Black Corporation: Joseon

At the trading port built in Mokpo.

“Hey! Time to start the inspection!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Han Myeong-hoe’s command, workers began unloading wooden crates and removing their lids.

As the workers opened the crates, waiting soldiers started taking out muskets one by one for inspection.

Click! Click! Tap!

The soldiers pulled back the firing hammers, checked if the pan covers moved properly, and confirmed the triggers functioned correctly before returning the muskets to their crates. Workers then resealed the crates with nails, while waiting officials applied red paper seals.

Finding this inspection process fascinating, Arab and Portuguese sailors watching from a distance tentatively approached nearby Koreans with questions.

“What that?”

When the Koreans couldn’t properly understand the Portuguese sailors’ broken Korean, the frustrated sailors pointed at the inspection process.

“There, that…”

“Ah…”

Finally understanding what the Portuguese sailors were pointing at, the Koreans nodded and answered.

“They’re inspecting muskets being sent to Japan.”

“Japan?”

“That’s… what was it again?”

Struggling with the explanation, the Korean approached a nearby official. After hearing from the official, he returned with a bright face and answered.

“Zipangu!”

“Ah!”

Nodding in understanding, the Portuguese sailor asked another question.

“Musket, what?”

“You’re asking what a musket is?”

When the Portuguese sailor nodded, the Korean pointed to the musket on the guard’s shoulder.

“Musket.”

“Ah…”

***

Through this process, word about Joseon’s musket exports to Japan reached the Portuguese fleet captains’ ears.

“Have you heard about the hand cannons they’re exporting to Zipangu?”

“They seem more like muskets than hand cannons.”

“Looking at the size, wouldn’t they be closer to arquebuses?”

This was when matchlock guns were just becoming common in Europe. By European standards of the time, smaller firearms were classified as arquebuses, while larger ones were considered muskets.

By European standards, the Type A Long Guns that Joseon was exporting to Japan appeared closer to arquebuses.

At least in appearance.

“Hmm, I’d like to see one up close.”

“I agree.”

In this era, merchant ships doubled as warships, and merchant captains were also military commanders. Naturally, they couldn’t help but show interest.

“If they’re just arquebuses, they can’t be anything special, right?”

Some showed skeptical reactions. In the early matchlock era, well-made armor often stopped pistol and arquebus balls.

Therefore, Joseon’s muskets, appearing slender compared to the muskets they were familiar with, didn’t look reliable to them.

“If they’re exporting them to Zipangu, they must pack quite a punch, wouldn’t you say? And if they’re as weak as we think, we could always sell our muskets to Zipangu instead.”

The other captains nodded at one captain’s suggestion.

“That’s a fine idea!”

“I brought some excellent wine, let’s try to make an introduction!”

We want to see these Joseon muskets being exported to Japan!

Receiving the Portuguese captains’ request, the Mokpo Harbor Master turned to Han Myeong-hoe.

“The plan seems to be working.”

“Indeed it is.”

***

“Secretary Han Myeong-hoe, you need to go to Mokpo.”

“Pardon?”

Startled by Hyang’s sudden order, Han Myeong-hoe couldn’t help but look up at him.

“What? Don’t want to go? Then I could send someone else…”

As Hyang turned away, Han Myeong-hoe hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

“Ah! No, not at all! I merely wished to know the reason for going to Mokpo!”

***

The four men chosen as Hyang’s secretaries were constantly running around following his orders. While their camaraderie strengthened through their daily intense work schedule, competition between them also grew fierce.

This was a competition to determine who would occupy the core of power after Hyang ascended to the throne. While the next generation might be difficult, they could certainly reach the core by the generation after that, and to get even one step closer to Hyang, they needed to excel now.

Looking at the current rankings, Han Myeong-hoe was significantly ahead.

He showed excellent ability in handling administrative affairs and demonstrated superior adaptability in situations requiring quick thinking.

Even so, in the eyes of Hyang and the ministers, they were all roughly equal. That’s why the four had to work until their tongues went dry.

***

Hearing Han Myeong-hoe’s response, Hyang explained the reason.

“Portuguese and Arab merchant ships have entered Mokpo’s trading port. Make them interested in the Type A Long Guns.”

“Will we sell them the barrel-type muskets, Your Highness?”

“Correct. However, don’t show our eagerness to sell. Reel them in. That’s how we’ll gain the upper hand in negotiations.”

Han Myeong-hoe’s expression darkened slightly at Hyang’s order.

“It won’t be an easy task.”

“So? Don’t want to do it? Should I assign someone else?”

“Ah, no! I’ll go and make it happen without fail!”

Hyang smiled slyly at Han Myeong-hoe’s response.

“Now that’s the Han Myeong-hoe I know. I’ll trust you with this.”

“Yes! I’ll depart immediately!”

“Very well.”

Han Myeong-hoe energetically paid his respects and left Seunghwadang. Watching him stride away with long steps, the other three’s eyes blazed with competitive fire.

Observing Han Myeong-hoe and the three closely, Hyang smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

Perfect! Mixed them together well! Better results than expected!

***

After arriving energetically in Mokpo, Han Myeong-hoe explained his objective to the Harbor Master and they put their heads together.

“Do the Arabs and Portuguese have similar weapons?”

“Hmm… let’s see. While I’m not sure about the Arab merchants, I’ve often seen Portuguese sailors with similar weapons. Actually, rather than being similar to our Type A or barrel-type muskets, they’re more like our shit-guns.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

Hearing the Harbor Master’s response, Han Myeong-hoe fell into thought.

How should I handle this?

After considering various methods, Han Myeong-hoe soon came up with a scheme.

“What if we conduct an inspection?”

“Inspection?”

Han Myeong-hoe explained his plan, and upon hearing it, the Harbor Master slapped his knee.

“What an excellent plan!”

Thus, they conducted the inspection openly, and the Portuguese captains took the bait.

***

A demonstration was held for the Portuguese captains who had taken the bait.

“These are the muskets being exported to Japan.”

After hearing the interpreter’s translation, the captains picked up and examined the barrel-type muskets laid out on the long table.

“Huh?”

“Oh?”

“Ah!”

As they examined the muskets from various angles, the captains’ eyes simultaneously fixed on the firing mechanism, and exclamations of question and amazement escaped their lips.

“Flintlocks?”

Seeing barrel-type muskets fitted with flints instead of the familiar slow matches, the captains exclaimed in unison.

“We want to see the accuracy and power!”

Following the captains’ request, a shooting test was arranged. Traditional targets were set up on one side of the archery field, with Portuguese-made breastplates hung beside them.

The captains at the firing position discussed while estimating the distance to the targets.

“About 60 fathoms?”

“Looks about right?”

After estimating the distance, the captains slightly shook their heads.

“They claim it can penetrate armor at this distance?”

“Can it even hit the target?”

At this time, the accuracy of European-made muskets and arquebuses was atrocious. This was partly due to issues with black powder, but mainly because of extremely low barrel precision.

Hah! Just watch! They’ll be stunned!

Inwardly sneering at the captains’ negative reactions, Han Myeong-hoe ordered the military officer.

“Begin.”

“Yes, sir.”

The officer walked over to the soldiers and shouted.

“Fire!”

Ratatang!

***

After the demonstration, the captains’ reactions were exactly as Han Myeong-hoe had anticipated.

Five soldiers had punched five holes in the red circles on the targets, and five holes in the breastplates.

And they’d done it with volley fire.

“All shots hit?”

“At this distance?”

As the captains were shocked by the unexpected accuracy and power, they noticed another fact and turned pale.

“This power and accuracy from something barely the size of a musket?”

Finally, a captain impressed by the barrel-type musket’s power approached Han Myeong-hoe.

“He says he wishes to purchase these muskets.”

At the interpreter’s words, Han Myeong-hoe immediately responded.

“Minimum order ten pieces, fifty yang in Joseon silver per piece.”

When the interpreter relayed this, the captains’ opinions immediately divided.

“Five hundred ducats in silver per piece?”

“And we must buy at least ten at once!”

While some shook their heads at the higher-than-expected price, others didn’t.

“No, no. Considering that accuracy and power, it’s worth the price.”

“And having about ten per ship could be quite helpful, don’t you think?”

“True, and we could make quite a profit selling them back in Portugal later.”

“The problem is money!”

When one captain mentioned money, a supporter smiled slightly and responded.

“Don’t we have our performance bonuses saved up? Rather than wondering what might sell well while buying goods with that money, wouldn’t it be better to buy these muskets?”

At these words, all the captains seriously began calculating profits and losses.

Captains traveling the trade route to Joseon not only received high basic pay but also substantial performance bonuses. As a result, it was common for captains traveling the trade routes to collect these bonuses and earn extra income by personally purchasing and selling goods.

Finally, after various calculations and heated discussions, the captains reached a conclusion.

“We’ll take fifty pieces!”

Han Myeong-hoe immediately responded to the captains’ words.

“Tell them it’s payment in advance, and the goods will be ready just before departure.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

Having completed the task Hyang had given him, Han Myeong-hoe returned to Hanseong and reported to Hyang.

“Well done. As expected of Han Myeong-hoe. Indeed, it had to be you.”

Han Myeong-hoe bowed his head at Hyang’s praise.

“You’re too kind.”

Hearing Han Myeong-hoe’s response, Hyang summoned General Lee Chun and explained the situation.

“We might need to increase production if things go well. Would that be possible?”

Lee Chun immediately responded to Hyang’s question.

“We can double it.”

“Excellent.”

Meanwhile, Ha Wi-ji, who had been listening to Hyang and Lee Chun’s conversation, joined in.

“Pardon my presumption, but I understand the Westerners possess considerable craftsmanship. While the Japanese must buy from us due to their lack of skill, won’t the Westerners try to copy our weapons instead of buying them?”

Hyang smiled slyly at Ha Wi-ji’s question and answered.

“It’s impossible with their current level. And they don’t have the time either.”

“Pardon?”

When Ha Wi-ji failed to understand properly, Hyang explained.

“Though they say Westerners have good craftsmanship, they’re still lacking. Of course, they could catch up if they tried, but will the current Western political situation give them that time?”