Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1053

1053. Aftermath (2)

The worst part for the Habsburgs was that most of the lords who withdrew their support were influential figures within the Holy Roman Empire. Their departure significantly crippled the Habsburg war effort. It became impossible for the Habsburgs and their remaining allies to replenish their depleted supplies and manpower. Consequently, Maximilian I issued the following order to Count Tilly, the commander:

– Maintain the current war situation. Further expansion is prohibited.

– Minimize the consumption of soldiers and supplies.

“In other words, conserve resources and hold our ground. Sigh…”

Count Tilly, after reading the order, sighed and gazed out the window with a somber expression.

“Even holding our ground is a challenge in this situation. One wrong move, and the army will collapse. Sigh…”

With a grimace, Count Tilly sighed again and penned a reply to Maximilian I.

* * *

“Sigh…”

Maximilian I, upon reading Count Tilly’s reply, placed a hand on his forehead and sighed. The essence of Tilly’s message was:

– If you wish to continue the war, send money, supplies, and especially food.

– If this is unfeasible, it is best to end the war immediately.

“Sigh… Damn it.”

Maximilian I, rereading Tilly’s reply, cursed under his breath. Tilly’s demands for money and food stemmed from the mercenary situation. When paid on time, mercenaries were more reliable and courageous than regular soldiers. The problem was ensuring they received their due.

Delayed payments transformed mercenaries into a liability. Despite the best efforts of their commanders, they would rampage through enemy villages and cities, engaging in looting, arson, and rape. These mercenaries, essentially bandits, became a nightmare. Even if the side that hired them emerged victorious, they would face widespread condemnation.

Therefore, when the front lines stabilized or funds dwindled, terminating the mercenary contracts was the wisest course of action. However, given the current war in Lorraine, ending the contracts was a risky proposition, as mercenaries constituted a significant portion of the Habsburg army. Removing them would almost certainly lead to a French counter-offensive.

To compound matters, there was a high risk of losing more territory in addition to what had already been lost. Yet, continuing to employ mercenaries, now that many lords had withdrawn their support, was an even worse option. Soon, they would be unable to pay the mercenaries, and the areas where they were stationed would suffer terribly.

“Then the only option left is to end the war…”

However, ending the war presented its own set of problems. The Habsburgs had initiated the conflict, meaning they would have to make significant concessions to France to secure a peace agreement. This would inevitably become a political liability.

“Ending the war with nothing to show for it? What is the Emperor thinking!”

The lords, constantly seeking opportunities to break away from the Holy Roman Empire, would undoubtedly seize on this and rebel.

“Sigh… If we’re in a situation where we lose no matter what, we must choose the option with the least amount of loss.”

Having decided on his course of action, Maximilian I consulted with his ministers to determine the best approach. Fifteen days later, his messenger arrived in Paris.

* * *

The messenger, after being granted an audience with King Charles VIII and taking his leave, conveyed the key message to the Duke of Orléans, the French Foreign Minister.

“Let us discuss a truce.”

“A truce?”

“A truce.”

The solution devised by Maximilian I and his advisors was a temporary cessation of hostilities.

– Ending the war would result in losses in many ways, but a truce would minimize those losses.

– In particular, it would reduce the political pressure on Maximilian I because it would still be ‘during the war’.

“A truce… Hmm… What are your thoughts?”

Charles VIII, after hearing the proposal from the Duke of Orléans, summoned his ministers for a meeting.

“A truce is unacceptable! With a little more effort, we can achieve victory!”

Military officials strongly opposed the idea, but ministers from other departments had different opinions.

“That’s just your perspective… Have you considered the issue of military funding?”

The Minister of Finance directly challenged the military’s stance. As he pointed out, this war had been “unprepared.” While they had anticipated Habsburg actions regarding Lorraine and made some preparations, these “own preparations,” made without fully understanding the scale of the Habsburg mobilization, were quickly proving inadequate.

In particular, the “Lorraine Air War,” which involved a large number of self-propelled flying vehicles [early aircraft], was draining their resources. The Minister of Finance elaborated:

“Even if we disregard the funding issue, numerous other problems exist. How do you propose we continue the war? Are we to charge into enemy lines with swords and spears against Hwachas [Korean rocket artillery]? Have you forgotten that the insane emperors of the East caused almost all the artisans to leave the armory?”

“……”

The military officials were silenced by the Minister of Finance’s rebuke.

* * *

The exodus from the armory following the empire’s proclamation wasn’t limited to those involved with flying vehicles and self-propelled flying vehicles. Artisans who built steam engines for assault vehicles and battleships, along with those in other fields, also departed. When the French government threatened treason charges, the artisans and guilds filed a counter-suit.

– It is illegal to accuse someone who quit for personal reasons of treason!

– It is a false accusation to allege treason without any leakage of secrets!

– The salaries of artisans working in the armory are too low compared to those of artisans belonging to guilds. This is an unfair contract!

The artisans and guilds won the lawsuit. Consequently, the French government had to renegotiate with them to entice them back.

– The treatment has become significantly worse compared to when the armory and related research institutes were first established! Please improve this!

– Do not interfere with the actions of artisans outside of designated working hours!

“These conditions seem a bit excessive.”

When the French government negotiators expressed their concerns, the artisans and guild representatives responded:

“We heard that the ‘Country of Flowers’ [a euphemism for the Empire] does this?”

“……”

The negotiations were still ongoing. As a result, the armory was not producing the weapons needed for the war, a point the Minister of Finance emphasized.

* * *

Charles VIII, observing the Minister of Finance’s suppression of the military officials, turned to the Prime Minister.

“Have the negotiations been completed yet?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is it impossible to pressure the guild?”

“If we do that, all the guilds in the kingdom will turn against us.”

“Sigh…”

Charles VIII, letting out a long sigh, glanced at the Duke of Orléans. The Duke of Orléans, who caught Charles VIII’s gaze, shook his head slightly, signaling his opposition. Charles VIII sighed again at the Duke’s disapproval.

“To make the emperor in that distant East stop the war…”

The situation concluded with Charles VIII’s lament. A month later, a truce was officially announced.

– The truce period is initially set at 3 years. After that, it can be extended by 3 years through negotiations, or the war can be resumed.

With the truce agreed upon, the French and Habsburg armies retreated to their original positions, giving rise to the following proverb:

– The emperor of the empire stops the war on the opposite side of the world while sitting down.

* * *

With the truce concluded, neither Charles VIII of France nor Maximilian I of Habsburg could afford to relax.

“If the emperor of the empire offers such a huge reward, France cannot be left behind. Let’s concede what we can to the artisans. We can’t waste time on unnecessary things.”

Following Charles VIII’s decision, the French government made significant concessions, and many of the artisans who had left returned to the armory.

Charles VIII, after receiving the report that ‘the armory has returned to normal’, ordered his ministers:

“I am worried that the guild’s influence is too strong. Find a way to solve this and report it.”

The officials, tasked with finding a solution, eventually discovered one that filled them with dismay.

“Is it the empire again…”

The best answer they found was the empire’s ‘academy’ [a center of learning and innovation]. Charles VIII, upon receiving their report, also wore a look of dismay.

“Is it the empire again? What kind of country is the empire? More importantly, who is sane enough to come up with such a system? There are so many systems that defy common sense, aren’t there?”

At the same time, Hyang was diligently picking his ear in Sugang Palace.

“Why is my ear so itchy? Is someone 욕ing [cursing] me?”

* * *

Meanwhile, Count Tyrol, having found Maximilian I, immediately knelt and begged for forgiveness.

“I am incompetent and have failed to deliver victory to Your Majesty. Please forgive my sins.”

“You are innocent. The guilty ones are elsewhere. Those who are enemies of the Holy Roman Empire while being subjects of the Holy Roman Empire are the sinners.”

Maximilian I gritted his teeth and vowed inwardly.

‘Okay! This time it went according to your wishes, but there will be no such humiliation again. Never again! The Holy Roman Empire must be entirely mine and the Habsburgs’!

Determined to achieve thorough centralization, Maximilian I gathered his ministers and declared:

“Although it ended in a truce, we have been defeated! Why have we been defeated? We have been defeated by internal enemies! Those who prioritize their own interests over the victory of the fatherland and the orders of the emperor! They are the internal enemies! Therefore, we must first unite the Holy Roman Empire! We must eliminate the internal enemies and be reborn as a true Holy Roman Empire! What is needed for this is more iron and more gold!”

Maximilian I paused, walked to the world map hanging on one side, pointed to the empire, and continued:

“Look at the empire! That huge country moves in unison with the orders of one emperor! How is this possible? It is because of strong military power and economic power! Look again this time! The war was stopped by just one proclamation issued by the emperor! This power is what we must aim for!”

At Maximilian I’s declaration, the ministers all bowed their heads and responded:

“As Your Majesty wishes!”

And the first step for this was victory in the contest.

– The emperor of the empire offered such a large sum of money because he is confident that he will gain several times more profit than that!

– If we take that, our position will change in an instant.

– From those who are mindful of others to those who make others mindful of us!

Later, Hyang, who heard the story through various channels, smacked his lips with a troubled expression.

“Tsk… What is this, snowballing or something…”