Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 833

833. Chicken Ribs (7)

England, Spain, and Genoa were moving aggressively to find the ‘Unknown Southern Continent.’ No, not just aggressively, but desperately.

-Only the New World can save us!

Before long, the ‘Unknown Southern Continent’ had been renamed ‘New World (Novum Continentem [Latin for ‘new continent’]).’

England was fiercely competing against France, Spain against Portugal, and Genoa against Florence to once again emerge victorious.

These weren’t the only ones betting on the grand gamble of ‘discovering the New World.’ The rivals of these three nations also jumped into the fray.

There was a difference, though.

While England, Spain, and Genoa staked their national fortunes, France, Portugal, and Florence saw individuals or small investment groups entering the game.

Thanks to these players joining the gamble, the shipyards of Suez were bustling with activity.

Many commissioned ships at the Suez shipyards to reduce the risks of navigating around Africa.

European shipbuilding engineers didn’t miss this opportunity. They took positions in the Suez shipyards, even at the cost of lower wages.

From these newly established bases, they began designing and constructing new sailing ships according to their own ideas.

They were certain that if their designed ships performed as expected, they would gain immense fame and multiple returns on their investment.

However, before long, powerful competitors emerged.

The Imperial merchants.

The new product that the Imperial merchants introduced to the market was sailing ships.

* * *

Decades had passed since the Challenger-class battleships and the Sea Hawk-class battleships had appeared.

Naturally, not just the Imperial merchants, but also people from other countries coveted these battleships.

Accepting the requests of the Imperial merchants, Sejong ordered Hyang to develop commercial transport ships. In response, Hyang developed new sailing ships that reduced combat and defense capabilities but increased cargo capacity.

The newly released civilian transport ships were useful not only for civilians but also for the military.

Especially on routes to and from Shinji, these transport ships were invaluable.

Naturally, merchants from Europe and Wa [ancient name for Japan] also coveted these transport ships, and the Imperial merchants smelled money.

“If we do this right, it could be a goldmine.”

And as the New World craze began in Europe, ‘if we do this right’ turned into ‘definitely’.

Merchants who smelled money looked for suitable land to build shipyards, reported to the authorities, and then sought out skilled craftsmen.

Their target was craftsmen who had retired from the Imperial shipyards.

As time passed, the craftsmen who had worked in the shipyards of Wonsan and Dongbing Port retired, and a generational shift occurred.

The merchants entered into negotiations with these retired craftsmen.

However, the retired craftsmen reacted negatively.

“Tsk! You want us to build ships used by the nation? And then sell those ships to other countries? Get out! Wife! Bring the salt!” (In some cultures, salt is thrown to ward off evil or bad luck.)

“This is why you’re called merchants! Get lost!”

“You want me to be stuck in the records office at this age? You go to the records office!”

Despite being turned away, the merchants persistently clung on. Furthermore, they submitted petitions to the court and the Emperor.

“What do you all think?”

At Wan’s question, the officials showed various reactions.

“Although they are merchant ships, they possess performance that overwhelms the battleships of other countries. We must not allow it!”

“It is true that they are ships with excellent performance. However, they are far inferior to the Challenger-class or Sea Hawk-class battleships. It is permissible!”

With both the pro and con factions having valid reasons, Wan found it difficult to make a decision easily. In the end, Wan sent a letter to Hyang seeking his opinion.

And once again, a ship carrying only a single letter traveled to and from Shinji.

The reply from Hyang, which returned by special delivery, was a thick letter and a well-sealed blueprint tube.

Wan smiled wryly at the thick letter and blueprint tube from Hyang.

“Did you already foresee this? I can almost see His Majesty clicking his tongue….”

Imagining Hyang clicking his tongue as he wrote the letter, Wan opened it and smiled wryly again.

“As expected….”

* * *

Arranging the contents of Hyang’s letter in order, it was as follows:

-Ships are not made by craftsmen alone. Blueprints are essential.

The blueprints for battleships, as well as transport ships, are confidential.

If merchants or retired craftsmen possess the blueprints for Imperial military battleships or transport ships, implicate them in treason and interrogate them thoroughly.

-If you don’t have blueprints, sell the enclosed blueprints.

They are less defensive than existing transport ships and battleships, but much sturdier than what they are currently building.

Emphasize that they have been verified and supplemented in Shinji, and the merchants will open their wallets.

Having read this far, Wan glanced at the blueprint tube that came with it and moved on to the next part.

“You really did click your tongue.”

-The armored turtle ship, Assault Turtle Ship, has been released, and the development of iron-clad battleships is already underway.

How long do you intend to remain stagnant, only thinking about wooden ships?

Did you give up because you heard that the Crown Prince was researching iron ships?

If Grand Scholar Kim Jeom were here, he would have been furious at throwing away the opportunity to make a lot of money!

If you’re so worried, just sell the ships and not the cannons!

If you’re worried, shouldn’t you work harder and move forward?

Are you not going to do your job properly? Am I the Emperor, or are you the Emperor?

Could it be that I’ll just end up settling down in Shinji?

“Hoo~.”

Letting out a long sigh, Wan neatly folded the letter and gritted his teeth.

“Damn it! I need to deal with those officials first! For trying to stop me from going to Shinji!”

At the same moment, the officials all shuddered.

“Why do I suddenly have goosebumps….”

And old officials like Hwangbo In and Kim Jongseo sighed.

“Hoo~. Looks like we’re going to hear that tongue-clicking again….”

* * *

After much wrangling by Wan and lamentations from the officials, the Imperial merchants managed to build ships to sell to the Europeans.

It started with selling ships built in the mainland, but before long, the merchants moved their shipyards to areas closer to Suez.

The new location they settled on was Maynila (now Manila) in Luzon [the largest island in the Philippines].

The Imperial-made sailing ships, made using the abundant tropical wood on Luzon and neighboring islands, were sturdy and quite large.

As a result, explorers seeking to explore Shinji, as well as merchants in need of trading ships, purchased Imperial-made sailing ships.

Some of these sold sailing ships flowed into the shipyards of Suez and were dismantled.

European shipbuilding engineers who dismantled and examined the Imperial-made sailing ships soon began applying Imperial technology to their own ships.

However, this was one of the traps set by Hyang.

“It’s hard to catch up just by imitating! You have to understand why they did it that way!”

This came from Hyang’s experience.

It was an experience he gained when he ran away to 21st century America.

The second trap was the structure of the hull.

The Challenger-class battleships and Sea Hawk-class battleships were made by overlapping the wood on the sides of the hull in two layers.

However, the sides of the ships sold to Europeans were only one layer. Of course, they were made slightly thicker, but they were definitely less defensive compared to the Imperial battleships and transport ships.

Moreover, the ships sold by the Imperial merchants did not carry cannons, but space was made for cannons to be mounted.

Hyang had played a trick here.

The cannons currently used on European ships were fine. However, the design was such that if larger, heavier, and more powerful cannons were mounted in the future, it would cause strain.

Of course, it wasn’t designed to cause problems immediately, but the structure was weakened so that problems could arise after one or two battles.

“It will take them a long time to realize this is a problem and fix it!”

Although Hyang had set up various traps in these ships, they performed well, so most of the ships made in Suez and Europe soon had similar shapes and structures to the ships sold by the Empire.

In other words, ships with the traps laid by Hyang were beginning to spread across the sea.

* * *

Many people and ships gathered in Suez for trade with Asia and exploration of the New World.

Many ships came and went from the trading port of Suez, and people of various races gathered in the entertainment district facing the trading port to indulge in pleasure.

Also, churches and mosques, temples and shrines were built for those who prayed for their safety and the safety of their ships before departure, and conversely, for those who returned safely to thank God.

In this way, many people went out to sea for a game of chance, betting on their future, and were preparing to go out.

* * *

The carrack-class [a three- or four-masted sailing ship] medium sailing ship ‘San Domingo’ was busy with loading operations before departure.

While many sailors were moving busily, a young man in his twenties with brown hair was leaning against the ship’s railing, looking outside.

His gaze was directed at a ship just raising its sails and heading out to sea.

“If only I had a ship made in that ‘Land of Flowers [a poetic name for a country, often used to refer to a place known for its beauty or prosperity],’ I would go to find the New World right away….”

A rough shout erupted from behind the young man lamenting as he watched the ship heading out to the open sea.

“Hey! Cristobal! Cristobal Colon! You lazy donkey! What are you doing there!”

“Hic! I, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Navigator!”

Startled by the curse from behind, Cristobal bowed his head to the navigator and ran over.

Looking at Cristobal, the navigator raised his voice.

“You! Everyone else is working their butts off, and you’re wasting time there! How will you ever become a navigator if you’re so lazy! No, a lazy guy like you becoming a navigator? Oh, Holy Mary! What sin did I commit to receive such a lazy donkey as an apprentice!”

Cristobal had to keep bowing his head at the navigator’s lament.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll do my best!”

“If you’re lazy like that again, I’ll kick you off the ship!”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

At Cristobal’s answer, the navigator kicked Cristobal’s butt.

“Don’t just talk, move! You donkey!”

“Yes, sir!”

Cristobal stroked his kicked butt and moved busily.

The San Domingo, having safely completed the loading and verification of cargo and food, raised its anchor and headed out to sea.

As he safely escaped the complicated port and headed out to sea, Cristobal took a breath and asked the navigator.

“Everyone is making a fuss about finding the New World, but aren’t the shipowner or captain interested? If we succeed properly, we can become very rich.”

“We’re making a decent profit with the current voyage.”

“But isn’t it a big profit?”

“Still, they earn more than you do. And they’re too late because they’re all flocking together like that. If it really exists, they’ll find it soon, and only the one who finds the first route will profit.”

The navigator explained to Cristobal with realistic reasons.

“I see.”

“So, stop dreaming and learn your job properly! You donkey!”

“Yes….”

Cristobal, who had been rebuked and stepped back, looked up at the sky and muttered.

“Is there only one route? The Earth is round… there must be a new route. If I find that route, I can make my name ‘Cristoforo Colombo’ famous?”

The young man, whose name was Cristoforo Colombo in his hometown of Genoa, Cristobal Colon in Spanish, and Christopher Columbus in English, looked at the sea with ambitious eyes.