Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 121

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

121. Made in Joseon. (4)

As Mansur expected, the negotiation was not easy.

“Let’s start with black pepper, which is familiar even in our Joseon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

With the first item for negotiation decided, the real bargaining began.

“Alright. How much do you want for it? Explain based on the units of the Ming Dynasty, not your traditional units.”

At Hyang’s command, Mansur calculated a rough price and told Hyang.

“Is that cheap?”

Kim Jeom answered Hyang’s question immediately.

“It’s about half the price of what comes from the Ming Dynasty.”

“Half… Mansur, chief. How much do you sell it to the Ming merchants for?”

“I understand that the Ming Dynasty buys directly from India.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Kim Jeom’s answer, Hyang began to tap on the abacus diligently.

‘As far as I know, pepper was more expensive than gold of the same weight. Well, Teacher Samcheopo questioned, ‘Was it really?’ but it was entirely possible in Joseon, where pepper could be obtained through smuggling. Even though we opened a trading post in Shandong, pepper is still expensive, isn’t it?’

Before Joseon opened a trading post in Shandong, pepper, which Joseon people called black pepper, was incredibly expensive.

Its price was so high that not only the nobles with some money but even the royal family had to be determined to get pepper.

The high price of this pepper did not fall much even after the establishment of the trading post in Shandong. This was because Ming and Joseon merchants were taking excessive profits.

‘As the economy grows and people have more money in their pockets, they immediately try to change their food, clothing, and shelter.’

Hyang was convinced that Joseon people would increasingly seek pepper.

‘Looking at the present, crop yields have improved thanks to the reduced droughts and floods due to the previous water management projects. And as people have more disposable income, Gyeyak [mutual aid societies] are selling like hotcakes.’

Recalling the economic situation of the Joseon people through the information coming from the Ministry of Revenue’s monopoly offices across the country, Hyang made a strong decision.

‘Even if it’s other spices, pepper must be included in the monopoly items. Otherwise, speculation will occur, and prices will be a mess. Then… let’s go!’

Hyang, having reached a conclusion, began his attack.

“30% of that price.”

“30%! That’s absurd! Are you saying you don’t want to trade?”

Mansur took a stance as if he was about to get up and leave, but Hyang did not back down.

No, not only did he not back down, but he even questioned him.

“How much profit did you make from the goods you took from our Joseon last time?”

“…I made twice the profit.”

“Heo…”

Hyang, with an unbelievable expression, turned to Hassan.

“Didn’t your family say that it was a deeply rooted merchant family?”

“That’s right.”

“But you only made twice the profit? Really, do you think I should continue trading with your family?”

At Hyang’s words, Hassan immediately knelt on the floor and shouted.

“I am deeply sorry! Please do not abandon my family! Please have mercy!”

“Hassan, what on earth is going on?”

Mansur, flustered by Hassan’s sudden kneeling and shouting, asked Hassan.

Hassan answered Mansur urgently.

“His Highness is thinking of cutting off trade with our family! He says we only made twice the profit from the goods we took from Joseon last time!”

“Why is that!”

“If it’s the goods you took last time, even rookie merchants from Joseon would get more profit than that! Even rookie merchants!”

“Ah!”

At Hassan’s words, Mansur sighed. The fact that he had sold it cheaply under the pressure of the Sindwa family had become a shackle.

“Hassan, sit down.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang, having Hassan sit back in his chair, began to pressure Mansur.

Hyang took out a gold brush from his sleeve and pointed to the plum blossom pattern, continuing his words.

“Hassan may have told you, but our Joseon goods, especially those with this plum blossom pattern, are goods whose quality is guaranteed by the state.”

After explaining the value of the plum blossom pattern stamped on the gold brush, Hyang urged Mansur.

“Even rookie merchants make at least four times the profit from these goods in the Ming Dynasty and Japan. But you only made twice the profit? How am I supposed to think about this?”

Hassan conveyed Hyang’s words to Mansur as they were.

“Do they really make that much profit?”

Mansur asked Hassan with an unbelievable expression. Hassan answered Mansur immediately.

“That’s right. Especially the products of the royal workshops are of great value. According to rumors, there are even rumors in Japan that people are willing to fight to the death to get a chance to buy goods from the royal workshops.”

“Heo…”

Mansur, who sighed deeply, got up from his chair and knelt before Hyang.

“I beg Your Highness for forgiveness. Please forgive my incompetence.”

Hyang, who heard Mansur’s words through Hassan, opened his mouth.

“Mansur of the Ottabi family, rise and sit down.”

“Yes.”

‘I’ve taken the lead! I’m over the 80% mark!’

Hyang, having suppressed Mansur’s spirit, began to solidify his position.

“Although it is 30%, it will still be much more than the cost price. If you take this to our Joseon and sell it properly, you can make several times the profit. What do you think?”

“But 30% is too little!”

“Do you really think so? What do you think will happen if the price is so cheap?”

At Hyang’s question, Mansur began to sweat. The young prince was already discussing the idea that he had praised himself for being brilliant.

‘Scary! Is this what they meant when they said not to underestimate someone because they are young?’

However, Mansur could not accept it immediately.

If he started being dragged around like in the case of the Sindwa family, it would eventually end in a loss.

Trade was ultimately a battle for initiative.

“Give me 50%. Considering the risk, it should be 50%.”

“Risk? If it’s merchants with as much experience as you, can’t you prepare for natural disasters to some extent in advance?”

“Natural disasters can be prepared for unless you are in the middle of the open sea. But the problem is pirates.”

“Pirates…”

As Mansur mentioned pirates, Hyang trailed off.

‘Were the pirates of the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean older than the pirates of the Caribbean?’

“I’ll give you up to 40%.”

“Keuk!”

At Hyang’s suggestion, Mansur gritted his teeth.

‘40% is okay, but pirates are the problem! I can’t always be this lucky! What should I do… Ah!’

Suddenly, an idea struck Mansur’s mind like lightning.

Mansur urgently made a new proposal to Hyang.

“Give me the cannons used by the Joseon navy! Then I will agree to 40%.”

“Chief!”

At Mansur’s words, Hassan was horrified and called out to Mansur.

“Hoon-do Ha, what did you say to surprise him so much?”

“Ah, that is…”

As Hassan trailed off, Kim Jeom stepped forward and urged him.

“Don’t hide it and tell me right away!”

Hassan, who had been hesitant at Hyang’s question, closed his eyes tightly and answered as Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“He said he would agree to 40% if you gave him the cannons used by the navy!”

“Cannons?”

“Cannons! How dare you say such a thing!”

As soon as the word ‘cannon’ came out, Kim Jeom shouted. However, Hyang tapped the abacus with a serious face.

‘Cannons… Newer, better-performing cannons have already been made anyway. The problem is the butterfly effect… But the history is already messed up, so do I have to worry about that? No, is that too irresponsible of a thought?’

Hyang, continuing these thoughts, asked Mansur.

“Why do you need cannons?”

“The route between Joseon and Aden is a route infested with pirates. Coming here this time, I saw the pirates avoiding the Joseon navy. I think the reason is the Joseon navy’s cannons. So, if you give me the cannons, I will accept 40%.”

“Hmm…”

At Mansur’s answer, Hyang tapped the desk with his finger and pondered.

‘It’s not like they don’t know about cannons over there anyway. Those who can use them are using them anyway…’

However, Kim Jeom was becoming increasingly restless.

“Your, Your Highness.”

“Wait a moment.”

Hyang, stopping Kim Jeom, continued his thoughts.

‘The deployment of new cannons to replace the General Cannons is scheduled for now, but giving away the General Cannons is too dangerous.’

Hyang, rummaging through his memories, found a suitable cannon.

‘Hmm… Ilchongtong [a medium-sized cannon] would be appropriate?’

The Ilchongtong, with a length of about 2 cheok 4 chon (74.2cm) and a bore of 2 chon 1 bu 5 ri (6.7cm), was 2/3 the size of the General Cannons mounted on the Panokseon [a type of Korean warship]. However, the Chadaejeon [rocket-propelled arrow] used in the Ilchongtong had a range several times farther than arrows, and if hit properly, it could definitely make a hole in most ships.

At that time, Kim Jeom, seeing Hyang’s thoughts lengthening, persuaded Hyang with a pale face.

“Crown Prince! Cannons are not allowed! Cannons!”

“Minister of Revenue, Joseon is not the only one with cannons. The Ming Dynasty has them too. Maybe even the pirates have them.”

“That’s true, but…”

Kim Jeom trailed off at Hyang’s point. As Hyang said, cannons were not unique to Joseon. The Ming Dynasty had them, and even the Northern Yuan had a few.

Among Joseon’s neighboring countries, only Japan did not have cannons.

No, remembering the actions of the Wokou [Japanese pirates] who harassed the Ming Dynasty, Japan might have them as well.

Hyang continued to organize his thoughts.

‘For our Joseon’s future external activities to be easier, many countries need to know about our Joseon. To do that, our Joseon’s products need to be spread widely from now on. Ming and Japan are not enough. It needs to spread to at least the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region.’

“Hmm…”

Hyang, who had been deep in thought, looked at Mansur and opened his mouth.

“First of all, there is something to confirm. Did you say that the Ottabi family lives in Aden?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Will the ruler of the Aden region not be angry even if the Ottabi family possesses cannons at will?”

At Hyang’s question, Mansur answered immediately.

“Aden currently has no ruling monarch. The Abbasid Caliphate ruled in the past, but that was more than 200 years ago, and now it is a free city of merchants.”

“Hoo…”

At Mansur’s answer, Hyang’s eyes sparkled.

After the Abbasid Caliphate was destroyed by the Mongols in 1258, the Aden region was a free city without a ruler.

Of course, there was the Mamluk Sultanate in the Egyptian region, but it could not extend its power to where Aden was located. And the famous Ottoman Empire had not yet left the Anatolian Peninsula region.

Hyang, having reorganized his thoughts at Mansur’s answer, proposed again.

“30%. In addition, I will guarantee a monopoly transaction for 5 years. Then I will speak well of the cannons to my father.”

“Please allow a 10-year monopoly.”

At Mansur’s words, Hyang firmly refused.

“10 years is not allowed. I will guarantee 5 years as a base, and then negotiate every year. This is the last offer. Will you accept it or reject it?”

At Hyang’s words, Mansur calculated the profits and losses in his head. After much deliberation, Mansur came to a conclusion.

“I will accept Your Highness’s offer.”

As Mansur accepted the offer, Hyang got up from his seat.

“Then, I will speak to my father. I hope it goes well. If my father does not accept it, I will have to have a tedious argument again.”

“Yes.”

“Then.”

Hyang left the room with Hassan and Kim Jeom. Mansur, the elder, and Rajab, who remained in the room, discussed the results of the negotiations.

“Isn’t 30% too much? 30% of the price we first called means it’s only three times the original price.”

“As I said before, the individual profit will be greatly reduced, but consider the quantity. It’s actually a profit.”

“Wasn’t the conclusion that came out of that six times?”

As Rajab continued to argue, Mansur pointed out one thing he had forgotten.

“Did you forget? That we can make tens of times the profit with the Joseon goods we are taking?”

“That’s true, but the higher the profit from spices, the more we can buy from Joseon!”

Mansur smiled at Rajab’s words.

“If that happens, Joseon goods will become cheap. Let’s look at the long term. A monopoly for at least 5 years. The word monopoly means that we can adjust the price and extract the maximum profit.”

“Still…”

Rajab still couldn’t hide his regret, but Mansur’s expression brightened.

“If we get the cannons with Allah’s blessing, we don’t have to worry about pirates. If that happens, it’s enough to make three times the profit if we only watch out for storms.”

In addition, if free navigation becomes possible, it can become more active than it is now, and the credibility of the merchant group will also increase, so this was a deal that could not be missed.