Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 889

889. Overture (4)

The arms race in Italy, involving Florence, its rivals, and the European powers backing them, set off a chain reaction across the continent.

England was the first to react.

Seeing its most formidable enemy, France, growing in both the size and quality of its army, England also jumped into the arms race.

Almost simultaneously with England, Portugal also entered the fray.

This was due to Spain, with whom they shared a border. Given the historical clashes during Portugal’s founding and the lingering resentment between the two countries, Portugal couldn’t afford to be left behind in the arms race.

Another major power that joined the competition was the Ottoman Empire.

Although the Mediterranean Sea served as a natural barrier, advancements in shipbuilding technology had effectively nullified this obstacle.

Moreover, they had to protect the Suez Canal, their ‘goose that lays the golden eggs’.

‘Be friendly with Europe, but never trust them.’

This was Mehmed II’s guiding principle in diplomacy.

The problem was the significant economic burden that this arms race imposed.

The main instruments of war had shifted from knights and cavalry, swords and spears, to guns and cannons.

Swords and spears could be melted down and reforged when they became old, but guns and cannons were not so easily recycled.

To be precise, they could be melted down, but manufacturing them, especially cannons, was beyond the capabilities of a local blacksmith. It required skilled artisans, specialized manufacturing facilities, ironworks, and smelting operations.

This demanded a great deal of money, a substantial investment.

However, the most troublesome element was gunpowder.

Gunpowder was a consumable item, and black powder was notoriously unstable. Therefore, it couldn’t be stored in large quantities in a single warehouse.

This necessitated multiple specialized buildings with humidity and temperature control, which added significantly to the cost.

Ultimately, the biggest winners and losers in this arms race were the gunsmiths and gunpowder manufacturers.

* * *

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the Ottoman Empire’s famous ‘Urban’s Great Cannon’ was made by the Hungarian engineer Urban.

Even after Hyang’s intervention, many gunsmiths and gunpowder manufacturers operated as freelancers, moving from country to country in search of better salaries, support, and benefits.

This was particularly evident among cannon makers, who not only built cannons but also operated them, essentially becoming mercenary artillerymen.

* * *

Countries participating in the arms race actively scouted talented gunsmiths and gunpowder manufacturers.

They offered:

– Higher salaries.

– Spacious mansions with servants.

– State-of-the-art facilities for research and production.

– Granting of titles, even if only minor knighthoods.

In addition to these incentives, they provided various other perks to attract skilled artisans.

The artisans’ families reveled in the luxuries they had never experienced before, and the artisans themselves wore proud expressions.

However, as time passed, the artisans began to realize that all the benefits were a form of ‘sweet poison’.

The artisans were now tied to the hiring country and forbidden from leaving. Any attempt to leave would be considered treason and punished accordingly.

They would be forced to return all the benefits they had received and compelled to train apprentices and share their expertise.

Finally, they were expected to produce results that satisfied their employers.

The artisans of France provided a striking example of this predicament.

“We can barely make arquebuses, and now they want us to make breech-loading rifles!”

“Make cannons out of steel? Cannons are made of bronze! If we make them out of steel, it would take an elephant to move them!”

The artisans protested against the excessively high demands, but the French politicians, led by Louis XI, responded coldly.

“Doesn’t the ‘Land of Flowers’ [a common nickname for France, emphasizing its beauty and culture] make them? Then make them.”

“Quit, and it’s treason.”

* * *

As the arms race intensified, bordering on frenzy, the countries involved desperately sought to secure the necessary funding.

France, the Ottoman Empire, Portugal, and Florence, which had a stake in the Suez Canal, were able to alleviate the burden somewhat.

The dividends from the Suez Canal went directly to the monarch.

However, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and England were not so fortunate.

For England, which had not yet merged with Scotland and Ireland and was still far from the Industrial Revolution, the financial strain was considerable.

Nevertheless, England steadily continued its arms expansion.

Unlike the history before Hyang’s intervention, Edward IV, influenced by Hyang, had successfully consolidated power, and the nobles, alarmed by France’s military buildup, cooperated.

The Holy Roman Empire faced an even more challenging situation than England.

This was due to the incompetence of Frederick III, who succeeded Sigismund, and the chaotic political landscape within the empire.

Although it held the title of ‘Empire’, it was internally divided into numerous principalities and duchies. Moreover, rebellions by nobles were frequent even in Austria, its core territory.

Despite the constant struggles caused by his incompetence and external misfortunes, Frederick III had no choice but to participate in the arms race.

“Now that Constantinople has fallen, I am the only one who can stop the infidels!”

At least he was aware of the gravity of the situation.

To mitigate the worst-case scenario, Frederick III made desperate efforts.

As soon as his brother and most powerful rival, Albrecht VI, died, he immediately absorbed Albrecht VI’s territories, easing the financial burden. He also secured the cooperation of the Austrian nobles through appeasement, threats, and even assassinations.

“Frederick has changed!”

Rumors of this nature circulated, reflecting a partial truth about Frederick III’s actions.

His son, Maximilian I, barely in his twenties, operated in the shadows of Frederick III.

Compared to the struggles faced by England and the Holy Roman Empire, Spain was in a slightly better position.

The African colonies secured in competition with Portugal provided a valuable source of revenue, and the commercial strength of Aragon, one of the pillars of the united kingdom, remained robust.

Moreover, they had profited handsomely by supplying weapons to Genoa, which aspired to lead the Italian unification movement.

Even so, their situation was only marginally better, not truly comfortable.

Therefore, Spain coveted the Suez Canal.

“If only we could get our hands on the Suez….”

This sentiment was shared by England and the Holy Roman Empire, who were latecomers to the game.

Ultimately, they needed war, or rather, victory in war, to secure stable resources.

* * *

As the arms race among the European powers continued for over a decade, their military capabilities were reaching a saturation point.

Observing this situation, European intellectuals grew increasingly worried.

“If this continues, it will spontaneously combust soon!”

“The whole of Europe will be engulfed in war!”

However, few dared to openly advocate for ‘disarmament’.

This was because their fellow Europeans did not desire it.

The shocking encounter with the Empire [referring to a powerful, likely non-European entity], at a time when Europe was breaking free from the stagnation of the Middle Ages, had instilled a craving for change. And, in the process of that change, countless ambitious individuals were destined to rise and fall.

“The me of yesterday will be different from the me of tomorrow!”

The adventurers, driven by ambitions of success, fearlessly boarded ships for exploration or joined the army, awaiting the outbreak of war.

In a climate where many Europeans welcomed chaos, advocating for ‘disarmament’, ‘peace’, or ‘stability’ was futile.

When everyone, from the king to the ignorant farmers in rural villages, anticipated the storm of war, those who further fueled the chaos emerged.

These were the apocalyptic preachers.

In city marketplaces and rural fairs, the apocalypticists stood on wooden boxes and raised their voices.

“Listen! Listen! The end is near! Soon the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse will appear and lead this world to its end! Lift your eyes and look around! The signs are already overflowing!”

The apocalypticists proclaimed the imminent arrival of the end times.

Their claims were as follows:

– “Remember the Mongol invasions and the Black Death that followed! The first seal has already been broken, and the White Horseman has already appeared!”

– “Now the second seal will be broken, and the Red Horseman will appear! No, the second seal has already been broken! Look at that powerful army! That is the proof! We all know that a great war will soon break out in Italy!”

– “Where are the seven hills on which the great harlot of the Apocalypse sits? Rome! Rome in Italy!”

– “The war in Italy is the beginning of Armageddon!”

Listing the evidence that the end times were upon them, the apocalypticists exhorted the people.

“Immediately liquidate all your assets and follow me! I will provide you with a sanctuary!”

“Some time ago, Christ appeared to me in a dream and revealed this secret, instructing me to prepare a refuge and lead the lambs! Liquidate your assets and follow me!”

“Just as God told Noah to build an ark, He commanded me to build a sanctuary! Follow me!”

Throughout Europe, the apocalypticists made these pronouncements, urging people to liquidate their assets and follow them.

Interestingly, conflicts arose when different apocalypticists encountered each other.

“Those are false prophets! Heretics! Those who have fallen to the devil!”

They accused each other of being ‘false prophets, heretics, those who have fallen to the devil’, leading to bloody clashes among their followers.

As these apocalypticists gained prominence, the monarchs and churches of each country began to crack down on them.

If caught, they faced severe punishments, including hanging, but the apocalypticists continued their activities in secret.

This movement was particularly pronounced in Italy, which was poised to become the battlefield. Despite the strong crackdown by soldiers and priests responsible for city security, many openly proclaimed the end in public squares.

“Huh… for cults to be wandering around so close to the Vatican….”

At Sung Sam-mun’s words, Shin Suk-ju nodded in understanding.

“It must be that *buan* [anxiety, uneasiness] is that great.”

Following Shin Suk-ju’s words, Yu Eung-bu also spoke.

“There are even more people who want the war to break out rather than continue to be *buan* [anxious, uneasy] like this.”

“Oh dear… Hmph~.”

Sung Sam-mun, who sighed in regret, quickly refocused.

“War could break out as early as tomorrow. Shouldn’t we evacuate our people who are currently staying in Italy?”

At Sung Sam-mun’s words, Shin Suk-ju shook his head.

“We must never be the first to act. All the eyes of Europe are watching us now. If we evacuate our people, they will interpret it as the beginning of the war. To borrow a European expression, we would be blowing the trumpet of war. But we are not ready yet.”