Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 352

Gibraltar Strait Naval Battle (1)

Northern Morocco, Ceuta.

Here stood the Portuguese naval fortress founded by Prince Henry the Navigator.

Despite the sweltering weather, soldiers and knights clad in breastplates and helmets kept watch over the sea from the fortress’s northern rampart.

“Those damn Españoles…”

Knight Ricardo, who commanded the sentries, gnashed his teeth as he gazed at the northern horizon.

Just 5 leagues (approximately 21 kilometers, or 13 miles) north of Ceuta lay Gibraltar, home to the naval base of the Castile-Aragon union.

This naval base was the source of Ricardo and his soldiers’ frustration.

Instead of using the term ‘union,’ those arrogant bastards were presumptuously using the historically significant name ‘Hispania’ from Roman times, acting as if the entire Iberian Peninsula was their territory, and eyeing Portugal’s sea – or, more precisely, the West African coast.

* * *

Since Prince Henry began actively supporting exploration, the West African coast had gradually revealed its secrets.

As Prince Henry’s expeditions charted routes, scholars and merchants followed.

While scholars investigated and compiled geographical information, merchants secured anything that could be profitable – mostly slaves.

The profits from the West African coast became substantial, leading Portugal – specifically, Prince Henry – to increase its support.

Furthermore, with the rise of Joseon (Korea), known as the ‘Land of Flowers,’ the West African coast gained even greater importance.

The current situation saw Islamic forces controlling the routes to Joseon and India. If Africa could be bypassed, the profits taken by Islamic forces could be seized.

Prince Henry gathered ship captains, geographers, and mapmakers at ‘Vila do Infante (Prince’s Town)’ in Sagres to discuss the situation.

“We already know the routes to India, Cathay (China), and Joseon to some extent. Therefore, we only need to find a route that bypasses Africa! Do not forget! Finding the routes to India and Joseon will bring immense wealth into our hands!”

As Prince Henry showed even greater enthusiasm, Portugal’s African exploration accelerated.

Thanks to this, they passed Cape Bojador in late 1431, almost three years earlier than in the history before Hyang intervened.

Until then, it was known as the ‘Cape of No Return,’ rumored to bring death to those who crossed it.

With proof that crossing Cape Bojador did not lead to death, exploration gained even more momentum.

It was in this situation that those detestable Espanyol mongrels set foot.

* * *

Gazing at Gibraltar beyond the horizon, Ricardo gnashed his teeth, then turned his frustration towards other targets.

“Those stupid Venetian bastards. They claim to build ships well…”

The ones Ricardo was calling stupid were the Venetian shipbuilders.

Venetian shipbuilding had a solid reputation. The ships made in Venice were as good as rumored, and the shipbuilders’ pride soared.

The problem was that the ships they built were mainly galleys, and their primary area of operation was the Mediterranean.

Therefore, Portugal and Venice had been at odds from the very beginning of the shipbuilding process.

“We don’t need oarsmen! Create a storage space for supplies in that place, make the hull bigger, and strengthen its durability!”

“I understand the issue with oarsmen, but increasing the hull size and strengthening its durability will take some time.”

“Can’t we just increase the size of the carracks and caravels we’re using?”

“What you’re talking about isn’t just simply increasing the hull size a ‘little’! You’re talking about 120 to 140 cubits (approximately 62 meters, or 203 feet)! That’s more than twice the size of the caravels you’re currently sailing! And you want me to strengthen the durability because you need to load a lot of cannons? Building a ship isn’t like baking bread in an oven! It’s a ship!”

“The Land of Flowers, no, Joseon made it that way!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ve never heard of or seen them building such a large ship!”

In reality, the galleys made in Venice were not weak. Florence, which mainly processed wool, was importing wool from England and France using galleys and caravels made in Venice.

However, the problem was the performance that Portugal demanded.

– Hull size nearly twice as large as the ships currently in operation. Hull strength capable of withstanding cannon battles.

– This was the minimum requirement. It would be even better if it was fast.

This was why the Venetian artisans were so agitated by Portugal’s conditions.

Despite Venice’s protests, Portugal remained firm.

“I’ll say it again, Joseon’s ships are that big!”

Venice retorted to Portugal’s claim.

“Are you really sure! Show me the evidence!”

“The crew members of the Islamic merchant fleet that moved with Joseon’s ships said so. And our knights have also given the same report!”

“You want me to believe the words of sailors? Don’t you know how much sailors exaggerate?”

“Why are you leaving out the fact that the knights also gave the same report? Are you perhaps going to say that the knights are also exaggerating?”

“….”

“We need big ships to prepare for the future! Make the ships according to the conditions I presented!”

“It costs too much time and money! No way!”

As Portugal and Venice were at loggerheads, Cosimo de Medici of Florence stepped in to mediate.

“Both sides have valid points. Shall we listen to this merchant for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“Understood.”

The representatives of Portugal and Venice had to remain silent.

Although he called himself a merchant, Cosimo de Medici was one of the absolute power holders in Europe at the time. He could not be ignored.

“It is reasonable for Portugal to need large and sturdy ships. Of course, I also used my merchants to see Joseon’s ships, and they said they were large.

However, Venice’s statement that it is impossible also makes sense. No matter how well you build ships, unconditionally building large ships without experience is a dangerous gamble. Considering the costs and time consumed by trial and error, it is not a situation to insist on unconditionally large ships. So, let’s do this. How much bigger can Venice make the ships it is currently building and operating?”

“About 20 cubits (approximately 9 meters, or 30 feet) is the maximum for now.”

“How many cannons can you load on that size?”

“14 cannons.”

“Hmm….”

At the words of the Venetian representative, Cosimo briefly recalled. Transport ships carrying wool and other goods also carried cannons for self-defense. The amount of cannons loaded on the ships responsible for escorting the fleet on the outermost edges was 10.

‘Not bad.’

“Hmm….”

Although he had come to a certain conclusion, Cosimo pretended to ponder more with a serious face.

While the representatives of Venice and Portugal waited with nervous faces, Cosimo, who had been continuing the silence, opened his mouth.

“I think it is best to be satisfied with the largest ship that Venice can make for now. I think it is possible to operate with that size until a route that completely bypasses Africa is discovered. If you build large ships without verification and lose them, the losses will be enormous. What do you think?”

The words were a suggestion, but in reality, it was a notification of a decision. Although Portugal, Venice, and Florence had joined hands, Florence accounted for the largest financial stake.

Florence was focusing its investment on this matter for a simple reason.

‘The more ways to get goods from India and Joseon, the better.’

* * *

Thus, accepting Florence’s arbitration, shipyards in Portugal and Venice began to build ships.

However, unlike Henry’s wishes, new ships were not coming out quickly.

In the case of Venice, it was a new ship that relied 100% on wind power, not the existing galley, so they had to go through trial and error from the design process.

Portugal’s shipyards were not speeding up either. They were already familiar with sailing ships while building caravels and carracks, but they could not avoid the trial and error that had to be experienced in the process of increasing the size.

In addition, the situation where those Espanyol thugs were taking away a significant number of artisans was occurring, and the mass operation of new sailing ships was being pushed further back.

In this situation, voices cursing the Espanyols were overflowing not only in Ceuta but also in Sagres and Lisbon.

* * *

While they were cursing in Portugal, Spaniards were uttering curses in Gibraltar (in Spanish, Gibraltar).

“Damn Ceuta! Damn Portuguese bastards!”

If the northern pillar of the famous ‘Pillars of Hercules’ was Gibraltar, the southern pillar was Ceuta.

The Portuguese entrenched in Ceuta dispatched large-scale fleets to monitor Spanish ships when they departed from Gibraltar and went out into the Atlantic.

It was understandable that they showed such a reaction if Spanish ships headed north. Going north would immediately lead to Portuguese territory.

However, what infuriated the Spaniards the most was when they headed south. Portugal claimed that the ports they stopped at along the way were their territory.

To avoid this, Spain had to create new ports of call on its own, but the best locations had already been taken by Portugal.

Therefore, Spain had to find a decent place on its own and build a port. However, finding such a place was not easy, and building a port was even more difficult.

As a result, although Portugal had broken through Cape Bojador and was gradually moving south, Spain was just rounding the northwestern corner of Africa.

Despite this gloomy situation, Spain could not give up exploring West Africa. The considerable amount of wealth that Portugal was obtaining from the West African region was tempting, but what was even more tempting was the bypass route to India and Joseon.

If they could find and secure that bypass route, they could gain immense wealth, so Spain was sending ships south in cooperation with Genoa.

Given this situation, the Portuguese in Ceuta were a thorn in Spain’s side. In reality, they could not even enter the ports built by Portugal unless they were in a critical situation while sailing along the West African coast.

Adding to this situation was the resentment created by the past history of separating from the Kingdom of Castile during the Reconquista (the historical period of the Iberian Peninsula when Christian kingdoms fought to reclaim land from the Moors). Portugal and Spain were in a situation where they were cursing each other as ‘despicable traitors’ and ‘greedy thugs blinded by greed.’ With these historical backgrounds and economic problems overlapping, Gibraltar and Ceuta were glaring at each other with swords drawn.