Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 899

899. The Imperial March (2)

A few days later, the captain of the Swiss mercenary company hired by Florence visited the Imperial Embassy.

* * *

Florence’s standing army was steadily growing, exceeding 20,000 and approaching 25,000, but this was clearly insufficient.

“Wouldn’t Reisläufer [Swiss mercenaries] be reliable?”

“They would be reliable.”

Lorenzo and Giovanni hired Swiss mercenaries.

Swiss mercenaries were popular for their strong combat skills and trustworthiness.

Following Lorenzo and Giovanni’s decision, 5,000 Swiss mercenaries signed contracts and joined the Florentine army.

However, Lorenzo and Giovanni sighed when they saw the Swiss mercenaries who had joined.

“This is…”

It was because of the Swiss mercenaries’ armaments. Most of the mercenaries were still armed with traditional long spears and halberds.

It wasn’t that the Swiss mercenaries didn’t know that guns and cannons were the main players on the battlefield these days.

However, guns were expensive, and bullets and gunpowder were consumables with terrible cost-effectiveness.

Still, in order not to fall behind the times, they worked hard to acquire firearms and train riflemen. However, almost all of the firearms they could obtain were flintlock rifles a generation behind. Even then, Imperial flintlock rifles were expensive, so most were large and heavy European flintlock rifles.

To solve this, they tried to smuggle breech-loading single-shot rifles made in France or Habsburg, but the cost was too high.

It was a price that poor Swiss citizens could not easily afford.

Of course, there were also Swiss mercenaries armed with Eul-style rifles. They were mercenaries stationed in Suez.

However, due to their lifetime contracts, they could not leave Suez.

And, as they faced the current chaotic situation, this lifetime contract became one that all parties involved regretted. France, in particular, felt a great sense of regret.

-A unit with extensive combat experience using Eul-style rifles skillfully.

This was because the most powerful card they could use in the upcoming war was shackled.

This was because there were five countries that signed the contract – France, Portugal, Ottoman Empire, Florence, and finally the Empire.

Among these countries, the Ottoman Empire was the most strongly opposed whenever France mentioned ‘mercenary movement’ or ‘renewal of contract’.

Although they shared Suez and shared profits, they still did not fully trust each other.

In this situation, they could not allow France or Portugal to take away the most powerful force, especially France.

To solve this, they had to compete with shares, but France’s attempts failed because Florence and the Empire repeatedly sided with the Ottoman Empire.

* * *

In this context, the captain of the Swiss mercenary company who visited the Imperial Embassy sighed softly.

“Hoo~. I have an idea why these foreigners are looking for us….”

The smell of war was getting stronger. Among the countries that would jump into the war in Italy, the Empire was the farthest away.

If they brought a large number of their own troops – 20,000 to 30,000 – to station in advance in preparation for a war that might break out at any time, the huge maintenance cost would be a problem. However, if they sent troops after the war broke out, they would miss the opportunity and suffer unnecessary losses.

The best solution was mercenaries.

This was because they could reduce maintenance costs and not miss the opportunity.

“If the negotiations go well, we can solve the gun problem to some extent…. Because the long rifles from the ‘Land of Flowers’ [referring to the Empire] are much better than the French ones.”

The carrot that France offered in addition to the ‘20,000 mercenary contract’ was ‘supply of French-made long rifles and ammunition’.

However, the whip that came with the carrot was the problem.

“Contracting only about 5,000 is a losing business, considering the whips that France and Habsburg will wield.”

He said only 5,000, but even national contracts were limited to 5,000. Of course, in a big war, there were cases where they contracted up to 10,000 people. However, that was a number that could only be mobilized in a war that risked the rise and fall of a country.

That’s why France suggested the number ‘20,000’, and the Swiss Confederation Council was worried.

“We have to say that the contract is impossible unless the Empire calls for at least 20,000 or more.”

The commander of the mercenary company who is visiting the embassy now had that much authority. At this time, the commander of the Swiss mercenary company was a commander, a businessman, and a diplomat.

It was the sadness of poor Switzerland, where the most promising, or rather, the only export product was mercenaries.

* * *

Guided by a junior official of the embassy, the mercenary commander entered the embassy and looked around the interior with wide eyes.

The building, made of all kinds of stone and wood, including marble, was simple yet luxurious. There was not a speck of dust in the hallway, and there was almost no stench that was common in European buildings.

‘The smelliest being here is me.’

The mercenary commander smiled bitterly at his own stench, which he didn’t notice outside but felt as soon as he entered the embassy, and followed the official.

The mercenary commander arrived at the conference room where the ambassadors were located.

“I greet the ambassadors. My name is Hans Meyer. I am leading the mercenary company currently employed in Florence.”

Hans bowed politely and introduced himself to the ambassadors.

“I’m sorry to have called you, who are busy with military affairs. However, an important order from the home country has been delivered, so I had no choice but to call you.”

“Not at all. Of course, I had to come.”

“Please sit down first. It will be a long story.”

“Yes.”

Hans sat down in the seat offered by Shin Suk-ju, and Shin Suk-ju lightly shook a small bell.

When the bell rang, a junior employee of the embassy brought in a teapot and teacups filled with black tea and poured it for the attendees.

Shin Suk-ju took a sip of the teacup and got straight to the point.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Our Empire wants to hire Swiss mercenaries.”

At Shin Suk-ju’s words, Hans immediately replied as if he had been waiting.

“What scale of contract do you want to make?”

“How much is possible?”

Hans answered Shin Suk-ju’s question honestly.

“I’ll be honest with you. Less than 1,000 people can be contracted immediately. However, it is difficult to contract about 10,000 people. Even if it is more than 10,000 people, it will be difficult to contract unless the conditions are very good.”

“The reason?”

“Because if we sign a contract with the ‘Land of Flowers’, France and Habsburg will not stand still. If it is less than 1,000 people, they will not say anything because it is a force protecting this embassy and the Imperial residential area, but if it is about 10,000 people, they will definitely find fault and threaten our Switzerland.”

“Even though it’s just a mercenary contract?”

“Because it is certain that the ‘Land of Flowers’ will jump into the war that will take place this time. Heathens in European affairs… Ah, I’m sorry! I misspoke!”

Shin Suk-ju smiled and waved his hand at Hans’s apology.

“It’s okay. From our Empire’s point of view, you are heathens. It’s the same for both of us.”

“Thank you. For this reason, it is difficult to contract under general conditions and scale.”

“Hmm… Thank you for your honest answer.”

“No.”

At that time, Seong Sam-mun, who had only been listening, intervened.

“Isn’t this a good opportunity? Can’t we just sign a contract, get the money, and then pretend we don’t know? After all, our Empire is a heathen.”

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Hans replied firmly.

“The first virtue of a mercenary is trust. Even if there are people who say that it is okay to deceive because you are a heathen like the ambassador said, they will not trust us when it comes to their own case. Then, we, our descendants, will starve to death. Unless we don’t sign a contract at all, keeping trust until we die is the virtue of our Swiss mercenaries.”

At Hans’s answer, the three ambassadors looked at each other with meaningful faces.

“I think I chose well.”

“Because they are so desperate.”

“I feel a little uncomfortable because it seems like I’m taking advantage of those desperate people.”

“Let’s call it mutual aid. Mutual aid.”

The three people who were talking in the Imperial language found Hans sitting blankly and soon composed their expressions.

“Ahem, ahem! First of all, we are going to hire 1,000 people on a short-term contract. The purpose is to guide our Empire’s delegation to Bern.”

“Are you hiring 1,000 people just as guides?”

Shin Suk-ju, seeing Hans’s incomprehensible expression, replied with a serious face.

“Considering the negotiations that will take place in Bern, 1,000 is not enough. I’ll just show it to the captain first.”

With that, Shin Suk-ju handed Hans the document file that he had put aside. As time passed, Hans’s hand began to tremble as he opened the document file and read the contents.

“T, t, this is….”

“This is the employment contract that the Empire wants. It’s the content to be discussed in Bern.”

At Shin Suk-ju’s answer, Hans immediately replied.

“I will assign 3,000 people as guides. The payment is enough for 1,000 people!”

Yu Eung-bu stepped up and replied to Hans’s answer.

“1,000 is enough. 2,000 troops are already prepared to escort the delegation. It’s better not to overdo it, as it can excessively stimulate others.”

“I understand! Then I will prepare 1,000 people right away!”

“The contract?”

“I’ll bring it tomorrow! Then I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Do so.”

Hans, who had hurriedly paid his respects, hurried out. Hans, who had returned to the unit and regained some composure, suddenly shook his head.

“3,000 mercenaries is too much stimulation? What about 2,000 Imperial troops?”

* * *

Three days later, the Imperial delegation headed to Bern, escorted by Swiss mercenaries and Imperial troops.

As soon as they left the Florentine sphere of influence, the mercenaries and Imperial troops in charge of escorting began to watch their surroundings without letting their guard down.

The route taken by the delegation was to pass through the neutral zone created between the spheres of influence of Milan and Venice.

Passing through the neutral zone between the two city-states can avoid the risk of stimulating either side, but on the other hand, the possibility of being attacked by robbers disguised as bandits was also quite high.

Knowing this risk well, the Swiss mercenaries cleaned their long rifles whenever they had a chance and refilled the gunpowder. This was to prevent the gunpowder from misfiring due to moisture.

The Imperial army officers watched the mercenaries’ meticulousness and urged the Imperial army soldiers.

“Did you see that? Did you see? That’s how you manage firearms!”

“That’s what it means to be ready for battle!”

At such urging, the Imperial army soldiers also thoroughly managed their weapons.

* * *

About two months after departing from Florence, the Imperial delegation was able to arrive in Bern.

At the news that the Imperial delegation had arrived, not only the mayor of Bern but also the members of the Swiss Confederation Council came out to the gate to greet the Imperial delegation.

“Welcome!”

“Thank you for welcoming us like this.”

Thus, the Imperial delegation entered Bern, welcomed by the Swiss.

It was the first moment the Empire showed its true colors on the European diplomatic stage.