Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 95
Episode 95: Jjolbo Certification (1)
The Otaibi family, who were happy to have made a fortune of 48,000 ducats in just one voyage, soon had to grind their teeth as they hit the ground running.
The Otaibi family was also a family that boasted its own history and size, but right next to the Aden area where they settled, there was the Sindwa family, a merchant family that was even bigger than them. It was one of the five major merchant families that ruled Aden.
Even when glass artisans were brought as slaves from Alexandria, the Otaibi family had to give a considerable gift to the Sindwa family.
-Our Otaibi family did not want to create a glass workshop, but they saved slaves because they wanted to do so in a place called Joseon. I swear to Allah, it was never meant to be against the Sindhwa family.
With the earnest explanation and gift from the head of the Otaibi family, the Sindhwa family ignored the purchase of slaves, the glass artisans of the Otaibi family.
This was because they also knew through their own sources of information that there was a country called Goryeo next to China, and that Goryeo had recently collapsed and a country called Joseon was established.
And when the Otaibi family moved to sell the goods they had unloaded from the ship returning from Joseon, a messenger came from the Sindwa family.
“I will pay you a good price, so hand it all over to my family.”
“yes?”
“Even if you hand it over to other merchants, it will eventually come to our Sindwa family. So, I’m telling you to hand it over yourself. “Are you confident that you can safely carry a boatload of goods to Alexandria?”
“… All right.”
Thus, the messenger of the Sindhwa family and the head of the Otaibi family began to bargain.
“Isn’t 200,000 ducats too expensive?”
“Think about the road to Joseon and back. Would it be easy to go back and forth between pirates from Malaya and Majapahit, as well as pirates from Zipangu, who would tell you to go away from Barbary?”
“Still, 200,000 ducats is too expensive. “Let’s do it for 100,000 ducats.”
“No matter how much we belong to the Sindhwa family, this is too much! “I’m saying don’t do business!”
“Isn’t it because it’s too expensive?”
“Then 180,000 ducats!”
“100,000!”
“175,000! “No more than this!”
“Look! Do you think we don’t know how much the glassmakers you rescued cost? Isn’t it 20,000 ducats? Even if you took the funds by accident, the maximum for your family would have been 30,000 ducats in total. Who are you trying to deceive? “I’m a merchant from Aden, so I’ll give you up to 100,000!”
“There is a reward promised to the sailors!”
“So 100,000! “If you ask for more, it will be difficult to do business in Aden!”
After hearing the words of the merchant from the Sindwa family, the head of the Otaibi family realized that there were no more options.
“…Good. “It’ll be over 100,000.”
“It was a good deal.”
In the end, the Otaibi family handed over the quantity brought from Joseon to the Sindwa family for 100,000 ducats. After handing over the quantity, the leader gritted his teeth.
“They are worse than pirates!”
However, the family elders were happy that they had gained three times the profit.
“Aren’t they also pirates? This alone is a triple benefit! It’s a successful deal! “It would be better to prepare to go to Joseon at this time!”
“That’s right! Without a Joseon license, other merchants cannot obtain goods! Rather, we should take advantage of this opportunity and reap even greater benefits!”
“Whoa~. “Let’s do that.”
At the words of the elders, the leader had no choice but to take a step back. The leader, who was left alone in the room, pounded his chest.
“Damn it! Damn Sindwa bastards!”
While waiting for favorable winds to go to Joseon, the Odaibi family began to seek what they had requested from Joseon.
“He asked me to find a horse in Joseon. “They said that the better the pedigree of a stallion, the more generous the price would be.”
“word?”
“The Joseon language is so cute.”
Arab horses of the time were reputed to be famous horses. This was because he was large and had excellent quickness and endurance.
“is it? If possible, I should try to get a stallion with a good pedigree.”
The news of the Sindwa family reached the ears of the Otaibi family who were scrambling to find horses.
Joseon goods purchased from the Otaibi family for 100,000 ducats were sold in Alexandria for 1.1 million ducats. In particular, it was rumored that porcelain and spices were subject to bloody competition – real bloodshed – between European merchants who came across the Mediterranean.
“shit!”
“Damn it!”
Everyone in the Otaibi family, including you and even those who liked them for doing triple the amount of business, were outraged.
Considering the time and risk of getting to Alexandria, I comforted myself by thinking that it was twice as big of a benefit, but in the end, the opportunity to get almost 40 times the amount was lost.
While the Otaibi family was gnashing their teeth, a group of merchants approached them.
“People from the Azram family have arrived.”
“From the Azram family?”
“The head of the Azram family is also here!”
“Take her!”
The head of the Otaibi family jumped up from his seat upon hearing that a person from the most powerful family among the five great families of Aden had arrived, including the head.
After a while, a group of merchants came in and the leader politely bowed.
“welcome. “It is an honor to meet the eldest member of the Azram family.”
“Thank you for welcoming me.”
“Please sit down.”
As soon as the Azram family merchants sat down in the seats given to them by the head, tea came in.
The people of the Otaibi family and the Azram family drank tea and prepared for conversation.
“like? “The scent is unique, isn’t it?”
“It’s a Joseon car. This car was purchased as a gift from a relative who worked in the Joseon royal family. “It has a different flavor from Chinese tea.”
“As expected, since it is the successor to Goryeo, which was famous for its fragrance, the tea smells good too.”
Both sides began talking about Joseon’s cars and then quickly got to the point.
“I heard that this commercial trip was a great success.”
“Allah’s blessings.”
“But you must be a little sad about the Sindwa family?”
“But I still benefited.”
The head of the Otaibi family chose his words carefully and answered.
The prestige of the Azram family was great, but the prestige of the Sindhwa family was also formidable. There, the Sindwa family was located right next to the Ottaibi family. If you make a mistake, the merchant ship at the dock could be reduced to ashes by an unknown fire or the warehouse could be burned down.
“But it is nothing compared to what the Sindhwa family obtained in Alexandria.”
“Isn’t it a difference in capabilities?”
An elder from the Otaibi family intervened in the conversation on behalf of the head. The Azram family merchant nodded at the elder’s words.
“I admit that. But what is unfair is unfair. I’ll tell you right away. How about joining our Azram family?”
“Are you saying that our family should join the Azram family?”
As the reaction of the Otaibi family members became sharper, the head of the Azram family quickly took action to extinguish the fire.
“Not at all. The Otaibi family is also a family with a long history. How could they do that?”
“Are you making a promise in the name of Allah?”
“I promise in the name of Allah.”
At the assurance of the head of the Azram family, the spirits of the Otaibi family calmed down.
“When you say let’s be together… do you mean we should do business together?”
“That’s right. “Now the Odaibi family is preparing to go back to Joseon, right?”
“That’s right.”
“It appears that all three of the family’s merchant ships will be mobilized, including our family’s merchant ships. It would be okay if there were 3 of them, right? We also help out in Alexandria. The profit distribution is 6:4. We are 6 and the Ottaibi family is 4.”
The face of the head of the Otaibi family turned serious at the proposal made by the head of the Azram family.
After pondering in silence for a while, the head of the Otaibi family asked a question to the head of the Azram family.
“It is the best offer. In some ways, it’s almost excessive. Why such a generous offer?”
“To not miss the opportunity. I guess the reason the Odaibi family went to Joseon was because of the request of the relative I mentioned earlier, right? In other words, the Otaibi family is connected to the Joseon royal family, and this is an opportunity that a merchant cannot miss.”
After explaining the reason, the head of the Azram family looked directly at the head of the Otaibi family.
Although his mouth was smiling, the head of the Azram family’s eyes were not smiling.
“ruler! I swear to Allah, I have not lied about anything! So please make a decision! ah! “I tell you in advance that if you are thinking of doing business with Sindwa between us, I would advise you that it is never a good idea.”
“Can you protect my family from Sindwa?”
“I will definitely protect it in the name of my family and in the name of Allah!”
At the promise of the head of the Azram family, the head of the Otaibi family let out a long sigh.
“You have no choice. great. “I accept the Azram family’s offer.”
“Good idea.”
Perhaps satisfied with the negotiation, the head of the Azram family stood up with a smile on his face.
“It was a truly enjoyable occasion. Just in case, I will send people from my family to the dock and warehouse starting today.”
“Thank you.”
The head of the Otaibi family expressed gratitude to the head of the Azram family.
After seeing off the people of the Azram family, an elder of the Otaibi family spoke.
“I don’t know if I was trying to avoid a lion and ended up in a snake’s den.”
“The family’s power is still weak. What can we do?”
The Otaibi family also had some power, but compared to the five great families, it pales in comparison.
* * *
‘The Otaibi family and the Azram family joined hands.’ As soon as the rumor spread, people from the Sindwa family came.
“why! Did he join hands with Azram? “You have forgotten our immediate neighbor, Sindwa!”
The messenger of the Sindhwa family became angry, but the head of the Otaibi family responded with a calm expression.
“Didn’t you have a lot of fun in Alexandria?”
“That’s it….”
“Isn’t it the way for merchants to move towards the most profitable side?”
“Profit is important, but trust is also important!”
“Did you protect Sind and the family of that god?”
The messenger of the Sindwa family, who confirmed that the Otaibi family had completely made up its mind, gritted his teeth and issued a warning.
“Don’t expect favor from our family in the future!”
“I am prepared.”
When the messenger of the Sindhwa family returned in anger, the head of the Otaibi family gave an order to the elders.
“It is said that the Azram family will help, but please increase security at the dock and warehouse just in case.”
“yes.”
“Pay attention to the stables too. “The most important products are there.”
“I will.”
The head of the Otaibi family, who gave orders to the elders, looked at the sky.
If this trip was successful, or if three trips on a similar scale were successful, the Otaibi family would be able to establish itself as the 6th family in Aden.
However, the Sindhwa family turned into enemies, and the Azram family was in danger of swallowing up the Otaibi family at any time.
The head of the Odaibi family, who had been staring at the sky in silence for a long time, muttered softly and turned around.
“Inshallah (إن شاء الله. As God wills)….”
* * *
Once the stallions and mares selected at the request of Joseon were prepared, the Otaibi family prepared to set sail.
“We want to go together too!”
Small merchants nearby asked to accompany them, but the head of the Otaibi family flatly refused.
“The road is long and there are many pirates, so safety cannot be guaranteed.”
“It doesn’t matter! Everyone knows that the sea route is dangerous! But wouldn’t a merchant risk his life if he had the chance?”
As the merchants continued to cling to him, the head of the Otaibi family pulled out a trump card.
“Joseon is only allowing trade with this license! “Without this, you can’t even get off the ship.”
“Ah…”
Of course, Joseon sold the license, but there was no reason for the head of the Otaibi family to tell that fact.
The merchant ships of the Otaibi and Azram families, having shaken off the small merchants, left the Port of Aden.
The head of the Otaibi family was on the largest merchant ship among the Otaibi family merchant ships. The leader clenched his fists as he watched the Port of Aden getting further and further away.
“certainly! “You can’t fail twice!”