Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 464

Episode 464: Caesar’s, God’s (4)

On the ship returning to Lisbon, Henry was looking at the water with a serious expression.

“Your Excellency the Duke. “You don’t look good.”

Hearing the captain’s words, Henri immediately straightened his expression.

“It’s nothing. “Are we going to get on board soon?”

“yes. We will reach Ceuta in two days.”

“I understand. “I’m going to go in and get some rest.”

“Yes sir.”

* * *

Upon arriving in Lisbon via Ceuta, Henry went straight to the royal palace and had an audience with Apuns V.

“Henrich, Duke of Viseu. “I returned safely.”

When Henry knelt politely and announced his return according to etiquette, King Apunsu V, who was sitting on the throne, responded with a smile.

“Good job, Duke. “How is the Pope?”

“yes. “You looked good.”

King Apuns V breathed a sigh of relief at Henry’s answer.

“Whoa~. Thank goodness. “As for the servant, please take the chair for the duke.”

After a while, the conversation between Henry, who was comfortably seated in a chair, and the King resumed.

“So how is Florence? Was it as glamorous as it sounds?”

“Yes...”

Henry began to tell the young king various things about Florence. The young king, who had never been outside the palace, looked dazed as he listened to Henry’s story.

“What a wonderful place. I really want to go there sometime. The same goes for Joseon.”

“You will be able to visit when you grow up.”

In response to Henry’s answer, Apunsu V asked with shining eyes.

“I guess so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Feeling tired from the long conversation, Apuns V came down from the throne with a small yawn.

“Then let’s meet again later at the banquet.”

“All right. your majesty.”

After completing the audience, Henrik immediately moved to Regent Pedro’s office.

“Good work.”

“thank you.”

After a short and concise exchange of compliments and thanks, Pedro got straight to the point.

“How was your meeting with Cosimo de’ Medici? Have you been promised continued investment?”

“to. And I got an interesting offer.”

“Interesting offer?”

Henrique told Pedro about the railway connecting Suez to the Mediterranean and the connection with the Ottomans for this.

“Ottoman?”

Pedro’s first reaction after hearing the whole story was not much different from Henrik’s.

“Does Cosimo de’ Medici not know about the relationship between Portugal and Islam?”

“No, I know very well.”

“But are you offering that? “Are you sane?”

“He was of sound mind.”

“And yet you made that offer and you accepted it?”

Despite Pedro’s angry scolding, Henrik responded with a calm expression.

“I thought it was a pretty good offer.”

“hey!”

“Cosimo he mentioned Jerusalem.”

Pedro, who was so excited that he was about to scream, stopped for a moment when he heard the word ‘Jerusalem’.

“Jerusalem?”

“yes.”

“You know about the theory of a spherical Earth, right?”

Henrik, who was nodding his head in response to Pedro’s question, understood the true meaning and asked back.

“Are you thinking that since the Earth is round, you can go to Joseon if you go west?”

“okay. If that idea is proven to be true, Florence, Venice, and Genoa will come to an end. “I suspect that he may have taken measures to prevent this.”

Henrik wanted to deny Pedro’s words as a joke, but he couldn’t.

The person standing in front of him was a prince recognized as the most knowledgeable not only in Portugal but also in all of Europe.

He was never one to talk nonsense.

Therefore, after thinking about it for a long time, Henri shook his head and answered.

“To be honest, the ‘Western Route’ may exist, but we cannot confirm it at this time.”

“Can’t confirm right now? why?”

“There is no information about the sea west of Lisbon. On the eastern sea route, there is a place called Africa where you can take refuge for supplies and recreation, but there is nothing in that sea. To explore such seas, we need bigger and stronger ships than those we use today. Exploration will be possible only if the ships are at least the same as those used by Joseon. “Also, we need more precise measuring instruments to determine location.”

“That means...”

“Even if Cosimo de Medici has other intentions, it is beneficial to stay with him for at least 20 to 30 years.”

“is it? Even so, I must see him.”

“All right. “I will send a messenger.”

* * *

Cosimo, upon hearing Pedro’s request, immediately accepted it.

After leaving Florence, Cosimo secretly met with Pedro. When meeting Pedro, Cosimo was polite and courteous. Although he held the title of duke like Henry, Pedro was the king’s regent.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Pedro slowly continued the conversation, mentioning Henrik, who was not present.

“It would have been nice if the Duke of Viseu had been here as well, but he left for Joseon again not long ago.”

“Is that so? “This is a bit disappointing.”

Pedro, who was observing Cosimo’s face without hiding his regret, got straight to the point.

“I heard it through the Duke of Viseu. “You want to build a railway from Suez to the Mediterranean?”

“yes. I am confident that this will be of great benefit to Portugal as well.”

“Of course you can. Because there is no need to bypass Africa. But...”

Pedro picked up the Korean-made teacup on the table, moistened his lips, and continued.

“Will products coming from Joseon continue to be popular in the future? It’s good, but it’s expensive and doesn’t last long. Doesn’t that mean there is a high possibility that the market will gradually decrease?”

Cosimo nodded at Pedro’s point.

“Of course that is a possibility. However, Joseon products were not only available to nobles. “Joseon products are something that even commoners want to buy if they have money, so they are marketable.”

“Aren’t there a lot of counterfeit products circulating?”

“Because of those counterfeit products, people want to get the real thing even more.”

“In the end, is it marketable enough?”

Cosimo nodded to Pedro’s question.

Seeing that, Pedro pointed out another problem.

“You talked about joining hands with the Ottomans, but do you not know Portugal’s position?”

“There is a saying in the East: ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ “What is Portugal’s biggest obstacle to trade with Joseon?”

“Alexandria. The Mamluks...”

Pedro’s eyes began to shine as he mentioned those who had benefited the most from trade with Joseon.

“We will use the Ottomans to keep the Mamluks in check?”

“you’re right.”

“But the Ottomans are also Islamic.”

“But if you consider national interests, he is a good opponent. Christ said this, right? ‘To Caesar what is Caesar’s, to God what is God’. You must have heard from the Duke of Viseu, right? “Jerusalem for God and the railway for His Majesty the King.”

“And for you?”

“I will have a small fee left over.”

Pedro, who was listening to Cosimo and analyzing the situation, soon stretched out two fingers.

“I am confident that I will be able to gain sufficient benefits through the next two voyages, including this one, and I will cooperate fully if the problem in Jerusalem is resolved.”

“thank you.”

“step! “Do not forget that the issue of Jerusalem must be resolved.”

Cosimo responded to Pedro’s words with a slight smile.

“It is quite possible. There are more than one king who needs his own strong power.”

In this way, the framework of May Day began to be established.