Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 301

301. Chittagong (2)

At the tavern, the Joseon sailors were surprised by two things.

First, they were amazed by the variety of drinks available. From all sorts of fruit wines to Arabian grape wines and strong distilled spirits, bottles filled with various liquors lined the sailors’ tables.

“Wow! This is heaven!”

“If Yi Tae-baek [a famous Tang Dynasty poet known for his love of alcohol] came here, he would have settled down for good!”

The sailors enjoyed themselves, drinking all kinds of unique liquors.

Second, they were shocked by the enormous bill.

“It’s about time we headed back.”

“Hic! Indeed.”

As the atmosphere began to wind down, the tavern owner, who had become acquainted with the sailors through their earlier written conversation, handed them a paper with the amount written on it.

The sailors, slightly tipsy, took the paper and rubbed their eyes after checking the number written on it.

“What? Is this for real?”

“Whoa! I’m suddenly sober!”

The first thought that came to the sailors’ minds after checking the amount several times was that they were being ripped off.

“Are they trying to rip us off? I’ll just…!”

“Hold on! Nothing’s been confirmed yet!”

As the atmosphere turned sour over the bill, Jo Seok-bong, the most senior of the Jinnmu [elite sailors], made a decision.

“Let’s pay the bill first and then bring the interpreter tomorrow to sort it out.”

“Brother Jo!”

“Seok-bong!”

“Everyone’s drunk right now. What do you think will happen if we make a bigger scene here? We can’t even communicate properly. What else can we do but fight?”

“Ugh…”

“If it turns out to be a rip-off, we just won’t come to this tavern again. Surely, this isn’t the only tavern in this port, is it?”

In the end, the sailors pooled their money and paid the bill. Each person paid one silver nyang [Joseon Dynasty currency], grumbling.

“Spending half a month’s salary in one night… Damn it…”

* * *

At the time, the monthly salary of a Joseon navy private was two silver nyang. The sailors participating in this voyage were paid three silver nyang, including special bonuses, with one nyang being sent to their families in Joseon.

As the Gyeongjang reforms [a series of Joseon Dynasty reforms] progressed, soldiers’ salaries were no longer paid through Boeins [a military service system] but directly by the state. Thanks to this, soldiers could receive their pay stably. And the salary of two silver nyang for the lowest-ranking private was a considerable income in the economic situation of Joseon at the time. As a result, more and more people were enlisting in the military.

* * *

The sailors, having paid the bill, continued to grumble.

“Ugh! I’m so sober now!”

“How many barrels of Takju [Korean traditional rice wine] is one silver nyang worth?”

“Damn it! I’m never coming here to drink again!”

Returning to the ship with all sorts of complaints, the sailors kicked their blankets and vented their anger.

“Ugh! I’m so pissed!”

The next morning, as soon as it dawned, the Jinnmu and senior soldiers rushed to their captains to report what had happened the day before.

The captains, after receiving the report, gathered to discuss countermeasures.

“We need to resolve these kinds of issues immediately.”

“That’s right. Otherwise, we might keep getting taken advantage of.”

Having reached an agreement, the captains ordered the interpreters.

The three interpreters, after sharing their opinions, soon came to a decision.

“You guys keep doing your jobs. I’ll go to the tavern.”

“Please do.”

The interpreter in charge of the matter led the Jinnmu and senior soldiers to the tavern in question.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I see.”

The interpreter, with the soldiers behind him, entered the tavern and looked for the owner.

After talking with the owner for a long time, the interpreter turned to the soldiers with a troubled expression.

“What did you guys write here yesterday?”

“We wrote asking if we could use silver coins and paper money.”

“And then?”

At the interpreter’s words, the Jinnmu who had written the message immediately replied.

“Liquor, many, urgent.”

“Sigh…”

The interpreter, sighing deeply at the Jinnmu’s answer, opened his mouth.

“The owner says that he thought you wanted many kinds of liquor, so he brought out every kind of liquor in the tavern.”

“Huh?”

The sailors also looked embarrassed at the interpreter’s explanation.

The Chinese character ‘多’ (da) meant ‘many,’ but it also meant ‘various.’

Seeing the sailors’ expressions, the interpreter continued.

“Yes. According to the owner, because you wrote ‘urgent’ after ‘many,’ he brought out all the liquor prepared in bottles. You know that even the same liquor is more expensive when served in bottles rather than from a barrel, right?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks to that ‘many’ character, the owner is innocent.”

“Ugh…”

The soldiers could only groan at the interpreter’s explanation.

“Your stomachs might hurt, but your mouths were luxurious. I even drank liquor that I’ve only heard of.”

The soldiers grumbled at the interpreter’s words.

“We mixed everything together, so we didn’t even know what it tasted like.”

“Oh dear…”

In the end, the soldiers had to retreat, merely licking their lips.

The captains, after receiving the interpreter’s report back on the ship, shared their opinions and immediately called the interpreters.

“I’d like to prohibit shore leave, but there’s also the issue of the soldiers’ morale, so please take some trouble.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the interpreters accompanied the sailors when they went out. The interpreters’ reaction wasn’t bad. They were also thirsty for alcohol.

* * *

Having completed their resupply after such a commotion, the allied fleet left Malacca.

The fleet’s destination, heading north along the strait, was Chittagong.

Aided by the currents, the allied fleet arrived in Chittagong in 12 days.

Following Mansur’s merchant ship, the Joseon fleet sailed up the Karnaphuli River and arrived at the port of Chittagong.

“It’s huge! Even bigger than Malacca!”

Kang Nam-gil exclaimed, looking at the port of Chittagong.

All kinds of ships, from Chinese vessels to Arabian dhows [traditional Arab sailing vessels], were coming and going in the port.

* * *

The port was in an uproar as the Joseon ships approached the port of Chittagong. This was because gray ships as large as the ones Zheng He [a famous Chinese admiral] of the Ming Dynasty had sailed were approaching the port.

As the soldiers in charge of defending the port flocked to the pier, Mansur, who had docked first, disembarked and sought out the official in charge of managing the port.

“Hello! I’ve come to tell you about those ships!”

“Do you know those ships?”

“I do! Those ships are from Joseon! They want to trade!”

* * *

Mansur’s report was immediately sent to the governor of Chittagong.

“Joseon? What country is that?”

The officials all racked their brains at the governor’s question.

“I think I’ve heard the name before…”

“I think so…”

One of the officials, who had been trying to remember about the country called ‘Joseon,’ suddenly brightened and answered the governor.

“Ah! Governor! It’s the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“Land of Flowers?”

The governor, who had been tilting his head, suddenly widened his eyes.

“That ‘Land of Flowers’?”

“Yes! That country’s name is Joseon!”

At the official’s answer, the governor jumped up from his seat and ordered.

“Tell them to allow entry immediately! If the ‘Land of Flowers’ has come to trade, we must welcome them immediately!”

* * *

The governor’s order was quickly conveyed, and the three ships docked at the Chittagong port pier.

During the docking process, not only the small boats carried on the ships but also the small boats in the port rushed to help the massive hulls of the Challenger-class ships dock safely.

As the ships docked safely, the captains, starting with Oh Ha-seok, disembarked first via the connected gangway. Following them, the interpreters and officials from the Ministry of Finance disembarked, and Mansur introduced them to the official.

The official, after being introduced by Mansur, walked up to the captain and the Ministry of Finance official, bowed politely, and offered greetings.

“We welcome those who have come from the ‘Land of Flowers’.”

Oh Ha-seok and his party simultaneously expressed their doubts upon hearing Mansur’s translation.

“Land of Flowers?”

Seeing the party’s expressions, Mansur immediately added an explanation.

“Ah! Countries far from Joseon call Joseon the ‘Land of Flowers.’ That’s because of the flower patterns stamped on the goods Joseon sells.”

“Ah…”

At Mansur’s explanation, the party all nodded.

* * *

Among the goods sold by Joseon, those shipped through the royal workshops or the Ministry of Finance’s exhibition halls all had plum blossom patterns stamped on them.

No, not only goods released overseas but also goods traded internally used the plum blossom pattern as a standard for guaranteeing quality.

Everyone knew very well that the color and number of flowers stamped in gold, silver, and copper were the most reliable guarantee.

Thanks to this, artisans and merchants who made and sold goods all strived to receive better evaluations.

Of course, there were occasionally those who attempted forgery, but these people were merely good prey for those seeking rewards and Ministry of Finance officials seeking fines and property seizures.

* * *

Oh Ha-seok, representing the party who understood the meaning of the ‘Land of Flowers,’ gave a reply.

“Please tell him we are grateful for the welcome.”

The official, hearing Mansur’s translation, spoke again, and Mansur conveyed it.

“The governor wishes to meet you.”

“Immediately?”

“The ‘Land of Flowers’ is a subject of curiosity.”

At Mansur’s words, Oh Ha-seok looked back at his party. As they all nodded, Oh Ha-seok said to Mansur.

“I’m sorry, but please tell him to wait a little while as we need to prepare briefly.”

“Yes.”

The official, hearing Mansur’s reply, immediately said he would wait, and wooden boxes were once again unloaded from the Invincible, which had brought goods to trade with Chittagong.

Meanwhile, Oh Ha-seok looked back at the interpreters who had learned Arabic.

“Will you be able to interpret?”

“It’s not the Arabic we learned.”

“Oh dear…”

As Oh Ha-seok looked dismayed, Mansur interjected.

“Captain, the language they use is Persian. Of course, as they are fellow Muslims, they know some Arabic. And, if necessary, I can step in as I am now.”

“The merchant must leave with us, mustn’t he? If the trade is successful, we should look for someone to teach us the language.”

The Minister of Finance intervened at Oh Ha-seok’s words.

“I saw quite a few Ming people as we entered the port. If necessary, couldn’t we communicate in Chinese?”

Oh Ha-seok’s face brightened at the Ministry of Finance official’s words.

“There was such a way. As expected, it is said that the Ministry of Finance officials are the best among the officials of the court.”

“You flatter me.”

In such a warm atmosphere, the process of checking whether the contents of the wooden boxes were damaged was completed. After receiving a report that the gifts in the boxes were intact, Oh Ha-seok and his party began to move towards the governor’s residence, following the officials.

* * *

The meeting that followed at the governor’s residence was in a bright atmosphere from the start.

“I have long known that the goods of the ‘Land of Flowers’ are of excellent quality. I am so pleased to be trading with such a country.”

The governor’s words were not mere flattery.

Joseon’s goods were not unfamiliar not only in the Bengal Sultanate but also in various countries of India. Merchants from the Ming Dynasty or Arab merchants who had obtained goods from Alexandria came to India and sold Joseon’s goods.

Although the price was not cheap as it had passed through several hands, the Indian nobles, regardless of whether they were Hindus or Muslims, purchased Joseon’s goods due to their excellent quality.

That was why the governor of Chittagong welcomed those from Joseon. Because the goods came directly without intermediaries, the price would naturally be lower, and Chittagong could even earn money through intermediary trade.