Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1172

1172. The Disaster Came from the Sea (8)

In the end, Spain had to proceed with separate negotiations with Portugal.

“Seville is Spanish territory! Portugal, withdraw immediately!”

“Don’t want to. We, Portugal, participated in the war as an ally of the Empire, and we are merely exercising the rights of the victor.”

“Does Portugal truly desire war with Spain!”

“Do you even have the strength to wage a war? And, you do know that the Empire is our ally, right?”

“We are well aware of the conditions of that alliance! ‘The Empire’s military support is limited to cases where Portugal is attacked!’ Right now, Portugal is not being attacked, but rather invading Spain!”

At the Spanish representative’s pointed remark, the Portuguese representative smiled slyly and replied.

“Did you forget what I said earlier? We are currently participating in the war as a military ally of the Empire. And, Spain has surrendered to the Empire. Therefore, we, Portugal, are declaring the occupied territory as our own, in the capacity of a victorious nation.”

“Does Portugal truly want war!”

“You keep making me repeat the same thing. Let me say it again. Does Spain even have the strength to wage a war? And, if you start another war now, Spain will be invading Portuguese territory, and the Empire will move accordingly, based on the conditions you mentioned.”

“Ugh!”

In the end, the Spanish representative, unable to contain his anger, screamed and stormed out of the meeting.

After that, several more disruptions followed, but Portugal was the victor.

As Portugal seized the territory west and south of Seville, the map of the Iberian Peninsula changed significantly. For Spain, it was a war that only resulted in fatal losses.

The area Portugal gained included Puerto Real.

By losing Puerto Real, Spain lost its exit to freely navigate the Atlantic and Africa.

In addition, the enormous reparations owed to the Empire due to the surrender were also a problem.

Although the payments were to be made over 10 years, the money would ultimately have to come out of the royal treasury. Those great nobles and congressmen had no intention of opening their wallets at all. No, even if they did open their wallets, it was certain that they would demand even more in return.

The reparations were not the only issue.

Restoring the army and navy, which had lost most of their strength in this war, also required considerable finances.

“In the end, we will have no choice but to take on debt.”

Carlos I and the Cortes [Spanish Parliament] decided to send envoys to Italy.

* * *

While Spain was being thoroughly shaken down, France was facing a similar situation.

Even as Charles VIII agonized, Marquis Yigong was faithfully keeping his word.

As not only large ports but also small ports gradually turned into ruins, nobles and citizen representatives came forward to demand the convocation of the Estates-General [a representative assembly of the three estates of the realm: the clergy, nobility, and commoners].

As not only conservative traditional nobles but also rising nobles and citizen representatives rose up, Charles VIII had no choice but to convene the Estates-General.

-It is impossible to continue the war against the Empire!

-We must open ceasefire negotiations immediately.

Louis XII, who attended the Estates-General on behalf of King Charles VIII, explained what the problem was with a haggard face.

“What the Empire wants is an official surrender.”

At Louis XII’s words, the faces of everyone attending the Estates-General stiffened.

It was a time when national consciousness and a sense of national identity as ‘France, French people’ had taken root, so they had a strong aversion to the word ‘surrender.’

Afterward, the resumed Estates-General was a scene of chaos.

“Surrender! We cannot accept such humiliation!”

“That’s right! Let’s gather all our strength and fight the Empire!”

“That’s right!”

“I object! Even now, French ports are turning into ruins! If the ports are ruined, trade will become impossible, and all that will remain is poverty! Let’s surrender! Instead, we just have to not forget this shame! Let’s think about the future!”

“That’s right! Oppose the war!”

“The answer is to not forget the shame of the present and build up our strength!”

“That’s right! Let’s negotiate with the Empire!”

The Estates-General, divided into pro-war and pro-negotiation factions, engaged in fierce debates.

It was not only the meeting hall where the Estates-General was being held that was in chaos. Outside the meeting hall, people were divided into factions and fought each other. As verbal battles and brawls broke out everywhere, thieves began to swarm everywhere, seizing the opportunity.

As public order became a mess, logistics came to a halt, and prices soared.

As public order and the economy became increasingly chaotic, the people’s dissatisfaction grew stronger.

Sensing that a large-scale riot could break out at any moment, the government and members of the Estates-General decided to aim for a ‘conditional surrender.’

* * *

The envoys sent by France and Marquis Yigong’s staff proceeded with negotiations.

There were several precarious crises, but in the end, most of the clauses were decided in the direction desired by the Empire.

“Let’s fight if things go wrong. Are the cannons and shells plentiful? No, is your wallet plentiful?”

The Empire consistently maintained a ‘Yes or No’ stance.

Pushed back by the Empire’s stubbornness, France eventually agreed to the following clauses.

-A document officially acknowledging surrender.

-A handwritten document from the King acknowledging that he is responsible for the outbreak of the war.

-Both documents must bear the handwritten signatures and seals of the King and members of the Estates-General.

-France shall pay an amount equivalent to 200% of the war expenses used by the Empire as war reparations.

“Be grateful that our Empire is ending this at this level because it has no desire for territory. If the Empire had a desire for territory, half of France would have become Imperial land.”

The French representative, hearing the words ‘The Empire is generous,’ gritted his teeth and replied.

“We are truly grateful. We will never forget it.”

“Ah! Lastly, the signing ceremony for the surrender document will be held at the Royal Palace in Paris.”

“The Royal Palace is…”

“Then shall we overturn everything and start over?”

In the end, the surrender signing ceremony was held at the Cité Palace in Paris.

* * *

For the surrender signing ceremony, the Imperial Navy landed in Le Havre.

The landed navy marched towards Paris.

The navy, upon arriving in Paris, donned black uniforms instead of their usual white uniforms and lined up in the square of the Cité Palace.

After a while, as the Imperial Navy band played the ‘Imperial March,’ Marquis Yigong, wearing a black uniform, entered the signing ceremony hall of the Cité Palace.

The surrender signing ceremony began as Marquis Yigong, who entered with a confident gait, took his seat.

A large table was placed in front of Marquis Yigong, who was sitting proudly in the seat of honor, and three documents were spread out on it.

Two were the surrender signing documents to be shared between the Empire and France, and the other was Charles VIII’s official apology.

As the signing ceremony began, members of the Estates-General on one side walked up one by one and signed the document.

Following this, a servant next to them dropped melted wax onto the ribbon and stamped it with a ring engraved with a seal, leaving an imprint.

After the members of the Estates-General finished signing, Charles VIII came out.

As Charles VIII stood in front, Marquis Yigong, who had been sitting in his chair, also rose from his seat, walked forward, and paid his respects politely.

In this way, Marquis Yigong paid his respects to the monarch, but Charles VIII felt it as even more humiliation.

Because it was polite, but showed no respect at all.

Charles VIII, with his hands trembling with anger, signed and stamped the seal before stepping back, and Marquis Yigong signed the document and took out a seal from his pocket and stamped it.

Once Marquis Yigong’s signature was complete, Louis XII, who was next to him, rolled up the document and respectfully handed it to Marquis Yigong.

With the signing ceremony over, the Imperial Army stayed overnight at the Cité Palace and returned to Le Havre.

As the Imperial Army left Paris, Charles VIII, filled with anger, shouted.

“Clean all the rooms in the Cité Palace immediately! Wash them clean with water! Use all the water from the Seine River to wash them all away! Not just the Cité Palace! Wash all the roads in Paris that the Imperial Army passed through!”

Whether it was because of Charles VIII’s orders or because of wounded pride, even the citizens of Paris flocked out and began to frantically wash the streets.

As the ‘Great Paris Cleaning’ took place, those who had been operating secretly in salons and ‘Blue Moon’ also participated in the cleaning.

It was an opportunity for them, who had been reclusive due to the French people showing hostility to ‘Imperial’ culture as the war broke out.

It was an opportunity to participate in the cleaning and secure an opportunity to delve deeper.

Marquis Yigong, who received information about the ‘Great Paris Cleaning’ on the way back to Le Havre, smiled and looked back at his staff.

“Should we have done it at the Louvre Palace instead of the Cité Palace?”

At Marquis Yigong’s half-serious words, the senior aide immediately replied.

“If we had, the war would have been a bit longer.”

“I guess so? No… If it were Tae Tae Sang Hwang [likely referring to a revered historical figure or leader], he would have held the signing ceremony at the Louvre.”

“Because he is Tae Tae Sang Hwang. Ordinary people cannot easily follow him.”

Hyang had already become a ‘living legend’ in many ways.

“That’s right. A mere commoner like me can’t dare to do it.”

As Marquis Yigong nodded in agreement, one of the staff members opened his mouth.

“However, I am a little worried about the future. France is a great power in Europe, but they have harbored such resentment.”

“Resentment after they started it first… How funny.”

“Isn’t that how it always is?”

“That’s true. Hmm…”

Marquis Yigong, nodding lightly and thinking about something, ordered the senior aide.

“When we depart from Le Havre, let’s go to London.”

“London, you say?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to say hello while we’re here?”

“Will they welcome us?”

“Who do you think was most pleased to see France getting beaten up? And, now that the fleet that beat up France has arrived, are they going to close their doors?”

It was the beginning of ‘gunboat diplomacy’ [the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power].

* * *

Meanwhile, as soon as the Jing punitive fleet departed from Le Havre and left France, the French political world faced a huge aftermath.

“The King must take responsibility!”

The Estates-General strongly demanded the abdication of King Charles VIII, holding him responsible.

Everyone, regardless of conservatives or progressives, demanded abdication in one voice, and in the end, Charles VIII declared his abdication.

Charles VIII abdicated, and Louis XII succeeded him as the King of France.

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

“Thank you.”

Those who attended the coronation shouted long live in one voice, but Louis XII’s expression in response was not good at all.

Because there were many things to solve in the future, and none of them were easy.

“The first thing we need to solve is the restoration of public order and the economy.”

At the words of François I, who succeeded him as both Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister, Louis XII nodded.

“Let’s start with public order first. Deploy the army.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The problem is the economy… Haa…”

Louis XII put his hand on his forehead and sighed as soon as he mentioned the word ‘economy.’

“If we make even a small mistake, a riot will break out… Damn it, I was too confident.”

Louis XII was regretting his own overconfidence, or rather, his own mistakes in taking the Empire too lightly.