Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 691

691. Gouging (2)

Kim Jong-seo, having received the newly drafted estimate, returned directly to Gyeongbokgung Palace and submitted it to Hyang.

“I have prepared a new estimate.”

“Is it satisfactory?”

“It seems to have turned out well.”

Kim Jong-seo, full of confidence, submitted the newly prepared estimate to Hyang.

Hyang, after receiving the estimate and examining the figures, lightly smacked his lips.

“It looks better than the last one… but it still feels a bit lacking.”

At Hyang’s remark, Kim Jong-seo’s eyes gleamed as he asked back,

“Where would you like to increase it?”

The ministers, listening to Hyang and Kim Jong-seo’s conversation from the side, wore expressions of utter incomprehension, muttering inwardly.

‘An estimate, you say?’

‘Shouldn’t an estimate be based on accurate data without any deception?’

As the ministers muttered inwardly, Kim Jeom stepped forward and addressed Hyang.

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, may I take a look?”

“Of course, you should. In fact, that would be the correct order, but I made a mistake. I am truly sorry.”

“Not at all! Please do not concern yourself!”

Kim Jeom, responding with a look that dismissed Hyang’s apology, received the estimate in question.

“Hmm….”

Kim Jeom, examining the figures in the estimate, soon nodded.

“Indeed, it does feel a bit lacking. How about adding one or two zeros to the end?”

Kim Jong-seo immediately added to Kim Jeom’s suggestion.

“Two might be excessive; adding one more would look good.”

“I, too, believe that would look good.”

At Kim Jong-seo and Kim Jeom’s words, Hyang nodded with a bright face.

“Is that so? Indeed, it seems it would look very good.”

The ministers, having heard Hyang’s response, fell into even greater confusion.

‘An estimate, you say?’

‘Since when did aesthetic considerations become part of creating an estimate?’

Eventually, Minister of Foreign Affairs Heo Hu stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, with the utmost respect, may I see the estimate?”

“Go ahead.”

Having received Hyang’s permission, Heo Hu examined the estimate and asked Kim Jong-seo,

“What was the original estimate?”

“That is…. Hmm….”

After a moment of recollection, Kim Jong-seo told him the number that was written in the original estimate. Comparing that number with the number written in the estimate, Heo Hu wore an incredulous expression and involuntarily blurted out,

“It’s almost doubled from the original estimate, and you’re adding another zero to that? And the unit is silver coins? Do you think this makes sense?”

At Heo Hu’s words, Kim Jong-seo retorted with a look that questioned what the problem was.

“Doesn’t that make it nine digits? People are careful of the number nine, so why wouldn’t an estimate be? Wouldn’t it look better to fill it with ten digits if possible?”

Heo Hu, wearing a dumbfounded expression at Kim Jong-seo’s words, immediately bowed his head to Hyang and remonstrated.

“Your Majesty! This will create a major diplomatic problem! No country will agree to such an enormous amount.”

The ministers, having learned the situation through Heo Hu’s words, all nodded with similar expressions.

“Tsk!”

However, Hyang’s reaction was to click his tongue.

As soon as Hyang clicked his tongue, the ministers tensed up but also steeled their resolve.

‘Ugh! That tongue-clicking sound!’

‘Still, we must argue what needs to be argued!’

As if aware of the ministers’ inner thoughts, Hyang posed a question to Heo Hu.

“I will ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Please, ask away.”

“The first thing to consider is this: Did our empire suffer losses due to the war in Suez?”

“No, it did not.”

“Then, compared to before the war in Suez, will the profits our empire earns after the Suez Railroad is built be sufficiently large?”

At Hyang’s question, Heo Hu carefully considered the situation.

The reason for the war in Suez was the profits that the merchants of Alexandria were taking in the middle. Italy, Europe, and the Ottomans, whose profits were reduced because of the share taken by the merchants of Alexandria, started the war.

If that were the case, it was certain that the empire’s profits would not increase significantly.

Having thought that far, Heo Hu bowed his head and answered.

“It will increase, but not significantly. However, if they learn the actual estimate, they will be greatly dissatisfied.”

“The actual estimate…. Do you think they will know if we don’t tell them?”

“….”

Heo Hu, having closed his mouth at Hyang’s remark, pointed out another problem.

“However, they have used a lot of war expenses during the long war, so it will be a great burden. It may be more beneficial to place a diplomatic burden on them through appropriate concessions.”

“Tsk!”

At Heo Hu’s suggestion, Hyang clicked his tongue once more, and Heo Hu’s shoulders flinched.

Hyang, wearing a displeased expression, asked Heo Hu again.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs, I ask you. Did we push them to start that war?”

“No, we did not.”

“That’s right. We did not force them to go to war. They started the war and spent war expenses because of their own greed. And, I say again, our empire also suffered considerable losses because of that war. Nevertheless, our empire said nothing. Then, it seems we have placed enough of a diplomatic burden on them, wouldn’t you say?”

“That is true, but….”

“And, consider this as well. We clearly insisted on establishing a joint venture to jointly manage the Suez trade route in the past, and they agreed. However, as soon as the war ended, they excluded that part and banded together among themselves. Do you think such people would consider the diplomatic burden heavily?”

At Hyang’s sharp criticism, Heo Hu had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“My thinking was short-sighted. Please forgive my foolishness.”

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs’ thoughts are not bad, but you must not forget that their diplomacy is such that they swallow what is sweet and spit out what is bitter, and that changing things around is commonplace.”

“I will engrave it in my heart.”

Hyang, who made Heo Hu wave the white flag, turned to look at the other ministers and continued.

“Whether the railroad is laid in Suez or not, it is certain that our empire will pay usage fees. Therefore, shouldn’t our empire also make sure to take what it deserves? There is a saying circulating among the people, ‘Strike while the iron is hot.’ You must not forget the saying ‘Do not miss the good opportunity (勿失好機)’.”

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”

Having heard the ministers’ responses, Hyang issued an order to Kim Jong-seo.

“It seems that we are somewhat prepared. Minister Jeolje [Minister of Thrift and Restraint, a title], select those who are skilled in accounting from the railroad construction and depart for Suez. You may overturn the entire board. Secure the maximum profit. I say again, they are the ones in a hurry, not us.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jong-seo bowed his head and answered.

“I will risk my life to bring back the best results!”

“I trust in you, Minister.”

“Since Your Majesty trusts me, I will surely make it happen!”

The historian, who recorded all these situations, wrote as follows:

-… Thus, when the Emperor urged him to do his best, Minister of General Affairs Kim Jong-seo bowed deeply and replied.

The historian says:

It seems that the saying ‘Diplomacy is another name for a pandemonium’ is correct.

It is truly lamentable that a nation’s interests take precedence over trust.

However, the Emperor’s words, ‘You must strike while the iron is hot,’ are truly correct. I hear that many people have been having fun through investment funds these days, so I should try it too….

“Is the historian writing so much? Is he 욕ing [cursing] me?”

“Ah, no, Your Majesty!”

“Make sure he works properly.”

“I am sorry!”

* * *

Imperial Calendar Year 7 (1455), April.

Kim Jong-seo and the employees of the railroad construction arrived in Suez.

Kim Jong-seo, stepping off the ship via the gangway, adjusted his gat [traditional Korean hat] and grumbled.

“Ugh! Why is the sun so hot! Someone, bring me that bangseomo [bamboo hat] or whatever it’s called!”

“Yes, Minister!”

Kim Jong-seo, putting on the bangseomo that the subordinate official hurriedly brought and handing the gat to the employee, continued to grumble.

“There is always a trade-off in everything…. The gat doesn’t block the sun but allows good ventilation, while the bangseomo blocks the sun well but doesn’t allow ventilation. Ah, I want to go back to Seoul!”

Even while grumbling like that, Kim Jong-seo meticulously began to handle the work.

He thoroughly checked whether the cargo he had brought was being unloaded properly by directing his subordinate officials and the employees of the railroad construction, and he sent word to the lodgings where the surveyors were staying.

After a while, the executive directing the surveyors rushed to Kim Jong-seo and bowed deeply.

“I greet the Minister!”

“Yes. You’re suffering a lot in a terribly hot place. His Majesty also praised your hard work.”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, the executive bowed his head with a bright face.

“Oh, what an honor!”

“I’m a bit seasick from being on the ship for so long. Is there a place to rest?”

“I will guide you right away!”

* * *

Having unpacked his luggage at the lodgings, Kim Jong-seo sent word to the nearby allied nation’s lodgings through an interpreter.

‘A high-ranking official of the Empire has come to Suez! They say it’s because of the railroad!’

As soon as they heard the rumor, the representatives of the allied nations sought out Kim Jong-seo. However, Kim Jong-seo politely refused their visits.

“I have come a long way and have not yet recovered from the journey, so it is difficult right now. Please wait.”

The representatives of the allied nations nodded at the polite refusal and retreated. Kim Jong-seo, standing in the shade of the window in the lodgings and watching their 모습 [appearance/figures], smiled bitterly and muttered.

“Now, they will start to have many thoughts.”

And the reaction of the allied nations’ representatives was exactly as Kim Jong-seo had predicted.

* * *

The representatives of the allied nations, who had gathered in one place again after a long time, were talking with serious faces.

“They said it’s a high-ranking official, but how high is the person who came?”

“I released people here and there to find out, and they say he’s a minister.”

“If he’s a minister, is he at the level of a statesman?”

“I guess you could say that?”

“Look at the luggage he brought. He used a whole ship, so he must be a huge figure.”

Having learned that Kim Jong-seo was a bigger figure than expected, the representatives became even more serious and stood up from their seats.

“We must contact the home country.”

“That’s right.”

Those who were gathered in this place were representatives of the alliance, but in terms of position, they were middle managers. As such, it was impossible for them to deal with Kim Jong-seo. There was a difference in rank, but they were far too lacking in ability to deal with Kim Jong-seo, a seasoned politician who had been worn down to the point of being a minister.

In the end, numerous homing pigeons flew from Suez to the allied capital, and, just in case, messengers with letters headed north on horseback.

* * *

While the allied nations were moving busily, Kim Jong-seo checked the newly secured data from the surveyors.

“So, it’s definitely not an easy construction?”

“Yes, to do it properly, we would have to ship in excavators and tow trucks in large quantities.”

Kim Jong-seo, pondering for a moment at the surveyors’ answer, asked again.

“According to rumors circulating in Seoul, they are thinking of replacing them with slaves?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, the surveyors simultaneously wore cynical expressions and answered.

“Then this construction will take at least 20 years.”

“20 years?”

“That’s the minimum.”

“Is there definite evidence?”

At Kim Jong-seo’s question, the surveyors explained again about the work they had done digging in the desert in the past.

“I see? Alright, go and rest.”

Kim Jong-seo nodded at the surveyors’ explanation and sent them out.

Kim Jong-seo, left alone in the room, smiled bitterly and muttered.

“I see…. Then, I can properly stab them in the back.”