In a way, the most dramatic transformation in the history altered by Hyang’s intervention was that of Cosimo de’ Medici.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Cosimo de’ Medici—or rather, the Medici family—was one of Europe’s wealthiest households.

However, this was merely a case of “all that glitters is not gold.”

They invested wealth in constructing various public facilities under the guise of “returning wealth to society,” and beyond this, they invested their fortune in numerous construction projects.

Most of these ventures ended in failure.

Additionally, they consumed massive war funds in conflicts between city-states and spent substantial political capital courting monarchs of other nations, gradually crumbling from within.

However, by actively intervening in the history that began changing with Hyang’s involvement, Cosimo’s history and the Medici family’s history were transformed.

The greatest change was that the Medici Bank, which had been increasingly running deficits, began recording profits and became much more stable.

Behind this transformation was, naturally, the Empire.

Initially, they began profiting by selling goods from the ‘Land of Flowers’ in Europe. Judging that significant money could be made from this trade, Cosimo actively jumped into intermediary commerce.

Compared to the already saturated spice and slave trade markets, intermediary trade with the ‘Land of Flowers’ still lacked major competitors.

Thanks to Cosimo’s bold decision, the Medici family could enjoy substantial profits through intermediary trade.

However, what enabled them to obtain the most enormous and permanent profits was the Suez Railway.

***

As time passed, the intermediary trade market was also becoming saturated.

Goods from the ‘Land of Flowers’ ranged from ultra-expensive luxury items to affordable products anyone could purchase, maintaining stable demand. The problem was that the market became saturated as suppliers multiplied.

This was thanks to prominent nations like England, the Habsburgs, and Spain jumping into trade with the Empire.

Naturally, to protect their own merchants, these nations imposed heavy tariffs on foreign merchants or prohibited their entry.

However, these nations also had to use the Suez Railway to bring goods into their countries. Otherwise, they would not only consume enormous amounts of time but also have to accept losses from storms or pirate attacks.

Conversely, using the railway could significantly reduce transport time and greatly decrease the risk of encountering pirates.

Of course, pirates were also following this movement and shifting their base of operations to the Suez region, but merchants could receive protection from the Alliance fleet stationed at Prince Henrique’s port.

Though the railway usage fees and fleet protection costs were substantial, they were reasonably priced considering the potential damage from pirate encounters.

Therefore, all Europeans trading with the Empire used the Suez Railway, and the Medici family could receive massive dividends.

And based on these incoming funds, the Medici Bank established itself even more solidly.

If the Medici Bank becoming healthier represented the family’s transformation, Cosimo’s personal fate also changed.

He lived much longer than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

What ironically helped Cosimo’s longevity most were the Empire’s ‘tonics’ and Hyang himself.

***

Not long after beginning trade with the Empire, Cosimo heard an interesting rumor.

“The officials of the ‘Land of Flowers’ are all quite elderly yet so vigorous?”

Hearing this rumor, Cosimo’s curiosity was piqued, and he issued an order.

“Verify if this is true.”

“Yes, Gonfaloniere.”

The merchant who received the order reported that the rumor was indeed true.

“It’s true. They say they regularly take ‘tonics.'”

“Tonics?”

“They call medicine that’s good for the body ‘tonics.'”

Hearing the merchant’s explanation, Cosimo immediately issued a new order.

“Obtain some of these tonics.”

“Yes.”

However, the merchant who returned later wore a troubled expression.

“Gonfaloniere. These ‘tonics’ aren’t something just anyone can buy.”

“Oh?”

The merchant’s explanation was as follows:

• Most medicinal ingredients in tonics can be purchased by anyone. However, to properly benefit from these ingredients’ medicinal properties, they must be combined. That’s what makes them tonics.
• But not just anyone can make these combinations. A well-trained physician must carefully examine the condition of the person needing tonics and adjust the types and proportions of ingredients according to their condition.
• Therefore, tonics aren’t something anyone can just come and buy freely.

Hearing the merchant’s story, Cosimo clicked his tongue.

“Do I need to go to the ‘Land of Flowers’ to meet a physician?”

“There are physicians at the ‘Land of Flowers’ trading posts staying in Alexandria.”

“Really? Then I should visit Alexandria after such a long time.”

Thus visiting Alexandria, Cosimo received a pulse diagnosis from a physician and was prescribed tonics.

“To think it takes over half a year just to get medicine…”

Looking at the medicine packets prepared according to the prescription, Cosimo gazed at the medicine pots placed beside them.

“What are these?”

“They’re used for boiling the tonics. Among those tonics, the ones tied with red string must use this silver pot, and the ones tied with blue string must use this ceramic one.”

“Complicated.”

“Therefore, I’ve hired someone from the ‘Land of Flowers.’ They’ll teach the servants how to boil the medicine for the next month.”

“Well done.”

Afterward, having properly experienced the tonics’ efficacy, Cosimo looked at the medicine bowl in his hand and exclaimed loudly.

“This is truly the elixir!”

From then on, Cosimo regularly visited Alexandria for physician examinations and obtained tonics.

When Hyang later heard about this, he muttered with an incredulous expression.

“Some are pondering how to create Western medicine, while others are shouting ‘Long live traditional medicine!’…”

Meanwhile, ministers who heard the same rumor muttered with peculiar expressions.

“The pinnacle of tonics isn’t what you ‘take’ but what ‘takes you’…”

Cosimo’s ‘love for tonics’ continued endlessly. Later, when Joseon transformed into the Empire, Hyang specially sent a royal physician to Cosimo.

“His Majesty the Emperor wishes for you to always remain in good health.”

“Please convey to His Majesty that I, Cosimo de’ Medici, leader of Florence, am sincerely grateful.”

Cosimo expressed genuine gratitude.

After carefully examining Cosimo’s pulse and writing a new prescription accordingly, the royal physician took out a small booklet from his robes and handed it to Cosimo.

“What is this?”

“It’s a health manual His Majesty created and distributed for the people’s health when he was Crown Prince.”

“Health manual? What’s that?”

“A book describing methods for maintaining health.”

Hearing the explanation through an interpreter, Cosimo examined the book’s cover again.

“It’s written in the Empire’s language?”

“Yes. It was distributed after the people became familiar with the phonetic script.”

“I see?”

After hearing the physician’s explanation, Cosimo handed the book to the interpreter.

“Translate it.”

Thus Hyang’s health manual, made even more famous by its subtitle ‘Do This and You Too Can Live Long Without Illness!’, began spreading throughout Europe.

***

Unlike its provocative subtitle, the content described how to live to maintain health—things like the importance of handwashing and bathing.

As part of his reforms, Hyang promoted strengthening public and personal hygiene.

Though public and personal hygiene had greatly improved through Sejong and Hyang’s efforts, to Hyang’s eyes, it was still full of deficiencies.

As time passed and the phonetic script was promulgated, and the people became familiar with it, Hyang had the health manual created.

“I’ve made it… but how can I capture the people’s attention?”

After such contemplation, Hyang attached that provocative subtitle.

And as Hyang expected, the health manual began spreading instantly.

***

After finishing his examination, Cosimo carefully made a request to the physician.

“Could you examine my son?”

The son Cosimo requested to be examined was his eldest, Piero.

He was worried about his eldest son, who had been weak since childhood and suffered from various illnesses.

“Hmm… Hah…”

After completing the pulse examination, the physician left the room and immediately sighed with a regretful expression.

“How is he?”

“Both his qi and spirit are greatly diminished.”

“Is there no good medicine?”

“Rest for both body and mind is the only medicine.”

“He’s the eldest son. He has much work to do.”

“Then it will only shorten his life.”

At the physician’s firm answer, Cosimo fell silent.

“…I understand. Thank you.”

Even after the physician departed, Cosimo pondered for a long time before finally reaching a conclusion.

“If this is the case, I have no choice but to change my plans. I’ll have to entrust it to Lorenzo…”

Cosimo’s plan had been to entrust politics to his eldest son Piero and the Medici Bank to his second son Giovanni.

However, with it proven impossible to hand things over to Piero, he chose Piero’s son Lorenzo as the next best option.

Following Cosimo’s decision, Lorenzo began receiving education as the political successor. Accordingly, famous scholars taught him humanities, philosophy, Greek, and Latin.

Beyond this education, when Cosimo visited the Pope in Rome or monarchs of other nations, Lorenzo accompanied him to learn practical skills.

While Lorenzo was learning theory and practice, Cosimo’s second son Giovanni was steadily establishing himself at the Medici Bank.

This Giovanni di Cosimo de’ Medici was also a change created by Hyang’s intervention.

***

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Giovanni died one year before Cosimo’s death.

Due to Giovanni’s death, contrary to Cosimo’s original plan, Piero had to take on everything. This significantly affected Piero’s deteriorating health and became the reason he died just five years after inheriting power.

It didn’t end there. The problem was that with no one to handle finance and commerce, Lorenzo had to take on these areas as well.

Lorenzo had talent in diplomacy and politics but was incompetent as a businessman. He couldn’t even read ledgers properly.

This problem brought about the Medici family’s downfall.

However, Giovanni survived.

The person who best understood the Medici family’s economic situation had survived.

This was a variable that occurred in the Medici family.

***

Against this backdrop, Cosimo had gotten involved with the gunpowder developed by France.

“…And so, the deal in Paris was successful.”

At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo and Giovanni’s faces brightened. Looking at their expressions, Cosimo continued.

“You both know well what needs to be done?”

To Cosimo’s question, Giovanni answered.

“I think we can make a good deal with Edward in London.”

“Gunpowder instead of gold coins… Not bad.”

At Giovanni’s response, Cosimo nodded, showing a positive reaction. Lorenzo, sitting beside him, felt the same.

England’s Edward IV was a troublesome—no, extremely unstable—client.

‘Be especially careful when lending money to kings or nobles.’

Edward IV was the person who demonstrated why this maxim passed down in the Medici family had been created.

***