Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 94
Episode 94: Eastern Route (2)
“Okay. “How would you like me to process the payment?”
The elders who heard Hyang’s questions through Hassan’s interpretation gave answers to Hassan, and Hassan relayed them directly to Hyang.
“He says he doesn’t understand your question.”
“Just tell me to choose whether I want to receive it in gold or another prize.”
After a while,
he said, “Thank you for your kindness. But out of kindness, he asks if he can look at the product and make a choice.”
“That’s good. Because we can also check the product quality. Isn’t that right, Captain Hopan?”
Kim Jeom nodded to Hyang’s question.
“That’s right. “Yes, that’s right.”
Hyang smiled slightly at Kim Jeom’s very positive reaction.
‘You slowly learned how to enjoy spending money… but you’ve changed a lot, haven’t you?’
As Hyang said, the high priests and ministers of the six dynasties were gradually becoming addicted to the ‘taste of spending money.’
The money spent by government officials and ministers of the sixth dynasty was not for personal luxury but for strengthening the nation’s capabilities.
As the administrative power of the governor was strengthened through the expansion of trade and the expansion of tax revenues and budget expansion, the central government’s control over local regions was gradually strengthening.
In addition, as seen in the previous subjugation of the Jurchen tribe, as national defense was strengthened and the power to promote the long-term strategy of ‘eastward advance’ was gained as well as border stability, ministers became increasingly addicted to the ‘taste of earning and spending money’. there was.
“Then let’s move to look at the samples.”
Hyang and Hojo Panseo took the elders and moved to a warehouse on one side of the palace. As she walked to the warehouse, Hyang talked with Judge Hojo.
“Currently, we have built a warehouse like this, but if glass craftsmen work properly, we should build an exhibition hall in a better place, right?”
“Of course. “We are still looking for a suitable site.”
It was the first time in a long time that the scent of porridge was right and the good news was good.
The warehouse where Hyang and Hojo Panseo took the elders did not look like a warehouse. Unlike regular warehouses that were faithful to protecting their belongings with thick walls blocking all sides and equally heavy-looking doors, the warehouse in front of us had large windows and doors, allowing bright light to pour inside.
“Let’s go in.”
Hyang led the elders into the warehouse and showed them samples.
“These are papers.”
“Hoo~.”
The elders’ eyes lit up after seeing samples of various types of paper.
During the Tang Empire, Chinese papermaking technology was transferred to Islam through various channels – mainly war – and paper became very common.
However, although it has become common, the price is still considerable. In Europe, even paper mills were built, but valuable documents were still written on parchment and generally on papyrus. This situation continued until Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei were active.
In that sense, the paper that the elders see now was of the highest quality, and of course they had no choice but to be interested in it.
That was the reason why Hyang was the first to introduce paper. Joseon’s paper was considered a luxury product even in China.
After the Jojiseo was abolished and competition was introduced to private merchants, the quality and variety increased rapidly, and it became one of the profitable products that raised money in trade with the Ming and Japanese countries.
“They say the quality is good, but the price is a burden.”
“There are cheaper ones too.”
Hassan pretended to understand Hyang’s answer.
“Do you mean yellow paper?”
Hyang nodded to Hassan’s question. Hassan immediately explained it to the elders and the elders showed interest.
“If you pay for the paper, I will go bankrupt!” “We have to find an alternative!”
Yellow paper was a product created by Hyang to solve the increased demand for paper in the research institute and Area 51.
Of course, in the case of traditional Korean paper, it could be washed and recycled, but the records of the research institute and 51 District Offices had to record all failures, so the recycling rate was extremely low, putting a burden on finances.
In the end, the scent created a new ‘hybrid’.
Instead of the traditionally used mulberry tree, ordinary miscellaneous wood was used, and the mixed wood was ground into fine pieces with an axial crusher through a process of beating and boiling, and then boiled to make pulp. And the process of traditionally making paper using human power changed to using axial force.
“Currently, it is shaft power, but it will be replaced as soon as the steam engine is completed!”
“It’s not the same as the paper made by artisans, but it’s usable enough. “I especially like the production costs.”
After Jeong Cho, Jeong In-ji, and Icheon, who calculated the quality and production cost, made a decision of acceptance, the Hyang immediately took action.
Land near Area 51 was purchased and a large paper mill was built.
The characteristic of the yellow paper made by Hyang was that, as the name suggests, it was yellow.
“Bleaching is possible, but what about environmental pollution? “I don’t know that part.”
No matter how great he was, he didn’t know everything, so the bleaching part was completely omitted. Thanks to this, yellow paper was created.
Once yellow paper was mass-produced, the laboratory and Area 51 were freed from the paper problem. Also, upon receiving the report about Hwangji, King Sejong immediately summoned the ministers.
“How about replacing papers used for general office work, not important documents, with yellow paper?”
“What a wise decision!”
As soon as King Sejong spoke, Judge Kim Jeom shouted with joy.
In the end, with Hojo’s enthusiastic approval, yellow paper was used in the royal court and later even in local administrative agencies.
As time passed, yellow paper began to be called ‘Akji (厄紙)’ among the general public.
Among the pieces of paper sent from government offices, good news – such as a reward – is written carefully on high-quality paper and attached to a silk scroll, but bad news – such as having to pay taxes, appear in court, join the military, or appear in the airspace – is written on yellow paper. It was because he came.
After checking the quality of the yellow paper and the price, the elders soon made a decision.
“The quality is good and the price is cheap, so it’s definitely worth the money!”
“Even if you factor in the cost of shipping to your hometown, it’s a huge benefit!”
Although the decision was made, the elders did not make a decision right away.
“I wonder if you have any other products.”
“Of course there is.”
‘If you don’t say that, you’re not a merchant.’
At the gesture of Hyang’s hand, the Hojo official opened the lid of the box next to him.
“It’s called viscera.”
What the fragrance introduced was soap.
* * *
Soap was produced as a by-product in the process of obtaining glycerin to make nitroglycerin. I had to laugh at the smell when I saw the first soap being made.
“If you look at the cliché, what you get when making soap is glycerin, but it’s funny that I get the exact opposite…”
The first soap made was dark in color. When soap was first made, it was given the name Seokgam (石鹼) because it looked like a stone. However, it was soon said that it was made using oil, and when used again, skin rashes disappeared, so the name ‘Bijo’ was created by adding the thorn ‘皁’ of the thorn tree used to treat rashes.
Bijo, who was born in this way, ascended to King Sejong. At the time, King Sejong was suffering from a skin disease.
King Sejong’s skin disease subsided dramatically as he bathed cleanly with soap, washed with soap, and wore a dried robe.
“What a wonderful thing! “There are more than one people suffering from rashes, so mass-produce immediately!”
“I follow your orders!”
The reason Hyang confidently responded to King Sejong’s command was because he had just become able to extract soybean oil.
However, when soybean oil was used, the problem of low yield was discovered.
“Why?”
Hyang, who was looking for a reason and a solution, hit his forehead when he discovered that the yield of already used soybean oil was high.
“So you used used cooking oil?”
A solution was found, but it was an incomplete solution.
“Traditional cooking doesn’t use a lot of oil. “I can’t just flip pancakes every day, and I can’t just boil oil that’s still good…”
Hyang, who was looking for a solution, looked at the chicken porridge that came up in the bowl and snapped his fingers.
“This is it!”
Hyang immediately selected one of Suragan’s subordinates and made ‘Gyejak (fried chicken)’.
‘Chicken’ was born.
“It’s delicious.”
King Sejong, who tasted Gyejak made by Hyang, loved it very much and it soon became one of his favorite foods.
“The chicken is very oily, so let’s fry it and serve it with garlic.”
“All right.”
‘Gyejak’ was not only liked by King Sejong. The soldiers and military officers at the training center who were rotated to Area 51 also liked ‘Gyejak’. On days when dinner was included in the menu of the communal cafeteria built in Area 51, there were many people who skipped dinner altogether.
Due to this enormous popularity, chickens were raised on a large scale at the royal ranch on Nubeol Island.
It wasn’t just Nubeol Island.
Several merchants, who heard rumors of ‘Gyejak’ through word of mouth among the soldiers, knocked on the door of Area 51 in search of incense.
“I want to get the recipe and oil for Gyejak.”
Hearing the merchants’ words, the village immediately called Hojo Panseo. After sitting down, Panseo Hojo got straight to the point.
“How long have you been thinking about it?”
In this way, the use of soybean oil increased and the mass production of Bijou was carried out using the increased amount of waste oil.
* * *
The elders who heard how to use soap and actually used it nodded.
“They say it’s an item well worth the price. But they want to know why one has a scent and the other doesn’t.”
“The scented ones are for washing your face and bathing, and the unscented ones are for doing laundry.”
Upon hearing Hyang’s answer, the elders nodded and suddenly one of the elders urgently shouted, ‘Goryeo!’ He opened his mouth and shouted.
Hassan, who listened to the elder for a while, interpreted for Hyang.
“You asked if you could sell spices.”
Hyang smiled at Hassan’s words.
“I know very well. “Fragrances have been famous since the Three Han Dynasties…”
Fragrance oil was one of the rare luxury goods around the world. The Korean Peninsula has also used a lot of spices since the Gojoseon period.
As it was widely used, it was also highly skilled in manufacturing, so perfume was one of the main traded goods during the Goryeo Dynasty.
They made huge profits by importing raw incense from China, processing it, and exporting it. And the spices exported in that way flowed to Islamic regions.
* * *
Incense pointed to the ceramic bottles and small boxes displayed on one side.
“The perfume is in there, and what you get in the box is incense powder.”
After hearing the explanation, the elders uncorked their bottles and smelled them or picked up some incense to check the smell and nodded.
“They say the quality is very good.”
“of course. “Because it was made by recognized artisans.”
The elders nodded while listening to Hassan’s interpretation. The eyes of the elders who were putting the bottle back in its place were fixed on it.
The elders, who were looking at their soldiers blankly, began to talk for a while with Hassan.
After the conversation went on for a while, Hassan translated for Hyang.
“They are asking if they can purchase them separately.”
“It is not sold separately, but…”
Hyang gestured to the Hojo official again. At the gesture of Hyang’s hand, the official moved his seat. There, wooden boxes that looked precious at first glance were erected at an angle. The official carefully opened the lids of the boxes.
“Oh oh!”
While the elders exclaimed when they saw the contents of the box, Hyang spoke to Hassan.
“Ask me what you like, celadon or white porcelain.”
The elders responded with one voice to Hassan’s interpretation. After hearing the answer, Hassan smiled and answered.
“Everyone says it all.”
“ha ha ha!”
Hyang smiled coolly at those words.
* * *
In the end, the elders not only received the glass artisan’s purchase price in goods rather than gold, but also used up all the funds they had just in case to purchase the goods.
What they mainly purchased were facial cleansers, spices, and ceramics.
Kim Jeom, the sales clerk who confirmed the quantity, spoke to Hassan.
“The requested quantity will be delivered within three days.”
“yes.”
The elders expressed their gratitude to Hassan for his interpretation. After hearing the story, Hyang spoke to Hassan.
“And this time, we’ll thank you and let you go, but we’ll also explain that tariffs will apply next time. If you tell me in advance, you won’t cause trouble later. And tell them that they won’t be able to buy anything if they don’t have a trade license.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Hassan translated right away and the answer came after a while.
“I ask what the tax rate is and how to obtain a commercial license.”
“Tell them I will let you know when the item is delivered.”
After a while, Hassan translated the elders’ answers.
“They say they hope for leniency from His Majesty the Prime Minister.”
“Tell Abama that I will give it a good word.”
Three days later, the goods arrived at the Muslim community. While those who came with the elders were checking the quantity and quality of the items, Hassan took out a scroll from his pocket and held it out.
“This time, he said he was just giving it to me as a thank you. Next time, he told me to buy a license and pay taxes.”
“How much?”
“One time is 50 ducats of gold, so 500 ducats, or 2 years is 2,000 ducats. The tax rate is 10% for purchases and 10% for sales.”
In response to Hassan’s answer, the elders put their heads together and exchanged opinions.
“Do you think it’s a bit expensive?”
“I think it’s appropriate considering the things we take with us.”
“This is not appropriate! It’s very cheap! Didn’t they say you can’t buy things without a license? That means it can be exclusive to our family!”
“Right!”
After reaching a conclusion, the elders spoke to Hassan.
“Tell the King and Prince of Joseon that I am grateful for their hospitality. “Tell them I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“All right.”
No sooner had Hassan finished speaking than the person in charge of the inspection answered.
“Nothing wrong!”
“Then get back to the ship as quickly as possible!”
* * *
The ship carrying the elders returned at full speed. The sailors who were promised a reward did their best.
Due to supply issues, whenever we had to stop at a port, we loaded as much supplies as possible and reduced the number of ports we had to go through to a minimum.
When it encounters a headwind, it breaks its routine of resting at a nearby port, and when it encounters a headwind, it moves in a zigzag motion without stopping.
Thanks to this, the ones who suffered a loss were the pirates who ambushed them to rob them. This was because they moved faster than expected and escaped the pirates’ ambush each time.
Thanks to their efforts, they returned to their hometown and made huge profits from the goods they brought from Joseon.
“72,000 ducats, excluding the initial capital! “That’s three times the profit!”
“Let’s prepare a ship to Joseon right away!”
It was the birth of the ‘Great Eastern Route’ that excited not only the Muslim region but also Mediterranean merchants.