Similar concerns were shared by the first wave of instructors who had arrived in Florence.
“To think they’re horrified by just ten thousand…”
“They’d faint if they heard stories of the Liaodong War.”
“They simply don’t believe it.”
***
Though Giovanni had already been briefed in Seoul, the Empire’s Ministry of Defense estimated that Florence could organize a standing army of 15,000.
At the time, the military officer reporting on this matter added the following:
“Of course, this is not precise. It’s based on rumors obtained from Imperial merchants who stayed in Florence and Italians who entered Imperial trading ports. If we obtain accurate population information from Florence and recalculate, the figures could change.”
True to those words, the instructors who arrived in Florence requested the problematic data from Florence city hall officials.
The officials who received the instructors’ request asked back with troubled expressions.
“Is this absolutely necessary right now?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We need to know exactly how many can be mobilized for the military to adjust the ratios between branches and coordinate training processes.”
“Sigh… Actually…”
At the instructors’ words, the officials let out long sighs with faces full of difficulty and explained what the problem was.
The instructors who heard the officials’ explanation wore dumbfounded expressions.
“How can it make sense that not only Florence but also the city halls and villages of subsidiary cities have no census registers? Then how do you collect taxes?”
“Tax collection is handled by district chiefs in the relevant areas, and village heads and tax collectors in villages.”
“Is accurate taxation possible that way? Even to us military outsiders, accurate tax collection and payment don’t seem possible.”
Though they spoke this way, those in charge of budget planning in the Empire knew taxation well regardless of department.
Because they needed to know exactly how much tax was coming in to not lose in the budget procurement wars waged against the Ministry of Finance.
Naturally, supply and administrative experts were included among the Imperial Army instructors dispatched to Florence.
Proper military operations required proper supply, and proper supply required accurate budget management.
At the instructors’ criticism, the officials answered with embarrassed expressions.
“We’re well aware of that problem. That’s why there’s a saying: ‘Those who know city dwellers’ situations best are moneylenders, and in rural areas, it’s priests.'”
“Why on earth?”
According to the Florentine officials’ subsequent explanation, the biggest causes of this situation were the low survival rate of residents—especially infants—and the poll tax.
When epidemics struck, mass deaths would follow, making census registers a mess. Also, though almost gone now, reducing the number of family members due to poll tax issues was commonplace.
Therefore, as the officials said, moneylenders in cities and priests in rural areas came to know residents’ situations best.
Moneylenders kept records for potential human trafficking in lieu of debts, while priests kept all records of births, deaths, marriages, and migrations through baptisms, last rites, and marriage ceremonies.
***
“Well…”
The instructors who heard the officials’ answers still wore dumbfounded expressions while crying out internally.
‘Is this even a country?!’
Though the instructors faced unexpected difficulties from the very start, they soon pulled themselves together and began seeking alternatives.
“Then please cooperate with the churches to secure accurate population data.”
“It won’t be easy. The priests will only cooperate with orders from the Vatican.”
“Phew…”
Forcibly suppressing their desire to grab collars at the officials’ answer, the instructors left city hall and returned to the guesthouse at the Medici Palace.
The ambassadors who received reports from the instructors frowned and looked at each other.
“How can a place that calls itself a country…”
“Proper census registers are absolutely necessary for proper education…”
While Shin Sukju and Seong Sam-mun were troubled, Yu Eungbu wore an expression of understanding.
“I heard our Empire was the same before the Founding Emperor began reforms. Wasn’t that why the first thing the Founding Emperor did was organize census registers and land records?”
“Ah…”
Shin Sukju and Seong Sam-mun nodded at Yu Eungbu’s words.
***
Even up to the early days of Sejong’s reign, Joseon’s census and tax administration at the time were a mess.
This was because enormous numbers of displaced people had emerged due to chaos during the transition from Goryeo to Joseon, Japanese pirate invasions, poor harvests, and epidemics.
Therefore, when reforms began, the first thing they focused all efforts on was organizing census registers and land records.
Full-scale reforms proceeded based on properly organized census registers.
***
Though the situation was difficult from the start, the ambassadors sought their own solutions.
“I’ll visit Lorenzo de’ Medici tomorrow and speak with him. Since he says he has many acquaintances at the Vatican, we might receive help.”
“Ah! Since one of the Medici family businesses is moneylending, wouldn’t that also help?”
Shin Sukju nodded at Seong Sam-mun’s suggestion. When Shin Sukju accepted the proposal, Seong Sam-mun continued.
“Then I’ll examine how Florence’s educational projects are progressing. If we roughly examine the number of children currently studying in schools and those who have completed their studies in Florence and the Florence region, we can estimate what size to set for the military.”
“That’s one way to do it.”
“Truly an excellent idea.”
Shin Sukju and Yu Eungbu couldn’t help but admire Seong Sam-mun’s thinking.
In the case of the Empire’s Four Citizens’ Schools, by the time students entered school, received education, and graduated, they were of age to be recognized as adults.
If Florence was similar, they could roughly infer how many males of appropriate age for military mobilization existed.
Following Seong Sam-mun, Yu Eungbu also spoke of what he would do.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll examine Florence’s military. Especially those mercenaries. Whether we can somehow use them, or need to separate wheat from chaff, or else have to cook them all… Phew.”
Stopping mid-sentence, Yu Eungbu let out a long sigh.
“No matter how I look at it, I’m worried we’ll have to use the last option.”
At Yu Eungbu’s lament, Shin Sukju asked with a face full of concern.
“Is it that bad?”
“Didn’t you see on the way here? Their appearance is fine, their armor gleams, but military discipline is a mess. I’m reminded of the European history books the Founding Emperor showed us. It said their ancestors, the Roman soldiers, were the strongest army under heaven who maintained strict military discipline, but their descendants are somehow… Tsk!”
Yu Eungbu clicked his tongue with a thoroughly dissatisfied expression.
He was displeased with the appearance of the mercenaries who had provided escort from Livorno to Florence.
The mercenaries employed by Italian cities were mostly composed of cavalry.
The appearance of cavalry moving on horseback, their chests covered with well-made plate armor and faces hidden by helmets, was truly imposing.
However, Yu Eungbu, who had built his career through battles large and small, frowned looking at them.
“What splendid decorative screens!”
The mercenaries escorting them gave off absolutely no scent of battlefield blood.
Each time they took a break along the way, Yu Eungbu carefully examined the mercenaries.
“Bah! Tsk!”
Each time, Yu Eungbu didn’t hide his discomfort, grimacing and clicking his tongue. And each time, the accompanying Florentine officials became restless.
“Is there some problem?”
“No. I’ve been sitting too long and it’s uncomfortable. Tsk!”
Having deflected thus, Yu Eungbu walked to where the instructors had gathered and conversed.
“What do you all think?”
At Yu Eungbu’s question, gesturing toward the mercenaries with his chin, the instructors answered with troubled expressions.
“They seem to ride horses well.”
“They march quite well too.”
“On the battlefield?”
“…”
The instructors answered Yu Eungbu’s question with silence.
“When I was your age, the Founding Emperor—ah! He was Crown Prince then. The Founding Emperor told us something. He said to become an army that ‘also’ marches well, not one that ‘only’ marches well. He also said that victory is the military’s foremost virtue.”
“Ah…”
At Yu Eungbu’s words, the instructors all nodded and reflected.
***
At the time Hyang said this to Yu Eungbu, he had muttered quietly on the way back.
“Come to think of it… When World War II had just broken out, didn’t an Italian military officer evaluate the German army that way? ‘Poor marching discipline’… Well, whether in movies or on the internet, the Italian army’s marching was unique.”
In the final part of a movie depicting the resistance of Europeans—plus Japan—isolated in Beijing during the ‘Boxer Rebellion,’ there was a scene showing the armies of imperialist powers entering Beijing.
In that scene, the Italian army was entering at a trot.
Also, on the 21st century internet, videos circulated of military bands from Italy’s ‘Bersaglieri’ playing while running at a trot.
Hyang, remembering the infamy of the Italian army during World War II—of course, excluding a few units including the Bersaglieri—had given warnings to Imperial Army officers.
***
Though already greatly disappointed on the journey from Livorno to Florence, Yu Eungbu still went out to inspect the mercenary units.
“Since there’s always a chance…”
Setting out on inspection with faint hope, Yu Eungbu headed to the mercenary unit’s garrison with Lorenzo de’ Medici.
“Welcome!”
Hearing that their employer had visited, the Condottiero commanding the unit rushed out to greet them.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed it has. And this person is… the Imperial Army from the rumors?”
At the Condottiero’s question upon seeing Yu Eungbu properly dressed in Imperial Army uniform, Lorenzo nodded and answered.
“This is Lord Yu Eungbu, Imperial ambassador and Imperial Army general.”
At Lorenzo’s introduction, the Condottiero politely paid his respects and introduced himself.
“I am Piero Colleone.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
After brief greetings ended, Yu Eungbu immediately got to the point.
“I’d like to see the unit’s training.”
“I’ll show you right away.”
The training of the Medici family’s mercenaries was spectacular. Cavalry in gleaming breastplates moved in formation like one body, repeatedly charging and withdrawing toward an imaginary enemy position.
The ground shook as numerous horses galloped, and the cavalry’s battle cries rang through the sky.
“What do you think?”
At Colleone’s question, Yu Eungbu answered briefly.
“They’re well trained.”
‘Damn! With just five fire carts, I could send them all to their graves!’
Whether he knew Yu Eungbu’s inner thoughts or not, Colleone responded with a confident expression.
“Right? I dare say there’s no one who can stand against my unit! I can even swear it before the Holy Mother!”
At Colleone’s question, Yu Eungbu asked with a calm face.
“Could you keep that promise even before cannons, fire carts, and arquebuses?”
“Pardon?”