Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 614

Episode 614: The Beginning of the Empire – Today is like yesterday. (2)

Soon after, Park Jong-woo, Lim Sun-wook, and Kim Jeom visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Why did the Left Deputy Prime Minister come here?”

When Kim Jeom, who was like an ‘ugly sister-in-law’, appeared, Heo Hu asked the reason with a slightly shocked expression. Kim Jeom answered Heo Hu’s question by pointing to Park Jong-woo and Lim Sun-wook.

“They still have little experience and are naive, so there is a risk that if they make a mistake, they will be dealt the opposite effect. “That’s why I came.”

“Ah…”

Heohu just nodded in response to Kim Jeom’s answer.

* * *

It was Kim Jeom who rose from the position of Minister of Finance to the Minister of Finance and Economy, and now to the Left Deputy Prime Minister.

There was almost nothing that did not pass through his hands, including transactions taking place at the government and private levels as well as transactions between countries. The only exception was the trade between Emperor Seondeok and incense.

Not only that, but even the country’s budget had to be supervised by him, so at times even King Sejong had to keep an eye on his opinions.

* * *

In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, Heo Hu just nodded and moved on, but Park Jong-woo and Lim Sun-wook looked at Kim Jeom with dumbfounded expressions.

‘Even now, it’s been almost 20 years since I worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, smelling money…’

‘I used to be a businessman. It was also a top-tier stock!’

“huh? “Why do you guys look like that?”

“Oh no, let’s not come.”

“No.”

“Then let’s get started quickly. “Already, due to this year’s budget issue, I have been delayed in discussing things with you and your Majesty.”

“yes.”

* * *

Because there were a large number of envoys who had arrived in advance, Henry and his party had to return to their lodgings and wait.

It was after 3 o’clock (about 6 hours) that Henry and his group visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again.

“We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Henry stepped forward and responded to Heo Hu’s words.

“Oh no. “Please don’t mind, it’s also our fault that we visited without making an appointment in advance.”

“Thank you. So, what is the reason for your sudden visit?”

As Heohu got straight to the point, Henrik also answered right away.

“I was truly impressed by the firepower your country’s troops showed in yesterday’s training. So, I would like to purchase some of your country’s weapons.”

“Aoman, I see you’ve already purchased quite a few of them the other day.”

Henrik kept his mouth shut at Huhu’s point.

‘Compared to what I saw yesterday, it was nothing more than a piece of junk! And then!’

Henrik, who held back from swearing at any moment, chose his words carefully and answered.

“It is true that the long guns I purchased earlier are good weapons. But that weapon can only give you a slight advantage. “Unlike that, if we have the weapons we saw yesterday, we can have an overwhelming advantage.”

“Hehehe! “I’m really happy to hear such positive reviews, but at the same time, I’m a little worried that I’m being evaluated too highly.”

Henrik immediately responded to Huhu’s humility.

“It is not an overestimation since it has already been proven through a battle with Ming.”

“Now that you say that, I feel reassured. okay. “What weapons are you interested in?”

“It’s mountain artillery, freight cars, and long guns.”

* * *

What impressed me the most in yesterday’s training was the bigyeokjincheonroe. However, among the subordinates who observed with him, those with knowledge of cannons opposed it.

“We can make similar shells too.”

“In fact, the scorching bullet is the easiest to make.”

“okay?”

Due to opposition from his subordinates, Henry and his party’s choices were reduced to three.

* * *

Heohu, who heard what weapons Henry and his party wanted, looked slightly embarrassed.

“haha. They were deployed to our military not long ago…” When

Heohu trailed off, Henrik explained why those weapons were needed.

“Isn’t it also difficult to return home due to the war that is currently taking place in the Suez region? The sooner the war ends, the better it will be for us to return home. no?”

“That is true. But…”

“I know very well what your country is worried about. So let me be honest. Even if we win this war, our competition with other competitors will not end immediately. Therefore, there will be no need to return to your home country.”

Henrik spoke vaguely, but his inner meaning was as follows.

‘Next is Spain, not you! So shut up and sell!’

“Hmm…”

Heohu, who was still looking embarrassed, glanced back at Kim Jeom. Kim Jeom nodded lightly and stepped forward on behalf of Heo Hu.

“I will tell you honestly that the trust that has been built between your country and our country is truly strong. The size of the army that was hastily raised in the last war must now be reduced. So, if we both understand each other, we can sell it.”

“Reducing the army?”

Mehmed II looked like he couldn’t understand Kim Jeom’s answer, but Henrik and Giovanni nodded as if they understood.

In the Ottoman Empire, which was growing in size, there was no thought of reducing its army, but this was not the case in Europe.

Properly maintaining an army was a huge expense. Because of this, feudal nobility emerged and mercenary troops emerged. Of course, with the trend of centralization of power, the number of feudal nobles was gradually decreasing and the standing army under the king was increasing, but it was not yet the trend.

Kim Jeom, who saw Mehmet II’s expression, added an explanation.

“Isn’t the size of the army needed for defense and the size of the army needed for war different?”

“Ah…”

Mehmed II nodded as if he finally understood at Kim Jeom’s answer. And the three people came to the same conclusion at the same time.

‘It seems that Joseon, or the Korean Empire, has no greed for territorial expansion.’

It was a fatal misjudgment.

Anyway, as Mehmet II got it right, the story started to pick up speed.

“So how much can you sell for your country?”

“How long can you live in your country?”

“Isn’t it different depending on the price?”

In response to Henry’s answer, Kim looked through the documents lying next to him and suggested the desired price.

“If you buy it in units of 1,000, it costs 8 Joseon silver coins per bag. “If you buy it in units of 10,000, it costs 7 Joseon silver coins per bag.”

Henrik immediately listened to Kim Jong’s suggestion.

“I remember that the long guns I bought last time cost 12 Joseon silver coins each, but it’s a bit strange.”

“The items you purchased back then were brand new items that had not been used even once since the test shooting, and these items were used in battle.”

They said it was being sold cheaply because it was used.

“Hoo~.”

Henrik, who understood Kim Jeom’s explanation, nodded. Giovanni, sensing Henry’s expression as if he was about to take out a contract at any moment, joined the conversation on Henry’s behalf.

“If it’s something that was used in battle, isn’t it defective?”

Kim snorted at Giovanni’s point.

“joy! Were there any defects among the items with your country’s emblem engraved on them?”

One of the reasons why Joseon became popular and called the ‘Land of Flowers’ was its solid quality. The Joseon royal family’s coat of arms was a symbol of trust.

“her! If you don’t believe me, let’s end it here! “If we all melt it, it will be over!”

Giovanni urgently waved his hand as Kim tried to close the game at any moment.

“Oh no! It’s just that I was worried because it was an item that was used on the battlefield. “The price was cheaper than expected.”

“It’s something I used once, so will you just send it to me? Is it something that our country’s honor depends on? We will overhaul everything carefully and check its performance. And the reason the price is cheap is because it has already been used once. If you still don’t believe me, how about buying a new one? “It costs 15 Joseon silver coins per bag.”

Giovanni’s eyes actually lit up at Kim Jeom’s suggestion.

“If a new product costs 15 nyang silver and a used one costs 8 nyang, isn’t that a huge difference? “Even if it’s something you’ve only used once, there’s such a difference, right?”

“It’s just handing over something to be melted down and it’s an expression of goodwill towards the country you’re purchasing from. “If you don’t like it, you can just buy a new one. Why do you keep saying the same thing over and over again?”

Giovanni responded with a humble smile to Kim Jeom’s words, which were filled with unpleasant feelings.

“It’s just that I can’t believe it because the price is so good. It’s not because you don’t trust your return, so I hope you’ll let go of your anger. “I apologize sincerely.”

“greatness! “Keuhum!”

Kim Jeom, who cleared his emotions with a loud cough, continued speaking.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I will buy used goods as you suggested.”

“How many? I’m only telling you, the maximum quantity our country can produce is 50,000 bags. And since quite a few countries have already expressed their intention to purchase, there is not much left.”

“How much time is left…”

Kim Jeom answered Giovanni’s question while stroking his beard with a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

“Well, let’s come. “Now that we have to go back to our country and get approval, only the approximate quantity has been determined. Based on that, about 9,000 bags?”

“About 9,000…”

Kim Jeom continued while looking at the three people who looked like they thought that would be enough.

“ah! Additionally, the numbers they wrote down are minimum quantities. “These are countries where everyone knows their names well.”

Giovanni’s face suddenly changed at those words.

They were the ones who went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs even more hastily than they did. And it was true that they knew Ming better than themselves. Its performance was proven in the fact that people who knew the name well moved urgently. It was said that Henrik was not the only one who thought that way.

The problem was that the preempted quantity was the minimum quantity. In other words, it could change depending on who brings the money first.

‘But wouldn’t 9,000 bags be okay?’

Giovanni, who was familiar with European battlefields where at most thousands to 10,000 to 20,000 troops were mobilized, soon changed his mind.

‘no! If you look at the current situation in Suez, it’s not even possible!’

The Mamluks and Ottomans mobilized an average of 40,000 to 50,000 troops per battle. If you add mercenaries sent from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, both sides were putting about 70,000 men into battle. And this number was growing bigger and bigger.

‘In this situation, even if you increase it little by little, it will only prolong the war. ‘You have to put in a lot at once!’

Giovanni, who had made up his mind, was about to open his mouth when Mehmed II spoke first.

“Osman alone will purchase 10,000 bags.”

“huh?”

“uh!”

Giovanni and Henry, who were startled by Mehmet II’s unexpected behavior, quickly exchanged whispers and joined the competition.

“We will also buy 10,000 bags!”

‘If we want to gain priority in the Suez region in the future, we must not fall behind the Ottomans!’

“Are you okay?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mehmet II nodded confidently.

“I can handle that much!”

“We too!”

After confirming several times after that that Henry and his group’s decision was firm, Kim Jeom moved on.

“I understand. “Then what are you going to do with the bullets?”

“Why the bullets?”

“The performance of our country’s guns only comes from special ammunition made by our country.”

“How much do those bullets cost?…”

“20 bullets cost 1 Joseon silver coin.”

In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, the three people looked like they had taken a hit. Either way, Kim Jeom continued.

“Just to add, freight cars also have to use that special ammunition.”