Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 121

Episode 121 Made in Joseon. (4)

As Mansour expected, bargaining was not easy.

“First, let’s start with Hocho, which is familiar to Joseon as well.”

“Yes, prince.”

Once the first item to be negotiated was decided, the real bargaining began.

“okay. How much do you want to charge? Please explain based on the units of Ming Dynasty, not your traditional units.”

At the Hyang’s command, Mansour calculated the approximate price and told the Hyang.

“Is it cheap?”

Kim Jeom answered Hyang’s question right away.

“It’s half the price from Mingguo.”

“Half… Chief Mansour. “How much do you sell it to the merchants of Ming Dynasty?”

“I understand that Myeongguk is purchased directly from India.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Kim Jeom’s answer, Hyang started playing the abacus diligently.

‘As far as I know, pepper was more expensive than the same weight of gold. Well, Teacher Samcheonpo said, ‘Was it really like that?’ Although he expressed his doubts, it was quite possible in Joseon, where pepper could be obtained through smuggling. Even though we opened a store in Shandong, pepper is still an expensive product, isn’t it?’

Before Joseon opened a branch in Shandong, the price of pepper, which the Koreans called hocho, was enormous.

The price was so high that not only wealthy nobles but even the royal family had to make up their minds to obtain pepper.

The high price of pepper did not fall much even after the establishment of a trading post in Shandong. This was because merchants from Ming Dynasty and Joseon made profit.

‘When the economy grows and people have more money in their pockets, they immediately try to change food, clothing, and shelter.’

Hyang was confident that Koreans would increasingly look for pepper.

‘If you look at it now, thanks to the flood control work, droughts and floods have decreased and crops have improved. And now that we can afford it, our projects are selling like hotcakes.’

Hyang, who was reminded of the economic situation of the Joseon people through information received from Hojo’s monopoly outlets spread across the country, made a strong decision.

‘I don’t know about other spices, but pepper should be included in the exclusive product. Otherwise, speculation will occur and prices will go crazy. Then… let’s hit it!’

After reaching a conclusion, the scent began to attack.

“30% of that price.”

“30% is ridiculous! Are you saying we shouldn’t do business?”

Mansour argued, taking a stance as if he wanted to leave immediately, but Hyang did not back down.

No, it wasn’t just that he didn’t back down, he questioned him again and again.

“How much profit did you make from the Korean products you took last time?”

“…I made a double profit.”

“Huh…”

Hyang looked at Hassan with a nonsensical expression on his face.

“Didn’t you say that your family is a family of deep-rooted merchants?”

“you’re right.”

“But you only made twice the profit? Do you really think we should continue doing business with your family?”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Hassan immediately knelt down on the floor and shouted.

“Here comes the Emperor! Please do not throw away God’s family! “Please inform me!”

“Hassan, what on earth is going on?”

When Hassan suddenly knelt down and shouted, Mansur, who was embarrassed, asked Hassan.

Hassan quickly answered Mansour’s question.

“He is thinking of cutting off business with our family! “The last time I brought it from Joseon, I only got twice as much money!”

“Why is that!”

“If it’s the product you took last time, even newbie merchants in Joseon will get more than that! Even for new merchants!”

“ah!”

Mansur sighed at Hassan’s words. What had been overlooked under the pressure of the power of the Sindhwa family became a shackle.

“Hassan, please take a seat.”

“Yes sir.”

After putting Hassan back on the chair, Hyang pressured Mansour.

Hyang took out a gold pen from his sleeve and pointed at the Ewha pattern as he continued speaking.

“Hassan may have said it, but our Joseon products, especially those with the Ewha emblem like this one, are products whose quality is guaranteed by the state.”

Hyang, who explained the value of the peach blossom pattern imprinted on a gold pen, urged Mansour.

“These products, no matter how new to the merchant, return from the Ming and Japanese countries, leaving at least four times more in print. But I was only able to leave a double mark? “What should I think about this?”

Hassan told Mansur exactly what he had said.

“Do you really want to leave that much of a mark?”

Mansur asked Hassan with an expression of disbelief. Hassan answered Mansur’s question right away.

“It’s true. In particular, the value of products from workshops belonging to the royal family is enormous. “According to rumors, there are even rumors going around that in Japan, people are willing to go to the sword to get a chance to buy items from the royal workshop.”

“Huh…”

After a long sigh, Mansour got up from his chair and knelt in front of the incense stick.

“I ask the prince for forgiveness. Please forgive my incompetence.”

After hearing Mansur’s words through Hassan, Hyang opened his mouth.

“Mansour of the Otaibi family, please stand up and take your seat.”

“yes.”

‘For now, the steam ship has been subdued! The 8th ridge has been crossed!’

The scent that overpowered Mansur’s steam began to harden.

“Even though it is 30%, it will be much more than the original cost. If you take this to Joseon’s products and sell it properly, you can reap profits several times that amount. “What do you think?”

“But 30% is too little!”

“Do you really think so? “What do you think will happen if the price becomes that low?”

When asked about the fragrance, Mansour began to break into a cold sweat. The little prince was already talking about an idea he had praised himself for, laying it on the floor.

‘scary! ‘Is this what you meant when you said, ‘Don’t look down on me just because I’m young?’

But Mansour could not accept it right away.

This was because if you start to be dragged around like in the case with the Sindhwa family, it will inevitably end in loss.

The transaction was ultimately a battle for dominance.

“Please pay 50%. “Considering the risk, it should be 50%.”

“Risk? “Couldn’t experienced merchants like you be able to prepare for natural disasters to some extent in advance?”

“It is possible to prepare for natural disasters as long as they are not in the middle of a vast ocean. But the problem is pirates.”

“Pirates…”

When Mansour mentioned pirates, the scent clouded his words.

‘Were the pirates of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean older than the pirates of the Caribbean?’

“I’ll look at it up to 40%.”

“Tsk!”

Mansour gritted his teeth at Hyang’s suggestion.

‘400 is fine, but pirates are the problem! There’s no way you’ll be as lucky as this time! What should I do… Ah!’

At that moment, an idea struck Mansour’s mind like a thunderbolt.

Mansour urgently presented a new proposal to Hyang.

“Give me the cannons used by the Joseon Navy! Then I will agree to 40%.”

“stripe!”

Hassan was startled by Mansur’s words and called Mansur.

“Ha Hoon, what did you say that made you so surprised?”

“Oh, that’s…” As

Hassan trailed off, Kim Jeom stepped forward and urged him.

“Don’t hide it, tell me right away!”

Hassan, who had been hesitant about the question of Hyang, narrowed his eyes and answered as soon as he reached the Kim branch.

“He said he would agree to 40% if I were given the artillery used by the navy!”

“Canvas?”

“It’s artillery! “Such cheeky!”

As soon as the word ‘hwapo’ came out, Kim Jeom started screaming. But Hyang flicked the abacus with a cautious face.

‘It’s artillery… Anyway, a new type of artillery with better performance was made. The problem is the butterfly effect… History has already become a mess, so should we even care about it? ‘Isn’t that too irresponsible?’

Hyang, who was thinking about various things, asked Mansour.

“Why do we need artillery?”

“The route between Joseon and Aden is infested with pirates. As I came this time, I saw pirates avoiding the Joseon Navy. I think the reason is the cannons of the Joseon Navy. So if you give me a cannon, I will accept 40%.”

“Hmm…”

In response to Mansour’s response, Hyang tapped the desk with her fingers and was lost in thought.

‘It’s not like I don’t know about artillery over there anyway. Everyone who can be used is being used….’

However, Kim Jeom was becoming more and more restless.

“My dear.”

“Please stay a moment.”

Hyang, who stopped Kim Jeom, continued his thoughts.

‘The deployment of a new type of artillery to replace the General Firearm is currently scheduled, but it is too dangerous to give away the General Firearm.’

After searching around for memories, Hyang found a suitable canvas.

‘Hmm… I think a Japanese general would be appropriate?’

With a length of approximately 2 cheok and 4 chon (74.2 cm) and a diameter of 2 chun and 1 bun 5 ri (6.7 cm), the Il Chong Tong was two-thirds the size of the Janggun Hwa Tong carried on the Panokseon. However, the artillery gun used in the Japanese guns had a range several times longer than that of an arrow, and if hit properly, it could reliably make a hole in most ships.

At that time, seeing Hyang’s thoughts getting longer, Kim Jeom persuaded Hyang with a pale face.

“Your Majesty! No artillery! “The artillery!”

“Hopan artillery is not something only Joseon possesses. I also have myungguk. “Maybe pirates have it too.”

“That’s true, but…”

Kim Jeom trailed off at Hyang’s point. As Hyang said, artillery was not just for Joseon. Myeongguk also had it, and Bukwon also had it in a small number.

Among Joseon’s neighboring countries, the Japanese country was the only one without artillery.

No, if we remember the behavior of the Japanese pirates who harassed the Ming Dynasty, we had no idea that the Japanese Empire might also have it.

Hyang continued to organize his thoughts.

‘In order for Joseon’s foreign activities to become easier in the future, more countries must know about Joseon. In order to do that, our Joseon products must spread widely from now on. Ming and Japan alone are not enough. It should spread at least to the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region.’

“Hmm….”

Hyang, who was deep in thought, looked at Mansour and opened his mouth.

“There is something to check first. Did you say that Aden is where the Otaibi family lives?”

“Yes, prince.”

“Wouldn’t the monarch who rules the Aden region be angry if the Otaibi family had artillery at their disposal?”

Mansour answered the question immediately.

“There is currently no monarch ruling in Aden. “In the past, the Abbasid dynasty ruled, but that was more than 200 years ago, and now it is a free city for merchants.”

“Hoo….”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled at Mansour’s answer.

After the Abbasid dynasty was overthrown by the Mongols in 1258, the Aden region was a free city of Muju Communism.

Of course, there was a Mamluk sultanate in Egypt, but it was unable to extend its influence as far as Aden. And the famous Ottoman Turkish Empire had not yet escaped from the Anatolian Peninsula.

After reorganizing his thoughts in response to Mansour’s answer, Hyang proposed again.

“30%. It also guarantees 5 years of exclusive dealing. Then, I will speak kindly to Abama about the artillery.”

“Please grant us a 10-year monopoly.”

The village firmly rejected Mansour’s words.

“Not for 10 years. It will be guaranteed for 5 years as standard and then negotiated every year thereafter. This is the final offer. Will you accept or reject it?”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Mansour calculated the profit and loss in his head. After thinking for a while, Mansour came to a conclusion.

“I will accept the prince’s offer.”

When Mansour accepted the offer, the fragrance stood up.

“Then I will talk to Abama. Please pray for the best. “If Abama doesn’t accept it, we’ll have to argue again.”

“yes.”

“then.”

Hyang left the room with Hassan and Kim Jeom. Mansur, the elders, and Rajab, who remained in the room, discussed the results of the negotiations.

“Isn’t 30% too much? “If it’s 30% of the original price, that means it’s only 3 times the price.”

“As I said before, the individual letters will be greatly reduced, but think about the amount. Rather, it is beneficial.”

“Wasn’t the conclusion you reached that way six times higher?”

As Rajab continued to argue, Mansour pointed out one thing he had forgotten.

“Have you forgotten? “Is it true that we can reap tens of times more profit from the Joseon products we bring?”

“That’s true, but the more profit you make from spices, the more you can buy from Joseon!”

Mansur smiled at Rajab’s words.

“If that happens, Joseon products will become cheap. Let’s look further away. Exclusivity for at least 5 years. “Monopoly means that we can extract maximum profit by adjusting the price.”

“But…”

Rajab still couldn’t hide his regret, but Mansour’s expression brightened.

“If by Allah’s blessing we can obtain cannons, we don’t have to worry about pirates. In that case, as long as we watch out for storms, three times the profit will be enough.”

In addition, if free navigation becomes possible, it can become more active than now and the public confidence of the merchants will increase, so this was a deal that could not be missed.