Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 506
Episode 506 Roses have thorns. (4)
After sending Lee Cheon out, Hyang organized the situation once again.
“The biggest problem will be that we cannot make the right spring. Because of that spring problem, wheel locks are considered to have been made before flintlocks.”
In a situation where there was a lack of ability to make steel that could maintain proper elasticity even when made small and thin, the wheel lock (cogwheel type) was developed to solve the problem of Hwaseung. And as expected, due to the still insufficient quality of materials and structural defects, wheellock muskets and archebusses could not be reduced in size.
“Hmm… Even if the price is an obstacle, looking at the current situation in Europe and other places, musketeers are a special force that is maintained only in small numbers. And most of those musketeers are held by key figures in power to ensure their own safety, so why did the ‘Three Musketeers’ come out?”
Even though the price was high, it was still a carefree scent.
Hyang, who came to that conclusion and was about to check other documents, suddenly stopped and looked at the map.
“Now that I think about it… there was a story that the person who came up with the concept of the wheel lock was Leonardo da Vinci… Is Leonardo da Vinci a person now?”
* * *
After the monks from Italy settled down in the institute, Hyang called them together.
“The reason I’ve called you all together today is to find out if there are any inconveniences in your life.”
On the surface, the purpose was to ‘provide convenience to those who settled in research institutes in Joseon’, but in reality, it was to find out about the situation, technology, and cultural information in Italy, currently the most important region in Europe, through them.
“I am very curious because the culture of Joseon is very different from the place where you lived. “Are there any famous painters or craftsmen?”
“yes. First of all, who is the most famous…”
When asked about the fragrance, the monks mentioned the names of many people, but Leonardo da Vinci’s name had not yet appeared.
* * *
Hyang, who was quietly reminiscing, shook his head slightly.
“The monks from Italy said they didn’t know, so that means they were either not born yet or unknown…”
Hyang, who was slightly worried, made up his mind.
“If Leonardo da Vinci appears while I’m alive, I’ll have to bring him right away. It would be fun to drag it and roll it around in Area 51. There will be a higher probability that we will not be able to see the ‘Mona Lisa’, but…”
Despite making a decision that would cause great damage to world art history, Hyang remained calm and calm.
“What should I know? And I don’t think the Mona Lisa is beautiful?”
* * *
Pedro’s reaction was similar to what Lee Cheon had worried about.
After sending the craftsmen away, Pedro gathered Henrik and his associates and continued the meeting.
“For this reason, it is said to be impossible to replicate a Joseon-made Arquebus, but it is still too expensive. It is certain that what Joseon sold to the captains was probably meant to encourage us to buy it. Should I really buy it?”
In response to Pedro’s question, the finance managers all expressed their opposition.
“It’s too expensive!”
“Even if the performance is good, an Arcebus is an Arcebus. “It’s a waste.”
All of the financiers expressed their opposition, but the commanders of Duke Pedro’s private army did the opposite.
“There is no need to talk twice about the power of the musket compared to Archebus’ size. “You have to buy it right away!”
“you’re right. “If you combine the two classes into one, supply will be easier!”
“More than anything, please consider that overwhelming range. If a battle breaks out, you can fire bullets from a greater distance than the enemy, giving your allies an easier victory!”
“Even if just one Hwaseong is lost, there will be a lot of unnecessary loss of life! “The financial benefits it brings can more than offset the high price!”
But financial officials continued to insist against it.
“Even if you could defeat the enemy from a greater distance, how many more people would you be able to defeat?”
“The problem of being a painter can be solved with more rigorous training!”
The two sides engaged in a tense confrontation without backing down.
In the end, Pedro let out a long sigh and waved his hand.
“Let’s all go out. “I will consider it and then come to a conclusion.”
At Pedro’s words, everyone left the conference room, leaving only Henrik and the duke’s guard captain.
With only the three of them left, Pedro let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. “This is a difficult problem.”
“Still, the war is just around the corner, so wouldn’t we need stronger weapons?”
Pedro responded to Henrique’s words with a frown on his face.
“But it’s still too expensive. As someone said earlier, no matter how good the performance is, isn’t an Arcebus still an Arcebus? “For the same amount of money, wouldn’t it be beneficial to buy at least one more arquebus or musket and arm them?”
“But…”
“It is an immutable truth that both the quality and quantity of weapons are important in war. “But if you had to choose between the two, wouldn’t it be better to choose the sheep?”
Henrik, who realized that Pedro had already made up his mind, kept his mouth shut.
However, the guard captain, who had been silent throughout the meeting, opened his mouth.
“Your Excellency is right in war. However, in civil wars where large numbers of troops cannot be mobilized, better weapons are needed.”
“civil war?”
“civil war?”
When the guard captain mentioned ‘civil war’, Pedro and Henrique’s heads turned at the same time.
“Have I heard any information that I don’t know? “Why didn’t I get any information?”
Pedro’s voice as he asked the question was cold and stiff.
Despite Pedro’s sharp reaction, the guard responded with a calm face.
“It was information that came from a different source than the one you know, so a brief verification process was necessary.”
“okay. “Where did it come from?”
“This came from a palace worker cleaning the palace.”
“I see…”
Pedro nodded slightly at the guard captain’s words. The line that Pedro recruited were also people who worked in the palace, but held high positions.
‘They are sensitive to the flow of power. And they are also sensitive to their own ransom. There is a high possibility that important information was omitted and passed over. Or sell it to Braganza.’
“okay. “What information did you receive through that palace official?”
“It is said that the Duke of Braganza and the King are secretly meeting each other on the rise these days.”
“Him!”
Pedro gritted his teeth at the guard captain’s words.
His half-brother, Afonso, Duke of Braganza, was establishing himself as the core of the aristocratic faction and pushing himself further and further. On the contrary, Pedro’s position was becoming increasingly narrow.
The biggest reason for the change in circumstances was that the end of Pedro’s regency was approaching.
Pedro’s regency lasted at most four years.
Of course, Pedro was also using various measures to protect his power.
One of those ways was that his daughter’s marriage to King Apunsu V was scheduled for next year. And another way was a secret agreement with Osman Cosimo de’ Medici.
However, even if he made his daughter queen, it would have been in vain if Apunsu V fell in love with his concubine… The Duke of Braganza would have been capable of doing such a thing.
And in the case of the secret pact with Osman Cosimo de’ Medici, if the timing was wrong, the results of the pact could have been taken over by a human being.
‘In the worst case scenario, you must be prepared to start a civil war against your nephew. In that case, we are definitely inferior in terms of troops…’
Pedro, who was analyzing the situation with a serious face, looked back at Henrik.
“Little brother, I have supported you in everything during this time. “Will you swear to be with me?”
Henrik’s face turned white at Pedro’s question.
“older brother! The King is your brother’s nephew! Are you going to have a bone-and-mortar fight?”
“If the king does not abandon me, I will not abandon the king. But if he abandons me, I will abandon him. What will you do when that time comes?”
“That…”
“What are you going to do?”
Pedro urged the decision, but Henrik could not easily open his mouth.
‘If you do something wrong, you become a traitor. But if the Duke of Braganza, that lowly son of a bitch, takes power, all my efforts will be in vain.’
The problem was that whichever side you chose was not the best for you, but the problem was also that you could not comfortably choose neutrality.
After thinking for a long time, Henric eventually had to make a choice.
“I will be with you, brother.”
“thanks!”
Pedro patted Henrik’s shoulder with a happy face and looked at the guard captain.
“Among your subordinates. “Is there anyone you can trust without selling your face too much?”
“There are a few people.”
“Choose only three of them and have them accompany the Duke of Viseu.”
“yes.”
Pedro, who gave the order to the guard captain, looked back at Henrik.
“I will give you funds from my treasury. Do your best to persuade Joseon and obtain as much quantity as possible. However, it must not be known to anyone. “If you make it happen, I will give you a quarter as well.”
Henrik immediately nodded at Pedro’s suggestion.
“I will do my best!”
* * *
The night he made the decision that would risk his life, Pedro sat alone in his office and looked out the window.
“It’s stuffy…”
Pedro, unable to overcome the stuffiness, loosened his collar. Nevertheless, Pedro, unable to overcome his frustration, grabbed the spring handle of the Korean-made fan placed on one side of the desk.
Fields.
As the mainspring was released, the fan began to blow wind.
Pedro, who had been staring blankly at the fan, got up from his seat and walked to the column gun that was placed on one side.
Pedro, who was holding a column gun in his hand, muttered bitterly when he saw the emblem embossed clearly on the percussion part.
“They say roses have thorns, right? “This flower is not a rose, but it has formidable thorns hidden behind it.”
Pedro put down his rifle and let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. This means that it is not a country that only knows how to make strange things, but a truly strong country. And maybe he’s trying to prove it through us. Haha~.”
It was Pedro who let out a long sigh again.
“I don’t know who on earth plans and executes these plans, but they are definitely not good people.”
As Pedro was muttering like that, in Hanseong, a scent was filling his ears.
“Why are my ears itching so much? “Who is criticizing me?”
The four people who heard Hyang mumbling to themselves muttered to themselves at the same time.
‘Would it be one or two?’
“what? “What are those expressions on your faces?”
The four people, who were startled by Hyang’s question, hurriedly adjusted their expressions.
“yes? “Nothing!”
* * *
While Hyang was busy moving around in Hanseong to prove that ‘Military contributions make money!’, there was also busy moving around in Shinji.
Native tribe near Daehogun.
“The Thunder Rod tribe is noisy?”
“It’s not the Thunder Rod tribe, it’s Joseon.”
Despite his colleague’s point, the native who first asked the question showed a sour expression.
“What do you do to differentiate between those? All you need to know is that they are a pain in the ass if you touch them. By the way, why is it so loud?”
“The king of Joseon is coming.”
“What is a king?”
“Big chief.”
“Hoo?”
Sejong, who had finally settled the situation at the beachhead, began to move toward full-scale development of the new land.