1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 340



Only Krnovel

1592 The Empire Everyone Dreamed of (340)

Strategy

Slurp.

The scent of black tea rose.

Jiwoo picked up the hot cup, savored the aroma of the tea, and then put it down.

Dalgrak.

“It was truly amazing to ride an iron horse.”

Jiwoo’s eyes sparkled.

“You made me take a short ride. Was it a hassle?”

“The soldiers took it as a kind of training. On the other hand, it helped them blow away the boredom of the long journey.”

“That’s good. I’m also curious about your feelings as a commander.”

“I thought it would be like that when you said you could deploy troops anywhere in the territory within five days, but it’s surprising that it has become a reality.”

Jiwoo nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Now the cannons will be bigger and the troops will increase, but as long as there are railroads, we’ll be fine.”

“It is also great that we can solve the problem of accommodation while moving.”

“yes.”

Suddenly, Jiwoo sighed deeply.

“But it’s still a long way off. It’s now 50 ri (20 km). And the distance we have to transport the orbital is only going to increase.”

“As time goes by, things get bigger.”

“Even if we maximize iron production, it is currently only about 100 li per year.”

“It would take 40 years to reach Beijing.”

The bastard, who had been scratching his chin, took a sip of tea.

“Of course, that alone would be great.”

“So I thought about a way.”

Jiwoo, who had stopped talking, stared intently at his old friend. His expression seemed to be expecting something.

“Is this a plan to build at both ends simultaneously?”

“Hahaha, that’s right. That’s the best we can do. We’ll still have 1,200,000 seok of tax grain left over after supporting Joseon this year, so we have plenty of room.”

With so much spare food available, there was so much available labor that the possibilities were endless.

“But that doesn’t mean there’s no problem.”

“You mean the ironmaking technique? It’s not that simple of a technique, so I don’t think you need to worry about it.”

“That’s not true. There are many engineers in the world, so even with a small clue, countless attempts will follow, and someone will make it.”

Building a steel mill in Mukden (Shenyang) was not difficult, but the problem was security. Steel was truly Goryeo’s national strength.

The bastard scratched his beard.

“Surrounding the steel mill with military camps? Wouldn’t it be better to protect key personnel? It’s complicated.”

“It’s not easy. A compromise would be to do some civil engineering work in advance, but then.”

“I guess we’ll shorten it by about five years. But where does that leave us?”

“Is that so?”

Jiwoo smiled bitterly.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to make a decision between the two in the near future.”

“Phew, I came back from the battlefield, but this is also war.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just being too greedy.”

“It’s not a bloody war, is it? If it’s such greed, I should welcome it. However.”

The bastard stretched with his hands behind his neck.

“The command center is going to die.”

“At least it’s fortunate that we will soon have graduates from high school.”

After a while, the monk straightened his posture and tilted the teapot.

Slurp.

“What will Yang Eung-ryong do?”

“I plan to inform Jan of the situation as it is.”

“Do you want him to do it on his own?”

Jiwoo nodded.

“There is nothing more foolish than trying to do something without knowing the actual situation. If it’s Yan, he will know how to handle it.”

“I agree.”

The two people who saw each other and sympathized with each other lifted the car.

The wind was cold but the sun was warm.

It was an afternoon like a sweet rest after a long journey.

* * *

The East India Company was a joint stock company whose purpose was to engage in trade with the East.

However, the company’s head was effectively a governor-general with judicial powers and limited diplomatic and military powers, exercising full authority over the eastern colonies.

Benjamin Lord, an officer for the English East India Company, frowned.

“You son of a bitch, this is beyond restraining me.”

He crumpled the letter in his hand and threw it away.

“I will go to my home country right now and call a shareholders’ meeting. I will go and report this son of a bitch Taylor’s tyranny.”

“Master, calm down.”

“Calm down? Sebastian, read the letter. Do I look calm?”

The attendant, Sebastian Owen, picked up a piece of paper from the floor.

“… … .”

“Not one or two, but over 3,000. And you’re asking for a humanitarian repatriation? Does this kid think we won the war?”

“I guess the head office has its own circumstances. Oh, it says, ‘Sales of pepper and rubber in the first half of the year were cut in half.’”

“That’s our situation.”

Benjamin Rhodes snapped.

“If you go to a bakery and say, ‘I don’t have money, give me some for free,’ they’ll happily give it to you. Hopefully they won’t burn a hole in your forehead.”

“Master, what you said is correct.”

“What if what I’m saying is true? The boss is acting like this.”

“But if you think about it, this is an opportunity.”

“opportunity?”

Sebastian shook the letter.

“The president is showing his incompetence in a crisis. Here is the proof.”

The East India Company was itself a colonial powerhouse. The company’s directors had to maintain a balance between profits and investments and realize the future interests of shareholders.

“What do you think of an incompetent CEO and a vice president who has achieved results?”

“It’s a bit tricky though.”

Benjamin Rhodes stroked his moustache.

“No matter what the outcome, the shareholders will support the Master. After all, wasn’t Admiral Walter Haines a hero at the Battle of Calais? He can’t be left as a prisoner.”

“That’s right. That idiot is only afraid of the shareholders, not London politics.”

If you incur the hatred of the shareholders, at best you will be dismissed, but if you incur the hatred of the nobles, you will be hung on the gallows.

Benjamin shook his head vigorously and fell into a new dilemma.

“But what are you negotiating with?”

“I will apply for an exclusive interview as other companies are also withdrawing one by one.”

“Hey, after we come up with some countermeasures.”

Sebastian shook his head.

“Right now, we have no money or plan, so we have no choice but to listen to what they want. What should we do?”

“Ask to meet up. Just say let’s have a cup of tea.”

“I will make this request politely.”

The attendant, Sebastian Owen, bowed and left the room.

“Okay.”

Benjamin Rhodes, chief officer of the East India Company, covered his face with his hands.

Outside the window, I could see the port undergoing expansion work.

It was an everyday scene in the South.

The whip struck the floor.

Wham!

“Move quickly.”

“Those who dawdle will be hanged.”

The natives sweated and carried stones under the threats of the conquerors.

On one side of the white sand beach, there was also a person leisurely drinking palm sap in the shade.

Gulp gulp.

“Ugh, that’s refreshing.”

Yan wiped his lips with the back of his hand and stroked his hairy stomach.

‘Something’s missing.’

Although there was an evaluation from those around him that he had come to the forefront of negotiations and realized Taiwan’s interests, it was true that there was great regret. He had only enjoyed the price of victory through harsh words.

‘Should we be satisfied with establishing Taiwan’s sovereignty?’

The re-establishment of the alliance with the mother country, Holland, was also a harvest, but it was all the work of the Southern Sea lords.

‘It’s a shame to go back like this.’

What woke him from his thoughts was a servant provided by the Dutch.

“Governor?”

“Huh? Oh. What’s going on?”

“I apologize for disturbing your rest. The English delegation has requested tea time.”

“Tea time? Is it a prisoner problem? How often should I call?”

The attendant stopped walking and turned back to greet Jan, who was humming in anticipation of the profit.

“I know this may be a bit off-topic, but their finances don’t look good.”

“Really? Thanks for the favor. What’s your name?”

Unexpectedly, Jan’s attention was focused on the clock.

“Are you in a subordinate relationship with the company? A contractual relationship? No, it doesn’t matter. How much is your salary?”

“Yes? It’s a one-year contract, but the salary is… … .”

Being a governor was not much different from running a top office. The problem was having a reliable practitioner. I thought I knew why the Master kept talking about ‘talent’.

“thank you.”

“Okay. See you in two months.”

The attendant bowed his head in silence and set up the outdoor table.

After a while, an English officer, Benjamin Lord, approached. He was also naked and wearing shorts.

“Thank you for your time.”

“You’re welcome. Please have a seat.”

Two people leaned against the bed with a small, low table between them.

“Let’s be comfortable and respect each other’s dress code.”

“We’re the same age. What more is there to be embarrassed about since we’ve exposed our naked bodies to each other?”

“Perhaps you are about to say something embarrassing?”

Benjamin Rhodes sat up straight.

“Please release the prisoners on humanitarian grounds.”

“Hoo hoo hoo.”

Ian expressed his feelings with a soft laugh.

“Our company has suffered enormous damage in this war. We sincerely hope for your goodwill.”

“There is money for war, but no ransom for prisoners? That is great logic, I am truly impressed.”

“As a merchant, I am ashamed to make this request.”

The request was impudent and the attitude polite.

Jan raised his upper body, stretched, and then adjusted his posture.

“I politely decline.”

“Please try to see things from another perspective.”

“Let’s do that. Let’s change the situation. Would you hand over 3,000 skilled sailors for nothing? Soldiers who will face us again at any moment?”

“That, that… … .”

Ian shook his head.

“If that fact becomes known to my country, will my position be spared?”

“Oh, I see. I was rude.”

There was nothing wrong with what Jan said. Only a retarded person would release a prisoner without receiving a penny.

‘You’re giving up like this? Should I give you a hint at this point?’

Despite his determined attitude, Jan was watching for an opportunity.

“phew.”

Jan sighed as if he was pretending not to notice.

“Well, is there anything you would trade for?”

“Is there anything you want?”

Benjamin, the chief officer of the English East India Company, was delighted.

“How about pepper seeds?”

“Oh my, that’s it.”

Pepper, grown in southwestern India, is a source of revenue that accounts for 20% of the company’s sales. If anyone is caught stealing it, they will be hanged by the president and have no recourse.

“I know it’s hard. But who knows? If only the two of us keep our secrets.”

“All peppers are steamed at high temperatures and dried before shipping. This is in accordance with the agreement between companies… … .”

Jan frowned.

“There’s no need to go on and on about why it can’t be done.”

“I’m sorry. Is there anything else… … .”

“Would you like to suggest anything?”

Jan pretended not to expect it. Of course, his true feelings were different.

‘Come on, stick it out. There’s something plausible left.’

But Benjamin Rhodes was silent.

‘It’s not easy.’

Slurp.

Jan filled his opponent’s empty cup with palm sap.

“I was a sailor. After 12 years on a ship, I became a deckhand. But the captain didn’t want me to become independent. What was the price I paid for my loyalty without knowing that?”

Jan shrugged.

“There was no use in regretting being sold into slavery. If I hadn’t met my current master, I would have been rotting away as a slave on a merchant ship somewhere.”

“I’ve heard that you were a self-made man who started out as a sailor.”

Benjamin Rhodes had a familiar face.

The price for 20 years of loyalty to the company was the CEO’s restraint.

‘Taylor, you little bastard, you thought I didn’t know.’

The fact that CEO Taylor Dawson had evaluated him as ‘incompetent’ was told to me by my uncle, one of the shareholders. I was horrified at Jan’s experience, which was surprisingly similar to my current situation.

“How about rubber tree seedlings?”

“Rubber tree?”

“Yes, I understand you are interested in our rubber tree plantation plants in Portugal.”

Unlike pepper, which brought huge profits to the company, rubber was not yet a big profit. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Taiwan imported all of it.

“Hmm, it’s a rubber tree.”

Jan stared at Benjamin with a cold expression.

“When are you going to grow that and use it? It’s better to trade.”

“We will take responsibility for transporting and planting seedlings, and if necessary, relocating indigenous people with farming experience.”

“Yeah. This is it.”

Ian held out his hand as if he had no choice.

“We can’t do it. We don’t have enough food to feed the prisoners anymore.”

“Oh.”

That’s how the negotiation ended.

The afternoon sun turned the Malacca beach white. It was now time to go back.

“Ready to depart.”

“Really? Laugh.”

He stood up from his seat and put on his clothes in a hurry.

“This came down through Solbin’s upper body.”

“Give it to me.”

Jan, who was roughly dressed, took the paper and unfolded it.

[Nanjing’s army crossed the Yangtze River but was defeated by Nurhachi. Nanming seems to be concentrating on internal repression for the time being. Taking advantage of this, Yang Yinglong is provoking the Shaanxi region, but his exact intentions are unclear.]

“Yang Eung-ryong? Did you raise him too much?”

Originally, the country of Shu was supposed to be handed over to Portugal.

“The supply of gunpowder has been cut off for a long time, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. Should we create a threat on the southern coast?”

Portugal, which had settled in Haenam Island, was worried about a new trade route.

“It might be a good idea to give some advice on your way back.”

Jan walked towards the harbor.