Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 247

247. Prince Henry the Navigator (2)

Enrique believed Joseon was the land of Prester John because of the gold pen.

While participating in Mediterranean trade, Enrique primarily dealt in gold, ivory, slaves, pepper, and spices. Occasionally, goods from Kitai (the medieval European name for China, derived from “Khitan”)—mainly ceramics and books—would arrive. These items were highly sought after by wealthy Italian merchants and European nobles.

Because these goods were quite expensive, counterfeits were common. European merchants needed considerable knowledge of Kitai’s script and culture to distinguish genuine articles from fakes.

The problem was that their knowledge of Kitai’s culture was based on Marco Polo’s “Travels.”

Regardless of the accuracy of “Travels”—which existed in over 100 manuscript versions—the book was more than a century old.

In any case, Enrique possessed some knowledge of Kitai’s script and the brushes used to write it.

With this general understanding, Enrique judged that the metal pen, dubbed the “gold pen,” was unsuitable for writing Kitai script.

“It’s also uncomfortable for writing Arabic. The most suitable scripts are… considering the era… Latin and Greek.”

This conclusion would have made Hyang burst out laughing.

* * *

As he solidified his conviction, a merchant working for Enrique rushed to him.

“Your Highness! Look at this item!”

The merchant presented a glass bottle containing perfume.

“A beautiful glass bottle. What about it?”

To Enrique’s question, the merchant replied, “Please look at the bottom!”

“The bottom?”

Enrique’s eyes widened as he examined the base of the glass bottle.

“This is?”

A cross was engraved on the bottom of the glass bottle.

At Enrique’s undisguised surprise, the merchant offered his theory.

“There was a rumor that Venetian artisans were captured by pirates in the past. Some of their whereabouts remain unknown. Could it be that captured glass artisans were taken to Joseon?”

“That’s possible. But look at the shape. Isn’t it completely different from Italian glass products?”

“It may have been made to order….”

Enrique shook his head at the merchant’s suggestion.

“It seems too natural for that. It doesn’t seem like this was made by Italian artisans.”

“Then who?”

“Again, Prester John…?”

“Yes?”

Enrique cautioned the surprised merchant, “Shh! It’s not certain, so keep it to yourself.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Is this the only one with a cross engraved on it?”

“No, there are a few more.”

“Bring them all to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After giving the order, Enrique took the perfume bottle and returned to his room.

Sitting in his chair, Enrique muttered as he looked at the gold pen and perfume bottle on his desk.

“In my heart, I’m certain, but I can’t jump to conclusions rashly. I can’t repeat the mistakes of the past.”

Recalling his advocacy for the conquest of Morocco and its subsequent failure, Enrique opened the door and called for a knight.

“Jose!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“I have a task for you!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Following Prince Henry’s orders, Portuguese merchants and knights entered Alexandria and diligently gathered information about Joseon.

“Merchants who went to Joseon have arrived!”

Just then, Mansur and his group, who had traveled to Joseon, entered Alexandria.

Portuguese merchants, circling Mansur’s group to gather information, obtained unexpected news: they had arrived by ship from Aden.

Alexandrian merchants who heard the rumor shook their heads.

“They came to Suez by ship? Are they crazy?”

The Alexandrian merchants considered it reckless because the sea route from Aden to Suez passed through the Red Sea, notorious for its pirates.

The Red Sea pirates were often fishermen who would turn to piracy and plunder merchant ships of suitable size.

Therefore, Alexandrian merchants deemed the journey incredibly risky.

However, the merchants spreading the rumor offered more information.

“It’s not that they’re crazy; the ship they arrived on is said to be incredibly large.”

“Still, the number of people will be different….”

“They mounted cannons.”

The eyes of a merchant who had been dismissive widened when he heard about the cannons.

“Cannons?”

* * *

As mentioned before, merchants favored land routes for transporting valuable goods in large quantities due to the Red Sea pirate problem.

The reason they avoided using ships for large cargo shipments was the pirates.

A ship’s capacity for personnel was limited. Moreover, sailors and pirates at the time primarily used bows, spears, and swords.

The Red Sea was a narrow waterway, easily blockaded.

Under these conditions, if pirates attacked in overwhelming numbers, the merchant ship would inevitably be robbed.

However, land travel offered advantages. Unlike ships, they could secure sufficient personnel. In the desert, they had more time to detect approaching bandits and prepare countermeasures—combat, escape, or negotiation.

Therefore, using land routes for safety was the norm in the Middle East.

But this time, the merchants from Aden broke that norm.

The existence of ‘cannons’ made it possible.

* * *

“Cannons? Where did they get such expensive things?”

“They say they got them from Joseon…. Not the kind of cannon we know. They say it’s very small.”

“What’s the use of a small cannon?”

The merchant who had shown interest quickly lost it upon learning the cannons were small.

The merchant spreading the rumor waved his hand.

“It’s not enough to destroy a castle, but it’s perfect for catching people.”

“Even so….”

“They say the pirates were wiped out in the Red Sea.”

“Huh?”

The merchant who was losing interest perked up again.

Meanwhile, behind them, a merchant sent by Enrique diligently memorized everything.

* * *

The information obtained was immediately delivered to Enrique.

Reading the reports, Enrique began to draw increasingly hopeful conclusions.

-The Joseon people believe that a god named Hwanung descended to their land and founded a country. Hwanung is said to have descended to benefit mankind widely.

“A monotheistic god, like Jesus Christ?”

-The nobles of Joseon persecute shamans. They believe shamans deceive innocent people and plunge them into misery.

-The Joseon people, especially the nobles, emphasize fidelity between husband and wife, as do the common people. Adultery is severely criticized.

“They keep the Ten Commandments!”

-The officials of Joseon do not work one day every seven days. The people are also starting to adopt this practice.

“At least the nobles keep the Sabbath?”

Analyzing the accumulating information, Enrique finally concluded:

“Joseon is the country of Prester John! Although many things have changed, this is what happened while they were isolated for a long time!”

It was Enrique’s fatal misjudgment.

Several religions believed in one God besides Catholicism, such as Judaism and Islam.

The Sabbath was also observed by Jews and Muslims.

Negative views on adultery were shared by Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam.

Negative reactions to shamans were also common. Not only Joseon but also Ming [China] viewed shamanism unfavorably.

This was due to the influence of Confucianism.

Enrique thought he was being careful, but he forcibly fitted the evidence to his conclusion.

* * *

Around the same time, at the glass workshop in Hanseong [capital of Joseon]:

“You damn bastard!”

“What is it now?”

Rafael raised his voice at Pietro’s brazen reply.

“Is the cross a talisman, a talisman?”

“‘Let it be done according to your faith.’ Don’t you know?”

“You son of a bitch!”

Rafael grabbed Pietro by the collar and gritted his teeth.

The story was as follows:

Glass, due to its molecular structure, was very fragile.

Glass artisans often experienced accidents where their hard work was broken due to unintentional mistakes.

Pietro, seeing the Joseon people sighing at such incidents, played a prank.

“We have a talisman in our hometown. Would you like to try it?”

“A talisman? Do we need paper and a divining tool?”

“Not that kind of talisman….”

Pietro taught them to engrave a cross on the bottom of the glass product.

“Hmm….”

The Joseon people looked at Pietro suspiciously, knowing his usual behavior.

Then one day, a craftsman dropped a product during the cooling process.

“Gasp!”

Everyone was surprised and regretful, but something unexpected happened.

The fallen glass product remained intact.

The craftsman and his colleagues approached the glass, surprised that it hadn’t broken after falling from a height that should have shattered it.

“Why….”

The artisans carefully examined the glass and discovered the cross engraved on the bottom.

“I engraved it just in case… the divine power is amazing!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“Let me try it once….”

The Joseon glass artisans began engraving crosses on the bottoms of their glass products.

Of course, not all products with a cross became unbreakable.

Products still broke, but a few with extremely good luck survived.

However, the artisans all exclaimed:

“Wow! That Western talisman has amazing divine power!”

That was why Rafael grabbed Pietro by the collar and growled.

“You infidel who will be thrown into hellfire! Is the cross a talisman!”

“Well, we used it similarly in Italy, right?”

“You son of a bitch!”

Pietro shrugged brazenly at Rafael’s shout.

* * *

Meanwhile, Enrique, having reached his conclusion, sought out his father and brothers.

“… Therefore, we must secure a route to Joseon.”

“Are you sure that Joseon is the country of Prester John?”

Enrique answered his father firmly, “I believe it!”

Enrique’s brother Duarte spoke up, “Even if Joseon isn’t the country of Prester John, developing a trade route would bring enormous benefits.”

King John I nodded. He was well aware of the popularity of Joseon goods, which had spread throughout the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

After contemplating for a while, John I reached a decision.

“You may proceed with the plan.”