The day after sending the Habsburg envoy away with their reply, the Empire dispatched its own envoy to Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, the Imperial envoy relayed the situation to the Imperial ambassador stationed in Italy, and together they visited the unified Italian government. In response, the Italian government immediately convened the members of the unified parliament.

“…Given the situation, the Empire has decided to sell assault vehicles to the Habsburgs.”

“That’s absurd!”

The moment the Imperial ambassador finished speaking, the parliament hall echoed thunderously with the enraged roars of its members.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Order! Order! Order, I say!”

The speaker, banging his gavel to quiet the commotion, addressed the Imperial ambassador. “Why has the Empire made such a decision? You cannot possibly be unaware of the relationship between us, Italy, and the Habsburgs.”

To the speaker’s question, the Imperial ambassador answered frankly. “The Empire is in a position where it has no choice. It is because of France. Surely you are aware of the current power dynamic between France and the Holy Roman Empire?”

“Hmm…”

At the ambassador’s response, the speaker and the parliament members nodded with uncomfortable expressions. France’s acquisition of the bishoprics in Lorraine had complicated the balance of power on the European continent. The wars that had persisted until now, especially the Italian War of Unification, had resulted in a precarious equilibrium in Europe. However, with France taking possession of the bishoprics, the scales had tipped in their favor.

‘There may not be a major change immediately, but it will be a problem once France fully digests the Lorraine bishoprics. All of Europe will have to walk on eggshells around France.’

This was the consensus among the intellectuals and politicians of Europe, including those in France. And while French intellectuals and politicians were bursting with pride, their counterparts in other nations were spending sleepless nights racked with anxiety.

“The Empire’s decision to sell battleships to France and assault vehicles to the Habsburgs is not because we desire war. It is an attempt to maintain the balance.”

The speaker stepped forward to challenge the ambassador’s point. “We understand the Empire’s intentions well. However, considering the geopolitical position and historical relationship between Italy and the Habsburgs, this is a deeply regrettable decision.”

The Imperial ambassador replied immediately. “I say again, the Empire does not want war. And to that end, we are pursuing a balance. Surely you have not forgotten when our Empire sold Hae-eung Class battleships to France?”

Before the ambassador had even finished his sentence, the expressions on the speaker and the members changed. Being mostly merchant aristocrats, they had instantly grasped the meaning behind his words.

“Hmm… so, you are saying the Empire is willing to sell assault vehicles to us, Italy, as well?”

“That is correct.”

“Is the Empire intending to do business with both the Habsburgs and Italy?”

“Heavens, no. The Empire has always valued its relationship with Italy. Therefore, unlike in the Habsburgs’ case, we will apply a preferential policy. After all, we are allies.”

“Allies… Does that mean you will give us a discount?”

“That could be one way. Or there are other things, such as technical support.”

“Is ‘everything you can provide’ not an option?”

“That would be rather difficult, wouldn’t it?”

With this, a blood-splattering round of bargaining began between the Empire and Italy.

***

The negotiations between the Empire and Italy were fierce. The Italian parliament members, most of whom were merchant aristocrats from the cities, fought to gain even the slightest advantage, while the Empire held fast to its ‘reasonable line’. And the upper hand belonged to the Empire.

“Don’t you worry that Italy might try to flip the table to change the situation?”

At his subordinate’s concern, the ambassador shook his head. “As long as the Habsburgs are receiving assault vehicles, the initiative is ours.”

“But, sir, the Empire has accepted almost none of Italy’s demands.”

“Is that not why I have continuously emphasized ‘balance’? If we provide technical support to the level Italy desires, the balance could be overturned. Therefore, our Empire cannot possibly agree to it.”

‘Of course, we can’t stop them from trying to reverse-engineer them after they’ve taken them apart. But the Habsburgs will do the same, and the Empire has no responsibility to manage the arms race that follows.’

Muttering this inwardly, the ambassador continued, “The Empire must, at most, make a show of generosity while handing over a reasonable amount.”

In the end, the negotiations between the Empire and Italy concluded exactly as the Empire had intended.

• A 30% discount compared to the Habsburg sales price.
• Technology transfer related to maintenance and repair.

From Italy’s perspective, it was a sorely lacking deal, but they had no choice. Florence, which had been aided by the assault vehicles, and Milan, which had tasted their sting, naturally wanted them. And Venice, which ground its teeth at the very mention of the Habsburgs, argued most powerfully for their acquisition.

Faced with the strong demands of the ‘Northern Italian Alliance’, which formed the core of the Italian economy, the Italian government had no alternative. Thanks to this, the Empire had secured its desired outcome rather easily.

“The Ministry of Finance will be pleased with this. It’s more profitable than melting them back down in the furnace, after all.”

***

Meanwhile, in Seoul, a war of words was erupting over the arms sales. The battle began when a pile of petitions was submitted to the throne.

“Many petitions are coming in regarding the sale of weapons.”

“Are there still people who criticize His Majesty the Emperor and the court for engaging in ‘lowly trade’, and in weapons of death at that? So much time has passed, yet the number of dogmatists never seems to decline.”

At the Head Royal Secretary’s words, the Left Deputy Royal Secretary replied with a troubled look. “There are some of those, sir, but the majority are not about that.”

“Not about that?”

“They are petitions arguing that selling weapons used by the Imperial Army endangers the Imperial Army, and thus it must be forbidden.”

“Hm?”

News that the Empire was selling powerful weapons, such as the Hae-eung Class, to other nations, including the European powers, had spread throughout the Empire via the Royal Gazette. As soon-as this became known, petitions opposing it began to flood in.

‘The weapons the Empire is currently selling to foreign lands are of incomparable power.’ ‘Looking at the might of these weapons, many of them could be a threat to our own Imperial Army.’ ‘The problem is that relations between nations cannot remain amicable forever. If a nation that bought the Empire’s weapons becomes hostile, the Imperial Army will be endangered.’ ‘Conclusion: The sale of weapons used by the Imperial Army to other nations must be forbidden. Those who, blinded by a few paltry coins, sell our weapons to foreign lands must be thrown into the Office of Records immediately!’

“Hmph…”

Hyeon and his ministers, having reviewed the petitions sent up from the Royal Secretariat, wore troubled expressions.

“The problem is that they’re not wrong,” Han Myeong-hoe assessed.

Hyeon nodded. “And that’s what makes it such a headache. Hmm… by the way, ‘Those who, blinded by a few paltry coins, sell our weapons to foreign lands must be thrown into the Office of Records immediately!’… Should I be the first one to enter the Office of Records?”

Before Hyeon had even finished speaking, the ministers, led by Han Myeong-hoe, raised their voices in unison.

“We shall order these wretches to be arrested at once!”

“We shall interrogate them and determine if they harbor seditious intentions!”

The ministers’ outcry, however, was waved away by Hyeon. “That’s enough. They are merely of a different opinion, so there is no need to punish them. Of course, they are not unaware that I was the one who gave the royal assent…”

At Hyeon’s subtly contradictory words, all the ministers muttered to themselves. ‘What are we supposed to do with that!’ ‘Which tune does he want us to dance to!’

While the ministers were grumbling internally, Hyeon began to speak. “It is self-evident that the Imperial Army’s weapons are lethal to the Imperial Army. I am not unaware of this. However, there are already one or two nations that have created weapons lethal to our army. To provide the Empire’s arms to neighboring countries who are threatened by them is the proper order of things.”

Hyeon paused to wet his throat before continuing. “Head Royal Secretary, attend.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If we cannot provide a sword out of fear of being struck by the very sword we offered, how can we dare to call ourselves an Empire? I believe the Imperial Army is strong enough to handle this. Therefore, the people of the Empire should trust in me and in the Imperial Army. This is my sincere heart. Head Royal Secretary, publish this in the Royal Gazette and make it known throughout the Empire.”

“I obey your command!”

The moment the Head Royal Secretary replied, Han Myeong-hoe stepped forward and bowed his head. “The officers and soldiers of the Imperial Army will be overjoyed that Your Majesty trusts them so.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“The officers and soldiers will do their utmost to repay Your Majesty’s faith.”

Following Han Myeong-hoe, General Jang Hang-seon and the Minister of National Defense bowed and added their agreement. Their inner thoughts, however, were slightly different.

‘We’re going to be so busy our mouths will run dry for a while.’

And later, the soldiers of the Imperial Army, regardless of rank, who heard of Hyeon’s remarks through rumors or the Royal Gazette, all wore the same expression and spat out curses.

“What in the goddamn hell!”

“His Majesty said that, so they’re going to drill us to death to ‘repay his faith’! It’s going to be hell for a while!”

“What kind of moron submitted that kind of petition!”

***

While the Imperial soldiers were groaning, Hyeon went to visit Hyang.

“If it were up to me, I would have liked to tell them our true intentions, but I forced myself to hold back.”

At Hyeon’s words, Hyang smiled softly. “Because if you had, our entire scheme would have been exposed?”

“Precisely. It would have been satisfying, but adding unnecessary variables to the equation would have been worse.”

The weapons the Empire was selling off, starting with the Hae-eung Class, were mostly weapons being relegated to second-line status. In other words, they were dangerous, but the Empire already possessed the means to counter them.

What Hyang and Hyeon were more concerned with was reducing the emergence of ‘unknown variables’.

‘The moment they receive the weapons we hand over, they will thoroughly analyze them and attempt to replicate them.’ ‘In the process of trying to replicate them, they will go through all sorts of trial and error, and all of this will become experience for them.’ ‘And based on that experience, they will create their own unique versions.’ ‘Most of the experience they gain is on a path the Empire has already walked. Therefore, even if they create something new, the Empire can find a countermeasure more easily.’ ‘However, if the Empire hides everything, they will be forced to forge their own path from the very beginning. This increases the likelihood that they will discover an unexpected path that the Empire never even considered.’ ‘If such an unexpected path emerges, the Empire will have to expend several times the effort to find a countermeasure.’ ‘Therefore, we leak them just enough.’

The ministers had agreed with this decision by Hyeon and Hyang, and so they had been “leaking” appropriate bait in accordance with the changing political situation in Europe.

“By the way,” Hyeon said, “I don’t think France will sit still when they find out we’ve sold assault vehicles to the Habsburgs.”

Hyang replied with a cynical look. “Even if we hadn’t sold it to them, they would have built something similar. They already got a bitter taste of it in Italy. It’s only human nature to want others to taste the same bitterness you have, isn’t it?”

“That is true. Still… something about what France is doing in Lorraine looks very familiar.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”