“The prisoners are to be executed by hanging!”
The soldiers of the Neapolitan army, tried on charges of theft, were sentenced to death.
“Please, have mercy!”
“Mercy!”
Hearing the verdict, the soldiers wept and begged for mercy, but the commander presiding over the trial responded in a cold voice.
“The verdict is based on military law.¹ There will be no reversal. Take them away.”
“Mercy!”
The soldiers continued to cry for mercy as they were dragged to a makeshift prison set up in a corner of the encampment. The other soldiers who witnessed the scene—from the Neapolitans to the Imperials—all wore impassive expressions.
“Just unlucky…”
The commanders felt the same way. The battlefield was a place where instinct trumped all else. Pillaging and theft were practically customary among soldiers at war. Because of this, it was also customary for commanders to turn a blind eye, up to ‘a certain point.’ The problem arose when that line was crossed. If left unchecked, an army could instantly devolve into a band of thieves wielding immense military power.
Therefore, commanders used these ‘unlucky soldiers’ to maintain discipline within the ranks. What made the sentenced soldiers even more unlucky was that they had attempted their theft in the one place they shouldn’t have: the Imperial Army’s camp.
“If you’re going to break in and steal, at least don’t get caught! What a disgrace! And at such a critical time!”
The charge was compounded by the ‘crime of insolence,’ for having wounded the pride of the Neapolitan commander-in-chief, Alfonso.
***
Before the trial and execution, the Neapolitan commanders interrogated the prisoners.
“How did you get caught?”
Though not something to boast about, Naples was famous for its thieves, from the pickpockets who lifted wallets from passersby on the street to the professional burglars who scaled walls in the dead of night. For such skilled thieves to be caught infiltrating a makeshift camp, not even a proper fortress, was no small matter.
It meant the discipline and ability of the Imperial Army were anything but ordinary. The prisoners’ answers were all consistent.
“It was as if they knew we were coming.”
“They moved without a sound. Like ghosts… yes! They were like ghosts!”
“They were as relentless as a pack of wolves!”
Hearing the prisoners’ accounts, the commanders muttered with grave faces.
“Putting it all together, these men sound like savage beasts. What kind of humans are they?”
Before long, strange rumors began to circulate through the Neapolitan army.
- I heard the Imperial Army has wizards who use strange spells! They say if the wizards cast a spell, they can see in the night as if it were day, and a man can become as strong as a bear!
- I heard the Imperial soldiers turn into beasts when the moon comes out!
These were rumors born from the presence of the Imperial soldiers who had come from New Frontier, the New Land.
***
As the Empire’s domain expanded, its army began to incorporate a diverse mix of ethnicities. The Imperial forces stationed in Italy, in particular, had a very high proportion of soldiers from New Frontier, as it served as a major supply line. And the Imperial Army favored soldiers from New Frontier.
As the development of the New Land progressed, the Empire had recognized the military talents of its indigenous peoples. The natives inhabiting the plains of North New Frontier were skilled in formation combat and possessed a strong fighting spirit.
“Once a fight starts, they latch on and don’t let go until it’s over, and they move as one when given an order. As soldiers, they possess the finest qualities!”
In contrast, those from the forest tribes excelled in stealthy movement, ambushes, and marksmanship.
“To think they have skills on par with the Chakhogun² without any special training! Incredible!”
And the soldiers from South New Frontier demonstrated a greater resilience than others in harsh environments like jungles. For the Imperial Army, which had been struggling with manpower issues, these people were a prime human resource. It wasn’t a bad deal for the natives, either. In their culture, where warriors were highly respected and belonging to a powerful warrior group was a great honor, the Imperial Army was the best job they could ask for.
***
Due to this background, and the fact that most of the troops arriving in Italy were from New Frontier, the Italians had gotten the wrong impression. Many of the medics in the Imperial Army who came from New Frontier were former tribal shamans. Although they had received proper medical training and wore official Imperial uniforms, they always wore their traditional tribal ornaments.
Furthermore, for the sake of the mental and physical well-being of their fellow countrymen, they would periodically perform traditional tribal songs and dances. Whenever they did, soldiers from the same or neighboring tribes would gather and join in. This was the birth of the ‘wizards who use strange spells.’ And as mentioned, the exceptional talents of the New Frontier soldiers only added fuel to the fire, allowing the rumors to grow and spread.
***
In any case, after having been taught a harsh lesson, the Neapolitan army no longer targeted the Imperial forces. The allied Italian soldiers also refrained from making any rash moves and simply watched the Imperial Army with wary eyes. In the meantime, the forces that had been dispatched to the Duchy of Romagna, along with the duchy’s own soldiers, arrived in Rome.
Not long after, the politicians arrived: Han Myeong-hoe leading the Imperial officials, and the rulers of the allied cities led by Lorenzo de’ Medici. Meanwhile, an envoy from the Kingdom of Naples also reached Rome and urgently sought out Alfonso.
“His Majesty commands that you represent the Kingdom of Naples in the negotiations. His Majesty also said, ‘I trust your tongue is as sharp as your sword.’”
After relaying the words of Ferdinand I,³ the envoy presented Alfonso with a royal decree. Breaking the seal and confirming its contents, Alfonso replied calmly.
“Tell him I will proceed with the resolve to lay down my life.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The next day, the politicians—Han Myeong-hoe, Lorenzo de’ Medici, Alfonso, and Cesare Borgia—gathered for a formal introductory meeting. After the tense meeting concluded, they drafted a jointly signed letter addressed to the Pope.
- For the sake of peace, open the gates!
The day after the brief but firm letter was delivered, the gates of Rome opened.
***
Through the wide-open gates marched soldiers carrying the banners of the Empire, the allied cities, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Duchy of Romagna. An advance unit followed the standard-bearers, and behind them came the politicians.
“Hmm… The histories I read back in my home country spoke of the unparalleled glory of Rome, but…”
As Han Myeong-hoe’s words trailed off meaningfully, the faces of Lorenzo and the other Italians flushed red. The Rome they were entering now was a pale shadow of its former self. The Colosseum, which had once been the heart of Roman entertainment, was now a ruin with one side collapsed. All manner of triumphal arches and public buildings had vanished, leaving behind only a few pillars and foundation stones.
Only the magnificent Aurelian Walls still bore witness to the powerful and splendid Rome of antiquity.
“No matter how brilliant, glory is ultimately nothing but an ephemeral spring dream… How fleeting.”
This, at least, was Han Myeong-hoe’s sincere sentiment.
***
While the working-level officials argued over where to set up the negotiation hall, Han Myeong-hoe, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and their entourages were invited to the residence of Cardinal Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici.
“I implore you to stay here for the duration of the negotiations.”
“I thank you for your hospitality.”
As Han Myeong-hoe expressed his gratitude, Cardinal Giovanni smiled and replied courteously.
“The honor is all mine.”
The politicians from the allied cities, including Genoa and Milan, as well as Alfonso, also settled into the residences of cardinals or archbishops with whom they had connections. The only exception was Cesare Borgia, who stayed at his own mansion in Rome. As the politicians’ lodgings were decided, soldiers surrounded the residences to stand guard.
Interestingly, this arrangement created a situation where the soldiers of the Empire, the alliance, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Duchy of Romagna effectively formed a perimeter, besieging the Apostolic Palace where the Pope resided. After arguments that lasted until sunset, the grand hall of the Apostolic Palace was chosen as the negotiation site.
***
Two days later, the negotiations began in earnest. They were immediately marked by discord, the first of which was caused by Cesare Borgia.
“Why is that traitor, a man worse than Judas Iscariot, present in this room? So long as that turncoat is here, we cannot negotiate!”
Juan, acting as the Pope’s representative, shouted as he pointed a finger at Cesare. It was Han Myeong-hoe who responded to his protest.
“The Duke of Romagna is a member of the alliance. Therefore, it is only natural that he attends. If you cannot accept this, then there will be no negotiation.”
At Han Myeong-hoe’s firm reply, the session was suspended almost as soon as it had begun. During the recess, negotiations about the negotiations took place. But Han Myeong-hoe’s stance was resolute, and in the end, Juan had no choice but to accept Cesare’s participation. With that, the hierarchy of power was clearly established.
When the talks resumed, the first item on the agenda was the ‘existence of the Papal States.’
“We recognize the unification of Italy. No, we welcome it. However, we wish for the Papal States to be maintained as they are.”
To Juan’s request, Lorenzo gave a short reply.
“Impossible. The current Papal States are too vast. We will recognize only the territory within a 10-league (approx. 42km) radius of Rome. The other papal territories will elect their own leaders through a vote of their citizens.”
“A vote? Hah! Isn’t that just a ploy for you all to carve it up for yourselves?”
“Even if we divide it, it will all be part of one Italy. If you don’t like it, feel free to break off the negotiations.”
“Nngh…”
As Lorenzo forced a choice between ‘war or submission,’ Juan groaned and fell silent. Seeing Juan grinding his teeth, Han Myeong-hoe interjected.
“Since coming to Italy, I have seen that even within the Papal States, local tyrants have taken root in each region. The Church is funded by the offerings of the faithful anyway, so is there really a need to cling to temporal lands?”
“That is…”
“As His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus once said, did not your own founder preach, ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s’?⁴ Why is it that those called to the vocation of saving souls cannot cast off their worldly greed?”
“…”
Han Myeong-hoe’s point left Juan speechless. Though Hyang had brought it up before, this was the Vatican’s most painful and vulnerable point. After two more days of negotiations that went around in circles like a squirrel on a wheel, Juan—or rather, Alexander VI and the Vatican—capitulated.
In exchange, the safety of Rome and the Vatican has been secured. I must be satisfied with that.
With those final thoughts, Alexander VI had surrendered. However, it was not over.
“Since we’ve come this far, there is one more matter on which I wish to receive a definitive answer.”
The issue on which Han Myeong-hoe demanded an answer was that of ‘ancestral rites.’⁵
“In the Empire’s mainland and northern territories, as well as in the New Land, ancestral rites are considered of the utmost importance. If you wish to spread your faith, I expect you to provide an answer on this matter. Right here, and right now!”