Black Corporation: Joseon

After the battle ended, on the way to Malacca, Henry asked the guide:

“Are there many pirates on the way to Malacca?”

“Many. There are lots on the way to Malacca, and they’re overflowing on the route around Temasek to Luzon. No, it’s best to assume they’re swarming all the way to Joseon.”

At the guide’s words, Henry and the captain’s faces grew serious.

“If there are that many…”

As Henry trailed off, lost in thought, the captain continued the questioning.

“From what we saw earlier, the pirates suffered heavy losses. Do they always attack like that?”

The guide nodded at the captain’s question.

“Pirates are as persistent as sharks. And for good reason – the cargo on Joseon ships is incredibly valuable, isn’t it? If they manage to loot one properly, all the surviving pirates could live comfortably for years.”

Henry and the captain nodded simultaneously at the guide’s words. However, Henry also had another question.

‘Where do the pirates get their manpower from?’

***

The cargo coming from the ‘Land of Flowers’ was immensely valuable. As a result, it wasn’t just pirates who were after it.

Even on the land route from Suez to Alexandria, there was an abundance of bandits targeting these goods, or the proceeds and merchandise from their sale.

The reason for using the past tense is that these gangs of bandits who kept attacking were almost wiped out each time, making their existence quite rare.

According to rumors, the Joseon military used weapons similar to arquebuses with incredible skill. Additionally, there were unbelievable stories that when they ran out of bullets, they killed even more bandits with bows and arrows, and even more incredible tales that arrows shot from Joseon bows could fly 1000 cubits (about 480m) to catch bandits.

***

Knowing that desert bandit gangs had been exterminated this way, Henry was curious about why the pirates could persistently challenge them.

Eventually, Henry asked the guide for the reason.

“From what we saw earlier, the pirates also suffer considerable losses. How can they recruit so many people?”

To Henry’s question, the guide answered with a cynical expression.

“There are people struggling to make a living everywhere.”

Henry and the captain nodded at the guide’s response.

***

As the guide said, there were no more pirate attacks after that one battle.

After a relatively peaceful voyage, the Joseon fleet, the merchant ships following it, and Henry’s fleet arrived in Malacca.

As the Joseon ships docked at the port, the harbor became bustling.

“They welcome the Joseon people warmly?”

“They spend money well. They usually stay here for about three days, so you can prepare supplies and preparations accordingly.”

“How long does it take to get to Joseon?”

“If you catch the wind well, about 20 days?”

The guide, who had been explaining up to this point, looked at the Challenger-class warship with greedy eyes.

“With that ship, even 15 days would be a long time, but…”

At the guide’s words, Henry and the captain’s eyes widened.

“That big ship is that fast? It didn’t seem so.”

“They were deliberately going slowly because there were many ships going together. Without the baggage tagging along, they’re incredibly fast.”

“Surely not…”

“I’ve seen it myself. That’s why I quit being a pirate and became a guide.”

At the guide’s answer, Henry’s chest suddenly felt tight.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake…”

Whether knowing Henry’s feelings or not, the guide’s following words were quite a sight.

“This is just something I’ve heard as a rumor, but they say there are even faster ships than those in Joseon’s mainland.”

“Huh…”

***

After finishing rest and resupply in Malacca, Henry’s fleet left Malacca along with other ships following the Joseon fleet.

As they passed Temasek and Luzon and moved further northeast, the size of the fleet gradually increased.

Each time strange-looking ships approached, the guide explained the nationality of the ships to Henry and the captain.

“Those ships are from Siam (today’s Thailand).”

“Those ships are from Nam Viet (present-day Vietnam).”

The guide also explained what these ships mainly carried. At the guide’s explanation, Henry’s eyes brightened again.

‘So this is the golden fragrance I’ve only heard about! If we can just monopolize this properly, the kingdom will become the greatest in the world! And my position will become solid! If necessary, we must succeed in monopolizing even if we have to mobilize the entire fleet!’

Henry dreamed of monopolizing the trade route, even if it meant resorting to force.

‘Those Joseon ships are a bit burdensome, but if we succeed in this voyage, we can attract investors on a large scale! Then we can increase the size of the fleet even more! Then it’s entirely possible!’

However, as they approached Joseon, Henry’s plan of ‘monopoly based on force’ burst like a bubble.

It was when they encountered the Haeung-class ships dominating Joseon’s coastal waters.

“What kind of country is this… Oh, Lord…”

Seeing the Haeung-class warships moving in pairs across the sea as if flying, Henry lamented, looking up at the sky.

And as they got closer to Mokpo, seeing not only Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships but also Panokseon ships swarming, Henry completely broke his will to use force.

It wasn’t simply because there were many ships. It was because he saw the massive number of cannons loaded on each of those ships.

“What kind of country is this…”

Every time he saw such a sight, Henry kept uttering, “What kind of country is this…” Finally, unable to contain his frustration, Henry burst out:

“What kind of country is this! Everywhere you look, there’s nothing but cannons! This isn’t the ‘Land of Flowers’, it’s the ‘Land of Cannons’!”

Finally, realizing that force was not the answer, Henry resolved to do his best in negotiations.

“Negotiation is the only way. Only negotiation…”

****

As the quarantine period ended, ships that had been staying at Dallido moved one by one to the trading port of Mokpo.

First, the Challenger-class warships and large private merchant ships docked, followed by ships belonging to Mansur’s merchant group, and then ships from other countries.

Because of this order, Henry’s fleet was assigned almost last.

When the ship carrying Henry safely docked at the pier, a gangway was placed, and an interpreter and an official came aboard. Thanks to the advance notice from the Challenger-class warship, an interpreter capable of Latin was waiting, so things progressed surprisingly quickly.

“Who is the commander of this fleet?”

At the interpreter’s question, the captain introduced Henry to the interpreter.

“This is him. He is a prince of Portugal.”

“A prince of the Kingdom of Portugal (Princeps autem regni Portuguese)?”

“That’s right.”

“Really?”

“Indeed.”

Having confirmed twice but receiving the same answer, the interpreter immediately reported to his superior.

“He says he’s a prince from the western country of Portugal!”

“A prince of Portugal? Is there such a country?”

“Yes. From what I’ve learned, there is such a country among the western countries!”

At the interpreter’s report, the finance ministry official immediately organized the situation.

“Assign the best building among the guest houses!”

“Yes!”

“And send an urgent message via the light communication device! The detailed report… Ah, today’s last train has already left! For now, escort him to the building!”

“Yes!”

Following the finance ministry official’s orders, the officials in charge of immigration records and the interpreter moved busily.

Whether he brought good news or not was unknown at the moment, but he was a prince of a country nonetheless. They had to treat him properly with proper etiquette.

***

“What kind of country…”

As he moved towards the guest house under the guidance of the interpreter and officials, observing his surroundings, Henry muttered what had now become a habit. No, it wasn’t just Henry. His attendants, bodyguards, and captains accompanying him also had similar expressions as they looked around.

No matter how far it was from Portugal, the scenery of Joseon was too unfamiliar.

The main street cutting through the center of Mokpo was neatly paved with cement (cimento). Even the unpaved alleys were firmly packed dirt roads. And whether paved or unpaved, on both sides of the roads were ditches that looked like sewers, covered with lids.

The houses along the roads were also a sight to behold. Whether they were houses with cement walls and tiled roofs or houses with mud walls and thatched roofs, most had glass windows.

Glass windows, still expensive in Europe, were attached even to houses that looked far from wealthy at a glance.

The same was true for the restaurants scattered throughout the streets. Even in restaurants that looked like ordinary people would frequent, expensive glass cups and porcelain dishes were circulating on every table.

That wasn’t all.

People everywhere were drinking Ponsu (Ponsu), which commoners in Europe could only drink on saints’ birthdays or festivals, and crates full of empty Ponsu bottles were piled up in front of stores that looked like Ponsu shops.

And…

“Sniff, sniff! What’s this smell?”

Among unknown pungent smells – later found to be the smell of the fermented soybean paste that Joseon people eat – there was a mix of something savory.

Turning his head to follow the trace of that smell, he saw something being fried in large oil pots, and people were moving with these fried foods in paper bags or dishes. And in the other hand of those holding the fried food were bottles full of Ponsu in baskets made of straw.

Experiencing the confusion caused by harmony and disharmony, Prince Henry’s party entered the guest house.

The interpreter who assigned rooms for Henry and his party to stay in continued with a friendly smile.

“Water for washing will be prepared soon. Please wait a moment.”

“Alright.”

Henry, who answered briefly, looked around the room.

“It’s not ordinary.”

On one side of the room was a clean bed, and in the center was a large round table. And in the center of the table was a lamp with a white shade.

Curious, Henry removed the shade of the lamp and looked inside.

“It’s empty. Will they put candles or oil in later? Anyway…”

After examining the shade made of white glass and the transparent lamp body, Henry became slightly greedy.

“It looks nice.”

****

It was around sunset when Prince Henry came out after washing up.

As Henry, who had changed clothes with the help of an attendant, sat in a chair looking at the gradually darkening scenery outside, a man who looked like a servant of the guest house entered the room carrying a basket.

The servant, who bowed politely, removed the shade and body of the lamp placed in the center of the room and opened the lid of the copper base.

Henry watched the servant’s actions with curious eyes.

The servant who opened the lid of the copper base took out a small, square, blue-gray stone from the basket and put it inside the base, then took out a kettle from the basket.

After tilting the kettle to fill the base with water, the servant immediately closed the lid and waited for a moment. And after a short while, the servant took out a lit wooden stick from the basket and held it to the copper pipe protruding above the lid.

Instantly, a yellow flame rose from the mouth of the copper pipe, and the servant skillfully put on the lamp body and shade.

After finishing all the work, the servant bowed politely again and went outside.

Prince Henry, who had been staring blankly at the glowing lamp, turned to his attendant.

“Have you ever seen anything like this?”

“Never! Is it magic to make fire with water and stone?”

Amidst the attendant’s fuss, Henry, still staring blankly at the lamp, muttered again.

“What kind of country is this…”