Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 926

926. The Imperial March (2) – Assault Returnees, Running on the Ground. (14)

Maximilian I became convinced of war at the meeting regarding Italy.

-War is unavoidable. The problem is the outcome of the war.

Maximilian I had already experienced the battlefield shifting from a ‘war of soldiers and knights’ to a ‘war of guns and cannons’ through the battle with Hungary.

Guns and cannons had already emerged as the main players in the Suez acquisition war. However, until then, the quantitative main force of the army was infantry armed with spears and swords, and knights in armor.

The Habsburg-Hungarian war could be seen as the true first war fought solely with guns and cannons from beginning to end.

And in this war, Maximilian I keenly felt the importance of firepower.

Of course, he came to the conclusion that ‘vigorous charging spirit or will to fight can overwhelm firepower,’ but he also learned that the superiority of firepower could not be ignored.

Therefore, Maximilian I had been sending people to assess the firepower of the Imperial and Florentine armies even before coming to Florence.

After the main force of the Imperial army arrived in Florence, he spent even more people and money to examine the firepower of the Imperial army.

“Isn’t it a waste to check again when we’ve already confirmed it?”

Maximilian I shook his head at his subordinates’ questions.

“No, it’s something we must do. We need to know the firepower of the Imperial army with a proper organization to win.”

“Yes, I understand.”

However, the Imperial army was surprisingly thorough with security.

In the case of rifles, they trained together at the Florentine army’s shooting range, but in the case of artillery, they hid the training scenes as much as possible.

If live ammunition artillery training took place, they thoroughly blocked off the area near the training ground before proceeding with the training.

“Controlling a training ground almost the size of Florence? Is that even possible?”

“No, more than that, does that mean the cannonballs can fly that far?”

“It’s possible. Think of Urban’s giant cannon.”

“That’s a giant cannon! I’ve never heard of the Imperial army having such a giant cannon!”

While being skeptical, Maximilian I’s subordinates persistently spied on the Imperial army’s training.

In the fierce hide-and-seek between those trying to block and those trying to break through, Maximilian I’s subordinates achieved some results and were able to report to Maximilian I.

-The range of the Imperial army’s cannons is long, but not as long as expected. The area of the training ground is presumed to be a safety issue.

-All areas suspected of being where the shells fell were plowed to erase traces. However, based on the remaining traces, it is definitely stronger than the cannons our side uses. Caution is needed.

-As a result of spying on the Imperial army’s movements, they use a lot of equipment called ‘towing vehicles’ and ‘material transport vehicles.’

-As a result of examining the organization, the Imperial army has at least three times more cannons deployed compared to our army of the same size.

“Hmm… this has become uninteresting.”

Maximilian I shook his head after confirming the report.

Based on the contents of the report, if Habsburg alone were to face the Empire, defeat was a foregone conclusion.

Even if they joined the alliance promoted by France and fought, the outcome was not optimistic.

A slight mistake would lead to defeat, doing their best would result in a draw close to mutual destruction, and even if they miraculously won, the damage would be enough to be called a ‘Pyrrhic victory’ [a victory won at such a great cost as to be tantamount to defeat].

“Even if the damage is great, an alliance is the only answer.”

“That’s right. The damage is significant, but it’s a part that can be recovered later.”

Maximilian I nodded at his subordinate’s words.

In the process of proposing an alliance, France proposed ‘redistribution of rights in Italy and the Middle East’ as compensation.

Although they said ‘Middle East,’ it was obvious that this meant Suez.

Spain and Habsburg, well aware of the enormous benefits coming from the Suez Canal, were drooling over the offer.

-Alone, we are destined to lose, but if the three of us join forces, the story changes.

-Let’s talk about the redistribution ratio later.

The three-nation alliance, which was gradually taking shape, was shaken by ‘a single map.’

Seeing the board messed up again, Maximilian I smiled with satisfaction, saying, ‘The situation has become interesting.’

* * *

For Maximilian I, or rather, for Habsburg, Italy was also a desirable place.

This was because the path for Habsburg to go to the sea had been blocked since the last battle with Hungary.

Of course, they could go to the sea through the Hanseatic League [a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns] in the Rhine River region. However, the North Sea was famous for being rough, and the lords and nobles in the region where the Hanseatic League belonged were resistant to Habsburg’s rule.

Therefore, Habsburg needed Italy to go to the sea.

However, Maximilian I, who was examining the situation, changed his thinking.

“Wait, if it’s to go to the sea, we don’t need all of Italy, do we?”

-What Habsburg needs are just a few ports where Habsburg’s warships and merchant ships can stay safely and freely.

-If that condition is met, Habsburg does not need to wage war.

-Considering Habsburg’s location, securing Venice and a few nearby ports is enough.

-If we make some concessions here?

“…We don’t need to make it our territory. We just need to be guaranteed safe and free use. And it would be good for us if Florence and the Empire unified Italy.”

If Italy were unified around Florence, it would be the best entity to check France.

It was the best politically, but it was also a pretty good move economically.

If the relationship between a unified Italy and France became bad, France would lose the shortest route to Suez.

On the other hand, if things went according to his plan, Habsburg would be able to secure the shortest route from Suez.

If this succeeded, the trade route from Suez to the Hanseatic League would pass through Habsburg’s territory instead of France’s.

“Wouldn’t it be interesting?”

The subordinates who heard Maximilian I’s thoughts fell into 고민 [gomin – Korean word for ‘worry’].

After calculating the pros and cons for a long time, one of the subordinates asked Maximilian I.

“Couldn’t France or Spain make the same offer to the Empire?”

Maximilian I smiled at his subordinate’s point.

“It’s impossible because of the Kingdom of Naples.”

* * *

France claimed to have legitimate rights to the throne of the Kingdom of Naples, and in the case of Spain, the son of the King of Aragon was the King of the Kingdom of Naples.

Although he was illegitimate.

With this background, Maximilian I was confident that France and Spain would not be able to back down.

“Ah! France might be able to back down. But if Spain backs down, it will be even more troublesome.”

Spain was a country born from the alliance of the United Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon. The core force of the Kingdom of Aragon, one of the axes of the alliance, was the commercial aristocracy, and this was the problem.

As the Ottomans destroyed Byzantium [ancient Greek city, later Constantinople, now Istanbul], they lost the Levant region [historical geographical area encompassing the Eastern Mediterranean], and Aragon’s commercial power greatly declined.

If they lost the Kingdom of Naples here, it was certain that Aragon would lose its qualification as an equal ally and be subordinated to Castile.

“What do you think?”

At Maximilian I’s question, the subordinates stopped 고민 [gomin – Korean word for ‘worry’].

‘Our lord has already decided. Any more 고민 [gomin – Korean word for ‘worry’] is a luxury.’

‘Now, all that’s left is to faithfully follow orders.’

The subordinates, who realized that Maximilian I had made up his mind, immediately bowed their heads.

“I think it will be fine.”

“I will make a plan.”

“There’s not much time. Make it plausible as quickly as possible.”

“…I will do my best.”

* * *

At the same time, France was also moving busily.

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Orléans wishes to see you.”

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Louis, who entered the office, bowed politely to Xiang. Xiang, who returned the greeting according to etiquette, offered Louis a seat.

Xiang, who moistened his throat with black bean tea brought by the chamberlain, smiled and asked.

“The Duke of Orléans… Orléans… ‘The Maid of Orléans’ [Joan of Arc] comes to mind.”

At Xiang’s preemptive strike, Louis’s face changed to a troubled one as he made excuses.

“She was a pitiful victim of the schemes of heretics.”

“It’s not the schemes of heretics, but a political scheme, isn’t it? Would a bishop be so easily swayed by heresy?”

“That is….”

As Louis fidgeted with a troubled expression, Xiang smiled even more deeply and continued.

“I just said it because I suddenly thought of it when I heard the word Orléans. So, let’s stop here. So, what is the reason you came to see me?”

Xiang changed the subject in a relaxed voice. However, Louis’s face did not brighten easily.

‘I’ve been hit from the start! I didn’t expect him to know Joan of Arc! It was a mistake!’

“Huh? Why are you silent? What is the reason you came to see me?”

At Xiang’s repeated questions, Louis desperately tried to regain his composure.

“I have heard interesting rumors recently.”

“Interesting rumors? What is it?”

“The reason Portugal sided with the Empire is because of the map.”

“Hoo~.”

Xiang, who uttered a word that was unclear whether it was an exclamation or something else, moistened his throat with black bean tea once again and replied.

“Isn’t negotiation originally a political deal? If it’s a deal, there’s something to give and take. I won’t affirm or deny whether it’s a map or not.”

At Xiang’s answer, Louis’s voice began to rise.

“Your Majesty! France and the Empire have always been pursuing common interests together.”

“Portugal and Florence were together too.”

“Then why was France excluded?”

“Didn’t France exclude itself first? France was the first country to put the brakes on Florence’s movements, wasn’t it?”

“That was for the stability of the system….”

“It’s to maintain vested interests. And let me be honest.”

Xiang leaned back against the chair and said to Louis.

“Isn’t the reason we’re divided over Italy like this because the direction of the interests pursued by our Empire and your France are different? But you can’t complain that you’re feeling unfairly left out.”

“….”

Louis could not open his mouth at Xiang’s honest point.

After a while, Louis let out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. I can’t say anything else. I admit it. While I’m admitting it, I’ll make a proposal to Your Majesty.”

“A proposal? What is it?”

“If France supports the Empire, can we receive the same compensation as Portugal?”

At Louis’s question, Xiang closed his mouth for a moment. After looking at Louis for a moment, Xiang asked Louis back.

“Can you make that decision? No, can France make it?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“As this happened, France abandoned our Empire and Florence. And now, you’re trying to abandon Spain and Venice. Will there be any country that trusts France in the future?”

“Ah….”

Louis’s face turned white at Xiang’s question. Looking at such Louis, Xiang pointed out the reality.

“The proposal you made is a good card. But there’s a problem: France can’t use that card.”