Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 857

857. Their Ambition (8)

Cosimo’s reaction to Lorenzo’s words was a click of the tongue.

“Tsk!”

As soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, both Lorenzo and Giovanni stiffened.

* * *

After the story spread that ‘the great sage and emperor of the distant East’ clicked his tongue whenever his ministers made mistakes, the act became fashionable among the kings and lords of Europe.

It was considered a very elegant way to intimidate ministers without cursing or getting angry.

However, the number of kings and lords who clicked their tongues soon decreased significantly.

The ‘sage of the East’ in question had the insight, knowledge, and wisdom to point out the mistakes of his ministers and teach them the answers after clicking his tongue.

In other words, clicking one’s tongue was a way of boasting that one had the insight, knowledge, and wisdom to overwhelm ministers, and if one did not meet these conditions, it would only bring shame.

The problem was that Cosimo had enough insight, knowledge, and intelligence not to be shamed even if he clicked his tongue.

Therefore, as soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, both Lorenzo and Giovanni stiffened.

* * *

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… You’re saying you’ll raise an army with the funds secured by merging other cities? And use that army to merge even more areas? Did I hear you correctly?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Then where will you start the merger? Where is the most likely place?”

“That is still…”

“You fool! North or South! Tell me right now! Right now!”

Lorenzo, pressed by Cosimo’s ferocity, answered urgently.

“N-North, it’s North!”

“Really North?”

“Yes! The cities in the North are wealthy, so they will be of great help!”

“You fool!”

Cosimo rebuked Lorenzo, not hiding his angry feelings.

“Venice is under the protection of the Holy Roman Empire, and Genoa is under the protection of Spain. What else? Milan is under the protection of France.”

“The moment the standing army you worked so hard to raise strikes one of those cities, the countries behind them will mobilize their armies.”

“You will have to expend a large amount of the standing army you have painstakingly raised to defend against the attacks of powerful nations.”

“Even if you are lucky enough to fend off their attacks and raise troops again by gathering funds and people from the merged city, there is still a problem. The troops raised in this way must be deployed to defend the northern border.”

“In the end, in order to merge the southern regions of Italy, our Florence’s funds and blood will be needed again, even more so.”

At Cosimo’s criticism, Lorenzo immediately changed direction.

“T-then the South…”

“Have you forgotten who is behind Naples and Sicily? And most of the South are just farmers who only farm. How much money do you think it will cost to turn ignorant farmers into soldiers? Don’t forget that this is the ‘age of guns and cannons,’ as you said. It’s not enough to just drag them in and hand them a spear!”

As Cosimo’s criticism continued, Lorenzo’s head drooped lower and lower.

Cosimo, watching Lorenzo, stopped wielding his whip and offered the carrot of ‘advice’.

“Of course, the ‘unification of Italy’ that you and the other dreamers you hang out with are talking about is not a bad thing. If it succeeds, it will be very profitable.”

“Then…”

At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo looked at Cosimo with a face full of hope.

“But the plan you just mentioned is, literally, a delusion. The only things worth salvaging are education and the training of a standing army. Administration and politics are missing.”

“Politics, you mean…”

“Deal with the guys who are holding our family back first. Either coax them to your side, or erase them. Dealing with the guys who are making noise inside is the first thing to do.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Next is diplomacy. Bribe the backers of other cities. You don’t have to bribe them all. Just bribe one country properly.”

“Which country are you referring to?”

“Tsk!”

“Yes, yes! I’ll figure it out!”

“Don’t put it into practice right away, and don’t forget to report to me first!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Finally, find someone suitable to be the ruler of a unified Italy.”

“Yes?”

At the unexpected words, Lorenzo looked surprised, and Cosimo smiled and looked at Lorenzo.

“Why? Did you want to be the king of a unified Italy?”

“….”

Cosimo shook his head slightly as he saw Lorenzo affirming with silence, and continued.

“As long as you have the surname ‘Medici,’ it is impossible to become the king of Italy. There are more than a few who would look favorably on the unification of Italy but would immediately turn against it if they heard the name ‘Medici.’ That is the reality.”

“Ah….”

At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo nodded without realizing it.

In the process of dominating Florence and competing with other cities, the number of those who harbored grudges against the Medici family gradually increased.

If Lorenzo de Medici were to come forward as a symbol of unification, they would surely turn into enemies.

Lorenzo, having concluded that Cosimo’s point was valid, lowered his head, hiding his disappointment.

“Yes, I understand.”

“If possible, it would be good to choose someone who is distant from Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. France is tied to Suez [a vital trade route], so you can appease them appropriately, but the other two are not.”

“Is it possible to find someone who has no ties to those three countries?”

Lorenzo asked, unable to hide his embarrassment. In this period, there was no one in Italy who had some power and a reputation who did not have ties to the above three countries.

It was the reality of Italy, which had been divided for over a thousand years.

Even while fighting the Hundred Years’ War with England, France was exerting influence in Italy, and so was the Habsburg family of the Holy Roman Empire, which was only grand in name. Even Spain, which was just emerging as a new powerful nation, was putting a spoon on Italy through the Kingdom of Aragon, a member of the united kingdom.

Cosimo’s answer to Lorenzo’s question was simple and clear.

“If there isn’t one, create one. With our Medici’s power, it is possible.”

“…I understand.”

“And when you create one, make him a hero, but make sure he can’t escape our family.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“Did you think the unification of Italy you mentioned would be easy? Hmm… Looking at the ancient history of Kitai [an old name for China], that is, the land where the Ming Dynasty is now….”

* * *

While researching information related to the Empire, Cosimo also learned about Chinese history.

It was because of the various maxims and idioms that the imperial people spoke of.

In the process of learning about Chinese history in this way, Cosimo met someone who was perfect for his taste, no, someone who could be called his ideal.

It was Lü Buwei [a Chinese merchant and politician of the late Warring States period of ancient China who served as chancellor of the Qin state from 249 to 235 BC].

Cosimo, who used money as a weapon to deal with the kings and nobles of Europe, was very fond of the existence and actions of Lü Buwei.

“But my age is the problem.”

Cosimo, who could not hide his regret as he looked at himself, who was now too old, was trying to realize his dream through Lorenzo.

* * *

“…Don’t forget. The greater the hero of the ‘Unified Italian Monarch’ becomes, the bigger his shadow will be, and in that shadow, our family can do even more.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

“Also, don’t ignore the end of Lü Buwei. Think of the moment the hero escapes the Medici’s hands as the end of the Medici.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

“Lorenzo, that’s all for you… Giovanni.”

“Yes.”

When Cosimo called him, Giovanni answered with a very nervous face and looked at Cosimo.

“The idea of ​​raising a standing army and training officers to command that standing army is not bad. But considering the opponents of Lorenzo and his gang, quantity is still a problem. With the same performance, you cannot overcome the difference in quantity.”

“That’s right.”

“Among those here, you are the closest to the Empire.”

“I will try to contact the Empire and import the Empire’s weapons.”

“You can introduce retired long rifles. But the cannons and Hwachas [Korean rocket artillery] must be imported from those currently used by the Imperial Army. And put some effort into the problem of studying abroad at the military academy.”

At Cosimo’s order, Giovanni answered honestly.

“I will do my best, but it won’t be easy.”

Cosimo immediately advised Giovanni.

“Use France and Suez.”

“France and Suez, you mean? Will you hand over the shares of Suez to the Empire?”

When Cosimo mentioned ‘Suez’, Giovanni immediately mentioned the shares. At Giovanni’s question, Cosimo frowned and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk!”

“I’m sorry!”

As soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, Giovanni immediately stiffened. Cosimo, glaring at Giovanni, explained in more detail.

“Inform the Empire that France has developed the Poxon [likely referring to Paixhans guns, an early type of naval artillery]. And emphasize that our Florence must survive in order to protect the shares of the Suez Railway.”

“Ah!”

At Cosimo’s explanation, Giovanni immediately realized and exclaimed.

Looking at the shares of the Suez Railway construction, the Empire took 40/100, and the rest was taken by France, the Ottoman Empire, Portugal, and Florence.

Among them, Florence’s share was 11/100. It was the smallest share, but the owner of the majority changed depending on where this share went.

And Florence used this point very well to take care of their own interests.

However, the problem was that France had developed Poxon. By breaking away from the restrictions of Poxon, France was able to forcibly enforce the Suez share structure.

The first thing you can expect is to cross the Alps and put pressure on Florence.

If Florence’s shares were made French, and then Portugal was pressured, the Suez governance structure would change to a two-way system between the Ottoman Empire and France.

Therefore, with the news of the development of Poxon alone, Florence was able to appeal to the Empire about the importance of Florence.

Cosimo, seeing Giovanni’s expression, continued.

“As I said earlier, the Empire hates war. Because it costs a lot of money. But if they help our Florence, they can protect the interests of Suez with much less expenditure. Emphasize this point.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Giovanni answered with a brighter face. Cosimo, seeing Giovanni’s positive appearance, turned to Lorenzo.

“Did you see that? This is diplomacy and politics.”

“Yes! I will try!”

“Then move quickly! The more the day is delayed, the more money you have to spend! If spending increases, profits decrease!”

“Yes!”

At Cosimo’s urging, Lorenzo and Giovanni immediately bowed and left the bedroom.

Cosimo, looking at the closed door, turned his head and looked at the map hanging on the wall.

Cosimo, glaring at the Empire located in the east of the map, burst into laughter.

“How will they move? They probably expected it. But even if they expected it, the shock is different when they actually hear it.”

Cosimo felt somehow gleeful.