Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 683

Episode 683: Suez (3)

Everyone present nodded at the French representative’s words, ‘Only empires make money.’

The meeting continued for several days, but the attendees were unable to come to a conclusion with expressions of displeasure.

The reason they were so worried was because of the ‘Empire’.

The reason they went to war was to monopolize trade routes with the empire.

Even while fighting over religious disputes, goods from the empire, also known as the ‘Land of Flowers’, were being sold steadily. Even when expensive luxury goods faltered, mid- to low-priced goods filled the void, and as soon as there was a lull in the conflict or even a small agreement was reached, luxury goods started selling like crazy.

Therefore, the alliance that monopolized the trade route with the empire was able to reap enormous profits.

* * *

And the composition of the countries participating in this alliance was truly exquisite.

The Ottomans, who suffered the most blood loss but participated most actively in the war, were able to exploit the Middle East and Arab Eastern Europe as their markets.

In the case of France, it was able to use its home country and the northern part of the Holy Roman Empire, which would later become Germany, as its market.

In the case of Portugal, northern Africa and eastern England were its markets.

“Africa?”

When Portugal announced that it would make Africa its market, all participating countries except Cosimo of Florence expressed doubts.

Their common sense was that Africa was a poor and primitive land suitable only as a source of slaves.

But Cosimona Henry knew full well that this was only half the truth.

There were surprisingly many wealthy people in North African countries such as Morocco and Algeria, and there were also many Islamic magnates who had accumulated considerable wealth.

They were great markets.

As a rosy future approached with monopolization of trade routes, the allies began to feel the shadow of the empire again.

* * *

“The biggest problem is that digging a waterway or laying a railroad will not work properly without the help of the empire.”

At Representative Florence’s words, the other representatives let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. That’s the problem. “Isn’t this meeting always at a standstill because there is no solution to the problem?”

“Whoa~.”

The profits the empire gained from trade were already enormous. However, a request came from the empire to create an upper body to manage trade routes and to give the empire a 40% stake in it.

This was not pleasing to the allies.

-We shed blood!

The Allies went through all sorts of hardships to win the war. Even Cosimo de’ Medici supported mercenaries and provided huge amounts of military funds.

However, the Empire was an obnoxious entity that sat back and only made money by selling weapons.

-The best idea is to invest capital and create a joint venture to manage trade routes.

-But accepting the Empire at this top is the worst idea.

Therefore, the allies agreed to achieve their goals without relying on the empire.

Even Mehmed II, who wrote a memorandum in the name of Allah, agreed with this opinion.

Mehmed II came to power by paying for it at a significantly discounted price or purchasing a huge amount of weapons on credit and took the largest share among the allies, but he was not satisfied with keeping his promises to the empire.

In such a situation, the proposal of ‘exclusion of the empire’ made by other allies was a truly sweet proposal.

-I wanted to keep my promise, but other allies came to different conclusions.

-I’m sorry, but I can’t keep my promise to the empire.

-However, since this is due to unavoidable circumstances, the purchase price will be processed according to the conditions stated in the memorandum.

Mehmet II was planning to use this excuse to save money on purchasing weapons.

“It’s a bit disappointing about the private coal issue, but as time passes, someone will definitely solve it. There is no need to buy weapons from the empire if the exclusive ammo is taken care of. Of course, the empire will protest, but the empire will have no choice but to accept it if it wants to sell its own goods.”

Even though we thought of our own alternatives, we boarded the same ship as our allies, but the ship was on the verge of running aground.

“Whoa~.”

After sighing again for a long time, Osman’s representative asked the other participants.

“Everyone is currently researching steam engines and iron horses. Is there any good news?”

bang!

In response to Representative Osman’s question, the French representative slammed the table and became angry.

“shit! All those great scholars always say is, ‘Spend more time and budget…’!”

“At best, the prototype is slower than a person walking… but it doesn’t carry a lot of luggage. “It makes me so angry to see that proud face after making a toy that could barely drag a cart and move!”

“I heard that the Empire is already releasing a second-generation iron horse… What about the Ottomans?”

Representative Osman, who was asked the question, also let out a long sigh.

“We’re just hearing that damn ‘time and budget’ thing. Phew~.”

The representative of Osman let out another long sigh, his eyes shining.

“ah! Come to think of it! I heard that Mingdo is building an iron horse! “Do you know anything?”

In response to Representative Osman’s question, Representative Florence shook his head.

“There is. “After looking around, I heard that it was made based on blueprints brought in from the empire during the reign of Emperor Ming.”

“How is the performance?”

“They say it takes longer to repair a breakdown than to move it.”

“But wouldn’t it be a good alternative? “If it breaks down, you just have to repair it, and if the price is right, shouldn’t you just buy it in bulk and operate it?”

Still, in response to Representative Osman’s attempt not to give up hope, Representative Florence shook his head.

“The rumor is that the price is not that cheap compared to the imperial one. And the biggest problem is that both the output and durability of the core steam engine are too low compared to the imperial one. And there’s a bigger problem. It is said that during the last war, pirates from Zipangu attacked and took away many craftsmen, so many of the craftsmen who made iron horses moved to weapon factories. To put it simply, it can be said that Ming’s iron horse has been discontinued.”

Representative Osman shook his head at the explanation of the Florence representative.

“In what spirit did the Emperor of Ming make such a decision?”

This was also true for representatives of France and Portugal.

Iron horses and railroads were the best means of transporting large quantities of cargo and people over long distances. Now, anyone with the largest territory in the world – other countries were not yet fully aware of the existence of Shinji – would not have been unaware of the utility of the railway.

But the iron horse was discontinued?

These were representatives who could not understand the name decision by their own standards.

Representative Florence, who checked the expressions of the other participants, continued his explanation.

“In the Ming Dynasty, there is a grand canal that crosses the country from north to south. “A considerable amount of cargo uses the Grand Canal, so the railroad is merely a means to assist the Grand Canal.”

“Ah…”

Only then did the other participants nod as if they understood. The French representative, who was nodding like that, asked the Florentine representative.

“How do you know Florence so well?”

“If you want to do business properly, don’t you need to know your partner properly?”

“Ah…”

Participants from other countries nodded in response to the Florence representative’s answer, but were thinking the same thing in their hearts.

‘Seriously, business people!’

* * *

Even after considering all the alternatives, no clear answer could be found, so the participants had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“I guess I’ll have no choice but to rely on the empire.”

“I think that would be best.”

“Whoa~. “I will hear something from His Majesty the King.”

As the Portuguese representative complained, the monarchs of each country became angry after hearing the final decisions of the participants.

“I brought this as the best!”

“There is no answer other than that.”

“Ugh…”

In the end, when they called other subjects and scholars and asked for their opinions, only to get similar answers, the alliance’s monarchs picked up their pens.

“Use it! “I can’t help it!”

And finally, Cosimo de’ Medici called his son Giovanni.

“I have to go to the empire.”

“yes.”

* * *

A few months later, after receiving the personal letter Giovanni brought, Hyang presented it to Kim Jeom.

“What do you think?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom, who received the letter, expressed mild surprise.

“Is this a personal letter written in the imperial language using the correct pronunciation?”

“That’s right. “I guess they were in a bit of a hurry.”

Kim Jeom, who listened to Hyang’s words and carefully examined the contents of the personal letter, reported his thoughts to Hyang.

“God thinks…”

Kim Jeom’s opinion was as follows.

-They had been thinking about the railroad from the beginning. However, after coming to the Empire and hearing the story, he changed his direction to water transport.

-But the reason they insisted on the railroad again is that they changed their mind.

-The biggest reason for doing so was to exclude the empire.

“…But I think they reached out to us because the situation was not favorable.”

“Jim feels the same way.”

Hyang nodded at Kim Jeom’s words and smiled mischievously and asked.

“Then there’s no need for us to look after it, right?”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom also smiled and bowed his head.

“This is an extremely natural thing to say. “They tried to stab us in the back, so shouldn’t we blow their jaws off?”

“I agree.”

The officer who recorded all of this added the following.

– says the officer. Admiral Kim Jeom, who has become the new Prime Minister, is highly capable, but his tone is too frivolous, so I don’t think he is a model for noblemen.

But I feel cool inside.

That’s right. If you receive something, it is polite to return it as you received it.

After reaching an agreement with Kim, Hyang immediately took out a piece of paper and started writing down something.

After rechecking the contents of the written sentence and stamping the seal, Hyang held out the paper to the merchant ship.

“Order Tao Seung-ji to convey this to Duke Jinpyeong in the North. ASAP.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang muttered to himself as he watched the eunuch leaving Geunjeongjeon.

‘It will take at least 15 days to get to the site in Bukji, so I’ll see that bastard in about a month.’

But exactly 21 days later.

“older brother! No, Your Majesty! What is this imperial name?”

At the sound of Jinpyeong’s shouting that echoed through Geunjeongjeon, Hyang slightly shook his head and muttered softly.

“Did this kid fly?”

“older brother! No, Your Majesty! “What really is this imperial title?”

When Jinpyeong questioned again, Hyang narrowed her eyes and asked.

“Does the duke not know manners?”

In response to Hyang’s point, Jinpyeong made an expression of regret and immediately raised his example.

“Duke Jinpyeong comes to see His Majesty Lee Yu!”

“okay. It’s been a while since I last saw you. “But it came sooner than I expected?”

“You have received such an imperial command. Will you come leisurely?”

The imperial command sent by Hyang was simple.

-Select and send people in charge of surveying and estimates for the railway to be built in Suez.

“Of course I have to go for this! “Don’t you know that it is my dream to lay railroads all over the world?”

Hyang briefly answered Jinpyeong’s words.

“That’s why you shouldn’t go.”

“yes?”