Of course, Cosimo wouldn’t be Cosimo if he just lay in bed swallowing his regrets.
As soon as he recognized what traps lay hidden in the ‘Imperial goodwill’ shown in the negotiation treaty Giovanni had brought, Cosimo summoned Lorenzo and Giovanni.
“…I believe this is what the Empire is aiming for.”
“Ah…”
“Oh no…”
At Cosimo’s observation, Lorenzo and Giovanni wore expressions of sudden realization.
Especially Giovanni, who had returned gleefully claiming he’d gained great benefits from negotiations with the Empire, now reproached himself with a stricken face.
“I apologize! I was foolish! If I had realized such traps were hidden, I would have preemptively blocked them!”
At Giovanni’s self-reproach, Cosimo waved his hand.
“No, even if you had known, you would have had to accept.”
“Even if we had known beforehand?”
At Lorenzo’s question, Cosimo nodded.
“That’s right. For that ‘great undertaking’ you mentioned to succeed, Florence’s strength alone is insufficient. We inevitably need outside assistance. Thinking that way, the Empire is a good partner.”
“Then should we just let this matter pass?”
“It’s a matter of initiative.”
“Initiative?”
“We Florentines, as Italians, are undertaking this on Italian soil. However, if we relax our vigilance even slightly, Florence will lose the initiative and become the Empire’s mercenaries. Well, considering the Empire’s situation and the character of its emperors, they won’t swallow this Italy. But all we’ll be able to claim is glory. The glory of being ‘the protagonists of Italian unification.'”
“Ah…”
At Cosimo’s words, Lorenzo and Giovanni’s faces brightened as if they finally understood.
Watching the two, Cosimo continued.
“Most situations involving the Empire in unification matters will be ones where we knowingly pretend to be deceived. But you must never forget that if you’re truly deceived, from that point on you’ll just be dragged along.”
“Yes.”
“For now, let’s accept the ‘Imperial goodwill.’ The development of Livorno’s port and the construction of railways connecting to Florence are absolutely necessary. When the Empire offers to do expensive work with their own money, there’s no need to refuse.”
Lorenzo and Giovanni nodded at Cosimo’s words.
“That’s right.”
“It’s profitable for us.”
“Then, using this incident as a lesson, properly engage with the Empire. Now I’d like to rest a bit.”
“Yes.”
Left alone in his bedroom, Cosimo gazed at the closed door and muttered.
“Both fellows are just a bit lacking in experience, not stupid, so they should manage well.”
However, after seeing the Imperial ambassadors who had visited him, Cosimo’s expression grew serious.
“It won’t be easy. They’ve sent shrewd, experienced fellows.”
***
Whether they knew of Cosimo’s concerns or not, Lorenzo and Giovanni were engaged in a push-and-pull game with the Imperial ambassadors.
“Where are you thinking of establishing the embassy?”
At Lorenzo’s question, Shin Sukju stroked his chin briefly before answering.
“We’re thinking of the San Donino area.”
At Shin Sukju’s answer, Lorenzo, checking the location while examining the map, slightly hardened his expression.
“That’s rather far from here.”
“That it is.”
Shin Sukju calmly nodded at Lorenzo’s observation. There was considerable distance between San Donino, where the Empire intended to build the embassy, and the Medici Palace here.
“Wouldn’t it be better to build near the palace here? There will be many matters to discuss in the future.”
At Lorenzo’s point, Shin Sukju shook his head.
“That’s precisely why we must move it further to the outskirts. There must be many spies from other cities and nations hidden here in Florence. We must consider their eyes.”
“Even so…”
“There are other problems besides that. The roads around this Medici Palace are too narrow and complex. And the biggest problem is that there’s a cathedral right in front, isn’t there? How many years has it been since His Majesty of our Empire requested an answer?”
“Ah…”
At Shin Sukju’s point, Lorenzo was left speechless.
The ‘ancestral rites issue’ that Hyang had sent to the Vatican during his time as Crown Prince still had no answer.
When an answer had just arrived, many debates erupted over this issue, and with the complex internal situation at the time, religious disputes had broken out.
And now…
‘How many people even remember that issue? The Empire hasn’t properly pressed for it since then.’
There had been mentions of this issue through students studying in Seoul or professors recruited to research institutes. However, since it wasn’t official pressure from the Empire, it hadn’t been officially discussed again at the Vatican.
Having thought that far, Lorenzo answered Shin Sukju.
“I have many acquaintances at the Vatican regarding that matter, so I’ll work to ensure a decision is made as quickly as possible.”
“Our Empire is in no hurry, so handle it as you see fit.”
“However, no matter how I think about it, San Donino is too far.”
“Even if it’s far, it’s quick if we travel by horse. And if we float boats on the Arno River, we can avoid others’ eyes.”
“Ah…”
“Also, though I didn’t mention it earlier, seeing the houses and roads near the Medici Palace on the way here, the disease problem…”
Shin Sukju trailed off slightly, but Giovanni interjected with a flushed face.
“We too are working to solve the sanitation problems in the city center and residential areas. Of course, it’s not yet as good as Seoul, but we’ll catch up soon.”
“I’m not criticizing. However, the officials who will work at the embassy won’t be coming alone – their families number more than a few, and among them are many young children, which is why we chose San Donino.”
Completely outmaneuvered in justification, Lorenzo had no choice but to wave the white flag.
“Then San Donino would be best. What scale are you planning?”
“That part would be best decided after directly inspecting San Donino.”
“Then let’s do that.”
***
After recovering from their journey fatigue at the guesthouse prepared in the Medici Palace, Shin Sukju’s group headed to the San Donino area guided by Florentine officials.
Looking at the scenery outside through the carriage windows, Shin Sukju, Seong Sam-mun, and Yu Eungbu all grimaced deeply.
“Looking at it again, the conditions are too poor. Even the back alleys of Ming or Japan would be cleaner compared to this.”
“I agree. In these conditions, even healthy people would fall ill.”
“If an epidemic breaks out, it’s over. Even the temporary barracks built during the previous Liaodong War would have been cleaner than this.”
The streets of Florence visible outside were overflowing with filth everywhere, and the wind coming through the windows carried a foul stench.
However, the three didn’t know.
That Florence was actually in relatively good condition.
Most major Italian cities had origins dating back to Roman times. Thanks to this, most Italian cities had water and sewage systems.
The problem was that they merely ‘existed.’
As Roman technology disappeared, proper maintenance ceased, and the cities’ water and sewage systems fell into disrepair. The first to disappear were the water supply facilities symbolized by aqueducts.
At least the sewage systems held up to some degree, but not 100%.
Therefore, Florence’s streets had become the mess they were now.
“Even for survival’s sake, we must establish ourselves in the San Donino area.”
Seong Sam-mun and Yu Eungbu agreed with Shin Sukju’s words through their silence.
***
Arriving in the San Donino area, Shin Sukju’s group surveyed the surroundings and wore satisfied expressions.
“Good…”
“It’s a decent area.”
“Good for evacuation in emergencies too.”
At this time, the San Donino area was a rural village located on the outskirts of Florence.
Thanks to the small resident population, compensation costs could be reduced.
From a military perspective, using the Arno River right in front, they could move directly to Livorno. Conversely, they could also move directly from Livorno to Florence.
Even if the railway were cut, Imperial forces could move using the Arno River.
“Come to think of it, the person dispatched from the railway construction seemed to have many complaints…”
At Shin Sukju’s words, Yu Eungbu immediately answered.
“He started sighing after looking at the Arno River map our military provided. Asking why it was so twisted. The mountain range visible in the distance is also a problem. The best method would be to lay tracks along the river, but with it twisted like that, he just kept sighing that the iron horses wouldn’t achieve proper speed.”
Shin Sukju’s face grew serious at Yu Eungbu’s words.
“Then isn’t this a serious problem?”
“So he said he had thought of several methods.”
“Hmm… They’re the ones who know best about railways…”
***
The railway construction company employees were the most knowledgeable about railway construction and maintenance. They could find answers and complete railways even in sigh-inducing situations.
Though outsiders didn’t know, within the railway construction company, there was something veterans told newcomers first.
“If you don’t do it properly, Duke Jinpyeong comes immediately. Can you withstand Duke Jinpyeong’s glare? During the railway construction in the northern territories before, a tiger blocked the way, but when the Duke glared at it once, it pissed itself and died. Can you handle that?”
“I’ll do my best!”
“Remember. ‘More fearsome than tigers or smallpox is Duke Jinpyeong. And more fearsome than him is his older brother.’ Understand?”
“His older brother… Ah!”
***
Since they liked the San Donino area they had selected, the ambassadors immediately began follow-up work.
Using Florentine officials as intermediaries to purchase the area, the ambassadors soon called in those who would handle construction.
Those in charge of constructing the Imperial embassy and Imperial residents’ quarter in the San Donino area were Imperial trading company workers and Imperial Army engineer officers disguised as company employees.
The engineer officers precisely surveyed major traffic routes and nearby areas under the pretext of paving the road from San Donino to Florence.
Subsequently, surveyors dispatched from the railway construction company moved along the Arno River conducting surveys.
And copies of all these results were immediately made and sent to Seoul.
In Seoul, employees from the railway construction company headquarters and officers from the Ministry of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff wrestled with these copies.
Railway construction employees pondered how to lay more efficient tracks, while Imperial Army officers pondered how to efficiently move Imperial forces.
“Which branch should we send first?”
“Artillery! Artillery!”
“It’s true that cannons are important, but…”
“Artillery! Artillery!”
“Shut up for a bit!”
“Artillery! Artillery!”
“Since it’s already established that artillery is central, I said shut up! This is why people call us the ‘Cannon Department’ outside!”
The main force of the Imperial Army, especially the army, was undoubtedly the artillery.
‘From farther away than others, with a more powerful shot than others – no, unleash everything we have! That’s the path to victory.’
This was the Imperial Army’s doctrine.
Therefore, what the Imperial Army officers were pondering now was which branch to send first as support units for the artillery units.