Episode 969: Everyone is a slut except me… (6)
As soon as they heard the empire’s proposal put forward by Han Myeong-hoe, the Italian leaders who were about to immediately express opposition suddenly fell silent and began to think carefully.
‘Wait a minute… if I do this well…’
If I did well, I was starting to see the possibility of eliminating otherpetitors.
* * *
During this period, Europe eitherpletely closed off or, even if it did open, protectionism was the basis. The most stark example was Ennd. Florence’s famous woolen industry was also based on wool exported from Ennd. Ennd implemented extreme protectionist policies to develop its woolen industry.
Not only was it not enough to impose a huge tax on woolen textilesing from overseas, especially Italy, but restrictions were ced on the amount of imports. Ennd, which not only restricted the import of woolen fabrics but also restricted the export of wool, the raw material, began scouting for woolen craftsmen in Italy and Europe. Thanks to the implementation of these active development policies and protectionist policies, Ennd’s woolen textile industry grew to the point where it couldpete with Italy.
* * *
As in the example of Ennd, protectionism was the basis in Europe during this period. The only exception here were items made in the empire. The main products exported by the empire are expensive luxury items only used by nobles, such as crystal chandeliers, or medicines good for stamina, such as ginseng, that can only be obtained in the empire. Lastly, ceramics that can only be made in the empire – in history before the intervention of incense, ‘bone china’ Known as -products and ‘carbide’.
Therefore, European countries did not prevent it at all, but reced it with imposing a high rate of authority. The problem here was that the tariffs on products such as ceramics and carbide used by themon people were higher than on the luxury goods and medicines demanded by the nobility. Naturally, public opinion expressing dissatisfaction with this increased significantly, and European governments offered the following excuse.
-The tax rate is low, but the price is so high that the tax amount is much higher.
-And the tax rate is not that low.
This was half the truth. It was true that the tax rate was low, but not very low. And since it was such an expensive product, it was also true that the tax itself was a huge amount. However, the problem was that the main consumers were the aristocrats who were in power. The nobles were also dissatisfied with taxes.
So the tax rate was lowered to an appropriate level.
* * *
Because of this background, Italian leaders were unable to immediately express opposition and began to worry. In northern city-states, including Florence,merce and industry were the center of the economy. The southern Kingdom of Naples wasrgely agricultural, but the core of its power was urban aristocrats who made their fortune throughmerce and industry in the city.
-Until now, goods imported from the empire were subject to high tariffs. In particr, imperial goodsing through other city-states were subject to higher tariffs.
-However, if there are no tariffs, even if the price is lowered a little, the profits can be big.
-It is impossible in ces where merchants from those countries already dominate distribution, such as Ennd, France, Spain, and the Habsburgs, but it is possible to secure overwhelming pricepetitiveness in markets such as Eastern Europe and the Principality of Moscow in the Hanseatic League.
‘It’s okay in its own way, but doesn’t the empire benefit the most?’
“It seems like a good intention since it is a tariff-free agreement, but isn’t it only the empire that is benefiting one-sidedly?”
“That’s right. Wouldn’t it be a good agreement if it goes in a direction that is mutually beneficial?”
When the Italian leaders made a deal disguised as a counterargument, Han Myeong-hoe smiled slightly and agreed to the bargain.
“That is correct. It is a good agreement if it goes in a direction that is mutually beneficial. So…”
Han Myeong-hoe, who was speechless for a moment, once again sent a hand signal and the imperial officials distributed a new report.
“Looking at the goodsing into the empire these days, I see a lot of woolen fabrics from Italy and high-qualityce silverware from Franceing in. The empire is taxing these items. If there were no taxes, wouldn’t the people of the empire buy more?”
As Han Myeong-hoe said, Italian wool and leather products were very popr in the empire. Wool was a fresh material for the people of the empire who were only ustomed to cotton fabrics. The same was true for leather products. Unlike imperial-made products, which were only functional and had a simple appearance, leather products made in Italy were very shy and popr.
“Hmm…”
“Hoo…”
The Italian leaders’ eyes lit up after checking the report.
“Give me a moment. This is not something that anyone can decide on their own. Everyone’s will muste together.”
“Of course.”
Negotiations were temporarily suspended due to the concession of Han Myeong-hoe. The Italian leaders moved to another conference room and listened to Lorenzo de’ Medici.
“How much do you know about this!”
“Florence is close to the Empire, so it would not have been unaware of this proposal!”
Lorenzo waved his hands with an embarrassed expression in response to pressure from other leaders.
“I didn’t know either! I knew something about national politics! But I didn’t know about this part! I swear to the Virgin Mary that I don’t know!”
“That can’t be possible…”
“Honestly, isn’t this part of the empire’s internal affairs? But would you have told me?”
“…..Right.”
“That makes sense.”
The other leaders nodded at Lorenzo’s protest. When the leaders were satisfied and withdrew, Lorenzo hurried to get to the point.
“Isn’t the important thing now is whether the empire’s proposal is beneficial to us or not?”
“Right.”
After a long period of back and forth, the Italian leaders reached an agreement and returned to the negotiating table.
“Unified Italy will ept the Empire’s offer.”
Han Myeong-hoe’s face brightened at the words of Lorenzo, who came forward as the representative.
“What a wise decision! This will further strengthen the rtionship between the Empire and Italy!”
In this way, most of the issues were settled, starting with the national polity. A document summarizing this began to be written. However, the documentation work was unexpectedly slow. This was because of the stake issue of state representatives participating in Congress.
“Well, it’s something that was already expected.”
Han Myeong-hoe enjoyed ck bean tea with a rxed expression. Seeing this, Seong Sam-moon nced at Han Myeong-hoe and asked.
“Do you think you are happy about this situation now? You are not busy with work like you are in Seoul and His Majesty the Great is in Bologna.”
Han Myeong-hoe shook his head exaggeratedly at Seong Sam-moon’s point.
“No way! How could a subject of the empire harbor such sphemous thoughts?”
“Isn’t that the color on your face?”
“Do you think you have rejuvenated yourself?”
“Big! Big!”
Han Myeong-hoe, who simply silenced Seong Sam-moon, came to a conclusion.
“Until newses from the north. Let’s not miss this moment of leisure.”
Seong Sam-moon and Shin Sook-ju quietly nodded at Han Myeong-hoe’s words.
* * *
As time passed, the newsing from North Korea was not very good.
-The front line is deadlocked.
-Both French and Spanish troops are strongly resisting.
-Additional reinforcements are needed.
“Whoa~.”
“Oh my…”
The Italian leaders all sighed after checking the report sent from the front. The only exception was Lorenzo de’ Medici. Han Myeong-hoe muttered to himself as he looked at the Italian leaders with sad expressions.
‘If His Majesty Tae Sang-tae were here, he would click his tongue very loudly.’
Han Myeong-hoe reflected on the imperial army’s report delivered to him.
– Jaeseungjabak due to failure of cooperation.
-Sotamdaesil
-disgraceful behavior.
Han Myeong-hoe, who saw a report that could be summarized like this, read the report again and again and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! If it were the imperial army, you would be a novice who would have nothing to say even if you were immediately removed from office.”
* * *
“This time we will take on France and Spain.”
“what!”
Corleone, whomanded the Florentine army, shouted at the words of themanders of the Kingdoms of Genoa, Mn, Venice, Naples, and the Principality of Romagna.
“General. Please be patient.”
“Ugh…”
Lee Si-ae stopped Corleone with a soft voice and answered with a slight smile.
“That’s right. I look forward to your good luck.”
“Thank you.”
Lee Si-ae, who was looking at themanders leaving with an arrogant look on his face, turned his head to look at Corleone and his subordinatemanders.
“It seems we went to war too easily because we looked so lightly on France and Spain.”
“It’s going to be a bit of a struggle.”
Lee Si-ae shook her head and responded to her subordinatemander’s words.
“It’s lucky if we don’t lose the war.”
And the battle that followed was a series of vicious struggles.
* * *
Before the battle began, the morale of the French and Spanish troops was at its lowest point. ording to the information brought by the scouts, the size of the troopsing towards them was muchrger than theirs.
“Should we prepare to withdraw…..”
“Even if we do withdraw, shouldn’t we fight at least once?”
“Can you fight and win when the soldiers’ morale is at its lowest?”
While themanders of the French and Spanish armies were having these conversations and worrying, the scouts were constantly asking for information. When receiving reports from such scouts, the French militarymanders felt something strange and expressed doubts.
“Wait? The scouts are wandering around like this, but they alle back safely?”
“Nonsense?”
If it were the Imperial Army they knew, something like this could never have happened. One of the first things the empire did was eliminate as many enemy scouts as possible.
-Fightfortably with the enemy’s eyes and ears removed.
This was the basic tactic of the imperial army.
“Something is strange!”
“Send out more scouts!”
The Frenchmander’s expression became fierce after confirming the information he had obtained by releasing more scouts.
“These?”
-The enemy’s leaders are Genoa, Mn, Venice, Naples and Romagna.
-The Imperial Swiss Army and the Florentine Army are located in the rear.
“These? Do they think they can deal with us as well as Genoa or Mn?”
“What a disgrace!”
Themanders, enraged with shame, exploded at the information that followed. This was information brought by bold scouts who disguised themselves as farmers and merchants and infiltrated bars on the Italian army’s route of
advance. At the strong request of themanders of the advanced army, the imperial and Swiss Florentine forces were pushed to the rear.
-The soldiers of the leading unit consider their allies to be cowards.
“Ha! These really are!”
The French and Spanish militarymanders were angry but could not move easily.
“Find out where the Imperial Artillery is that would be worthy of being thrown into the brimstone of that damn hell!”
“Same goes for the assault corps!”
The information brought by the scouts who moved after receiving the order was as follows.
-No imperial artillery in the leading units. There are no assault troops either.
“Is that so?”
After confirming the information, the French and Spanishmanders sent messengers to each other.
“They seem to be looking at us funny, so let’s make a point of it!”
“Sure!”
And this atmosphere also spread among the soldiers who heard the rumor.
“Are these guys who know how to y soldiers making fun of us?”
“I’ll make you shed bloody tears!”
“Do you think they are imperial soldiers? Just look where they are!”