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Chapter 644
Chapter 644
Episode 644: Medici, Europe, Jeonjeonrok. (4)
“That’s the way to get to the canal… what’s left?”
Cosimo shook his wine glass lightly and thought. Cosimo, who was thinking deeply about what was giving him a very uncomfortable feeling, nodded at some point.
“yes. There was still a challenge record left… It’s definitely a difficult item to get, but I can’t give up on it. What should I do?”
Cosimo, who was wondering what method would be best, soon brightened.
“yes!”
Cosimo found a good solution and shook the small bell that was placed on his desk.
Jingling jingling!
“Did you call me?”
When the chief deacon came in after hearing the bell, Cosimo immediately gave an order.
“I will visit the University of Florence for lunch tomorrow. “Make an appointment with the president.”
“Yes, I will send someone now.”
* * *
Lunch the next day.
Cosimo arrived at the University of Florence on time.
At the entrance of the university, the president and professors of the University of Florence were waiting for Cosimo.
“welcome.”
The president and professors who saw Cosimo getting off the carriage greeted him with polite bows.
“I’m sorry for bothering you.”
“no. “How can it be troublesome to welcome a benefactor?”
The president’s words were sincere.
The predecessor of the University of Florence was a humanities research institute.
However, the war with Milan, which took place for six years starting in 1423, was a problem. In the process of raising war expenses, humanities research institutes were at risk of closing due to lack of funds.
At this time, the person who appeared as a savior was Cosimo de Medici. Cosimo, who was in charge of the Ufficiali del Monte, which oversaw Florence’s finances, promoted the crisis-ridden research institute to the ‘University of Florence’.
Cosimo was the first to call a university ‘Casa di sapienza’ (Palace of Wisdom).
Under the patronage of Cosimo, university professors collected ancient Greek and Roman books. And based on those old books, the humanities of ancient Greece and Rome began to be revived.
Then Cosimo declared:
“Now Florence is no longer ruled by the mouth of a priest!”
(Note 1)
* * *
As soon as Cosimo and the president’s professors sat down in the president’s office, servants came in carrying trays containing silver teapots and teacups and poured caffè coffee.
Cosimo, after taking a sip of the cafe in his glass, asked the president.
“Do you know that?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It started drinking in this cafe and that in Islam, then went to Joseon or the Empire, and then spread again to Italy.”
The president nodded at Cosimo’s words.
“I heard about it before.”
* * *
In history before the intervention of incense, coffee spread to Europe after the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
This was also true for Arabs. Coffee did not spread easily due to conservative imams who believed that the benefits of coffee were against the law. This type of coffee became mainstream in 1554, around the time Cafe Kiva Han opened in Istanbul.
(Note 2)
However, this was changed due to the intervention of Hyang.
Hyang, who could not forget the taste of coffee he had in the 21st century, brought coffee to Joseon through Mansour. The coffee that was imported and given the name ‘black bean tea’ became widespread as a drink that helped government officials suffering from overwork and those preparing for civil service exams survive.
As a result, it became a must-have item along with traditional tea in the Joseon Dynasty. What
is interesting is that black bean tea, drunk with ice in the middle of winter, began to spread as a delicacy.
After hearing that story, Hyang shook his head and muttered.
“Has ‘Eoljuk-a’ become a specialty of the Korean Peninsula even in this era?”
And the Korean people who had become accustomed to coffee in Joseon began to look for coffee in Alexandria as well, which led to the spread of coffee to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
* * *
Cosimo, who had created an atmosphere through the cafe, got to the point.
“I originally came from Islam, but I was treated poorly at this cafe. However, once it entered the Joseon Dynasty or Empire, it became a popular drink not only in Islam but also in Europe. “Is this only a cafe?”
The president nodded at Cosimo’s words.
“That is certainly true. There is a rumor that the famous crystal was also created by artisans from Venice.”
“Is it just crystal? Archimedes’ mathematics played a big role in the iron horse and its magnificent iron bridge that everyone who studies mathematics wants to see, right? So that’s it. “I have a favor to ask of you.”
Hearing Cosimo’s words, the president asked with a serious look on his face.
“Do you want me to go to the ‘Land of Flowers’?”
Cosimo nodded at the president’s words.
“You and your trustworthy people should go to the empire, examine their technology and learning, and then come back. If you listen to the stories spreading in the market right now, there are a lot of absurd things. Do you think it makes sense to say ‘magic’?”
“This is the work of ignorant people. “If they cannot understand something, they must be prevented from dismissing it as heresy, saying it is ‘magic’ or ‘they sold their soul to the devil.’”
“So I guess you guys should go and take a look. And if there is a need to learn the knowledge they have accumulated, select those who will return after studying in the empire.”
The president responded immediately to Cosimo’s words.
“There is enough value to learn. “Then how many people can we select and by when?”
As the president spoke, one of the professors next to him pointed out the problem.
“There is a high possibility that the ‘Land of Flowers’ will not respond. Sharing the knowledge they have worked hard to accumulate means creating competitors with their own hands.”
Cosimo, who was pointed out, nodded repeatedly.
“Of course it is. Therefore, it is your responsibility to negotiate that part.”
The president responded to Cosimo’s command with a solemn expression.
“I will do my best.”
Cosimo, satisfied with the president’s answer, left the cafe and continued.
“First, I will send someone to the empire to inform them of your visit. It is said that this is a country that gives preferential treatment to scholars, so the treatment will not be harsh. And if they accept the offer, select and send as many people as possible. That way, many people will come back. Isn’t it? “If 10 people go and 5 remain, there will be a big loss, but if 50 or 100 people go and half of them return, won’t we still secure a significant amount of manpower?”
“It is very likely that they will ask for costs.”
Cosimo responded to the president’s words with a grin.
“Did you forget? “I am Cosimo de’ Medici.”
* * *
Cosimo, who had finished his errands at the University of Florence, called Giovanni as soon as he returned to the mansion.
“Did you call me?”
“When can we depart for the Empire? officially.”
Giovanni, who had been assessing the date for a moment in response to Cosimo’s question, answered.
“If you consider the time and wind direction to reach the Empire, departure will be possible in January next year.”
“Then I will tell Osman to ask for an escort. “You must leave for the Empire as soon as January comes.”
“What is there to do in the Empire?”
“The president and professors of the University of Florence will be visiting, so it is important to make arrangements in advance.”
Giovanni’s eyes sparkled at Cosimo’s words.
“Will university presidents and professors send their students?”
“Yes. If you can’t physically take out the challenge record, you have to make sure to keep it in your head. “If that is too difficult, shouldn’t we raise people who can create our own challenge records?”
“I think that would be best.”
“So, do your best to achieve good results.”
“yes. All right.”
As Giovanni left the office, Cosimo stroked his chin and muttered.
“I guess I should hand over the bank to that guy.”
* * *
Cosimo de’ Medici had two sons and one illegitimate son.
The eldest son, Piero, was in poor health. Therefore, Cosimo decided that it would be unreasonable to entrust everything to him, so he planned to put his eldest son Piero in charge of Florence’s politics, while giving his second son Giovanni in charge of banking and trading. And his illegitimate son, Carlo de’ Medici, entered the path of a priest.
Because there was such a plan, Cosimo entrusted Giovanni with external work. Thanks to this, Giovanni had to travel diligently between Portugal and the Ottoman Empire.
“I heard the Empire’s health medicine is so good, I guess I should get it and give it to him.”
* * *
After entrusting the mission to Giovanni, Cosimo headed to Paris.
“Welcome!”
Charles VII greeted Cosimo at the Louvre Palace and welcomed him politely. Cosimo also politely responded to the undeserved welcome from Charles VII, who greeted him first.
“I meet the victorious king who ended 100 years of war.”
“ha ha ha! A victorious king! “It’s an undeserved title!”
Charles VII laughed heartily and had a servant prepare a chair for Cosimo to sit on.
When Cosimo sat down, Charles VII asked a question with a face full of curiosity.
“All the kings of Europe, except that English hillbilly. “What are you doing here, the person who holds the treasury of all the monarchs of Europe?”
“I have come to propose something to your Majesty.”
Cosimo’s words made Charles VII’s curiosity even stronger.
“proposal? to me?”
“That’s right.”
“What are you proposing?”
“Would you like to share the path to the ‘Land of Flowers’?”
The smile disappeared from Charles VII’s face at Cosimo’s words.
After remaining silent for a moment, Charles VII asked Cosimo.
“Although I don’t know much about the outside situation because of the English countrymen and arrogant nobles, I do know that the Portuguese and the Ottomans joined hands to take over that road. And we also know that the Iberian thieves and the Egyptian thieves joined hands to fight him. In particular, have you forgotten that it was you who asked me to tie up the feet of the Iberian bandits?”
“How could you have forgotten? However, Portugal knew that it would be difficult to deal with the Ottomans.”
“So you’re asking me to take Portugal’s place?”
There was a hint of anger in Charles VII’s voice as he asked the question. In response to Charles VII’s question, Cosimo shook his head with a nonsensical expression.
“How could I do something that would tarnish Your Majesty’s honor?”
‘For that matter, the Maid of Orléans – Joan of Arc – is enough.’
“Then what is it?”
“I would appreciate it if you could join with Portugal and prevent Ottoman tyranny.”
Cosimo then explained the ‘joint stock company’ that the Empire had proposed.
“Hmm…”
As Cosimo’s explanation continued, Charles VII’s expression became increasingly cold.
Eventually, Cosimo’s explanation came to an end, but Charles VII remained silent.
‘It’s certainly not a bad offer. Certainly, if that trade route is created, the shortest trade route not only to the empire but also to India will be created. If that happens, all the merchant ships in Europe will flock there. There is absolutely no loss as far as the tolls from there and the profits from the operation of the port city are concerned. The problem is the stake, and if I get involved, Osman won’t be able to make such a loud noise. The problem is what armament the soldiers will be equipped with.’
Cosimo seemed to have sensed Charles VII’s inner thoughts and continued.
“They said they were selling a new long gun in the Land of Flowers. “I can help you buy those guns if you want.”
In the end, Charles VII took the bait thrown by Cosimo.
“I will discuss it with the ministers. But it’s not a bad thing for my France either, so there will be good results.”
* * *
(Note 1)
https://www.mk.co.kr/opinion/columnists/view/2020/02/107170/
(Note 2)
https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC% BB%A4%ED%94%BC