As time passed, officer candidates who had gone to study in the Empire began returning one by one.

The returning candidates were classified as junior, intermediate, and senior officers.

There were two main criteria for assigning ranks to the candidates.

One was the transcripts submitted by the candidates, the other was when they returned from their studies.

The transcripts were certified by the Empire’s military academy. Some attempted forgery, but these idiots couldn’t escape the eyes of the instructors stationed in Florence.

“What do these morons think we are? Did they think they could fool the eyes of those who’ve been through the mill at the military academy?”

“No need to even look! Unconditional expulsion! They’re rotten from the start! They’re the type who’d sell weapons to the enemy!”

The instructors advocated for the expulsion of those who attempted fraud. However, Lorenzo, Giovanni, and those occupying the top positions of the Florentine Army thought somewhat differently.

“Still, they’re people who studied in the Empire and returned…”

“If these bastards go work as mercenaries for other cities, they could hand over our tactics and strategies wholesale. We need some countermeasure.”

“They may be idiots, but they’re still seeds of our family… We can’t just kill them all…”

“Considering the cost of feeding them, clothing them, and the allowances we’ve paid, simply discarding them would be an enormous waste!”

As these opinions became mainstream, the fate of the idiots in question was decided at the non-commissioned officer rank.

“Be grateful we’re even letting you live! If you want to become an officer, earn merit!”

The other criterion of ‘when they returned’ became a standard for a very simple reason.

“If they received proper education, there’s no reason to come back early, right?”

“They might have been so excellent that they shortened their time…”

“Was there anyone like that?”

“Not yet…”

Thus the candidates’ ranks were determined.

Next was the decision of their service branches.

• Those with the best grades go to artillery, next to engineering, then to supply.

***

As the Florentine Army command and officer corps were smoothly established, next came the expansion of the army’s scale.

Based on the Medici family’s capital and the defense budget allocated from the budget, the Imperial Army instructors and Florentine Army command expanded the army’s size.

“It’s too slow…”

“But we can’t speed things up according to our desires either. Budget is an issue, and there are too many watching eyes.”

Florence’s strong competitors like Milan, Genoa, and Venice also had listening ears and watching eyes.

Therefore, they too detected Florence’s movements and were gradually paying attention to military power.

However, their choice was the traditional method.

• Hire more and more mercenaries.

Even though they knew through spies hidden in Florence that the Florentine Army was being built and operated in the Imperial Army style, they chose the traditional method.

Their insistence on traditional methods was due to distrust.

• The Empire may be a strong power in the East, but can it demonstrate power in Europe too?
• Italy has its own methods! The Empire’s methods won’t work!

With such reasoning, they insisted on traditional methods, and the price of Italian and Swiss mercenaries began to rise.

Neighboring countries with interests in Italy also noticed Florence’s movements.

And their choices were divided into two.

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain were reaching very optimistic conclusions.

• The Empire is far from Italy.
• Therefore, even if they want to project military force into Italy, timing it is impossible.
• Then, the method the Empire can choose is to deploy troops in advance. But this also takes a lot of time.
• As a result, we have sufficient time.
• Moreover, the Empire’s famous navy is blocked by Suez and cannot enter the Mediterranean.
• If necessary, we can tie the Empire’s feet just by destroying the railways at Suez.
• Finally, the Empire’s navy is famously strong, but is their army also strong?

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain were reaching optimistic conclusions, trusting in the natural barrier of Suez. But they weren’t completely idle either.

Using the smokeless powder manufacturing methods stolen from France and England, they began allocating increasingly larger budgets to developing and purchasing new muskets and artillery.

Meanwhile, France moved quickly while on high alert.

“We’ve seen how those Empire bastards fight, haven’t we? Underestimate them and it’s immediate annihilation!”

“Mass production of smokeless powder has begun, so we need to make usable muskets too! Send spies to Florence! We need to steal the blueprints for Florentine muskets!”

At France’s reaction, the ruling classes of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain also gradually began to take things seriously.

“These crazy French warmongers!”

“The Italian country bumpkins aren’t the problem! France is the problem!”

The Holy Roman Empire and Spain shared borders with France and had experience with armed conflicts. In the end, they too had no choice but to abandon their optimistic atmosphere and join the full-scale arms race.

The country that benefited from the arms race of mainland European nations was England.

“Cannons! Make more cannons! They sell as soon as we make them!”

The cannons made by England were famous for their reasonable price and reasonable quality.

English cannons could be famous for their cost-effectiveness because most of the cannons they made were cast iron.

At the time, cannons were made of bronze. However, bronze was expensive. Therefore, the English made cannons from cast iron.

There were all sorts of trials and errors in making cannons from cast iron, arguably the worst material for making cannons, but the English eventually managed to make decent cannons.

They ended up with bodies that were enormously large and heavy compared to their firepower, but they were still cheaper than bronze cannons, so the Holy Roman Empire and Spain began purchasing English cannons in large quantities.

Meanwhile, England, which had benefited from the unexpected arms race, didn’t rest on its laurels.

“Those Empire bastards make cannons from steel, they say! We’ll make them from steel too!”

France, England’s rival, couldn’t just sit still either.

“We’ll also challenge steel cannons!”

And the finance officials of countries engaged in this arms race shed tears of blood.

“The budget… the budget…”

***

While Italian cities and European powers were stepping closer to the anticipated war, Florence was entering a full-scale generational change.

Cosimo de’ Medici, who had grown the family’s size several times compared to history before Hyang’s intervention, had died.

“Such interesting times are right before us, what a shame…”

With these regret-filled last words, Cosimo closed his eyes.

At the funeral held at the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence’s citizens gathered like clouds to mourn the departure of the giant.

The three ambassadors attending on behalf of Emperor Wan exchanged quiet conversations while watching the gathered Florentine citizens.

“The citizens’ reaction is remarkable.”

At Shin Sukju’s words, Seong Sam-mun nodded slightly and responded.

“Because he was a giant…”

Yu Eung-bu, nodding at Seong Sam-mun’s words, glanced at Lorenzo and Giovanni sitting as representatives of the bereaved family and continued.

“Still, it’s fortunate that those who succeed him are capable.”

“At least that’s fortunate.”

“Come to think of it, abdication is scheduled in the homeland too, isn’t it?”

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Shin Sukju continued with eyes full of complex emotions.

“When the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers stepped down, I already somewhat expected it…”

As Shin Sukju trailed off, Yu Eung-bu spoke up.

“Still, didn’t he last 5 years longer than the 20 years expected when he ascended the throne?”

At Yu Eung-bu’s words, Seong Sam-mun shook his head slightly and said.

“If Florence here hadn’t stirred things up, or had stirred things up just 2 years later, His Majesty the Emperor would have gone to the New Frontier after exactly 20 years. Both Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty… did they hide honey pots in the New Frontier…”

Seong Sam-mun knew better than anyone about the nerve-wracking battles over reign periods between Sejong and Hyang, and between Hyang and Wan.

At Seong Sam-mun’s words, Shin Sukju also shook his head and muttered.

“To think the law he created while preparing for abdication was ‘minimum reign period’…”

***

“Goddammit! I’ve endured 20 and 5 years! I can’t live with this injustice!”

While preparing for abdication, Wan was filled with resentment.

“Emperor Emeritus filled exactly 10 years and ran away to the New Frontier! Why must I!”

As soon as Hyang completed 10 years as emperor, he abdicated to Wan and fled to the New Frontier without looking back.

“Your Majesty! No, Father Emperor! No, Father! You abdicated after just 10 years! Isn’t that too much?”

“I laid a good foundation during those 10 years, so it’s fine.”

“But still, abdicating after just 10 years!”

At Wan’s words, Hyang’s expression turned fierce.

“Just?”

At Hyang’s word, Wan immediately bowed his head.

“I apologize! I misspoke!”

“Tsk!”

What Hyang had done during those 10 years far exceeded what could be described as “just.” Therefore, Wan immediately bowed his head and apologized.

“Then I too only need to fill 10 years, right?”

“No, you get 20 years.”

“Why!”

To Wan’s protest, Hyang immediately answered.

“You didn’t serve as regent. If you combine the time I served as regent, it comes to 20 years. So, 20 years. This is an imperial command.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan gritted his teeth and answered.

“I understand. I’ll fill the full 20 years.”

“Good, I’m counting on you.”

Thus, Wan who ascended to emperor had to work himself to death counting the days until the 20-year mark.

And faithfully applying what he learned from Hyang, he dumped only the practical work of Area 51 and the research institute on Hyeon.

“I must block in advance any holes to escape using regency as an excuse! I can’t be the only one to suffer!”

Moreover, Wan went one step further.

“Emperor Emeritus said, ‘If you’ve learned something, you should know how to apply it!’ Indeed, that’s right!”

Having made up his mind, Wan gathered the ministers and shared his thoughts.

“Looking at the Empire’s administration now, territories other than the New Frontier are directly ruled by the emperor, while the New Frontier is operated under delegation by Emperor Emeritus. This is due to distance issues and the vastness of the New Frontier.”

At Wan’s words, the ministers looked at him with questioning eyes.

‘Why is he mentioning this now?’

Whether he knew the ministers’ inner thoughts or not, Wan got to the main point.

“When Emperor Emeritus first established it, he set it at 20 years. However, while proceeding with this Florence matter, I had this thought. What if a major incident occurs at an awkward time like this Florence case? Therefore, I want to set minimum and maximum reign periods for the emperor. From a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of 25 years, one must remain in this position before being able to abdicate. Discuss this and make it into law.”

“We receive your command.”

While answering thus, the ministers muttered inwardly.

‘He has many grievances.’

‘His Majesty is no different in not wanting to die alone.’

Thus, the ‘Law Regarding the Emperor’s Reign Period’ passed through the Council and was officially enacted.