Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 693

693. Gouging (4)

“While that’s true, the cost is excessive.”

Kim Jong-seo, hearing Enrique’s remark, looked puzzled. “Has Your Excellency visited our Empire before?”

“Indeed.”

“Did it seem like an easy journey?”

“It was not.”

Kim Jong-seo’s voice gained force as he replied, “Such a journey requires transporting heavy iron. Shipwrecks happen, and everything lost sinks. That risk is factored into the estimate. Significant manpower is also needed, hence its inclusion. All these elements contribute to the final amount. It is not an excessive cost.”

The French representative, listening to Kim Jong-seo, placed the estimate down, crossed his arms, and glared. “The construction cost is one problem, but the ironclad horse [locomotive], passenger cars, freight cars, and the railroad itself are too expensive. It would be more reasonable to source them from France.”

“Pfft! Ah, pardon me! I apologize! As I age, I find myself laughing at the slightest amusement.” Kim Jong-seo, who had burst out laughing, apologized with exaggerated gestures before continuing. “I’ve heard tales of your country’s ironclad horse. They say it’s as fast as a child walking, and its power diminishes so much that its speed halves when carrying just two ordinary carts’ worth of cargo? If you believe you can profit with such a machine, by all means, use it.”

“Hmph! Such rudeness!” The French ambassador, unable to tolerate Kim Jong-seo’s sarcasm, stood abruptly. “I will not tolerate such rudeness!”

With that, the French representative stormed out. Giovanni quickly intervened. “Let’s adjourn for today. The construction cost far exceeds our expectations; we need to examine it more closely. Shall we resume in two days?”

“Agreed.”

“I concur.”

Enrique and the Ottoman representative quickly agreed. Kim Jong-seo rose leisurely. “Then, we’ll meet again in two days.”

* * *

That evening, the alliance representatives gathered again.

“What was the Empire representative’s reaction?” the French representative asked.

Giovanni answered, “He was relaxed.”

“Oh dear… Should I have drawn a sword or something?”

The others’ expressions soured. Seeing this, the French representative quickly changed the subject. “Just kidding! Anyway, who objects next?”

Enrique shook his head. “The Empire’s representative has quite the personality. Is this really necessary?”

“I agree.” The Ottoman representative nodded. The French representative became visibly angry. “Wouldn’t that make me the only strange one! Let’s proceed as agreed!”

Giovanni offered a compromise. “I think we need it at least one more time.”

“Ahem!”

“Cough!”

Enrique and the Ottoman representative couldn’t hide their discomfort and coughed dryly. However, the agreement stood. The Ottoman representative was chosen by lottery, and Enrique and Giovanni unknowingly made the sign of the cross [a gesture of prayer or warding off bad luck].

Having cleared that hurdle, the representatives examined the estimate. Enrique placed a hand on his forehead, looking at the numbers. “I’d rather hunt the Kraken [a legendary sea monster] than deal with these numbers.”

“I agree. I’d rather charge the Mamluks [a warrior class that dominated Egypt and Syria] than deal with this.”

The two, clutching their foreheads, looked at the French representative and Giovanni.

They were in similar states. Giovanni, calculating with an abacus, looked particularly frustrated.

“What’s the problem?” Enrique asked.

Giovanni struggled to answer, “I’ve been calculating, and there are no errors. At least in the parts I’ve examined, everything fits. This is impossible…”

Giovanni trailed off and sighed. “So that’s why the Empire created the calculating machine… damn it…”

The representatives, troubled, soon reached a conclusion.

“We must postpone the meeting. We need to call in calculation and architecture experts to analyze the estimate.”

Enrique nodded. “Agreed. We miscalculated, not expecting the Empire to compete with anything other than politics. If they compete with numbers and experience, we must do the same.”

“I agree.”

“Me too.”

The allied representatives sent a messenger to Kim Jong-seo.

Kim Jong-seo nodded calmly after confirming the polite document. “Tell them I agree.”

“Understood.”

* * *

To gain the upper hand, the allied representatives moved quickly, bringing in architects and accountants from Florence.

Italians were the most proficient in large-scale construction. Italy was also home to many talented accountants due to its flourishing commerce.

Distance-wise, the Ottoman Empire was closer, but the Sultan’s orders outweighed cost considerations, making them a weak choice.

Italian architects were budget-conscious, working within their fees and the given budget.

Having received the order, those who came to Suez carefully examined the estimate.

The architects and accountants, after checking the calculations and items, shook their heads and reported, “There are no problems. The costs and totals are correct.”

The representatives frowned and looked at the architects.

“There is no trace of unnecessary items,” the architects said.

“I’ve never seen a construction method mixing iron and cementum [cement], but it’s reasonable for this environment.”

The representatives, perplexed, asked, “Isn’t there any way to reduce costs?”

“The most promising part is the construction method. The Empire uses unfamiliar tools like excavators, tractors, and lifting jacks. Replacing this with manpower could reduce costs.”

“Manpower? Slaves?”

“Yes.”

“To what extent?”

“The more, the better.”

“Give me definite figures.”

“At least 20 percent.”

The representatives’ faces brightened. “Is that so! It’s worth a try!”

* * *

Three days later, the allied representatives and Kim Jong-seo gathered again.

“Well, any good news today?”

“I want to make a new proposal,” Enrique said.

Kim Jong-seo’s eyes lit up. “A new proposal?”

“We won’t use the Empire’s tools like excavators, tractors, and lifting jacks. Instead, we’ll supply slaves. In return, reduce the construction cost by 35 percent.”

Kim Jong-seo stroked his beard. “Slaves… slaves… Have you calculated the cost of clothing and feeding them?”

“Of course.”

“What about replacing slaves who die or are injured? If there’s an epidemic and many die, can you supply them immediately?”

“It will take time.”

“Haven’t you forgotten that time is money? To replace the work of hundreds, you need tens of thousands of slaves. How will you cover the cost of acquiring them? What about the increased construction period?”

“We will invest at least 100,000 slaves. The construction period won’t increase significantly.”

Enrique answered confidently, and the representatives looked similar. Kim Jong-seo dug in. “Do you know how much the ironclad horse weighs? You can replace unloading, reassembling, and putting the parts on the railroad with manpower. But how much space is needed to move so many people? How large should the accommodation be for so many slaves to eat and sleep, and how many troops to prevent escapes?”

The smiles disappeared. Kim Jong-seo continued, “What about medical facilities for injured slaves? Medicine supplies? How large will the burial site be for those who die? As you consume and resupply slaves, their value will increase. Have you thought about the gradually increasing cost?”

“…”

Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue. “Tsk! You can’t see the future like this… Do you think our Empire brought in excavators and tractors just because we were greedy? In the long run, it’s cheaper. Whether it’s a tractor or an excavator, the equipment will do its part until it expires if maintained. But that’s not the case with people, is it?”

“…”

The representatives kept their mouths shut.

Enrique stepped up again. “That part needs review, so let’s meet again in two days.”

“Suit yourselves. But the longer the meeting, the more the start of construction will be delayed. If you miss the wind [a favorable opportunity], you may waste half a year.”

“We will review it as soon as possible.”

After sending Kim Jong-seo out, the representatives called in the accountants and architects.

However, they had no special solutions.

“There are no loopholes in the numbers.”

“If we knew the Empire’s unit price for building in the Empire, accurate calculation would be possible, but we can’t know that.”

Even after urging them, the representatives heard similar answers and surrendered.

They chose supplication. “We want to accept the Empire’s proposal, but we can’t spend that much money.”

“Is it impossible?”

“It is.”

Kim Jong-seo paused, stroking his beard. “Our Empire will make a proposal. Let’s invest in the joint venture you’re creating. If you provide a suitable stake, our Empire will cover 70% of the construction cost.”

“A suitable stake? The 45 percent you mentioned last time?” Giovanni asked.

Kim Jong-seo shook his head. “No, 55 percent.”