Despite significant differences in their ways of thinking and values, the instructors and Florentine administrators continued to cooperate to the best of their abilities.
As a result, the ‘Florentine Army’ finally revealed itself.
The newly unveiled Florentine Army numbered approximately 3,000. Among them, about 1,500 were cavalrymen who had changed careers from mercenaries to regular soldiers. The rest were infantry and artillery.
“Though when we say artillery, fire carts are still the main force…”
The instructors couldn’t hide their disappointment.
The Empire’s cannons were as expensive as they were effective. While they could use similar tricks as with the Florentine muskets, the time and cost involved would be considerable.
The amount of gunpowder required for a single shot was incomparably greater than that of muskets, and the Empire’s cannon manufacturing methods were several generations ahead of other nations.
Therefore, even for wealthy Florence, the Empire’s cannons were ‘pie in the sky.’
“Still, cannons are absolutely necessary… Let’s try to procure at least 10. Even if we can’t get them all at once.”
At the words of Giovanni, who was in charge of finances, Lorenzo responded with an expression full of regret.
“Will 10 be enough? Hasn’t the bank president always told me, ‘The secret to the Imperial Army’s constant victories was cannons, many cannons, even more cannons’?”
“Indeed I have.”
Giovanni readily nodded at Lorenzo’s words and added:
“However, finances are the issue. Let’s start with 10 for now. We’ll compensate for the lack of cannons by bringing in the Imperial Army. Since the Empire can’t even imagine war without cannons, they’ll bring sufficient numbers with them.”
At Giovanni’s words, Lorenzo nodded with a bright face.
“What an excellent method!”
Though there were unavoidable circumstances and tricks involved, the 1,500 infantry and artillery would serve as the foundation for the expanding Florentine Army.
They would become veterans and non-commissioned officers, leading the new recruits who would join later and conducting battles.
And the first group of 50 who would command them and devise operations were suffering in Seoul.
***
When they first received the officer candidates who would command the ‘New Florentine Army,’ the instructors at the Imperial Military Academy wore expressions of disbelief.
“Hmm…”
The instructor in charge, who had examined the roster of candidates several times, looked at the representative of the candidates standing before him and asked:
“Are those who have come to Seoul now ‘Florentine Army officer candidates’ or ‘commanders of the Medici family’s private army’?”
At the instructor’s question, the candidate representative answered with a slightly flushed face.
“They are officer candidates for the Florentine Army.”
“Then why are they all Medici?”
“Not all of them…”
“Not all?”
Among the 50 officer candidates who had come to Seoul, 30 bore the surname ‘Medici.’ This was why the instructor in charge was looking at the candidate representative with suspicious eyes.
“Explain properly. Our Imperial Army is cooperating in training officers to lead the Florentine Army. We are not cooperating in training the Medici family’s private soldiers.”
Under pressure from the instructor, the candidate representative explained the reason.
“Most of them are second sons of collateral branches, or illegitimate children.”
“Ah, I see.”
At the candidate representative’s brief answer, the instructor finally showed an understanding expression.
***
During this period, European inheritance practices followed primogeniture.
In the case of daughters, they were married off to influential families with substantial dowries, but for second sons and below, illegitimate children, and bastards, there was no such thing.
Of course, a family with the wealth and power of the Medici could find paths for non-eldest sons, collateral branches, illegitimate children, and bastards.
They would arrange positions in various businesses run by the family or send them to monasteries early, then use bribes to help them obtain positions as cardinals or bishops.
However, the further one got from the main line, the harder life inevitably became.
Therefore, as soon as they saw the official notice saying ‘Recruiting those who will become officers of the new Florentine Army,’ they applied in droves.
In an era when it was common for fallen nobles or noble sons with no inheritance to enter the mercenary trade, officer positions in a new army were very attractive.
Especially if the ‘great enterprise’ spoken of by their elders began and they could accumulate military merit, their lives would certainly be on the path to success.
“If I’m going to become a low-level bank clerk or spend boring time in a monastery, I’d rather join the army!”
***
While the instructor nodded at the candidate representative’s brief answer, he thought differently inside.
‘Our Empire also prohibited illegitimate children from holding office before the reforms, so I somewhat understand, but is that really all there is to it?’
From the Emperor down to his direct superiors, all those sitting in relatively high positions in the Empire had the same common trait:
- While pursuing one task, multiple purposes were hidden within it.
Simply put, even moving a single unit wasn’t just a simple troop movement. Multiple purposes were mixed in, such as the livelihood of villages near the unit’s garrison, ensuring the safety of roads connecting to other villages, and so on.
Having been steeped in this Imperial way of thinking, the instructor wondered, ‘Is that really all?’
“Hmm… I understand. Then unpack your belongings in your assigned quarters.”
“Yes!”
After dismissing the candidate representative, the instructor began writing a report on paper.
After recording the candidate representative’s answers, the instructor added his own thoughts:
- Presumed to be personnel selection to properly control the army that will possess the most powerful military force.
The instructor’s judgment was quite reasonable.
If they expanded according to plan and absorbed mercenaries, the Florentine Army would grow into an entity that could be called the strongest single military force in Florence, no, in all of Italy.
This could become the strongest card for the Medici family, but conversely, it could become the most threatening entity.
The best way to prevent this was to insert family members as commanders of the army.
However, simply inserting them wouldn’t be the right answer considering the great enterprise, so they sent them to study in the Empire.
The judgment was that talent filtered through the Empire could simultaneously achieve both goals of securing the family’s safety and accomplishing the great enterprise.
***
“Sounds plausible?”
The report containing the instructor’s analysis began moving upward according to the judgment of superiors.
Thanks to everyone making similar judgments, the report in question eventually reached Wan.
After reviewing the report from the Ministry of Defense, Wan looked at Hwangbo In.
“What do you think?”
“It’s a reasonable thought, Your Majesty. Throughout history, it’s common for armies to serve as strong shields, but with even the slightest mistake, they become daggers that stab oneself.”
At Hwangbo In’s answer, all the ministers nodded. Seeing the ministers’ reaction, Wan continued:
“Then what should our Empire do?”
“First, we must carefully select the wheat from the chaff among them. It would be troublesome if they held back the Empire when we intervene later. Next, we must engrave loyalty (忠) and trust (信) into their bones.”
“Indeed…”
While Wan was nodding, Kim Jong-seo added:
“While we’re engraving, we should also engrave absolute favor toward the Empire. The more our Empire’s influence touches Florence, the more people will dislike it. However, if the army is on the Empire’s side, they won’t dare raise their voices. Consider Japan, Your Majesty.”
At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Wan nodded greatly.
“Indeed so!”
***
During this period, Japan was so similar to the Empire that it was called the ‘Little Empire.’ If one were to pick the most similar aspects, first would be the Japanese royal family and court, followed by the Japanese military.
The Japanese royal family and court, filled with pro-Empire faction members, reformed the Japanese military to resemble the Imperial Army. This was to emphasize their legitimacy.
- The Japanese military is not a shogunate army commanded by samurai. It is the Japanese military that pledges loyalty to His Majesty the King and protects the people!
By instilling these new values, the Japanese military became Imperialized. And thanks to the ‘Subject Universal Conscription System,’ these values took root among ordinary Japanese people as well.
As a result, those calling for the revival of the fallen emperor after the last rebellion had vanished.
No, a small minority still remained in the shadows crying for ‘revival of the emperor system’ and ‘overthrow of the Japanese king,’ but there were no longer any who responded to them.
***
Nodding at Kim Jong-seo’s words, Wan looked at the Minister of Defense and gave orders:
“The military must teach the talents sent from Florence with utmost sincerity. It will benefit both our Empire and Florence if they establish themselves as capable commanders.”
“I will keep this deeply in mind.”
“Properly engrave loyalty and trust in them.”
“I receive your command! I will do my utmost to engrave it properly!”
And Field Marshal Jang’s response was immediately put into action. The commander candidates from Florence were drilled until they could taste blood in their mouths.
This was unavoidable.
From the Empire’s perspective, their military knowledge was outdated.
“If I had my way, I’d keep you here for about 10 years and teach you from scratch, but we don’t have that time! So from now on, follow along prepared to die! If you fall behind, I’ll send you straight back to Florence!”
This was no empty threat. As one or two continued to be expelled, those remaining had to catch up with the curriculum truly prepared to die.
What tormented the candidates wasn’t just academics alone.
- Special class for Florentine exchange students: ‘What is the Proper Attitude of a Soldier?’
Through special classes for Florentine exchange students ‘only,’ the Empire’s instructors injected ‘loyalty and trust’ with frightening intensity.
Of course, they didn’t only wield the whip. Whenever proper results were achieved, the instructors provided sufficient rewards.
Not only that, on holidays they took the candidates to see demonstrations of weapons used by the Imperial Army or showed them training processes, and after events ended, they held banquets.
As time passed, the exchange students sent from Florence changed according to the Imperial Army’s intentions.
Those who remained after careful selection showed the potential of useful commanders even in the eyes of the Imperial Army’s senior commanders.
Also, through the special classes conducted alongside various reward measures, they had become more pro-Empire than anyone.
But there were side effects.
- 10 cannons? Are you joking? The more cannons the better! Battle is about firepower!
- Only 10,000? Recalculating here, I believe up to 40,000 is possible! We need at least 40,000! For the success of the great enterprise, we absolutely need that many!
Every time they read letters sent from Seoul, Giovanni and Lorenzo put their hands to their foreheads.
“What on earth are they learning in the Empire?”
“Should we have sent them to the Ministry of Finance instead of the military academy…”
However, whenever they heard rumors about this, the instructors and the Ministry of War grinned and said:
“Those fellows have learned properly.”
“When those fellows come, we might be able to do together what we couldn’t do because of those Ministry of Finance bastards?”