Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1014: The name of firewood is the arms race (7)

The reason Hyang was worried about a war that might break out in Europe was not just because of alliance issues. Worries about the Empire becoming a direct target were even greater.

While the European powers were engaged in a fierce arms race, the empire was taking advantage of what could be called a fisherman’s fortune. Symbolic examples include the export of new ships to Portugal and Italy and the export of iron horses to Italy and Switzerland.

* * *

Looking at the situation in Europe during this period, England and France in the west, where the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire were located, were technologically advanced in their own way, and the north was following suit. Lastly, the eastern region, with the exception of Hungary, was still an agricultural country. In this situation, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland had many inherent problems.

First of all, in the case of Switzerland, resources were so poor that the most exported products were limestone and rock salt. Even if they wanted to build a factory, it was almost impossible due to the harsh natural environment. The case of Italy was similar. Although it had capital power and European commercial and industrial cities such as Florence and Venice, it was not until unification that the foundation for expansion was created. The only advantage was that there was an iron mine on Elbe Island with a long history dating back to the Roman era.

In Portugal’s case, the experience and colonies it gained from being the first to advance into sea trade – outside the Mediterranean – with Spain were its weapons. In particular, they were making great profits from sugar produced in the Madeira Islands in Africa. However, the heavy industry symbolized by the steam engine was a field that was just beginning.

They began researching and investing in steam engines around the same time as other powers, but their small territory and population held them back. In particular, Spain and France, which were several times larger next door, were a problem. In the end, Portugal focused its capabilities on trade, not on fostering heavy industry. However, Portugal’s worries deepened as leading powers such as England and France actively entered into an arms race and industrial structural reform, including steam engines.

In the end, these three countries had no choice but to rely on the empire again.

* * *

The first country to lean on the empire was Portugal. The large-scale steel mill that King Joao II and his ministers had built using the national treasury had only just begun operation. The problem at the shipyard was the same. There were many shipyards that built merchant ships traveling between Gloria and colonial cities in Africa, but there was no shipyard that could build large ironclad ships. To be more precise, there were too many ships that had already been booked for construction.

“It would be okay to wait, but there is not enough time for that.”

After much deliberation, the Portuguese government formally commissioned the empire to build an ironclad ship.

-It will be equipped with at least 40 imperial ships currently used by the Portuguese Navy.

-Adopt a steam engine.

-It will be possible to cross one way from the Azores to the Namsinji Islands without resupply.

The imperial military department that received the request immediately reported it to the county.

“This is exactly what I like?”

After seeing the contents of the request, Hyeon opened the drawer with bright eyes. He ran his fingers through the rolled up blueprints piled up in the drawer and smiled roundly.

“Which one is better? ‘

However, Hyeon could not present his blueprint.

“No, it won’t work!”

“Absolutely not!”

This was because all the ministers who heard Hyun’s plan stood up. Han Myeong-hoe, representing the ministers, came forward and explained the reason.

-The blueprints designed by His Majesty apply the most up-to-date technologies possessed by the empire. There is a problem of technology leakage.

-The battle lines designed by His Majesty are very challenging ships. Although the performance is excellent, there are also some flaws that were not discovered. If even a fatal flaw is discovered while Portugal takes over and operates it, it will become a diplomatic issue.

‘I like it, these are challenging, but gambling ships! If something goes wrong, we’ll just use the dump! No, if you fix it before that, you’ll die! These days, there are craftsmen who want to move to private shipyards. How much time and money does it take to raise those craftsmen? I’m really going crazy! ‘

Han Myeong-hoe refuted as calmly as possible, holding back the words that were about to come out at any moment.

“… That’s why it’s best to deliver a ship built to the level they want!”

“That’s

right!” “Please accept it!” ”

Please notify us !”

As soon as the word came out, Hyun had no choice but to step back.

“… I understand. Then, order the shipyards in Wonsan and Shinji to draw up a blueprint that suits what they want.”

“I will follow your orders!”

“Ugh…..”

Hyun, who left work that day, looked for Hyang and complained.

“It was a great opportunity, but I’m so disappointed.”

“What the ministers said is reasonable, so there’s nothing we can do about it, right?”

“It was a plan for conversion drawn up while wasting time away…”

“That’s the way it is for all emperors.”

After that, Hyeon complained to Hyang for a while, then bowed and left Suganggung. Hyeon, who was looking at the scenery outside the window of the carriage, muttered as he quenched his appetite.

“Ugh. I feel it every time, but this is why Tae Sang-taek and Sang-hang were elected without any regrets. Let’s see, Wu Ya’s original son is now…” It

was Hyun who was suddenly counting his fingers and calculating when he would be elected.

* * *

Against this background, four types of blueprints were uploaded from shipyards in Wonsan and Shinji. Since it was his area of expertise, Hyeon immediately brought in the blueprint and unfolded it. However, Hyun frowned as he looked at the blueprint.

“This…”

Hyun, who had been looking at the blueprint with a frown, looked back at the people in charge who were very nervous and asked.

“Isn’t this too old-fashioned to have a steam engine and a sail together?”

Jang Hang-seon stepped forward and responded to Hyeon’s point.

“It was tailored to what they wanted, just as His Majesty ordered.”

“Still, using a steam engine and a sail together Isn’t it a bit like that? ‘

“It is said that combining steam engines and sails is a trend in Europe these days.”

“Still…”

As Hyun continued to complain, Soonwook Lim came forward.

“Competition in Europe is fierce now. In such a situation, if we sell electric wires that only run on steam engines, it will be a problem that will add fuel to the fire. And if possible, shouldn’t we sell it one more time?”

“Let’s sell it one more time?”

“Even manned men know very well that the combined use of sails and steam engines is not optimal. So, wouldn’t it be possible to take the sails off one day and then sell them again? ”

“…. Send the blueprints to Portugal and tell them to choose the one they like.”

“I follow your orders.”

* * *

When the blueprints sent by the Empire arrived, the Royal Palace in Lisbon became noisy. Experts of the Portuguese Navy Experts from the department and command shipyard gathered together to look at the blueprints sent by the Empire.

“Which of the four designs is the best? ”

In response to King Joao II’s question, Admiral Ricardo, Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Navy, who was looking at the blueprint, carefully answered,

“If you tell me to be honest, I would like to adopt all of them.”

“Is that enough? ”

“That’s right. If this blueprint is followed, it will become the strongest battleship in Europe.”

In response to Admiral Ricardo’s answer, the Prime Minister who was present asked.

“What if we deal with the Empire? ‘

In response to the Prime Minister’s question, Admiral Ricardo asked back with a puzzled expression.

“If you were an empire, would you sell the teeth that could bite you?”

“But wouldn’t there be something?”

“….. If you’re fighting an empire, a draw would be best.”

“I see. I understand.”

After hearing Admiral Ricardo’s answer, the Prime Minister this time asked the shipbuilding experts.

“Can these warships be built in our shipyards?”

The experts immediately answered the Prime Minister’s question:

“It is impossible.”

“What is the reason? ”

“Not just one or two.”

“….. Okay.”

The Prime Minister nodded with an embarrassed face and took a step back. As if there had already been some coordination in advance, as soon as the Prime Minister stepped back, King Joao II gave an order to Admiral Ricardo. “It is difficult to adopt all designs .

Therefore, choose the one you think is the best and submit it.”

“I follow your orders.” When

Admiral Ricardo and the experts disappeared, King Joao II spoke with the Prime Minister.

“I gave you a chance, but I will ask you again. Even now, there are many other enemy countries, so why should we even consider the Empire as an enemy? ”

In response to King Joao II’s question, the Prime Minister responded with an expression that said there was nothing he could do.

“It can’t be helped. The Empire has too much and we need more. No, it’s not just us in Portugal. Great powers such as France, Spain, and England are aiming for an empire. If they can’t conquer the empire, they will target Portugal. We can only protect our homeland if we have enough power to even bite the empire.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to further strengthen our alliance with the empire? ”

“In that case, we still have to buy time by holding out until the empire comes. In the end, not only must we have powerful battleships, but we must also have the ability to build powerful battleships ourselves.”

* * *

In this way, battleships built according to the design chosen by Portugal began to be delivered to Portugal. Other powers built and deployed them. When larger, faster, stronger, and more powerful sailing ships than the original sailing ships appeared under the Portuguese flag, the navies of the great powers all uttered curses:

“You damned empires! ”

“As soon as our ships came out, we were in trouble! ‘

And hell broke out for the ship designers of the great powers.

“Right now, design ships that are more powerful than the Portuguese ships!”

“Really? Do you think that’s possible?”

“If you say do it, do it! ‘

“Yes…”

The designers who took on the homework all muttered similar words, regardless of nationality.

“Should I get rid of this job?”

* * *

At the same time that the navies of the European powers were in an uproar due to the bomb thrown by Portugal, Italy and Switzerland were also moving quickly. As a country dominated by merchants like the Medici family, Italy quickly judged its own strengths and weaknesses and moved on.

What they chose was ‘economy of scale’. As soon as Portugal confirmed that the warships it had commissioned from the empire were of excellent performance, Italy sent a messenger to Portugal and the empire.

“We will also buy the battleships sold to Portugal! Please lower the price a little!”

“Huh?”

“The more steel plates and other equipment and parts you make, the more you can reduce the production cost per piece, right? If we buy not only from Portugal but also from Italy, the quantity will be large, so of course we can lower the price, right? ‘

“…. Tell Captain Lim Soon-wook to come!”

Lim Soon-wook, the Minister of Finance and Economy, and working-level staff came together and fierce negotiations took place. However, Italy was also a formidable opponent, and in the end, both sides were able to reach an agreement within a reasonable range. The next area where Italy made efforts was railways.

First, Italy sent a messenger to Switzerland.

“You need railroads too, right? Let’s move together! We can save money!”

“…. Is that so?”

After joining hands with Switzerland, Italy headed back to the empire.

“We will introduce iron horses that will be operated in Switzerland and Italy! So, give us a discount! Oh, and we want to build tracks that will be used for maintenance in the future, not tracks that are currently being laid for railway construction!”

“If only inside Italy…..”

“No, we’ll even make Swiss ones! Think of the cost of shipping from the Empire! Do you think poor Switzerland will manage it properly? ”

“….. Tell Captain Lim Soon-wook to come!”