Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 773
Chapter 773: A disaster brought about by oneself… (8)
Hyang sighed as he was analyzing the reason why the current empire did not face the crisis that the Spanish had to face in history before Hyang intervened.
“Whoa~. “It is good that what could have ended in tragedy was avoided, but it has become necessary to clean up Central America sooner than expected.”
Human sacrifice and cannibalism committed on a large scale.
This was not something that could be concluded with a cover-up. If this was tolerated, it was certain that it would lead to the fall of the imperial power.
No matter how much the image of ‘Neo-Confucian Taliban Joseon’ almost disappeared through Hyang’s intervention, this was not something that could be resolved.
“In addition, in order to control and digest the Central American region in the future, we need to sort out whether they are Aztec or Messica. Phew~.”
Hyang sighed again and could not hide his disappointment.
“The problem is that time gets in the way. Every time I try to do something, time is holding me back…”
What Hyang meant by ‘time’ was that the empire was still in its growth period.
During the period of extreme turmoil in the late Goryeo Dynasty and early Seon Dynasty, as well as continuous poor harvests due to climate change, the population of the Korean Peninsula was in a situation where the population of the Korean Peninsula actually took a step backwards.
This returned to growth when King Sejong, who took power after Taejong, actively promoted reforms.
However, if compared to a human being, the Empire was still in its adolescent stage of growth.
Although it was full of vitality throughout the empire and was growing steadily day by day, it was still not fully ripe.
“That doesn’t mean I can do good things for others, so I guess I should contact Wani. wait? “Is this a problem too?”
Hyang, thinking of the current emperor, Wan, looked slightly embarrassed.
* * *
In the last letter, Wan had already told him that the crown prince had taken charge of Area 51. Since the crown prince was 16 years old, there was no problem, but Wan, who did not want to be caught by Hyang, wrote a letter carefully summarizing the situation.
-The crown prince had already completed the required level of education at the age of 14 and learned practical skills as an apprentice under Jeong In-ji for two years.
-Married at age 12 and currently has one son and one daughter. That’s also true.
-According to Jeong In-ji’s report, he is running the research center and Area 51 with great enthusiasm. In particular, he is said to be very interested in the development of iron and electric wires using steam engines.
It was okay up to this point. The problem was next.
-Please clearly report on the results of the blade experiment center and craftsman training plan, which Tae Sang-taeng said was the foundation. It is judged that the results are insufficient compared to the past.
In some ways, it was a very rude thing for a son to criticize his father, but since the son was the emperor, it was not a problem.
Despite his circumstances, he was technically a subject of the emperor. The issue of filial piety was something to consider separately.
In the end, Hyang had to write a letter of apology to Wan. However, to summarize the contents of the letter, which was full of sentences thrown around in circles, it was as follows.
-I’m sorry for begging you!
-But if you keep craving it like that, you may not be able to return from here at all. Algan?
After receiving Hyang’s letter, Wan had to immediately send a letter of apology.
* * *
“If that bastard’s personality is anything to go by, as soon as he sees this, he’ll immediately say, ‘I’m inheriting the throne. This is the guy who will say, ‘Father,’ and then take action. “As soon as Tae Sang-tae said that he had created a flying machine laboratory, this guy’s butt was half-open…” Hyang-
hyang, who knows Wan’s personality well, who is completely obsessed with ‘flying in the sky,’ uses this incident as an excuse to ask what Wan is up to. I could roughly tell what was going to happen.
“At least we made a promise for 20 years, so we have 14 more years to spare, but the problem is the age of the original situation.”
Sejong was now 69 years old. Compared to the history before the incense intervened, more than 15 years had passed, but the future was a problem.
“You’re turning 70 soon… Of course, from what I’m hearing now, it sounds like you don’t have to worry about turning 90, but the situation of the elderly is something you don’t know even tomorrow…”
Hyang, who was worried about Sejong, who was approaching 70, suddenly realized how old he was.
“Now that I think about it, I’m already over 50. “Hmm…”
Hyang, who had realized that he was getting older, suddenly started to sigh and burst into laughter.
“Heh! The Emperor stayed for 10 years and I plan to stay for 20 years, so is Wan 30 years? Or, once you come, will it be customary to hold on until your 60th birthday?”
Hyang, who had wandered off to the wrong side and let her imagination run wild, soon adjusted her expression.
“Oops! I got sidetracked again! “That’s not the problem now!”
Hyang, who managed to stop himself from going down a side street, thought about what would be the best way to deal with the current situation.
“The answer is to send troops from the headquarters… The problem is that this seems to have a similar result to ‘turning the cards’…”
In the current situation, the only answer was to increase troops from the headquarters. However, the problem was that as troops were missing, new troops had to be recruited.
General soldiers could solve the problem to some extent by mobilizing reserve forces, but the commanders were the problem.
Even now, the number of people at the military academy has been steadily increasing, but time is needed for them to do their part.
“Hmm… How should I stop this…”
This was something that Emperor Wan and his subjects had to worry about, but Hyang, the person who created the problem, would also be less criticized if he presented an appropriate alternative.
Because incense was a situation.
-The situation may not help the country, but it only causes problems!
This was because if such words were to circulate, problems would arise with the imperial power. Considering what the scent had done so far, a plausible alternative had to be presented.
“Hmm…”
While Hyang was thinking about coming up with a good or plausible alternative, an official from outside came in hurriedly.
“your majesty! “The Navy is sending me urgently!”
“In the Navy again?”
After receiving the urgent report from the official, Hyang frowned and swore without even realizing it.
“Oh shit! “Why, at a time like this!”
The contents of the dispatch sent by the Navy were as follows.
-Three European ships were discovered in the southeastern waters of Shinji. Two ships were sunk, but one escaped with serious damage.
-In the process of chasing a runaway ship, he encountered a storm and returned to port.
-All fronts used in the operation require repair. The reason is damage caused by wind and waves.
-It is impossible to determine whether the escaped ship is alive or not.
After checking the contents of the urgent report, Hyang placed his hand on his forehead.
“They said to make matters worse…”
* * *
“Ugh…”
“Captain, are you out of your mind? “Captain!”
Thomas, the captain of the English exploration ship ‘Golden Mary’, opened his eyes with difficulty at the shouts of his subordinate.
“Have we lost track of it?”
“I think so.”
“Please help me. “I need to get up.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Thomas stood up with the help of his subordinate and looked around.
He and his men were on the beach in front of a jungle full of palm trees, and the ‘Golden Mary’, which was almost half broken, was stranded on the sandy beach right in front.
Thomas sighed as he watched the ‘Golden Mary’ almost fall to the side.
“Whoa~. “You’re lucky you survived.”
“That’s right.”
Thomas, who was listening to his subordinates and examining the broken ship, swore.
“Damn pirates! Damn Empire!”
* * *
The ‘Earth Concrete Theory’ was introduced to Europe through international students and professors who came to study in Seoul.
Of course, the ‘Earth theory’ was not an unfamiliar theory even in Europe. However, only a few intellectuals acknowledged this.
Due to the influence of superstitions passed down knowingly or unknowingly for religious reasons, most Europeans believed that ‘the Earth is flat’ or ‘the Earth is square.’
Because of this belief, Henry had many difficulties in the early days of his exploration.
-It goes down south of the equator along the western coastline of Africa.
This was because many of the crew members who heard about the purpose of the expedition refused to board.
-The area south of the equator is an endless cliff, so you can fall to your death!
-The sea south of the equator is full of rapidly rising water! If you go in there, you will be boiled to death!
Because this superstition was widespread among the sailors, they refused to board the ship. Thanks to this, Henry had to offer more expensive wages than on other voyages as bait.
However, as Henry’s expedition safely passed the equator and ascended to the east coast of Africa, this superstition gradually disappeared. No, the superstitions disappeared and these expeditions began to be seen as an opportunity to make a fortune.
In fact, there were people who followed the route discovered in this way and made huge profits by not only obtaining gold and silver but also acquiring slaves.
In this situation, the ‘Earth theory’ began to receive attention again.
“Didn’t that Eastern empire also say that the world is round? So there’s no need to go around Africa or take a ship from Suez to the Empire? Conversely, wouldn’t it be okay to go west?”
People with these thoughts started popping up here and there.
However, those who put these ideas into practice were not easily seen.
“It wouldn’t be impossible to go west. But you don’t know how long it will take, right? “That’s the problem.”
The ships most used in Europe during this period were the Karak and Galleon caravel.
Long distance voyages were almost impossible with these ships.
In reality, Africa had to use colonies or ports created along the way, and the eastern route also had to use cities in India and the southwestern island of the Melaka Empire as intermediate ports of call.
In this situation, ‘the latest geographical information’ came in through those who came to study in the empire.
Although it was only a theoretical number, it allowed us to know the diameter and circumference of the Earth.
Those who saw this figure began to predict possibilities once again.
“There may be errors in adjusting the imperial weights and measures to our own, but it seems possible, right?”
“No matter what, it’s still too far.”
“What if we go up north?”
When the idea of using the North Atlantic came up, those who had even a little knowledge about the North Atlantic and the North Sea immediately shook their heads.
“Those seas are famous for being rough. “I heard that the famous Vikings also prayed really sincerely before setting out to the North Sea and the North Ocean.”
“Is it that much?”
In fact, those who experienced the rough seas of the North Sea gave up the northern route.
And the most likely route chosen by those considering other routes was to depart from the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and head west.
“I learned about this to some extent through Portugal and Spain, so there is potential, but supply is a problem…” “
We need a big ship, and the only country that can build a ship that big is…” “The only country that can build a ship that big is
the Country of Flowers. ” . The problem is that the country does not sell such large ships, and even if it does sell them, it would have to return to Africa. You have to think of the infamous triangle waves in southern Africa. “If you lose the boat you bought with a lot of money, you’re ruined before you even start.”
When adventurers and investors were still hesitant, there was a country that took the initiative.
It was England.