Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 691

Episode 691: Rip-off (2)

After receiving the newly prepared quotation, Kim Jong-seo immediately returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace and submitted it to Hyang.

“I have prepared a new estimate.”

“Did it go well?”

“It looks good.”

Kim Jong-seo answered confidently and submitted the newly prepared estimate to Hyang.

After receiving the quote, Hyang looked at the numbers and lightly tasted it.

“It looks better than last time… but I still feel like it’s a little lacking.”

Kim Jong-seo’s eyes lit up and he asked back at Hyang’s point.

“Where would you like me to raise it?”

The ministers listening to Hyang and Kim Jong-seo’s answers next to them muttered to themselves with expressions of incomprehensibility.

‘A quote?’

‘Isn’t it right that an estimate should be written based on accurate data without any deception?’

While the ministers were muttering to themselves, Kim Jeom came forward and reported to Hyang.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor, may I take a look at Sosin?”

“Of course you should see it. No, that would have been the correct order, but Jim made a mistake. “This is truly regrettable.”

“No! Please don’t mind!”

Kim Jeom, who responded with an expression of disbelief at Hyang’s apology, accepted the quotation in question.

“Hmm…”

Kim Jeom, who was looking at the numbers on the quotation, immediately nodded.

“I definitely feel like it’s a bit lacking. “How about adding one or two more zeros at the end?”

Kim Jong-seo immediately added to Kim Jeom’s suggestion.

“I think two would be too much, but I think adding one would look better.”

“I think it would be nice to see Sosin as well.”

Hyang nodded with a bright face at the words of Kim Jong-seo and Kim Jeom.

“Is that so? “I think it will be really nice to see.”

The ministers who heard Hyang’s answer fell into even more confusion.

‘It’s an estimate?’

‘Since when did you start looking at aesthetics when making estimates?’

In the end, Minister of Foreign Affairs He Hu stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I am extremely humbled, but would you mind if I take a look at the estimate?”

“Please.”

Heo Hu, who was looking at the quotation in charge of obtaining permission from the village, asked Kim Jong-seo.

“How much was the original estimate?”

“Well… um…”

Kim Jong-seo, who had been remembering for a moment, told her about the numbers written in the original estimate. Heo Hu, who was comparing that number with the number written on the quotation, looked amazed and made a noise without realizing it.

“It opened almost twice as much as the original estimate, but you’re adding one more zero to it? And the unit of amount is silver? “Do you think this makes sense?”

Kim Jong-seo responded to Heo Hu’s words with an expression that asked what was the problem.

“If you do that, doesn’t that give you nine digits? People also say to be careful of the number nine, but is it any different if it’s an estimate? “Wouldn’t it be nice to fill ten seats if possible?”

Heo Hu looked dumbfounded at Kim Jong-seo’s words, but immediately bowed his head to Hyang and apologized.

“your majesty! This will cause major diplomatic problems! “No country will respond to such a huge amount.”

The ministers who learned of the situation through Heo Hu’s words all nodded with similar expressions.

“Tsk!”

However, Hyang’s response when he returned was to click his tongue.

As soon as the scent hit their tongues, the ministers tensed up but strengthened their resolve.

‘Ah-oh! ‘The sound of that guy clicking his tongue!’

‘Still, we have to discuss what needs to be argued!’

As if Hyang had sensed the inner thoughts of the ministers, he asked Heo Hu a question.

“I will ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Please ask.”

“The first thing to consider is this. “How much damage did our empire suffer during the war in Suez?”

“No.”

“Then, is the benefit our empire will gain after the railway is laid in Suez compared to before the war broke out in Suez?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Heo Hu carefully considered the situation.

The reason the war broke out in Suez was because of the profits that Alexandrian merchants made in the middle of the war. Italy and the European Ottomans, whose profits were reduced due to the share taken by Alexandrian merchants, started a war.

If you think about it that way, it was clear that the empire’s benefits would not increase much.

After thinking that far, Heohu bowed his head and answered.

“It will increase, but it will not increase significantly. However, if they find out the actual price estimate, they will be very dissatisfied.”

“It’s an actual estimate… Do you think they’ll know if we don’t tell them?”

“….”

Heo Hu, who had remained silent at Hyang’s point, pointed out another problem.

“But they spent a lot of money during the long war, so it will be a big burden. “It may be more beneficial to shoulder the diplomatic burden on them by making appropriate concessions.”

“Tsk!”

At Heo Hu’s suggestion, Hyang clicked his tongue again and Heo Hu’s shoulders flinched.

Hyang, who had a nonchalant expression on his face, asked Heo Hu again.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs. I will ask. “Did you push our backs to fight that war?”

“No.”

“exactly. We didn’t force the war. It was a war they started because of their own greed, and they spent money on it. And again, the damage our empire suffered because of that war was significant. Yet our empire said nothing. “Then I think I’ve put enough diplomatic baggage on it?”

“I guess so…”

“And think about this too. We certainly argued in the past for the establishment of a joint venture to jointly manage the Suez trade route, and they agreed. But as soon as the war was over, they were the ones who left that part out and banded together among themselves. Do you think such people would consider the diplomatic burden too heavy?”

Heo Hu had no choice but to wave the white flag at Hyang’s sharp criticism.

“My thoughts were short. “Please forgive my foolishness of conviction.”

“It is not that the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ thoughts are bad, but they should not forget that their diplomacy is not only about swallowing what is sweet and spitting it out when it is bitter, but it is also part of daily life that involves Samsa Cho’s actions.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

Hyang, who made Heo Hu wave the white flag, looked back at the other ministers and continued speaking.

“Whether or not there is a railway across the Suez, our empire is certain to pay for its use. So shouldn’t we make sure to take care of our empire as well? Among the popular sayings is, ‘Row when the water comes in.’ I think there is a saying: “You must not forget the phrase ‘water-proof machine’.”

“I will keep this in mind!”

After hearing the answers from the ministers, Hyang gave orders to Kim Jong-seo.

“I think we are somewhat prepared at this level. Captain Jeoljae selects those who are good at calculations in railway construction and sets off for Suez. It’s okay to completely turn the table upside down. Get the maximum benefit. “Once again, it is they who are in urgent need, not us.”

Kim Jong-seo responded to Hyang’s words by bowing his head.

“I will risk my life to bring you the best results!”

“I’ll just trust the captain.”

“Your Majesty believes in me, so I will definitely make it happen!”

The officer who recorded all of these situations wrote as follows:

-… So the Emperor asked for the best, and Kim Jong-seo, Minister of General Affairs, responded with great gratitude.

The officer says:

‘Diplomacy is another name for fortune telling.’ I think that is correct.

It is truly deplorable that one’s own interests take precedence over good faith.

However, the Emperor’s words, ‘You have to row when the water comes in’ are truly true. These days, there are a lot of people who have had fun through investment safes, so I also tried it…

“Why do officers write so much? Are you insulting Jim?”

“Oh no!”

“To do the job properly.”

“I’m sorry!”

* * *

April, Year 7 of the Imperial Calendar (1455).

Kim Jong-seo and railway construction employees arrived in Suez.

Kim Jong-seo, who got off the ship through the pier hanging over the ship, grumbled while adjusting his hat.

“Egh! Why is the sun so hot! Hey! “Bring me that Bangseomo or something!”

“Yes Captain!”

Kim Jong-seo continued to grumble as he handed the hat to the employee, wearing the protective hat his subordinate had hastily brought.

“They say everything in the world is good and bad…. The hat doesn’t block the sun, but lets the wind through, and the heat shield blocks the sun well, but doesn’t let the wind through. Ah, I want to go back to Seoul!”

Despite grumbling, Kim Jong-seo began to work meticulously.

He directed his subordinate officials and railroad construction workers to thoroughly check that the cargo he had brought in was properly unloaded, and sent a message to the lodgings where the surveying team members were staying.

A moment later, the executive in charge of the surveying team members ran towards Kim Jong-seo in a huff and bowed low.

“See you, Captain!”

“okay. There is a lot of hardship in this extremely hot place. “His Majesty also praised your efforts.”

Hearing Kim Jong-seo’s words, the executive bowed his head with a bright face.

“Oops! “Oh my gosh!”

“I’m getting a little seasick after being on a boat for a long time. “Is there a place to rest?”

“I’ll show you around right away!”

* * *

After unpacking his belongings in his lodgings, Kim Jong-seo sent a message to the nearby allies’ lodgings through an interpreter.

‘A high-ranking imperial official has arrived in Suez! ‘They said they came because of the railroad!’

As soon as they heard the rumor, representatives of the allies visited Kim Jong-seo. However, Kim Jong-seo politely refused their visit.

“It’s hard right now because we’ve come a long way and the travel fatigue hasn’t subsided yet. “Please wait.”

In response to the polite refusal, the representative of the alliance nodded and walked away. Kim Jong-seo, who was standing in the shade of the window in the dormitory and looking at the scene, muttered with a wry smile.

“Now you will start to think more.”

And the reaction of allied representatives was just as Kim Jong-seo expected.

* * *

The representatives of the allies, who had gathered again for the first time in a long time, talked with serious faces.

“I heard it’s a high-ranking official. How high is it?”

“After asking around and finding out about him, we decided he was a minister.”

“If you are a minister, are you a prime minister?”

“I guess that’s the case?”

“Look at the luggage I brought with me. “It must be considered an enormous feat to use an entire ship that large.”

When the representatives found out that Kim Jong-seo was bigger than expected, they became more serious and stood up.

“I need to contact my home country.”

“That’s right.”

Those gathered here now were representatives of the alliance, but in terms of position, they were mid-level executives. For them, it was impossible to deal with Kim Jong-seo. Although there was a difference in rank, he was far from capable of dealing with Kim Jong-seo, a worn-out politician who had become a minister.

In the end, numerous emissaries flew from Suez to the capital of the alliance, and messengers carrying letters rode on horseback and headed north.

* * *

While the allies were busy, Kim Jong-seo checked the newly acquired data from the surveying team members.

“So it’s definitely not an easy project?”

“Yes, to do it properly, we will need to bring in large quantities of excavators and tow trucks.”

Kim Jong-seo, who had been thinking for a moment about the survey team members’ answers, asked another question.

“According to the rumors going around Seoul, they are planning to replace them with slaves?”

To Kim Jong-seo’s question, the members of the surveying team simultaneously answered with sarcastic expressions.

“Then this construction will take at least 20 years.”

“20 years?”

“It’s to keep it to a minimum.”

“Is there any solid evidence?”

In response to Kim Jong-seo’s question, the surveying team members explained again how they had dug in the desert in the past.

“Is that so? Okay, go and rest.”

Kim Jong-seo nodded to the explanations of the surveying team members and sent them out.

Kim Jong-seo, who was left alone in the room, smiled darkly and muttered.

“That’s right… then I can give you a proper slap in the back.”