Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 918

918. The Imperial March (2) – Charge, Return, and Run on the Ground. (6)

Seong Sam-mun elaborated further.

“They are already full of military confidence. Of course, they are not unaware of the military power our Empire possesses, so they are just biding their time. However, they are well aware that our Empire is far from Italy. If the Empire offers appeasement here, they will misjudge that the Empire is struggling and offering appeasement first, and they will try to extract even more. They will try to take away the Suez shares first.”

Shin Suk-ju and Yoo Eung-bu nodded simultaneously at Seong Sam-mun’s words. They had come to understand the way of thinking of Europeans, especially the leaders, while staying in Italy.

Hwang Yi smiled slightly as she listened to Seong Sam-mun and continued her question.

“If the Empire stops its intervention in Italy, and even gives up its Suez shares and withdraws, how do you think they will act?”

“Internal strife. Yesterday’s allies will become today’s enemies and fight each other.”

Hwang Yi’s smile deepened at Seong Sam-mun’s answer.

“What if our Empire strikes when they are tired of biting and fighting each other?”

The ambassadors turned pale and exclaimed at Hwang Yi’s words.

“Absolutely not!”

“We will lose our justification! If we are not careful, the Empire will become a symbol of evil!”

“Justification is not the only problem! If that happens, we will have to wait at least five more years! At least five years! The Empire’s economy will falter due to excessive military spending!”

As the ambassadors unanimously opposed, Hwang Yi smiled and replied.

“Hahaha! It’s just a thought, a thought. Just a thought of what if. Stopping the Empire, which has already started moving, requires even greater effort, and I know that well.”

Even after hearing Hwang Yi’s answer, the ambassadors looked at Hwang Yi with worried faces.

‘Do we not know His Majesty? Have we not been fooled once or twice?’

‘When you mention it, you already have an execution plan in the works. What kind of joke is that?’

‘You are making jokes!’

“Come on, I’m just kidding. What are those distrustful faces? I repeat, I know very well that it takes even more effort to stop the Empire, which has already started moving. Don’t you know the saying, ‘A world where you live by trust’?”

As Hwang Yi expressed slight displeasure, the ambassadors immediately bowed their heads.

“Please forgive our disgraceful behavior.”

“Please forgive us.”

“Forgiveness… I am not unaware of your concerns, so do not worry about it.”

“Thank you for your grace.”

After a few minor stories, the three ambassadors left the room where Hwang Yi was.

Passing through the swaying passage between the train cars, the three returned to their own car and headed to the conference room instead of the bedroom. Sitting in the chairs in the conference room, the three sighed deeply at the same time.

“Hoo~.”

Even after sighing, the stuffiness did not go away, and the three ambassadors filled their glasses with water and emptied them several times.

“Phew~. I want to drink some alcohol, but I can’t….”

“I agree.”

“By the way, did His Majesty really only think about it?”

At Yoo Eung-bu’s question, Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-mun answered at the same time.

“There’s no way!”

“I have been serving His Majesty with Prime Minister Cho from a young age, so I know that when he says such things, he has already planned out how to execute them. It’s not like we’ve only been fooled once or twice! He must have had the intention to execute it!”

“Huh?”

Yoo Eung-bu expressed doubt at Seong Sam-mun’s words.

“Had the intention? So you don’t think he will put it into action?”

At Yoo Eung-bu’s question, Shin Suk-ju carefully opened his mouth.

“Maybe not? If you only consider the benefits you can get, it’s the best, but isn’t justification the problem?”

Following Shin Suk-ju’s words, Seong Sam-mun added.

“It is certain that the Emperor in Seoul will suffer the greatest damage, so he must have stopped it.”

“Ah….”

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Yoo Eung-bu nodded with a look of understanding.

* * *

Since the small country of Joseon was changed to an Empire, the pride of the imperial people soared.

But to give up even Suez, let alone Italy?

It was certain that the people would not stand still. Petitions would pour in from all over the Empire immediately.

‘No, if the current Emperor was the Emperor Emeritus [a retired emperor], petitions would never pour in.’

If the current Emperor was Hwang Yi, the situation would be different.

“He is a person who can see a thousand, no, ten thousand miles while sitting down, so there must be a deep meaning in it.”

“Of course, that’s right.”

The people who heard the story would have said this. However, the problem was that the current emperor was Hyeon.

-The Emperor Emeritus would not have shown such weakness! This is because the Emperor is incompetent!

It was certain that criticism of the Emperor would flood in with this logic.

-This was decided by the Emperor Emeritus on the spot. It is not the will of His Majesty the Emperor!

No matter how much they made excuses like this, the criticism from the public would not stop.

-How unreliable is the Emperor that the Emperor Emeritus made such a decision on the spot? It’s a cowardly excuse!

-This is because the Emperor is incompetent!

In the end, all the blame would be taken by Hyeon, the Emperor.

* * *

As Yoo Eung-bu showed a look of understanding, Seong Sam-mun continued.

“If you abandon justification and face, and if this is a war that will take place near the Empire, it can certainly be said to be the best trick. However, unless the current Emperor is the Emperor Emeritus, it is rather poisonous. So, that’s why he stepped back like that.”

“It’s certainly more appropriate to see it as a trick than a strategy.”

Another question arose for Yoo Eung-bu, who was nodding at Shin Suk-ju’s words.

“Then why did the Emperor Emeritus ask us?”

Seong Sam-mun, who was looking at the glass of water in his hand, emptied the glass in one go and answered.

“He must have wanted to give us a hard time. That… cough! That personality hasn’t gone anywhere.”

“Give us a hard time?”

“If we had agreed there, we would probably still be hearing him clicking his tongue.”

“Ah….”

While Yoo Eung-bu was making a face as if he had been hit, Shin Suk-ju added.

“Come to think of it… that’s what Wonje [Hwang Yi’s title before he abdicated] always said. ‘A public official, especially a senior official, must never let go of his mind. You must always be vigilant and watch the world go by.'”

In an instant, Yoo Eung-bu and Seong Sam-mun realized why Hwang Yi had started the work.

‘It was because of you!’

‘Why did you have to open your mouth unnecessarily!’

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…It’s nothing!”

* * *

The closer they got to Florence, the more impatient the envoys became.

“I have to have a private audience with the Emperor Emeritus….”

In order to gain even a slight political advantage, it was best to have a chance to have a private audience with Hwang Yi.

However, Hwang Yi never showed an opening.

In the middle, when the iron horse [train] stopped to replenish coal and water, the envoys approached the car Hwang Yi was in. However, each time, the Imperial soldiers guarding the car blocked them.

“His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus said that he does not want to meet anyone right now.”

“It’s important.”

“Still, it can’t be done.”

“Oh….”

Faced with the Imperial soldiers’ firm response, the envoys had no choice but to step back empty-handed.

In the end, the envoys met with the ambassadors and pleaded for a private audience with Hwang Yi. However, the ambassadors refused their pleas.

“His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus has already decided that there will be no private audience. So there’s nothing we can do.”

When even the ambassadors refused, some envoys began to act unreasonably.

“Don’t you know that if you come out like this, there will be nothing but war? War, I mean.”

Whenever they heard such words, the ambassadors snorted and responded.

“Do you think the Empire will be afraid?”

* * *

When the train arrived in Florence, Hwang Yi, who got on the prepared carriage, headed straight to the embassy.

Under the strict road control of the Florentine army and the Imperial army, the carriage carrying Hwang Yi was passing through the city of Florence. Behind the walls of soldiers lined up on the left and right along the road, the residents of Florence were standing on tiptoes and looking at Hwang Yi sitting in the carriage.

“That’s the ‘Sage of the East’!”

“His dignity is great.”

While the residents were admiring Hwang Yi’s appearance, which was slightly visible through the carriage window, a group of artists behind them were shining their eyes.

“If you just go to Seoul and come back, even worthless people will make a name for themselves….”

“We can’t miss this opportunity!”

When the Empire first opened its doors to Europe, there were artists who went to Seoul along with scholars and merchants.

After completing their stay in Seoul, they transferred the landscapes and people of the Empire they had seen and experienced into paintings and sculptures, and soon became famous artists.

Since then, going to the Empire has become a lifelong wish for those who want to make a name for themselves as artists.

However, even if they desperately wanted to go to the Empire, it was not easy. This was because it required a lot of money and time.

The poor, unknown artists had no money, and the artists who were known to some extent could not spare the time to create the works requested by their clients.

For these people, Hwang Yi’s visit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they packed their bags and headed to Florence without hesitation.

Among the artists who arrived in Florence, there were unknown artists and famous artists.

The most representative person was Leonardo da Vinci.

Looking at Hwang Yi’s appearance as he passed by in a carriage, the middle-aged Da Vinci made a resolution.

“If I can meet the Emperor Emeritus and create a work, I can flatten that brat’s nose! Lucky bastard!”

The person Da Vinci was cursing as a brat was Michelangelo. And most artists were busy envying and cursing him.

Michelangelo’s skills were also famous, but the most important thing was that his patron was Lorenzo de Medici.

As much as the patron was a patron, rumors that Michelangelo would meet Hwang Yi were widespread.

And all the artists who heard this rumor envied and cursed him.

“Lucky bastard! I’m jealous!”

* * *

Hwang Yi, who arrived safely at the embassy and unpacked, soon conveyed his intentions to the envoys through the ambassadors.

-We would like to hold a meeting attended by the envoys of all countries who wish to share their opinions on the future of Italy.

-The attending envoys must clearly state their country’s intentions in front of each other to prevent misunderstandings.

“…Is that why you haven’t had a private audience until now.”

The envoys of each country gritted their teeth and nodded at the ambassadors’ explanation.

“I understand. I will definitely attend the meeting.”

After the ambassadors left, the envoys were able to clearly understand what Hwang Yi’s intentions were.

-Let’s not hide our greed from each other.

-The conclusion is already set, isn’t it?

“The Emperor Emeritus ultimately wanted to ‘create a villain’.”

-The Empire supports ‘the unification of Italy’. But those guys are getting in the way! Justice is on our Empire and Florence!