Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 296

296. Departure (2)

As the repairs to the ship and the acquisition of necessary supplies for a safe voyage neared completion, Mansur’s merchant ships arrived.

Mansur, as always, docked at Jeolla Usuyeong [a naval base in Joseon], underwent a routine inspection, and was resting when he spotted the Challenger-class battleships.

“Have the Catholic bastards finally come to Joseon!”

Startled, Mansur sought out the captain of his fleet’s flagship.

“Hey! We have a big problem!”

“A big problem? No issues with the ship or cargo, I hope?”

“That’s not the problem! The Catholic bastards are here! The Catholic bastards!”

“Pardon?”

“Come here! Let’s go check it out together! You all too!”

Mansur led the captains to where the ‘Catholic bastards’ ships’ were visible.

“Hmm….”

“Huh….”

Mansur watched the captains’ expressions as they looked at the ships and spoke again.

“Right? Those are the Catholic bastards’ ships, right?”

“It seems like it….”

“Hmm….”

As they examined the ships with serious faces, the flagship’s captain spoke.

“Those are not the Catholic bastards’ ships. I’m certain.”

“Huh?”

The flagship’s captain explained in detail to Mansur.

“They look similar, but many parts are slightly different. The biggest difference is the number of gunports. At least among the Catholic ships I’ve seen, none have that many gunports. In my experience, there’s only one… unique country that mounts cannons like a madman.”

“Which place is that?”

To Mansur’s question, the flagship’s captain replied briefly.

“Right here, Joseon.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing the answer, Mansur searched his memory.

‘Indeed!’

The Joseon battleship he encountered when he first came to Joseon also had more than 20 cannons mounted.

Seeing Mansur’s face, contemplating whether it was a coincidence or not, the captain added.

“And look at that figurehead. The shape is sloped, right? The ships of the Spanish or Portuguese come down almost vertically. And the bow and stern aren’t as high as those Iberian ships. Considering these and other characteristics…”

The captain paused, then carefully examined the ships once more. Reaffirming his conclusion, the captain told Mansur his conclusion.

“It’s definitely a ship made by Joseon.”

At that answer, Mansur looked at the ships with doubtful eyes.

“The country at the eastern end makes ships similar in shape to those at the western end? Without any exchange? How?”

As Mansur pondered the unsolvable question, the words of Hassan, who worked as an official in Joseon, came to his mind.

‘This Joseon’s Crown Prince is no ordinary person. Since he stepped forward, Joseon has been changing in unbelievable ways. This Joseon’s king is also a fearsome figure, but the Crown Prince is even more so.’

Mansur shook his head, recalling Hassan’s words.

“No matter how much of a genius he is….”

* * *

Having completed their maintenance in Jeolla Usuyeong, Mansur’s fleet headed north towards Jemulpo [present-day Incheon].

“It would be nice if we could just go straight up the coast.”

To Mansur’s complaint, the captain immediately replied.

“If we were moving with only one ship like when we first came to Joseon, we could. But moving as a fleet and going straight? We’ll become fish food along the way. The waters are too treacherous.”

“….”

Mansur closed his mouth at the captain’s words.

* * *

As he continued to trade with Joseon, Mansur made efforts to acquire information about Joseon and its neighboring countries.

“Among various businesses, the arms trade is the most profitable. The weapons themselves are profitable, but brokering deals for weapons artisans also yields great profits.”

Searching for profitable items, Mansur diligently gathered information.

Among other things, he learned about the ‘Wokou’ [Japanese pirates] and ‘Jurchen’ [a nomadic group], and that these two groups caused Kitai-China-Wa [historical names for China and Japan] and Joseon to view foreigners with suspicion.

“The problem is that we don’t have any weapons to sell.”

At this time, Kitai and Joseon possessed the world’s best weapon manufacturing technology. In Joseon’s case, they had completely given up on attempting to replicate them.

“Shall we sell to Zipang (Japan)?”

When Mansur brought up this idea, Hassan was horrified and dissuaded him.

“Zipang is full of damned thieves! The moment you sell weapons or artisans to Zipang, trade with Joseon will be over!”

Due to this situation, Mansur had no choice but to focus on trade with Joseon. And, to maintain a good relationship, he repeatedly went through Jeolla Usuyeong to Jemulpo.

* * *

Arriving at Jemulpo, Mansur handed over the items ordered by Joseon to the officials from the Ministry of Finance and settled the payments.

“Come to Gyeongbok Palace [the main royal palace of Joseon] three days from now.”

“Understood.”

Mansur answered politely to the official’s message.

As promised, three days later, Mansur entered Gyeongbok Palace.

After a simple inspection, Mansur was guided by a eunuch and entered Geunjeongjeon [the throne hall], where he bowed deeply to Sejong [the king of Joseon] according to Joseon etiquette.

“The humble merchant Mansur greets Your Majesty.”

“You have worked hard to come. I am truly relieved to see you in good health.”

“Your Majesty’s concern is overwhelming.”

With the formal greeting over, they finally got down to business.

* * *

Sejong summoned Mansur to hear information about Tianzhu (India). Therefore, in principle, only the ministers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Finance should have remained, but all the ministers and Hyang [likely a high-ranking official or advisor] remained in their seats.

“As you heard last time, this year our Joseon will also send out a fleet. Your homeland is also a destination, but Tianzhu is also an important destination for our Joseon. Therefore, I hope you will tell us everything you know about Tianzhu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Mansur, responding to Sejong’s command, cleared his throat and waited for questions.

The first to ask a question was Hyang.

“From what I have read, Tianzhu is a country with very large land. Who is the ruler who governs Tianzhu now?”

Mansur answered immediately.

“Currently, India… Tianzhu is in a state of disarray. Large and small dynasties are rampant.”

At Mansur’s answer, Sejong and the ministers murmured simultaneously.

“Is it like the Spring and Autumn period [a period of Chinese history characterized by warfare and fragmentation]?”

Hyang immediately continued the question.

“Then, among those rulers, which country is most suitable for our Joseon to trade with?”

Mansur, recalling his memories for a moment, soon picked out a suitable kingdom.

“In my opinion, I think the Bengal Sultanate is the best. It has a good relationship with the Ming Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China at the time] and also has a famous trading port called Chittagong.”

“Is that so? What is the route to get there?”

“The Malacca kingdom—present-day Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia—is making many efforts to protect the safety of the sea route.”

Jo Mal-saeng [a Joseon official] interjected.

“Is piracy a serious problem?”

Mansur paused for a moment and organized his thoughts. When he was ready, he answered.

“If you encounter a fleet in the ocean, it’s mostly one of two types. One is the ships of Huashang (Chinese merchants), and the other is pirates.”

As ‘pirates’ were mentioned, the atmosphere inside Geunjeongjeon became serious. Jo Mal-saeng quickly continued the question.

“How substantial is the pirates’ military force? Are there pirates armed with cannons?”

“I have not yet seen pirates armed with cannons. The military force is…. Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, since I put cannons on my ships, I have never encountered pirates who felt threatened.”

“Oh!”

The atmosphere inside Geunjeongjeon brightened again.

After Jo Mal-saeng’s question ended, Kim Jeom [another Joseon official] stepped forward.

“What are the products that the rulers and people of Tianzhu like?”

“Recently, mirrors made by the Catholic bastards have been gaining popularity.”

At Mansur’s answer, Sejong and the ministers simultaneously had the same thought.

‘Is this the beginning of the competition that the Crown Prince spoke of?’

* * *

Until recently, mirrors were an indispensable item among the items that Mansur bought in large quantities. He had been buying mirrors of various price ranges, but on his last visit, he only bought expensive items.

When Kim Jeom, who received the report, called Mansur and asked the reason, Mansur answered.

“The Catholic bastards have started producing mirrors. Of course, the quality is so crude that it cannot be compared to Joseon’s mirrors, but the price is cheap.”

* * *

After that, various Q&A continued. The meeting ended only in the evening. As the meeting was coming to an end, Sejong ordered Mansur.

“As I said last time, we want to trade with Tianzhu. Your help is important for this to succeed. So, I hope you will do your best. This is something that must succeed for the future of our Joseon and you.”

Mansur bowed his head.

“I will do my best.”

* * *

Ahead of the departure, Mansur began to choose items to take to Alexandria to sell. However, Mansur was full of worries.

“Joseon will also be trading in Alexandria from now on, right?”

“That’s right. Why? Are you worried that your company will go bankrupt?”

Mansur nodded. Kim Jeom, seeing Mansur’s worried face, immediately answered.

“Then buy mainly small and expensive items. We will take ceramics, cotton cloth, and gold brushes.”

“Ceramics are….”

Mansur was disappointed because ceramics were one of the things that the ‘damned Catholic bastards’ were buying as they saw them, so Kim Jeom smiled slyly and replied.

“We have to ensure a surplus for ourselves, don’t we?”

“That’s true, but….”

“If you’re so worried, go outside. There are many items for sale in the market that aren’t available here.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“I understand.”

Mansur, accepting Kim Jeom’s advice, went to the market with an interpreter.

Just in time, the construction of laying railroad tracks for trains was in full swing on the street.

“What are the iron pillars laid on the ground for?”

“It’s a railroad track for trains to run on.”

“What is a train again?”

“It’s something that pulls carts using water and fire.”

Mansur, tilting his head, asked again.

“Using water and fire? How does it do that?”

The interpreter smiled and replied.

“If I knew that, would I be here?”

“Area 51….”

Mansur’s old memories came to mind. Mansur had asked Hassan about Area 51 when he heard that many of the utensils made and used by Joseon came from there.

“Can I see Area 51?”

Hassan’s face turned pale in an instant. Hassan even sweated and stopped Mansur.

“Don’t even mention Area 51!”

Sa’id, who was next to him, was also pale and sweating.

* * *

As Mansur walked through the market and looked at various items, his eyes were fixed on one thing.

What stole Mansur’s gaze was a folding fan.

“Welcome! Huh? A Huihui person [a term for Muslims in China]?”

As the clerk looked at Mansur with a curious face, the interpreter interjected.

“You know the ships that came into Jemulpo, right? He’s the owner of those ships.”

“Is that so? Then what can I help you with?”

The clerk, hearing the interpreter’s words, immediately responded with a business smile.

As he walked through the market, Mansur was able to reap a more fruitful harvest than expected. There were quite a few items with good marketability.

“You must keep the date.”

The merchants, hearing Mansur’s request through the interpreter, pounded their chests and replied.

“Don’t worry! ‘Keeping the delivery date is the life of a merchant’ is our motto!”

And, the Joseon merchants kept their promise.

With all the preparations completed in this way, Mansur’s fleet left Jemulpo.