Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 607

Episode 607: Opening of Heaven – Controversy over the first law (10)

Two days before the opening ceremony.

In Hanseong – which was scheduled to be renamed Seoul after Qingjegeonwon – envoys from various countries who visited Joseon gathered to celebrate the event.

Not only Mohwagwan (慕華館), which was renamed ‘Oebingak (外賓閣)’, but also Dongpyeonggwan and Bukpyeonggwan were filled with envoys.

“There is not enough accommodation!”

“huh? already?”

“There are many officials who made up the envoy group, but the number of people who came to serve them is enormous!”

Heo Hu looked embarrassed at his subordinates’ reports.

“It’s a bit of a shame to say sorry to those seniors...”

He heard the shouts of a great general from outside, but among the ministers, Heo Hu was still one of the younger ones. Because of this, I felt intimidated when I was in front of people like Hwang Hee and Kim Jeom.

“But there is no answer...”

In the end, Heo Hu found Hwang Hee and presented him with an agenda.

“If we want to solve the problem of the Shinigami Corps, I think we will have to borrow some kiru.”

“Style? Hmm...”

Hwang Hee thought for a moment and nodded.

“I guess it’ll be okay. “The people who work at Giru are skilled at serving customers and have no problem hosting banquets, so perhaps they are more qualified?”

When envoys from foreign countries came, it was customary to host a banquet and entertain them, and courtesans were mobilized to liven up the banquet.

“Isn’t the problem the cost?”

“Ah...”

Hwang Hee nodded at Heo Hu’s point.

As the saying goes, ‘The stupidest person in the world is the one who causes trauma in Giru’, the most certain people in the calculation were gisaeng.

Kim Jeom, who received the gaze of Hwang Hee and Heo Hu, immediately nodded.

“I will prepare a budget. “It wouldn’t be right if a bad sound came out when the slope was just around the corner.”

As soon as the decision was made, the bell tower and famous flag towers in Bukchon were assigned as lodgings for the envoys.

* * *

In the midst of such busy times,

completely unexpected people visited Joseon as envoys.

Giovanni di Cosimo de’ Medici, the second son of Henry of Portugal and Cosimo de’ Medici, and Mehmet II of Ottoman came as congratulatory envoys.

As the war was in full swing, they had to travel overland through the Arabian Desert and then take a Korean ship from Aden to come to Joseon.

The appearance of the three-nation delegation immediately attracted attention. Portugal and Italy played the largest role in trade with European countries. However, after the war, they were the main culprits who caused enormous damage by disrupting not only trade routes but also the European economy.

After arriving at the trade port in Mokpo and undergoing quarantine, the envoys rode a specially assigned iron horse and rode up to Hanseong.

“Hoo~. “Is this the rumored iron horse?”

“Indeed... indeed...”

Henrik nodded as he looked at Giovanni and Mehmet II, who kept looking around in wonder.

“That’s right. I hope you take a good look on your way to Hanseong. “Why did we start a war to lay down the Iron Horse?”

The two people nodded at Henry’s words.

‘Are you saying these are the next rulers of Medici and Ottoman?’

Henrik looked at the two in front of him and commented quietly.

Giovanni was Cosimo’s second son. However, because the eldest son was very sick, he was the most likely successor.

In the case of Mehmed II, the situation was a bit more complicated.

When Mehmed II was 12 years old, his father, Murat II, suddenly handed over the position of sultan and went into seclusion.

However, due to difficulties in the ensuing battle with Hungary, Murat II was reinstated, and Mehmet II was forced to step down from his position as sultan.

Some of the paintings they drew were good, but most of them were real imaginations. Therefore, those who visited Joseon and saw the real Joseon scoffed every time they saw pictures like this.

“joy!”

“Phew! This is Joseon? Ahaha!”

This ridicule made the painters cry, but they had no other choice. Going to Joseon was quite expensive.

It was not easy to bring additional people on board the ship. There was not enough space to load goods to be sold in Joseon. Adding more space for passengers was not only a problem, but also having to load additional water and food for them was also a problem.

Naturally, the ship owners demanded a fee that would make up for the loss, and the painters did not have that much money. Of course, the sponsors who supported the painters had money to spare. However, because the road to Joseon was still dangerous, sponsors did not accept the artists’ requests.

In such a situation, Giovanni, who had the opportunity to come to Joseon, brought along the painters he supported.

* * *

As the appointed time slowly approached, the three people adjusted their clothes and waited for officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A moment later, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official found them again and ushered them outside.

“The carriage is ready.”

“Thank you.”

The three people got into the ceremonial carriage prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the carriage immediately moved towards Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“I felt it before, but Joseon’s carriages are very comfortable!”

King Mehmet II nodded at Giovanni’s words.

“At first, I thought it was because the road was well paved, but that wasn’t the case.”

The two people nodded repeatedly and admired the carriage they were riding.

* * *

Their admiration was not exaggerated. If you look at the carriages in other countries during this period, most of them were in the shape of carriages mounted directly on the axles. Because there was no shock absorber in the middle, passengers had no choice but to feel the presence of even a single stone scattered on the road.

However, Joseon’s carriages had a large spring plate inserted between the axle and the carriage. Thanks to this, we were able to provide absolute comfort compared to other countries.

What’s interesting is that it started with a rickshaw made by Hyang. Craftsmen who had confirmed the usefulness of the shock absorber on rickshaws applied it to carriages without any resistance.

And this went straight into the production of the Iron Horse carriage without any hesitation.

Simply put, with just one rickshaw, we were able to skip at least three generations.

* * *

Henry, who had heard the conversation between Giovanni and Mehmet II, joined in the conversation.

“I saw before that there was a shock absorber made of iron plate between the carriage axle and the carriage. So I tried to make it... Wow!”

Henrik concluded his speech by licking his appetite. Giovanni and Mehmet II nodded at Henry’s appearance.

“I heard that Joseon’s iron-making technology is beyond imagination.”

“I also heard a rumor that the swords made by Damascus craftsmen with all their might were cut in two by the daggers carried by the Joseon army.”

Giovanni and Mehmut II shook their heads as they added to the rumors they had heard and what they had seen with their own eyes.

“What on earth is this country called Joseon?”

“Why has a country with this kind of technology been hidden for so long?”

* * *

Because they were foreign envoys, they passed through Gwanghwamun in a carriage, but all three had to get off the carriage in front of Geunjeongmun.

The three people and the officials assisting them crossed Geunjeongmun and walked through the front yard of Geunjeongjeon.

On both sides of the road leading to Geunjeongjeon, soldiers from the Naegumwi were standing with their guns raised, looking at them.

The design of the refurbished military uniforms and caps was the same as that of regular combat units, but the inner gear was all black from top to bottom. The envoys felt a strong sense of pressure as they saw the Naegumwi soldiers standing expressionlessly in black uniforms and black cavalry boots.

‘I have become stronger than when I came before. ‘Are you saying that what you saw then wasn’t everything?’

Henrik, who was in the lead, swallowed dryly. When I first came to Joseon and saw them, I felt tremendous pressure. But compared to the pressure I feel now, the pressure back then seemed like a joke.

Henrique, who was walking under such pressure, soon realized one thing.

‘I see! This is the power that the winner has!’

Henrik found the answer by recalling how he felt this way from his older brother Pedro, who had killed his powerful political opponent, the Duke of Braganza.