Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 876

Episode 876: Generation Change (7)

A similar concern was faced by the first group of instructors who arrived in Florence.

“You’re so shocked that 10,000 is too many….”

“You’ll faint when you hear the story of the Liaodong War.”

“They didn’t even believe it.”

* * *

As I had already explained to Giovanni in Seoul, the Empire’s Ministry of Defense expected the size of the standing army that Florence could organize to be 15,000.

The military officer who was reporting on this at the time added the following.

“Of course, this is not accurate. It was based on hearsay obtained from imperial merchants who stayed in Florence and Italians who entered the imperial trading ports. “The numbers may change if we get accurate population information from Florence and recalculate.”

Literally, the instructors who arrived in Florence requested the data in question from Florence city hall officials.

The officials who received the instructors’ request asked back with embarrassed expressions.

“Is this something you really need right now?”

“Isn’t it obvious? “By knowing exactly how many people can be mobilized in the army, we can adjust the ratio of the branches and coordinate the training process.”

“Ha~. “Actually…”

Hearing the instructors’ words, the officials let out a long sigh with faces full of embarrassment and explained what the problem was.

The instructors who heard the officials’ explanation looked astonished.

“Does it make sense that there is no family register not only in Florence but also in the city halls and villages of its affiliated cities? “Then what about tax collection?”

“The village head and the tax collector in charge are in charge of the district head village in the district.”

“Is accurate cleaning possible that way? Even to laymen like our soldiers, it doesn’t seem like accurate tax collection and payment is possible.”

Having said this, those in charge of budgeting in the empire knew tax administration well, regardless of the ministry.

We need to know how much taxes are coming in so that we don’t fall behind in the battle to secure budget against the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Naturally, the imperial army instructors dispatched to Florence included experts in supply and administration.

This was because proper supply was essential to properly move the army, and accurate budget management was essential for proper supply.

The officials responded to the instructors’ comments with a humble expression.

“We are well aware of the problem in that area. So there is a saying like this. ‘The people who know the situation of city people best are moneylenders, and in rural areas, they are priests.’”

“Why on earth?”

According to subsequent statements by Florentine officials, the biggest reason for this was the low survival rate of residents – especially infants – and the poll tax.

If an epidemic broke out, there would be mass deaths and family registers would become a mess. Also, although it has almost disappeared now, reducing the number of family members due to the poll tax issue was a common occurrence.

Therefore, as officials said, usurers in cities and priests in rural areas were the ones who knew the residents’ situation best.

This was because the priests kept records of births, deaths, marriages, migrations, etc., including baptisms, final sacraments, and wedding ceremonies, for the purpose of human trafficking in lieu of debt in case of emergency.

* * *

“Huh…”

After hearing the officials’ answer, the instructors still looked dumbfounded and shouted inwardly.

‘Is this a country?’

Although the instructors faced unexpected difficulties from the beginning, they soon came to their senses and began looking for alternatives.

“In that case, please ask the church for cooperation in obtaining accurate population data.”

“It’s not easy. “The priests will only cooperate if ordered to do so by the Vatican.”

“Whew…”

The instructors, who suppressed the urge to immediately grab the officials by their collars in response, left the city hall and returned to the guesthouse at the Medici Palace.

The ambassadors who received reports from the instructors frowned and looked at each other.

“How can a place that calls itself a country in name and reality….”

“Proper family registration is absolutely necessary for proper education…”

While Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-moon were perplexed, Yu Eung-bu showed an expression of understanding. .

“I heard that it was the same for our empire before Emperor Wen started to make scriptures. So, wasn’t the first thing Emperor Wen did was register the family and reorganize the land?”

“Ah…”

Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-moon nodded at Yu Eung-bu’s words.

* * *

Until the early days of King Sejong’s reign, Joseon’s family register and tax administration were a mess.

This was due to the chaos that occurred during the transition from Goryeo to Joseon, the invasion of Japanese pirates, poor harvests, and pestilence, which resulted in a huge number of refugees.

Therefore, when starting the construction of the palace, the first thing that was focused on was family registration and land consolidation.

A full-fledged funeral was carried out based on properly organized family registers.

* * *

It was a difficult situation from the start, but the ambassadors found their own solutions.

“I will go see Lorenzo de’ Medici tomorrow and talk to him. He said he knows a lot of people in the Vatican, so he might be able to help.”

“ah! One of the Medici family’s family businesses is money lending. Wouldn’t that also be helpful?”

Shin Sook-ju nodded at Seong Sam-moon’s suggestion. When Shin Suk-ju accepted the offer, Seong Sam-moon continued speaking again.

“Then I will take a look at how the education project in Florence is progressing. “If we roughly look at the number of children currently studying in schools in Florence and the Florence region and the number of those who have completed their studies, it will be possible to estimate the size of the army.”

“I guess that could have happened.”

“What a brilliant idea.”

Shin Suk-ju and Yu Eung-bu could not help but be impressed by Seong Sam-moon’s idea.

In the case of social democratic schools in the empire, by the time one entered the school, received education, and left the school, he or she had reached the age to be recognized as an adult.

If Florence was similar, it was possible to roughly infer how many men were of an appropriate age to be mobilized as soldiers.

Following Seong Sam-moon, Yu Eung-bu also talked about what he had to do.

“I will take a look at this Florentine army starting tomorrow. I should especially look at those mercenaries. “I don’t know how I can use it, or I have to cover up the gems and stones, or else I have to throw it all away… whew~.”

Yu Eung-bu stopped what he was saying and let out a long sigh.

“No matter how I look at it, I’m worried that I’ll have to use the last move.”

In response to Yoo Eung-bu’s lament, Shin Sook-ju asked with a face full of worry.

“That much?”

“Didn’t you see it when you came? Hou Dae is fine and his armor is shiny, but his military discipline is a mess. I remember the European history book that the first emperor found and showed me. It was written that their ancestors, the Roman soldiers, were the strongest army in the world who followed strict military discipline, but their descendants have no idea… Tsk!”

Yu Eung-bu clicked his tongue with an expression of disapproval.

This was because he did not like the sight of the mercenaries who guarded him while he was traveling from Livorno to Florence.

The mercenaries hired by Italian cities were mostly cavalry.

The sight of cavalrymen moving on horseback, covering their chests with well-made plate armor and hiding their faces with helmets, was truly majestic.

However, Yu Eung-bu, who had built his career through battles large and small, frowned at them.

“What a wonderful folding screen!”

The mercenaries guarding them did not smell the blood of the battlefield at all.

Every time we took a break, Yu Eung-bu carefully inspected the mercenaries.

“Egh! Tsk!”

Every time, Yu Eung-bu couldn’t hide his discomfort and wrinkled his expression and clicked his tongue. And the Florentine officials accompanying him each time became restless.

“Is there a problem?”

“no. It’s because it’s uncomfortable after sitting for a long time. Tsk!”

After looking around roughly, Yu Eung-bu walked to where the instructors were gathered and talked.

“What do you think?”

The instructors responded with embarrassed expressions to the questions asked by the Yueungbu, who pointed to the mercenaries with their chins.

“The horse seems to be riding well.”

“He’s also good at marching.”

“On the battlefield?”

“….”

The instructors responded with silence to the response department’s question.

“Once upon a time, when I was your age. First emperor! At that time, you were counting. There is something the first emperor said to us. I’m telling you to become an army that’s good at ‘marching’, not an army that’s good at ‘just marching’. He also said that the military’s greatest virtue is victory.”

“Ah…”

The instructors all nodded and reflected on Yu Eung-bu’s words.

* * *

When I said this to Yu Eung-bu, Hyang was muttering softly on the way back.

“Come to think of it… I heard that an Italian officer who saw the German army made that assessment when World War II had just begun, right? ‘Bad marching pattern.’… Well, whether in movies or on the Internet, the Italian army’s march was unusual.”

At the end of the film, which depicts the resistance of Europeans who were isolated in Beijing due to the ‘Boxer Rebellion’ – and of course Japan – there was a scene where the armies of imperialist powers entered Beijing.

In the scene, the Italians were cantering in.

Also, in the 21st century, videos of a military band belonging to Italy’s ‘Versalieri’ performing while running at a canter were circulating on the Internet.

The scent, which remembered the notoriety of the Italian army during World War II (excluding, of course, a few units including Versalieri), was a warning to the Imperial Army officials.

* * *

Although he was already greatly disappointed on the way from Livorno to Florence, Yu Eung-bu still went out to inspect the mercenary unit.

“Because there is talk that just in case…”

Yu Eung-bu, who went on an inspection with a faint hope, headed to the mercenary unit’s garrison with Lorenzo de’ Medici.

“welcome!”

Upon hearing that their employer was visiting, the Condottiero, who commanded the unit, rushed out to greet them.

“It’s been a while.”

“Long time no see. “Is this person here… the Imperial soldier of rumors?”

Lorenzo nodded and answered Condottiero’s question after seeing Yueungbu properly dressed in the Imperial Army uniform.

“This is Lord Yu Eung-bu, the imperial ambassador and general of the imperial army.”

In response to Lorenzo’s introduction, the condottiero politely bowed and introduced himself.

“My name is Piero Corleone.”

“Nice to meet you.”

After the short meeting ceremony, Yu Eung-bu went straight to the main topic.

“I want to see the unit’s training.”

“I’ll show you right away.”

The training of mercenaries belonging to the Medici family was spectacular. Cavalrymen wearing shiny breastplates formed in formation and moved as one body, repeatedly charging and retreating toward the virtual enemy lines.

As countless horses ran, the earth shook and the cavalry’s shouts echoed through the sky.

“How is it?”

Yu Eung-bu gave a short answer to Corleone’s question.

“You seem well trained.”

‘shit! If I only had five wagon doors, I’d send them all to Goll!’

Whether or not she knew Yu Eung-bu’s intentions, Corleone received the words with a confident expression.

“Is that so? I dare say that there will be no one who can stop my unit! “You can even swear to the Virgin Mary!”

In response to Corleone’s question, Yu Eung-bu asked with a calm face.

“Can you keep your word even in the face of artillery, boxcars, and long guns?”

“yes?”