Episode 1014: The name of firewood is the arms race (7)
The reason Hyang was worried about a war that might break out in Europe was not just because of alliance issues. Worries about the Empire bing a direct target were even greater.
While the European powers were engaged in a fierce arms race, the empire was taking advantage of what could be called a fisherman’s fortune. Symbolic examples include the export of new ships to Portugal and Italy and the export of iron horses to Italy and Switzend.
* * *
Looking at the situation in Europe during this period, Ennd and France in the west, where the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire were located, were technologically advanced in their own way, and the north was following suit. Lastly, the eastern region, with the exception of Hungary, was still an agricultural country. In this situation, Portugal, Italy and Switzend had many inherent problems.
First of all, in the case of Switzend, resources were so poor that the most exported products were limestone and rock salt. Even if they wanted to build a factory, it was almost impossible due to the harsh natural environment. The case of Italy was simr. Although it had capital power and Europeanmercial and industrial cities such as Florence and Venice, it was not until unification that the foundation for expansion was created. The only advantage was that there was an iron mine on Elbe Ind with a long history dating back to the Roman era.
In Portugal’s case, the experience and colonies it gained from being the first to advance into sea trade – outside the Mediterranean – with Spain were its weapons. In particr, they were making great profits from sugar produced in the Madeira Inds in Africa. However, the heavy industry symbolized by the steam engine was a field that was just beginning.
They began researching and investing in steam engines around the same time as other powers, but their small territory and poption held them back. In particr, Spain and France, which were several timesrger next door, were a problem. In the end, Portugal focused its capabilities on trade, not on fostering heavy industry. However, Portugal’s worries deepened as leading powers such as Ennd and France actively entered into an arms race and industrial structural reform, including steam engines.
In the end, these three countries had no choice but to rely on the empire again.
* * *
The first country to lean on the empire was Portugal. Therge-scale steel mill that King Joao II and his ministers had built using the national treasury had only just begun operation. The problem at the shipyard was the same. There were many shipyards that built merchant ships traveling between Gloria and colonial cities in Africa, but there was no shipyard that could buildrge irond ships. To be more precise, there were too many ships that had already been booked for construction.
“It would be okay to wait, but there is not enough time for that.”
After much deliberation, the Portuguese government formallymissioned the empire to build an irond ship.
-It will be equipped with at least 40 imperial ships currently used by the Portuguese Navy.
-Adopt a steam engine.
-It will be possible to cross one way from the Azores to the Namsinji Inds without resupply.
The imperial military department that received the request immediately reported it to the county.
“This is exactly what I like?”
After seeing the contents of the request, Hyeon opened the drawer with bright eyes. He ran his fingers through the rolled up blueprints piled up in the drawer and smiled roundly.
“Which one is better? ‘
However, Hyeon could not present his blueprint.
“No, it won’t work!”
“Absolutely not!”
This was because all the ministers who heard Hyun’s n stood up. Han Myeong-hoe, representing the ministers, came forward and exined the reason.
-The blueprints designed by His Majesty apply the most up-to-date technologies possessed by the empire. There is a problem of technology leakage.
-The battle lines designed by His Majesty are very challenging ships. Although the performance is excellent, there are also some ws that were not discovered. If even a fatal w is discovered while Portugal takes over and operates it, it will be a diplomatic issue.
‘I like it, these are challenging, but gambling ships! If something goes wrong, we’ll just use the dump! No, if you fix it before that, you’ll die! These days, there are craftsmen who want to move to private shipyards. How much time and money does it take to raise those craftsmen? I’m really going crazy! ‘
Han Myeong-hoe refuted as calmly as possible, holding back the words that were about toe out at any moment.
“… That’s why it’s best to deliver a ship built to the level they want!”
“That’s
right!” “Please ept it!” ”
Please notify us !”
As soon as the word came out, Hyun had no choice but to step back.
“… I understand. Then, order the shipyards in Wonsan and Shinji to draw up a blueprint that suits what they want.”
“I will follow your orders!”
“Ugh…..”
Hyun, who left work that day, looked for Hyang andined.
“It was a great opportunity, but I’m so disappointed.”
“What the ministers said is reasonable, so there’s nothing we can do about it, right?”
“It was a n for conversion drawn up while wasting time away…”
“That’s the way it is for all emperors.”
After that, Hyeonined to Hyang for a while, then bowed and left Suganggung. Hyeon, who was looking at the scenery outside the window of the carriage, muttered as he quenched his appetite.
“Ugh. I feel it every time, but this is why Tae Sang-taek and Sang-hang were elected without any regrets. Let’s see, Wu Ya’s original son is now…” It
was Hyun who was suddenly counting his fingers and calcting when he would be elected.
* * *
Against this background, four types of blueprints were uploaded from shipyards in Wonsan and Shinji. Since it was his area of expertise, Hyeon immediately brought in the blueprint and unfolded it. However, Hyun frowned as he looked at the blueprint.
“This…”
Hyun, who had been looking at the blueprint with a frown, looked back at the people in charge who were very nervous and asked.
“Isn’t this too old-fashioned to have a steam engine and a sail together?”
Jang Hang-seon stepped forward and responded to Hyeon’s point.
“It was tailored to what they wanted, just as His Majesty ordered.”
“Still, using a steam engine and a sail together Isn’t it a bit like that? ‘
“It is said thatbining steam engines and sails is a trend in Europe these days.”
“Still…”
As Hyun continued toin, Soonwook Lim came forward.
“Competition in Europe is fierce now. In such a situation, if we sell electric wires that only run on steam engines, it will be a problem that will add fuel to the fire. And if possible, shouldn’t we sell it one more time?”
“Let’s sell it one more time?”
“Even manned men know very well that thebined use of sails and steam engines is not optimal. So, wouldn’t it be possible to take the sails off one day and then sell them again? ”
“…. Send the blueprints to Portugal and tell them to choose the one they like.”
“I follow your orders.”
* * *
When the blueprints sent by the Empire arrived, the Royal Pce in Lisbon became noisy. Experts of the Portuguese Navy Experts from the department andmand shipyard gathered together to look at the blueprints sent by the Empire.
“Which of the four designs is the best? ”
In response to King Joao II’s question, Admiral Ricardo, Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Navy, who was looking at the blueprint, carefully answered,
“If you tell me to be honest, I would like to adopt all of them.”
“Is that enough? ”
“That’s right. If this blueprint is followed, it will be the strongest battleship in Europe.”
In response to Admiral Ricardo’s answer, the Prime Minister who was present asked.
“What if we deal with the Empire? ‘
In response to the Prime Minister’s question, Admiral Ricardo asked back with a puzzled expression.
“If you were an empire, would you sell the teeth that could bite you?”
“But wouldn’t there be something?”
“….. If you’re fighting an empire, a draw would be best.”
“I see. I understand.”
After hearing Admiral Ricardo’s answer, the Prime Minister this time asked the shipbuilding experts.
“Can these warships be built in our shipyards?”
The experts immediately answered the Prime Minister’s question:
“It is impossible.”
“What is the reason? ”
“Not just one or two.”
“….. Okay.”
The Prime Minister nodded with an embarrassed face and took a step back. As if there had already been some coordination in advance, as soon as the Prime Minister stepped back, King Joao II gave an order to Admiral Ricardo. “It is difficult to adopt all designs .
Therefore, choose the one you think is the best and submit it.”
“I follow your orders.” When
Admiral Ricardo and the experts disappeared, King Joao II spoke with the Prime Minister.
“I gave you a chance, but I will ask you again. Even now, there are many other enemy countries, so why should we even consider the Empire as an enemy? ”
In response to King Joao II’s question, the Prime Minister responded with an expression that said there was nothing he could do.
“It can’t be helped. The Empire has too much and we need more. No, it’s not just us in Portugal. Great powers such as France, Spain, and Ennd are aiming for an empire. If they can’t conquer the empire, they will target Portugal. We can only protect our homnd if we have enough power to even bite the empire.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to further strengthen our alliance with the empire? ”
“In that case, we still have to buy time by holding out until the empirees. In the end, not only must we have powerful battleships, but we must also have the ability to build powerful battleships ourselves.”
* * *
In this way, battleships built ording to the design chosen by Portugal began to be delivered to Portugal. Other powers built and deployed them. Whenrger, faster, stronger, and more powerful sailing ships than the original sailing ships appeared under the Portuguese g, the navies of the great powers all uttered curses:
“You damned empires! ”
“As soon as our ships came out, we were in trouble! ‘
And hell broke out for the ship designers of the great powers.
“Right now, design ships that are more powerful than the Portuguese ships!”
“Really? Do you think that’s possible?”
“If you say do it, do it! ‘
“Yes…”
The designers who took on the homework all muttered simr words, regardless of nationality.
“Should I get rid of this job?”
* * *
At the same time that the navies of the European powers were in an uproar due to the bomb thrown by Portugal, Italy and Switzend were also moving quickly. As a country dominated by merchants like the Medici family, Italy quickly judged its own strengths and weaknesses and moved on.
What they chose was ‘economy of scale’. As soon as Portugal confirmed that the warships it hadmissioned from the empire were of excellent performance, Italy sent a messenger to Portugal and the empire.
“We will also buy the battleships sold to Portugal! Please lower the price a little!”
“Huh?”
“The more steel tes and other equipment and parts you make, the more you can reduce the production cost per piece, right? If we buy not only from Portugal but also from Italy, the quantity will berge, so of course we can lower the price, right? ‘
“…. Tell Captain Lim Soon-wook toe!”
Lim Soon-wook, the Minister of Finance and Economy, and working-level staff came together and fierce negotiations took ce. However, Italy was also a formidable opponent, and in the end, both sides were able to reach an agreement within a reasonable range. The next area where Italy made efforts was railways.
First, Italy sent a messenger to Switzend.
“You need railroads too, right? Let’s move together! We can save money!”
“…. Is that so?”
After joining hands with Switzend, Italy headed back to the empire.
“We will introduce iron horses that will be operated in Switzend and Italy! So, give us a discount! Oh, and we want to build tracks that will be used for maintenance in the future, not tracks that are currently beingid for railway construction!”
“If only inside Italy…..”
“No, we’ll even make Swiss ones! Think of the cost of shipping from the Empire! Do you think poor Switzend will manage it properly? ”
“….. Tell Captain Lim Soon-wook toe!”