Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 897

Chapter 897: Prologue (12)

Of course, among those present, most of those sitting at the very top were those who had experienced the wars that the township had experienced, starting with the Liaodong War in the past.

However, when the war in question took place, they were in charge of practical work on the front line.

Like incense, he had no experience running the country while creating the big picture at the top.

That’s why he froze at Hyang’s comment.

* * *

Hyang pointed out the problem he thought of.

-It was said that the people and nobles of the European powers lacked a sense of belonging. However, there is a possibility that nobles who must protect their honor will conscript territory residents on a large scale.

Ignoring this is a big mistake.

-Although the great powers keep each other in check, they should be considered as capable of joining forces to secure or protect external enemies or common interests.

-The external enemy here would be our empire. Also of common interest is our empire’s share in Suez.

-Religion can also be a big factor in inducing long-term wars.

Consider the question of ancestral rites that the Vatican still has no answer to.

If we label our empire as a heretic, they will have a cause for alliance, which increases the likelihood that it will lead to a long-term war.

“…And how long do you think the European powers will keep each other in check? “If even one of the monarchs of the European powers changes his perspective, it will be possible for the powers to join hands.”

“You said you would change your perspective, but are you talking about active alliance rather than active check?”

Hyang nodded to Hyun’s question.

“exactly.”

Among the ministers present in Hyang’s response, the Vice Minister of Education raised a counterargument.

“These people are coming because they have not been able to eat each other until now. Is it possible for them to form an alliance when they keep each other in check by tripping up other countries whenever they get the chance? “No, do you have the means to make that possible?”

Han Myeong-hoe, who had been silent at the Vice Minister’s point, immediately responded.

“Marriage.”

“ah!”

All attendees responded in the same way to Han Myeonghoe’s short and concise answer. The Minister of Education glanced at the Vice Minister in question sitting next to him and continued.

“If it’s a marriage, there’s definitely a high possibility. If you look at our history, the Naje Alliance was already established through marriage during the old Samhan period.”

Hyang nodded and accepted the Minister of Education’s words.

“exactly. “It’s about forming an alliance through marriage.”

‘There is Habsburg! The famous spatula chin!’

Even in history before the intervention of the county, the Habsburgs used marriage to maintain their status as a powerful nation.

-Bella gerant alli tu felix Austria nube. (Make others go to war. Marry you, happy Austria.)

This Latin phrase symbolized the marriage alliance of the Habsburg family of the Holy Roman Empire.

Hyun, who was thinking deeply about Hyang’s words, opened his mouth.

“It certainly looks like a good possibility. Hmm… Then… I think it seems most likely that Spain and Habsburg will form a marriage alliance. France has recovered much of its national power that was lost in the war with England. Nevertheless, it is not enough to call him a loser.”

The local government and ministers all nodded at Hyeon’s analysis. After Hyun finished speaking, Han Myeong-hoe continued.

“Originally, joining hands is something that people who have a strong enemy in front of them do first. The Naje Alliance was also a collaboration between Silla and Baekje to deal with a strong enemy called Goguryeo. In Europe, it would be France, Goguryeo, Spain, Habsburg, Silla, and Baekje.”

After Han Myeong-hoe’s words, Vice Minister of Education Ye asked a question again.

“Not our empire?”

Then the Minister of Education, who was right next to him, glared again and responded.

“The empire is central.”

“I think it’s right to look at it as a midfielder. It’s the strongest, but it’s far away. So, the priority is to keep Goguryeo in check right in front of us.”

“And you can make Jungwon your friend, but isn’t it difficult to make Goguryeo your friend?”

“…okay.”

From the Minister of Education, his immediate superior, to Han Myeong-hoe and Lim Soon-wook, he took turns explaining the reasons. However, the expressions of the three people looking at the vice minister in question were not very good.

‘No, I don’t understand this much, so what should I do?’

‘And you’re still a vice minister?’

Seeing this expression full of reprimand, the Vice Minister was so intimidated that he had no choice but to answer.

* * *

Eventually, the nature of the briefing session changed into a discussion session.

-The war that will take place in Italy will be a long war. What are the measures for this?

The village and county ministers continued to have a heated discussion on this changed topic.

-Warfare costs are certain to increase significantly.

How much will it increase and how much will it be able to handle? And what are the means to procure it?

-Production of weapons that will be consumed in large quantities in war.

Is it the right answer to have Areas 51, 52, and the Royal Armory take full responsibility, as has been the practice so far? Is opening up to the private sector and encouraging competition the right answer? What about security?

-Problems with supply of manufactured weapons.

What are the optimal supply lines and means? What to do with Suez, which is certain to be blocked? What are the diplomatic problems if the Suez route is occupied? What are the chances of an escalation?

-Problem of mobilizing troops.

A situation where men from the core age group who provide the most labor force are conscripted. How much should the limit be expected to avoid putting a strain on the economy?

-What are the measures for those who died or were disabled in war?

It is certain that the largest number of casualties will occur since the last Liaodong War. If so, measures for the parties involved and their families must also be reconsidered.

“Whoa~. “I feel like just trying to listen to stories only adds up to more work.”

All the ministers nodded at Hyeon’s sigh-filled lament.

‘Why on earth has work increased?’

‘I’m already tired and hungry and want to go home!’

‘Why shouldn’t I go to work!’

With all kinds of lamentations coming out of his mind, Hyeon got up and left his chair.

“If I did something wrong, I would have made a mistake worth a thousand years and one loss. “I am truly grateful that the Great Emperor prevented this with the Creed of Heavenly Rain.”

Hyeon, who gave credit to Hyang, politely bowed to Hyang. After seeing this, all the attendees quickly stood up and bowed to Hyang.

Hyang, who received the thanks, also politely returned the favor.

“That’s too much praise. Isn’t it all your Majesty’s merit? “I know what needs to be fixed now, so if I do my best, I won’t miss the time.”

Hyeon expressed his gratitude again to Hyang’s words.

“These words are truly like gold and jade birds. “I will keep that in mind.”

Hyun expressed his sincere gratitude and looked back at the ministers.

“If we look at the current situation in Europe, there is not enough time. Therefore, I would like to receive revised measures as soon as possible. Prime Minister.”

When Hyun’s name was called, Han Myeong-hoe immediately responded by bowing his head.

“I will upload it within 15 days at the latest.”

“Please.”

As soon as he said that, Hyun went out with incense.

As the two men disappeared, the ministers and officials relaxed and looked at Han Myeong-hoe with eyes full of resentment.

However, Han Myeong-hoe showed an expression that it was no big deal.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think 15 months is too short? So, should I answer here, ‘It will take more than Dalpo’? Then I guess all you heard was clicking your tongue? “Why are you looking at me like that when you know very well that even if I didn’t answer, it wouldn’t last more than 15 days?”

“But…”

“Try saying that to Tae Sang-taek.”

“….”

When Han Myeong-hoe mentioned incense, the ministers turned away with slumped shoulders.

-Someone who got more work done faster than anyone else.

This was the evaluation of the scent.

If I had complained in front of Hyang that there was a lot of work to do, it was certain that Hyang would have clicked his tongue and said this.

“Tsk! really? “There are a lot of these?”

In any case, the deadline was set and the government was among those to review it, so the officials had to suffer from overwork once again.

The officials, who were taking a break while drinking black bean tea filled from a large kettle placed on one side, looked at the distant sky and muttered.

“Is Florence a bit free?”

* * *

While Seoul was suffering from overwork again, Florence was also suffering from overwork.

This was because the political relationships between the influential northern cities had become complicated since the last Habsburg-Hungarian war.

The origin of the matter was, of course, the Habsburg-Hungarian War.

After the war, the Habsburgs spent a lot of money recovering facilities destroyed during the war and rebuilding the military.

And to replenish the funds thus wasted, Frederick III turned to Venice.

The Habsburgs were chosen by Venice as a helper for the ‘unification of Italy.’

Naturally, Venice provided significant military expenses during the Habsburg-Hungary War and also funded the reconstruction projects that followed.

However, Frederick III’s subsequent demands exceeded Venice’s capabilities.

After losing control of the Eastern Mediterranean when Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, Venice was gradually declining.

The famous Venetian glass was also losing its competitiveness due to glass products imported from the East, including the Empire.

In this situation, Venice’s plunge into the great cause of ‘Italian unification’ was a gamble to solve their difficult situation once and for all.

And in order to win that gamble, they chose the Habsburgs as their backbenchers and provided a lot of funds for the last war as well.

However, the Habsburg demands continued to exceed Venice’s capabilities.

“If this continues, the only thing left to do is ruin!”

Eventually, Venice changed its line from Habsburg to France.

After hearing Venice’s request, Louis XI of France readily accepted Venice’s request.

This was because if Venice came under France, the passage for the Habsburgs to Italy would be blocked.

Of course, it was possible to come down through Switzerland, but since Switzerland was in the midst of a war of independence, it was not possible to use the route.

When Venice joined hands with France, Milan broke with France and joined hands with the Habsburgs.

The relationship between Milan and Venice was extremely bad. And it was because they thought it was certain that France, which had taken control of Venice, would use it to dominate them.

After receiving Milan’s offer, he also readily accepted Milan’s offer.

This was because if Milan leaves, France will also have its way down to Italy blocked.

Milan was wealthier than Venice.

The Habsburgs had no reason to refuse.

As the combination of influential cities in northern Italy and the powers that backed them changed, the power map of northern Italy began to fluctuate.

And there were unexpected victims.

It was Switzerland.