Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 778

Distributed by Ajit Novel (formerly Ajitun Novel).

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778. A Self-Inflicted Disaster… (13)

Captain Thomas, startled by his subordinate’s report of a suspected case of smallpox, urgently pressed for confirmation.

“Are you sure? Double-check! No! Send a sailor who’s already had smallpox to verify!”

“Yes, sir!”

This was based on the common understanding that prior infection with smallpox conferred immunity.

The subordinate, after examining the patient under Captain Thomas’s orders, reported back with a grave expression.

“It’s definitely smallpox.”

“Damn it! Who’s infected?”

“A sailor who recently joined us from the Azores [a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean].”

“Goddamn it!”

Thomas cursed and immediately issued further orders.

“Raise the signal flag! Find the sailors and slaves who haven’t had smallpox yet! And select a couple of those infected to care for the patient!”

“Yes, sir!”

The signal from the ‘Golden Merry,’ one of the fleet’s main ships, put the entire fleet on high alert.

Captain Brow, who commanded the entire fleet, urgently issued orders.

“Every ship must thoroughly investigate for smallpox patients!”

“Isolate those who haven’t contracted smallpox separately!”

After issuing the isolation order, Captain Brow sighed, resting his hand on his forehead.

“Haa… As if we didn’t have enough manpower shortages already….”

* * *

The urgent investigation revealed a surprising fact.

“They say all the Suez slaves were vaccinated against smallpox?”

“Yes, sir. The people from the ‘Land of Flowers’ [a common name for the Empire] forcibly inoculated them.”

Captain Brow looked dumbfounded at the report.

“Should I call them bold? Or just thoughtless….”

The Empire’s people dispatched to the Suez Railroad construction site had vaccinated the slaves for a very practical reason.

-If something like smallpox breaks out and they all die, that’s a bigger loss!

Considering the decreased efficiency due to the immediate labor shortage, and the wasted time and financial losses from acquiring new slaves, smallpox vaccination was cheaper.

Therefore, the Empire’s people contacted the homeland to request additional doctors and also acquired cows infected with cowpox nearby.

Interestingly, Europeans at this time already knew about cowpox vaccination.

Hyang had informed them about cowpox vaccination in response to petitions from European intellectuals.

However, the cowpox vaccination situation in Europe was unexpectedly sluggish.

This was due to prejudice, superstition, economic reasons, and, lastly, the level of medical care.

-If you get cowpox, a cow’s head will grow on the vaccinated spot.

-If you get cowpox, you’ll turn into a cow.

-How can a human be like a beastly cow? This is an Eastern superstition!

Many refused vaccination due to such prejudice and superstition, and many couldn’t get vaccinated even if they wanted to.

It was difficult to find cows infected with cowpox, and it was also difficult to deliberately infect cows with cowpox.

“How much does a cow cost!”

In the end, the vaccination cost, which included the price of a cow that died from cowpox, was inevitably quite high.

Finally, the level of medical care was a problem.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the level of medical care in Europe had greatly declined. Internal medicine was still not far from the level of ancient Greek and medieval superstition, and surgery was in an even more dire situation.

-It’s more helpful to the patient and their family to prepare a coffin than to pay for surgery. Either way, you’re only likely to survive by luck.

The level of surgery was so poor that this kind of talk was common sense.

Given this situation, Hyang shook his head and said,

“I expected it to some extent, but it’s useless even if I tell them….”

* * *

By the time smallpox patients showed visible symptoms, the disease had already spread considerably. Before long, smallpox patients began to appear on every ship in the fleet.

To prevent an even greater tragedy, the captains and sailors of Brow’s fleet moved quickly.

Sailors who had not yet contracted smallpox were unconditionally moved to the upper deck.

Their clothes and blankets had to get wet every time a wave crashed over, but it was better than being in the same space as smallpox patients.

Secondly, sailors who had already developed smallpox were isolated in one cabin.

The condition of the isolated sailors was dire. They suffered from high fever, and their clothes and blankets were soaked with sweat, but they couldn’t change.

They couldn’t wash their clothes and blankets in a situation where there wasn’t enough drinking water to eat.

The only help they had was from old sailors who had already had smallpox and had some medical knowledge and experience from what they had seen and heard.

“If we encounter a typhoon, it’s all over. Please, no typhoons.”

It wasn’t just Captain Brow who desperately prayed while looking at the sky. All the captains and sailors prayed with all their hearts for clear weather to continue.

Even atheists.

In this situation, the slaves from Suez showed their true worth.

They didn’t have to worry about smallpox, and they were good at their jobs thanks to being trained by the Empire’s people. Moreover, they became useful as they began to understand a word or two of English.

In the end, Captain Brow and the clan’s representative used a method similar to that of the Empire’s people.

They freed the most hardworking slaves and then formally contracted with them.

* * *

After about fifteen days of struggle, the smallpox subsided.

However, the sacrifice was not small.

Twelve of the smallpox patients had died.

The captain, holding a Bible, conducted a memorial service, and the sailors threw the corpses wrapped tightly in blankets into the sea. Thanks to the heavy cannonballs thrown in with them, the corpses immediately disappeared into the depths of the sea.

“Keep heading west!”

The fleet continued to sail west.

* * *

In the nearly two months of sailing that followed, the sailors gradually began to tire.

“I’m tired, so tired….”

“Even the Eastern Route wasn’t this bad….”

The sailors, exhausted from sailing where only the horizon was visible, openly complained.

A significant number of the fleet’s core, experienced sailors had experience navigating the ‘Eastern Route,’ the route between Suez and the Empire.

The Eastern Route was also a long-distance voyage that took half a year round trip, but it was surprisingly manageable.

This was because intermediate ports of call such as Aden, Bengal, and Malacca were scattered along the way, and islands or coastlines could be encountered from time to time.

There was also the disadvantage of frequently encountering pirates, but it was possible to sail safely by closely following the Empire’s fleet.

Thanks to this, the Eastern Route was the best route for European sailors.

They could have a good time with foreign women at the ports of call along the way, and their pockets were full when they returned from the voyage.

While the sailors were complaining outside, Captain Brow, the other captains, and the clan’s representative were huddled together in the Golden Brow’s captain’s cabin, with a sea chart in the middle.

“Are we going the right way?”

Captain Brow nodded at the clan representative’s question.

“We’re going the right way. If we continue southwest like this, we’ll arrive at the Empire’s Southwest Territory.”

“Is it really impossible to go straight to the Empire instead of heading south to the Southwest Territory?”

Captain Brow shook his head at the representative’s impatient question.

“It’s not possible. If you enter the Empire’s mainland without receiving an entry visa from the Southwest Territory, you’ll be sunk immediately.”

“Goddamn it… Haa~.”

The representative cursed and sighed at Captain Brow’s answer.

* * *

After securely taking control of the Southwest Territory, the Empire sent proclamations to Europe and the Middle East.

-Those who wish to enter the Empire for trade must stop by the Southwest Territory to obtain a permit and authorization flag! Those without a permit and authorization flag will be sunk without exception!

-Those who wish to obtain a permit and authorization flag must strictly adhere to the following conditions.

A. A letter of recommendation from the king or monarch proving that the visitor wishes to trade or study.

(Omitted)

In reality, there were ships that ignored these proclamations of the Empire and went straight to the Empire’s mainland.

However, those ships were caught by the Empire’s navy and sunk immediately, and the surviving survivors were imprisoned, had most of their possessions confiscated, and were expelled to Suez.

“Why are you confiscating it!”

“We’re just collecting the cost of sending you to Suez.”

“What damn bastard made this law!”

“You’ve insulted His Imperial Majesty. Minimum 20 years imprisonment and additional fine. Choose.”

“…”

Of course, there were those who tried to cheat.

“Our destination was the Wa country [Japan], but we accidentally came to the Empire. Permission to call….”

“The navy will guide you. Follow that ship.”

“Even if it’s just for supplies….”

“The Wa country is just around the corner from here.”

“Still, since we’re here….”

“Are you just going to follow? Or be sunk?”

Therefore, ships from Europe and the Middle East wishing to trade with the Empire had to stop by the Southwest Territory, regardless of nationality.

This was the background for Captain Brow’s targeting of the Southwest Territory.

And this was the groundwork that Hyang had laid in advance.

“Due to time and population issues, a monopoly is impossible. But no matter what, North America must be held. That land is a cheat key. If so, I need to lay the groundwork in advance and send them in the wrong direction.”

* * *

“We’re going the right way! If we go a little further, we’ll arrive at the Southwest Territory! If we endure a little longer, we can go to the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“Really?”

“Who is our captain? And what kind of person is Captain Brow? Believe it!”

The navigators and veteran sailors, who had received orders from the captains, encouraged their fellow sailors who were tired of sailing.

“Think about it! Even the cheapest items sold in the ‘Land of Flowers’ can be sold for several times the price! A fortune awaits! Cheer up!”

Clutching at the hope of making a fortune if they succeeded, the sailors regained their energy and moved again.

* * *

Ding ding ding ding!

About ten days later, the lookout shouted along with the ringing of the bell from the watchtower.

“Unidentified ship appearing in the forward right!”

Captain Brow, who had rushed to the forecastle at the lookout’s shout, took out his spyglass and examined it.

Captain Brow’s face brightened as he examined the ship in question through the spyglass.

“It’s a Sea Eagle!”

The ship visible through the spyglass was clearly the Empire’s Haeung-geup (Sea Eagle Class) frigate.

Captain Brow explained to the representative, who had already run up beside him.

“Sea Eagles don’t stray far from the harbor! That means there’s an Empire’s harbor nearby!”

Captain Brow shouted to the sailors, filled with joy.

“It’s a Sea Eagle! We’ve finally arrived! Raise the signal flag!”

“Wow!”

Shortly after, the signal flag was raised on the Golden Brow’s mast. The captains of the other ships, seeing the signal flag, diligently scanned the horizon with their spyglasses.

Captain Thomas, who was also examining the Haeung-geup frigate, tilted his head.

“Why is there only one? And why is it turning its bow?”

The Haeung-geup frigate visible in the distance was hastily turning its bow and moving away.

When traveling the Eastern Route, the Haeung-geup frigates departing from Temasek [a historical city-state on the island of Singapore] or the Southwest Territory moved in units of at least two ships. And when they discovered an unidentified ship, they always approached and inspected it.

However, the Haeung-geup frigate moving away in the distance was deviating from that rule.