Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 430: What was expected, what was unexpected. (7)

Three months later.

Lim Soon-wook, wearing a silk robe and a stylish hat, was riding a rickshaw through the streets. Lim Soon-wook, wearing a hat made of horsehair, which is newly popular these days, and wearing a awning, was very charming to anyone who saw him.

However, when Lim Sun-wook got into the rickshaw, he was looking at the street with a bitter smile and muttering.

“It is said that a person’s life is one in which one cannot predict the future….” * *

*

Until a few years ago, Lim Sun-wook was the owner of a relatively healthy merchant. However, through the connection made by the rickshaw made by Hyang at that time, he was able to wear official uniform and become an official.

Although he was a government official by special appointment, he was repeatedly promoted through all kinds of hardships, including working overtime and staying up all night with other officials.

Lim Soon-wook was heartbroken when he rose to the rank of Vice Minister through fierce overtime and all-night competition.

“A person from the northwest who was looked down on has become a vice minister! Hahahaha!”

Lim Sun-wook, unable to overcome his overwhelming heart, went to his hometown and held a party.

“Great! “It is truly magnificent!”

Im Soon-wook’s parents celebrated with tears in their eyes when their son, who had entered the business because he was from the northwest, returned as a high official.

With Lim Sun-wook’s success in life, a large number of his relatives living in his hometown and the residents of Dong-ri became interested in entering the civil service.

However, Lim Sun-wook, who was living a busy life as a vice minister, was ordered by King Sejong to take off his official uniform and move to a new position.

The position he moved to was the president of the Joseon Railroad Corporation under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Development.

According to the newly created law, it was an opportunity to receive the rank of Vice Minister. However, from the outside, it was a top tier and Lim Soon-wook was a top tier owner.

In the end, it was Lim Sun-wook who turned around and became a merchant again.

* * *

“I have arrived.”

Lim Sun-wook, who had been sitting in a daze, lost in thought, came to his senses after hearing Malbok’s words and got off the rickshaw.

“Good work.”

“Thank you.”

Malbok, who was lowering his head, had already turned his topknot.

“I can’t believe that the guy who was a bachelor with messy hair has already gotten married. “Is Lady Wang (an honorific term for someone’s grandmother) in peace?”

“Yes, you are still correcting it.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Lim Sun-wook lightly patted Malbok’s shoulder and entered the newly built railway construction building at the end of Yukjo Street.

“Are you here?”

“okay. When did the merchants from Ming say they would come?”

To Lim Soon-wook’s question, the general affairs manager looked at the clock hanging on the wall and immediately answered.

“We will arrive after 1 o’clock.”

“Are there any preparations?”

“yes.”

“The first hurdle you faced became the highest hurdle, but don’t forget that if you get over this hurdle well, the future will be smooth. Understand? “Your Majesty did not spend time and money just to defraud the people.”

Not only the general affairs manager but also other subordinates responded loudly to Lim Soon-wook’s request.

“I will keep this in mind!”

“good!”

Lim Sun-wook, who had gathered his men’s fighting spirit, lightly rubbed his hands and stood up.

“Then get ready to start fighting!”

* * *

At the appointed time, the top representatives entered the conference room.

“welcome.”

As Lim Sun-wook greeted the Ming Dynasty merchants in fluent Chinese, the Ming Dynasty merchants also responded with polite courtesy.

“Thank you for your welcome.”

“Come this way.”

The two sides facing each other began to engage in a fierce war of words.

The first thing the two sides clashed over was the price of the actual iron horse that was to be delivered.

“Isn’t 3,500 taels of gold per unit too expensive? “As far as we know, the unit cost for Joseon to make an iron horse is 2,000 nyang of gold!”

“It’s not expensive at all.”

Lim Soon-wook gave detailed reasons and explained that it was not expensive at all.

-There is no ship to transport an iron horse of enormous size and weight in its completed state.

-Therefore, it must be disassembled appropriately, transported, and then taken to the Ming Kingdom to be reassembled.

-A large number of craftsmen must be employed not only in the disassembly process but also in the reassembly process.

-Not only must craftsmen be employed, but various facilities necessary for assembly must also be installed.

“…Considering this kind of time and cost, 3,500 nyang of gold per unit is the minimum you should receive.”

“But…”

“If that’s the case, Myeong-guk will personally transport the completed iron horse. “Whether it is transported by boat or by laying a railroad track, if Myungguk moves it himself, I will reduce the price to 3,000 nyang of gold.”

“Why 3,000 cat of gold?”

“It is difficult to supply the iron horses that Joseon needs right now, so we are taking three from them. Of course there must be additional costs, right? “If you not only purchase all the iron horses that the Ming Dynasty needs from Joseon but also provide a sufficient delivery period, I will reduce the price to 2,500 nyang of gold.”

“Oh my…”

The merchants of Ming Dynasty looked perplexed at Lim Sun-wook’s suggestion.

Even in the Ming Dynasty, there were no ships that could transport the completed iron horse. There were still a few large ships used by Zheng He’s fleet in the past. However, transporting iron horses required extensive repairs and the costs were considerable.

In the end, after three days of continuous push and pull, an agreement was reached that instead of paying 3,200 taels of gold per unit for the completed iron horse, the installation facilities required for assembly would be handed over for 500 taels of gold.

And at the meeting that followed, a fierce war of words broke out once again over the royalties for using the intellectual property of the blueprint.

“If we only end up making one or two units, we will pay the amount Joseon demands, but we expect the number to be at least a hundred. Therefore, we cannot meet the ratio requested by Joseon.”

A fierce war of words continued for several days again, and this time, a mediation plan was decided focusing on Mingguo’s plan.

* * *

“…That is how I received a usage fee of 150 taels of gold per unit.”

“Good work. It seems like President Lim’s efforts are visible. “I think it was best to leave the position to President Lim.”

Im Sun-wook bowed his head respectfully under King Sejong’s admiration.

“That’s too much praise.”

“Did the merchants of the Ming Kingdom say they would return tomorrow?”

“That’s right. And the shipment of iron horses to the Ming Dynasty is scheduled to begin in three months.”

“Good.”

As Sejong was nodding in response to Im Soon-wook’s answer, Hyang, who was sitting below the temple and listening to the story, looked at Sejong.

“Can I ask President Lim for a moment?”

“I allow it.”

After receiving permission from King Sejong, Hyang asked Im Soon-wook.

“Do the conditions put forth by the Ming Dynasty merchants end with handing over the installed facilities?”

“yes.”

“Is this really the end?”

“Is that so? “Is it possible that I made a mistake?”

Hyang shook his head in response to Im Soon-wook’s question.

“no. “It’s just that I feel like I made a very fatal mistake.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, King Sejong and the ministers all looked at Hyang with expressions full of curiosity.

“Fatal mistake? “Are you saying there’s more to it than just handing over the blueprints?”

“yes. It seems that the people of the Ming Dynasty viewed the Joseon craftsmen very easily. Those idiots. I left out the thing about artisan training. “If it were me, I would have included a clause requesting training for the craftsmen upon their arrival.”

“Artisan training? ah!”

Sejong, who slightly tilted his head in response to Hyang’s answer, let out an exclamation. The ministers who were listening to Hyang’s story did the same.

This was because the craftsmen of Area 51 who created the iron horse knew well how it had evolved while riding the hand of incense.

Sejong, who pondered Hyang’s words for a moment, smiled and muttered.

“As expected, you thought it would be easy to make it if you just had the blueprint?”

Hwang Hee responded to Sejong’s words.

“They are the ones who are considered the center of the world. “It’s been like that for a while.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hee’s words.

“It was like that.”

* * *

Ming’s level of technology and knowledge overwhelmed those around him, to the point where he freely used the word ‘Junghwa (中華)’, meaning ‘center of the world’. Of course, Joseon was ahead in some aspects, but overall, it was the side that accepted the advanced civilization of the Ming Dynasty.

However, as Hyang became more active, technology gradually began to surpass Ming, and Sasang gradually began to follow a different path from Ming.

The Ming also noticed Joseon’s movement, but the Ming was forced to ignore it to protect its pride.

“Yes, it is the skills and knowledge of a vassal country! If we just put in a little effort, we can get ahead! “We are the center of the world!”

* * *

Hyang pointed out Myeong-guk’s mistake and made a suggestion to King Sejong.

“Abamama Soja has something to ask President Lim, will you allow it?”

“I allow it.”

After obtaining King Sejong’s permission, Hyang ordered Im Soon-wook.

“From now on, tell the craftsmen who will be dispatched to the Ming what I am saying.”

“yes. “What is it?”

“Tell them to securely surround the assembly site with a curtain.”

“Do you mean the tent?”

Lim Sun-wook’s face, who had been pondering the scent’s command for a moment, brightened for a moment.

“ah! “I know what you mean!”

“If anything…”

Hyang, who was about to say something, suddenly stopped talking and looked at Sejong.

“I ask Abama! If craftsmen go to the Ming, there is a high possibility that the Ming will step in and placate them! “Please send us people to stop this!”

“It makes sense.”

King Sejong, who answered briefly and concisely, stroked his beard and was lost in thought.

Sejong, who had been thinking for a while, looked at Lim Soon-wook and opened his mouth.

“I hope President Lim will take over that task.”

“I follow your orders.”

* * *

Although there was hectic activity here and there, overall Joseon was peaceful. As the Jurchen tribes who had been installed in the north continued their reign, the Japanese pirates in the south had no choice but to remain quiet as they watched the Joseon navy and the Ouchi family.

And with the discovery of Daeseoldo’s abundant underground resources, Joseon was gradually improving its supply of resources.

As Joseon was slowly moving to break away from stagnation, Mansour arrived in Hanseong with an urgent report.

“I must see the king! “It’s urgent!”

At Mansour’s plea, Hassan headed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two days later, Mansour was able to have an audience with King Sejong.

King Sejong opened his mouth as he looked at Mansour, who bowed respectfully and prostrated himself.

“So what is an urgent report?”

“Portuguese and Spanish ships have begun to be discovered off the east coast of Africa.”

“Are they from the east coast of Africa?”

“to.”

Mansour responded briefly, took out a map from his arms, and held it out.

“This is a map sent to you by Cosimo de’ Medici of Italy.”

“merchant ship.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

King Sejong, who received the map from a merchant ship, examined it.

The eastern part of the African continent was still blank, but the west coast and south had been meticulously mapped out.

“Let the ministers take a look as well.”

Sejong, who handed the map to the merchant ship, asked Mansour.

“When was the last time you received this guidance?”

“Just before departure, about three months ago.”

“So you didn’t know until then?”

“There were only rumors.”

“It’s just a rumor…”

King Sejong kept his mouth shut in response to Mansour’s answer.

Hyang, who was quietly listening to the story under the house, muttered to himself.

‘You’ve finally arrived. The embodiment of desire.’

The time had finally come for contact between the West and the East to occur on a large scale.

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