BCJ Chapter 305

As the Joseon people unloaded their luggage at Mansur’s mansion, the interest of Alexandria’s residents and merchants converged on one thing.

‘When will the goods be released at the auction house and marketplace?’

This interest heightened even more as the Joseon people remained still for more than two days.

Meanwhile, a rumor spread throughout the city of Alexandria.

-Soon, the Joseon people, known as the ‘Land of Flowers’, will meet with the mayor of Alexandria!

And on the third day.

As the sun slowly set in the west, the gate of Mansur’s mansion opened, and Mansur and the Joseon entourage stepped out.

Led by Mansur, the Joseon people in unfamiliar attire headed towards the Alexandria City Hall with two camels carrying large boxes on their backs.

“The Joseon people have come out!”

“The people from the Land of Flowers have come out!”

“Where? Where!”

At people’s shouts, Alexandrian citizens and merchants from Europe gathered around.

Under the strict escort of sailors carrying flintlock muskets on their shoulders, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group made their way to the Alexandria City Hall.

“What are those things on their shoulders?”

“They’re not spears, are they?”

Those unfamiliar with weapons merely showed curiosity, but those who had come from Europe and the Middle Eastern soldiers’ eyes sparkled.

“Is it a new gunpowder weapon?”

Receiving all sorts of attention from various types of people, Mansur and Oh Ha-seok’s group headed to the Alexandria City Hall.

As the entourage arrived at the city hall, an official who had been waiting in advance warmly welcomed them.

“Come in, everyone! We welcome those who have come from the distant East!”

Oh Ha-seok stepped forward upon hearing the official’s words through the interpreter, bowed his head slightly, and replied.

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“Please come in.”

At the official’s words, Oh Ha-seok turned around and gestured.

Following Oh Ha-seok’s gesture, his subordinates unloaded the large boxes carried on the camels’ backs and inserted poles to carry them.

As Oh Ha-seok’s subordinates carefully moved the wooden boxes, the official in charge of guiding them showed interest.

“What are those boxes?”

“One is a gift for the one who governs Alexandria, and the slightly larger one is a gift for the monarch who rules this land.”

“Ah! Is that so!”

The official, whose curiosity grew more and more, hurriedly guided the group inside.

***

Upon entering the city hall, Oh Ha-seok’s group soon headed to the mayor’s office.

“This place also seems busier in the evening.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s remark, Mansur smiled slightly and replied.

“The day in Arabia truly begins in the evening. Because it’s too hot during the day.”

Oh Ha-seok nodded at Mansur’s words. The daytime in this neighborhood was too hot. No, it was too scorching.

***

Shortly after, Oh Ha-seok’s group was able to meet the mayor of Alexandria in the audience chamber.

“By Allah’s blessing, we have the honor of welcoming the esteemed guests from the East. Welcome. I am Abdul Hamad Sakum, the mayor of Alexandria.”

In response to the mayor’s welcoming speech, Oh Ha-seok politely bowed his head and replied.

“Thank you very much for such hospitality. We hope that the good relationship between our Joseon and your city will continue. I am Oh Ha-seok, the captain commanding the Challenger that arrived this time.”

“I also pray for the same. By the way, was your journey here pleasant?”

“Fortunately, we had good weather and traveled comfortably. On the way by land, we were attacked by bandits, but we were able to repel them safely.”

“Oh my!”

When Oh Ha-seok mentioned the bandits, Mayor Abdul widened his eyes and expressed surprise.

“You repelled them safely, that is indeed fortunate. It is something to thank Allah for.”

Oh Ha-seok nodded slightly in response to Abdul’s words.

“Hmm… To continue traveling between Alexandria and Joseon in the future, securing the safety of the land route is essential.”

Oh Ha-seok immediately replied to Abdul’s remark.

“That is true, Your Excellency. I heard on the way that there used to be a canal in the past. What do you think about redeveloping it?”

When Oh Ha-seok mentioned the canal, Abdul pondered for a moment and replied with a face full of regret.

“Constructing a canal between Suez and Alexandria requires a lot of labor. Even after construction, managing it is not easy. Therefore, building a canal is unreasonable.”

Oh Ha-seok readily agreed with Abdul’s answer.

“Indeed, managing a canal is not an easy task.”

Having finished the conversation about the canal, both sides continued discussing tax matters.

“As the captain may or may not know, Joseon’s goods are very popular among merchants. Therefore, with the hope that Joseon will maintain a long-lasting relationship with our Alexandria, I will reduce the taxes. We will only collect half the customs duties for Joseon.”

“Thank you very much!”

Oh Ha-seok expressed sincere gratitude for Abdul’s goodwill. In response to Oh Ha-seok’s reaction, Abdul lightly waved his hand and replied.

“As I said before, this is decided with the hope that Joseon will maintain a long-lasting relationship with our Alexandria.”

“Our Joseon will not betray Your Excellency’s generosity. In that sense, we will gladly present the gifts brought from Joseon.”

“Thank you.”

As Abdul expressed his gratitude, Oh Ha-seok gestured to his subordinates.

As the subordinates placed two boxes, Oh Ha-seok explained the boxes to Abdul.

“This is a gift for Your Excellency, and this slightly larger one is a gift for the monarch who rules this land. Normally, it would be proper for an envoy to personally have an audience with the monarch and present the gifts. However, since this voyage is our first attempt, we were not confident about the envoy’s safety, so we only brought the gifts. We apologize for this.”

As Oh Ha-seok apologized for the discourtesy, Abdul replied with a smile.

“Hahaha! Coming here from the distant East is not an easy task. Don’t worry! I will inform the Sultan in Cairo well!”

“Thank you.”

“Then, if it’s not rude, may I ask what it is? If it’s an item that violates the law, it would be troublesome.”

To Abdul’s question, Oh Ha-seok replied briefly.

“It is a lamp shade made of crystal glass.”

“Crystal glass?”

As Abdul showed interest in the unfamiliar term, Oh Ha-seok confidently replied.

“It is a new type of glass made in Joseon this time, as beautiful as crystal.”

“Oh?”

Abdul’s curiosity grew even more at Oh Ha-seok’s confident answer. Seeing that the accompanying officials also had curious faces, Oh Ha-seok chuckled and ordered the soldiers.

“Open the box.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the soldiers used deer antler pry bars to remove the nails from the box. As the box was opened, the soldier who had been standing by took out the warranty inside the box and delivered it to Oh Ha-seok.

Abdul, who received the warranty through Mansur, beamed at the copper plate attached to the warranty. Five golden flowers that had earned Joseon the name ‘Land of Flowers’ were engraved on the copper plate.

“The shape of those flowers is the newly created highest grade this time.”

“Is that so?”

At Mansur’s explanation, Abdul looked at the gift covered with cloth with an expectant face.

***

The crystal chandelier Joseon had sent as a gift rendered not only Abdul but also the accompanying officials speechless.

As the largest trading city in the Mediterranean, both Abdul and the officials possessed precious jeweled ornaments.

“I swear by Allah, I have never seen such a treasure!”

However, as Abdul exclaimed, they had never seen such a splendid item in their lives.

With the chandelier as the climax, the conversation with the mayor ended in a friendly atmosphere.

“If it is such a gift, the Sultan will be very satisfied!”

“Thank you!”

****

Having sent off Oh Ha-seok and Mansur’s group, Abdul repeatedly exclaimed in admiration while looking at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

“It is truly a remarkable item. The title ‘Land of Flowers’ is not wasted on them.”

“According to the subordinates, there are a few more boxes like that.”

At the subordinate official’s words, Abdul shook his head.

“A war will break out at the auction house. A tremendous war will unfold.”

The subordinate officials all showed expressions of agreement with Abdul’s words. They, too, had been unable to take their eyes off the chandelier since it had been lit.

“Prepare to send it to Cairo. Don’t forget to prepare thoroughly, as there will be many coveting it.”

“Yes, sir.”

One of the officials answering Abdul’s order made a suggestion to him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to review the waterway? If the waterway is completed, won’t more goods come in from the ‘Land of Flowers’?”

At the official’s proposal, Abdul firmly shook his head.

“No to the waterway. The moment the waterway is dug, Alexandria will perish.”

“Pardon?”

Abdul explained why the waterway should not be built.

“I once found and read records about the waterway in the past. Do you know where the waterway is connected to? It’s the easternmost tributary of the great Nile River. Transporting goods from there to here, Alexandria? If it’s the remarkable items from Joseon, wouldn’t it be faster for a city to be established there? If that happens, our Alexandria is finished.”

“Ah…”

The officials all nodded at Abdul’s words. Considering the meager means of transportation in this period, it would be more cost-effective for a city to be established there instead.

“And if I were to give another reason, it’s because of those wicked Timurids. Do you think they will sit still if such a profitable trading city is within reach?”

The officials fell silent at Abdul’s point.

Although greatly weakened by the civil war after Timur’s death, the Timurids were regaining strength as Shah Rukh ascended to the throne.

In that process, what they needed most was capital.

If there was a trading city where enormous sums of money were exchanged at a close distance, it was certain that they would not overlook it.

“So, don’t even think about the canal.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then go and work.”

“Yes, sir.”

After sending the officials away, Abdul gazed at the chandelier and then turned his head to the south.

“I’m anxious about whether sending it to Cairo is the right thing to do.”

Abdul’s monologue was filled with worry.

Currently, Alexandria was part of the Mamluk Sultanate’s territory.

Cairo, where the Burji dynasty resided after succeeding the Bahri dynasty, was the largest city in the world during this period.

As the world’s largest city, its splendor was beyond compare. And intoxicated by the city’s splendor, the sultans of the Burji dynasty were also gradually indulging in extravagance.

Therefore, Abdul was worried.

The moment that item, possessing a splendor deserving of the epithet ‘exquisite’, arrived, the Sultan might lose his self-control.

“Should I break it?”

Abdul, who had been contemplating breaking it during transportation due to an inevitable accident—for example, a bandit attack—soon shook his head.

“If I do that, I’ll have to send the item hanging there. And Joseon won’t send it just this once. It’s a futile effort.”

With the unceasing surge of anxiety, Abdul muttered in a pleading tone.

“Inshallah (As Allah wills).”

***

Through the mouths of those working at the city hall, a rumor soon spread throughout the city of Alexandria.

-Incredible items have come from the Land of Flowers!

As the rumor circulated, influential figures of the city, whose curiosity was piqued, visited the city hall using various excuses. And the moment they saw the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, they couldn’t close their gaping mouths.

“It’s an incredible item!”

“I’ve never seen such an incredible item in my life!”

“If there’s a merchant who acquires that item, they can make a tremendous profit!”

Those who had seen the chandelier chattered about their impressions to their acquaintances, and those words quickly spread throughout the city.

As rumors bred more rumors, the merchants burned with determination.

“If it’s such a remarkable item, we must acquire it at all costs!”

“Halt unnecessary transactions! We need to gather funds!”

Just as Abdul had predicted, a war was about to unfold.