Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 865

Following Jang Hang-sun’s order, the military officer bowed slightly and began to speak.

“First of all, what I am about to say is based on information acquired by our Empire. This information was obtained through Imperial merchants engaged in trade, Italians they met in trading posts, and books purchased through various channels. Therefore, it is not entirely accurate. It is merely based on speculation and research of the situation in Florence based on rumors.”

“So, if we’re wrong, you might hear, ‘What is this nonsense?'”

“I am confident it won’t be that bad. We have cross-verified information from multiple sources.”

The military officer gave a small wry smile in response to Jang Hang-sun’s question.

* * *

If the sound of tongue-clicking that started with Sejong [a former emperor] was the number one thing to avoid in the general bureaucratic society of the Empire, Jang Hang-sun’s swearing was the number one thing to avoid in the Ministry of National Defense and the General Headquarters.

Since being specially recruited by Sejong, Jang Hang-sun had become the foremost expert in the Empire’s defense sector.

For Jang Hang-sun, meticulous work was a given. If even the slightest flaw or inadequate work was discovered, Jang Hang-sun would immediately point it out and demand answers.

If the cause was a superior, he would go to the person’s office to argue, and if it was a subordinate, he would summon them immediately and scold them until they were mentally drained.

It was behavior that was perfect for making enemies, but surprisingly, there were hardly any problems.

The biggest reason was that Sejong had personally met and talked with him before the special recruitment. Being chosen by the supreme ruler was a very strong shield.

Secondly, he hardly caused any problems except when it came to being picky about work.

That was how Jang Hang-sun gradually climbed the ladder to become the Minister of National Defense. And as his position rose higher and higher, Jang Hang-sun’s swearing became famous in many ways.

‘What is this nonsense?’ was mild. The more inadequate the work, the stronger the swearing became.

“You son of a white-belly weasel!”

The swearing, mixed with the rough dialect of the northern region, made the listener’s legs tremble.

In any case, perhaps because of Jang Hang-sun, the work of the Ministry of National Defense and the Imperial Army was impeccable.

It came to show a completely different image from the public’s perception of them as ‘a group of thugs who only know how to fight,’ which had been passed down from ancient times.

* * *

The eyes of Giovanni and his party began to sparkle at the conversation between Jang Hang-sun and the military officer.

As they had been in a relationship with the Empire, Florence had also obtained a lot of information about the Empire’s officials, especially high-ranking officials.

In particular, information related to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and Economy, and the Minister of National Defense, who were considered to be most closely related to them, was information that had to be secured.

Of course, information related to Jang Hang-sun had already been obtained.

‘To answer the notoriously picky Minister of National Defense like that, it must be worth listening to properly!’

‘Judging from the Minister of National Defense’s personality, this seat must have been created after thorough review. But the fact that they had such a conversation means they want us to listen properly! Then we should listen properly!’

Having judged this, Giovanni’s subordinates straightened their posture and listened attentively.

In reality, Jang Hang-sun had created the seat after completing the review and supplementation. And that was the norm.

Nevertheless, the reason for having the conversation just now was a subtle emphasis.

-This is an important story, so listen carefully!

‘Judging by their expressions, they seem to have understood right away. It’s worth betting on.’

Somewhat satisfied, Jang Hang-sun leaned back in his chair. Receiving the unspoken signal, the military officer cleared his throat again.

“Ahem! Ahem! Then I will begin.”

* * *

The military officer’s explanation can be summarized as follows:

-Currently, Italy is in a state of disarray with dozens of city-states.

-However, looking at the current situation, it is roughly divided into five forces.

-Milan, Venice, Florence, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of Naples.

-Genoa also exists, but Genoa should be considered to belong to Spain and the Kingdom of Naples.

-These five major powers have maintained a balance of power through the Treaty of Lodi, led by Cosimo de’ Medici in 1454.

-The contents of the Treaty of Lodi are as follows.

-The countries participating in the treaty do not allow one country to dominate other countries.

-The countries participating in the treaty are prohibited from borrowing the power of foreign forces.

-If problems arise between the countries participating in the treaty, they will be resolved through talks and ambassadors.

-The Italian alliance, composed of the countries participating in the treaty, will unite to resist foreign forces.

-Despite this treaty, the ‘Italian Unification Movement’ has surfaced, and foreign powers have begun to move.

-If this unification movement turns into a movement involving force, problems will arise in the supply of troops.

Most of the parties involved will mobilize mercenaries, which will hinder the smooth supply of troops and operational management.

In the worst case, mercenaries may cross over to the opposing camp during the war.

-Therefore, the best way is to create a standing army.

-According to the information we have obtained, the population of Florence is about 80,000, and if we include the surrounding subordinate cities and towns, including Pisa and Volterra, it is estimated to be about 250,000 to 300,000.

However, this number assumes that slaves are not included.

-Based on this population, the maximum number of standing troops that Florence can stably operate is 15,000.

After that, the military officer explained many items, starting with the operation of the reserve forces system.

As the military officer’s explanation continued, Giovanni’s subordinates became more sincere. Before they knew it, they took out paper and pens and frantically wrote down what the interpreter was saying.

“…Therefore, in order for Florence to increase its success rate, I think that not only the armament but also the entire organization and support system must be changed to the Imperial style. That is all.”

“Good work.”

At Jang Hang-sun’s praise, the military officer saluted and left the conference room. As soon as the military officer left, Jang Hang-sun looked at Giovanni.

“How is it?”

“It was truly impressive.”

“His Majesty told me to do my best, so I put a lot of effort into it.”

“I can only be grateful to His Majesty.”

Giovanni, expressing his gratitude to Wan [the Emperor], looked back at his subordinates. Checking the faces of his subordinates, who had written diligently but seemed to have missed a lot, Giovanni looked back at Jang Hang-sun.

“Can I get a copy or a translation?”

“I’ll give it to you within two days.”

“Thank you!”

Giovanni was sincerely grateful, and his subordinates had expressions that said they had been outsmarted.

‘Ah! There’s such a method!’

* * *

Five days later, Giovanni boarded a ship bound for Suez.

The ship Giovanni was on and the three ships following it were loaded with various equipment for producing Florentine muskets, 100 prototypes of Florentine muskets, and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

“But the most important thing is not that.”

Giovanni looked at a large wooden box in one corner of his cabin.

It was an ordinary wooden box containing his clothes and personal belongings, but deep inside it was the translation provided by the Imperial Ministry of National Defense.

“That document is worth a fortune… That document is… The problem is…”

Giovanni acknowledged the value of the translation, but he was also full of worries.

“According to that document, it won’t end with just overhauling the military. We have to overhaul everything in Florence. Is that really possible? Will the people of Florence follow us well? And what about the cost?”

Nothing was easy. But in order for his proud family and Florence to become the main players in the unification of Italy and to dominate a unified Italy, it was a cost that had to be paid.

“Hoo~.”

Giovanni sighed deeply and swept his hair back. Turning his gaze to divert his attention, Giovanni stopped at a map hanging on the wall of the cabin.

“Hoo~. Pisa…”

Giovanni, who had read the report provided by the Empire several times, was realizing that there were many challenges.

And the most representative of these challenges was Pisa.

* * *

The Empire’s report did not directly mention Pisa.

-In order to suppress the Kingdom of Naples and Venice, and to block the approach of foreign forces more effectively, naval power must be strengthened.

Florence had already secured the optimal city to successfully implement the Empire’s words.

It was Pisa.

However, considering the past history, Pisa was not an easy city for Florence.

Pisa was one of the four major maritime powers of medieval Italy.

However, after being defeated by Genoa, it became Genoese territory, and later declined into a small city-state.

Afterwards, Pisa was a subordinate city of Florence, having succumbed to the force mobilized by Florence.

Of course, Pisa was still a rebellious city to Florence. Of course, they did not show such a 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘attitude’] openly because they were inferior in force, but Pisa and the people of Pisa were subtly rebellious.

However, the problem was that Pisa was the best place to foster naval power.

“This is truly difficult. Does the Empire call this a white elephant [a possession that is more trouble than it is worth]?”

Giovanni, who was troubled by a problem that could not be easily solved no matter how much he thought about it, waved the white flag.

“I don’t know. In this case, my father would come up with an answer. Just like he always has.”

* * *

After Giovanni left Seoul, Wan had a conversation with his ministers.

The topic of the conversation was the document that the Ministry of National Defense had given to Giovanni.

Wan, who already knew the contents of the document well, asked Hwangbo-in.

“Even at a glance, it seems full of challenges. Do you think they will follow it as it is?”

Hwangbo-in answered immediately to Wan’s question.

“If they are sincere, I think they will accept it as much as possible.”

Following Hwangbo-in, Kim Jong-seo opened his mouth.

“All decisions depend on Cosimo de’ Medici.”

Wan stroked his chin at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“Cosimo de’ Medici… He is the one who properly showed what ‘old and cunning’ is. But this matter will not be easy for him either.”

Kim Jong-seo responded to Wan’s words.

“But now he is also very old. And that’s the problem. His grandson, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and his second son, Giovanni de’ Medici, are replacing him, but important decisions must be made through him. But if the old man collapses, the two people who are still inexperienced, especially Lorenzo de’ Medici, will have a hard time.”

Wan nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words and took over the words.

“That’s when our Empire will step in as an advisor. And the beginning of that is what the Ministry of National Defense handed over this time.”

“That is correct.”

As soon as Kim Jong-seo’s short answer was over, Hwangbo-in said what the Empire’s intentions were.

“By making Florence the Empire of Italy, we can gain a lot with little effort, while gaining justification as justification.”