Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 924

924. The Imperial March (2) – Assaulting Turtle Ships, Running on Land. (12)

Lorenzo de Medici wasn’t the only one. Military commanders, including Yu Eung-bu and Shin Suk-ju, also wore expressions suggesting they were seeing this side of Hyang for the first time.

The only exception was Seong Sam-mun. In his younger days, he had worked closely with Hyang’s aides, including Han Myeong-hoe, and had seen it quite often.

‘Thanks to that, that sly Han Myeong-hoe cowers and trembles whenever he stands before His Majesty the Taesang Emperor…’

Regardless, Hyang was explaining why he had to use this method.

“If Florence becomes the leader of Italian unification, there will inevitably be those who are dissatisfied. Most of them will be from Milan and other northern cities. Unlike the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, this is where the most people are calling for ‘Italian unification.’ Isn’t that so?”

At Hyang’s question, Lorenzo nodded with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“That is true.”

“That’s why I’m using this method. Those who are dissatisfied will inevitably explode with their dissatisfaction someday. Therefore, we must eliminate them in advance. When we have the best justification, we must use it properly, don’t you think?”

“Will they respond to recruitment?”

“They’ve been chanting ‘Italian unification,’ but they won’t go to the battlefield for it? Wouldn’t that be even better? Because we can publicly disgrace them. Conversely, if they step forward? If we properly sort the wheat from the chaff [separate the useful from the useless] and then co-opt them, they will become Florence’s best allies.”

“I see.”

“And this is absolutely necessary if you think about Florence’s future. If only the residents of Florence die in the war, it will only benefit others.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Lorenzo understand Hyang’s intention, and he stood up from his seat with a bright face and paid his respects.

“I now understand Your Majesty’s deep intentions. Thank you so much!”

“You flatter me.”

While answering calmly, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘Purging the meritorious subjects isn’t just about cleaning up the meritorious subjects. You have to clean up the enemies together. The Mongol Empire’s invasion of Japan was one such example, wasn’t it?’

Looking at the records of the Mongol Empire’s conquest of Japan, most of the main force was made up of troops from the countries they had conquered.

This was a Mongol tactic of using the troops of the tribes or countries they had conquered as cannon fodder.

Praises for Hyang continued, but many were thinking similar thoughts inside.

‘Considering the war for unification and the subsequent political situation, it’s the best move, but isn’t it too ruthless?’

‘It is said that a monarch must be ruthless… but sometimes I think His Majesty the Taesang Emperor’s ruthlessness is too much…’

‘The blood of Taejo the Great, who founded Joseon, and Taejong the Great, who annihilated his son-in-law’s family, hasn’t gone anywhere…’

This was partly due to the study of kingship that Hyang had learned, but also partly due to what he had learned while living in the capitalist world of the 21st century.

-A world where people talk about individual happiness and human rights on a daily basis, but if necessary, individuals are treated as just the number ‘1’.

Hyang, who had served in the military where this kind of calculation was basic, and had lived as a finance official for a short period, had completely internalized it.

Therefore, Hyang was thinking of the Mongols, but it was actually a method closer to the 21st century.

“So, I was wondering if we should start by clearing the north. What do you think?”

At Hyang’s question, the Imperial Army commanders hesitated to speak and began to ponder. Lorenzo, the Florentine army, and the Swiss army commanders were deeply impressed by the sight.

‘Amazing! Usually, when an absolute monarch like the Taesang Emperor speaks, they follow immediately!’

‘Both the vassal who does not immediately accept the monarch’s command and the monarch who tolerates him are amazing!’

Among the Imperial Army commanders who had been pondering for a while, the first to speak was Son Il-won.

“If we only look at the war situation on land, the method Your Majesty has devised is the best. However, if we go to the sea, many difficult things will happen. The Spanish and French navies will try to send soldiers and supplies to Naples through Sicily, or disrupt our Imperial Navy’s transport routes. As Your Majesty pointed out, it is too much for our Imperial Navy forces in Livorno to handle all of this. However, if we clear the south first, the transport route from Prince Henrique’s port will be very short, greatly reducing the burden, and we can rather strike the Spanish and French navies and naval forces. The weaker the Spanish and French naval forces become, the stronger the Imperial Navy will become relatively.”

At Son Il-won’s point, the naval commanders all nodded.

Even with the squadron currently in Prince Henrique’s port, the safety of the transport route could be sufficiently maintained. However, if a war broke out, Spain and France would do their best, and the situation would be different.

The current naval power was insufficient to simultaneously secure the safety of our transport route and block the enemy transport route from Sicily to the Kingdom of Naples.

“That makes sense.”

Hyang nodded at Son Il-won’s point and presented his alternative.

“So, I would like to propose that we bring in Portugal.”

“Portugal, you say? They will surely demand a price.”

When Shin Suk-ju expressed concern, Hyang smiled and replied.

“All we need is a map.”

“A map? A map…”

Among those who pondered Hyang’s words, the first to understand was Seong Sam-mun.

“Your Majesty! Are you talking about the map of Shinji [a rumored, potentially resource-rich landmass]?”

“That’s right.”

“Then that is too great a price!”

Shin Suk-ju desperately opposed, but Hyang still answered with a smile.

“Of course, we will have to draw up an agreement that we will not touch the territory of the Empire.”

“Still, I think it’s too much.”

Shin Suk-ju continued to oppose, and this time all the imperial subjects, including Seong Sam-mun, nodded.

However, this time Hyang did not back down either.

“Realize the reality. The territory that the Empire has secured so far is the best. Anything more is too much.”

‘If we try to eat more, we’ll tear our legs and die of a burst stomach!’

“Still…”

Even with Hyang’s firm answer, the imperial subjects could not hide their disappointment and hesitated.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo and the Florentines and Swiss next to him began to shine their eyes.

The conversation so far was being heard through the Imperial interpreter. However, Hyang mentioned Portugal, and at some point, the interpreter stopped speaking. Fortunately, among Lorenzo’s aides, there was someone who was fluent in the Imperial language, and through him, Lorenzo was able to hear the conversation between Hyang, Seong Sam-mun, and Shin Suk-ju.

‘Shinji! As expected! And looking at their reaction, my grandfather’s idea was right again!’

Before he died, Cosimo de Medici had left these words.

-The rumor of the ‘unknown southern continent’ is definitely something the Empire deliberately spread.

-The reason is, of course, Shinji, which has only been heard as a rumor.

-If they are spreading rumors on purpose, then Shinji must be a very large island, or even a continent.

-If the Emperor mentions Shinji, it will be when he has already taken almost everything he can.

-Even so, if that time comes, don’t miss the opportunity no matter what!

-If Shinji is a continent, the Empire will have missed a lot. You must be the first to occupy it! No, even if preemption is impossible, you must not fall behind!

Lorenzo, recalling Cosimo de Medici’s words, shone his eyes.

‘I can’t miss this moment!’

Lorenzo, who was about to open his mouth in a hurry, froze for a moment.

Hyang was looking at him and smiling.

Hyang, who smiled slightly at Lorenzo who stopped trying to say something, turned his head and looked at the ambassadors.

“Of course, we have to take care of what we can besides what I just said. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to use Portugal than for us to go directly to the French and Spanish naval bases? And it would be nice to have an Imperial Navy base in the Azores [a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic]?”

“But still, I think it’s a waste. I think it’s too much.”

Hyang still answered with a smile to Shin Suk-ju’s words.

“Don’t worry. We’ve already taken care of what we can. Rather, now is the right time. How long do you think Spain, Portugal, and France will not know? Ah! There’s also England. And which is more tempting, Italy or Shinji?”

“Ah!”

Yu Eung-bu exclaimed at Hyang’s point. Looking at Yu Eung-bu, Hyang continued.

“Which is easier to deal with, an enemy who is attacking with all their might or an enemy who is distracted?”

Seong Sam-mun asked back with a serious face at Hyang’s question.

“Does Your Majesty think the map will be leaked?”

“Rumors spread very quickly here in Europe.”

Everyone in the conference room simultaneously thought the same thing at Hyang’s words.

‘If rumors don’t spread, he’s going to leak them on purpose!’

Shin Suk-ju, who had grasped Hyang’s intentions to some extent, began to make his own calculations.

‘If rumors spread, Spain and France, even if not Habsburg, which can be said to be a landlocked country, will not devote all their efforts to Italy! And if we do well…’

Shin Suk-ju, who was doing his own calculations, asked Hyang.

“Your Majesty, are you thinking of bringing in England as well?”

“Wouldn’t they come on their own even if we didn’t bring them in?”

“That is true.”

After that, the atmosphere in the conference room seemed to be heading towards accepting Hyang’s proposal. However, Seong Sam-mun carefully organized the situation.

“Your Majesty, is the matter related to the Shinji map Your Majesty the Taesang Emperor’s authority, or did you receive approval? If it is Your Majesty the Taesang Emperor’s sole decision, I will oppose it at the risk of my life.”

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Hyang took out a sealed letter from a bag placed on one side. Hyang tore the seal of the letter and handed the letter inside to Seong Sam-mun.

“I received approval.”

Listening to Hyang’s words, Seong Sam-mun examined the letter. The contents of the letter were the same as what Hyang had said. And at the very end of the letter, there was a sentence approving this, along with Hyun’s signature and the royal seal, and below that, Han Myeong-hoe’s signature and the Prime Minister’s official seal were stamped.

‘It means that not only His Majesty the Emperor but also the court agreed.’

“Hoo~.”

Seong Sam-mun, handing the problematic document to Shin Suk-ju with a sigh, bowed his head to Hyang.

“Please forgive my overreach. I presumptuously suspected Your Majesty.”

“No, it’s what an imperial subject should do. If you hadn’t come forward…”

Hyang trailed off, and all the imperial subjects in the conference room swallowed hard.

‘If I had made a mistake, there would have been a bloodbath!’

“Then, let’s call the Portuguese envoy tomorrow and end here.”

When Hyang declared the end, the attendees all paid their respects and left the conference room.

Returning to his bedroom, Hyang looked out the window and muttered softly.

“The map must be being delivered to Japan and Ming by now.”

* * *

During this period, the Empire was not the only one developing.

Although it was given bad nicknames such as ‘Goryeo Emperor, Joseon Emperor, Seoul Emperor,’ Ming regained stability through the reign of Emperor Chenghua [reigned 1464-1487].

As politics stabilized and the economy developed again, Ming began to look outward in search of markets.

The same was true of Japan. After receiving the abdication from the Emperor and inaugurating the Ouchi Dynasty, Japan was also developing smoothly.

However, there was a limit to Japan’s domestic demand, and Japan also began to pursue an expansion policy.