Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 506

506. The Rose Has Thorns (4)

After seeing Lee Chun off, Hyang refocused on the situation at hand.

“The biggest problem is that we can’t produce reliable springs. It’s even said that the wheellock [an early firearm ignition system using a spinning wheel against a pyrite to create sparks] predates the flintlock because of this spring issue.”

Lacking the ability to create steel that could maintain proper elasticity when made small and thin, the wheellock (gear-type) emerged as an attempt to solve the problems of the matchlock [an early firearm where a burning wick is manually brought into contact with gunpowder to fire the weapon]. However, due to persistent issues with material quality and structural flaws, wheellock muskets and arquebuses [early types of shoulder-fired guns] couldn’t be effectively reduced in size.

“Hmm… Even if the price is a hindrance, considering the situation in Europe and elsewhere, gunners are a specialized force maintained only in small numbers. And most of those gunners are retained by key power holders to ensure their safety. Why else would ‘The Three Musketeers’ exist?” [referencing the famous novel highlighting the importance of skilled musketeers].

Hyang remained unconcerned, even with the high price tag.

Having reached that conclusion and about to review other documents, Hyang suddenly stopped and looked at the map.

“Come to think of it… there was a rumor that Leonardo da Vinci conceived the idea of the wheellock… Is Leonardo da Vinci alive right now?”

* * *

After the monks from Italy settled in the research lab, Hyang called them together individually.

“I’ve called you all here today to see if there’s anything you find inconvenient in your lives.”

On the surface, it was under the guise of ‘looking after the convenience of those who settled in Joseon’s research lab,’ but in reality, it was to gather information about the political situation, technological advancements, and cultural aspects of Italy, the most important region in Europe, through them.

“Since the culture of our Joseon is very different from where you lived, I’m sure you’re very curious. Are there any famous painters or artisans?”

“Yes. The most famous one is…”

In response to Hyang’s question, the monks mentioned several people, but Leonardo da Vinci’s name hadn’t come up yet.

* * *

Hyang shook his head slightly, trying to recall his memories.

“Since the monks from Italy don’t know, either he hasn’t been born yet, or he’s still unknown….”

After pondering for a moment, Hyang made up his mind.

“If Leonardo da Vinci appears while I’m still alive, I’ll have to bring him in right away. It would be fun to make him work in Area 51 [a humorous reference to a top-secret US Air Force facility]. The chances of seeing ‘Mona Lisa’ will be lower, though….”

Hyang remained calm and composed, even while making a decision that would potentially deprive the world of a great art masterpiece.

“Why should I care? And I don’t even think Mona Lisa is that beautiful anyway.”

* * *

Pedro’s reaction mirrored Lee Chun’s earlier concerns.

After sending the artisans back, Pedro gathered Henrique and his close aides for a meeting.

“So, you’re saying that it’s impossible to replicate the Joseon-made arquebus for these reasons, and even if we could, they’re too expensive. It’s clear that Joseon is encouraging us to buy them, considering they sold them to the captains. Should we really buy them?”

In response to Pedro’s question, the finance officers unanimously voiced their opposition.

“They’re too expensive!”

“Even if the performance is good, an arquebus is still just an arquebus. It’s a waste of money.”

The finance officers all expressed their disapproval, but the commanders who led Duke Pedro’s private soldiers held the opposite view.

“The power of a musket in the size of an arquebus is undeniable. We must buy them immediately!”

“That’s right. If we combine and operate the two corps, logistics will be easier!”

“Above all, consider the overwhelming range. If a battle breaks out, we can rain bullets from a greater distance than the enemy, which will bring an easier victory to our troops!”

“Just eliminating the matchlock significantly reduces unnecessary casualties! The financial benefits this brings can fully offset the high price!”

However, the finance officers continued to insist on their opposition.

“Even if we can defeat the enemy from a greater distance, how many *more* can we defeat!”

“The problem of the matchlock can be overcome with stricter training!”

The two sides stood in stark opposition, without yielding.

Eventually, Pedro sighed deeply and waved his hand.

“Everyone, please leave. I will consider it carefully and make a decision.”

At Pedro’s words, everyone left the conference room, leaving only Henrique and the Duke’s head of the guard.

With only three people left, Pedro sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. This is a dilemma, a true dilemma.”

“Still, with war on the horizon, wouldn’t we need a stronger weapon?”

At Henrique’s words, Pedro replied with a deeply frowning face.

“Still, they’re too expensive. Like someone said earlier, no matter how good the performance is, isn’t an arquebus just an arquebus? Wouldn’t it be more profitable to buy even one more arquebus or musket with the same money and arm more men?”

“But….”

“It’s an unchanging truth that both the quality and quantity of weapons are important in war. But if I had to choose one of the two, wouldn’t it be better to choose quantity?”

Henrique, realizing that Pedro had already made up his mind, fell silent.

However, the head of the guard, who had been silent throughout the meeting, spoke up.

“Your Excellency is right about war in general. However, in a civil war where we cannot mobilize as many troops as in a war, we need better weapons.”

“Civil war?”

At the head of the guard’s mention of ‘civil war,’ Pedro and Henrique turned their heads simultaneously.

“Did you hear something I don’t know? No, why hasn’t this information reached me?”

The voice of Pedro, who was asking the question, was coldly hardened.

Despite Pedro’s sharp reaction, the head of the guard replied with a calm face.

“It’s information that came through a different channel than Your Excellency’s, so it required verification.”

“Yes. Where did it come from?”

“It came from a palace servant who cleans the palace.”

“I see….”

At the head of the guard’s words, Pedro nodded slightly. The sources that Pedro had secured were also people working in the palace, but they held higher positions.

‘They are sensitive to the flow of power. And they are also sensitive to their own value. It is highly likely that they withheld important information and passed it on to someone else. Or, they sold it to Braganza.’

“Yes. What is the information that came through that palace servant?”

“It is said that the Duke of Braganza and the King are secretly meeting more and more often these days.”

“That bastard, finally!”

At the head of the guard’s words, Pedro gritted his teeth.

Afonso, the Duke of Braganza, his half-brother, was increasingly driving him into a corner as he established himself as the core of the aristocratic faction. Conversely, Pedro’s position was gradually weakening.

The biggest reason for this shift in the situation was that Pedro’s regency was nearing its end.

Pedro’s regency would be over in just four years at most.

Of course, Pedro was also employing various means to protect his power.

One such method was the marriage of his daughter and Afonso V, which was scheduled for next year. And the secret agreement with Ottoman [referring to the Ottoman Empire] and Cosimo de Medici [a powerful Italian banker and politician] was another method.

However, even if he made his daughter the queen, it would be in vain if Afonso V became infatuated with a concubine… and the Duke of Braganza was someone capable of orchestrating such a thing.

And in the case of the secret agreement with Ottoman and Cosimo de Medici, if the timing was off, someone else could seize the benefits of the agreement.

‘In the worst-case scenario, I have to be prepared to wage a civil war against my nephew. In that case, I am definitely at a disadvantage in terms of troops….’

Pedro, analyzing the situation with a serious face, turned to Henrique.

“Brother, I have supported you in everything so far. Will you swear to stand with me?”

At Pedro’s question, Henrique’s face turned pale.

“Brother! The King is your nephew! Will you engage in fratricide?”

“If the King does not abandon me, I will not abandon the King. But if he abandons me, I will abandon him too. What will you do then?”

“That’s….”

“What will you do?”

Pedro urged him to make a decision, but Henrique couldn’t easily answer.

‘If I make the wrong choice, I will be branded a traitor. But if the Duke of Braganza, that son of a bitch, seizes power, all my efforts will be for nothing.’

The problem was that neither choice was ideal for him, but he also couldn’t easily choose neutrality.

After much deliberation, Henrique finally made a choice.

“I will stand with you, brother.”

“Thank you!”

Pedro, with a relieved face, patted Henrique on the shoulder and looked at the head of the guard.

“Among your men, are there any who are not well known outside and who can be trusted implicitly?”

“There are a few.”

“Choose only three of them and have them accompany the Duke of Viseu [Henrique’s title].”

“Yes.”

Pedro, after giving orders to the head of the guard, turned to Henrique.

“I will provide you with funds from my personal vault. Do your best to persuade Joseon to sell us as many of those arquebuses as possible. However, this must not be known to anyone. If you succeed, I will give you 1/4 of the profits.”

At Pedro’s suggestion, Henrique immediately nodded his head.

“I will do my best!”

* * *

On the night of making the decision that risked his life, Pedro sat alone in his office, looking out the window.

“It’s suffocating….”

Unable to bear the feeling, Pedro loosened his collar. Still feeling stifled, Pedro grabbed the winding handle of the Joseon-made fan placed on one side of the desk.

Thump, thump, thump.

As the spring unwound, the fan began to blow air.

Pedro, staring blankly at the fan, got up from his seat and walked to the line musket [an early type of musket known for its accuracy] placed on one side.

Holding the line musket in his hand, Pedro looked at the plum blossom pattern clearly imprinted on the firing pin and muttered bitterly.

“They say roses have thorns, right? This flower is not a rose, but it also has formidable thorns hidden.”

Pedro put down the line musket and sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. It means that it is not just a country that can make amazing things, but a truly powerful country. And maybe they are trying to prove it through us. Ha….”

Pedro sighed deeply once again.

“I don’t know who is planning and executing this, but they are definitely not benevolent people.”

As Pedro was muttering, Hyang was picking at his ear in Hanseong [the historical name for Seoul, the capital of Korea].

“Why is my ear so itchy? Is someone cursing me?”

The four people who heard Hyang’s mutter simultaneously thought to themselves.

‘Would it be just one or two?’

“Huh? What are those expressions on your faces?”

The four people, startled by Hyang’s question, quickly composed themselves.

“Yes? It’s nothing!”

* * *

While Hyang was busy moving in Hanseong to prove that ‘military supplies make money!’, busy movements were also continuing in Shinji.

An indigenous tribe near Daehogun [likely a region or settlement name within the story].

“The Thunderstick Tribe is making noise?”

“It’s not the Thunderstick Tribe, it’s Joseon,” his colleague pointed out.

The indigenous man who first asked the question wore a nonchalant expression despite his colleague’s comment.

“What’s the point of distinguishing them? All you need to know is that they are troublesome guys to mess with. Anyway, why is it so noisy?”

“The King of Joseon is coming.”

“What’s a King?”

“A big chief.”

“Hoo?”

Sejong [likely referring to King Sejong the Great of Joseon], who had finally organized the situation at the bridgehead, was beginning to move for the full-scale development of Shinji.