Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1031

1031. Alsace-Lorraine (9)

The predictions of European intellectuals quickly reached Seoul. The ministers in Seoul, upon receiving this information, didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“We expected this, so it’s not surprising.”

“Isn’t that what anyone with a brain would think?”

“And we’ve been working to make it happen. That way, they won’t turn their eyes to us.”

Meanwhile, Hyun, visiting Sugang Palace, asked Hyang for his opinion.

“What do you think?”

“They’ll continue to posture and threaten each other for a while, but a full-scale war won’t break out easily.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they don’t have the money.”

“Ah!”

Hyun immediately exclaimed at Hyang’s words. Since ancient times, the national affairs that kings and emperors oversaw involved problems in all sorts of fields. That’s why it was called ‘Mangi (萬機, myriad affairs),’ and the monarch directly reviewing and deciding on these matters was called ‘Mangichinram (萬機親覽, personally overseeing myriad affairs).’

Despite this grand name, most problems could be solved with one thing.

That was money. So, to put it bluntly, national affairs were ‘things that started with money and ended with money.’ That was grandly packaged as ‘revenue’ and ‘expenditure,’ and among these ‘money-spending things,’ the most significant was ‘war.’

Although impressed by Hyang’s words, Hyun immediately pointed out a problem.

“Couldn’t they plan a short-term war?”

“For a short-term war to be possible, one side must have overwhelmingly superior power compared to the other. But shouldn’t we consider France and the Holy Roman Empire to be evenly matched? Moreover, the situation on the battlefield has changed a lot. With the abundance of Jeongchong muskets [early matchlock firearms] and cannons using gunpowder, wage a short-term war with less money? That’s a delusion. Or should I call it gambling?”

“But, considering the Liaodong War that allowed our empire to become an empire, wouldn’t it be possible?”

When the Liaodong War, which allowed Joseon to transform into an empire, was mentioned, Hyang lightly shook his head.

“That war took over 10 years just to prepare, even considering it short. If you consider that entire process, it’s definitely not a short-term war.”

“Isn’t preparing for war the military’s daily routine?”

“The real start of war is deciding who the war is against. And didn’t I already say? A short-term war is only possible when one side completely overwhelms the other. The Liaodong War is an example of that. No, to be blunt, the Liaodong War was lucky. If the Ming emperor at the time had decided to wage a long-term war, no one knows how the victory or defeat would have changed. No, it’s highly likely we would have lost.”

“Ah…”

Hyun nodded at Hyang’s explanation. After lightly wetting his throat, Hyang continued.

“As I said before, we’re in an era where we can’t even imagine a war without muskets and cannons. And there are even more casualties on the battlefield now. Imagine Your Majesty is the ruler of a country waging war. There are more casualties than expected, and war expenses have already been heavily consumed. What would you do? Would you stop the war?”

“Shouldn’t you do that if you’re being reasonable?”

“But, looking at the opponent, they’ve suffered as much damage as we have. It seems like we could win with one good strike. What would you do? Throw away common sense and tell me your honest feelings.”

After contemplating for a long time at Hyang’s words, Hyun opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Then I would try to challenge them once. However, I will try only once, and if the result is not good, I will immediately enter negotiations.”

Hyang shook his head at Hyun’s words.

“That one attempt will drag it into a long-term war. Wouldn’t a lot of soldiers and budget be consumed for that one attempt? But, stop the war through negotiations? How will you resolve the compensation for the soldiers who died or were injured and their families, the finances that have been ruined by the war, and the public sentiment that holds you accountable for the results? In that situation, there is only one answer to protect your throne and power: fighting until a victory is achieved. Even if it’s a victory full of scars, if you win, the people will support the monarch, and compensation can be extracted from the opponent.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Hyun nod with an understanding expression. Watching Hyun, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘World War I followed exactly that story. Who knew that a war expected to last at most 6 months would become such hell?’

Hyun, who had been nodding at Hyang’s words, summarized the situation.

“Then there’s no chance that France and the Holy Roman Empire will wage war right now.”

“Not right now, but war will break out someday. Other people’s rice cakes always look bigger, whether in the East or the West [a Korean proverb meaning ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’].”

“People’s hearts are truly cunning.”

Hyun, who had been wearing a bitter smile at Hyang’s words, changed the subject.

“The words of the Supreme Emperor are truly golden rules. I will tell the Ministry of National Defense to keep them in mind.”

“You flatter me. And those working in the Ministry of National Defense and the Imperial Army are capable people, so you don’t have to interfere in everything.”

Hyun immediately replied to Hyang’s words.

“There’s a saying among the people, ‘Look before you leap.’ The Imperial Army has only written a brilliant history so far. They must be wary of becoming complacent and clouding their judgment.”

This time, Hyang nodded at Hyun’s words.

“That could be true. No, we’ve already had a bitter experience once…”

Hyang’s expression, mentioning ‘bitter experience,’ was truly bitter. It was because of the memory of the ‘Corsica Naval Battle,’ which they had won but suffered more damage than expected. Meanwhile, the historian, who was recording Hyang and Hyun’s conversation next to them, added these words.

-…It was truly wonderful to see His Majesty the Emperor and the Supreme Emperor discussing the European situation and the empire’s well-being like this.

The historian says.

The dream of ‘reversing the situation with just one victory’ that the Supreme Emperor spoke of is truly dangerous. However, the bigger problem is that those who dream of this are not only in the military.

I need to catch the Gyeju [a type of informal, rotating credit association] who ran away with my precious money and get my money back…

“Historian, what nonsense are you writing so long again?”

“Ah, no!”

-The historian says.

It feels like my friends in the military will have even more homework. The historian’s prediction was spot on. After this, those who planned strategies and tactics in the Military Academy, the Imperial Army Headquarters, and the Ministry of National Defense had to engrave the following words in their minds.

-In wars between nations, erase the idea of short-term wars from your mind!

* * *

As Hyang predicted, war did not break out immediately between France and the Holy Roman Empire. Both France and the Holy Roman Empire lacked the money to wage war. Instead, although there was no war, minor disputes continued to occur. However, these disputes, involving at most about 100 people clashing, did not escalate into major problems. This was because the leaders of both countries did not want to make things bigger.

Instead, the leaders of both countries focused on strengthening their internal affairs. France, having successfully developed ships with their own steam engines, began to put more effort into developing Gloria – South America in the 21st century – and Terra – Australia in the 21st century.

Not to be outdone, England also succeeded in developing steamships and became France’s strongest competitor in Gloria and Terra. Whatever the situation, France was the strongest power in Europe at this time. To check France, other great powers began to form alliances.

However, this was not an easy task. The Habsburgs, who had formed a marriage alliance with Spain, also sought an alliance with Portugal. However, Portugal and Spain were bitter enemies, and this was impossible. Italy also did not easily try to join hands with the Habsburgs. At best, they were able to conclude the Treaty of Pressburg with Ulászló II, who became the new monarch of Bohemia-Hungary after the death of Magyar I of Hungary without an heir, and achieve stability.

Thanks to this, as time passed, the power dynamics in Europe created two large groups surrounding France. One was England-Portugal-Italy, and the other was Habsburg-Spain-Bohemia-Hungary.

As the situation developed in this way, France, feeling a sense of crisis, could not stand still and hurriedly began to look for allies. The one France tried to make an ally was the Teutonic Order. And through this, the Baltic region, Poland, and then Eastern Europe began to appear in earnest on the European stage, which had been centered on Western Europe.

* * *

Until the Italian unification war broke out, Eastern Europe was largely out of step with the trends of the time. This was because they were struggling to escape from the deeply lingering shadow of the Mongols. Among these struggles, the first to stretch was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (a union of several countries under one monarch).

Poland-Lithuania began to grow by making the Teutonic Order its vassal state. Taking Gdańsk, the capital of the Teutonic Order, as a trading port, Poland-Lithuania began to steadily accumulate economic power by exporting grain. Based on this strengthening economic and military power, Poland-Lithuania strengthened its influence over its surroundings.

And in this process, they formed a relationship with the Habsburgs. This was because Ulászló II of the Jagiellonian dynasty, who ruled Poland-Lithuania at the time, was the monarch of the Kingdom of Hungary-Bohemia. In the end, it was predictable that Poland-Lithuania would soon join hands with the Holy Roman Empire, and to check this, France reached out to the Teutonic Order.

* * *

Although it had become a vassal state under Poland-Lithuania, the Teutonic Order had not given up its will for independence. Therefore, Poland-Lithuania was constantly working to break their will for independence.

France’s ulterior motives were as follows.

-The Teutonic Order is extremely 독선적 (self-righteous).

-Therefore, they have many enemies.

-If the Teutonic Order rises again, neighboring countries will have no time to pay attention to other things in order to check or suppress them.

-Gdańsk, the base of the Teutonic Order, is Poland-Lithuania’s largest trading port. Polish grain is exported to other places through Gdańsk.

-Our France is also a grain exporting country.

-If Gdańsk is out of Poland-Lithuania’s hands, Poland-Lithuania’s grain industry will be hit hard. Instead, our France will take its place.

With these ulterior motives, France reached out to the Teutonic Order, which symbolized the ‘Black Cross.’ The Teutonic Order, still dreaming of independence, accepted France’s proposal. As the Teutonic Order accepted the proposal, French-made Jeongchong muskets, Hwachas [rocket propelled arrow carts], and cannons began to flow into the Teutonic Order through the sea route.

And the Teutonic Order’s army, armed with French weapons, began to fight against Poland once again.