Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 890

890. Overture (5)

From kings to villagers in remote rural areas, from Europeans to foreigners residing in Europe for business or other reasons, most people living in Europe could strongly sense the brewing storm of war.

Those who felt it most acutely were scholars and veterans who had witnessed their share of battles.

-If a real war breaks out this time, it will be a conflict of unprecedented scale.

Scholars, through their exchanges with the Empire, anticipated that the upcoming war would be significantly different from previous ones.

“Wars in the East, including those fought by the Empire, especially the most recent ones, involved at least 100,000 troops. If such a war were to occur in Europe, could Europe even withstand it?”

Meanwhile, veterans who had fought in wars and battles using weapons exported by the Empire, or replicas thereof, were even more concerned.

“Even an eight-year-old can pull the trigger of a long rifle. The problem is that the generals are still caught up in outdated, chivalrous [referring to the romanticized ideals of knightly combat] games.”

“The generals are the problem…”

The veterans’ concerns were valid.

* * *

The most recent large-scale battle fought with national stakes on the line was the Hundred Years’ War.

It had been only a little over 30 years since the complete end of the Hundred Years’ War.

In those 30 years, everything about war had completely changed.

Up until the Hundred Years’ War, the main weapons of soldiers were spears, axes, and bows. Cannons were weapons used only in sieges.

However, now the main weapon of soldiers was the long rifle. And cannons were being used not only in sieges but also to crush the enemy’s ranks on the battlefield.

It wasn’t just weapons and tactics that had changed.

The concept of supply had also completely changed.

In the past, one could capture the enemy’s spears and swords and use them as is, or confiscate iron farming tools used by local residents and melt them down to make weapons.

However, with the widespread adoption of gunpowder weapons, this became impossible.

It was because of gunpowder.

Sacks or wooden barrels filled with black powder would disappear in an instant with just a touch of a small torch.

The only thing that could be procured locally was food.

In other words, if proper supply lines from the rear were not maintained, victory was out of the question, and even a proper battle would be impossible.

These stark changes had occurred in just over 30 years.

Because of this, high-ranking commanders in various European countries, i.e., high-ranking nobles, were still accustomed only to the wars of the Hundred Years’ War era.

* * *

Of course, there were also quite a few commanders familiar with the ‘war of guns and cannons’ through the Suez War. Therefore, the Empire was paying special attention to France.

This was because soldiers and commanders familiar with war through the Hundred Years’ War had been re-tempered through their experience with wars using guns and cannons.

However, contrary to the Empire’s concerns, France’s internal problems were holding it back.

Firstly, the Suez, which had produced so many experienced soldiers and commanders, was the problem.

Even at this moment, the Suez was one of the busiest trade routes. Numerous great powers were vying for control of the Suez, and France could not afford to pull out a large number of elite troops to defend it.

As an alternative, they were considering replacing newly formed units with existing units. However, due to the need to maintain the Suez garrison’s strength and logistical challenges, a large-scale replacement was impossible.

In other words, the Suez garrison, one of the most powerful forces, had to be considered effectively unavailable.

-Losing Italy would be a setback, but losing Suez would be a catastrophic blow!

This was Louis XI’s judgment.

Secondly, it was the very problem that the veterans were worried about.

There were quite a few commanders who had distinguished themselves in the Suez War, and some had risen in rank in recognition of their merits.

However, even if they had risen in rank, very few had grown to the point where they could influence France’s defense policy.

The biggest reason for this was that most of them were commanders of the Ordinance Companies [France’s first permanent, professional army], France’s standing army.

Most of the commanders of the Ordinance Companies, France’s standing army, or more precisely, the French king’s standing army, were commoners or lower nobles.

Therefore, even if they rose in rank, there was bound to be a limit to their influence.

“If only the Marshal were still alive…”

Those who were blocked by the high and thick wall of social advancement lamented the absence of Marshal Richemont.

Arthur de Richemont, the hero of the Hundred Years’ War, a loyal subject of Charles VII, and the reformer of the military.

If he had not died immediately after the end of the Hundred Years’ War, he would have been their strongest advocate.

However, the French nobles, who were desperately trying to prevent the further strengthening of the king’s power after the annexation of Burgundy, strongly opposed the advancement of commanders from the Ordinance Companies.

Louis XI, who still needed the cooperation of the nobles, accepted their demands as a kind of compromise.

That was how those who only remembered the Hundred Years’ War era came to occupy the highest command positions in the French army.

However, Louis XI did not simply back down. Befitting his infamous nickname ‘the Cunning (le rusé),’ he plotted a scheme.

First, he firmly established the Ordinance Companies as the king’s army. He prioritized the supply of manpower and weapons to the Ordinance Companies and increased the salaries of soldiers and commanders.

Next, he recalled the nobles who had retired to the reserves back to active duty.

“The situation in Italy is concerning, so I believe you should step up and take command.”

Of course, they suspected that this was one of Louis XI’s schemes, but they had to follow Louis XI’s orders.

The justification Louis XI put forward was plausible, and it was clear that if they refused even this, the nobles would lose all credibility. In the end, the nobles who followed Louis XI’s orders gathered troops and trained them.

Here, Louis XI’s other scheme was activated.

“The weapons needed for your units will, of course, be supplied by the country. However, since the budget is not sufficient, I would like you to provide half of the budget you need.”

“For the same reason, you should purchase the bullets, shells, and gunpowder to be used for training at your own expense. Of course, if a war breaks out, I will supply the necessary ammunition and gunpowder for free, even if I have to spend my own money.”

The nobles had no choice but to accept Louis XI’s proposal, which was essentially an order. This was because gunpowder was an expensive commodity.

However, because it was such an expensive commodity, the training of the units organized by the nobles was bound to be inadequate. A very few nobles who knew how to assess the situation reduced expenditures in areas such as lavish banquets and focused on live-fire training, but in most cases, they trained by simply holding their guns and imitating gunshot sounds with their mouths.

The commanders of the Ordinance Companies, who were watching this training scene from afar, wore a bitter smile on their faces.

“They will end up as cannon fodder, used to exhaust the enemy’s ammunition.”

“I agree. The mercenaries are training more diligently, in comparison…”

* * *

Those who responded most actively to the changing battlefield situation were the mercenaries.

Although the great powers of Europe were increasing the size of their standing armies, there were still limits.

This was due to the problem of maintenance costs.

And this problem was more serious for weaker countries sandwiched between powerful nations.

And these weaker countries had no choice but to hire mercenary bands, which was the traditional method.

However, they did not hire just any mercenary band. The rulers of the weaker countries applied strict standards.

The standard they insisted on was guns and cannons.

-At least half of the soldiers must be armed with long rifles, and they must have at least five cannons.

-The riflemen must be skilled riflemen.

This was the minimum standard required by the rulers of the weaker countries, and if it was not met, the contract was off the table.

In the end, to survive in the market, the leaders of the mercenary bands and the mercenaries diligently began to arm themselves with guns and cannons.

“The problem is the long rifles! It’s impossible to get the Type 1 rifles made in the ‘Land of Flowers’ [a common reference to China at the time], but we have to get at least the Type 2 rifle level!”

“Matchlock rifles? Are you kidding me!”

“If you can’t buy them, use bribes! If that doesn’t work, steal them!”

The mercenary band leaders and mercenaries diligently worked to obtain Type 2 rifles, or breech-loading rifles similar to Type 2 rifles.

In this situation, there were some mercenary bands that were surprisingly relaxed.

These were the mercenaries who had participated in the previous Suez War. At that time, the allies had provided Type 2 rifles to the participating mercenaries and mercenary bands, and had steadily supplied parts.

“You guys are having a hard time…”

To the words of the Suez War veteran mercenaries, other mercenaries retorted.

“But you guys are tied to the leash until you die!”

“…”

As they said, the Suez War veteran mercenary bands and mercenaries were under a lifetime contract that they could not leave the country that hired them until they died, in exchange for being abundantly supplied with the latest long rifles and ammunition.

The next step for the mercenaries who had secured firearms through various methods such as bribery, smuggling, and theft was training.

“Ammunition is too expensive…”

“It can’t be helped! Today’s expenditure guarantees tomorrow’s survival and salary!”

Even while grimacing at the exorbitantly expensive ammunition costs that made them feel sick to their stomachs, the mercenaries faithfully continued their live-fire training.

As they said, for the sake of tomorrow’s survival and tomorrow’s salary.

Some with anxious hearts, some seeking opportunities for advancement, and some dreaming of a fortune, people’s gazes were fixed on Italy.

However, the gunshots rang out in a completely unexpected place.

Matthias I of Hungary had invaded Austria.

* * *

In 1457, a riot broke out in Hungary. Ladislaus the Posthumous, the ruler of Hungary at the time, fled to Vienna, but later died in Prague, Bohemia.

After Ladislaus’s suspicious sudden death, Frederick III claimed the throne of Bohemia and Hungary.

However, the parliaments of Bohemia and Hungary rejected Frederick III’s demands and elected their own kings.

In the end, the relationship between the Habsburgs and Bohemia and Hungary could not be good, and they could not help but watch each other with wary eyes.

In this situation, the Habsburgs’ participation in the arms race forced Hungary to make a choice as well.

In the end, Hungary had no choice but to jump into the arms race as well.

The following situation was deteriorating.

As the King of Bohemia, George of Poděbrady, was excommunicated by Pope Paul II at the time, the Catholic nobles of Bohemia revolted.

Through the ensuing civil war and peace agreement, the dominion of Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia passed to Hungary. However, this growth of Hungary made the Habsburgs even more hostile to Hungary.

The increasingly fierce arms race and the deteriorating relationship with the Habsburgs forced Matthias I, the King of Hungary, to make a choice.

“If the arms race continues as it is now, it will be a problem for both the Habsburgs and us. Remember when they demanded the throne from us in the past! Frederick will surely try to seize Hungary! We will strike first!”

Following Matthias I’s decision, the Hungarian army invaded Austria.