England, Spain, and Genoa moved actively to find the ‘unknown southern continent.’ No, they moved not just actively but desperately.

-The new continent is our only path to survival!

Before they knew it, the ‘unknown southern continent’ had been renamed the ‘New Continent (novum continentem).’

England against France, Spain against Portugal, and Genoa against Florence—they all moved fiercely to win again in their respective competitions.

These weren’t the only ones betting stakes on the enormous gambling table of ‘discovering the new continent.’ The competitors of these three nations also jumped into this gambling game.

Though there were differences.

While England, Spain, and Genoa bet their national fortunes, France, Portugal, and Florence had individuals or small investment groups jumping into the gambling table.

Thanks to all those jumping into this gambling game, the shipyards of Suez became bustling marketplaces.

Many commissioned ships at Suez’s shipyards to reduce the risk of circumnavigating Africa.

European shipbuilding technicians didn’t miss this opportunity. European technicians secured positions at Suez’s shipyards, even sacrificing their wages.

Having nested in the shipyards, they began designing and building the new sailing ships they had envisioned.

If the ships they designed performed their roles properly, it was certain they would receive not only great honor but several times the profit.

However, it wasn’t long before powerful competitors appeared.

They were merchants from the Empire.

The new product that the Empire’s merchants brought to market was sailing ships.

***

Decades had passed since the Challenger-class and Sea Hawk-class warships had appeared.

Naturally, not just the Empire’s merchants but many from other nations coveted these warships.

Accepting the Empire merchants’ requests, Sejong ordered Hyang to develop commercial transport ships, and Hyang developed new sailing ships with reduced combat and defensive capabilities but increased cargo capacity.

The newly released civilian transport ships proved useful not just for civilians but also for the military.

Especially on routes to and from the New Territories, these transport ships were the most valuable vessels.

Naturally, European and Japanese merchants also coveted these transport ships, and the Empire’s merchants smelled money here.

“If we do this right, this could be profitable?”

And as the new continent fever began spreading in Europe, “if we do this right” changed to “definitely.”

Merchants who smelled money searched for suitable land to build shipyards, reported to the authorities, and then sought out craftsmen.

Their targets were retired craftsmen from the Empire’s shipyards.

As time passed, craftsmen who had worked at the shipyards in Wonsan and Dongbing Harbor had retired, and generational change had occurred.

The merchants entered negotiations with these retired craftsmen.

However, the retired craftsmen showed negative reactions.

“Tch! Make ships used by the nation? Make those ships to sell to other countries? Bah! Wife! Bring the salt!”

“This is why you’re called merchants! Get lost!”

“You want me to be stuck in the Records Office at my age? You go to the Records Office!”

Despite being turned away at the door, the merchants persistently persevered. Not only that, they also submitted petitions to the court and the emperor.

“What do you all think?”

At Wan’s question, the ministers showed various reactions.

“Though they say these are merchant ships, not warships, they are vessels with performance that overwhelms other nations’ warships. We must refuse!”

“It’s true they are ships with excellent performance. However, compared to Challenger-class or Sea Hawk-class warships, they are quite inferior vessels. There’s no harm in allowing it!”

Since both supporters and opponents had valid reasons, Wan found it difficult to decide easily. Eventually, Wan sent a letter to Hyang seeking his opinion.

And once again, a ship carrying only a single letter traveled to and from the New Territories.

Hyang’s response that returned by express delivery was a thick letter envelope and a well-sealed blueprint tube.

Seeing the thick letter and blueprint tube Hyang had sent, Wan smiled bitterly.

“Did he already anticipate this? I can see Father clicking his tongue…”

Imagining Hyang clicking his tongue while writing the letter, Wan unfolded it and smiled bitterly again.

“As expected…”

***

The contents of Hyang’s letter, organized in order, were as follows:

-Ships aren’t made by craftsmen alone. Blueprints are absolutely necessary.

The blueprints for warships and transport ships are all classified.

If merchants or retired craftsmen possess blueprints for Imperial military warships or transport ships, tie them up for treason and crush them.

-If there are no blueprints, sell the enclosed blueprints.

While the defensive capabilities are lower than existing transport ships and warships, they’re much sturdier than what they’re making now.

Emphasize that testing and improvements have been completed in the New Territories, and merchants will open their purses wide.

Reading this far, Wan glanced at the blueprint tube that came with it and moved on.

“He really did click his tongue.”

-The ironclad Assault Turtle Ship has emerged, and development of warships made of iron is already in progress.

How long will you keep treading water thinking only of wooden ships!

Did you give up when you heard the Crown Prince was researching iron ships?

If Minister Kim Jeom were here, he would have raged about throwing away an opportunity for big money!

If you’re so worried, just sell the ships and not the cannons, wouldn’t that solve it?

If you’re worried, shouldn’t you work harder to stay ahead!

Not going to work properly? Am I the emperor, or are you?

Could I just end up settling down in the New Territories?

“Phew~.”

Letting out a long sigh and carefully folding the letter, Wan ground his teeth.

“Crunch! I should crush the ministers first! For trying to block my trip to the New Territories!”

At the same moment, all the ministers shivered.

“Why am I suddenly getting goosebumps…”

And old ministers like Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo let out sighs.

“Phew~. Looks like we’ll hear that tongue-clicking again…”

***

After much turmoil with Wan’s scolding and the ministers’ wailing, the Empire’s merchants produced ships to sell to Europeans.

They started by selling ships built in the mainland, but before long, merchants moved their shipyards to regions near Suez.

The newly established location was Maynila in Luzon (present-day Manila).

The Empire-made sailing ships built using abundant tropical wood from Luzon and nearby islands were sturdy and quite large.

Not only explorers wanting to explore new territories but also merchants needing trade ships purchased Empire-made sailing ships.

Among these sold sailing ships, several found their way into Suez’s shipyards where they were disassembled.

European shipbuilding technicians who examined the disassembled Empire-made sailing ships soon began applying the Empire’s technology to their own ships.

However, this was one of the traps Hyang had laid.

“It’s hard to catch up immediately through imitation alone! You need to understand why it was done that way!”

This came from Hyang’s experience.

It was experience gained when he had run away to 21st century America.

The second trap was the hull structure.

Challenger-class and Sea Hawk-class warships were made with two layers of timber overlapped on the sides of the hull.

However, the sides of ships sold to Europeans had only a single layer. Of course, they were made slightly thicker, but compared to the Empire’s warships and transport ships, their defensive capabilities were definitely lacking.

That wasn’t all.

The ships sold by Empire merchants didn’t carry cannons, but spaces for cannons were built in.

Hyang had played a trick here.

The cannons currently used on European ships were fine. However, he designed it so that if larger, heavier, and more powerful cannons were loaded in the future, it would cause strain.

Of course, he didn’t make it so problems would occur immediately, but structured it weakly so that problems might arise after one or two battles.

“It’ll take them quite a while to notice this problem and fix it!”

Though Hyang had installed various traps in these ships, their performance was good, so most ships made in Suez and Europe soon came to have similar shapes and structures to those sold by the Empire.

In other words, ships with all of Hyang’s traps intact began spreading across the seas.

***

For trade with Asia, for exploring the new continent, many people and ships gathered in Suez.

Many ships came and went at Suez’s trading port, and in the entertainment districts facing the port, people of various races gathered to indulge in pleasures.

Also, churches, mosques, temples, and shrines were built for those praying for their own and their ships’ safety before departure, and conversely for those who returned safely to give thanks to their gods.

Thus many went to sea for a gamble staking their futures, and were preparing to go.

The carrack-class medium sailing ship ‘San Domingo,’ busy with loading operations before departure.

While many sailors moved busily about, a brown-haired young man in his twenties leaned against the ship’s railing, looking outside.

Where his gaze directed, a ship was just raising its sails and heading out to sea.

“If I had a ship made in that ‘Flower Country,’ I would go find the new continent right now…”

As the young man grumbled while watching the ship heading for the distant sea, a rough shout burst from behind him.

“Hey! Cristóbal! Cristóbal Colón! You lazy donkey bastard! What are you doing there!”

“Eek! S-sorry! Sorry, Navigator!”

Startled by the cursing from behind, Cristóbal ran over, bowing repeatedly to the navigator.

Seeing Cristóbal like this, the navigator raised his voice.

“You bastard! While everyone else is working their asses off, you’re just wasting time there! How will you ever become a navigator being so lazy! No, a lazy bastard like you becoming a navigator? Oh, Holy Mother Mary! What sin have I committed to receive such a lazy donkey bastard as an apprentice!”

At the navigator’s lamentation, Cristóbal had to keep bowing his head.

“Sorry! Sorry! I’ll do my best!”

“If you slack off like that again, I’ll throw you off the ship!”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

At Cristóbal’s answer, the navigator kicked his buttocks.

“Don’t just talk, move! You donkey bastard!”

“Yes, yes sir!”

Rubbing his kicked buttocks, Cristóbal moved busily.

Having safely finished loading and checking cargo and provisions, the San Domingo raised anchor and headed out to sea.

Having safely left the complicated port and taken a breather at sea, Cristóbal asked the navigator.

“Everyone’s going crazy trying to find the new continent, but aren’t the ship owner and captain interested? If we succeed properly, we could become very rich.”

“We’re making good money on this route too.”

“But it’s not big money, is it?”

“Still more than you make. And with everyone flocking like that, we’re already late. If it really exists, they’ll find it soon, and only the one who finds the route first will profit.”

The navigator explained to Cristóbal with realistic reasons.

“I see.”

“So stop daydreaming and learn your job properly! You donkey bastard!”

“Yes…”

Retreating after being scolded, Cristóbal looked at the sky and muttered.

“Is there really only one route? The earth is round… new routes must exist. If I find that route, I could make my name ‘Cristoforo Colombo’ widely known, couldn’t I?”

The young man named Cristoforo Colombo in his native Genoan, Cristóbal Colón in Spanish, or Christopher Columbus in English, looked at the sea with eyes full of ambition.