Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 864

864. Imperial Style, Imperial Method (1)

Having grasped the Empire’s intentions, Giovanni approached the negotiation with a surprisingly lightened expression.

‘The Empire is already aware that war is inevitable! If our Florence falls, the Empire will suffer losses in the operation and dividends of Suez!’

Relieved of his psychological burden, Giovanni engaged in the negotiation even more actively.

As Giovanni took a proactive stance, Shin Suk-ju found himself being pushed back.

“I cannot make a decision on this matter unilaterally, so I will have to report it to His Majesty.”

Whenever Giovanni’s counterattacks cornered him, Shin Suk-ju would halt the meeting with this statement.

“Very well.”

Each time, Giovanni would nod with a leisurely smile.

“Then I will await a favorable response. I hope you will consider the mutual benefits of Florence and the Empire.”

“Understood.”

Giovanni, after glancing at Shin Suk-ju’s distressed face as he left, rose from his seat and exited the negotiation room.

Judging that he had gained the upper hand, Giovanni turned to his aide and made a half-serious joke.

“This Minister of Foreign Affairs is quite the negotiator, don’t you think? If I had to deal with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs or the current and former Ministers of Economy and Finance… Ugh~! Thank goodness for the help of the Holy Mother. Yes, indeed!”

Giovanni lightly made the sign of the cross, and his aide nodded in agreement.

He had been with Giovanni since the Medici family first made contact with the Empire and had experienced the Empire’s people firsthand.

-Those Empire folks are so cunning that even the Jews and Arabs, renowned for their trade and trickery—no, negotiations—would weep.

This was the conclusion he had reached after dealing with the Empire and its people.

“Seriously… where did these people come from? No, how do they even think like this?”

However, after interacting with the Ming people, he gained some understanding.

“The Kitai, no, the Ming people, are just as cunning as the Jews and Arabs. And the Jipangu people are not to be underestimated either.”

His assessment was only half correct.

From the ancient Three Kingdoms period to the Goryeo Dynasty, the Empire was famous for its international trade. Dealing with the notoriously shrewd Huashang [Chinese] merchants made the Empire’s people even more cunning.

However, the biggest reason was Xiang.

Having been trained by Xiang, who possessed the sharp and cunning negotiation skills of the 21st century, and dealing with the cunning Empire merchants, the Empire’s officials were practically final bosses.

This was also true for Shin Suk-ju.

As soon as he left the negotiation table with a distressed look, Shin Suk-ju immediately changed his expression. As if nothing had happened, he returned to his usual demeanor, looked at his subordinate officials, and sighed.

“Hoo~. It’s not easy to force a crying face. I should thank Minister Im.”

Just as Florence had prepared for the negotiations by creating various practice problem sets, the Empire had also gone through rehearsals.

They anticipated Florence’s demands in advance and held extensive discussions on how the Empire could secure its interests.

When they had almost finished creating expected answers, such as what to give to Florence and what the Empire must secure, Im Soon-wook looked at Shin Suk-ju and opened his mouth.

“Now, the biggest hurdle remains.”

“What is it?”

“Your face.”

“My face?”

“Your emotions are written all over it. Your mouth is making groaning noises, but your eyes are smiling, so someone like Giovanni will notice it right away. To use a phrase from the streets, ‘You should never go near a gambling table.'”

“Ah….”

“Let’s start practicing your expressions from now on.”

“Do I have to practice that too?”

“The Ministry of Economy and Finance officials always practice it.”

‘Especially when the budget compilation period for the following year approaches, they practice thoroughly.’

* * *

Every year during the budget compilation period, all departments of the Empire would shout, ‘Even one more penny!’ and pressure the officials of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Whenever they received such pressure, the Ministry of Economy and Finance officials would make a distressed face and make excuses.

“What power do we have to do that~.”

Especially when female officials said this with tearful eyes, the officials from other departments, who had been acting as if they would devour them right away, had no choice but to back down.

Of course, over time, other departments also developed countermeasures.

The most representative example was the Ministry of National Defense, which appointed a member of the imperial family as the person in charge to pressure the Ministry of Economy and Finance. If the Ministry of Economy and Finance used female officials as a shield, they would also put forward female officials in the same way.

* * *

In this way, Shin Suk-ju, who had received special training from Im Soon-wook and the Ministry of Economy and Finance officials, secured the Empire’s interests little by little while putting on a distressed face and acting as if he was being dragged along.

On the surface, it seemed that Florence was benefiting, but in reality, the Empire was benefiting.

The most representative example was the ‘supply of parts for the Florentine long rifle.’

-Purchase parts produced in the Empire and assemble them.

This was the first proposal put forward by the Empire. Naturally, Florence strongly opposed it.

“We will also make the parts in Florence! Hand over the production facilities for the parts! Florence’s ironworks are sufficient to make them!”

“That’s a bit….”

“Florence agreed to introduce the Florentine long rifle, not the Empire’s military long rifle! The Empire should also make concessions!”

Under Giovanni’s pressure, Shin Suk-ju retreated with a distressed look.

“I will report it to His Majesty. Let’s take a break until then.”

And the next day, Shin Suk-ju conveyed Wan’s answer in a weak voice.

“His Majesty has accepted Florence’s request.”

“I am truly grateful!”

Giovanni was delighted, and Shin Suk-ju had a gloomy expression.

War was already foreseen. This meant that time was not sufficient.

They were greedy and said they would make Florentine long rifles with the iron materials they produced, but the outcome was obvious.

As written above, it was impossible to make proper iron materials or change the specifications of the long rifle parts in a situation where time was not sufficient.

In the end, Florence would have no choice but to import parts made in the Empire or import the Empire’s iron materials, even knowing it would be a loss.

In most cases, it was ‘pretending to be deceived even while knowing.’ However, sometimes Giovanni would hit a blind spot.

Whenever that happened, Shin Suk-ju would retreat with a truly distressed face and have to listen to Wan’s clicking tongue.

* * *

After fierce negotiations between Florence and the Empire, the agreement was completed.

After the signing ceremony of the agreement between Shin Suk-ju and Giovanni, Giovanni visited Wan.

After paying his respects politely, Giovanni offered words of gratitude to Wan, who was sitting on the Tang Dynasty-style chair.

“I am truly grateful for His Majesty’s decisive decision. The Empire’s support will be of great help to Florence.”

“It is to protect the common interests of our Empire and Florence. We hope to be of assistance in fulfilling Florence’s grand dream.”

At Wan’s words, Giovanni replied even more respectfully.

“It will be of the greatest help. Florence will never forget the Empire’s support.”

“Then we will also be grateful. But….”

“Yes?”

When Wan suddenly trailed off, Giovanni tensed up and raised his head. Seeing Giovanni, Wan got to the point.

“Our Empire also has eyes and ears, so we know the situation in Italy. So, we also know Florence’s dream. So, I have a question. May I ask?”

“If it is something I can answer, I will answer truthfully.”

At Giovanni’s answer, Wan asked directly.

“How will Florence move to achieve its dream?”

“Yes?”

“Surely? You don’t think that just raising an army will solve everything, do you?”

“That is… I am quite ignorant about the military….”

“You must have seen and experienced more than one or two wars and battles while traveling between Italy and the Empire over the past time?”

“That is….”

“Heo~ Tsk!”

When Giovanni trailed off, Wan exhaled as if he was truly frustrated and clicked his tongue.

As soon as Wan clicked his tongue, Giovanni flinched and became turtle-necked. He also knew very well what it meant for the emperors of the Empire to click their tongues.

“I hear that your family, the Medici family, is a famous merchant family. Famous merchants never move haphazardly. They carefully examine the current situation, anticipate future events, and then prepare and move step by step. But what is your answer now? Is it that everything will be fine with just an army, guns, and cannons?”

“….”

At Wan’s rebuke, Giovanni’s head gradually fell to the floor.

‘It’s scarier than when I get scolded by my father. But this scene is somewhat familiar. Ah! The time when Lorenzo was scolded by his father!’

Giovanni, recalling Lorenzo being severely scolded by Cosimo for talking about ‘Ttagapdae,’ admired inwardly.

‘As expected, those who can see and draw a big picture from the top of power are like this!’

“…So what exactly is the answer you have? Tell me!”

Giovanni, startled by Wan’s urging, bowed his head and answered.

“There are still many places to refine.”

“That means you haven’t even grasped the proper framework. Cosimo de Medici, the head of the family, must be very worried. Tsk!”

“….”

Wan clicked his tongue again, but Giovanni, unable to find anything to say, closed his mouth and bowed his head.

Wan, looking at Giovanni, continued.

“Postpone your return to your country for a few days and visit the Ministry of National Defense.”

“…The Ministry of National Defense, you say? If I may be so bold, I would be truly grateful if you could tell me the reason.”

“The Empire has done some research on its own. It will be helpful to Florence.”

At Wan’s words, Giovanni’s face brightened, and he repeatedly bowed his head and thanked him.

“To give such great help to Florence, I am truly grateful for your grace! I am truly grateful for your grace!”

“I say again, it is for the common interests of the Empire and Florence. I hope it will be helpful.”

“It will be of great help! I am truly grateful for your grace!”

Giovanni was so moved because of the Empire’s history.

It was the Empire that had been a small country that only looked at Kitai’s [ancient name for China] face but had defeated Kitai and become the strongest.

If it was the advice of the Empire, which had such experience, it was certain that it would not be a waste to give up all the family’s assets.

“I am truly grateful for your grace!”

As Giovanni left, expressing his gratitude repeatedly, Wan smiled slightly and looked back at Hwangbo-in and the ministers.

“Everyone who starts a gambling game is thinking of cheating, so we can’t just stand still, can we? Then we’ll be suckers.”

At Wan’s words, all the ministers nodded.

-Florence alone cannot succeed in the task.

-Then the Empire’s military, political, and economic power must be projected.

-Then we must set the stage in a direction that is advantageous to the Empire in advance.

That was why Giovanni was sent to the Ministry of National Defense.

The operation named ‘Patchwork’ had begun.

* * *

The next morning, Giovanni got up from his seat, quickly finished his preparations, and visited the Ministry of National Defense.

“This way.”

Following the Imperial soldier in charge of the guide, Giovanni’s party arrived at a large conference room.

In the conference room, Minister of National Defense Jang Hang-sun and several high-ranking commanders were waiting in advance.

After exchanging light greetings with Giovanni, Jang Hang-sun ordered the military officer standing in front of the map.

“Let’s begin.”