Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 353

Episode 353: Battle of the Strait of Gibraltar (2)

While they were glaring at each other and growling, a rumor about a new ship being built by Portugal reached Genoa.

“Build a new type of ship?”

When asked by the governor who received the report, the person in charge immediately gave an explanation.

“yes. “It appears to be an improved version of Karak, but its overall size is a bit larger.”

“how much?”

“The length is about 20 cubits (about 9 m) and the deck height has been increased by about 3 cubits (about 1.35 m). And it appears to be equipped with about 14 artillery pieces.”

“Hmm…”

After receiving the report, the Governor of Genoa had a serious look on his face.

* * *

Increasing the size of the ship was advantageous in many ways. Immediately, the cargo load increased and more crew members could be taken on board.

In particular, for sailing ships without oarsmen, such as carracks and caravels, the number of crew members was the number of combatants. In addition, the fact that the size of the ship was increasing meant that the combat power of the ship itself was increasing.

Although it was somewhat common for cannons to be loaded on ships, most battles still involved close combat with ships close together.

In this situation, it was a huge advantage for the opponent to occupy a higher position.

* * *

The Genoese governor, who was well aware of this through the tiresome maritime dispute with Venice, asked the question again.

“Can I obtain the blueprints or artisans?”

“The surveillance has become more severe since the last craftsmen were taken out. It is said that the blueprints are also stored in the most strictly controlled safe.”

“Oh my…”

The Genoese governor seemed to not like the answer and licked his lips. The Genoese governor, who had been thinking for a while, leaning against the back of his chair, soon came to a conclusion.

“Contact Madrid and Valencia. The priority is to see if Valencia’s craftsmen can create a similar boat. “After checking, I have to think about the next move.”

“All right.”

Ten days later, officials from Genoa and Spain met in Madrid.

After a brief exchange of greetings, the people on both sides of the table got straight to the point.

“Have you seen the report on Portugal’s new ships?”

A Genoese official immediately answered the Spanish official’s question.

“Yes, I confirmed. “It wasn’t good news.”

“That’s right. If we do something wrong, Portugal could monopolize the West African route.”

“That’s not the problem. So, have you checked with the artisans in Valencia?”

In response to the Genoese official’s question, the Spanish official presented a thick report.

“To conclude, ‘It is possible. But it is not possible in the short term.’ no see.”

“’It’s impossible in the short term.’ is it?”

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s true.”

“It’s a shame.”

The Genoese officials could not hide their disappointment at the Spanish officials’ response.

Spanish officials added comments to the Genoese officials.

“The direction of enlarging the hull was something that was being studied before coming to Valencia, so it is said that the time can be shortened. The only problem is the time consumed through trial and error. So… can you send more craftsmen from the Genoa shipyards?”

This time, Genoese officials looked perplexed at the Spanish officials’ request.

“It is difficult to dispatch additional ships because we need to continue to build battle ships to deal with Venice.”

This time, Spanish officials could not hide their disappointment in response to the Genoese officials.

“That’s a shame.”

* * *

Time was passing by in a situation where there was no easy answer.

“ah!”

A Spanish official, who was thinking about something else for a moment in the awkward situation, suddenly let out an exclamation and everyone’s attention focused on him.

“Do you have any good ideas?”

In response to the question from the Genoese official, the official in question cautiously opened his mouth.

“Well… how about bringing some craftsmen from France?”

“In France?”

“Isn’t France also good at making ships?”

“Hmm….”

‘Let’s recruit French craftsmen.’ After hearing the proposal, the Genoese and Spanish officials all looked serious and began to calculate their profits and losses.

The officials, who had been evaluating their profits and losses for a long time, soon opened their mouths.

“I think it’ll be okay.”

“That’s right. “I think that’s a pretty good opinion.”

While favorable responses were pouring in, a Genoese official raised a counterargument.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“danger?”

“yes. Although it has been greatly weakened due to nearly 100 years of war with England, France is a large country. “If we do something wrong, we can create a strong competitor with our own hands.”

“Ah…”

“I see. If you think about it the other way around, being able to wage a war for nearly 100 years is something that cannot be done without the support of national power…”

In the end. The ‘recruitment of French craftsmen’ was returned as a blank.

“In the end, we have no choice but to go in the direction of reducing trial and error as much as possible.”

“We have no choice but to thoroughly utilize the ships that have emerged through trial and error.”

“That’s the only answer.”

In the end, I had no choice but to choose the most theoretical method.

* * *

In this way, a naval competition arose between the Portugal-Venice-Florence alliance and the Spain-Genoa alliance.

In the Venetian shipyards of Sagres and Valencia, craftsmen and designers had to rack their brains to build even bigger ships.

In this process, an unexpected butterfly effect occurred.

“It is difficult to properly build a new ship based on past experience alone. “We need help.”

“Assistance? “Please explain in more detail.”

In response to requests from designers and craftsmen, superiors requested more detailed explanations. Craftsmen and designers answered that request in detail.

“Newly designed and built ships now must jump several steps at once. This process cannot be solved simply through experience. As a simple example, things such as the thickness and spacing of the ribs attached to the keel must be newly calculated. We need mathematicians who are good at calculations.”

“He’s a mathematician…”

The superiors looked embarrassed and blurted out their words at the request of the craftsmen and planners.

Finding mathematicians was not the problem; the mathematicians themselves were the problem. Most famous mathematicians were in conflict with the Vatican.

Last year, a significant number of monks had to leave for Joseon, and even now, there are more than a few who have packed up their family assets and are quietly moving toward Alexandria.

After thinking for a long time, the superior took a long sigh and came to a conclusion.

“Whoa~. “Political issues should be left to politicians.”

“Do we need mathematicians?”

“That’s right. The reason is….”

The kings of Spain and the governor of Genoa, who received the report, put their heads together and fell into trouble.

This was because if you make a wrong decision, you could end up in trouble with the Pope.

In particular, it was a matter of serious political burden for the kings of Spain – the king of Castile and the king of Aragon.

If one were to quarrel with the Pope, one would have to concede a lot to the nobles. No, there was a significant possibility that a second or third Portugal would emerge.

Eventually, the kings of Spain handed the ball over to the governor of Genoa. The governor of Genoa, who took over the ball, made a decision after much deliberation.

“Use it! “I can’t help it!”

The Doge of Genoa was permitted to recruit mathematicians in exchange for modest gifts from the Pope.

-It is necessary to build a safe ship, so it does not violate the doctrine.

The governor of Genoa, who received the document containing the Pope’s edict, muttered with a bitter smile.

“How much did it cost to get this piece of paper?”

Of course, Portugal, who heard the rumor, also paid a bribe to the Pope and obtained the same edict.

In this way, a considerable number of scholars flowed to Venice, Florence, and Genoa, which were religiously safer than Spain.

Mathematicians, who were in charge of researching the formulas needed for design and calculating answers according to the formulas, conducted their own research while working.

Thanks to this, the Renaissance began more quickly than in history before the intervention of incense.

* * *

As the naval competition between the two powers progressed, one or two experimental ships began to be launched steadily.

The ships that were launched were put into actual combat immediately after a brief test voyage.

“You can only tell if a new ship is built properly by actually moving it!”

“Verify through actual sailing!”

That’s what they said, but the intentions of the high-ranking people were simple.

‘How much money was spent!’

* * *

The fact that the ships launched in this way continued to be put into voyage meant that more and more ships were going back and forth on the route.

Of course, after passing Cape Bojador, the number of ships decreased significantly, but to the north, many ships passed each other, waving large flags with the Spanish and Portuguese emblems engraved on them.

Although the sea is a wide, safe space, the route was a limited area. Because of this, although it was a long distance on land, at sea they often passed each other at a distance that was just a stone’s throw away.

As we encountered each other more frequently, the atmosphere began to become increasingly unsightly.

As I mentioned before, Portugal and Spain had been in a state of bitter resentment since the founding of Portugal, and after Spain’s expansion into Africa began in earnest, their relationship became even worse due to the issue of ports of call.

Therefore, when the captains of both sides discovered the other country’s ships, they tried to increase the distance between them as much as possible.

It was because I didn’t want to see blood for no reason.

However, due to unavoidable circumstances, when they passed in close proximity, harsh swear words were exchanged between the sailors on both ships.

But the situation worsened at an increasingly rapid pace.

The main culprit that triggered the worsening situation was the African continent.

The ships exploring the west coast of Africa had two main missions.

One was to find a detour to India and Joseon, and the other was to trade with local Africans, mainly Arab chieftains and kings.

They handed over various goods produced in Europe – tableware, weapons and other luxury items – and received various underground resources and slaves in return, which was a good business.

However, as Spain followed Portugal, demand increased despite limited supply.

* * *

The atmosphere on the ‘Vendaval Gale’ returning to Ceuta was gloomy.

This was because no significant results were achieved in this trade.

They loaded the ship with weapons, cloth and other luxury goods and went down, but the Spaniards had already completed the transaction and returned.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it because I had urgent work to do. Let’s make sure to get a good deal next time. “I’m so sorry.”

Toho, an Arab who broke the deal, repeatedly said he was sorry with a not sorry face.

In the end, the Vendavalle had to return home, promising the next time.

If that didn’t work, they could have landed in a nearby unexplored area and searched for native tribes to attack them, but there was no place nearby where that was possible.

They were completely annihilated by Toho, who wanted slaves, by Portugal, and by Spain.

In the end, they had to advance deeper inland, but it was impossible for the Vendavall’s crew alone.

* * *

“Holy shit! “There are a lot of traumas that have been laid down!”

“I know yeah!”

“It’s scary to even think about ripping off my wife!”

The crew of the Vendavall complained with gloomy faces.

It has been customary to go on a voyage and receive a considerable bonus in addition to salary upon return. Lately, I’ve heard from many fellow sailors who missed their bonuses, but they were brushing it off as someone else’s problem.

But that misfortune struck them.

Ding ding ding!

While he was lamenting, the sailor who was watching the sea from the watchtower quickly rang the bell.

“There are ships ahead!”

In the distance, a transport ship was heading north, waving the Spanish emblem.