Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 864

Episode 864: Imperial style (1)

Giovanni, who learned of the empire’s will, began negotiations with a rather relieved expression.

‘The Empire is already aware that war is inevitable! If our Florence falls, the empire will suffer loss in the operations and dividends of Suez!’

Giovanni, who was under a psychological burden, actually participated in negotiations more actively.

As Giovanni took an active role, Shin Suk-ju was pushed out.

“I cannot decide this on my own, so I will report it to Your Majesty.”

Every time she was cornered by Giovanni’s counterattack, Shin Suk-ju stopped the meeting by saying this.

“Okay then.”

Every time that happened, Giovanni smiled leisurely and nodded.

“Then I will wait for a good answer. “Please be sure to consider the common interests of Florence and the Empire.”

“I understand.”

Giovanni glanced at Shin Suk-ju, who was looking like he was about to die, then got up and left the negotiation room.

Giovanni, who decided he had the upper hand, turned to his aide and told a half-sincere joke.

“This Minister of Foreign Affairs is truly a good negotiating partner. Isn’t it? If you had dealt with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs or the current Minister of Finance… Ugh! Help from the Virgin Mary. “Nothing like cancer!”

The aide nodded at Giovanni’s words while lightly crossing himself.

He had been with Giovanni since the Medici family first came into contact with the empire and had experienced the imperial people.

-The imperialists are so vicious that even Jews and Arabs, who are famous for business, trickery, and negotiation, will cry.

This was the conclusion he reached while dealing with the empire and its people.

“Where on earth… where did these people come from? “How do they think like this?”

However, after contacting the Ming people, he began to understand to some extent.

“The people who are as harsh as the Jews and Arabs are not Kitae, but the Ming people. “The Zipangu people are no slouch either.”

His judgment was only half correct.

From the Three Kingdoms period to the Goryeo period, the empire was famous for international trade. In addition, the imperial people became more harsh as they dealt with merchants who were famous for being harsh in their business.

But the biggest culprit was, of course, the scent.

As the centuries went by, the imperial officials were almost at the level of the last boss, having been trained by Hyang, whose 21st century speaking and negotiation skills became sharper and harsher, and dealing with the harsh imperial merchants.

This was the same for Shin Sook-ju.

As soon as she left the negotiation in tears, Shin Sook-ju straightened her expression. Shin Suk-ju, who returned to her usual expression as if it had never happened before, looked back at her subordinates and sighed.

“Whoa~. It’s not easy to force a crying expression. “I have to thank Captain Lim.”

Just as Florence also practiced by creating various collections of expected problems, the Empire also went through rehearsals.

A difficult debate took place over how to anticipate Florence’s demands and secure the empire’s interests.

When Lim Sun-wook looked at Shin Suk-ju and opened his mouth when he had almost completed the expected answers, such as giving some things to Florence and some things the empire must secure, etc.

“Now the biggest challenge remains.”

“What is it?”

“Is this the captain’s face?”

“My face?”

“The emotions come out as they are. His mouth is complaining, but his eyes are smiling, so someone like Giovanni would recognize it right away. To use the words of the author, ‘It is a view that should never be allowed to go near a battle board.’”

“Ah…”

“Now let’s start practicing facial expressions.”

“Do I need to practice that too?”

“Ministry of Finance officials must practice.”

‘Especially as next year’s budget preparation period approaches, practice clearly.’

* * *

Every year, when the budget preparation period came, all the ministries of the empire put pressure on the officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, shouting ‘One penny more!’

Every time they were put under such pressure, Ministry of Finance and Economy officials would cry and make excuses.

“What kind of power do you say we have?”

In particular, when female officials said this with tearful eyes, officials from other ministries who had acted as if they were going to eat them had no choice but to step back.

Of course, as time passed, other ministries also came up with ways to respond.

As with the Ministry of National Defense, which is the most representative example, a member of the royal family was appointed as the person in charge to put pressure on the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and if the Ministry of Finance and Economy put up female officials as a shield, this side also put up female officials.

* * *

In this way, Shin Sook-ju, who received special training from Im Soon-wook and Ministry of Finance officials, secured the interests of the metallurgical empire by looking like she was being dragged around with a tearful expression on her face.

On the surface, it seemed like Florence was benefiting, but in reality, it was making the empire benefit.

The most representative example was the ‘Supply and Demand Case for Florentine Long Gun Parts’.

-Purchase parts produced in the empire and assemble and produce them.

This was the first proposal made by the Empire. Naturally, Florence strongly opposed this.

“We will even make parts in Florence! Hand over the parts production facilities! “Even Florence’s steelmaking facilities can make this much!”

“That’s a bit…”

“Florence agreed to introduce Florentine long guns, not the imperial army’s military-style long guns! “Give way to the empire too!”

Under pressure from Giovanni, Shin Suk-ju stepped back with a tearful look on her face.

“I will report it to Your Majesty. Until then, let’s take a break.”

And the next day, Shin Sook-ju delivered Wan’s answer in a weak voice.

“Your Majesty has accepted Florence’s request.”

“Thank you so much!”

Giovanni was happy and Shin Suk-ju had a gloomy expression.

War was predicted anyway. This meant that there was not enough time.

They were greedy and said they would make Florentine rifles using the steel they produced, but it was clear what the result would be.

As written above, it was impossible to make proper steel or change the specifications of long gun parts in a situation where there was not enough time.

In the end, Florence had no choice but to import parts made in the empire or steel from the empire, even though it knew it would be a loss.

In this way, in most cases, it was ‘pretending to suffer even though you knew’. But sometimes, Giovanni’s blind spots hit him.

Each time, Shin Sook-ju walked away in real tears and had to listen to Wan clicking his tongue.

* * *

After intense pushing and pulling between Florence and the Empire, the agreement was completed.

After the signing ceremony of the agreement between Shin Sook-ju and Giovanni, Giovanni visited Wan.

Giovanni politely bowed and thanked Wan, who was sitting on the table.

“Hwang Eun is truly devastated by your Majesty’s brave decision. “The empire’s support will be of great help to Florence.”

“It is to protect the common interests of our empire and Florence. “I hope we can help realize Florence’s grand dream.”

Giovanni responded to Wan’s words even more politely.

“This is what will help you the most. Florence will never forget the support of the Empire.”

“Then we should be thankful too. But…”

“Yes?”

When Wan suddenly became slurred, Giovanni tensed and raised his head. Looking at Giovanni like that, Wan got to the point.

“Our empire also has eyes and ears, so it knows the situation in Italy. So I learned about the dream of Florence. So I have a question. “May I ask?”

“If I can answer, I will answer without lies.”

In response to Giovanni’s answer, Wan asked directly.

“How will Florence move to achieve its dream?”

“yes?”

“no way? “You don’t think that just raising an army will solve everything, do you?”

“That’s because… God is somewhat ignorant about the military…”

“I’m sure there were a lot of wars and battles that I saw and experienced during my time traveling between Italy and the empire, right?”

“That is….”

“Huh~ Tsk!”

When Giovanni slurred his words, Wan exhaled and clicked his tongue as if he was truly frustrated.

As soon as Wan clicked his tongue, Giovanni flinched and became a turtle. This was because he also knew very well what it was like for emperors to click their tongues.

“I heard that your family, the Medici family, is a famous merchant family. Merchants with a reputation for being stubborn never act in a sloppy manner. Those who have made a name for themselves as merchants carefully examine the current situation, anticipate future events, and then prepare and move step by step accordingly. But what is your answer now? “Is that all we need is an army and guns?”

“….”

Giovanni’s head gradually fell to the floor as Wan criticized him.

‘It’s scarier than when I was scolded by my father. But this scene somehow feels familiar. ah! That time when Lorenzo was scolded by his father!’

Giovanni, who was thinking of Lorenzo being defeated by Cosimo after talking about ‘getting revenge’, was inwardly impressed.

‘Are these people who know how to see and draw the big picture at the top of power?’

“…So what exactly is the answer? “Tell me!”

Giovanni, who suddenly came to his senses at Wan’s urging, bowed his head and answered.

“There is still a lot of room for improvement.”

“That means you couldn’t even frame it properly. Cosimo de Medici, the owner of the family, must be very worried. Tsk!”

“….”

Wan clicked his tongue again, but Giovanni, unable to find anything to say, kept his mouth shut and bowed his head.

Wan, who was looking at Giovanni like that, continued speaking.

“Please postpone your return for a few days and visit the Ministry of Defense.”

“…You mean the Ministry of National Defense? “I may be presumptuous, but if you tell me the reason, I will truly appreciate it.”

“The empire has conducted its own research. “It will help Florence.”

Giovanni’s face brightened as he heard Wan’s words, and he repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude.

“I am truly devastated that you have provided such great help to Florence! “Hwang Eun is devastated!”

“Again, it is for the common benefit of the Empire and Florence. “I hope this helps.”

“This will be a great help! “Hwang Eun is devastated!”

The reason Giovanni was so moved was because of the history of the empire.

It was a small country that only paid attention to Kitai, but it was the empire that defeated Kitai and became the strongest.

It was clear that giving up all of the family’s wealth would not have been a waste of advice from an empire with such experience.

“Hwang Eun is devastated!”

As Giovanni left, expressing his gratitude repeatedly, Wan smiled slightly and looked back at Hwang Bo-in and the ministers.

“Everyone in the gambling ring is planning on cheating, so we can’t just sit back and watch, can’t we? “Then you’re a brat.”

All the ministers nodded at Wan’s words.

-Success is impossible with Florence alone.

-In that case, the military, political, and economic power of the empire must be projected.

-In that case, we need to plan the situation in advance in a way that is favorable to the empire.

That is why Giovanni was sent to the Ministry of Defense.

Operation name ‘Patchwork’ had begun.

* * *

Giovanni woke up the next morning, quickly got ready, and visited the Ministry of Defense.

“Come this way.”

Giovanni and his group arrived, following the imperial troops who were in charge of guidance, to a large conference room.

Minister of National Defense Jang Hang-seon and several high-ranking commanders were waiting in the conference room.

After briefly exchanging greetings with Giovanni, Jang Hang-seon gave an order to the military officer standing in front of the ruler.

“Let’s begin.”