Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 879

As time passed, the officer candidates who had been sent to the Empire for studies returned one by one.

The returned candidates were classified into junior, mid-level, and senior officers.

The criteria for assigning ranks to the candidates were largely twofold.

One was the grade reports submitted by the candidates, and the other was the timing of their return from studying abroad.

The grade reports were certified by the Empire’s military academy. There were those who attempted forgery, but these fools could not escape the watchful eyes of the instructors stationed in Florence.

“Who do these idiots think we are? Did they think they could fool instructors who’ve spent their lives in the military academy?”

“There’s nothing to discuss! Expel them immediately! They’re rotten to the core! They’re the kind who would sell their weapons to the enemy!”

The instructors insisted on the expulsion of those who attempted fraud. However, Lorenzo, Giovanni, and the other high-ranking officials in the Florentine military had slightly different ideas.

“Still, they’re men who went to the Empire to learn and came back…”

“If these guys go to other cities as mercenaries, they could give away our tactics and strategies. We need some countermeasures.”

“They’re fools, but they’re still part of our family… We can’t just get rid of them all…”

“If we consider the money we spent feeding them, clothing them, and giving them allowances, just throwing them away is a huge waste!”

As these opinions gained traction, the fate of the problematic candidates was decided: they would become non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

“Be grateful you were spared! If you want to become officers, earn your promotions!”

The other criterion, ‘time of return,’ was based on a very simple rationale.

“If they received proper education, there’s no reason to come back early, right?”

“They might have been exceptional and finished their studies ahead of schedule…”

“Has anyone actually done that?”

“Not yet…”

Thus, the ranks of the candidates were determined.

Next was the assignment of branches.

-The candidate with the best grades goes to artillery, the next to engineering, and the next to supply.

* * *

As the Florentine army’s command and officer corps were being formed smoothly, the next step was to expand the size of the army.

Based on the defense budget allocated from the Medici family’s capital and the overall budget, the Imperial Army instructors and the Florentine army command were working to increase the army’s size.

“It’s too slow…”

“But it’s hard to increase the speed as much as we want. There’s the budget issue, and too many people are watching us.”

Florence’s strong competitors, such as Milan, Genoa, and Venice, also had their spies and informants.

Therefore, they were also sensing Florence’s movements and slowly paying attention to its military buildup.

However, their response was a traditional one.

-Hire more and more mercenaries.

Even though they knew through spies in Florence that the Florentine army was being built and operated in the Imperial Army style, they chose the traditional method.

The reason they insisted on the traditional method was distrust.

-The Empire is a strong country in the East, but can it exert its power in Europe as well?

-Italy has its own way! The Empire’s methods don’t work here!

Based on these beliefs, they insisted on the traditional method, and the value of Italian and Swiss mercenaries began to rise.

The surrounding countries with interests in Italy also noticed Florence’s movements.

And their reactions were also divided.

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain were drawing very optimistic conclusions.

-The Empire is far away from Italy.

-Therefore, even if they want to project military power into Italy, it’s impossible to time it right.

-So, the only way the Empire can choose is to deploy troops in advance. But this also takes a lot of time.

-As a result, we have plenty of time to prepare.

-In addition, the Empire’s famous navy is blocked by the Suez [a narrow strip of land in Egypt that connects Africa and Asia] and cannot enter the Mediterranean.

-If necessary, we can hinder the Empire’s advance simply by destroying the Suez railroad.

-Finally, the Empire’s navy is famous for being strong, but is their army really that strong?

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain were drawing optimistic conclusions, trusting in the natural barrier of the Suez. However, they were not completely idle.

Using the gunpowder manufacturing methods stolen from France and England, they began to allocate more and more budget to the development and purchase of new rifles and cannons.

On the other hand, France was reacting quickly with great concern.

“We saw how the Empire’s soldiers fight, right? If we underestimate them, we’ll be annihilated immediately!”

“Mass production of gunpowder has begun, so we need to make our own decent rifles! Send spies to Florence! We need to steal the blueprints for the Florentine rifles!”

Faced with France’s reaction, the ruling classes of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain gradually began to take the situation seriously.

“Those crazy French warmongers!”

“The Italian bumpkins aren’t the problem! France is the problem!”

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain, which bordered France and had experience in armed conflict, eventually abandoned their optimistic outlook and had no choice but to join the full-scale arms race.

England was the country that benefited from the arms race among the European mainland countries.

“Cannons! Make more cannons! They’ll sell as soon as they’re made!”

The cannons made by England were famous for their reasonable price and decent quality.

The reason why English cannons were famous for their cost-effectiveness was that most of the cannons they made were made of cast iron.

At the time, cannons were typically made of bronze. However, bronze was expensive. Therefore, the English made cannons out of cast iron.

There were all sorts of trials and errors in making cannons out of cast iron, which was the worst material for making cannons, but the English eventually managed to make decent cannons.

They had an incredibly large and heavy body compared to their firepower, but they were still cheaper than bronze cannons, so the Holy Roman Empire and Spain began to purchase large quantities of English-made cannons.

Meanwhile, England, which had benefited from the unexpected arms race, did not rest on its laurels.

“The Empire’s soldiers make cannons out of steel! We’ll make them out of steel too!”

France, which was at odds with England, could not stand still.

“We’ll also challenge steel cannons!”

And the finance ministers of the countries engaged in this arms race shed tears of blood.

“Budget… budget…”

* * *

As the Italian cities and European powers were moving one step closer to the planned war, Florence was entering a full-scale generational change.

Cosimo de Medici, who had grown the family several times larger than in the history before Hyang intervened, had died.

“It’s a shame, a truly interesting time is just around the corner…”

With a will full of regret, Cosimo closed his eyes.

At the funeral held at the Basilica di San Lorenzo [one of the largest churches in Florence, Italy], the citizens of Florence flocked like clouds, mourning the passing of the giant.

The three ambassadors who attended in place of the Emperor Wan exchanged small talk as they watched the flocking Florentine citizens.

“The citizens’ reaction is amazing.”

In response to Shin Suk-ju’s words, Seong Sam-mun nodded slightly and added.

“Because he was a giant…”

Yu Eung-bu, who was nodding at Seong Sam-mun’s words, glanced at Lorenzo and Giovanni, who were sitting as representatives of the bereaved family, and continued.

“It’s a relief that those who took over are capable.”

“It’s a relief, at least.”

“Come to think of it, I heard that Seonwi [abdication] is scheduled to take place in the mainland as well?”

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Shin Suk-ju continued with eyes full of complex emotions.

“When the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers stepped down, I had already expected it to some extent…”

As Shin Suk-ju trailed off, Yu Eung-bu opened his mouth.

“Still, didn’t he last five years longer than the 20 years he expected when he ascended the throne?”

At Yu Eung-bu’s words, Seong Sam-mun shook his head slightly and said.

“If Florence hadn’t started working, or if they had started working just two years later, the Emperor would have filled exactly 20 years and gone to Shinji [a place for retired emperors]. Both the retired Emperor Sejong and His Majesty… Did they hide honey pots in Shinji or something…”

Seong Sam-mun was the one who knew better than anyone else the war of nerves that had taken place between Sejong and Hyang, and between Hyang and Wan, over the length of their reigns.

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Shin Suk-ju also shook his head and muttered.

“The bill he made while preparing for the abdication was the ‘Minimum Reign Period’…”

* * *

“This is bullshit! He lasted 20 years and 5 years! I can’t live with this injustice!”

Wan was full of resentment as he prepared for the abdication.

“The retired Emperor Sejong only filled 10 years and ran away to Shinji! Why me!”

Hyang abdicated to Wan as soon as he completed 10 years as Emperor, and ran to Shinji without looking back.

“Your Majesty! No, Father! Father! How can you abdicate after only 10 years! Isn’t that too much?”

“I laid the groundwork well during those 10 years, so it’s okay.”

“Still, how can you abdicate after only 10 years!”

Hyang’s expression turned fierce at Wan’s words.

“Only?”

Wan immediately bowed his head at Hyang’s words.

“I’m sorry! I misspoke!”

“Tsk!”

What Hyang did during those 10 years was far more than enough to justify the word ‘only.’ Therefore, Wan immediately bowed his head and apologized.

“Then I only have to fill 10 years, right?”

“No, you have 20 years.”

“Why!”

Hyang immediately answered Wan’s protest.

“You didn’t act as regent. If you add the time I acted as regent, it’s 20 years. So, 20 years. This is an imperial order.”

Wan gritted his teeth and answered at Hyang’s words.

“I understand. I will fill 20 years.”

“Okay, I trust you.”

In this way, Wan, who ascended the throne, had to work to death, counting down the days until he reached 20 years.

And he faithfully applied what he had learned from Hyang, entrusting Hyun with only the practical work of Area 51 and the research institute.

“I have to block the loopholes to escape under the pretext of acting as regent in advance! I can’t be the only one who suffers!”

There, Wan went one step further.

“The retired Emperor said, ‘If you have learned something, you must be able to apply it!’ Yes, that’s right!”

Wan, having made up his mind, called the ministers together and told them his thoughts.

“Looking at the current administration of the Empire, except for Shinji, the Emperor directly governs the other territories, and Shinji is operated by the retired Emperor under delegation. This is due to the distance and the vastness of Shinji.”

At Wan’s words, the ministers looked at Wan with questioning eyes.

‘Why are you mentioning this now?’

Knowing the ministers’ thoughts, Wan went straight to the point.

“The retired Emperor initially set it at 20 years. However, while proceeding with this matter with Florence, I had this thought. What if a big deal happens in a vague time like this Florence situation? Therefore, I want to set the minimum and maximum of the Emperor’s reign. You must stay in this position for a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years to be able to abdicate. Discuss this and make it into law.”

“I will obey your command.”

Answering that way, the ministers muttered inwardly.

‘He had a lot of pent-up feelings.’

‘His Majesty can’t suffer alone.’

Thus, the ‘Law on the Emperor’s Reign’ passed the screening committee and was officially enacted.