Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 303

Episode 303: Heavenly Kingdom. (4)

In addition to the chandelier, there were several other gifts brought from Joseon. It was crystal products and ginseng similar to those presented to the governor.

“Ginseng! “I heard from Kitai merchants that oriental ginseng is a great medicine!”

When Shah responded well, Hyunsoo Park smiled and bowed his head.

“I’m so glad that the Shah likes it.”

“But…”

Shah’s face turned serious, as if he had never liked her before.

“Did you say that the official name of the ‘Land of Flowers’ is Joseon?”

“That’s right.”

“And Joseon said it wanted trade, right?”

“That’s right.”

In response to Hyunsoo Park’s answer, Shah asked with a serious face.

“Trade means exchanging each other’s products. It’s embarrassing to say this, but my country has nothing like these products made by Joseon. Doesn’t that mean that you will come and sell things and take only our wealth? ruler! Be honest! “Does Joseon want honest trade or extortion?”

* * *

Jalal Luddin Muhammad Shah, who currently rules the Sultanate of Bengal, was a man who was very quick to make judgments.

Shah’s father, Rajya Ganesha, was a traditional Indian nobleman and a Hindu. However, Jalal Ludin converted to Islam and secured the country’s safety and power. Thanks to this, he had to be kicked out of the throne by his father once and converted back to Hinduism.

Thanks to this, he returned to the throne and showed tolerance towards Hindus and Buddhists. However, over time, to prove that he was a faithful Muslim, he converted his Hindu subjects to Islam and supported the construction of Islamic educational institutions called madrassas in Mecca and Medina. (Note 1

) Through this, he was evaluated as a ‘true Muslim’ and at the same time was able to maintain friendly relations with surrounding Islamic countries and protect the country from the pressure of the Delhi Sultanate.

Because he had walked such a tightrope to protect his country, he was able to see the dangers that trade with Joseon would bring.

* * *

Park Hyeong-seok still smiled and answered Shah’s direct question.

“North Korea likes to share with its neighbors, but does not like to take from it unilaterally.”

“Everyone says that.”

“The Shah said, ‘There is not much that comes from this land.’ So how could there not be something that is beneficial to both sides?”

“Hmm…”

When Shah still looked suspicious, Park Hyeong-seok continued speaking.

“And as I said before, we in Joseon like to share with our neighbors, but we do not make it easy for our neighbors.”

“huh?”

Shah’s eyes lit up at Park Hyung-seok’s words.

‘There is some hidden meaning!’

Shah, who was quietly considering Park Hyeong-seok’s words, asked back with a grin.

“We’re probably the only neighbors here in India, right?”

“Joseon does not create neighbors carelessly.”

“ha ha ha!”

Shah burst into laughter at Park Hyeong-seok’s answer.

What Park Hyeong-seok said now was that the only place in the Indian subcontinent where Joseon products came was the Bengal Sultanate, which he ruled.

In other words, they could make enormous profits by relaying Joseon’s goods to neighboring countries.

Finally, Shah came to a conclusion.

“good night! “I will become a friendly neighbor to Joseon!”

“Thank you! Joseon will be a good neighbor to the Shah!”

Park Hyung-seok was responding to Shah’s words, but he added something else in his mind.

‘As long as your reign goes well.’

According to Masur’s explanation heard in Hanseong, the situation in India was literally like the Spring and Autumn War.

Countries ruled by traditional Hindu nobles and countries ruled by Muslims continued to merge and rise and fall.

It was also common for countries to collapse upon the death of the monarch who declared their founding.

These countries have not left their names properly in history.

* * *

“The envoy said, ‘How can there not be something that is beneficial to both sides? “What is Joseon trying to save?”

Park Hyeong-seok answered Shah’s question right away.

“It comes with medicinal ingredients, spices, and salt vinegar.”

“Medicine?”

“Some of the medicinal herbs used by our Korean doctors come from here.”

“Hmm… Spices are welcome everywhere, so let’s move on. What is salt vinegar?”

In response to the Shah’s question, Mansour immediately gave further explanation. After hearing Mansour’s explanation, the Shah nodded as if he understood.

“Saltstone is definitely needed to make gunpowder. Does Joseon have no foundation?”

“I’m sorry, but I want to get as much as possible at a low price.”

“Hmm…”

Shah, who was pondering Park Hyeong-seok’s words, gestured to the official next to him.

The official who saw the gesture approached immediately and the Shah asked something in a low voice.

The official who received the Shah’s question took a moment to remember and then answered in a low voice.

After hearing the official’s answer, Shah thought for a moment and spoke to Park Hyeong-seok.

“100 monds plus 1 silver mond.”

Hearing the Shah’s words, Park Hyeong-seok turned to Mansour.

“Is mond the unit of weight here? “How much is it if you convert it to a root?”

“If converted to Chinese units, 1 mond is approximately 10 pipes (37.5 kg). 100 monde is about 1,000 pipes (about 3.75 tons).”

“1000 crowns of saltpeter and 10 crowns of silver (990 nyang)…”

Park Hyeong-seok, who had been counting for a moment, looked at Jang Gwang-seok standing next to him and walked up to him and asked a small question.

“How much gunpowder does the military need?”

“More is better.”

“At a minimum.”

“At least each spirit and jin should have 10,000 geun (about 6 tons). Only then can you train with peace of mind and prepare for war. “Currently, our navy, which is known for using a lot of gunpowder, only has 2,000 geun (approximately 1.2 tons) per vessel.”

“How much saltpeter is in gunpowder?”

“It varies depending on the type, but in the case of the most commonly used type of gunpowder, it is a little over 80%.”

In the case of Eul-style gunpowder developed by Hyang, the proportion of saltpeter increased relatively as sulfur was removed.

When the sulfur was removed, the amount of smoke was reduced and it could be stored more safely, but it had the disadvantage of increasing the flash point as the sulfur, which is a catalyst that lowers the flash point, was removed. (Note 2) However, this problem was solved by using Noehong for incense.

After listening to Jang Gwang-seok’s explanation, Park Hyeong-seok did some calculations.

Nowadays, in Joseon, various lawsuits and appeals were constantly being filed due to the issue of first battle.

It was the main problem of manure that was sprinkled in the beginning.

Human and livestock waste was an important raw material for making chojeon, but it was also an important raw material for making manure.

990 nyang of silver for 1,000 crowns of saltpeter was by no means a small amount of money, but compared to the lawsuits that still take place in Joseon and the time and financial losses suffered as a result, it was a long business.

‘The Shah must have paid more, but even taking that into account, it’s still a profitable business.’

After coming to a conclusion, Park Hyeong-seok immediately answered Shah.

“I will buy it for that amount.”

Shah was pleased with Park Hyung-seok’s answer. The price he asked was 20% more than the price he had been selling it for around the world, including Melaka. However, the Joseon envoy accepted the amount.

However, the Joseon envoy was not easy.

“However, I will only accept it if you make a written agreement stating that you will maintain the unit price in the future.”

“I swear to Allah that I will keep my promise.”

“There is an old saying in Joseon: ‘Words that come out of one’s mouth disappear with the wind, but words that remain in writing last a lifetime.’ “I said so.”

The Shah licked his lips and responded to the Joseon envoy’s firm reply.

“Okay, I’ll write it down. So how much will you buy?”

“With the proceeds from selling the goods here, we will buy enough to put on the ship.”

“I understand. Well, let’s write it down tomorrow and enjoy the banquet today. “We have a big guest, so we should throw a banquet.”

After enjoying the banquet given by the Shah, Park Hyeong-seok and his party rested at the lodgings provided by the Shah.

Jang Gwang-seok, who was writing a report to be submitted later when he returned to Joseon, let out a long sigh.

“Even if my child dies, I will not make him a civil servant…”

Jang Gwang-seok made a firm decision as he watched Park Hyeong-seok turn this way and that while talking.

* * *

After completing the drafting of the agreement, Park Hyeong-seok and his party retraced the way they came and returned to Kolkata.

The group returned to the port near Kolkata and settled the situation.

“Then, Invincible Tiger and Maeng Jinho will return to Chittagong, and the challenger will go to Aden.”

“Are you okay with being a challenger?”

Oh Ha-seok confidently answered Gangnam-gil’s question.

“It’s okay.”

“Then let’s do it. “Now that we have the cornerstone, it would be best to return as quickly as possible.”

Following Oh Ha-seok’s assurances, the group quickly decided on the next route.

The group stayed one more day and left the port as soon as daybreak.

The boats that went out to sea along the river split off to their respective destinations.

“Goodbye!”

“Pray for good fortune!”

“Be careful!”

“See you in Joseon!”

The captains and sailors waved to each other and prayed loudly for each other’s safety.

* * *

After leaving the Bay of Bengal, Mansour’s fleet and the Challenger sailed diligently toward Aden.

It was a voyage over a sea route of about 14,000 ri (approximately 5,700 km), but fortunately, thanks to good weather, the fleet arrived in Aden safely.

Even in the port of Aden, the Challenger became a spectacle for people to see.

This was because it was the first time I had seen a ship as large as the Challenger since the ships of the Purification Fleet that had previously stopped by.

What caught people’s attention was the all-gray hull and sails of the Challenger.

The people of the Azram family and other families who saw the gray hull and sails stroked their chins and muttered.

“If you paint it like that, it’s hard to see from afar. “Why don’t we paint it like that too?”

“That too, but the ship looks very big and strong. “If the price is right, why not consider purchasing it?”

Thanks to my experience traveling up and down the country by boat for a long time, I became greedy as soon as I saw the challenger.

Mansour’s experiences told to the heads of the families allied with him ignited the desire to purchase.

“Do you really want to buy it?”

However, their desire to buy was extinguished by Mansour’s next words.

“The price of the boat alone is 100,000 taels of gold. Just the price of the ship, excluding the guns. And the repair fee is separate…”

“Damn it…”

* * *

The fleet, which rested for five days in Aden, raised anchor again.

The fleet’s destination was Suez, located at the end of the Red Sea.

Their final journey was to travel by land from Suez to Alexandria.

On its voyage through the Red Sea, the fleet was once again attacked by pirates.

This was because the Challenger stimulated their greed.

“Customers came because they were the first to enter this neighborhood! Guys! “Treat me well!”

“yes!”

The sailors who received orders from Oh Ha-seok treated the gathered pirates well.

The pirates, hit by shells and bullets filled with sincerity, sank into the Red Sea along with their ship.

None of the other pirates who saw this naval battle between Djibouti and Eritrea touched the fleet.

No, I couldn’t touch it.

* * *

The fleet arrived at Suez and docked the ship and unloaded the cargo.

As the troops who would escort the cargo to Alexandria were armed and disembarked, Oh Ha-seok turned to the manager.

“Please take good care of the boat.”

“Please don’t worry. “I will protect you tightly.”

“I only trust you.”

“Have a nice trip.”

The group, loaded with cargo on camels and horses arranged by Mansur, began their journey toward Alexandria.

(Note 1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalaluddin_Muhammad_Shah

(Note 2)

http://usmsori.com/agora24/42501