Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 353

353. The Battle of the Strait of Gibraltar (2)

As tensions simmered, and the Portuguese and Spanish ships glared at each other across the waves, rumors of Portugal’s new ship design reached Genoa.

“They’re building a new type of ship?”

At the governor’s inquiry, his aide immediately provided details.

“Yes, it appears to be an improved Carrack, though significantly larger overall.”

“How much larger?”

“The length has increased by about 20 cubits (approximately 9 meters), and the deck height by about 3 cubits (approximately 1.35 meters). It also seems to be equipped with around 14 cannons.”

“Hmm….”

The Genoese governor absorbed the report, his expression turning serious.

* * *

Increasing a ship’s size offered numerous advantages. It immediately boosted cargo capacity and allowed for a larger crew.

Especially for sailing ships like Carracks and Caravels, which relied on manpower for combat rather than rowers, a larger crew directly translated to greater fighting strength. Furthermore, the increased size inherently enhanced the ship’s overall combat effectiveness.

While cannons were becoming more common on ships, most naval battles still involved close-quarters combat and boarding actions.

In such situations, holding the higher ground was a considerable advantage.

* * *

The Genoese governor, keenly aware of this from countless maritime skirmishes with Venice, pressed for more information.

“Can we acquire the blueprints or poach their shipwrights?”

“Well, security has been significantly tightened since our last attempt to lure away their artisans. The blueprints are reportedly stored in a heavily guarded vault.”

“Damn….”

Clearly displeased, the governor clicked his tongue. He leaned back, lost in thought, before reaching a decision.

“Contact Madrid and Valencia. First, determine if the artisans in Valencia can replicate a similar ship. Once we have that confirmation, we’ll consider our next move.”

“Understood.”

Ten days later, representatives from Genoa and Spain convened in Madrid.

After brief formalities, they gathered around the table and immediately addressed the matter at hand.

“Have you reviewed the report on Portugal’s new ship?”

The Spanish official’s question was met with a prompt response from the Genoese representative.

“Yes, we have. The news is concerning.”

“Indeed. If we’re not careful, Portugal could monopolize the West African trade route.”

“That is a significant problem. Have you consulted with the artisans in Valencia?”

In response, the Spanish official presented a thick report.

“To be frank, their assessment is: ‘Possible, but not in the short term.'”

“‘Not in the short term?'”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“That’s regrettable.”

The Genoese officials struggled to conceal their disappointment.

Sensing their reaction, the Spanish official elaborated.

“Expanding the hull’s design was already a research direction we were exploring before Valencia, which could shorten the overall time. However, the trial and error process remains a significant hurdle. Therefore… could you send additional artisans from the Genoa shipyard?”

The Spanish request caused the Genoese officials to exchange troubled glances.

“We need to maintain our warship production to counter Venice, so additional deployments are difficult.”

The Spanish officials, in turn, couldn’t hide their disappointment.

“That’s a shame.”

* * *

With no easy solution in sight, time continued to slip away.

“Ah!”

Breaking the tense silence, one of the Spanish officials, who had been deep in thought, suddenly exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Do you have an idea?”

At the Genoese official’s prompting, the Spanish official cautiously proposed.

“What if… we recruited artisans from France?”

“From France?”

“Don’t the French also possess considerable shipbuilding expertise?”

“Hmm….”

The suggestion to ‘recruit artisans from France’ sparked a serious debate among the Genoese and Spanish officials, as they weighed the potential benefits and risks.

After lengthy deliberation, the officials began to voice their opinions.

“That might be feasible.”

“Yes, that seems like a promising approach.”

As support for the idea grew, one of the Genoese officials raised a concern.

“Wouldn’t that be risky?”

“Risky?”

“Yes. Although weakened by the nearly 100-year war with England [The Hundred Years’ War, a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453], France remains a powerful nation. We could inadvertently create a formidable competitor.”

“Ah….”

“That’s right. The fact that they sustained a war for nearly a century suggests significant underlying national strength….”

Ultimately, the ‘recruitment of French artisans’ was abandoned.

“Ultimately, we must minimize trial and error.”

“We must thoroughly utilize the ships that emerge from the trial and error process.”

“That’s the only viable solution.”

In the end, they were forced to rely on the most fundamental approach.

* * *

Thus, a shipbuilding race ignited between the Portugal-Venice-Florence alliance and the Spain-Genoa alliance.

In the shipyards of Sagres, Valencia, and Venice, artisans and designers strained their minds to construct ever-larger ships.

This competition triggered an unexpected butterfly effect.

“It’s difficult to properly construct these new ships based solely on our existing experience. We require assistance.”

“Assistance? Elaborate.”

At the request of their superiors, the designers and artisans provided a detailed explanation.

“The ships we are currently designing and building represent a significant leap forward. This cannot be achieved through experience alone. For example, the thickness and spacing of the ribs attached to the keel must be completely recalculated. We need mathematicians skilled in complex calculations.”

“A mathematician….”

The superiors hesitated, troubled by the artisans’ request.

The challenge wasn’t finding mathematicians, but the mathematicians themselves. Many renowned mathematicians were at odds with the Vatican.

Just last year, a considerable number of monks had sought refuge in Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], and even now, many were quietly liquidating their assets and heading towards Alexandria [a center of learning in Egypt].

After a long period of contemplation, the superior sighed deeply and reached a decision.

“Hoo~. Political problems should be left to politicians.”

“You need mathematicians?”

“Yes, the reason is….”

The kings of Spain and the governor of Genoa, upon receiving the report, were deep in thought.

A wrong decision could lead to conflict with the Pope.

In particular, the kings of Spain—the King of Castile and the King of Aragon—faced a politically significant burden.

Clashing with the Pope would force them to make significant concessions to the nobles. There was even a risk of a second or third Portugal emerging, challenging their authority.

Ultimately, the kings of Spain passed the responsibility to the governor of Genoa, who made a decision after much deliberation.

“Tsk! There’s no other way!”

The governor of Genoa offered the Pope a suitable gift and received permission to recruit mathematicians.

-It is necessary to build safe ships, so it does not contradict the doctrine.

The governor of Genoa, holding the document with the Pope’s decree, smiled wryly and muttered.

“I wonder how much I spent to obtain this single piece of paper….”

Of course, Portugal, hearing the rumors, also bribed the Pope and obtained the same decree.

As a result, a considerable number of scholars migrated to Venice, Florence, and Genoa-Spain—regions now perceived as religiously safer.

The mathematicians, tasked with researching the formulas needed for design and calculating the answers, pursued their own research alongside their assigned duties.

Thanks to this, the Renaissance began slightly earlier than in the timeline before Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

As the shipbuilding race intensified, experimental ships began to be launched at a steady pace.

The completed ships underwent brief test voyages and were immediately deployed in actual combat.

“The only way to know if a newly built ship is properly made is to put it to sea!”

“Verify through actual voyages!”

That was the official justification, but the higher-ups’ true intentions were simpler.

‘We need to see a return on our investment!’

* * *

The continuous deployment of these newly launched ships meant an increasing number of vessels traversing the sea routes.

While the number of ships decreased sharply after passing Cape Bojador [a headland on the coast of Western Sahara], north of it, numerous ships bearing the coats of arms of Spain and Portugal frequently crossed paths.

The sea was vast, but the safe sea lanes were limited. Encounters at relatively close range were common.

As these encounters became more frequent, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

As previously mentioned, Portugal and Spain harbored deep-seated resentment dating back to Portugal’s founding, and Spain’s expansion into Africa further strained their relationship due to disputes over ports of call.

Consequently, captains on both sides tried to maintain as much distance as possible when spotting ships from the opposing nation.

They sought to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

However, when close passage was unavoidable, sailors exchanged insults and curses.

The situation was rapidly deteriorating, largely due to competition over resources in Africa.

The ships exploring the west coast of Africa had two primary objectives.

One was to discover a route to India and Joseon, and the other was to trade with local African leaders—primarily Arab chieftains or kings.

They traded European goods—tableware, weapons, and luxury items—for underground resources and slaves, a profitable venture.

However, with Spain joining Portugal in this endeavor, demand outstripped supply.

* * *

The atmosphere aboard the ‘Vendaval (Gale)’ as it returned to Ceuta was somber.

They had failed to secure any significant trade deals.

They had sailed with holds full of weapons, cloth, and luxury goods, only to find that the Spanish had already completed their trades and departed.

“I apologize. I had urgent business, so I couldn’t accommodate you. I promise a better deal next time. I’m truly sorry.”

The Arab local leader who had ruined the deal repeated the word sorry with a completely insincere expression.

In the end, the Vendaval had to return empty-handed, promising to return.

Failing that, they could have landed in a nearby undeveloped area and attacked the indigenous tribes, but no such opportunities existed.

They had all been wiped out by slave-raiding local leaders, by Portugal, and by Spain.

Advancing deeper inland was impossible with the Vendaval’s limited crew.

* * *

“Damn it! I have a lot of IOUs to pay!”

“Tell me about it!”

“I shudder just thinking about my wife’s nagging!”

The crew of the Vendaval grumbled, their faces etched with disappointment.

It had been customary to receive a substantial bonus in addition to their salary upon returning from a voyage. Recently, they had heard rumors of sailors missing out on bonuses, but they had dismissed it as someone else’s problem.

Now, that misfortune had befallen them.

Ting-ting-ting!

As they lamented their situation, a sailor in the watchtower urgently rang the bell.

“Ship ahead!”

In the distance, a transport ship bearing the Spanish coat of arms was heading north.