Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 926

Episode 926: The Imperial March 2 – Assault return, running on the ground. (14)

At the conference over Italy, Maximilian I became convinced of war.

-War cannot be avoided. The problem is the result of war.

Maximilian I had already experienced a battlefield that changed from a ‘war of soldiers and knights’ to a ‘war of guns and cannons’ through the battle with Hungary.

Guns and cannons had already played a leading role in the war to acquire Suez. However, even then, the quantitative main force of the army was infantry armed with spears and swords and knights wearing armor.

The Habsburg-Hungarian War could be considered the first true war that was fought only with guns and cannons from beginning to end.

And in this war, Maximilian I was keenly aware of the importance of firepower.

Of course, I came to the conclusion that ‘a strong charging spirit or will to fight can overwhelm firepower,’ but I also learned that the superiority and inferiority of firepower cannot be ignored.

Therefore, even before coming to Florence, Maximilian I dispatched men to inspect the firepower of the imperial and Florentine forces.

Afterwards, when the main force of the imperial army arrived in Florence, more people and funds were released to examine the imperial army’s firepower.

“I already checked, isn’t it a waste to check again?”

Maximilian I shook his head after hearing his subordinates’ doubts.

“No, it is something that must be done. “You can only win if you know the firepower of a properly organized imperial army.”

“yes. All right.”

However, the imperial army was surprisingly thorough in security.

In the case of long guns, they trained together at the Florence military shooting range, but in the case of artillery, the training scenes were hidden as much as possible.

If an artillery training using live ammunition were to take place, the area around the training site would be thoroughly blocked before the training was conducted.

“You control a training ground that is almost the size of the city of Florence? Is it possible?”

“No, you mean that a cannon shell flies that much distance?”

“Is it possible. Think of Urban’s heavy artillery.”

“That’s a blast! “I’ve never heard of the Imperial Army having such a big gun!”

Despite this doubt, Maximilian I’s subordinates persistently spied on the imperial army’s training.

In a fierce game of hide and seek between those who tried to block and those who tried to break through, Maximilian I’s subordinates achieved some success and were able to report to Maximilian I.

-The range of the Imperial cannons is long, but not as long as you might think. It is believed that the size of the training ground was a safety issue.

-All areas where the shells were estimated to have landed were plowed over to erase any traces. However, judging from the traces left, it is clearly stronger than the cannons used by our troops. Caution is required.

-As a result of spying on the movement of the imperial army, equipment called ‘tow trucks’ and ‘material transport vehicles’ were used a lot.

-After examining the organization, the imperial army is deploying at least three times more cannons than the friendly army of the same size.

“Hmm… this is getting boring.”

After checking the report, Maximilian I shook his head.

Judging based on the contents of the report, defeat was a foregone conclusion if the Habsburgs were to face the empire with only their might.

Even if they joined the alliance promoted by France and fought, the results were not optimistic.

If you make even the slightest mistake, you will lose. If you do your best, it will be a draw that is close to annihilation. Even if you win miraculously, the loss will be severe enough to be called ‘Pyrrhic victory.’

“Even if the losses are great, alliance is the only answer.”

“That’s right. “The damage is significant, but it can be recovered later.”

Maximilian I nodded at his subordinate’s words.

In proposing an alliance, France proposed ‘redistribution of interests between Italy and the Middle East’ as compensation.

Although the word was ‘Middle East’, it was clear that it meant Suez.

It was a mouth-watering proposal for Spain and Habsburg, who were well aware of the enormous profits coming from the Suez corridor.

-Alone, he is sure to lose, but when the three join forces, the story changes.

-Let’s talk about the ratio of redistribution again later.

In this way, the Three Kingdoms Alliance, which had been gaining ground in its own way, was shaken by ‘a single map.’

Seeing the mess again, Maximilian I smiled in remorse, saying, ‘The situation has become interesting.’

* * *

Italy was a coveted place for Maximilian I, and even for the Habsburgs.

This was because the Habsburgs’ route to the sea had been blocked after the last battle with Hungary.

Of course, it was possible to go to sea if one went through the Hanseatic League in the Rhine River basin. However, the North Sea was famous for its roughness, and the lords and nobles of the region belonging to the Hanseatic League were rebellious against Habsburg rule.

Therefore, the Habsburgs needed Italy to go to sea.

However, after examining the situation, Maximilian I changed his mind.

“You don’t need all of Italy just to go out to sea, right?”

-What the Habsburgs need is a few ports where their warships and merchant ships can stay safely and freely.

-If those conditions are met, there is no need for the Habsburgs to go to war.

-Considering the location of the Habsburgs, it is enough to secure Venice and a few nearby ports.

-What if I add a little concession here?

“…There is no need to make it our territory. You just need to be guaranteed safe and free use. And it would be good for us if Florence and the Empire unified Italy.”

If Italy was unified around Florence, it would be the best force to keep France in check.

It was the best politically, but economically it was also a pretty good move.

If relations between unified Italy and France became bad, France would lose the shortest route to Suez.

On the other hand, if all went as planned, the Habsburgs would be able to secure the shortest route from Suez.

If this was successful, the trade route from Suez to the Hanseatic League would pass through Habsburg territory rather than France.

“Wouldn’t it be fun?”

After hearing Maximilian I’s thoughts, his subordinates were troubled.

One of the subordinates who had been calculating profits and losses for a while asked Maximilian I.

“Couldn’t France or Spain also make the same offer to the empire?”

Maximilian I responded with a smile to his subordinate’s point.

“It’s impossible because of the Kingdom of Naples.”

* * *

France was claiming that it had a legitimate right to the throne of the Kingdom of Naples, and in the case of Spain, the son of the King of Aragon was the king of the Kingdom of Naples.

Even though he was an illegitimate child.

Because of this background, Maximilian I was confident that France and Spain would not retreat.

“ah! France could probably back down. But if Spain retreats, it will be even more of a headache.”

Spain was a country created as an alliance between the United Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon. The core power of the Kingdom of Aragon, one of the pillars of the alliance, was the commercial nobles, and this was the problem.

When the Ottomans overthrew Byzantium, they lost the Levant region and Aragon’s commercial power greatly declined.

It was certain that if the Kingdom of Naples was lost here, Aragon would lose its status as an equal ally and become subordinate to Castile.

“How is it?”

At Maximilian I’s question, his subordinates gave up their worries.

‘The lord has already decided. ‘No more worries are a luxury.’

‘Now I just follow orders faithfully.’

When Maximilian I realized that he had made up his mind, his subordinates immediately bowed their heads.

“I think it’ll be okay.”

“Let’s make a plan.”

“We don’t have much time. “Make it plausible as quickly as possible.”

“…I will do my best.”

* * *

At the same time, France was also busy.

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Orléans wishes to see you.”

“Please stop by.”

“yes.”

After a while, Louis entered the office and politely bowed to Hyang. Hyang returned the favor in accordance with etiquette and offered Louis a seat.

Hyang, who had quenched her thirst with the black bean tea brought by the naekwan, smiled and asked.

“The Duke of Orléans… Orléans… reminds me of ‘The Virgin Mary.’”

Louis made an excuse with an embarrassed look on his face when Hyang attacked him first.

“You are a poor victim of the conspiracy of heretics.”

“It is not a conspiracy of heretics, but a political conspiracy. Isn’t it? Could it be possible that a bishop or two would fall into heresy?”

“That is…”

As Louis fidgeted with an embarrassed expression, Hyang continued with a deeper smile.

“I just said it because it suddenly came to mind when I heard the word Orleans. So let’s stop here. So, why did you find my luggage?”

Hyang changed the topic in a relaxed voice. However, Louis’ face could not be straightened easily.

‘I was screwed from the start! I never thought you knew Joan of Arc! ‘It’s a mistake!’

“huh? Why are you silent? “What brought you here?”

Louis desperately tried to keep his cool in response to Hyang’s repeated questions.

“I heard an interesting rumor a while ago.”

“Interesting rumor? Something?”

“The reason Portugal sided with the empire was because of the map.”

“Hoo~.”

Hyang, who uttered something I couldn’t tell whether it was an exclamation or something else, quenched his throat with black bean tea once again and answered.

“Aren’t negotiations inherently a political transaction? In a transaction, there is something being given and received. “I will neither confirm nor deny whether it is a map or not.”

Louis’ voice began to rise in response to Hyang’s response.

“your majesty! “France and the Empire have been pursuing common interests together for a long time.”

“Portugal and Florence were also there.”

“But why was France excluded?”

“Didn’t France rule it out first? “Wasn’t France the first country to put a brake on Florence’s movements?”

“It is for the stability of the system….”

“It must be the maintenance of vested interests. And be honest.”

Hyang leaned against the back of the chair and spoke to Louis.

“Isn’t this division over Italy caused by the different interests pursued by our empire and your France? But it’s not okay to be upset.”

“….”

Louis couldn’t open his mouth due to Hyang’s honest criticism.

After a while, Louis let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. I can’t say anything else. I’ll admit it. Now that I have acknowledged it, I will make a proposal to Your Majesty.”

“proposal? Something?”

“If France supports the empire, will it receive the same compensation as Portugal?”

Hyang closed his mouth for a moment in response to Louis’ question. Hyang looked at Louis for a moment and then asked Louis back.

“Is that decision something you can make? “Can France do it?”

“yes? What do you mean by that?”

“As this happened, France abandoned our empire and Florence. And this time they are trying to abandon Spain and Venice. “Will any country trust France in the future?”

“Ah…”

Louis’ face turned white at Hyang’s question. Looking at Louis like that, Hyang pointed out reality.

“That’s a good card you offered. But the problem is that France cannot use that card.”