Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 914

914. The Imperial March (2) – Charge, Return, and Run on the Ground. (2)

The advocates for peace strongly urged their lords to engage in negotiations.

“The Great Han Federal Empire wants negotiations now! We must also engage in negotiations!”

“They want negotiations? What is the basis for that?”

“The basis is that the former Emperor of the Great Han Federal Empire has come! It means they are willing to negotiate!”

“Hmm….”

“Your Highness! Negotiations should come first! Please consider their power!”

As the lords hesitated, the advocates for peace pushed even more strongly for negotiations.

Even while watching these actions of the peace advocates, the pro-war faction could not easily oppose them.

This was because the situation in Italy was not one in which they could recklessly advocate for war.

* * *

While envoys from France and related countries were busily moving back and forth, engaging in a tedious tug-of-war, the Empire diligently worked to bring the Swiss mercenaries up to strength.

Thanks to the Empire’s diligence, they created the targeted 100,000-strong Swiss mercenary force in less than half a year.

Although a considerable amount of finishing work remained, they had achieved their initial goal.

“If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to do the final finishing touches through actual combat….”

In some ways, it was a very heartless assessment from the Imperial Army instructors and commanders. However, the pressure exerted by the number 100,000 was very strong.

Immediately, a force of 100,000, including the Imperial Army, the Swiss mercenary force, and the Florence standing army, was positioned in Florence, ready to spring out.

What was even more frightening was that this 100,000 was not the end. Through the reserve system modeled after the Empire, it was possible to reinforce up to 30,000 troops if necessary. In addition, more than 50,000 could be mobilized from Switzerland if needed. At least.

“But… the Empire has 300,000 standing troops….”

“Terrible…. Fortunately, the distance is far, and if we can properly block the Suez [Suez Canal, a vital waterway], we can breathe a sigh of relief.”

However, as the Imperial fleet that departed from Shinji arrived in Italy, the headache doubled.

In addition, bypassing through Switzerland became impossible. This was because 25,000 of the mercenaries contracted with the Empire remained in Switzerland. The bypass route had disappeared due to the 25,000 mercenary force entrenched in the natural defense zone of the Alps.

“Even if a bypass route remained, the real problem is that the biggest problem remains the same….”

“That’s right.”

Even if they passed through the Alpine corridor where Switzerland was located and entered Italy, the fact remained that they would eventually face that damned army of 100,000 that was holding out in Florence.

“If the trilateral negotiations fail, we’ll be in trouble….”

“We must succeed in the trilateral negotiations.”

The immediate task of the pro-war faction was not to start a war, but to succeed in the trilateral negotiations.

* * *

Because of this background, the pro-war faction was silent. In the meantime, a small number of extremists secretly met.

“How much value would the former Emperor of the Empire have?”

“Of course, he would have tremendous value, right?”

“What if we could kill him? What would happen to the morale of the Imperial Army in Italy?”

“Would the Empire stand still?”

“Think about the time until the assassination news is delivered, the time it takes to decide on countermeasures, and the time it takes to act according to the decision. By that time, Italy will already be sorted out.”

“We must consider that the Imperial Army in Italy is also a considerable force.”

“Of course, they will move without considering the consequences. That’s even better. That way, our talkative cowards will also move desperately. The times are changing! How long will we cling to chivalry! An era has come where we can only get everything if we risk everything and jump in!”

“That’s true. Let’s think about it.”

The extremists continued to talk, emptying their glasses. The problem was that most of the places where these extremists talked were the Giru [a type of establishment or gathering place] established by Milhui.

* * *

As Milhui advanced into Europe, it established Giru in major cities, including the capitals of the great powers. In the Giru that were established in this way, trained courtesans and employees were put into work.

These courtesans and employees were ‘red-haired, blue-eyed Imperials.’ After Kim Jong-seo’s rescue of young girls from the slave market in Alexandria led to their success as famous courtesans, similar cases continued.

Giru and merchant groups, judging that it would be profitable, began to rescue girls from Alexandria and raise them as courtesans.

It was Milhui who put a spoon on it [became actively involved].

-We have to go to Europe, but our appearance is too different from them! It’s the best alternative!

Milhui, who immediately received approval from Hyang, moved quickly. They rescued girls from Alexandria who were sure to grow into beauties and raised them as Milhui agents.

Thanks to the fact that the starting point was the Geomgye [organization guarding courtesan houses] who guarded the courtesan houses, the eyes of the Milhui agents were accurate, and the children they rescued grew into courtesans boasting outstanding beauty.

They didn’t just provide courtesan education. They re-selected girls with definite talent and continued intelligence agent training whenever they had time, and made them learn the languages of the European powers. Those who failed in this process worked as courtesans in Milhui’s disguised companies established in Bonji and Bukji, and engaged in surveillance missions on the privileged class.

However, the most important thing was to instill in them absolute loyalty to the Empire and the Emperor. Through a process that could be seen as almost brainwashing, they became loyal agents of Milhui.

While most of the female agents were supplied through this process, most of the male agents were from the Baekjeong [outcast class] class or were of mixed blood.

As exchanges with the outside world increased, the number of people who were scouted from foreign countries and settled in the Empire gradually increased, and the number of people who went abroad and formed relationships with women there also increased.

In particular, as stories related to the latter began to be heard little by little, Sejong and Hyang immediately created a law.

-Anyone who forms a relationship with a foreigner must hold a wedding and bring them into the Empire.

-If it is a polygamous marriage, the person will be severely punished.

“We have a shortage of people as it is, so we have to use even these means!”

In this way, the number of mixed-race people increased in the Empire, and Milhui turned them into agents.

And, like the female agents, those who passed the brainwashing-like process and training were dispatched to Europe.

Then, in the disguised strongholds created in Europe, they worked as the owners, courtesans, and employees of the Giru, and the executives of Milhui moved as servants who were employed under them.

Thanks to this, the privileged class in Europe had almost no aversion to the disguised strongholds. Because they had the same appearance as them.

And, Milhui’s Giru was also quite useful politically.

The leaders of the factions divided by politics were always under surveillance by hostile forces.

If they held a banquet, they carefully examined which nobles attended the banquet to distinguish between allies and enemies.

In addition, holding a banquet itself required considerable expenditure.

However, in Giru, they could have meetings disguised as coincidences, and the expenditure was relatively less than that of a banquet.

In addition, as factions gathered in Giru regardless of their affiliation, political negotiations sometimes took place in unexpected places.

Thanks to this, Giru became a place where nobles were sure to gather.

At least 200 years earlier than the ‘salon politics’ that was popular from the era of absolute monarchy in the history before Hyang’s intervention, ‘Giru politics’ was born.

* * *

The extremists’ plot to assassinate Hyang was immediately heard by Milhui.

The branch manager of Milhui, who received the report, immediately made a decision.

“Seonchamhugo (斬後告) [Execute first, report later]. Eliminate them immediately.”

“Yes!”

“Who is the best at shooting?”

“James is the best.”

“Call him immediately.”

“Yes!”

As the subordinate went outside to call James, the branch manager unlocked the safe on one side and took out two long boxes and a slightly smaller box.

“Did you call me?”

“There are guys who are trying to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor. We have to eliminate them. Can you do it?”

“I will definitely eliminate them.”

The blonde man called James answered with a determined face. Hearing James’s answer, the branch manager opened the small box and took out a small book.

“It’s a license to kill. Write your name, sign it, and put your seal on it.”

“Yes!”

James wrote his name on the license that the branch manager had unfolded and signed it. After that, James, who had taken out the dagger he had been carrying and drawn blood on his hand, left a red handprint on the license to kill.

As James, who had wiped off the blood and bandaged his hand, stood in front again, the branch manager handed over two boxes.

“It’s a silenced gun. How much time do you need to get used to it again?”

“Two days is enough.”

At James’s answer, the branch manager took out a key from the desk drawer and handed it over.

“Use room B2.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Five days later, a high-end residential area in Paris.

It was a place where mansions used by nobles who had territories in the provinces when they stayed in Paris and mansions where wealthy merchants and capitalists stayed were gathered.

As darkness completely settled, a carriage stopped in front of one of the mansions where nobles stayed.

“Have you returned, Baron?”

“Yes, prepare me to change my clothes and go out immediately.”

“Yes.”

The servant who had been waiting in front of the entrance opened the door, and the baron got out of the carriage, told him the schedule for the day, and went up the stairs of the entrance.

Thud!

When the baron stood in front of the door, a bullet that flew from somewhere pierced the baron’s head.

“Baron!”

“It’s an assassination!”

The servants and coachmen who followed screamed and rushed to the fallen baron.

“What’s going on!”

“Gasp!”

Those who came out from inside at the commotion that broke out outside were horrified to see the baron bleeding from his head and dead.

The men, with pale faces, rebuked the servant who was hugging the fallen baron.

“Where did the bullet come from!”

“I, I don’t know!”

“You must have heard the gunshot!”

“I didn’t hear it!”

“I didn’t hear it either!”

“What?”

At the servants’ and coachmen’s answers, the men raised their heads and looked around. However, they could not find any traces anywhere.

Meanwhile, in a dark alley about 70 jang (about 200m) away from the assassination site, James quietly disassembled the silenced rifle, hid it in a secret pocket made in his coat, and moved his steps.

“The smell….”

James frowned slightly at the distinctive smell of gunpowder burning, but soon smiled.

“This is Paris and Europe, where there are more smells than this….”

Whether it was a place where the wealthy lived or a place where the poor lived, it was Paris and Europe, full of excrement and garbage and reeking of rotting smells.

“I miss Seoul….”

Such assassinations did not only occur in Paris.

Similar things happened in Vienna and Madrid as well.

And the nobles of the three countries regarded this as the behavior of hostile factions, and revenge, not revenge, began to take place.