Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 614

Episode 614: The Beginning of the Empire – Today is like yesterday. (2)

Soon after, Park Jong-woo, Lim Sun-wook, and Kim Jeom visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Why did the Left Deputy Prime Minister come here?”

When Kim Jeom, who was like an ‘ugly sister-in-law’, appeared, Heo Hu asked the reason with a slightly shocked expression. Kim Jeom answered Heo Hu’s question by pointing to Park Jong-woo and Lim Sun-wook.

“They still have little experience and are naive, so there is a risk that if they make a mistake, they will be dealt the opposite effect. “That’s why I came.”

“Ah...”

Heohu just nodded in response to Kim Jeom’s answer.

* * *

It was Kim Jeom who rose from the position of Minister of Finance to the Minister of Finance and Economy, and now to the Left Deputy Prime Minister.

There was almost nothing that did not pass through his hands, including transactions taking place at the government and private levels as well as transactions between countries. The only exception was the trade between Emperor Seondeok and incense.

Not only that, but even the country’s budget had to be supervised by him, so at times even King Sejong had to keep an eye on his opinions.

* * *

In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, Heo Hu just nodded and moved on, but Park Jong-woo and Lim Sun-wook looked at Kim Jeom with dumbfounded expressions.

‘Even now, it’s been almost 20 years since I worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, smelling money...’

‘I used to be a businessman. It was also a top-tier stock!’

“huh? “Why do you guys look like that?”

“Oh no, let’s not come.”

“No.”

“Then let’s get started quickly. “Already, due to this year’s budget issue, I have been delayed in discussing things with you and your Majesty.”

“yes.”

* * *

Because there were a large number of envoys who had arrived in advance, Henry and his party had to return to their lodgings and wait.

It was after 3 o’clock (about 6 hours) that Henry and his group visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again.

“We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Henry stepped forward and responded to Heo Hu’s words.

“Oh no. “Please don’t mind, it’s also our fault that we visited without making an appointment in advance.”

“Thank you. So, what is the reason for your sudden visit?”

As Heohu got straight to the point, Henrik also answered right away.

“I was truly impressed by the firepower your country’s troops showed in yesterday’s training. So, I would like to purchase some of your country’s weapons.”

“Aoman, I see you’ve already purchased quite a few of them the other day.”

Henrik kept his mouth shut at Huhu’s point.

‘Compared to what I saw yesterday, it was nothing more than a piece of junk! And then!’

Henrik, who held back from swearing at any moment, chose his words carefully and answered.

“It is true that the long guns I purchased earlier are good weapons. But that weapon can only give you a slight advantage. “Unlike that, if we have the weapons we saw yesterday, we can have an overwhelming advantage.”

“Hehehe! “I’m really happy to hear such positive reviews, but at the same time, I’m a little worried that I’m being evaluated too highly.”

Henrik immediately responded to Huhu’s humility.

“It is not an overestimation since it has already been proven through a battle with Ming.”

“Now that you say that, I feel reassured. okay. “What weapons are you interested in?”

“It’s mountain artillery, freight cars, and long guns.”

* * *

What impressed me the most in yesterday’s training was the bigyeokjincheonroe. However, among the subordinates who observed with him, those with knowledge of cannons opposed it.

“We can make similar shells too.”

“In fact, the scorching bullet is the easiest to make.”

Giovanni’s eyes actually lit up at Kim Jeom’s suggestion.

“If a new product costs 15 nyang silver and a used one costs 8 nyang, isn’t that a huge difference? “Even if it’s something you’ve only used once, there’s such a difference, right?”

“It’s just handing over something to be melted down and it’s an expression of goodwill towards the country you’re purchasing from. “If you don’t like it, you can just buy a new one. Why do you keep saying the same thing over and over again?”

Giovanni responded with a humble smile to Kim Jeom’s words, which were filled with unpleasant feelings.

“It’s just that I can’t believe it because the price is so good. It’s not because you don’t trust your return, so I hope you’ll let go of your anger. “I apologize sincerely.”

“greatness! “Keuhum!”

Kim Jeom, who cleared his emotions with a loud cough, continued speaking.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I will buy used goods as you suggested.”

“How many? I’m only telling you, the maximum quantity our country can produce is 50,000 bags. And since quite a few countries have already expressed their intention to purchase, there is not much left.”

“How much time is left...”

Kim Jeom answered Giovanni’s question while stroking his beard with a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

“Well, let’s come. “Now that we have to go back to our country and get approval, only the approximate quantity has been determined. Based on that, about 9,000 bags?”

“About 9,000...”

Kim Jeom continued while looking at the three people who looked like they thought that would be enough.

“ah! Additionally, the numbers they wrote down are minimum quantities. “These are countries where everyone knows their names well.”

Giovanni’s face suddenly changed at those words.

They were the ones who went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs even more hastily than they did. And it was true that they knew Ming better than themselves. Its performance was proven in the fact that people who knew the name well moved urgently. It was said that Henrik was not the only one who thought that way.

The problem was that the preempted quantity was the minimum quantity. In other words, it could change depending on who brings the money first.

‘But wouldn’t 9,000 bags be okay?’

Giovanni, who was familiar with European battlefields where at most thousands to 10,000 to 20,000 troops were mobilized, soon changed his mind.

‘no! If you look at the current situation in Suez, it’s not even possible!’

The Mamluks and Ottomans mobilized an average of 40,000 to 50,000 troops per battle. If you add mercenaries sent from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, both sides were putting about 70,000 men into battle. And this number was growing bigger and bigger.

‘In this situation, even if you increase it little by little, it will only prolong the war. ‘You have to put in a lot at once!’

Giovanni, who had made up his mind, was about to open his mouth when Mehmed II spoke first.

“Osman alone will purchase 10,000 bags.”

“huh?”

“uh!”

Giovanni and Henry, who were startled by Mehmet II’s unexpected behavior, quickly exchanged whispers and joined the competition.

“We will also buy 10,000 bags!”

‘If we want to gain priority in the Suez region in the future, we must not fall behind the Ottomans!’

“Are you okay?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s question, Mehmet II nodded confidently.

“I can handle that much!”

“We too!”

After confirming several times after that that Henry and his group’s decision was firm, Kim Jeom moved on.

“I understand. “Then what are you going to do with the bullets?”

“Why the bullets?”

“The performance of our country’s guns only comes from special ammunition made by our country.”

“How much do those bullets cost?...”

“20 bullets cost 1 Joseon silver coin.”

In response to Kim Jeom’s answer, the three people looked like they had taken a hit. Either way, Kim Jeom continued.

“Just to add, freight cars also have to use that special ammunition.”