# Chapter 119: Made in Joseon. (2)
The confusion of the Ship Captain, who had looked around the marketplace, intensified upon the captains' reports.
"We couldn't see inside the Joseon naval base, but we observed the warships departing. Not only the ships that escorted us, but even the slightly smaller vessels were equipped with cannons."
"All of them?"
At the Ship Captain's question filled with disbelief, the captains answered briefly.
"Every single one."
"Heoh..."
At the captains' answer, the Ship Captain let out a long breath. Seeing this, the most experienced captain—the captain of the ship that the head of the Otaibi family had boarded—Sulaiman, added his words.
"Of course, the ships equipped with nearly 20 cannons are of the same class as those that escorted us. The smaller vessels were equipped with 2 to 4 cannons. The even smaller vessels carried no cannons at all."
At the captain's report, the Ship Captain shook his head in disbelief.
"I truly cannot understand the true nature of this country. The market I saw during the day was as backward as a village market far from Aden, yet the tables in the alleyway restaurants had expensive porcelain and glass cups, and the navy's warships were loaded with those expensive cannons... What kind of country is this Joseon?"
To the Ship Captain's words, Sulaiman answered concisely.
"I truly do not know."
"It is a country I simply cannot understand either."
Seeing the Ship Captain in confusion, the Elder who had visited Joseon before stepped forward.
"Hassan and Said, who work as officials in Joseon, said that since the current king ascended to the throne and the crown prince was designated, the country has been developing rapidly."
"So it was."
The Ship Captain, who had been lightly nodding at the Elder's answer, let out a small sigh.
"Huu~. I must reflect on myself. I was disappointed just looking at the scenery of the market outside the base. If I hadn't seen those ceramics and glass vessels, I mean."
The Ship Captain engaged in deep self-reflection.
* * *
Having learned that the Joseon goods the Elder brought held great value, the Ship Captain boarded the ship with great hope.
"The departure is a bit delayed, but let's work hard. A large sum of money is at stake!"
It took some time to procure the fine breeds of horses the Joseon prince had requested, but the Ship Captain did not worry much.
The merchant fleet that departed from Aden went through hellish hardship passing through the pirate-infested Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.
Having passed through such precarious crises and arrived at the Joseon market, the Ship Captain fell into disappointment.
In his youth, having lived in China during the Yuan Dynasty period, especially in Hangzhou, the Ship Captain could not help but be disappointed seeing the shabby market scenery of Joseon compared to the splendid culture of Hangzhou.
"Does a country like this really have anything that would make money? Was that previous incident just simple luck? To think that a country right next to China would be this shabby."
However, the moment he saw the small goods hidden within that shabbiness, the Ship Captain had to correct his thinking.
'That fellow who set the goal of making the family great! That fellow who aims to become a Great Merchant! While he wore his mouth out telling others not to be deceived by appearances, I was the one who forgot!'
The Ship Captain was deeply reflecting on his mistake.
Five days later, the Cheomjeoljesa, having received the reply returned from Hanseong, conveyed the news through an interpreter.
"By royal command, you are to depart immediately at dawn tomorrow and come to Hanseong. Our navy's ships will provide escort and guidance."
At the Cheomjeoljesa's words, the Ship Captain brightened.
"I thank you!"
Once the departure date was set, the fleet's sailors prepared for departure throughout the night.
The next morning, at the bow of the ship heading north, the Ship Captain made a firm resolution.
"There will be no second mistake!"
* * *
After several days of sailing, the merchant ships that arrived at Jemulpo began to unload their cargo.
Since the amount of cargo unloaded from the 6 large dhows was substantial, the head of the Otaibi family requested carts from his clansmen waiting at the pier.
"We will prepare them shortly."
"I count on you."
Thus, while the carts were being arranged, the unloaded cargo was thoroughly inspected by the Ministry of Taxation.
The Ministry official, who recorded the cargo list, quantity, and even the price, diligently worked his abacus and said something to the interpreter. The interpreter then spoke in Chinese to the trading company's translator, who conveyed the content to the Ship Captain.
"They say you must pay 40 nyang of gold as customs duty."
"40 nyang of gold? Even though these are goods brought at the request of the Joseon prince?"
To be precise, the Crown Prince had only requested breeding horses, but the Ship Captain, reluctant to pay taxes, emphasized the phrase 'the prince's request.'
However, even with such emphasis, the Ministry official remained unmoved.
Eventually, the Ministry official, interpreter, and the trading company's translator began to argue.
Such arguing calmed down somewhat when the relative who had gone to arrange carts returned.
"If you look at this license, there is a clause stating that customs duty at the established tax rate must be paid."
"Even though these are goods and horses brought at the Joseon prince's request?"
"Yes."
"Heo..."
The Ship Captain, his merchant instincts triggered, wore a dejected expression. Seeing this, the Elder comforted the Ship Captain.
"Think of it as an investment. An investment."
At the Elder's words, the Ship Captain groaned.
"Kkeung... I suppose I should think that way. But how can the officials be so inflexible?"
"Well... they may lack flexibility, but they haven't been corrupted, have they?"
"Kkeung..."
The translator, listening to the conversation between the Ship Captain and the Elders, conveyed those words exactly to the interpreter. This was because the translator felt the same way as the Ship Captain.
At the translator's words, the interpreter sneered and replied.
"Have you heard of the Recorders' Office?"
"The Recorders' Office?"
Thus, after a brief dispute, the head of the Otaibi family paid an enormous sum of 40 nyang of gold, equivalent to 400 ducats, and headed to Hanseong while soothing his stinging heart.
* * *
The head of the Otaibi family led his people to the Huihui residential quarter south of Hanseong.
While the head of the Otaibi family, having unpacked, was recovering from travel fatigue, Hassan and Said, who had finished their government duties, came to visit him.
"The brothers Hassan and Said pay respects to the Ship Captain."
At the sight of Hassan and Said expressing their respects politely yet warmly, the Ship Captain also returned the greeting warmly.
"It is truly joyous to see Hamed's children have grown so well! Especially Said, you look even better... or rather, you don't look so good? Are you ill somewhere?"
Seeing the brothers with dark circles under their eyes, the Ship Captain asked with deep concern.
"It is nothing. Lately there has been a lot of work..."
"Oh my! You need to be healthy for our family to be strong. Shall I give you some medicine?"
As soon as the Ship Captain mentioned the word 'medicine,' the Hassan brothers turned pale and waved their hands frantically.
"N-no! We don't need medicine! We appreciate your concern, but we absolutely do not need medicine!"
"Hm?"
When the Ship Captain expressed puzzlement, the Hassan brothers' father, Hamed, explained the reason.
"Among the officials of this Joseon, 'medicine' or 'tonic' is a forbidden word."
"Hm?"
At Hamed's words, the Ship Captain could not hide his puzzlement.
Recently, among the officials working in the court, the act of 'giving medicine or tonic as a gift' carried the same meaning as 'you, die!' A superior giving medicine to a subordinate meant 'I will work you to death!' and giving medicine between colleagues meant 'I will make you suffer soon!'
After the brief commotion settled, the Hassan brothers handed a document to the Ship Captain.
"By royal command, you are to enter the palace tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Understood. Hmm... will we be able to enter the royal palace every time we come to Joseon in the future?"
The Ship Captain asked with great expectation, thinking there might be some opportunity, but Hassan gave a negative answer.
"No. This time, because you brought what the Crown Prince requested and the Ship Captain came personally, you are being called as a matter of courtesy. From now on, you will likely speak with an official from the government office called Hojo."
"Is that so? That's a bit regrettable. Tsk."
At Hassan's answer, the Ship Captain could not hide his regret and clicked his tongue.
* * *
The next day, properly dressed, the Ship Captain headed to the palace accompanied by the Hassan brothers and the Elders.
"These are the merchants who came by His Majesty's command."
The gatekeeper, receiving and confirming the document Hassan presented, gestured, and Gwanghwamun opened, and the merchants stepped inside.
The eyes of the gatekeeper and his subordinates, who had been watching with curious faces, soon widened greatly.
"What is that? That thing?"
* * *
"His Majesty the King approaches~!"
At the royal attendant's call, the merchants respectfully paid their respects.
"You have worked hard coming from afar. Be at ease."
The merchants, having heard King Sejong's command through Hassan, carefully rose.
'He's young! Is that why he is active?'
The Ship Captain, having glanced at Sejong's face, politely introduced himself.
"Mansur Mohammed Kamal al-Otaibi, the head of the Otaibi family, is honored to meet His Majesty the great King of Joseon!"
Sejong, having received Mansur's greeting through Hassan, replied with a smile.
"I am also pleased to meet you. Ship Captain Mansur, you may straighten your posture."
"I thank Your Majesty."
After the brief introduction, Sejong went straight to the main point.
"I heard you brought the horses the Crown Prince requested. Did they arrive safely?"
At Sejong's question, Mansur answered immediately.
"Yes, though they are exhausted and thin from the long voyage, I have brought them all safely."
"Can I see them now?"
"I have them waiting outside the gate, so you can see them immediately."
At Mansur's answer, anticipation began to appear on the faces of Sejong and the ministers who followed. In particular, Jo Mal-saeng was the most expectant.
"Bring them in."
At Sejong's command, Geunjeongmun opened and the horses entered.
"What is that!"
"You call those horses!"
The ministers watching the horses enter through the open gate had their eyes fixed on the horses entering at the very back.
Hyang was equally surprised.
'What! That horse looks like something an end-of-century tyrant would ride!'
The horses entering at the front were already 1 cheok (about 34cm) taller than Jeju horses or Jurchen horses. But the 4 horses entering at the very back were 1 cheok taller than even those.
As the horses entered, Sejong descended from his throne and began to examine the horses himself.
"Though large in stature, they look truly agile."
At Sejong's generous evaluation, Mansur answered with a face full of pride.
"These are horses with almost no rival in running speed, endurance, and all other aspects."
"I see. Minister of War, what do you think?"
At Sejong's question, the Minister of War, Jo Mal-saeng, bowed his head and answered.
"Though they are thin, judging by their frame and bones, it seems Jeju horses would be hard-pressed to compete."
"How do they compare to the Jurchens' horses?"
"They appear superior to the Jurchens' horses as well. Of course, we will need to verify properly later..."
"I see. And..."
Sejong walked toward the large horses he was most curious about.
"This is the first time in my life I have seen such enormous horses."
At Sejong's evaluation, Mansur answered immediately.
"I too saw them for the first time. I obtained these horses from Catholic merchants during the process of procuring horses. They said these horses came from a Western barbarian country called France."
At Mansur's answer, Sejong expressed doubt.
"Hm? I heard that you and the Western barbarians who believe in the religion called Catholicism have bad relations?"
"Just because relations are bad doesn't mean we can't do business, does it? There are merchants who have bad relations even though they believe in the same god, and there are merchants who have good relations even though they have different beliefs."
At Mansur's answer, Sejong burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! A foolish question met with a wise answer!"