Chapter 700

Episode 700: Sixtieth Birthday (7)

However, the professors were not discouraged and persistently looked for opportunities.

“Having a tool to break the seal means that there will come a time when you will need to break the seal! “I’m looking for that opportunity!”

“Machines are bound to break down! “I’m aiming for that time!”

While the professors were circling around looking for an opportunity, the Empire’s technicians were carefully assembling the equipment, checking its condition, and making full preparations.

“You can’t just focus on the railroad construction! “We must also proceed with the construction of a military port!”

“Check the inventory of materials and equipment properly!”

The Imperial Railway Corporation employees and military administrators in charge of managing supplies struggled fiercely with the template and report in front of them.

“It is fortunate that there is support from the Corps of Engineers for the construction of the military port.”

“It is said that in addition to the Corps of Engineers, there will be a significant amount of manpower support from the Army.”

Hearing his subordinate’s report, Manho Kang Dong-il, the administrative officer in charge of the construction of the military port in the Suez region, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Whoa~. “Thank goodness.”

A subordinate expressed doubts about Kang Dong-il’s words.

“We already don’t have enough workers, and the land dogs are whining that we are giving our children to the seals. Wouldn’t it have been better for us to get slaves too?”

Kang Dong-il glared at the subordinate who made the problematic statement.

“How are you going to get that budget? Are you going to go to the Ministry of Finance and get burned?”

“Of course, there are budget issues, but if we resell it after construction is completed, wouldn’t we be able to minimize budget consumption?”

“Where are you going to sell it? To do it right, you have to maintain at least 5,000 at all times, right? “Where are you going to sell the 5,000 after construction is over?”

To Kang Dong-il’s point, the subordinate immediately responded as if he had already thought about it.

“Why not sell it to a railroad construction company? I heard that although the distance is only 400 ri (approximately 160 km), it is expected to last 10 years because of the desert. “Why not use that site?”

Kang Dong-il, who had been thinking about his subordinate’s words for a moment, shook his head.

“Not possible. Even before the creation of the title, the empire had made it a policy to reduce slaves. But are they openly buying and selling slaves? It will leave a blemish on the honor of the military, and indeed the Navy. So it doesn’t work.”

“However, it is a very useful measure when considering increasing the efficiency of construction progress and efficient budget execution.”

“I can’t do it because of the budget.”

“yes?”

Kang Dong-il explained in more detail to his subordinate who couldn’t understand what he was saying and just blinked.

“If you look at the big picture, the entire county is living off the budget. And the budget received in that way is shared between the Army and Navy. The problem is that we have never had a good budget. However, it’s not so much that it’s hugely debilitating, but it’s just enough to slightly depress you. But are you willing to tarnish the Navy’s reputation just to save a few bucks? Wouldn’t that be possible? Right now, the Army gophers are going to trip over him and hit the Navy budget first, right?”

The subordinate, who understood the problem through Kang Dong-il’s explanation, immediately bowed his head.

“sorry. Su Guan’s thoughts were short!”

Kang Dong-il nodded at his subordinate’s apology, but did not forget the warning.

“Whether you are a commander fighting the enemy on the front line or an administrator fighting numbers at a desk, you have to look broadly and think deeply to get ahead. I will look after you this time, but if you make this mistake again, I guarantee you that I will make you live without success. Don’t forget that there are still many empty positions in the Records Office.”

At Kang Dong-il’s warning, the subordinate broke into a cold sweat and repeatedly bowed his head.

“I will keep each bone in mind!”

“Then go back and recheck the numbers in the report and take a look again at the measures regarding the binary that will arrive soon!”

“Yes old!”

Kang Dong-il, who had given his subordinates a lot of work to do, looked out the window and let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. “Isn’t there a smart guy somewhere?”

* * *

The second team arrived at the Suez site, where numerous mid-level executives were struggling while being run over here and there.

With the arrival of the second camp, which was larger than the first camp, the empire was almost able to complete its preparations.

The professors, who were once again looking for an opportunity with eagle eyes, froze when they saw the huge transport ship docked at the dock.

“A chimney on a ship? no way!”

“Such a huge payload!”

While the workers and soldiers were amazed at the enormous cargo capacity, the professors nodded as they looked at the smokestacks and the huge wheels on the sides of the ship.

“That’s right... a steam engine and wheels... it’s a good combination.”

“I think we can apply it too.”

“I’d like to take a look at the engine department.”

While the professors were burning with a passion for learning and research, the alliance officials who had heard the rumors were becoming serious in a different sense.

The conversation started about the inconvenience caused by the ship’s safety.

“The Great East... That means the East is ahead of us.”

“And they are the strongest in the East. In the end, it would be correct to see that they are proclaiming that they are stronger than us.”

“It’s arrogant, but it’s probably right now.”

While they were talking like that, the French official suddenly looked back at the Portuguese and Ottoman officials with startled eyes.

“Now that I think about it... I heard that the empire once recommended the construction of a canal. Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“So then the empire was already setting its sights on Europe?”

The Portuguese and Ottoman officials could not hide their surprise at the mutterings of the French official, whose face suddenly turned serious.

“What do you mean?”

In response to the Portuguese official’s question, the French official shared his thoughts.

“Look at the size of that boat. “Right now we only load cargo, but what if we load cannons instead of cargo?”

In response to the French official’s point, Portuguese and Ottoman officials imagined the expected map.

‘Even now, the Empire’s front lines are famous for carrying enormous numbers of cannons. But with a ship of that size, just one or two ships would be enough to take on a sizable fleet!’

As the Portuguese and Ottoman officials’ expressions became serious, the French official added more force to his voice.

“With the waterway connecting Suez to the Mediterranean Sea completed, what if warships as big as that ship enter the Mediterranean Sea through the waterway? “The worst thing like the Mongol invasion of the past will happen again.”

“Right. Was it against this background that the empire requested a military port?”

“Then shouldn’t we think about turning all treaties into nothingness?”

The Portuguese official shook his head at the Ottoman official’s words.

“That is impossible. “Considering the economic losses we have seen so far, it is impossible to cancel.”

Following the Portuguese official’s words, the French official also added.

“As long as there are no waterways, the nightmare I described will not happen. Just guarding against the empire is something that cannot be done without being lax even for a moment.”

“Let’s send the report back home.”

“Let’s do that.”

After reaching a consensus, the officials quickly began writing reports to send home.

In this way, Daedong Bangho brought about an unexpected butterfly effect.

-As long as there is a military danger to the empire, the canal will never be dug!

-Be as careful as possible not to provoke the empire carelessly! We must not give the empire an excuse!

In this way, the creation of the Suez Canal was pushed back considerably. In addition, the West’s advance into the East was also carried out very cautiously. This was because most of the eastern region was under the influence of the empire.

Later, Wan and the ministers who heard the rumor through the merchants looked at the incense in amazement.

“Is this really what you thought about?”

“No, I think I was lucky.”

The answer came with a humble smile, but Wan and the ministers all thought differently.

‘You said that, but you clearly calculated it up to that point!’

‘I can’t believe there was such a deep meaning to that clumsy name!’

‘As expected, His Majesty’s heart is deep and meticulous!’