European Financial Emperor

121 To the enemy’s rear (2)

It took a considerable amount of time for the Qing navy to move at the request of the Joseon royal family and the Edo shogunate.

During that time, Andre’s army had already reached Jeju and Daemado, and the watchtowers and fortifications of the Jokjok tribes, where their gunfire touched them, were destroyed, leaving no traces to be found.

It was a state in which there was not a single grain left in the place where the storm had swept away.

Daemado and Jeju, which surrendered to Andre’s navy like rice with their heads bowed down, were now thoroughly controlled through the latter.

He brought and disbanded the army, captured the officials and purged them all, so that he could truly feel how terrifying Andrew was.

Nevertheless, it was absurd that there was no contact from the mainland at all.

“There are rumors circulating that a navy will be organized in Qing. There is even a saying that the medical service will be organized around temples.”

“Medicine… … . Yes, our Baedal people have been fiercely fighting and resisting foreign aggression since ancient times.”

“What should I do? Shall we burn the temple down and abolish hyanggyo and seowon altogether?”

Andre thought for a moment after hearing the staff’s report.

Will the people’s angry feelings calm down just because they subdue the Joseon medics?

He ordered not to interfere with the organization of the medics.

“Leave the temple and the militia alone.”

“But when we run into them, we have no choice but to raise our guns. Even if the medics get oxidized by bullets, they will fight hard, so this will be a slaughter.”

“Don’t worry about the medics and burn the hyanggyo and seowon. Then, he confiscated the houses of the nobles and freed the slaves. It also robs the barns and distributes them to the hungry people.”

“Are you talking about implementing a compassionate policy?”

“You guys, what percentage of the population do you think yangbans will make up?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be roughly equivalent to a Western aristocrat?”

“It would be less than 5% of the total population. Of these, there are only a few, except for those who buy genealogies and act as yangbans. But, absurdly, the grain and wealth they hoard and hoard in their warehouses outweigh the remaining 90% of their wealth. How can the people survive without starvation?”

“… … iced coffee!”

“All this is because of the hyanggyo and vows, I think so. So, wouldn’t it be desirable to burn the whole family of those goddamn nobles and toss out all the old folks who were arguing about Confucius and Mencius?”

The staff simply nodded at Andre’s paradox.

“It seems that Na-ri eventually mobilized the army to completely reform the country of Joseon.”

“I think that this will not only pave the way for his coming here, but also his deceased father. He died because of these goddamn godfathers, but I think it’s appropriate to uproot the roots of that.”

“okay.”

“Everything is done with a focus on laying the groundwork for when He comes. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Andre’s army raised their guns to purge the powerful in Jeju and Daemado at once.

***

The 2nd Squadron, separated from the main unit and moving up the Douro River, was at a loss for words at the devastated scenery of the riverside village.

The commander of the 2nd squadron, Maxim, only sighed at the reports of the soldiers.

“It is said that they robbed all food and burned the entire granary area. We decided that we could procure food here.”

“… … are they crazy So what the hell are the people in this area supposed to do?”

“I told you to catch fish in the sea and rivers and eat them. Fortunately, the recent sharp drop in catches and the lack of strength to cast nets seems to be the only answer to satisfy hunger by peeling the bark of the trees.”

Why the heck did Portugal become like this?

They poured out almost all of their fortune on an expedition to America, and the high-interest loans they had lost when importing cannons from England had long since ruined the royal finances.

Nevertheless, since the military was steadily spending in the new continent, it was not unreasonable that the people’s standard of living was bottoming out.

Taken from readwn.com

Meanwhile, the North American Expeditionary Force was annihilated by the East Stellar Mercenaries, so there was nothing left on the mainland.

“Since we were defeated by our East Stellar mercenary corps, and even the rest of us were robbed, it must have been difficult to even procure supplies. But that doesn’t mean you’re not afraid of God for making such an extreme choice in this way?”

“When we came and asked questions, we gave them chocolate or jerky as supplies, and the little boys in the neighborhood shared their fingernails and jumped with joy. After all, grown-ups wouldn’t even have tasted it.”

Since the gap between the rich and the poor in continental Europe is so stark, there is no need to emphasize it painfully.

The poorest people are always hungry and struggling, and they are living a painful life to the point that being born is almost an embarrassment.

The gap between the rich and the poor was evident even in the Easterfield Baron.

But at least they don’t worry about three meals a day, and they don’t suffer because they have nothing to wear to sleep.

There is a workplace that guarantees generous pay, and there is a mercenary group that protects the peace of the new continent.

In that respect, Portugal must have felt the quality of life clearly inferior compared to the Baron of Easterfield.

“We used to live like that. Until I met the Baron.”

“No, maybe I’ve lived a more unhuman life than I did.”

“But now we are much richer and more powerful than them.”

Taken from readwn.com

Maxim was also a slave from Africa in the past, and was saved after he nearly had his wife and children taken away with a plaything.

He seemed to have tears in his eyes at the thought of the past.

“… … Give them mercy.”

“But these people are not alone. There will be no end if we sow each and every one of them like this.”

“know. But later on, you’ll be able to get interest from the Portuguese government. And if the Baron had known this, I think he would have acted like me.”

“Well… … . Well, that’s right. A baron is not someone who just pretends not to see the difficult person. That’s why we respect and follow him.”

“Let them know that we are going to release our military supplies and distribute them to the citizens right now.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I also contacted the head office and told them to pay some extra for our military supplies, and some said that our military would help them so they could fish in the far seas.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Sometimes a slice of bread is more powerful than a knife or a gun.

It was evident that today’s good deeds would be far more dreadful for the Portuguese royal family than the threat of fire.

***

Even when the heat battle was repeated in North America and Europe, the Eaststellar Lab was becoming a nightmare.

In particular, the aeronautical science lab was having a much busier day than others.

Scientists who built the aircraft based on the blueprints Lee Hwan gave him and installed the engine were slightly skeptical about whether it could fly.

“Can this really fly?”

“You saw it in experiments with hang gliders made of wood and cloth. I can definitely fly.”

“okay. Your designs are always perfect. But is there really something we’re missing, that’s what I’m worried about. If you actually float it, it will fly very high.”

“Well, it is.”

“If you fall from that high place, you will die. I’m worried about that.”

Aside from hang glider experiments, no manned aircraft has ever flown through the air.

Fortunately, in the hang glider experiment, there was a precedent in which a person nearly died but barely survived, so no one was willing to participate in the experimental flight easily.

Thomas Lübensson, director of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, laid out his secret weapon in front of the fearful.

It was a parachute made of silk.

“This is a parachute without any problem even if you jump from a high place.”

“… … Isn’t that something a mad scientist was experimenting with 30 years ago and fell and died?”

“no. It’s different from that. It’s something the Baron devised himself in case something like this happens.”

“Oh, right?”

Even the same thing is different when Lee Hwan makes it, and no matter how unsuccessful it was, Lee Hwan’s failure was often treated as a masterpiece that had a great impact on the development of mankind.

In fact, although this parachute had never been properly tested, Thomas Lübensson believed that Yi Hwan’s design was unmistakably perfect.

“I won’t die anymore. That means you can safely get on the plane.”

“Then there is nothing to be afraid of.”

“I would like to try the first flight, but I will give you a glorious opportunity. If there are no volunteers, let me ride.”

“I will ride!”

After hearing that there was a parachute, volunteers poured in from all over the place.

Thomas Lübensson smiled softly.

“Yeah, that’s why you should have insurance.”

“So who is riding?”

“Let’s draw lots. After that, well, there will be constant flight experiments, so take turns riding each time.”

“All right. Let’s cast lots right now!”

Without manipulation, there is probably no more fair way of lottery in the world than the lottery.

Thomas Lübensson broke the reed according to the number of R&D team of 50 and marked the tip with ink dots.

He took turns drawing lots one by one.

As a result, Michel Laurent, the engineer who developed the hull, won.

“Oh my, did I win?”

“okay. After all, it’s not unusual to get on your own aircraft.”

The East Stellar Company was a company with a high level of female participation, so there was no place that could be called a forbidden area.

The same goes for building or servicing airplanes.

The woman who made the greatest contribution to the creation of the aircraft in the aviation arsenal was also the woman Michelle Laurent.

“Did Unit 1, which we built, have a name?”

“No. Why don’t we just call it Laurent No. 1?”

“Yeah, let’s call him Laurent after Michelle.”

The first plane bearing the surname of Michelle, who became the first pilot, finished preparations for flight under meticulous maintenance by engineers.

And after about four days, it was ready to fly.

Taken from readwn.com

Michelle wore a helmet and armor made of steel, and a knife and a parachute to ensure an emergency escape.

The day before departure, I practiced parachuting all day.

She climbed into the cockpit with all her colleagues watching.

“It has nothing to do with driving a car! Don’t be nervous!”

“Whew… … ! All right, then let’s go!”

As Michelle gave her thumbs up on the plane seat, the comrades turned the propellers and started the engine.

Get off, get off, get off with… … !

I could feel the vibrations all over my body, along with the noises like those from the early retractors.

“… … Are you going to vomit before leaving?”

“Come on, let’s go! Take off!”

She pressed the accelerator on her companion’s power unit, and the plane began to pound at high speed.

boo boo… … !

Lorant Unit 1 running down the runway with a roaring noise.

Taken from readwn.com

Michelle knew better than anyone where the plane had to land.

Didn’t she make this plane?

“Let’s fly!”

When the control stick was pulled, the rear wing steering system of the plane changed direction and the plane began to float.

Thump, Thump, Thump… … !

The wheels swayed, and then the plane completely floated off the shore.

She cheered.

“Hey hey! Success!”

For the first time in human history, it was the first successful manned flight of a power unit.