Black Corporation: Joseon

After a long voyage, Duke Henry’s fleet from Joseon finally arrived at Suez.

“Suez! It’s Suez!”

At the lookout’s cry from the crow’s nest, everyone aboard wore expressions that seemed to say ‘finally.’

“We’ve finally arrived.”

Henry nodded slightly at the captain’s words.

“Well done. However…”

Trailing off, Henry watched the Joseon ships heading toward the dock ahead and continued.

“When we secure funding, we should acquire Joseon ships. Even if warships are difficult, at least merchant vessels.”

The captain nodded at Henry’s words.

***

During this voyage, Henry and the Portuguese had keenly felt the superiority of Joseon ships.

These vessels surpassed their nau (the Portuguese name for carracks) in every aspect – size, speed, and durability.

It was a humbling moment when their ships, which they had proudly considered the most advanced and highest performing among all nations bordering the Mediterranean and Atlantic, seemed inferior in comparison.

***

As the ships docked, waiting workers swarmed forward.

They were laborers from Mansur and Aden’s merchant groups, along with union workers jointly operated by Joseon, and day laborers struggling to make ends meet.

The workers from Aden’s merchants and the Joseon-organized union arrived with carts, preparing for unloading in an orderly manner.

Unlike the orderly appearance of the Joseon and Mansur merchant groups, chaos erupted around Prince Henry’s ship as day laborers gathered.

“It was like this when we left too…”

“Nari! Nari!”

Henry shook his head at the chaotic scene as workers crowded around, shouting “Nari!” in awkward Korean pronunciation.

“I told them to prepare and train people in advance…”

Before departing for Joseon, Henry had left behind several subordinates with orders:

“If things go well, we’ll return with loads of Joseon goods. We can’t entrust such cargo to random rabble, so establish an organization.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He had left substantial funds with this instruction, but returning now, he found the same chaos again.

The situation preventing disembarkation due to the chaos before them soon began to resolve itself.

“Move aside!”

“Get lost!”

A group of sturdy men began driving away the workers, swinging long clubs and shouting curses.

As these thugs cleared away the gathered day laborers, Henry’s subordinates appeared leading a group of organized workers.

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

“Oh! Nuno! Rodrigo!”

Henry brightened at his subordinates’ calls.

Through the workers his subordinates brought, unloading began from Henry’s fleet.

Watching laborers carrying wooden boxes on their backs and heads, Henry muttered with a regretful expression.

“Even if we can’t buy Joseon ships, we should at least buy their windlasses.”

Unlike their own precarious unloading across swaying gangplanks, the Joseon ships were efficiently and safely unloading cargo using devices called nokro (windlasses) and geojunggi (cranes) installed on both sides of their hulls.

Expressing such regret, Henry turned toward his lodgings while discussing matters with Nuno and Rodrigo.

“Did you secure proper warehouses?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Right next to the warehouses used by the Joseon and Mansur merchants. We paid a premium, but it’s more secure.”

“Well done. And when the Joseon and Mansur merchants leave for Alexandria, we’ll move with them, so send word to Ceuta through messenger birds to prepare ships.”

“Yes, Your Grace. But…”

Nuno asked Henry with a curious expression.

“How did your visit to Joseon go?”

Henry responded confidently to his subordinate’s question.

“We won’t have to worry about creditors anymore.”

“Ah!”

“Thank goodness!”

His subordinates’ faces brightened at Henry’s response.

Henry had been forced to expend enormous funds for his ongoing exploration activities. To secure this funding, he had heavily misappropriated money from the Order of Christ where he served as Grand Master, and mobilized the order’s knights for exploration.

Even so, the need for capital kept growing, and Henry had to reach out to external sources.

Responding to his requests, powerful financiers including Cosimo de’ Medici and Portuguese nobles had lent him funds.

But debt remained debt, despite being dressed up in flowery language. Under pressure from creditors masquerading as investors, Henry had to hand over colonies acquired during exploration.

In the end, while Henry’s fame had grown through his explorations, he was like a “pretty but hollow peach” – full of debt. And recently, even that fame had greatly diminished.

However, the goods obtained through this voyage to Joseon seemed sufficient to resolve his toxic debt.

***

Watching his relieved subordinates, Henry continued.

“Once we dispose of these goods, we can deal with these bloodsucking flea-like creditors. Then we can work with real investors who’ll share our future.”

“It will definitely happen!”

“Indeed it will!”

Patting his subordinates’ shoulders lightly, Henry made a promise to himself.

“I must make it happen!”

***

Five days later, as the Joseon people began quietly preparing to leave for Alexandria after finishing their rest, Henry’s group also started moving.

Before departure, Henry gathered Nuno, Rodrigo, and the captains to give orders.

“I’ll return as quickly as possible after handling business in Lisbon. Until then, complete the ships’ maintenance.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Considering our future, nothing can be done carelessly.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

“We’ll do our utmost, Your Grace.”

After firmly instructing his subordinates, Henry set out for Alexandria.

Meanwhile, the Joseon people, seeing Henry’s group busily following them, shook their heads slightly.

“Those foreigners have really developed a taste for traveling with us.”

“Well, it’s the safest way.”

“They should at least pay protection fees if that’s the case!”

***

Returning from Alexandria with cargo, Henry received a grand welcome.

Compared to before departing for Joseon, it was truly a triumphant return in splendor.

Entering Lisbon’s palace, Henry knelt respectfully before King Afonso V and paid his respects.

“Duke of Viseu, Henry, greets His Majesty the King.”

“Well done, Duke of Viseu.”

“Well done indeed, Duke of Viseu.”

The eight-year-old King Afonso V and his regent, Duke Pedro of Coimbra, welcomed Henry warmly.

“Truly grateful that you safely returned from such a distant journey to the ‘Land of Flowers,’ Joseon, at the far end of the Orient.”

Henry bowed his head humbly at Pedro’s praise.

“It was all by God’s grace.”

In this cordial atmosphere, Afonso V asked Henry:

“What kind of country was Joseon?”

“It was truly a wealthy nation, Your Majesty.”

Henry briefly explained to Afonso V what he had seen in Joseon.

“What an extraordinary country.”

After hearing Henry’s explanation, Afonso V’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. With an expression that would have made Hyang say “What a history nerd!”, Afonso V continued.

“I would love to visit someday.”

“You will be able to visit someday, Your Majesty.”

Afonso V nodded vigorously at Henry’s response.

***

As Henry had predicted, the goods brought from Joseon sold out with huge profits.

Even the cheapest items brought triple their price, while crystal and bone china teacups and medium to large chandeliers brought Henry profits of at least fifteen times their cost.

“Now, time to eliminate the fleas.”

As he had told his subordinates, Henry was able to clear most of his debts from the pressuring creditors.

“We would like to reinvest…”

“We’ll consider it.”

After politely declining the creditors’ wishes to reinvest, Henry watched their carriages leave his mansion while grinding his teeth.

“Grrrr! Being pushed around ends now! From now on, I’ll work only with truly trustworthy people!”

After clearing out the toxic creditors, Henry moved busily.

First, he replenished the treasury of the Order of Christ that he had misappropriated. This wasn’t due to religious devotion but to solidify the knights’ trust and prepare for the future.

Then, by sending a massive chandelier as a gift to Sala ibn Sala, Morocco’s power holder, he secured the return of his youngest brother, Prince Fernando, who had been held hostage.

***

Prince Fernando had been taken hostage when the Tangier expedition failed.

Portugal had captured Ceuta in the 1415 expedition. However, Ceuta soon became like a chicken rib – something hard to eat but wasteful to throw away.

This was because Morocco had made Tangier in the west their new trading hub instead of Ceuta. Additionally, as African exploration progressed in earnest, Tangier became a threat to Portuguese ships entering and leaving the Mediterranean.

Therefore, Henry had strongly advocated for taking Tangier.

However, negative opinions had prevailed.

To make the expedition happen, Henry had drawn in his youngest brother Fernando and even promised to give his ducal title and all his property to Fernando, King Duarte’s second son, if he died.

The expedition thus undertaken ended in failure. The failure resulted from having only half the planned troops, and Morocco’s unified defensive response despite Portugal’s chaotic political situation.

Finally, to withdraw safely back to Portugal, Henry had made a treaty with Sala ibn Sala:

-Return Ceuta in exchange for safe withdrawal.

-Leave Prince Fernando and a few key figures as hostages.

This was how Henry and the Portuguese army had escaped their predicament.

However, the treaty wasn’t ratified for various reasons. As a result, his youngest brother Fernando had remained a hostage.

Additionally, Henry’s accumulated reputation and political standing had greatly diminished.

***

In this situation, the successful voyage to Joseon provided Henry a chance for revival.

He could once again raise his reputation, free himself from cursed creditors, and strengthen his political position by rescuing his brother.

After putting his affairs in order, Henry sent an envoy to Florence.

It was to negotiate with Cosimo de’ Medici, ruler of Florence and controller of European capital.

***

Florence, Italy.

Reading Henry’s personal letter, Cosimo stroked his chin and muttered.

“Wants to discuss new and revolutionary trade routes through Egypt… The ‘new and revolutionary’ part intrigues me. Could it be related to the iron horses I’ve only heard rumors about?”

After such mutterings, Cosimo reached a conclusion.

“This could create a massive game if played right. A game with enormous stakes.”