The moment Lorenzo finished speaking, Cosimo’s reaction was to click his tongue.

“Tsk!”

As soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, not only Lorenzo but even Giovanni shrank like turtles withdrawing into their shells.

***

After the story spread that ‘that great sage and emperor from the distant East’ clicked his tongue whenever ministers made mistakes, tongue-clicking became fashionable among European kings and monarchs.

It was evaluated as a very elegant action that could intimidate ministers without cursing or showing anger.

However, before long, the number of kings and monarchs clicking their tongues greatly decreased.

That problematic ‘Eastern sage’ had the insight, knowledge, and wisdom to click his tongue and then point out ministers’ mistakes and teach them the answers.

In other words, clicking one’s tongue was boasting of having insight, knowledge, and wisdom sufficient to overwhelm ministers, and if one couldn’t satisfy these conditions, they would only embarrass themselves.

The problem was that Cosimo possessed sufficient insight, knowledge, and intellect to click his tongue without embarrassment.

Therefore, as soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, not only Lorenzo but even Giovanni shrank like turtles.

***

“Tsk tsk tsk… Growing the army with funds secured from annexing other cities? And using that grown army to annex even more regions? Did I hear correctly?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Then where will you start annexing? Which is most promising?”

“That’s still…”

“You fool! North or south! Tell me right now! Right now!”

Pressed by Cosimo’s intensity, Lorenzo answered urgently.

“N-north! North!”

“Really north?”

“Yes! The northern cities are wealthy, so they’ll be sufficiently helpful!”

“You fool!”

Cosimo berated Lorenzo without hiding his angry emotions.

• Venice is under the Holy Roman Empire’s protection, and Genoa is under Spain’s protection. Is that all? Milan is under France’s protection.
• The moment the standing army you’ve worked hard to build attacks one of those cities, the countries behind them will mobilize their armies.
• You’ll have to consume large amounts of the standing army you’ve painstakingly cultivated to block the great powers’ offensives.
• Even if you’re lucky enough to block their offensive and gather funds and people from the annexed city to rebuild your forces, it’s still a problem. Those cultivated forces will have to be deployed to defend the northern border.
• In the end, to annex Italy’s southern regions, our Florence’s funds and blood will be needed again, in even greater amounts.

At Cosimo’s criticism, Lorenzo immediately changed direction.

“T-then the south…”

“Have you forgotten who’s behind Naples and Sicily? And the south is mostly farmers who only farm. How much money do you think it’ll cost to drag ignorant farmers and turn them into soldiers? Don’t forget what you said about the ‘age of guns and cannons.’ It doesn’t end with just dragging them in and handing them a spear!”

As Cosimo’s criticisms continued, Lorenzo’s head hung lower and lower.

Looking at Lorenzo, Cosimo put away the whip he’d been wielding enthusiastically and offered the carrot of ‘advice.’

“Of course, the ‘Italian unification’ that you and those dreamers you hang around with talk about isn’t bad. If it succeeds, it would be profitable.”

“Then…”

At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo looked at him with a face holding a thread of hope.

“But the plan you just described is literally a delusion. The only salvageable parts are education and cultivating a standing army. You’ve left out administration and politics.”

“Politics…”

“Deal with those holding our family back first. Either sweet-talk them into joining our side or eliminate them. Dealing with those making noise inside is the first priority.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Next is diplomacy. Win over the backers of other cities. You don’t need to win them all over. You just need to properly win over one country.”

“Which country?”

“Tsk!”

“Y-yes, sir! I’ll think about it myself!”

“Don’t immediately act on it—don’t forget to report to me first!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Finally, find someone suitable as the monarch of unified Italy.”

“What?”

When Lorenzo looked surprised at the unexpected words, Cosimo chuckled and looked at him.

“Why? Did you want to become the king of unified Italy?”

“…”

Seeing Lorenzo affirm through silence, Cosimo shook his head slightly and continued.

“As long as you carry the name ‘Medici,’ becoming king of Italy is impossible. There are more than a few who would view Italian unification positively but immediately turn against it upon hearing the name ‘Medici.’ That’s reality.”

“Ah…”

At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo unconsciously nodded.

In the process of dominating Florence and competing with other cities, those holding grudges against the Medici family had steadily increased.

If Lorenzo de’ Medici stepped forward as a symbol of unification, they would certainly turn into enemies immediately.

Concluding that Cosimo’s point was valid, Lorenzo hid his disappointment and bowed his head.

“Yes, I understand.”

“It would be best to choose someone distant from Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. France is tied up with Suez, so we can appease them appropriately, but the other two aren’t.”

“Would it be possible to find someone with no connections to those three countries?”

Lorenzo asked, unable to hide his difficulty. During this period, among those with any power and reputation in Italy, none existed without connections to those three countries.

This was the reality of Italy, which had been divided for over a thousand years.

Even while fighting the Hundred Years’ War with England, France exerted influence in Italy, and the Habsburgs of the grandly-named Holy Roman Empire were the same. Even Spain, just emerging as a new power, had its spoon in Italy through the Kingdom of Aragon, a member of the united kingdoms.

To Lorenzo’s question, Cosimo’s answer was simple and clear.

“If there isn’t one, make one. With our Medici power, it’s possible.”

“…I understand.”

“And when you create one, make him a hero, but ensure he can’t escape our family.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“Did you think the Italian unification you spoke of would be easy? Hmm… In the ancient history of Cathay, the land where Ming now exists…”

***

While investigating information related to the Empire, Cosimo also came to know Chinese history.

It was because of various proverbs and idioms the Empire’s people used.

In the process of learning Chinese history this way, Cosimo encountered someone perfectly suited to his taste—no, someone who could be called his ideal type.

Lü Buwei.

For Cosimo, who dealt with European kings and nobles using money as a weapon, the existence of Lü Buwei and his accomplishments were extremely appealing.

“But my age is the problem.”

Unable to hide his regret at seeing himself now too old, Cosimo sought to realize his dream through Lorenzo.

***

“…Don’t forget. The greater the hero who becomes ‘Italy’s unifying monarch,’ the larger his shadow will grow, and in that shadow, our family can do even more.”

“I’ll keep it in mind!”

“Also, don’t ignore Lü Buwei’s end. Think of the moment the hero escapes Medici’s grasp as the end of the Medici.”

“I’ll keep it in mind!”

“That’s enough for Lorenzo… Giovanni.”

“Yes.”

When Cosimo called him, Giovanni answered with a tense face and looked at Cosimo.

“The idea of cultivating a standing army and raising officers to command it isn’t bad. But considering Lorenzo and his party’s opponents, quantity is still the problem. You can’t overcome differences in quantity with the same performance.”

“That’s right.”

“Among those present here, you’re closest to the Empire.”

“I’ll try to contact the Empire and work to import the Empire’s weapons.”

“It’s fine to introduce retiring rifles. But cannons and hwacha must be imports of what the Imperial Army currently uses. And put some effort into the matter of studying abroad at the military academy.”

To Cosimo’s orders, Giovanni answered honestly.

“I’ll do my best, but it won’t be easy.”

At Giovanni’s words, Cosimo immediately advised.

“Use France and Suez.”

“France and Suez? Will you transfer Suez shares to the Empire?”

When Cosimo mentioned ‘Suez,’ Giovanni immediately mentioned shares. At Giovanni’s question, Cosimo immediately frowned and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk!”

“I’m sorry!”

As soon as Cosimo clicked his tongue, Giovanni immediately shrank. Looking at Giovanni, Cosimo explained in more detail.

“Inform the Empire about France developing gunpowder. And emphasize that our Florence must survive to protect the Suez Railway shares.”

“Ah!”

At Cosimo’s explanation, Giovanni immediately understood and exclaimed.

Looking at the Suez Railway Company’s shares, the Empire took 40/100, and the rest was taken by France, the Ottomans, Portugal, and Florence.

Among these, Florence’s share was 11/100. Though the smallest share, where this share went changed who held the majority.

And Florence had used this point very well to secure their interests.

But France developing gunpowder was the problem. Freed from gunpowder restrictions, France could now force Suez’s share structure through strength.

The first thing to expect was crossing the Alps to pressure Florence.

Making Florence’s shares French, then pressuring Portugal, would change Suez’s dominance structure to a two-power system between the Ottomans and France.

Therefore, with just the news of gunpowder development, Florence could appeal its importance to the Empire.

Seeing Giovanni’s expression, Cosimo continued.

“As I said earlier, the Empire hates war. Because it costs a lot of money. But if they help our Florence, they can protect Suez’s profits with much less expenditure. Emphasize this point.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Giovanni answered with a much brighter face. Seeing Giovanni’s positive appearance, Cosimo turned to Lorenzo.

“Did you see? This is diplomacy and politics.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard!”

“Then get moving! The later each day, the more money we must spend! When expenditure increases, profit decreases!”

“Yes!”

At Cosimo’s urging, Lorenzo and Giovanni immediately said yes and left the bedroom.

Looking at the closed door, Cosimo turned his head to look at the map hanging on the wall.

Glaring at the Empire located in the east of the map, Cosimo let out a chuckle.

“How will they move? They probably expected this. But no matter how much they expected it, the shock is different when they actually hear it.”

Cosimo felt somehow pleased.