Cosimo’s resolution became the decisive key, and Florence and the Empire moved swiftly.
Among them, those who moved most quickly and passionately were, as expected, Giovanni and Lorenzo.
The moment Cosimo’s permission was granted, Giovanni crossed the Mediterranean again, heading for Suez.
Upon arriving in Suez and checking for ships, Giovanni’s face became troubled.
“No ships…”
All the merchant vessels belonging to the Medici family had already departed.
***
At this time, Suez’s harbor was bustling with trading ships from Europe, the Empire, the Middle East, Ming, and Japan.
From sunrise to sunset, most of the trading ships entering and leaving Suez’s harbor belonged to European nations.
Suez in this period was truly the starting point of the ‘Golden Route.’
Not all European trading ships headed for the Empire.
Even more trading ships headed for India than those bound for the Empire.
India’s spices and various dyes had long been famous in Europe.
Until the connection between Suez and Prince Henrique’s Port, India’s spices and dyes had been monopolized by Islamic and Italian merchants.
Among the causes of the Crusades was the Italian merchants’ machinations to monopolize this spice and dye trade.
However, through the Crusades and subsequent developments, Islamic merchant forces gained the upper hand.
In this situation, the construction of the Suez-Prince Henrique’s Port railway was like opening a new era.
Circumnavigating the African continent or using ships built in Suez’s shipyards, European merchants flocked to India and the Empire.
And as a chain reaction to this, maritime traffic in the Mediterranean became active.
To bring cargo that arrived at Prince Henrique’s Port from Suez back to their homeland, they had to cross the Mediterranean.
And by operating cargo transport services or warehouses, Italian merchants once again established themselves as the central force in the European economy. And the one with the greatest influence among these Italian merchant forces was the Medici family.
Cosimo’s foresight in recognizing the existence of the New Frontier early on through various rumors had borne fruit.
***
Learning that the family’s ships had all departed, Giovanni immediately led his party to the Empire’s naval port.
Taking French or other nations’ ships would have exposed them to a very high risk of intelligence leaks.
“Would those guys lack perception? They must have been continuously monitoring my movements. There’s no need to give them opportunities.”
To prevent intelligence leaks and ensure personal safety, Giovanni headed for the Empire’s naval port.
“And there are always Imperial ships at the Empire’s naval port.”
Imperial ships, both warships and merchant vessels, stayed at Imperial naval ports. Therefore, among those heading to the Empire, Ming, Japan, or India who missed their ships, all unconditionally headed for the Empire’s naval port.
At any time, there were at least two ships bound for the Empire at the Imperial naval port.
Having boarded a ship bound for the Empire, Giovanni’s party holed up in their cabin to review their demands.
“This must be obtained if possible. This should be obtained if feasible, and this would be good to obtain…”
After carefully adjusting the priorities of their demands, Giovanni’s party let out long sighs and put down their pens.
“The organization is done for now…”
“Will the Empire really grant our demands?”
“To be honest, I share that concern.”
To his subordinates’ worries, Giovanni answered with a slight smile.
“From the moment the Empire made the proposal to us, they already intended to join in. Having entered the huge gambling table of ‘Italian Unification,’ the Empire has no choice but to keep betting to avoid losing their stake.”
‘Or so Father said.’
“Ah. I see!”
“As expected of Lord Giovanni! Truly remarkable!”
At his subordinates’ praise, Giovanni waved his hands with an embarrassed smile.
“What’s remarkable about that… Come! Let’s review once more instead of wasting time!”
“Yes!”
Watching his subordinates seriously review the demands again, Giovanni muttered inwardly.
‘Not realizing the Empire’s intentions until Father explained it—this is my mistake and my inadequacy! I must work harder! There won’t be a second mistake!’
***
With such firm resolve, Giovanni immediately sought out Shin Sukju upon arriving in Seoul.
Receiving Giovanni’s demands, Shin Sukju sent the original to the Royal Secretariat and immediately visited Hwangbo In to submit a copy.
“Hmm…”
Examining the copy Shin Sukju presented, Hwangbo In commanded his waiting aide.
“Go bring the Deputy Prime Ministers.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Shortly after, the Deputy Prime Ministers gathered after hearing the news, and Hwangbo In presented them with Florence’s demands.
“Hmm…”
“Huh…”
Among the Deputy Prime Ministers who carefully examined Florence’s demands, Kim Jong-seo was the first to speak.
“It seems they’ve also realized that our Empire intends to join the game.”
As Kim Jong-seo finished speaking, Yi Gyeon-gi added flesh to his words.
“Having joined the game, they’re telling us to properly place our bets.”
At Kim Jong-seo and Yi Gyeon-gi’s words, Hwangbo In also nodded.
“I think so too. Then what would be best? Shall we properly place our bets?”
“That’s not it.”
“I don’t think so.”
At Hwangbo In’s words, Kim Jong-seo and Yi Gyeon-gi simultaneously shook their heads.
“I think betting everything from the start is the worst strategy.”
“I agree. Not knowing what hidden cards those entering the game have, blindly betting is what amateurs do.”
At Kim Jong-seo and Yi Gyeon-gi’s words, Hwangbo In nodded silently. Seeing this, Shin Sukju spoke with a surprised expression.
“All three of you seem to enjoy gambling?”
“Just at the level of entertainment.”
“It’s refined amusement, refined.”
“Ahem! Cough!”
At the three’s reactions, Shin Sukju muttered inwardly.
‘That’s not what I heard in rumors…’
According to rumors, the three’s gambling skills were considerable. Though they enjoyed it within limits that wouldn’t catch the Audit Office’s attention, they were rumored to have expert-level skills in various games including go, chess, backgammon, and dominoes.
“Ahem! Cough…”
Drawing attention with his cough, Hwangbo In hurriedly reached a conclusion.
“First, we’ll need to discuss this again at court, but let’s start by placing moderate bets. Should we report this to His Majesty?”
“I agree.”
“Let’s do that.”
With the conclusion reached, Hwangbo In gave orders to his aide.
“Make several copies and distribute them to each ministry’s directors. His Majesty will ask for answers soon, so tell them to prepare thoroughly. No, wait. Tell them to think of answers by tomorrow and come to me. We should avoid getting scolded.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
***
Three days later, Wan summoned his ministers.
“Have you seen the demands sent from Florence? To me, it seems like a demand for the Empire to place bets in the game created in Italy?”
At Wan’s question, Hwangbo In stepped forward to answer.
“Your subjects also think so, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so? Hmm…”
After thinking briefly at Hwangbo In’s answer, Wan soon posed his next question.
“Then it seems right to place bets, but how much would be appropriate?”
At Wan’s question, Lim Sun-wook stepped forward to answer.
“One places bets in a gambling game when confident of winning money. There are broadly two methods to win big in gambling. One is to bet big only when holding good cards. Then opponents will suspect I have good cards whenever I bet big and will withdraw. When this suspicion accumulates, even if I hold bad cards, they’ll withdraw if I just bet big.”
“Hmm… Not bad… Then what’s the other?”
At Wan’s curious question, Lim Sun-wook continued.
“The other is to continuously lose small amounts at first. By losing small amounts, losses are minimal, and by observing the continuing game, one can learn the opponents’ habits. Once you know your opponents, you can win the biggest game.”
“Interesting. Then which method would the Finance Minister prefer to use?”
At Wan’s question, Lim Sun-wook answered immediately without hesitation.
“Your subject would use the second method.”
“Why?”
“I can guarantee that the game happening in Italy is not a proper game. While losing bit by bit, we must first identify who are the cheaters—those who win money through trickery in Chinese gambling—who are the shills, and whether Florence can truly endure in the game with the Empire until the end. Therefore, your subject believes we should use the second method.”
“Plausible. Are there other opinions?”
At Wan’s question, Han Myeong-hoe stepped forward.
“Your subject believes going big from the very beginning is more appropriate.”
“Why?”
“As the game continues, not only do we come to know our opponents well, but they also come to know us. However, in the first or second round, they won’t know us properly and will make assumptions. If we go big from the first round, they’ll be intimidated and shrink back. If that happens, we can use less time, resources, and people than expected.”
“Use bluffing, is that it?”
“It’s closer to not hiding rather than bluffing.”
“Hmm… The Chief Administrative Officer’s words also have merit…”
At Han Myeong-hoe’s words, Wan and the ministers all nodded. In fact, Wan and the ministers already knew Lim Sun-wook and Han Myeong-hoe’s arguments.
This was because Lim Sun-wook and Han Myeong-hoe had already engaged in debate at a meeting hosted by Hwangbo In before Wan’s summons.
- It’s something that will consume much time and cost from preparation to conclusion anyway. Testing the waters bit by bit while aiming for one proper round is correct.
- The costs during preparation are unavoidable. However, when the game opens, rather than tediously enduring while waiting for an opportunity that might never come, it’s best to create and win the biggest game possible from the start.
Both opinions had merit, so no conclusion was easily reached, and Hwangbo In passed the decision to Wan.
“Both have merit. However, since we can’t easily decide, let’s report to His Majesty and await his answer.”
Thus, the debate was now happening again before Wan. And Wan, who already knew of their debate through various channels, was reviewing it once more.
The difference was that the ministers who had attended Hwangbo In’s meeting had split into factions and joined the debate. To have their supported opinion adopted, the ministers added flesh to the two’s arguments.
The problem was that their expressions were likened to gambling.
The court historian who recorded this situation added this to the record:
- …Thus when His Majesty asked for an answer regarding Florence’s request, the ministers presented various methods and engaged in debate.
The historian says:
The great hall became a gambling den.
***
Meanwhile, when time passed and Hyang learned of the situation through Wan’s letter, he burst out laughing.
“Lim Sun-wook acted just like Lim Sun-wook, and Han Myeong-hoe acted just like Han Myeong-hoe.”
Lim Sun-wook, who had lived as a solid merchant before entering government service, proposed a conservative yet sound plan, while Han Myeong-hoe, who had been an adventurer even in history before Hyang’s intervention, was indeed aiming for one big score.
Analyzing the situation between the Empire and Europe, Hyang looked at the map and muttered.
“Is the ‘Great Game’ over Italy happening in the 15th century?”