Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 461

461. Caesar’s Things, God’s Things

After a long voyage, Duke Henrique’s fleet, which had departed from Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], finally arrived back in Suez.

“Suez! Suez!”

At the lookout’s cry from the mast, everyone on board wore an expression of relief.

“We have finally arrived.”

Henrique nodded lightly at the captain’s words.

“You’ve done well. Anyway…”

Trailing off, Henrique watched the Joseon ships moving towards the pier and continued.

“Once funds are secured, it would be good to acquire Joseon ships. If warships are difficult, even merchant ships would do.”

The captain nodded at Henrique’s words.

“Indeed, that would be ideal.”

* * *

During this voyage, Henrique and the Portuguese deeply appreciated the excellence of Joseon ships.

In all aspects, including size, speed, and durability, they far surpassed their own Nao [Portuguese term for a large carrack ship].

It was a moment when their own ships, which they had prided themselves on as the newest and best-performing among those of Mediterranean and Atlantic nations, seemed inferior in comparison.

* * *

As the ships docked at the pier, waiting workers swarmed in.

These were laborers from Mansur and Aden, stevedores belonging to the union jointly operated by Joseon, and day laborers struggling to make a living.

The Aden merchants and the union workers organized by Joseon brought carts and were preparing to unload in an orderly manner.

In contrast to the orderly appearance of Joseon and the Mansur merchant group, day laborers gathered around Prince Henrique’s ship, creating chaos.

“It was like this when we left too…”

“Nari! Nari!” [A respectful title in Korean, like ‘Sir!’]

Henrique shook his head at the chaotic pier, overrun with workers shouting ‘Nari!’ in clumsy Joseon pronunciation.

“This is why I told them to prepare and train people in advance…”

Before departing for Joseon, Henrique had left some of his men behind with orders.

“If things go well, we will be bringing back a lot of goods from Joseon. We can’t entrust such goods to just anyone, so create an organized workforce.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He had left with such instructions and a considerable amount of money, but upon returning, this chaotic scene unfolded again.

The situation, where disembarkation was impossible due to the chaos, soon began to be resolved.

“Get out of the way!”

“Get lost!”

A group of burly men began to drive away the workers, wielding long clubs and shouting curses.

As the thugs drove away the gathered day laborers, Henrique’s men appeared, leading a group of workers.

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

“Oh! Nuno! Rodrigo!”

Henrique replied with a delighted expression at the call of his men.

Goods began to be unloaded from Henrique’s fleet by the workers brought by his men.

Watching the laborers carrying wooden boxes on their backs and heads, Henrique muttered with a face full of regret.

“Even if we can’t buy Joseon ships, we must buy Nokro [Korean pulley system].”

Unlike themselves, who were unloading goods precariously via the swaying pier, the Joseon ships were unloading goods easily and safely using Nokro and devices called Geojunggi [Korean cranes] installed on the sides of the hull.

Expressing his regret, Henrique turned and walked towards the lodging, talking with Nuno and Rodrigo.

“Have you secured the warehouse properly?”

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s the warehouse right next to the warehouse building used by the Joseon people and the Mansur merchant group. We paid a bit extra, but it’s safer.”

“Good job. And when the Joseon people and the Mansur merchant group leave for Alexandria, we will move with them, so send a message to Ceuta via carrier pigeon to prepare the ship.”

“Yes, Your Grace. But…”

Nuno asked Henrique with a curious expression.

“How did things go in Joseon?”

At his subordinate’s question, Henrique replied with a confident expression.

“We won’t have to be bothered by creditors anymore.”

“Ah!”

“That’s a relief!”

Henrique’s subordinates’ faces brightened at his answer.

* * *

For the continued exploration activities, Henrique had to spend a huge amount of money. To cover these funds, Henrique diverted a large amount of money from the Order of Christ, of which he was the commander, and mobilized the members of the Order for exploration.

Even so, more and more capital was needed, and Henrique had to reach out to external sources.

And in response to Henrique’s request, influential capitalists, including Cosimo de Medici, and Portuguese nobles lent funds.

However, even with many beautiful words, debt was debt. Under pressure from creditors disguised as investors, Henrique had to hand over the colonies acquired during the exploration process to them.

In the end, Henrique’s reputation had grown through the exploration, but it was a situation like a ‘gilded lily’ [something that appears beautiful but is worthless] full of debt. And that reputation had recently declined significantly.

However, the goods obtained through this voyage to Joseon seemed sufficient to resolve the bad debts.

* * *

Watching his subordinates relieved, Henrique continued.

“If we sell the goods we brought this time, we will be able to deal with the creditors who are trying to bleed us dry. Then we will be able to work with investors who are truly worth working with for the future.”

“It will definitely happen!”

“That’s right!”

Lightly patting his subordinates on the shoulders, Henrique vowed to himself.

“I have to make it happen!”

* * *

Five days later, as the Joseon people, having finished their rest to some extent and prepared to go to Alexandria, began to move discreetly, Henrique’s party also began to move accordingly.

Before departing, Henrique gathered Nuno, Rodrigo, and the captains and gave orders.

“I will return from Lisbon as soon as possible after taking care of business. Until then, make sure to finish the maintenance of the ships.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Considering the future, we must not do anything carelessly.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

“We will do our best, Your Grace.”

After firmly instructing his subordinates, Henrique set out on the road to Alexandria.

Meanwhile, the Joseon people, seeing Henrique’s party busily moving behind them, shook their heads slightly.

“Those guys have really gotten a taste for following us.”

“It’s the safest way, after all.”

“If that’s the case, they should pay a protection fee!”

* * *

Henrique, who returned from Alexandria with cargo, received a grand welcome.

Compared to the situation before departing for Joseon, it was a complete triumphant return.

Entering the royal palace in Lisbon, Henrique knelt respectfully before King Afonso V and paid his respects.

“Duke Henrique of Viseu. I greet Your Majesty.”

“You have done well, Duke of Viseu.”

The 8-year-old King Afonso V and the regent of the king, Duke Pedro of Coimbra, welcomed Henrique with delighted faces.

“To have safely returned from the distant East, the ‘Land of Flowers’ Joseon, is truly a matter of gratitude.”

At Pedro’s praise, Henrique humbly bowed his head.

“It is all thanks to God’s grace.”

In such a friendly atmosphere, Afonso V asked Henrique.

“What kind of country was Joseon?”

“It was a truly wealthy country.”

Henrique briefly explained to Afonso V what he had seen in Joseon.

“It’s a truly amazing country.”

Afonso V said, his eyes shining as he listened to Henrique’s explanation. Afonso V continued, with an expression that Hyang would have called ‘love at first sight’.

“I would like to visit it someday.”

“You will be able to visit it someday.”

Afonso V nodded energetically at Henrique’s answer.

* * *

As Henrique had expected, the goods brought from Joseon were sold out, leaving a large profit.

The cheapest goods left a profit of three times the price, and the crystal and bone china teacups, and medium and large chandeliers brought Henrique at least 15 times the profit.

“Now, we have to get rid of the fleas.”

As he had said to his subordinates, Henrique was able to clear most of the debts of the creditors who had been pressuring him.

“I would like to reinvest these funds…”

“I will consider it.”

Henrique, who politely refused the wishes of those who wanted to reinvest, gritted his teeth as he watched the creditors’ carriages leaving the mansion.

“Enough! Being dragged around ends now! From now on, I will work with people I can truly trust.”

Having cleared out the bad creditors, Henrique moved diligently.

First, he refilled the treasury of the Order of Christ, which he had used funds from. This was not because of faith, but to solidify the trust of the Order members and prepare for the future.

And, he sent a super-large chandelier as a gift to Sala ibn Sala, the powerful figure in Morocco, and received his youngest brother, Prince Pedrinando, who had been held hostage.

* * *

Prince Ferdinand had been taken hostage when the Tangier expedition turned out to be a failure.

With the expedition in 1415, Portugal gained Ceuta. However, before long, Ceuta became a burden.

Morocco had made Tangier in the west a new trading hub instead of Ceuta. In addition, as African exploration progressed in earnest, this Tangier became a threat to Portugal entering and leaving the Mediterranean.

Therefore, Henrique insisted on taking Tangier.

However, negative opinions were the majority.

To make the expedition a success, Henrique brought in his youngest brother, Pedrinando, and even made a pledge that if he died, he would give the Duke title and all his property to Ferdinand, the second son of King Duarte.

The expedition that proceeded in that way ended in failure. It was a failure created by only half the troops compared to the original plan, the response of Morocco, which had strengthened its defenses with one mind, unlike the chaotic political situation, and so on.

In the end, Henrique made a treaty with Sala ibn Sala to escape the siege and return to Portugal.

-Ceuta will be returned in exchange for a safe withdrawal.

-Prince Ferdinand and a small number of key figures will be left as hostages.

In this way, Henrique and the Portuguese army escaped from the brink of death.

However, the treaty was not ratified for various reasons. Thanks to this, his youngest brother, Ferdinand, was still being held hostage.

In addition, Henrique’s reputation and political standing, which he had built up over the years, were greatly diminished.

* * *

In this situation, the success of the voyage to Joseon was an opportunity for Henrique to make a comeback.

He was able to restore his reputation, get rid of the troublesome creditors, and finally save his brother, strengthening his political position.

Having cleared his surroundings in that way, Henrique sent an envoy to Florence.

It was to negotiate with Cosimo de Medici, the ruler of Florence and the one who held the capital of Europe in his hands.

* * *

Florence, Italy.

Cosimo, who read the personal letter sent by Henrique, stroked his chin and muttered.

“He wants to share his opinions on a new and groundbreaking trade route in the direction of Egypt… I am drawn to the ‘new and groundbreaking’ part. Could it be related to the rumored Iron Horse [likely referring to advanced technology or machinery]?”

Muttering like that, Cosimo came to a conclusion.

“If things go well, a big game will be created. A game with a huge amount of money at stake.”