Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 762
Episode 762: Encounter (7)
As the standoff continued, with everyone glaring at each other, the manager made a decision.
“The surveying team, pack your bags.”
“yes.”
The adjutant general, who gave orders to the surveying party, gave orders to soldiers holding rifles.
“If those natives try to do something stupid, punch a hole in their head.”
“yes!”
After listening to the riflemen’s determined answers, the commander stepped forward. The deputy director stepped forward and closely observed the native warriors facing him.
“Hmm…”
While the manager was examining the armed status of the native warriors, Putan across from him was also examining the clothing and weapons of his opponent.
The two, who were exploring each other like that, fell into similar troubles.
‘Even if something happens, I think it would be possible to deal with just the people in front of me… The problem is that they are not the only ones.’
The manager was confident that other natives were lying in ambush in the jungle, and Putan was conscious of a challenger-level front line.
In the end, both people came to the same conclusion at the same time.
‘I’m backing off now!’
The decision they both made was the right one.
Captain Kim Taek-gil, who saw the appearance of indigenous warriors, immediately began disembarking reinforcements, and new warriors gathered even in the jungle.
“If I just leave, I’ll be sorry in many ways…”
The manager slowly took out the dagger he was wearing at his waist. The manager, holding the dagger up to his chest, twirled the dagger once with great dexterity. Holding the handle with the handle facing towards Putan, the manager held the dagger out to Putan and smiled slightly.
Futan, seeing the manager’s smile, carefully accepted the dagger held out and ordered his subordinates.
“I’m stepping down.”
So both sides began to withdraw at the same time.
Both sides stepped back to avoid showing their backs to the other, and on the other hand, to prevent the other from misjudging.
* * *
Returning to the border of the jungle where he had first started, Putan watched the small boat carrying the strangers in question return to the larger boat.
The small boat the strangers were on looked exactly like the boat they came on, and it seemed much more useful than the boats they used.
“Whoa~.”
Only then did Futan sigh in relief when he saw that the strangers had completely retreated from the beach.
Putan, who found peace of mind, was only then able to check the dagger in his hand.
“Huh…”
Putan exclaimed as he examined the dagger handed to him by the stranger.
The dagger, which was about the length of the blade from wrist to elbow, boasted a beautiful wave pattern, and the blade sparkled in the light.
“What the…”
Futan couldn’t close his mouth after seeing the beautiful wave-patterned sword.
The dagger that the manager gave to Putan was an imperial dagger made to imitate the Damascus steel.
* * *
As European trade with the Middle East expanded, various European cultures entered the empire – Joseon at the time. Among them, the most popular were swords made of Damascus steel.
When swords made of Damascus steel were first introduced, the leading military families rushed to purchase them.
This is because it has the contradictory characteristics of being both hard and flexible, while maintaining the sharpness of the blade for a long time.
Of course, there was the problem that the shape of the sword did not suit traditional sword techniques, but in many martial arts, this was not a big problem.
“After all, the sword is decoration and the bow is everything!”
Afterwards, as high-quality steel was produced in large quantities through the efforts of craftsmen in Sejong and Hyang Area 51, sales of swords made of Damascus steel began to falter.
And at some point, swords made of Damascus steel changed their status as expensive luxury items.
In terms of quality alone, high-carbon steel that was the same or better than Damascus steel began to be produced in large quantities, and swords made from this material began to be released on the market at a much cheaper price.
However, families that were worthy of their name consistently purchased swords made of Damascus steel.
“No matter how good the swords randomly produced in the factory are, can they match the beauty and strength of this rippled sword (so named because of its unique wave pattern)?”
It was natural that famous swordsmiths were upset by the rumor that the upper class insisted on Damascus steel.
“Yeah~? In that case, I will make a ripple sword even more beautiful than the famous ripple sword of the West Region and show it to you!”
Although I decided to do so, the method of making Damascus steel is a secret among secret arts. Of course, figuring out the recipe wasn’t easy.
And here comes the scent.
The scent was moved by the rumor that even artisans from Area 51 were taking on the challenge of making the Ripple Sword.
“It wouldn’t be me if I got caught up in something like this!”
Hyang approached the craftsmen at the same time as he spoke and spoke quietly.
“After hearing the rumor, I thought of something…”
At Hyang’s words, the artisans in Area 51 stood up with joy.
“I will listen carefully!”
Hyang continued speaking as he looked at the craftsmen looking at him with bright eyes.
“I thought that making Damascus iron was not only about secret techniques, but also about materials. But in order to make Damascus iron, you need iron from somewhere in the sky, but don’t we have it?”
“That’s right!”
“Then I think we need our own secret techniques using the iron we have. So, this is what I came up with: stack various types of steel pieces like a pile of rice cakes, weld them, and then forge them, or put iron beads and iron powder in a crucible and heat them…” This
method was spread through the Internet in the 21st century and was actually made by Hyang himself. As I explained, the craftsmen hit their knees.
“ah! “That way!”
In this way, the imperial style excommunication sword was born into the world.
Thanks to the excellent quality of imperial steel, which was the raw material, the imperial ripple sword boasted a quality that was comparable to that of swords made of Damascus steel.
In addition, the price was cheaper than Damascus products, so at some point, the empire took over the sword market in Europe and the Middle East.
It wasn’t just because of the Excommunication Sword. This was possible because the swords that used just one type of high carbon steel also boasted better performance than most European or Middle Eastern swords.
Thanks to this, at some point, such rumors began to circulate in cities along the way, including Alexandria.
-Even a simple iron sword made by the Empire with a flower pattern on it is superior to a poorly made Damascus sword!
-They say the imperial iron sword cut the Damascus sword in two!
As the situation progressed, products made from Damascus steel began to quickly be pushed out of the market.
And taking advantage of this moment, the people sent by the city approached the craftsmen who made the Damascus steel.
“I admit that the swords you make are amazing. But in order to make that iron, doesn’t it require iron from a specific place? What will you do if the iron doesn’t come out? Won’t that vein dry up someday? So why not try applying the secret to other steel materials? “Would you like to go to the land of flowers with me?”
Several craftsmen headed to the ‘Land of Flowers’ to appease the people sent by the scent.
The craftsmen who arrived in Hanseong immediately became members of Area 51 and began to play a part in the development of steel smelting methods.
“Aren’t you treating them too much?”
The village responded immediately to the comments made by the ministers at the time.
“In the future, iron will be used in more and more places. The fact that it has many uses means that various types of iron with various properties are needed. That’s why we need them.”
“Wouldn’t it be possible if our Joseon craftsmen were given more time?”
“There is something I can use right now. “This is where long guns and artillery are made.”
“yes?”
Sejong hit his knee while the ministers, who did not immediately understand, just blinked.
“Is that right? The barrels of artillery pieces and rifles must withstand the force of exploding gunpowder. However, you can’t just make it thick! Of course, we need iron that is both hard and tough, and with their secret technique, that will be possible!”
Hyang bowed her head and responded to Sejong’s words.
“That’s right.”
In this way, the empire’s smelting technology advanced to the next level, and artillery and guns became more powerful.
* * *
Putan reported the situation to the Eagle Warrior who followed him.
“They are Gentiles.”
“Aren’t they strangers from the north?”
At this time, knowingly or unknowingly, the Aztec Empire was interacting with the indigenous people of the north (presumed to be the Florida Peninsula).
In response to the Eagle Warrior’s question, Putan immediately shook his head.
“no.”
In response to Futan’s answer, the eagle warrior, who was looking at the challenger-level battle line, looked at the dagger in Futan’s hand.
“What’s that?”
“It was given to me by a stranger. “I intend to present the truth to Tlatoani.”
When Putan said that he would present a treat to Tlatoani, the emperor of the Aztec Empire, the eagle warrior lightly took a bite and retreated.
“That would be better. “Then let’s go back.”
* * *
After passing through the jungle for several days, Putan and his party arrived in the capital, Tenochtitlan, and were immediately able to have an audience with Tlatoani.
In accordance with the law, Putan and his party took off their sandals at the entrance to the city and entered the palace barefoot. When they saw Tlatoani, they immediately bowed.
Montezuma I, the contemporary Tlatoani, responded with an arrogant gesture and opened his mouth.
“So you met strangers?”
“That’s right. This is what they passed over, and I would like to report it to Tlatoani.”
“Bring it with you.”
At the order of Montezuma I, the attendant next to him took the sword from Putan and delivered it to Montezuma I.
“Hoo~. “Huh!”
Montezuma I, who was examining the dagger with its brilliant wave patterns, let out a series of exclamations.
Montezuma I, seeing the sharp, shining blade, swung the sword at the jaguar skin hanging on one side.
Boom!
Montezuma I was surprised when he saw the dagger cut a length of leather in one go and looked at the dagger again.
Montezuma I, who saw the dagger still intact without a tooth, muttered in a trembling voice.
“This is amazing… If you look at the sparkle and the color, it looks similar to silver, but it is not silver…”
Metal smelting technology was introduced to the Aztecs as they interacted with the indigenous people of the north.
Thanks to this, we were able to make various things by processing bronze, gold, and silver.
However, with their current level of technology, the only thing they could do was make ceremonial objects and accessories.
However, what Montezuma I now had in his hands was not gold or silver, but a completely new metal.
Yep!
Montezuma I, who slammed his sword down on the stone throne next to him, turned pale.
“They’re fine… what kind of people are they?”
Montezuma I’s face became filled with deep sorrow.
‘Why, at a time like this! ‘Why!’
This was because the current Aztec situation was not very good.