The negotiations were fierce.
Representatives from the Portuguese-Ottoman-French alliance and the Mamluk-Spanish-Holy Roman Empire coalition engaged in intense verbal battles.
While all agreed to end the war, neither side had achieved their initial objectives.
-Complete control of Egypt through the destruction of the Mamluks -Control of Mediterranean naval supremacy -Monopoly over trade routes to the Empire
These were the alliance’s pre-war objectives.
-Expulsion of allied forces invading the Mamluks -Control of Mediterranean naval supremacy -Securing Empire trade routes held by Portugal
These were the coalition’s objectives for entering the war.
Both sides entered peace negotiations without achieving 100% of these goals.
Interestingly, none of the Italian city-states were among those at the negotiating table.
This was due to the nature of Italian city-states. As symbolized by the Medici of Florence, Italian commercial city-states traded with all European nations.
The moment they sat at the negotiating table aligned with either the alliance or coalition, trade with opposing nations would be forfeit.
“Of course, if the alliance had won decisively, we would have proudly taken our place. But when things end this ambiguously, we have no choice but to stay in the shadows.”
Cosimo’s complaint represented the sentiments of the Italian city-states at the time.
Of course, both the alliance and coalition knew which Italians had allied with their opponents. However, as long as it wasn’t officially revealed, pretending not to know was the correct answer.
This was because the Italian city-states’ capital power was essential to them as well.
However, seeing Italy’s situation, some began to worry about its future.
***
Those concerned about Italy’s future first appeared at the University of Florence.
Since the Empire first emerged with the nickname “Country of Flowers,” there had been a group of scholars who took interest and began observing.
They learned more and more about the Empire through letters sent by monks who later established positions in the Empire’s research institutes.
When the Empire opened its doors, it was an opportunity given by heaven to these scholars.
The scholars of the University of Florence made desperate efforts not to miss this chance to actually see the Empire they had only read about and imagined through texts.
They promoted themselves through various channels to join delegations organized for touring the Empire, and later used every means possible to secure positions as supervising professors for exchange students.
After visiting the Empire and observing its actual state and the situations of neighboring countries like Ming and Wa, these scholars gradually became concerned about the future of their hometown Florence and Italy.
***
-Though overshadowed by the Empire, the Empire remains constantly wary of Ming.
-Ming, formerly called Kitai, can rightfully be called the largest country in both the East and Europe. It boasts the largest territory, population, and market size.
-In contrast, while the Empire has powerful military strength, technology, and economic power comparable to Ming, it lags behind Ming in both population and territory.
-Well aware of this fact, the Empire actively encourages high birth rates.
-Beyond encouraging childbirth, they actively subjugate indigenous peoples in surrounding regions.
-The most distinctive feature of the Empire’s indigenous policy is that they don’t treat indigenous people as slaves. Just as Italian cities treat escaped serfs as equal citizens, the Empire treats them as equal imperial citizens.
-The Empire treats imperial citizens and indigenous people equally, and even provides opportunities for advancement to those of indigenous origin, thereby addressing their talent recruitment needs.
-This is similar to the policies of ancient Rome, both during the Republic and Empire periods. Through these policies, Rome was able to maintain its powerful dominion.
After observing the Empire and its neighboring countries—especially Ming—the scholars applied these findings to compare with their own situation in Italy.
-Looking at the current situation in Italy and Europe, Italian city-states dominate European economy.
-However, even our proud Florence, considered the strongest among city-states, is just a single city in the small region of Italy.
-Looking at surrounding kingdoms, they have five or six cities the size of Florence, territory several times larger, and populations dozens of times greater.
-Of course, most such countries are divided into large and small independent territories and cities like Italian city-states.
-However, some places like England and France have begun completing unification as single nations.
-France is the most concerning country.
-Among European countries, France has the largest territory.
-The French people have developed a sense of belonging as French.
-If they actively pursue national prosperity and military strength based on people united by this sense of belonging, France will soon become Europe’s strongest power.
-Not only is becoming the strongest difficult, but maintaining that position is also no easy task.
-The easiest method is creating political and economic vassal states.
-From this perspective, Italy is the optimal prey. Maintaining the strongest position requires substantial funds, and Italian city-states are the optimal source of funding.
-Though our proud Florence and those damned Genoa and Venice are powerful, they are weak compared to France as a whole.
-If France attempts to defeat them one by one, Italian city-states will fall helplessly.
-Therefore, Italian unification is inevitable to avoid such a tragic outcome.
-If Italy, birthplace of great Rome, unifies, it can establish itself as another European superpower.
Scholars who reached these conclusions began advocating for “Italian Unification.”
However, city-state leaders showed lukewarm reactions to their claims.
Even Cosimo de’ Medici, known for his excellent foresight regarding the future, responded thus:
“Indeed, the possibility is high. But you see, France hasn’t achieved complete unity yet. And if France attempts such things, England and the Holy Roman Empire won’t sit idle. If such things happen, we can use those two. Just as we’ve always done.”
The scholars naturally objected to Cosimo’s words.
“If unified as one Italy, such things wouldn’t happen at all!”
To the scholars’ objection, Cosimo smiled and pointed out the problem.
“Your argument is correct in principle. But here’s the thing. There’s a biggest problem. Who do you envision as the monarch to unify Italy? Me? True, I am a seasoned politician. But I’m a politician and merchant, not of royal caliber. Then who would you make monarch? The tyrants of Genoa or Venice? The Pope of Vatican, since you spoke of Rome’s revival? Who would you make monarch? No, do Italians even have awareness of themselves as Italians now? Even I only think of myself as Florentine?”
“…”
The scholars fell silent at Cosimo’s points. Looking at these scholars, Cosimo concluded:
“United Italy? Nice words. But I’ll say again, Italy isn’t ready yet. And regarding French invasion, though the possibility is considerable, considering France’s current situation, it’ll take at least 100 years.”
The scholars had no choice but to withdraw at Cosimo’s words.
However, this was Cosimo’s misjudgment.
In the history before Hyang’s intervention, France’s invasion of Italy began in 1494.
This invasion marked the beginning of Italy’s tragedy. It revealed that while Italian city-states were economically prosperous, they were militarily vulnerable. Afterward, Italy became the stage for European powers’ hegemonic competition and was torn apart.
Less than 50 years remained until then. Moreover, no one knew what butterfly effect the variables of Hyang and the Empire would bring.
Another characteristic was that the movement advocating for “United Italy” surfaced earlier than expected.
It was pulled forward by almost 400 years from the “First Italian War of Independence” of 1849 in the history before Hyang’s intervention.
This marked the birth of the political ideology that would later be called “Risorgimento” (revival, resurgence), borrowed from the scholars’ advocated “Revival of Rome.”
***
While such movements circulated within Italy, negotiations continued tediously.
“Your demands are unacceptable!”
“Are your demands made in your right mind?”
“What? Think you can say whatever you want?”
“Look who’s talking!”
Every meeting saw shouting matches, and occasionally fists pounding on tables and fingers pointing.
Seeing these scenes, the soldiers guarding the negotiation venue, regardless of alliance or coalition, all had the same thought:
‘Damn it! Stop arguing and fight it out properly! Whether with fists or swords, wouldn’t it be easier to just do what the winner says!’
The peace negotiations that caused such serious stress to the soldiers finally reached a conclusion after half a year.
- The Mamluks abandon territories taken by allied nations.
- Portugal and Spain cease attacks on each other’s African colonies.
- Cease attacks on opposing ships in the Mediterranean.
After agreement on several other minor points was reached, the allied and coalition nations signed the peace document and declared an end to the war.
“Has peace now begun?”
Many who heard the news thought of peace, but those who examined the contents more carefully shook their heads.
“Spain and Portugal will continue fighting.”
“Why? They agreed to stop colony attacks and ship attacks in the Mediterranean.”
“The most important East African coast is missing.”
“Ah…”
This was true.
The East African coast was one of the “Golden Routes.” Ships loaded with African gold, silver, ivory, and slaves moved along the East African coast.
And the treaty omitted any mention of ceasing hostilities on this route.
In some sense, this aligned with both countries’ interests.
-Attacking colonies requires preparing for significant losses, but ships are different, right?
***
After the treaty took effect, officials from Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, France, and Florence gathered again.
“Well then! Let’s discuss this Suez transit route.”
“Let’s do that.”
“First, is a waterway really the only answer?”
At the first agenda item, all participants—especially Europeans—became serious.
This was because they had experienced what the desert was like during the recent war.
“I think using slaves as initially discussed would result in too much loss in both time and cost.”
“Then the iron horse after all?”
“That would be the best solution, but…”
As the Portuguese representative trailed off, the Florentine representative expressed everyone’s feelings:
“Isn’t it problematic that we must use the Empire’s iron horses and rails? Like during the war, the Empire will earn the biggest profits.”
“‘Only the Empire’ making money would be the correct way to put it.”