Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 302

Chapter 302

Seeing the magistrate’s welcoming demeanor, Oh Ha-seok and his entourage pressed their advantage.

“For our Joseon and your esteemed nation to continue our amicable relations, we will require your assistance, Magistrate. As such, we have prepared a modest gift.”

“A gift?”

The magistrate’s eyes sparkled upon hearing those words through the interpreter. It wasn’t just the magistrate. The officials near him also had their eyes light up.

Nothing from the ‘Land of Flowers’ was ever ordinary. And this was a gift they had deliberately brought from the ‘Land of Flowers’. It must have been carefully selected, guaranteed to be a magnificent masterpiece.

Shortly after, the magistrate’s servants brought in large and small wooden boxes and placed them before the magistrate.

“Oh my… Even the boxes…”

The magistrate and officials exclaimed in admiration upon seeing the wooden boxes. Coated with the finest lacquer and trimmed with thin bronze decorations at the corners, the boxes were clearly extraordinary at first glance.

***

When Joseon began exporting in earnest, Hyang emphasized the importance of packaging.

“There’s a reason why they say ‘even a monk’s robe should be red if possible’ and ‘food that looks good also tastes good’!”

After stressing the significance of packaging, Hyang went as far as to separately gather painters and carpenters to exclusively research packaging design.

To satisfy the eyes of Hyang, who had experience in the highly developed 21st century capitalist society, the painters and carpenters had to endure unspeakable hardships. However, the results were unquestionable.

The products of the royal workshops, which used packaging created under Hyang’s orders, clearly conveyed that they were expensive items at first glance. Thanks to this, not only the royal family members like Sejong and Queen Soheon, but also the eyes of the ministers were elevated. And due to the trickle-down effect, the standards of mid to low-ranking officials also rose, and gradually, even the eyes of the common people became more discerning and began to grow picky about the level of packaging.

As a result, the royal workshops reached the point of launching wooden boxes exclusively for packaging as products. Private merchant guilds also started to pay attention to packaging.

As things progressed this way, some indulgent individuals even began collecting these wooden boxes.

As a side note, in the distant future, the wooden boxes that endured and survived from this era were traded at high prices in auction houses.

***

In any case, while stroking the smooth wooden boxes with his hands and enjoying their texture, the magistrate opened the lid.

As the lid opened, an inner cover wrapped in red silk was revealed. Seeing the inner cover, the magistrate checked the upper left part inside the outer lid.

Traditionally, Joseon products had a flower attached to the upper left part inside the box lid.

And on this box as well, a flower pattern was engraved in the same location.

The magistrate couldn’t hide his joy after confirming the flowers.

Because there were five golden plum blossom flowers engraved.

“Hm? The center of the flowers is…”

The magistrate tilted his head slightly. In the center of the golden flowers engraved on the box, there were small, gleaming pieces of glass attached. It was a pattern he had never seen before in his life.

“Pardon me, but what are those embedded in the center of the flowers? It’s my first time seeing such a thing.”

At the magistrate’s question, an official from the Ministry of Finance stepped forward to explain.

“A new superior grade has been created this time. What the magistrate is seeing is the mark of the newly established highest grade.”

“Is that so!”

“Yes.”

The magistrate’s face brightened even more upon hearing the explanation, and the officials’ curiosity deepened further.

The magistrate’s fingers trembled slightly with excitement as he tore off the seal connecting the inner cover and the box.

“Ooh!”

The magistrate immediately let out an exclamation after opening the inner cover and examining the contents. Inside were a glass pitcher with a long neck and cups with handles.

What made the magistrate exclaim was the glass used for the pitcher and cups. Glass products were not unfamiliar to the magistrate. Not only Joseon’s, but also many glass products from distant Italy and Arabia had been imported.

However, by Allah, this was the first time seeing glass that emitted such a brilliant luster.

With trembling hands, the magistrate took out a cup and raised it upward. The flower pattern engraved on the cup received the light coming through the window and shimmered splendidly.

“Oooh~.”

The officials also let out exclamations of admiration upon seeing the cup radiating a brilliant light.

The boxes opened subsequently contained plates and bowls made of crystal.

“Indeed, it is the ‘Land of Flowers’! I will do my utmost to ensure that your esteemed nation can trade with us! I swear by Allah that I will definitely make it a success!”

The magistrate’s words were not simply out of infatuation with the gifts. If such precious items entered Chittagong, all the merchants of India would flock here, which meant an immense influx of money.

The magistrate could not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The magistrate proceeded with lightning speed.

“I will also need some time to prepare, so in three days! In three days, come with me to Pandua! The Shah will surely grant permission for trade with the ‘Land of Flowers’!”

“We are sincerely grateful!”

Oh Ha-seok and his group paid their respects with joyful hearts.

***

Returning from the magistrate’s residence to the port, the entourage’s steps were lighter than ever before.

“This seems to be going better than expected.”

“Indeed.”

The Joseon group all had bright faces, but Mansur’s expression was not so cheerful. Seeing Mansur’s face, the Ministry of Finance official approached him.

“What worries burden you so heavily?”

Hearing the question through the interpreter, Mansur immediately lamented.

“If Joseon directly sells such products, I fear I am left with nothing but ruin.”

The Ministry of Finance official smiled and replied after hearing Mansur’s lament through the interpreter.

“Hahaha! You exaggerate, my friend! How many people could afford to buy such expensive items? And in our Joseon, there is no shortage of goods for you to take and make money from, so do not fret!”

Hearing the words through the interpreter, Mansur grumbled softly.

“That fellow said the same thing. Damn it! Just when I thought I could earn money comfortably… I’ll have to diligently run around again.”

***

As promised, after three days passed, the magistrate, ready for the journey, appeared at the port.

“He says to follow his ship closely.”

“Understood.”

Following the ship carrying the magistrate, the joint fleet of Joseon and Mansur left Chittagong and headed for Pandua.

After crossing the sea through three days of sailing, the fleet began to ascend a large river.

And so, the fleet that sailed up the river soon moored at a port.

“Is this Pandua?”

Mansur shook his head at the question from Oh Ha-seok’s group as they disembarked.

“No. This is near Kolkata. Pandua is still several days away by land from here.”

While listening to Mansur’s explanation and surveying the surroundings, Kang Nam-gil asked Mansur.

“It’s an enormously large river, but we can’t go further? Chittagong is also a riverside location, but didn’t we enter it?”

“Chittagong is a trading port, so successive magistrates have paid attention to dredging. However, not here.”

“Is that so? That’s a pity.”

Kang Nam-gil couldn’t hide his disappointment upon hearing Mansur’s answer.

Confirming that they couldn’t proceed further by boat, Oh Ha-seok turned to the Ministry of Finance official.

“It seems it’s time for you to put in some effort, Chamui.”

[TL/N: Chamui is a high-ranking government official position]

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, Park Hyun-soo, the Chamui of the Ministry of Finance, smiled and replied.

“I should make up for the tonic I’ve been taking all this time. First, could you arrange for wagons?”

“Of course.”

With the help of Mansur and the magistrate, large wagons appeared at the dock.

“Careful! Be careful!”

As the wagons were prepared, the crane installed on the ships wheeled out a large box from the hold and lowered it onto the dock. When the box, large enough to fit two or three people, was lowered, the magistrate showed interest.

“The box is quite large.”

“It is a gift for the Shah.”

The dock workers rushed over to load the box onto the wagon, and the soldiers escorting official Park armed themselves and disembarked from the ship.

“How long will it take?”

“If things go well, we can return in half a month.”

“I see. Then I pray for your safe return. Captain Jang, have a good trip.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, the captain of the ship smiled and nodded.

“Then I’ll be off.”

Thanks to the magistrate’s consideration, Captain Jang, Park Hyun-soo, the interpreter, and Mansur left the dock together with the magistrate.

***

After five days of marching, the Joseon group arrived at Pandua. In front of the earthen wall surrounding Pandua, the procession briefly halted. While taking a short break to wait for the messenger sent by the magistrate, the magistrate approached and struck up a conversation.

“The quality of the soldiers is truly excellent.”

“They are fine soldiers indeed. Thank you.”

Jang Gwang-seok, the captain of the ship, replied with a smile to the magistrate’s praise.

The magistrate’s assessment was sincere. Since departing from the port near Kolkata, the discipline of the Joseon soldiers had been strict.

During that brief respite, the messenger sent by the magistrate returned and reported to him.

After hearing the messenger’s reply, the magistrate conveyed the answer to the Joseon group.

“Permission to enter the city has been granted. Let us go.”

***

And so, the Joseon group that entered Pandua was able to enter the Shah’s palace.

“So, you have come from the Land of Flowers?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“For what reason?”

“For the purpose of trade, Your Majesty.”

“Trade, you say…”

Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Shah, the ruler of the Bengal Sultanate, tapped the armrest with his fingers while observing the Joseon group.

‘Trade, not tribute…’

As the Shah remained silent, gauging the intentions of the Joseon people, the magistrate interjected.

“Your Majesty, it is the ‘Land of Flowers’ where all sorts of precious items are produced. I believe it will not be a losing venture.”

“Is that so…?”

Seeing the Shah’s expression, Park Hyun-soo slightly bowed his head and spoke.

“Grateful for granting us entry, we have prepared a gift, Your Majesty.”

At Park Hyun-soo’s words, the Shah’s eyes sparkled.

“A gift, you say… Coming from the ‘Land of Flowers’, it piques my interest. Bring it in.”

With the Shah’s permission, the palace servants brought in a large wooden box. The servants, who carried the box by inserting wooden poles through the rings along both sides of the box, carefully placed it in front of the Shah.

“Open it.”

At the Shah’s command, the servants carefully disassembled the wooden box. As they pried open the front of the wooden box using levers, the gift, covered with high-quality blue cotton cloth, was revealed.

“Remove the cloth.”

At the Shah’s order, soldiers rushed over and surrounded the gift. Once precautions were taken against any potential danger, a soldier stepped forward and pulled off the cloth.

“Ooh!”

As the cloth was removed, the great hall was filled with exclamations of admiration. Even the Shah, who had been sitting on his chair with a cold expression until just now, stood up from his seat and walked forward.

What astonished everyone in the Shah’s palace was a large crystal chandelier.

“This is…”

“If candles are lit on the candlesticks and hung from the ceiling, it will brilliantly illuminate this great hall.”

At Park Hyun-soo’s explanation, the Shah immediately commanded.

“Bring candles and lanterns at once!”

The chandelier, with lit candles and lanterns placed on the candlesticks, was soon suspended from the ceiling using ropes. The crystals shimmered splendidly in the candlelight and lantern flames, and the ceiling of the great hall glittered with light.

Seeing that sight, the Shah unconsciously muttered.

“Truly the ‘Land of Flowers’… As if the stars of heaven have been brought down.”

The chandelier radiating a brilliant light from the ceiling was not merely astonishing, but even evoked a sense of awe.

Blankly gazing at the chandelier on the ceiling, the Shah turned to Park Hyun-soo and the Joseon group.

“To think that such an object can be created by human hands… Just what kind of place is this ‘Land of Flowers’?”

To the Shah’s question, Park Hyun-soo replied with a smile.

“It is not the Land of Flowers, but Joseon, Your Majesty.”