Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 964

964. Everyone’s a Sucker But Me… (1)

The allied forces of the Empire and Italy, moving south from Siena, encountered the Royal Neapolitan Army, advancing north from Naples, on the plains southeast of Rome. In a history before Xiang’s intervention, the two sides met on the plains where Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is now located, creating a tense atmosphere.

Even though the cavalry scouts from both sides had already reported their findings, the atmosphere remained charged. Fortunately, the standard-bearers were positioned at the front, and strict orders were in place to prevent any rash engagements, resulting in a tense standoff. As the psychological warfare intensified, the highest-ranking commanders from each army stepped forward.

“I am Collione, leading the Florence Legion of the Italian Army,” Collione announced, representing the commanders on horseback, with a slight lift of his hat. Alfonso, on the opposing side, mirrored the gesture. “I am Alfonso, commander-in-chief of the Royal Neapolitan Army and Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Naples. Is that foreigner with you from the Imperial Army?”

Ishiae, after hearing the translation, gave a curt nod. “I am Ishiae, Commissioner leading the Imperial Army.”

With introductions complete, Collione cut to the chase. “Will you join us, or will you stand in our way?”

Alfonso met Collione’s directness head-on. “I will join you until we enter Rome. After that, it will depend on your actions.”

Alfonso’s answer elicited strange smiles from the allied commanders, particularly those from Florence and Switzerland. While the commanders in the front row contained themselves, those in the back erupted in laughter. Ishiae’s muttered comment, after hearing the translation, perfectly captured their sentiment: “They always talk big until they get their asses kicked and learn their place.”

“Kuh!”

“Ah, don’t translate that.”

“Yes, Commissioner.”

Having agreed to a sort of truce, the two armies proceeded towards the gates of Rome, side by side. This wasn’t a figure of speech. The Kingdom of Naples’ pride smarted at the thought of following the allied forces, and they were itching to take the lead.

The allied forces felt similarly. Consequently, the two armies advanced on Rome’s gates, maintaining a reasonable distance between them. Upon arrival, the gate creaked open, and officers and soldiers of the Papal States army emerged, waving white flags.

“Is it a surrender?” soldiers muttered. The Papal States army officer raised his voice. “I have brought a personal letter from Duke Juan Borgia de Gandia, the commander-in-chief of the Papal States army!”

The announcement triggered a surge of movement as soldiers from both the allied forces and the Royal Neapolitan Army jostled forward, glaring at each other. As the Papal States army watched helplessly, the commanders of the allied forces and the Royal Neapolitan Army stepped forward, initiating another tense standoff. A tent was erected in the no-man’s-land between the two armies. Inside, the commanders sat around a round table as the Papal States army officer produced Juan’s letter.

“But to whom…?”

As tension mounted over who should receive and read the letter first, Ishiae instructed the interpreter: “Go out, receive it, and read it aloud.”

“Me?” The interpreter, intimidated by the grim atmosphere, looked at Ishiae in horror. Ishiae, with a helpless expression, explained, “If anyone in military uniform goes forward, there will be an incident. You’re the only one here not in uniform. I’m asking you for a favor.”

“I understand,” the interpreter muttered under his breath, accepting Ishiae’s request 아닌 [not] request, and walked towards the Papal States army officer.

“Huh?”

The allied forces and Royal Neapolitan Army commanders froze as the interpreter snatched the letter from the Papal States army officer and read aloud: “To the armed groups outside the gate! The Holy Father’s messengers have been sent to the leaders of both sides! We propose a truce until the messengers return with an answer! If you are good Christians, you will accept this proposal!”

The commanders on both sides, having heard the translation, turned to Ishiae. After receiving the letter from the interpreter, Ishiae smirked. “I am not a good Christian, but I accept the proposal in the name of the Imperial Army and His Majesty the Emperor.”

The allied commanders quickly followed suit. “Our Italian Army will accept the proposal.”

Alfonso, looking displeased, conceded, “Our Royal Neapolitan Army also accepts the proposal.”

‘I’ve been outmaneuvered! This will never happen again!’

With both sides agreeing, the truce went into effect.

* * *

As the truce took hold, the Papal States army on the walls and the allied forces and Royal Neapolitan Army below could only watch each other. The soldiers were happy for the chance to rest, pending the messenger’s return. As time passed, the animosity between the allied forces and the Royal Neapolitan Army began to dissipate.

The truce was a major factor, but the camp followers also played a role. They traveled between the camps, selling alcohol and food. And soon, prostitutes arrived, offering their services to the soldiers.

Ishiae, upon hearing the report, was dumbfounded. “In a way, it’s the unification of Italy. The North and South have become one.”

After reviewing the report, Ishiae issued orders to his subordinate commanders: “Do your best to manage the soldiers. I won’t stop them from buying alcohol and food, but any soldier who contracts syphilis will be severely punished.”

“Yes!”

Due to Ishiae’s orders, the Imperial Army commanders closely monitored their troops. Soldier management was a key factor in evaluating a commander’s performance.

“How did we get this opportunity! I can’t just throw it away!”

Consequently, within the allied forces and the Royal Neapolitan Army, the Imperial Army earned the nicknames ‘goody-goodies’ and ‘monks’.

“They’re so good at fighting, but they’re terrible at everything else!”

“Even the monks in our village are better with women than they are!”

However, this was a misunderstanding. Most of the Imperial Army soldiers in Italy were from Shinji [likely a region within the Empire]. To them, European women seemed too foreign. Furthermore, the European landscape itself was unfamiliar, so the soldiers from Shinji were preoccupied with sightseeing and sampling new food and drink. Italy rivaled France in culinary delights. Soldiers from other regions felt similarly.

“Big eyes, big breasts, big butts, it’s all good, but the smell is too bad! And it’s dirty!”

To soldiers from areas where ‘Imperialization’ was already complete, Europeans seemed unhygienic. The unique body odor of Europeans was also a significant issue. As a result, the Imperial Army soldiers unintentionally led a ‘clean’ life. Of course, some inevitably caused trouble. As tensions eased, soldiers from both sides began to mingle and talk.

Among the stories of hometowns and women, the Imperial Army’s weapons became a hot topic, specifically the hand cannons carried by officers and special forces like assault troopers.

“What is that gun? Only the Imperial Army seems to carry it… It looks like a child’s toy at first glance.”

“Big guys like that with such small guns, what a waste of size.”

The Royal Neapolitan Army soldiers scoffed at the hand cannons, which were about half the size of the Florentine long gun and the standard army long gun. However, the allied soldiers, especially the Florentine soldiers, exchanged knowing glances.

“Even so, that’s what killed the most French guys in Pavia after the Imperial artillery shells.”

“That’s why only the Swiss and Imperial armies have that gun.”

“Oh, is that so?”

At the allied soldiers’ words, some Royal Neapolitan Army soldiers’ eyes lit up. Seeing this, the allied soldiers grew serious. Naples had always been known for its petty thieves. They warned the Neapolitan soldiers, “It’s best not to have any unnecessary thoughts.”

“You’ll have to stay quiet if you want to live?”

“Huh? What am I doing?”

“Hey~. I’m not thinking about that!”

The Royal Neapolitan Army soldiers waved their hands dismissively and shook their heads, but their expressions as they turned away told a different story.

“How much do Imperial weapons sell for on the black market?”

“The merchant I met the other day said he’d buy Imperial weapons at a high price if I brought them to him?”

Meanwhile, the allied soldiers watching the departing Royal Neapolitan Army shook their heads.

“There will be bloodshed soon.”

“I don’t know how many ghost-like guys there are in the Imperial Army…”

* * *

Several days later, late at night.

Shadows crept into the Imperial Army camp. Alone or in pairs, they carefully navigated between the tents, avoiding the guards. They approached their targets with caution.

Screech.

As a shadow carefully tore the tent flap and peeked inside, a blunt object struck their head. Looking up, they saw the muzzle of a gun pointed at their face.

Whistle! Whistle!

Whistles echoed throughout the camp.

* * *

The next morning, Alfonso received an unwelcome visitor.

“Soldiers stole something?”

“Yes. They request that you take custody of the captured soldiers and the bodies of those who died while fleeing.”

“This…” Barely suppressing his anger, Alfonso threw back the tent flap and stepped outside. Royal Neapolitan Army soldiers, bound with ropes, knelt before his tent. Behind them stood Imperial and allied officers and soldiers, glaring. Next to them was a cart loaded with bodies covered in cloth.

“Hoo~.” Alfonso sighed and ordered his subordinate commander, “Deal with those thieves according to military law. And what about the bodies?”

“They are the ones who died trying to escape.”

“I didn’t hear any gunshots?”

“That’s… They were killed by a weapon similar to an axe.”

“Axe?”

“The Imperial Army calls it a tomahawk.”