Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 95

Jjangra

Hello, Night.

95. Coward Certification (1)

The Ottaibi family, who had rejoiced at earning a fortune of 48,000 ducats [historical European currency] from a single voyage, soon found themselves gnashing their teeth in regret.

While the Ottaibi family boasted a certain history and size, the Sindwa family, an even larger merchant family, was located right next to them in the Aden region where they were based. They were one of the five major merchant families that dominated Aden [a port city in Yemen].

Even when they brought glass artisans from Alexandria [a major city in Egypt] as slaves, the Ottaibi family had to give considerable gifts to the Sindwa family.

-Our Ottaibi family is not trying to create a glass workshop, but rather, we acquired the slaves because they were requested by a place called Joseon [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897]. I swear to Allah [Arabic word for God], it is absolutely not intended to antagonize the Sindwa family.

With the Ottaibi family head’s earnest explanation and gifts, the Sindwa family simply overlooked the Ottaibi family’s purchase of glass artisan slaves.

They also knew through their own informants that there was a country called Goryeo [Korean kingdom from 918 to 1392] next to China, and that Goryeo had recently fallen and a country called Joseon had been established.

And when the Ottaibi family moved to sell the goods unloaded from the ship that returned from Joseon, a messenger came from the Sindwa family.

“I will give you a good price, so hand everything over to our family.”

“Excuse me?”

“Even if you hand it over to other merchants, it will eventually come to our Sindwa family. So, I am telling you to hand it over directly. Do you have the confidence to safely take the goods from that one ship to Alexandria?”

“…I understand.”

Thus, the Sindwa family’s messenger and the Ottaibi family’s head began negotiations.

“200,000 ducats is too expensive, isn’t it?”

“Consider the journey to and from Joseon. The pirates of Malaya [region in Southeast Asia] and Majapahit [Javanese empire], as well as the pirates of Jipangu [old name of Japan], are even worse than the Barbary pirates [North African pirates]. Do you think it is easy to travel back and forth in such a place?”

“Still, 200,000 ducats is too expensive. Let’s make it 100,000 ducats.”

“Even for the Sindwa family, this is too much! Are you saying we shouldn’t trade at all!”

“Isn’t it because it’s too expensive?”

“Then 180,000 ducats!”

“100,000!”

“175,000! I can’t go any higher!”

“Look here! Do you think we don’t know how much your glass artisans cost? Isn’t it 20,000 ducats? Even if you took extra funds just in case, your family’s maximum would have been 30,000 ducats in total. Who are you trying to deceive! Since we are fellow merchants of Aden, I will give you up to 100,000!”

“There are bonuses promised to the sailors!”

“That’s why it’s 100,000! If you ask for more, it will be difficult to do business in Aden!”

The head of the Ottaibi family realized that there were no more options upon hearing the words of the merchant sent by the Sindwa family.

“…Alright. I’ll hand it over for 100,000.”

“A good deal.”

In the end, the Ottaibi family handed over the goods from Joseon to the Sindwa family for 100,000 ducats. After handing over the goods, the head gnashed his teeth.

“Those guys are worse than pirates!”

However, the family elders were actually happy that they had made three times the profit.

“Aren’t they also involved in piracy? Even this is three times the profit! It’s a successful deal! It’s better to use this time to prepare to go to Joseon!”

“That’s right! Without the Joseon license, other merchants can’t get the goods! We should take advantage of this opportunity to make even bigger profits!”

“Hoo~. Let’s do that.”

At the words of the elders, the head had no choice but to step back. Left alone in the room, the head beat his chest.

“Damn it! Damn those Sindwa bastards!”

While waiting for favorable winds to go to Joseon, the Ottaibi family began to acquire what Joseon had requested.

“Joseon has asked us to find horses. They said they would pay generously for purebred stallions.”

“Horses?”

“The horses in Joseon are quite adorable.”

The Arabian horses of that era were known as fine horses. They were large and had excellent agility and endurance.

“Is that so? We should try to get purebred stallions if possible.”

As the Ottaibi family was busy trying to find horses, news of the Sindwa family reached their ears.

The goods from Joseon, which the Ottaibi family sold for 100,000 ducats, were sold for 1,100,000 ducats in Alexandria. In particular, the spices and fragrances were said to have caused a bloody competition—literally bloody—among European merchants who had crossed the Mediterranean.

“Damn it!”

“Those bastards!”

The people of the Ottaibi family, without exception, even those who were happy about making three times the profit, all burst into frustration.

They had comforted themselves by saying that even a double profit was a great gain considering the time and risk of going to Alexandria, but as a result, the opportunity to earn almost 40 times the profit had flown away.

While the people of the Ottaibi family were gnashing their teeth, a group of merchants approached them.

“People from the Azram family have arrived.”

“From the Azram family?”

“The head of the Azram family has come too!”

“Bring them in!”

At the news that people from the Azram family, the largest of the five major families in Aden, had come, even the head, had risen from his seat.

Shortly after, as a group of merchants entered, the head politely paid his respects.

“Welcome. It is an honor to meet the greatest elder of the Azram family.”

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“Please, sit down.”

As the Azram family merchants sat in the seats offered by the head, tea was soon brought in.

The people of the Ottaibi family and the people of the Azram family prepared for a conversation while drinking tea.

“Ho? The scent is unique?”

“It is tea from Joseon. A relative working in the Joseon royal court obtained it as a gift. It has a different scent from Chinese tea.”

“Indeed, as the successor to Goryeo, which was famous for its fragrances, the scent of the tea is also good.”

After starting the conversation with a story about Joseon tea, both sides soon got to the main point.

“I heard that this voyage was a great success.”

“It is Allah’s blessing.”

“But it must be a bit disappointing because of the Sindwa family?”

“We still made a profit.”

The head of the Ottaibi family carefully chose his words to answer.

The Azram family’s power was great, but the Sindwa family’s power was also considerable. In addition, the Sindwa family was located right next to the Ottaibi family. If anything went wrong, the merchant ships at the docks could be reduced to ashes by an unexplained fire, or the warehouse could burn down.

“But it’s nothing compared to the profits the Sindwa family made in Alexandria.”

“Isn’t it a difference in capabilities?”

An elder belonging to the Ottaibi family intervened in the conversation on behalf of the head. The Azram family merchant nodded at the elder’s words.

“I admit that. But what is unfair is unfair. I’ll get straight to the point. How about joining our Azram family?”

“Are you saying that our family should enter the Azram family?”

As the reaction of the Ottaibi family became sharp, the head of the Azram family hurriedly stepped in to defuse the situation.

“Not at all. The Ottaibi family is also a family with a long history, so how could we do that?”

“Are you promising in the name of Allah?”

“I promise in the name of Allah.”

The momentum of the Ottaibi family subsided at the head of the Azram family’s confirmation.

“Does ‘joining together’ mean… doing business together?”

“That’s right. The Ottaibi family is now preparing to go to Joseon again, right?”

“That’s right.”

“From what I see, you seem to be mobilizing all three of your family’s merchant ships. Let’s add our family’s merchant ships as well. Would three ships be okay? We’ll also help in Alexandria. The profit distribution will be 6:4. We get 6, and the Ottaibi family gets 4.”

The face of the head of the Ottaibi family became serious at the offer made by the head of the Azram family.

After a long period of silent contemplation, the head of the Ottaibi family asked the head of the Azram family a question.

“It’s the best offer. In some ways, it’s even excessive. What is the reason for making such a generous offer?”

“To not miss the opportunity. The reason why the Ottaibi family went to Joseon was probably because of the request of that relative you mentioned earlier, right? That means the Ottaibi family has a connection with the Joseon royal family, and that is an opportunity that a merchant can never miss.”

After explaining the reason, the head of the Azram family stared directly at the head of the Ottaibi family.

He had a smile on his face, but the eyes of the head of the Azram family were not smiling.

“Now! I swear to Allah, I have not hidden anything! So, I hope you will make a decision! Ah! I will tell you in advance, if you are thinking of trading between Sindwa and us, I advise you that it is definitely not a good idea.”

“Can you protect our family from Sindwa?”

“In the name of the family and in the name of Allah, I will definitely protect you!”

At the promise of the head of the Azram family, the head of the Ottaibi family let out a long sigh.

“There is no choice. Alright. I accept the Azram family’s offer.”

“You have made a good decision.”

Satisfied with the negotiation, the head of the Azram family stood up from his seat with a full smile.

“It was a truly enjoyable meeting. Just in case, I will send our family’s people to the docks and warehouses starting today.”

“Thank you.”

The head of the Ottaibi family expressed his gratitude to the head of the Azram family.

After seeing off the people of the Azram family, one of the elders of the Ottaibi family opened his mouth.

“I’m afraid we’ve stepped into a snake pit trying to avoid a lion.”

“What can we do since our family’s power is still weak?”

The Ottaibi family also had some military force, but it paled in comparison to the five major families.

* * *

As soon as the rumor that ‘the Ottaibi family and the Azram family have joined hands’ spread, people from the Sindwa family rushed over.

“Why! Why did you join hands with Azram! Have you forgotten our Sindwa family, which is right next door!”

The messenger of the Sindwa family was angry, but the head of the Ottaibi family replied with a calm expression.

“Didn’t you have a lot of fun in Alexandria?”

“That’s….”

“Isn’t it natural for a merchant to move to where there is more profit?”

“Profit is important, but trust is also important!”

“Did the Sindwa family keep that trust?”

Confirming that the Ottaibi family had completely made up their minds, the messenger of the Sindwa family gnashed his teeth and warned.

“Don’t expect our family’s favor in the future!”

“I am prepared for that.”

As the messenger of the Sindwa family left in anger, the head of the Ottaibi family ordered the elders.

“Although the Azram family is helping, increase the security of the docks and warehouses just in case.”

“Yes.”

“Pay attention to the stables as well. The most important goods are there.”

“I will do so.”

After giving orders to the elders, the head of the Ottaibi family looked up at the sky.

If this voyage is successful, or if voyages of a similar scale are successful about three times, the Ottaibi family will be able to establish itself as the sixth family in Aden.

However, the Sindwa family had turned into an enemy, and the Azram family was in danger of swallowing the Ottaibi family at any time.

The head of the Ottaibi family, who had been silently staring at the sky for a long time, turned around, muttering softly.

“Inshallah (إن شاء الله. God willing)….”

* * *

As the carefully selected stallions and mares were prepared at the request of Joseon, the Ottaibi family prepared to set sail.

“We want to go with you too!”

Nearby small merchants requested to accompany them, but the head of the Ottaibi family refused outright.

“The road is long and there are many pirates, so I cannot guarantee your safety.”

“It doesn’t matter! Everyone knows that the sea route is dangerous! But isn’t it the merchant’s job to risk his life if there is an opportunity!”

As the merchants continued to cling to him, the head of the Ottaibi family pulled out his trump card.

“Joseon only allows trade to those who have this license! Without this, you can’t even get off the ship.”

“Ah….”

Of course, Joseon was selling licenses, but the head of the Ottaibi family had no reason to tell them that fact.

In this way, the merchant ships of the Ottaibi family and the Azram family, which had shaken off the small merchants, left the port of Aden.

The head of the Ottaibi family was on the largest of the Ottaibi family’s merchant ships. Looking at the port of Aden, which was getting farther and farther away, the head clenched his fist.

“Definitely! There will be no second failure!”