Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 616
Episode 616: The Beginning of the Empire – Today is like yesterday. (4)
Henry and his group returned to their lodgings after the demonstration and gathered again in the large room.
“Hmm…”
Henrik and the others looked embarrassed as they looked at the three rifles, six first-generation bullets and three second-generation bullets on the desk.
“Hmm… This is it…”
Henrik, who had no idea what to say first, just stuttered, while Giovanni continued to look at the frame of the Japanese rifle and fiddling with the first generation gunpowder.
And Mehmet II was staring at his rifle without saying a word, with his arms crossed.
Meanwhile, Giovanni looked at the first generation shell casings in more detail. The body was made of greased paper, and the bottom plate was made of copper. And the spout was tied tightly with thread.
Giovanni lightly poured tea water over the paper casing. Giovanni nodded, looking at the tea water flowing outside without seeping in.
“If it’s a moderate rain, we can ignore it and fight…”
It was a well-known fact that gunpowder weapons became useless on rainy days. However, if it was this resistant to moisture, there were quite a few choices.
Giovanni nodded, holding the first generation bullet in his hand and twisting it.
Squeak!
“What kind of paper is this…”
Giovanni cursed without realizing it as the paper was stronger than expected. He did not know that Joseon paper has been famous for its toughness since ancient times.
Anyway, Giovanni opened the paper shell and looked at the contents inside.
“The gunpowder is similar, but the difference is…”
Giovanni, examining the contents, fixed his gaze on the warhead and copper bottom plate.
“Even though it’s the warhead, I’m curious about this copper plate…”
Giovanni, examining the copper bottom plate, confirmed the presence of a detonator located in the center. Giovanni turned the copper plate over, took out a dagger, and fixed the tip of the sword to the round part located in the center of the copper plate.
“What are we going to do…”
Before Henrik could finish his words, Giovanni struck the pommel of the dagger with the scabbard.
Phew!
At that moment, a loud explosion erupted from the copper plate, and everyone around them stood up in shock.
“As expected…”
Giovanni, who was still sniffing the copper plate with a light smoke rising to his nose, nodded with an expression that he had expected.
“What on earth have you done? “Please explain!”
Giovanni immediately responded to Henry’s words.
“This is why Joseon was so confident. The substance contained within this bullet, or rather this copper plate, is the key. “This substance is what allows those Joseon rifles to fire rapidly.”
Mehmed II questioned Giovanni’s explanation.
“Why do you say ‘substance’ when you see it exploding and it looks like gunpowder?”
“It doesn’t smell like gunpowder as we know. “No, it feels slightly similar, but it’s very different.”
At Giovanni’s words, Henrik gestured to the military officer next to him. The military officer who saw Henry’s gesture approached Giovanni and politely extended his hand.
The military officer, who confirmed the smell of the copper plate handed to him by Giovanni, immediately answered Henrik.
“It certainly is.”
In response to the military officer’s answer, Henri immediately asked Giovanni.
“Can we make it?”
“It’s impossible to do it right away unless you know the recipe.”
Henrik looked embarrassed at Giovanni’s answer.
“Should I meet those walls and windows again?”
“Walls and windows?”
“Monks.”
Mehmed II shook his head at Henry’s words.
“Even if you meet, you won’t get what you want.”
“why?”
“If we had been able to get it through them, do you think the Koreans would have given it to us as a gift? What kind of people are these Joseon people? “After all that you’ve been through, what do you still not know?”
Henrik and Giovanni’s faces crumpled at Mehmet II’s criticism. This was because Kim Jeom’s face suddenly came to mind.
“This is… a dilemma.”
In the end, Henrique and Giovanni had to admit that they had been tricked.
* * *
The rifles from Florence spread knowingly or unknowingly and were being made and sold not only in Genoa but also in cities of the northern Hanseatic League.
And this was also passed down to the Mamluks through the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.
They continued to hold on to victory using a combination of riflemen and pikemen, but the bleeding was slowly increasing.
In this situation, the combination of Joseon’s long guns and freight cars was a combination that promised victory.
In particular, there was no one here who would object to the fact that it was the best combination to deal with the Mamluk and Spanish cavalry in the open deserts and plains.
* * *
In the end, they realized that they had to purchase Joseon’s automatic rifle, but the problem was Mehmet II, who was on the same boat as them.
In particular, the ‘transaction that would surprise even Joseon’, which Mehmet II had spoken of, continued to be a problem.
Considering the division of interests in Suez, they had to purchase almost the same amount as Mehmed II.
‘The problem is money.’
‘Funding is the problem. I don’t know if the regent will respond.’
As Henrique and Giovanni were worrying about their finances, a fact they had forgotten came to mind.
‘No wait? That guy isn’t the sultan yet, right? But how can you be so confident?’
‘Ottoman is powerful, but it is not rich enough for a single heir to the throne to say such a thing?’
In the end, Henry and Giovanni began to lean towards the direction that Mehmet II’s words were bluff.
“Governor Ibosio. You said, ‘It’s a deal that will surprise even Joseon.’ How much do you expect?”
“It’s a secret.”
In response to Mehmet II’s simple and clear answer, Henrik threw a fastball.
“What are you going to do about the payment issue?”
“It’s a secret. However, please keep in mind that this is not a comment thrown around randomly.”
“Huh…”
* * *
Two days later, the three visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again.
‘As expected, that old man is here too.’
‘Just looking at that old man’s face makes my blood pressure rise.’
Henrique and Giovanni had to hold back their anger as they looked at Kim Jeom, who sat at the head table with a relaxed expression and greeted them.
“Come quickly. First, let’s share a cup of tea. “The black beans from the black bean tea that came in this time are really good.”
Kim Jeom, who took the lead by offering black bean tea, leisurely emptied his cup and opened his mouth.
“So have you made your decisions?”
Mehmet II was the first to speak at Kim Jeom’s words.
“I will buy 50,000 long guns and all first-generation ammunition provided by Joseon. And I will buy 100 freight cars, 1 million rounds of second-generation ammunition, 100 shotguns, and 10,000 shells.”
“omg!”
“Huh!”
Henrik and Giovanni were frightened by Mehmet II’s spell. Either way, Mehmed II continued.
“ah! “If they offer additional long guns, I will buy those too.”
“Huh~.”
Kim Jeom of the world also looked slightly surprised at Mehmet II’s proposal.
“Hmm…”
Kim Jeom put down his teacup and thought for a moment before asking Mehmet II.
“The purchase price will be enormous for such a huge quantity. How will you pay for it?”
“I will pay you over ten years after I become sultan.”
“her!”
Henrik and Giovanni looked astonished at Mehmet II’s answer.
Like the two people, Kim Jeom also asked with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Are you suggesting that such a large transaction, especially between countries, be done on credit?”
In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, Mehmet II responded with a more confident expression.
“I think it’s possible because it’s such a big deal and it’s between the country and me.”
“Do you think that your country will engage in foreign trade? “Without any guarantee?”
As he spoke, Kim Jeom looked at Henrik and Giovanni. Henry and Giovanni, who saw Kim Jeom’s expression, stepped forward and stopped Mehmet II.
“viceroy! “This is not the place to be arrogant!”
“Let’s think a little more calmly!”
However, Mehmet II continued talking without even listening to the two men’s persuasion.
“Of course, I am not saying that we should do credit transactions unconditionally. “I’ll put up collateral.”
“guarantee?”
“I will pledge Ottoman shares in the Suez region.”
Henrik and Giovanni’s faces hardened at Mehmed II’s words.
‘interest! ‘I took a gamble!’
‘It’s not just a gamble aimed at Suez, it’s a gamble aimed at the entire Ottoman Empire!’
“Hmm…”
At Mehmet II’s suggestion, Kim Jeom was lost in thought with a serious expression on his face. At that time, Heo Hu, who was sitting next to him, argued with Mehmet II on behalf of Kim Jeom.
“As far as we know, when your monarch dies, the winner of the competition among successors will become the next monarch. “If the Duke loses the competition, won’t all the promises made between the Duke and our country be in vain?”
Mehmet II responded to Hu Hu’s point with a smile.
“If you’re afraid of that, why don’t you just sell me more?”
Kim Jeom, who had been silent about Mehmet II’s answer, came to a conclusion.
“It’s a very interesting proposal. However, I think this requires His Majesty’s approval. Therefore, I cannot make a decision right now, but I will give you another message later.”
“I hope that the Emperor will make a wise decision.”
When the consultation was over and Henry and his group left, Kim burst into laughter.
“Heh! It’s been a while since I had a shot! By the way, if you do this well, you can make things go in the direction your Majesty wants.”
Heo Hu also nodded at Kim Jeom’s words.
After hearing the story, ‘Let’s dig a waterway to Suez,’ Hyang suggested it to King Sejong and the ministers.
“How about taking a chance on what they are doing?”
* * *
Two days later, Henry and his party sat down with Kim Jeom again at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Has Your Majesty reached a conclusion?”
Kim Jeom nodded to Mehmet II’s question.
“exactly. So, I would like to make a suggestion to you.”
“proposal?”
Henrique and Giovanni’s ears perked up at the word ‘proposal’. With the attention of the three people focused, Kim Jeom delivered the suggestion made by the scent.
“Your Majesty ordered me to convey this proposal.”
– Portugal, Florence, Ottoman, and the Korean Federal Empire join together to form a company.
– The company formed by a joint venture between four countries exercises full authority not only to build the Suez waterway, but also to manage the waterway and auxiliary facilities and collect tolls.
– Since the joint venture exercises full authority independently, the four countries do not exert any influence on the company other than profit distribution according to their shares.
– If the above proposal is agreed to, the Empire will supply the necessary quantity of weapons needed by the Ottomans in Florence, Portugal.
– In addition, the Empire supplies materials and construction equipment needed for future waterway construction in the Suez region.
– The price of the weapons is to be paid three years after the Suez area is completely secured, but the Empire calculates it as half the price and receives it in kind, such as gold or silver, or as shares in a joint venture.
“How do you feel?”
The faces of the three people who heard Hyang’s proposal through Kim Jeom were full of greed.
‘You can buy as many weapons with overwhelming performance as you want? And at half the price?’
‘The price will not be paid immediately, but three years later after complete control of Suez!’
However, Giovanni desperately maintained his senses and asked Kim Jeom.
“It’s a good offer, but how much share does Chosun want in the joint venture?”
“40%.”
“what!”