Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 630

630. Their Choice (10)

Huh Hoo chuckled, realizing the license fee was a negotiation tactic, a deliberate trap.

Norihiro and the envoys from Wa [Japan] had fallen right into it, their attention fixed solely on the license fee.

“I wonder when they’ll realize overlooking the iron and gunpowder was their biggest mistake?”

Despite Huh Hoo’s sarcasm, Norihiro and his delegation were in a bind.

-The quality of iron is currently beyond Wa’s technological capabilities to replicate, and they can’t even produce priming powder. Especially with priming powder, there’s no substitute, regardless of the cost.

Given this situation, Norihiro and the Wa envoys stubbornly focused on the license fee, seeing it as the most negotiable point.

With both sides facing their own pressures, they eventually agreed to reduce the license fee to one imperial silver coin per Eul-sik matchlock and seven imperial silver coins per Eul-sik Hwacha [multiple rocket launcher], after some back-and-forth.

“We are truly grateful, Excellency! Not only I, but the Shogun [military dictator] of the Bakufu [Shogunate government] will never forget this favor!”

Huh Hoo waved his hand dismissively in response to Norihiro’s deep bow of gratitude.

“I haven’t done much! This is all His Majesty’s decision, born from his desire to maintain the trust between the Empire and Wa!”

“This Norihiro will never forget His Majesty’s grace!”

After concluding the meeting with Wa, Huh Hoo massaged his stiff neck, his face a mask of mixed emotions.

“Haha. I didn’t like this job at first…”

* * *

Initially, those specializing in selling military equipment to foreign countries were Kim Jeom, Park Jong-woo, and officials from the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was mostly limited to receiving foreign envoys and contacting Kim Jeom and Park Jong-woo.

As a result, discontent began to brew within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

-It doesn’t make sense for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be excluded from transactions between countries!

Eventually, as soon as Mehmed II and Henrique’s group returned, Huh Hoo stepped forward and insisted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take charge.

“What should we do?”

Kim Jeom answered Hyang’s question immediately.

“I believe the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ position is reasonable. It’s right for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle matters between countries. However, my only concern is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs isn’t familiar with such transactions…”

Kim Jeom paused, then continued with a slight smile.

“The Ministry of Finance can help with that, which will make things easier.”

Hyang and Hwang Hee simultaneously broke into a cold sweat at Kim Jeom’s smile.

‘That man is angry!’

The officials of the Ministry of Finance felt the same way.

“We did all the hard work, and they’re trying to sneak in for a share?”

“Oh yeah? We’ll bury you in paperwork!”

The united officials of the Ministry of Finance showed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials what a ‘wicked stepsister’ was like.

“No, are you going to reveal *all* of that? Why?”

“It’s a matter between countries, so to build trust…”

“Tell that to your wife!”

“The price is too high? You want to lower it considering future deals? Hey! What country are you a subject of!”

“Ah, damn it! It’s not deceiving, it’s just not saying *everything*! Don’t you know the same thing can sound different depending on how you phrase it?!”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials grumbled as they were grilled by the Ministry of Finance officials.

“Are we officials or merchants…”

“Why do we have to get yelled at by those Ministry of Finance guys…”

“They don’t even know the basics of diplomacy…”

Huh Hoo felt similarly.

“I don’t know if I’m the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this Empire, a broker in the marketplace, or a con artist.”

Kim Jeom replied indifferently to Huh Hoo’s words.

“What does it matter if you’re a broker when the Empire’s interests are at stake? And a con artist… I swear I’ve never lied. Of course, it’s true I haven’t told all the facts.”

“Considering the trust between countries…”

“I’ll say it again, I’ve never lied. I just haven’t told you everything.”

“But…”

When Huh Hoo raised his objection again, Kim Jeom snapped.

“Did I do it for my own personal gain! It’s for the sake of the country. If it’s for the safety and benefit of the Empire, what does it matter if I’m a broker or a con artist!”

“Still…”

“Have you forgotten what the former Hanjae [diplomat] (Lee Maeng-gyun) did! He pretended to be sick, even skipping meals, to deceive the Ming Emperor! What have you learned! I heard Hanjae told you and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials something before he passed away! What was it!”

At Kim Jeom’s question, Huh Hoo stammered.

“He said, ‘Those in charge of diplomacy must wear a thousand masks to protect the nation and its interests.'”

“How can you say that when you know that!”

Although they did their jobs while grumbling, it wasn’t long before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials became accustomed to subtly misleading foreign envoys.

However, a psychological resistance remained. Therefore, on the day the Wa envoys departed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials flocked to the gibang (妓房, traditional Korean courtesan house) and had a drinking party.

“Finally, it’s over!”

“The broker business is over now!”

“I was sick of hearing the word ‘matchlock,’ but that’s over too!”

“Is it really?”

At the sudden question, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials looked for the speaker.

“What’s the problem!”

“We were just getting excited, and you’re ruining it!”

Despite his colleagues’ complaints, the official filled his glass with a gloomy face.

“Have you forgotten? There’s still one left.”

“Huh? Where’s it left?”

“Portugal.”

As soon as the word ‘Portugal’ was uttered, the surrounding Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials threw down their glasses and cursed.

“Damn it!”

* * *

A similar event was taking place in the Lisbon court of Portugal.

The roar of Duke Pedro of Coimbra, who had stepped down from the regency last year and taken office as the kingdom’s chancellor, echoed through the great hall.

“Duke Viseu! Are you seriously suggesting the conditions demanded by Joseon, no, the Federal Empire of Daehan, are reasonable!”

Despite Pedro’s rebuke, Henrique continued to persuade him as best he could.

“But, considering the performance of the matchlocks the Empire is offering…”

“Forget about the guns! Is it reasonable to sacrifice national interests for the sake of some guns!”

“Didn’t you see the demonstration!”

* * *

Upon returning to Portugal, Henrique presented King Afonso V with 20 Eul-sik matchlocks and 2 Eul-sik Hwachas he had received as gifts from Joseon.

On the day of the demonstration, Afonso V, Pedro, and the Portuguese nobles were amazed by the overwhelming performance of the matchlocks and Hwachas.

“If we arm our soldiers with these weapons, we can break the stalemate in the war!”

Around this time, the situation on the African front could be described in a single word: ‘stagnation.’

Like Portugal, Spain and the Mamluks also combined musketeers and pikemen in their battles.

The clash of weapons and forces of similar performance resulted in a tedious cycle of advances and retreats on the battlefield.

However, the new weapons introduced by the Empire seemed capable of resolving this situation at once.

The breech-loading matchlocks, which didn’t require standing to reload, eliminated the need for pikemen’s protection and significantly increased the musketeers’ survival rate.

It wasn’t just the survival rate that increased. The absence of pikemen wearing heavy armor and carrying long, heavy pikes greatly increased the mobility of the musketeers, allowing for various tactics.

Conversely, the Eul-sik Hwacha was the perfect means to inflict fatal damage on densely packed enemies.

Therefore, Pedro, as well as other Portuguese nobles and officials, began to suggest importing large quantities of the Empire’s weapons immediately.

However, this enthusiasm reversed when Henrique spoke about the Empire’s conditions upon his return to court.

* * *

“Yes! I acknowledge the performance! But the Empire’s conditions are too harsh! Demanding 40%! How is this different from theft!”

Despite Pedro’s criticism, Henrique continued to persuade him.

“If we only think about the war, what the Chancellor said is correct! But think about the aftermath of the war! Whether we lay railroads or dig canals, we will absolutely need the Empire’s help! And that’s not all! Think about the Ottomans! We are working together now, but if this relationship is to continue well after the war, we need the Empire!”

Pedro fell silent, and the nobles and officials began to argue, their opinions divided.

As the commotion grew, Pedro reported to Afonso V.

“Your Majesty, considering the gravity of this matter, I believe we need to think more carefully and make a decision. Perhaps we should give the ministers and nobles time to consider it?”

Afonso V, still youthful, nodded immediately.

“Y-yes, let’s do that.”

Having obtained Afonso V’s permission, Pedro addressed the nobles and officials.

“Let us adjourn today and reconvene tomorrow. Think carefully about this matter in the meantime. I look forward to hearing your well-considered opinions.”

At Pedro’s command, the nobles and officials paid their respects to Afonso V and his wife and left the great hall.

After everyone, including Henrique, had left, Afonso V asked Pedro.

“Chancellor, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Please, ask away.”

“It seems you didn’t object to the ‘corporation’ mentioned by the Empire. Is there a reason for that?”

Pedro answered immediately.

“As Duke Viseu said, it’s because of the relationship with the Ottomans after the war. If there’s no corporation and Portugal, Florence, and the Ottomans are directly involved, conflicts will inevitably arise. And if this conflict escalates into armed conflict, the Ottomans will be the most advantageous. However, if a corporation is created and profits are distributed from it, we can keep the Ottomans in check while permanently acquiring sufficient benefits.”

“Ah…”

Afonso V nodded. However, Pedro’s expression was troubled.

“That’s why I’m worried. An Empire that can think like this is frightening.”

“Then wouldn’t it be right to reject the Empire’s proposal? Ah! Is it because of the Ottomans?”

“Yes. In the end, the best solution is to reduce the Empire’s stake appropriately and take that share for ourselves.”

‘The problem is we have no choice but to ask the Empire for help to do that. In the end, no matter the outcome, the Empire has nothing to lose. That’s why the Empire is even more frightening.’

Pedro couldn’t bring himself to say the rest.

* * *

Around the same time, in Florence.

Cosimo, after receiving Giovanni’s report, burst into laughter with a look of dismay.

“Hahaha! I thought there was no merchant who could compete with Cosimo de Medici, but that was my arrogance!”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been properly outsmarted, properly outsmarted! Hahaha!”

Cosimo, still laughing, gave Giovanni an order with a refreshed expression.

“You must return to the Empire immediately and negotiate. Tell them Florence will actively cooperate, but ask them to reduce their stake to 35% and secure the remaining 5% for us. Secretly, of course.”

“Yes?”

Cosimo elaborated.

“We provided military funds and mercenaries to Portugal, but overall, it will be difficult to take a large share compared to the Ottomans and Portugal, because those two countries directly waged the war. Therefore, considering the future, I know the corporation mentioned by the Empire is a more advantageous proposal for us, right?”

“Yes.”

Cosimo nodded. He moistened his throat with wine and continued.

“The biggest problem is Mehmed II accepted the Empire’s proposal. The fact the most promising candidate for the next Sultan accepted means the remaining 6% must be divided among the three of us. In that case, no matter how hard we try, it will be difficult to secure more than 1% of the stake. However, if we can secure at least 15% for ourselves, we can extract the maximum profit from the Empire, the Ottomans, and Portugal.”

“Ah!”

Giovanni immediately rose from his seat after hearing Cosimo’s explanation.

“I will depart as soon as the preparations are complete!”