Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 300

300. The Land of India (1)

The battle with the pirates ended in a complete victory for the Joseon navy.

After the *Maengjin* tore through them, the *Challenger* and *Invincible* took care of the cleanup.

The sailors manning the buckshot cannons and the riflemen were the busiest during this cleanup.

The *Challenger* and *Invincible*, having broken up the crane formation and split into two, mopped up the remaining 11 pirate ships.

In this process, the buckshot cannons proved their worth. Unlike the regular cannons, which required a longer reload time, the buckshot cannons cleared the decks of the pirate ships within range with a spray of deadly shot.

The riflemen were equally effective. Perched high on the stern decks and in the watchtowers, they sniped the resisting pirates one by one.

After the *Challenger* and *Invincible* swept through, all that remained were eight drifting pirate ships, their decks devoid of any living souls.

And sharks, drawn by the scent of blood, were gathering in the surrounding sea.

The *Challenger*, *Invincible*, and *Maengjin*, having dealt with the pirate ships, rejoined Mansur’s fleet. To be precise, they shortened sail to reduce speed and waited for Mansur’s fleet to catch up.

This meant Mansur’s fleet had to pass through a sea infested with sharks.

Mansur and his crew shuddered as they watched the drifting pirate ships and the dorsal fins of sharks cutting through the water in all directions.

“How gruesome….”

“I don’t want to look again….”

While the crew members muttered, stroking their arms to ward off goosebumps, Mansur muttered with a serious face.

“Should I just sell everything I have and buy one ship?”

Mansur, after contemplating this, cautiously spoke to the captain.

“Hey, Captain, those new Joseon ships are quite something, aren’t they?”

“They are definitely good.”

“Should we get one?”

“We’d go bankrupt.”

“Huh?”

The captain calmly explained to Mansur.

“They are certainly good ships, as good as their enormous price. But what’s the point of just buying the ship? We’d have to buy cannons too. When I looked at them last time, compared to the size of the cannons on that ship, the cannons on our ship look like firewood.”

“We could buy fewer cannons….”

“What about gunpowder and ammunition? And what about the crew?”

“That’s….”

Mansur, at a loss for words, mumbled, and the captain continued.

“Even if we put everything else aside, the wood that makes up that ship is Joseon wood. If we need to repair the ship, we’ll have to bring it back to Joseon, no matter what.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay to use the trees from our hometown?”

“The problem is that not all trees are the same. To sum it up, it’s worth the price, but if you think about the maintenance, we’ll go bankrupt. To operate that properly, it would have to be run by the country like Joseon, or a merchant group supported by the country.”

“Ugh, my stomach is starting to hurt again.”

Mansur’s stomach was hurting again.

* * *

The Joseon and Mansur allied fleet continued their smooth voyage.

The Joseon navy tensed up again as they entered the Strait of Malacca, famous for pirates, but there was no large-scale pirate attack like the one near Taiwan.

The pirates, seeing the size of the *Challenger*-class ships, kept their distance.

Of course, there were pirates who charged in out of confidence or recklessness, but those pirates immediately disappeared into the sea.

The pirates hiding here and there in the Strait of Malacca could all see the scene. Seeing their competitors and comrades disappear into the sea like that, the pirates never bothered the Joseon and Mansur mixed fleet.

Thanks to this, the mixed fleet was able to arrive in Malacca without incident.

* * *

As Malacca Port approached, the *Challenger*-class ships began to furl their sails all at once. At the same time, they lowered the small boats using capstans [a rotating machine used for winding a rope or cable], a heavy vertical winch.

As the small boats were safely lowered, ropes were thrown from the mother ships. The small boats, having grabbed and tied the ropes, began to tow the ships all at once.

In this way, gangways were connected to the *Challenger*-class battleships and Mansur’s ships that had docked at the pier.

When the huge ships of a shape never seen before – all painted gray from the sails to the hull – docked, the people of the port flocked to see them.

The captains of the *Challenger*, *Invincible*, and *Maengjin*, neatly dressed in war robes and war hats, and with swords at their sides, descended the gangway. Following the captains, interpreters who could speak Chinese and Ministry of Finance officials descended the gangway.

After a while, when Mansur came down and joined the group, a group of soldiers appeared, pushing through the crowd. As the soldiers raised their voices, the people who had gathered at the pier cleared the way, and well-dressed men appeared.

Seeing this, Oh Ha-seok winked at the interpreter. Oh Ha-seok, who had visited this place while sailing with Mansur last time, had discovered that there were Chinese among those who managed this port. Therefore, he had brought an interpreter on this voyage in advance.

While ordering to prepare an interpreter like this, Sejong could not hide his bitterness.

“According to the report, those merchants and people of the Ming Dynasty are out there even in the land of India. Joseon has been living in a very small world until now.”

The interpreter, stepping forward, announced their identity in fluent Chinese.

“We are departing from Joseon and heading to the land of India. We would like to stop by briefly to replenish food and water and take a rest.”

At the interpreter’s words, the Chinese official beamed.

“Oh! Joseon! You’ve suffered a lot on the long journey! As long as you don’t disturb the peace and trade properly, you are welcome to stop by!”

“Thank you, sir.”

Kang Nam-gil wore a surprised expression as the permission was easily granted.

“I didn’t expect permission to be granted so easily. How unexpected?”

Oh Ha-seok explained the reason for Kang Nam-gil’s words.

“This port itself is a port for trade. I heard that the Sultan, a Hui Muslim [Muslims of Chinese ethnicity] ruler who governs this port and its surroundings, accumulates wealth through trade.”

“Hoo~.”

Kang Nam-gil nodded lightly at Oh Ha-seok’s explanation.

“Anyway, since the situation has been resolved easily, let’s move quickly. Let’s start the supply in earnest from tomorrow, and in the meantime, let’s have our men take turns landing to stretch their legs.”

“It’s not stretching their legs they’re after, it’s the alcohol. By the way, did the interpreter make a proper appointment with the officials earlier?”

“He said to follow the soldiers who will come in a little while.”

“Then I’ll have to pack some tonic.”

The captain of the *Invincible* ordered his deputy in a small voice.

Shortly after, the crew members of the *Invincible* came down carrying a small box.

Not long after, a group of soldiers reappeared. A new Chinese man who came with the soldiers spoke to the interpreter. The interpreter conveyed the Chinese man’s words to the captains.

“The seats are ready, so they want us to go with them.”

“Then, please.”

* * *

Whether it was because of the medicine – truly high-quality medicinal ingredients such as ginseng and deer antler – delivered at the banquet held on the first evening of entry, the supply that started the next day proceeded smoothly. In fact, the officials of Malacca had no choice but to show goodwill. The captains and Ministry of Finance officials said that there would be regular visits in the future, and in addition, they showed great interest after hearing that Malacca’s main export was tin. It was absolutely unacceptable to mistreat those who might become big customers.

The Ming Dynasty merchants in the port proceeded with the transaction of rice and other vegetables.

“Ask if it’s okay to pay with Joseon’s silver bills.”

The Ming Dynasty merchants, who heard Oh Ha-seok’s story through the interpreter, laughed loudly and replied.

“They say it’s okay. Rather, they say paper money is better.”

“That’s a relief. Then, tell them to give us a discount since we’re buying so much.”

* * *

The sailors, who were busy with supply work during the day, waited for the sun to set. When the sun set, the sailors who were on the outing list were excited to prepare to disembark.

The captains stood in front of the sailors who had finished the roll call in front of the gangway.

“It’s good to go out and relax, but don’t overdo it. As you know, there are many people who are curious about this ship. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, Captain!”

When the captain’s instructions were over, the doctors on board stepped forward this time.

“It’s good to go out and drink, but hold on tight to your wallets… and other things. There is no medicine for venereal disease.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

At the end of the doctors’ warnings, the sailors who got off the ship left the pier, but soon had bewildered expressions.

“Where should we go?”

“I don’t know….”

“Shall we ask the Hui Muslim sailors who came with us?”

“Do you know Hui Muslim language?”

The sailors, struggling to get out of that difficult situation, soon came to a conclusion.

“Damn it! Let’s trust our noses!”

“We have no choice….”

The sailors, who had not had alcohol for almost a month, were desperate.

* * *

The Joseon sailors, who had rushed out in droves, were also wandering around the alleys of Malacca Port in groups.

Looking at the Joseon sailors who had rushed out in droves, the residents of Malacca Port watched as if they were watching a strange sight, and the Joseon sailors also watched the residents of Malacca with similar faces.

“What kind of clothes are those…? It’s like wrapping a duvet cover around yourself?”

“Oh my, how revealing…. You can see the body line?”

The Joseon sailors were shocked by the culture of sarongs and kain [traditional Southeast Asian garments], the clothing of the Malays living in Malacca. The clothes made of thin cloth for ventilation revealed the lines of the body.

“Is that what’s important now?”

“Don’t you know what’s important?”

However, the Joseon sailors immediately turned their eyes away. They were accustomed to the etiquette of not looking at strange women carelessly, but the biggest reason was that they were so thirsty for alcohol.

* * *

“Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! It’s the smell of alcohol!”

The sailors, who were wandering around the alley, soon smelled alcohol and began to move after the smell.

The Joseon sailors, who found a bar by following the smell, had a look of dismay.

“It’s right in front of us?”

“That damn fish sauce smell….”

The Joseon sailors, blaming the pungent smell of fish sauce, a traditional Southeast Asian seasoning, flocked to the bar.

The Joseon sailors, who flocked to the bar, nodded after seeing the sign written in Chinese characters.

“We found it!”

Even though it was scribbled and decorated, they clearly recognized the Chinese character for ‘alcohol (酒)’

“Hey, barkeep, alcohol!”

“Give us some alcohol!”

The shop owner, who was standing blankly looking at the Joseon sailors who flocked in droves and filled the first and second floors, soon came to his senses and kicked the clerk’s butt.

“What are you doing! Turn the tea around right now!”

“Yes, yes!”

As the clerks poured the tea, the soldiers regained some sense and began to talk.

“But what do we pay with?”

“We got paid.”

“That’s Joseon money. Is this Joseon?”

“Ah….”

When the money problem arose, the most senior soldiers stepped forward.

The senior soldiers, who walked to the shop owner, took out their wallets from their pockets, took out silver bills, and dipped their fingers in the tea water and wrote on the counter.

可 (Acceptable) 否 (Not acceptable)

The shop owner, seeing the letters written by the soldiers and the silver bills, soon understood the meaning and nodded greatly, similarly writing letters with his fingers.

可 (Acceptable)

The senior soldiers, confirming the shop owner’s answer, brightened up and wrote the letters again.

酒 (Alcohol) 多 (More) 急 (Hurry)

The shop owner, checking the letters, smiled brightly and nodded.

The senior soldiers, who returned to their seats, informed the other soldiers of the results.

“They accept silver bills.”

“Wow!”

Shortly after, alcohol and side dishes began to be placed on the soldiers’ tables, and the soldiers began to enjoy the alcohol with excitement.

In the midst of the drinking party, lower-ranking officers and senior soldiers with the rank of Jinmu (鎭撫) [Military rank in Joseon Dynasty] became curious about something other than alcohol.

“I heard that our country’s silver bills are widely used, but I didn’t know they would accept them here too?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

The Joseon soldiers had both surprise and pride in the unexpectedly wide influence of Joseon’s paper money.