Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 878

Episode 878: Generation Change (9)

Even though there were great differences in each other’s way of thinking and values, the instructors and Florentine officials did their best to continue cooperation.

As a result, the ‘Florence County’ finally emerged.

The size of the Florence army that appeared was about 3,000. Among them, about 1,500 cavalrymen changed jobs from mercenaries to regular soldiers. The rest were infantry and artillery.

“For artillerymen, freight cars are the main force, but….”

The instructors could not hide their disappointment.

The imperial artillery was as expensive as its performance. It was possible to use a trick similar to the Florentine rifle, but the time and cost required to do so was considerable.

The amount of gunpowder required for a single shot was incomparably greater than that of a long gun, and the empire’s artillery production methods were several generations ahead of those of other countries.

Therefore, even in wealthy Florence, imperial-made canvases were ‘the bread and butter of paintings.’

“Still, we really need cannons… Let’s try to get about 10 cannons. Even if we can’t get them all at once.”

Lorenzo received the words from Giovanni, who was responsible for the finances, with an expression full of regret.

“Will it be 10 questions? “Didn’t the president of the bank always say to me, ‘The secret to the Imperial Army’s constant victory was more cannons and more cannons?’”

“I did.”

Giovanni nodded calmly at Lorenzo’s words and added.

“But finances are the problem. First, let’s start with question 10. Let’s replace the missing cannons with ones that attract imperial troops. “They are an empire that can’t even imagine a war without cannons, so they will bring a sufficient number of cannons first.”

Lorenzo nodded with a bright face at Giovanni’s words.

“Such a good method!”

Although there were unavoidable circumstances and tricks, the 1,500 infantry and artillery were the cornerstone of the Florentine army that would grow in size in the future.

They would become old soldiers and non-commissioned officers and lead new recruits into battle.

And the first group of 50 people who would command them and plan their operations were suffering in Seoul.

* * *

When they greeted the candidates for military officers who would lead the ‘new French Army’, the instructors at the Imperial Military Academy looked astonished.

“Hmm…”

The instructor in charge, who had been looking through the candidates’ list several times, looked at the candidate representative standing in front of him and asked.

“Are those who have come to Seoul now ‘candidates for military officers in the Florentine army’ or ‘commanders of the private army of the Medici family’?”

The candidate representative slightly blushed and answered the instructor’s question.

“These are candidates for military officers in Florence County.”

“But why are they all Medici?”

“Not everyone…”

“No…”

Among the 50 military officer candidates who came to Seoul, 30 had the last name ‘Medici’. Therefore, the instructor in charge looked at the candidate representative with suspicious eyes.

“Explain it properly. Our imperial army cooperates in nurturing officers to lead the Florentine army. “I’m not cooperating in training the Medici family’s private army.”

Under pressure from the instructor in charge, the candidate representative explained the reason.

“Most of them are the second sons or bastards of collateral.”

“Oh, I see.”

At the short answer from the candidate’s representative, the instructor in charge looked like he knew.

* * *

The inheritance method in Europe during this period was eldest son takes all.

In the case of the daughter, she was married off to a powerful family with a considerable dowry, but in the case of the second son Iha and the first illegitimate son, there was no such thing.

Of course, in a family with the same wealth and power as the Medici family, even sons who were not eldest sons and illegitimate collateral sons found their own way out.

They provided positions in various businesses run by the family, or sent them to a monastery early on, and then paid bribes to get them positions as cardinals or bishops.

However, it was inevitable that the further away one was from one’s roots, the harder life became.

That’s why, as soon as they saw the official notice that said, ‘Recruiting people to become officers of the new Florentine army,’ they applied like bees.

In an era where it was common for fallen nobles or the sons of nobles with nothing to inherit to enter the mercenary business, the position of an officer in a new army was a very attractive position.

In particular, it was certain that their lives would be on the road to success if they could start the ‘great cause’ that adults talked about and accumulate military merit.

“If you’re going to become a low-level employee at a bank or spend boring time in a monastery, then join the army!”

* * *

The instructor in charge nodded at the representative candidate’s short answer, but had other thoughts in his mind.

‘I can understand it in a way because our empire was also banned from entering the public service before Gyeongjang, but is that really all?’

Starting from the emperor to his immediate superiors. Those who were sitting in high positions in the empire all had the same thing in common.

-While pursuing one task, there are multiple purposes hidden within it.

Simply put, moving one unit was not a simple unit movement. There were several purposes mixed together, such as ensuring the safety of roads connecting to other villages and the livelihood of villages near the unit’s garrison.

Since I was an instructor steeped in that imperial way of thinking, I wondered, ‘Is that really all there is?’

“Hmm… I understand. Then, unpack your bags at the assigned accommodation.”

“yes!”

The instructor in charge who sent out the representative candidate began writing a report on paper.

The instructor in charge of recording the representative candidate’s answers then added his own thoughts.

-It is assumed that he was appointed in order to properly control the army with the most powerful force.

The instructor’s judgment was reasonable.

If the size of the army increased as planned and it absorbed mercenaries, the Florentine army would grow into a force that could be called the strongest in Florence and even in Italy.

This could be the strongest attack on the Medici family, but on the contrary, it could also be the most threatening.

The best way to prevent this was to appoint blood relatives of the family as commanders of the army.

However, considering the great cause, just sticking it in was not the right answer, so he was sent to study abroad in the empire.

It was judged that a talented person selected through the empire would be able to achieve two goals at the same time: securing the safety of the family and accomplishing a great cause.

* * *

“That seems plausible?”

Reports containing the instructor’s analysis began to move up according to the judgment of superiors.

Thanks to everyone making similar decisions, the report in question was uploaded to Wan.

After checking the report from the Ministry of Defense, Wan looked at Hwang Bo-in.

“What do you think?”

“I have an idea. “The military can be a strong shield, but it is also common in history for it to be a dagger that stabs you if you make even the slightest mistake.”

The ministers all nodded at Hwang Bo-in’s answer. Wan continued speaking after seeing the ministers like that.

“Then what is our empire to do?”

“First of all, we have to choose the right stones among them. If the empire intervenes later, it will be difficult if it becomes a hindrance to the empire. Next, we must engrave loyalty and trust into their bones.”

“I see…”

While Wan was nodding, Kim Jong-seo added.

“While engraving it in, we must also engrave in it an absolute fondness for the empire. The more our empire touches Florence, the more people will hate it. However, if the army is on the empire’s side, they will not be able to raise their voices carelessly. “Please think about Japan.”

Wan nodded deeply at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“Indeed!”

* * *

During this period, Japan resembled an empire to the extent that it was called a ‘small empire.’ Among them, the most similar parts were the Japanese royal family and the imperial court, followed by the Japanese military.

The Japanese royal family and government, filled with pro-imperialists, remodeled the Japanese army to resemble the imperial army. This was to emphasize their legitimacy.

-The Japanese army is not a shogunate army commanded by samurai. These are Japanese soldiers who are loyal to His Majesty the King and protect the people!

By instilling these new values, the Japanese army became an imperial army. And thanks to the ‘new citizen open military system,’ this value took hold among ordinary Japanese people.

Thanks to this, those who called for the resurrection of the fallen emperor after the last rebellion disappeared.

No, there were still a few remaining who chanted in the darkness to ‘resurrect the Emperor’ and ‘overthrow the King of Japan’, but those who responded were gone.

* * *

Wan, who was nodding at Kim Jong-seo’s words, looked at the Minister of National Defense and gave an order.

“The military must sincerely teach the talented people sent from Florence. “If they establish themselves as competent generals, it will benefit both our empire and Florence.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

“Ask them faithfully and faithfully.”

“I follow your orders! “I will do my best to engrave it properly!”

And Jang Hang-seon’s answer was immediately put into action. The commander candidates from Florence were treated so well that a sweet taste came out of their mouths.

This was unavoidable.

From the Empire’s perspective, their military knowledge was outdated.

“I would like to hold on to it for about 10 years and start teaching again from the beginning, but I don’t have time for that! Therefore, from now on, follow me with the readiness to die! If you fall behind, we will send you back to Florence right away!”

This was not a threat. In reality, as one or two people continued to be kicked out, the remaining people had to prepare to die to keep up with the progress.

It wasn’t just academics that bothered the candidates.

-Special classes for international students in Florence. ‘What is the correct posture of a soldier?’

Through special classes held ‘only’ for international students in Florence, the imperial instructors instilled ‘loyalty and godliness’ with terrifying intensity.

Of course, he didn’t just swing the whip like this. Whenever a correct result was achieved, the instructors provided ample compensation.

In addition, during holidays, he took the candidates to demonstrate the weapons used by the imperial army and showed them the training process, and after the event, a banquet was held.

As time passed, the international students sent to Florence changed as the imperial army intended.

Through meticulous identification, those who remained showed signs of being useful commanders even in the eyes of high-ranking commanders of the imperial army.

In addition, through special classes and various compensation measures that were held together, they became more pro-imperial than anyone else.

But there were also side effects.

-10 cannons? Are you kidding me? The more cannons the better! Combat is firepower!

-Only 10,000? I calculated again here and it seems that up to 40,000 is possible! There must be at least 40,000! For the success of the cause, it must be at that level!

Giovanni and Lorenzo placed their hands on their foreheads every time they read letters from Seoul.

“What on earth are you learning in the Empire?”

“Maybe they should have sent it to the Ministry of Finance and Economy instead of the military academy…”

But every time they heard rumors about this, the instructors and Yu Eung-bu said with a grin.

“Those guys learned it right.”

“If those friends come, I think we can do together what we couldn’t do because of those guys from the Ministry of Finance and Economy.”