Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 682

682. Suez (2)

The negotiations were fierce.

The envoys from the alliance of Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, and France, and the coalition of the Mamluks, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire, engaged in heated debates.

Everyone agreed on ending the war, but neither side had achieved their initial goals.

– Complete control of the Egyptian region through the destruction of the Mamluks.

– Domination of the Mediterranean Sea.

– Monopoly of trade routes to the Empire.

These were the goals set by the alliance before the war.

– Expulsion of the allied forces that invaded the Mamluks.

– Domination of the Mediterranean Sea.

– Securing the Empire’s trade routes held by Portugal.

These were the goals set by the coalition that participated in the war.

And both sides entered into armistice negotiations without fully achieving these goals.

Interestingly, none of the Italian city-states were at the negotiating table.

This was due to the unique characteristics of the Italian city-states. As symbolized by the Medici family of Florence, the commercial city-states of Italy traded with all the countries of Europe.

The moment they joined either the alliance or the coalition and sat at the negotiating table, trade with the opposing countries would be cut off.

“Of course, if the alliance had clearly won, we would have confidently taken a seat. But if it ends ambiguously like this, we have no choice but to remain neutral,” Cosimo’s lamentation represented the sentiments of the Italian city-states at the time.

Of course, both the alliance and the coalition knew which side each Italian city-state had allied with. However, unless it was officially revealed, it was best to pretend not to know.

The financial power of the Italian city-states was essential to both sides.

However, some began to worry about the future of Italy, seeing this situation.

* * *

The first place where those who worried about the future of Italy appeared was the University of Florence.

Since the Empire first appeared with the nickname ‘Land of Flowers,’ a group of scholars had begun to pay attention and examine it.

Later, they learned more and more about the Empire through letters sent by monks who had settled in the Empire’s research institute.

For them, the Empire’s opening of its doors was an opportunity from heaven.

To not miss the opportunity to see the Empire they had only imagined while reading texts, the scholars of the University of Florence made desperate efforts.

They appealed to various channels to participate in the delegation formed to tour the Empire, and later, they used all means to obtain the position of professor in charge of leading the students.

The scholars who went to the Empire and examined the actual state of the Empire and the trends of neighboring countries such as Ming [China] and Wa [Japan] began to worry about the future of their hometown, Florence, and Italy.

* * *

– Although overshadowed by the Empire, the Empire is always wary of Ming.

– Ming, formerly called Khitai [an old name for China], can be called the largest country in the East and Europe. It boasts the largest size in terms of territory, population, and market size.

– On the other hand, the Empire has formidable military power, technology, and economic power comparable to Ming, but both its population and territory are smaller than Ming.

– The Empire is well aware of this fact and is actively encouraging childbirth.

– In addition to encouraging childbirth, the Empire is actively subjugating the natives living around the Empire.

– The most significant feature of the Empire’s native policy is that it does not regard natives as slaves. Just as they treat serfs who have fled from city to city in Italy as equal citizens, they treat them as equal imperial citizens.

– By treating imperial citizens and natives equally and providing opportunities for advancement to those from native backgrounds, the Empire is trying to solve the problem of securing talent.

– This is similar to the policies pursued by ancient Rome, both during the Republic and the Empire. Through this policy, Rome was able to maintain its strong dominance.

The scholars who examined the Empire and its surrounding countries—especially Ming—applied these results to the situation in Italy, where they lived, and compared them.

– Looking at the current situation in Italy and Europe, the city-states of Italy dominate the European economy.

– However, even our proud Florence, the strongest among the city-states, is just a city located in the small region of Italy.

– Looking at the surrounding kingdoms, there are several countries with at least six or more cities like Florence, with territories several times larger and populations several tens of times greater.

– Of course, most of those countries are divided into small and large independent territories and cities, like the city-states of Italy.

– However, places like England and France, where unification into a single country has been completed, are beginning to emerge.

– The most concerning country is France.

– France has the largest territory among the countries of Europe.

– The people of France have also come to feel a sense of belonging, that they are French.

– If they actively promote national wealth and military strength based on the people who have a sense of belonging, France will soon become the strongest in Europe.

– Becoming strong is not easy, but maintaining that position is not easy either.

– The easiest way is to create political and economic dependencies.

– From that point of view, the best prey is Italy. To maintain its position as the strongest, a lot of money is needed, and the city-states of Italy are the best source of funds.

– Our proud Florence, as well as those damned Genoa and Venice, are powerful, but weak compared to the whole of France.

– If France attempts to defeat them individually, the city-states of Italy will collapse helplessly.

– Therefore, to avoid such a tragic outcome, the unification of Italy is inevitable.

– If Italy, the birthplace of the great Rome, is unified, it can become another strongest power in Europe.

The scholars who came to this conclusion began to advocate for the ‘Unification of Italy.’

However, the leaders of the city-states showed a lukewarm response even after listening to their arguments.

Even Cosimo de Medici, known for his excellent insight into the future, reacted as follows after hearing this opinion.

“It is certainly highly likely. But you see, France has not yet achieved complete unity. And if France tries to do this, England and the Holy Roman Empire will not stand still. If this happens, we can use them. Just like we have been doing.”

The scholars naturally protested against Cosimo’s words.

“If Italy is unified into one, such a thing will not happen at all!”

Cosimo smiled at the scholars’ protest and pointed out the problem.

“What you say is right. But you see, there is the biggest problem. Who do you think should be the ruler to unify this Italy? Me? Of course, I am a seasoned politician. But I am a politician and a merchant, not a king. Then who will you make the ruler? The tyrants of Genoa or Venice? Since it is the revival of Rome, the Pope of the Vatican? Who will you make the ruler? No, do the Italians now have the awareness that we are Italians? Even I only think of myself as a Florentine.”

“….”

The scholars closed their mouths at Cosimo’s criticism. Cosimo came to a conclusion looking at such scholars.

“Unified Italy? Good words. But let me say again, Italy is not ready yet. And, the invasion of France is highly likely, but considering the current situation in France, it will take at least 100 years.”

The scholars eventually had no choice but to retreat at Cosimo’s words.

However, this was Cosimo’s misjudgment.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, France’s invasion of Italy began in 1494.

Starting with this invasion, the tragedy of Italy began. It was revealed that the city-states of Italy were economically prosperous but militarily weak. Since then, Italy has become a stage for the power struggles of European powers and has been torn to pieces.

The situation was less than 50 years away. In addition, no one knew what kind of butterfly effect the unexpected variables of Hyang and the Empire would bring.

Another feature was that the movement advocating for ‘Unified Italy’ came to the surface earlier than expected.

Based on the ‘First Italian War of Independence’ that took place in 1849 in the history before Hyang’s intervention, it was advanced by almost 400 years or more.

The political ideology that would later be called ‘Risorgimento (Resurrection, Revival),’ borrowed from the ‘Revival of Rome’ advocated by scholars, was born.

* * *

While such movements were swirling inside Italy, negotiations continued tediously.

“We cannot accept your demands!”

“Are you making your demands in your right mind?”

“What? Do you think words are everything!”

“Who’s talking!”

Every time a meeting was held, loud voices were exchanged, and they slammed the table with their fists and pointed fingers.

The soldiers guarding the negotiating table had the same thought, regardless of alliance or coalition.

‘Ah, damn it! Don’t make noise, come out and fight! It’s easy to just do what the winner says, whether it’s punching or stabbing!’

The armistice negotiations, which gave the soldiers severe stress, came to a conclusion in half a year.

– The Mamluks relinquish the areas occupied by the Allied countries.

– Portugal and Spain cease attacks on each other’s African colonies.

– Cease attacks on each other’s ships in the Mediterranean.

After that, with agreements on some minor details, the Allied countries and the Coalition signed the armistice document and declared the end of the war.

“Has peace begun with this?”

Many people who heard the rumors thought of peace, but those who examined the contents more carefully shook their heads.

“Spain and Portugal will continue to fight.”

“Why? They said they would stop attacking colonies and stop attacking ships in the Mediterranean area.”

“The most important East African coast is missing.”

“Ah….”

This was true.

The East African coast was one of the ‘Golden Routes.’ Ships full of gold, silver, ivory, and slaves from Africa were moving along the East African coast.

And the treaty did not include a part to stop fighting on this route.

In a sense, the interests of the two countries coincided.

– Attacking colonies requires a considerable bleeding, but not ships?

* * *

As the treaty came into effect, officials from Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, France, and Florence gathered again.

“Now! Let’s talk about this Suez traffic route.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Then, first of all, is a waterway the only answer?”

At the first agenda, the participants—especially Europe—all had serious faces.

This was because they had experienced what the desert was like during the last war.

“I think mobilizing slaves, which we talked about at first, will be costly in terms of both time and money.”

“Then, is it still the Iron Horse [railroad]?”

“That’s the best way, but….”

When the Portuguese representative trailed off, the Florentine representative spoke for everyone.

“Isn’t the problem that we have to use the Empire’s Iron Horse and railroad? The Empire will make the most profit, just like in the war.”

“It would be right to say ‘only the Empire’ makes money.”