with him. In particular, Jo Malsaeng looked the most expectant.

“Bring them in.”

As Sejong’s order was given, Geunjeongmun (勤政門) [the main gate of Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace] opened, and the horses entered.

“What is that!”

“Is that a horse!”

The officials, who were watching the horses entering through the open gate, fixed their gaze on the horses entering last.

Hyang was also surprised.

‘What is that! A horse that the King of the End of the Century would ride!’

The horses entering in the lead were also taller by 1 cheok (approximately 34cm) compared to the Jeju horses [a small breed of horse native to Jeju Island] or the horses of the Jurchen people [a Tungistic people who lived in Northeast Asia]. However, the four horses entering last were another 1 cheok taller than those horses.

As the horses entered, Sejong got off his throne and began to inspect the horses himself.

“They are large but look very agile.”

Mansur replied with a proud expression at Sejong’s generous evaluation.

“There are almost no breeds that can compete with them in terms of running speed or endurance.”

“I see. What do you think, Minister of War?”

Jo Malsaeng, the Minister of War, bowed his head and replied to Sejong’s question.

“Although they are thin, judging by their bones, it seems difficult for Jeju horses to compete.”

“Compared to the horses of the Jurchen people?”

“They seem superior to the horses of the Jurchen people as well. Of course, I will have to check properly later…”

“I see. And…”

Sejong moved towards the problematic large horse that he was most curious about.

“I have never seen such a huge horse in my life.”

Mansur immediately replied to Sejong’s evaluation.

“I have never seen it either. I obtained it from Catholic merchants in the process of finding horses. They said it came from a country of Western barbarians called France.”

Sejong expressed his doubt at Mansur’s answer.

“Huh? I heard that you are on bad terms with the Western barbarians who believe in the Catholic religion?”

“Can’t we do business just because we are on bad terms? There are merchants who are on bad terms even though they believe in the same god, and there are merchants who are on good terms even though they have different beliefs.”

Sejong burst into laughter at Mansur’s answer.

“Hahaha! A foolish question, a wise answer!”