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Chapter 209
Chapter 209
Chapter 209
What has happened that you need to protect the family?
At Hassans question, an elder next to Mansur stepped forward to explain.
Aden is currently split in two.
***
The goods that Mansurs fleet brought from Joseon shook Aden.
Since the quantity was far greater than the previous shipment, the Ottaibis and Azzams moved to Alexandria once again to sell the goods.
At the auction house in Alexandria, Joseons products were sold at an astounding pricean average of 30 times the purchase price in Joseon.
While its a good thing for us to reap even greater profits, why is that?
At Mansurs question, an Arab merchant who had purchased a large amount of Joseon goods raised his finger and pointed at a crate.
The tip of the merchants finger was pointing at a golden apricot flower engraved inside the crate.
Its because of that flower.
Ah
At the merchants explanation, Mansur nodded.
***
Before the first and this auction began, Mansur had explained about the apricot flower engraved on the products.
Having heard the explanation that the quality differed depending on whether the apricot flower was made of gold, silver, or bronze, and the number of apricot flowers, the merchants asked Mansur a question.
I understand the difference, but why that flower pattern?
In response to the merchants question, Mansur explained the reason.
That flower is the symbol of the Joseon royal family. In other words, these products are guaranteed in quality by the King of Joseon. Of course, there are also certificates of guarantee.
Lets see the certificate.
Which products certificate would you like to see?
At Mansurs question, the chosen merchant pointed to a crate containing a tea set made of porcelain that he desperately wanted to obtain.
Id like to see that one.
Mansur opened the crate, took out the certificate, and handed it over.
The merchant, seemingly familiar with Chinese characters, skillfully read the contents of the certificate and nodded.
Its clear. The date of manufacture, names and seals of the manufacturer and inspector are stamped, and the official seal is also affixed.
Receiving the certificate back from the merchant, Mansur resealed the crate and replied.
A good merchant never lies.
Thats true.
***
With strong confidence in the goods, the competition became even fiercer.
Thanks to the wide variety and different grades of Joseon products brought, many merchants participated in the auction.
Merchants competed with those of similar standing for items that matched their purchasing power.
Of course, there were merchants who attempted to sweep up everything with their immense capital, but the variety and quantity of goods Mansur brought made it impossible.
Amidst this, some European merchants exhibited peculiar behavior.
Thats a gonne[1], right?
It seems so.
Its quite a unique gonne. Ask if they can sell it.
They had shown interest in the muzzle-loading rifles carried by Joseon military officers for self-defense.
They are asking if you can sell the rifles you are wearing.
Upon hearing the words that had gone through several stages of interpretation, Oh Ha-seok replied in a blunt voice.
Tell them its not for sale.
They say they will pay 20 times the purchase price.
Tell them I cant sell it as it was given by the country.
Hearing Oh Ha-seoks answer through the interpreter, the European merchants retreated with disappointed expressions. However, their eyes were still full of greed.
Seeing the European merchants demeanor, Oh Ha-seok issued an order to the other military officers.
Their eyes are unsettling. Pay attention to the management of the rifles. No, dont even think about leaving the lodging until we return.
Yes, sir.
***
The auction ended successfully.
As Mansur was preparing to return with a vast amount of gold and silver coins, the Alexandrian merchant who had mediated the auction approached him.
Ive also profited greatly thanks to you.
Likewise for us. Thank you for conducting a fair auction.
Seeing Mansur expressing gratitude in the Arab manner, the merchant cautiously warned.
Be careful on your way back. There are many who are targeting you.
Pardon?
How many wolves would there be targeting a plump, fattened sheep?
Ah
May Allahs protection be with you on your return journey
Inshallah.
***
The Alexandrian merchants warning was true.
As soon as Alexandria disappeared beyond the horizon, bandits attacked, aiming for the wealth possessed by the caravan.
To fend off the attacks from real bandits as well as other merchants disguised as bandits and return to Aden, Mansurs group had to forge a bloody path.
Of course, Mansur had anticipated this and brought along a large number of private soldiers with the help of the Azzam family, but the situation was not easy.
In this situation, it was the Joseon military officers who provided a breakthrough.
The officers made full use of their assets.
Using monoculars, they scouted in all directions, detecting the bandits approach from afar and issuing warnings.
We have guests.
Good ones? Bad ones?
Judging by the way theyre drawing their swords as they approach, they dont seem to be good guests.
Upon receiving the report from his subordinate, Oh Ha-seok called for an interpreter.
Uninvited guests are coming.
Shortly after, shouts rang out from all directions, and the private soldiers began to form a circular formation for defense.
In the ensuing battle, the long rifles possessed by the military officers proved their might.
The one on the black horse, lingering in the back, seems to be the leader.
Understood.
When Oh Ha-seok designated a target, the military officers aimed their rifles at it.
Fire!
Bang!
When an important figure fell in this manner, the attacking bandits would often retreat.
Of course, if the fallen individual turned out not to be the leader or a high-ranking member, contrary to expectations, they had to engage in a slightly tougher fight. And in such cases, the mounted rifles had to ceaselessly spit fire.
***
Its Aden!
Hurrah!
Were back!
When the earthen walls defending Aden came into view in the distance, everyone, without exception, cheered.
The caravan that returned to Aden celebrated their safe return with each other.
However, the real great war began from that point onward.
Hold a banquet!
Hurrah!
At Mansurs words, the private soldiers and merchants who had unloaded their luggage shouted in unison. However, the elders of the Ottaibis and the Azzams rushed over.
Lets postpone the banquet for a moment!
Why?
As Mansur frowned and asked for the reason, an elder replied.
The Sindwas are plotting to make a move.
What!
***
Originally, Aden was dominated by five families.
These five families ruled Aden through mutual checks and cooperation.
However, the Ottaibi family led by Mansur had shaken up this arrangement.
Upon hearing rumors that the Sindwa family was pressuring the Ottaibi family with force, the Azzam family immediately joined hands with the Ottaibi family.
This was not due to a sense of justice. It was a check to prevent the Sindwa family from gaining too much power.
As a result, they became enemies with the Sindwa family, but the Azzam family was confident.
It was because the Azzam family was the most powerful force in Aden.
Based on this confidence, the Azzam family cooperated with the Ottaibi family and embarked on a trade expedition to Joseon.
Seeing this, the Sindwa family sneered.
Hmph! Will Allahs protection continue for a second time?
The sea route to Joseon, or more precisely, the sea route to China, required passing through the narrow strait between Malacca and Majapahit. And this strait was notorious for pirates.
Even if they safely passed through this strait, the route ahead was also fraught with danger, with Chinese pirates and Wako (Japanese pirates) rampant.
Therefore, when the Ottaibi family completed their first trade with Joseon and returned, the Sindwa family reached this conclusion.
-There wont be consecutive strokes of luck! This one time will be the end of the trade with Joseon!
Based on this conclusion, the Sindwa family had suppressed the Ottaibi family by force and sneered at the second voyage in alliance with the Azzam family.
However, the second voyage had also returned successfully.
Although there were signs of severe battles, they had returned without a single loss of a ship.
Seeing the cargo being unloaded from the six merchant ships, the executives of the Sindwa family became grave.
At this rate, it wont be the Five Great Families, but the Six Great Families!
We should be grateful if its only to that extent. The Azzam familys monopoly may begin.
Sensing the crisis, the Sindwa family began persuading the other families.
-If this continues, the Azzam family will take over Aden!
-We must defeat the Azzam and Ottaibi families!
Soon, rumors began to circulate rampantly in the streets of Aden.
The Sindwa family is planning to attack the Azzam family!
Confirming the truth of the rumors, the Azzam family also took countermeasures.
The head of the Azzam family sent an envoy to the Zayed family, another major family with whom they had a marriage alliance.
Lets join forces! If we defeat them this time, Aden will be ours!
Upon receiving the Azzam familys proposal, the Zayed family immediately summoned their elders for a meeting.
The problem was that the marriage alliances were not limited to the Azzam family.
All five families were connected through marital ties, forming a tangled web of relationships.
Putting everything else aside, lets think about what would bring the greatest benefit to our family. Looking at the Joseon goods that have arrived at the port, which side would be profitable? Who holds the monopoly on trade with Joseon?
At the head of the Zayed familys point, the elders put aside their concerns and immediately reached a conclusion.
We must join hands with the Azzam family!
And so, the Ottaibi, Azzam, and Zayed families formed an alliance, while the other two families gathered their strength centered around the Sindwa family.
Thus, Aden was split in two, but they could not immediately engage in a show of force.
It was because the combined military power of the Azzam and Zayed families was similar to that of the other three families combined.
Therefore, they could only growl at each other in a standoff.
This was the situation just before Mansur left for Alexandria.
***
Unless the Sindwas have gone mad
As Mansur made an expression of utter incomprehension, the elder replied briefly.
The profits earned this time were too great.
Has the rumor already spread?
The Sindwas had sent people to Alexandria.
Oh no
Mansurs face turned pale as he felt darkness before his eyes.
What should we do about this
As Mansur pondered deeply to find an answer, his eyes fell upon the Joseon military officers.
Its them! We must seek their help!
Mansur felt enlightened.
Those Joseon military officers were soldiers. Moreover, they were not mere warriors but individuals who had proven through actual combat that they had learned and mastered systematic military strategies.
Allahu Akbar!
Having found the answer, Mansur unknowingly uttered the phrase praising Allah.
Huh? Why is that man
I have a bad feeling about this.
Me too.
When Mansur exclaimed Allahu Akbar, Oh Ha-seok and the other military officers had an ominous feeling.
It was because nothing good had happened before or after those words were spoken.
***
Allahu Akbar means Allah is the greatest,' Oh Ha-seok muttered with a frown, recalling the meaning he had learned from an interpreter at the interpreter during the voyage.
The greatest, my foot
It was because Mansur and the crew had been shouting Allahu Akbar! after engaging in a fierce battle with pirates.
If hes such a great god, he should have prevented us from tangling with pirates and brigands.
For Oh Ha-seok, who had lost the military officers who had departed together from Joseon, it was a sentiment he could not sympathize with at all.
***
That was why Oh Ha-seok had a bad feeling when Mansur exclaimed Allahu Akbar.
The leader is requesting your assistance. He says the family is currently in a crisis.
Upon hearing the purpose through the interpreter, Oh Ha-seoks face crumpled.
Damn it!
- An early type of firearm, a precursor to the modern gun[]