Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1078 Tosagupin (8)

The reason the empire manufactured and sent Florentine long guns rather than the military rifles used by the imperial army was not simply because the Ming and Japan made and sent long guns based on the Florentine long guns. This was to prevent the simultaneous use of rifles used by the imperial army from being leaked outside. With just a few tweaks to the method of rotating the bolt in a back-and-forth reciprocating motion, it was possible to develop a long gun that could automatically reload.

In fact, the new long gun Hyang is developing with craftsmen these days is a gas-operated automatic long gun. It was a new long gun capable of single and fully automatic fire using a 20-round magazine. And after receiving the information and performance of this new long gun, the Imperial Ministry of Defense put its head together and began researching new tactics.

“With a long gun like this, there’s no need to use a separate light vehicle, right? “I think we can make our tactics more varied.”

“The problem is that each soldier must carry at least 200 rounds. Hmm…..”

“When marching, the soldiers cry out that they will die from the weight of even a single leaf on top of their backpacks, but if you ask them to carry more than 100 rounds at once, there will be an uproar. Should we increase the number of assault vehicles?”

“Magazines…increased bullet consumption…supply…not budget…but two…”

With the development of a new long gun, everything starts from tactics. Changes were required in many areas, including the supply system, and cries and complaints erupted from the Ministry of Defense and the Imperial Army Chief of Staff every day.

Meanwhile, Hyang, who heard this news, laughed and muttered.

“Is there someone else who can fill the light vehicle’s seat?”

Having roughly completed the development of a new long gun, Hyang worked on a new freight car that would succeed the double-type freight car. And the new freight car was the GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun).

The township planned to integrate the existing freight cars and light wagons into one with this new freight car. What is interesting is that the person in the empire who first thought of this new concept of freight train was not Hyang, but Jang Yeong-sil.

It was designed and even produced as a prototype by Jang Yeong-sil, who ran Area 52 in Shinji. The items that had been sealed after Jang Yeong-sil’s death were being prepared to be released again into the world. Of course, it was not recreated exactly according to Jang Yeong-sil’s design. Jang Yeong-sil’s design needed some improvements, and Hyang began developing a new freight car that improved on these. Because of this backstory, the Empire took out the molds of the Florence rifles that had been stored in the warehouse, made a new product, and sent it to them.

“Over time, other countries will create something similar. But there’s no need to spoon-feed it to you in advance, right?”

As this consensus was formed, Florence long guns were produced and sent. The scent went one step further.

“If you look at history, there are a lot of weird and bad mistakes that competed for the lead with Japan’s 11-year light machine gun, so shouldn’t similar kids appear here too?”

* * *

Ismail moved quickly after receiving the gift from the messengers of the Triple Alliance. First, he took half of the rifles and freight cars he had received and armed the guards protecting himself and the palace. And began forming a new unit to use the remaining weapons. And the Prime Minister, who acted as Ismail’s representative, actively negotiated with the messengers of the Three Kingdoms Alliance.

“The brothers in the East said they would definitely support us. “I wonder how certain that ‘certainty’ is.”

In response to the Prime Minister’s question, an envoy from Ming Dynasty came forward and asked a question.

“What part of support are you asking about?”

“First, I want to know about the military part.”

“First, we will supply long guns and fire trucks to arm about 10,000 people.”

“10,000 is too small. “It should be at least 40,000.”

“Do you think that 10,000 is enough to subdue Kizilbashi?”

The Prime Minister shook his head at the point made by the Messenger of the Ming Dynasty.

“Kizilbashi could do that. But Ottoman is a bigger problem.”

In response to the Prime Minister’s answer, an imperial messenger came forward.

“Ottoman? Osman is close to us, so we can mediate.”

The Prime Minister shook his head again at the imperial messenger’s words.

“If it’s something like a border issue, mediation would be possible. But we are Shia and they are Sunni.”

“Ah…”

In response to the Prime Minister’s response, the messengers from the three countries simultaneously showed a similar reaction.

* * *

The first thing the messengers of the Triple Alliance felt when they arrived in Persia was that the resentment between Sunni and Shia was quite deep. Through the period of small silver abolition and the great silver abolition, Shiites suffered a lot of persecution from Sunnis, and the Shiites did not forget this.

Therefore, when Ismail took control of Persia, the Shiites attempted to reverse the current dynamic. The most extreme of these attempts was the massacre and forced conversion of Persians in Kizilbash. However, because it was so extreme, Kizilbash was overwhelmed.

When Kizilbashi became the target of purge, it was the Jafari School of Law that took its place. Despite the word ‘jurisprudence’ attached to it, the Jafari school of law was quite moderate and resilient. The problem was that even the Jafari school of law was not willing to take a step back from the issue of converting Persians to Shiism. Of course, there was no way Osman, most of whom were Sunni, would just ignore this. Conflict between the Ottomans and Persians was already planned.

Sensing this, the envoys of the Three Kingdoms Alliance let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. “I wanted to go a little easier somehow.”

“I agree. “It is truly a pity.”

* * *

The messengers of the Triple Alliance, who knew the situation in the Ottomans and Persia, had no choice but to accept the chancellor’s request.

“I understand. But please don’t forget the word ‘minimum’. “If a conflict breaks out with the Ottomans, 40,000 could disappear in an instant.”

“Is there any way to avoid war?”

“Again, they are Sunni and we are Shia.”

“Whoa~.”

The prime minister added words to the perplexed expressions on the messengers’ faces.

“If you don’t want the Europeans to get the oil you want, you’re going to have to choose well.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

After that, negotiations between both sides continued fiercely. As the political shackles of Kizilbashi disappeared, the Prime Minister negotiated more actively.

“We underestimated our opponent too much.”

“I agree. “I thought they were all people who were buried in Islam and would only seek Allah, but it turned out to be beyond my expectations.”

“For someone to be that old and old enough to become prime minister of a country, he is definitely not an easy opponent.”

After reflecting on their complacency, the lions composed themselves again and entered into negotiations. However, as the messengers said, the Prime Minister was not an easy opponent. At the first meeting, the Prime Minister realized that what the Dongbang wanted was oil and wielded it as a weapon.

“Let’s join together. That’s a good thing. However, since we in Persia are not yet rich, we will replace it with people rather than gold. Hire our people.”

-Persians are hired as workers for construction work to complete the One Belt, One Road.

-And please recognize our Persian share in providing these workers.

-Wage to be paid to workers? Of course it has to be paid. However, we in Persia are short on wealth, so let our brothers in the East provide the money.

-Of course, please guarantee that workers and their families are paid wages at a level that will not starve, even if they are not wealthy.

-Guarantee in writing that sufficient compensation will be paid to those who die or become disabled during construction.

-Please provide sufficient support to build schools to educate the Persian people and hospitals to treat them.

“…Isn’t that too much to ask?”

The Prime Minister actually asked back when the three countries’ alliance envoys raised the issue.

“Didn’t the East say that it wants to be a friend of Persia? Are you weighing whether or not a friend in trouble is asking for help? Is that what happens in the East even between friends?”

“…..That’s not it.”

While answering the Prime Minister’s question, the messengers of the three countries could not help but smile bitterly.

‘You got another shot.’

However, the messengers of the three countries’ alliance did not just sit back and suffer.

“Instead, Persia’s share of the profits from oil will be 1/4.”

“Look! Oil from our own land! But it’s only 1/4! “You should get at least half!”

“Who do you think will provide the technology to pump the oil, the technology to refine the pumped oil, the technology to manage the equipment and facilities needed for mining and refining, and the operating funds?”

“Then 2/5!”

“1/4. “Is there anything more that poor Persia can offer but people and land?”

“I can yield up to 1/3!”

“Will you pay for all of the weapons we will supply to Persia minus 10,000? If you accept 1/4, I will only receive half of the payment for the remaining 30,000 people. And I will only receive half of the amount consumed or lost due to training or war, as well as the additional amount requested.”

“…Give me time to think.”

The Prime Minister, who returned to the palace and discussed his opinions with Ismail, eventually accepted the proposal of the three-nation alliance.

“I will agree to 1/4 of the total share.”

“Good decision.”

Afterwards, the prime minister and the messengers of the three countries continued their fierce war of words over various issues. However, rumors outside the negotiating room made the situation increasingly favorable to the three-nation alliance. This was because the imperial cavalry pursuing Kizilbashi sent news of victory every day.

-The military power of the East is powerful enough to defeat the powerful warriors of Kizilbashi.

-But even that powerful power is only a part of the power that the East has.

-If negotiations with us are judged to be detrimental, the East will take over Persia by force.

Through the ‘Tabriz Street Battle’ and the subsequent ‘Kizilbashi Chase’, Ismail and the Prime Minister realized the potential of the three Eastern countries and gave up their excessive greed.

In the end, the negotiations ended in a situation where both sides were moderately satisfied. After successfully completing the negotiations, the messengers of the three countries reported this to their home countries. Soon after the reports sent by the messengers arrived, ships filled with weapons and troops began to depart from the trade ports of the three countries.

* * *

With the arrival of new weapons and troops, the positions of the messengers of the three countries changed from envoys to ambassadors. Embassies of the three countries began to be built near the camp where the envoys of the three countries’ alliance stayed, and the newly arrived troops exchanged duties with the existing troops.

Additionally, a group of troops became instructors and were in charge of training and tactical education for Ismail’s newly formed army. With the three-nation alliance firmly securing the beachhead, ships carrying all kinds of construction materials finally began to flock in.

“First, let’s start by building a proper port and the construction of a railway connecting Basra and Tabriz.”

“I agree.”

Finally, the long journey of One Belt One Road has begun.