Episode 899: The Imperial March (2)
A few days later, the leader of a Swiss rcenary company hired in Florence visited the imperial embassy.
* * *
The size of the Florentine standing army was gradually growing from over 20,000 to 25,000, but this was clearly not enough.
“Wouldn’t you trust Reisläufer?”
“You can trust them.”
In response, Lorenzo and Giovanni hired Swiss rcenaries.
Swiss rcenaries were popular for their strong fighting skills and credibility.
At Lorenzo and Giovanni’s choice, 5,000 Swiss rcenaries signed a contract and joined the Florentine army.
However, Lorenzo and Giovanni sighed when they saw the Swiss rcenaries who had just joined them.
“This is it…”
It was because of the armant of the Swiss rcenaries who had joined. Most of the rcenaries were still ard with traditional long spears and halberds.
Swiss rcenaries were not unaware that guns and cannons were the main players in modern battlefields.
However, guns were expensive items, and bullets and gunpowder were the worst consumables for cost-effectiveness.
Still, in order to keep up with the tis, they worked hard to acquire firearms and train musketeers. However, the firearms they could obtain were almost all flintlock rifles that were one generation behind. Also, imperial flintlock rifles were expensive, so most of them were large and heavy European flintlock rifles.
To solve this problem, they attempted to smuggle breech-loading single-barreled guns made in France or Habsburg, but the cost was too high.
It was a price that poor Swiss or Swiss people could not easily afford.
Of course, there were also Swiss rcenaries ard with Japanese style rifles. They were rcenaries stationed in Suez .
However, due to a lifeti contract, they could not leave Suez.
And as we face the current chaotic situation, this lifeti contract has beco a contract that makes both parties feel regret. France’s disappointnt was especially great.
-A unit with extensive combat experience that skillfully uses Japanese rifles.
This was because the units that could be used as the most powerful cards in the coming war were shackled.
This was because there were five countries in total that signed the contract – France, Portugal, Ottoman Florence, and finally the Empire.
Among these countries, the Ottomans most strongly opposed France whenever they ntioned ‘moving rcenaries’ or ‘renewing contracts’.
Even though they shared the Suez and shared profits, they still did not completely trust each other.
In this situation, it was unacceptable for France or Portugal, or rather France, to bring in the most powerful force.
To resolve this, they had to compete based on stakes, but each ti Florence and the Empire sided with the Ottomans, France’s attempts failed.
* * *
Against this backdrop, the Swiss rcenary leader who visited the imperial embassy sighed softly.
“Whoa~. “I wonder why these strangers are looking for us, but…”
The sll of blood from war was getting thicker. Among the countries that would enter the war in Italy, the country furthest away was the Empire.
In order to prepare for a war that could break out at any ti, if they brought in a large number of their own troops – 20,000 to 30,000 – and stationed them in advance, the enormous maintenance costs would be a problem. However, if troops were sent after the war broke out, the timing would be delayed and unnecessary losses would be incurred.
The best solution was rcenaries.
This was because maintenance costs could be reduced and ti would not be missed.
“If negotiations go well, the gun issue can be resolved to so extent… Because the long guns from the ‘Flower Country’ are much better than those made in France.”
The carrot offered by France in addition to the ‘contract for 20,000 rcenaries’ was the ‘supply of French-made long guns and ammunition’.
But the stick that ca with the carrot was the problem.
“It’s a losing business if you only sign a contract for about 5,000. “If you think about the whip that France and the Habsburgs will wield.”
They said it was only 5,000, but even for national contracts, 5,000 was the limit. Of course, in case of a major war, there were cases where up to 10,000 people were contracted. However, it was a number that could only be mobilized in a war where the rise and fall of a real country depended on it.
That’s why France suggested the number ‘20,000’ and the Swiss Federal Council was concerned.
“If the Empire doesn’t invite at least 20,000 people, I’ll have to say that the contract is impossible.”
The leader of the rcenary force currently visiting the embassy had that much authority. The leader of the Swiss rcenaries during this period was a commander, businessman, and diplomat.
It was the sorrow of poor Switzerland, whose most potent export commodity was rcenaries.
* * *
The rcenary commander entered the embassy under the guidance of a junior embassy official and looked around the room with wide eyes.
The building, made of all kinds of stone and wood, including marble, seed simple yet luxurious. There was no dust in the hallways, and there was almost no odor that was common in European buildings.
‘I am the slliest person here.’
The rcenary leader followed the official with a wry smile at his own bad sll, which was evident from the outside but was clearly felt as soon as he entered the embassy.
The place where the rcenary leader arrived, following the official, was the conference room where the ambassadors were located.
“et the ambassadors. My na is Hans Mayer. “I am currently leading a rcenary force hired by Piren.”
After seeing the lines, Hans politely bowed and introduced himself.
“I’m sorry for asking soone who is busy with military duties to co. However, since an important order was delivered from the ho country, I had no choice but to ask him to co.”
“no. “Of course you should co.”
“Please take a seat first. “It’s going to be a long story.”
“yes.”
Hans sat down in the seat Shin Suk-ju took, and Shin Suk-ju lightly waved a small bell.
As soon as the bell rang, a junior employee of the embassy ca in carrying a kettle and tea cup filled with black bean tea and poured it for the attendees.
After picking up her teacup and taking a light sip, Shin Sook-ju got to the point.
“Let get straight to the point. “Our empire would like to hire Swiss rcenaries.”
Hans responded imdiately to Shin Sook-ju’s words as if he had been waiting.
“What size contract do you want to sign?”
“How much is possible?”
Hans answered Shin Sook-ju’s question honestly.
“I’ll be honest with you. For orders of less than 1,000 people, a contract can be made imdiately. However, it is difficult to make a contract with around 10,000 people. Even if there are more than 10,000 people, it will be difficult to sign a contract unless the conditions are very good.”
“The reason is?”
“Because if we sign a contract with the ‘Land of Flowers,’ France and the Habsburgs will not stand still. If there are less than 1,000 troops, they will not say anything since they are the troops protecting this embassy and the imperial residence area, but if there are around 10,000, they will definitely find fault and threaten us in Switzerland.”
“Even though it’s just a rcenary contract?”
“It is certain that the ‘Land of Flowers’ will be involved in the upcoming war. Paganism in European affairs… oh sorry! “I made a mistake!”
Shin Sook-ju smiled slightly and waved her hand at Hans’s observation.
“It’s okay. From our empire’s perspective, you are heretics. “It’s common for everyone.”
“thank you. For this reason, it is difficult to conclude a contract with general conditions and scale.”
“Hmm… thank you for your honest answer.”
“no.”
At that ti, Seong Sam-moon, who had been listening nearby, intervened.
“Maybe it’s a good opportunity? Wouldn’t it be possible to sign a contract, receive money, and then pretend not to know? “After all, our empire is pagan.”
Hans responded firmly to Seong Sam-moon’s words.
“The first virtue of a rcenary is trust. As the Ambassador said, even those who say they can deceive us because they are heretics will not believe us when it cos to their own situation. Then our descendants will starve to death. “If you don’t sign a contract at all, it’s the virtue of our Swiss rcenaries to keep your trust until death if you do sign a contract.”
In response to Hans’ answer, the three ambassadors looked at each other with aningful faces.
“I think I made the right choice.”
“Because they are that desperate.”
“I feel a bit uneasy because it feels like they are taking advantage of such desperate people.”
“Let’s call it mutual aid. Mutual aid.”
The three people who were talking in the imperial language soon straightened their expressions when they found Hans sitting blankly.
“Big big! First, we plan to hire 1,000 people on short-term contracts. The purpose is to guide our imperial delegation to Bern.”
“Are you just hiring 1,000 people as receptionists?”
Shin Sook-ju, who saw Hans with an expression of not understanding, answered with a serious face.
“If you think about the negotiations that will take place in Bern, 1,000 is not enough. “First, I will only show it to the captain.”
With these words, Shin Suk-ju handed Hans a folder that had been placed on one side. As ti passed, Hans’ hands began to tremble as he opened the folder and read its contents.
“This, this…”
“This is the employnt contract the empire wants. “This is sothing we will discuss in Bern.”
Hans responded imdiately to Shin Sook-ju’s answer.
“I will assign 3,000 people as guides. “The price is enough for 1,000 people!”
In response to Hans’ response, the response departnt stepped forward and responded.
“1,000 is enough. There are already 2,000 troops prepared to escort the delegation. “If it’s too much, it can overstimulate others.”
“All right! Then I will prepare 1,000 right away!”
“What about the contract?”
“I’ll get it right away tomorrow! See you tomorrow then!”
“Let’s do that.”
Hans quickly bowed and hurried out. Hans, who returned to the unit and regained so sense of reason, suddenly shook his head.
“3,000 rcenaries is too much stimulation? “What are 2,000 imperial troops?”
* * *
Three days later, the imperial delegation headed to Bern, escorted by Swiss rcenaries and imperial troops.
As they left Florence’s territory, the rcenaries and imperial troops in charge of escorting them began to look around without relaxing.
The route chosen by the delegation was to pass through the neutral zone created between Milan and Venice.
By passing through the neutral zone between the two city-states, one could avoid the risk of provoking either side, but on the other hand, the possibility of being attacked by disguised bandits was also very high.
Knowing this danger well, the Swiss rcenaries cleaned their rifles and refilled them with gunpowder whenever they had ti. This was to prevent the gunpowder from becoming wet and misexploding.
The imperial army executives who observed the rcenaries’ ticulousness scolded the imperial soldiers.
“Did you see it? saw? “That’s how you manage guns!”
“That’s what combat readiness is!”
As a result, imperial soldiers began to manage their weapons thoroughly.
* * *
About two months after departing from Florence, the imperial delegation was able to arrive in Bern.
Upon hearing that the imperial delegation had arrived, not only the mayor of Bern but also the mbers of the Swiss Federal Council ca out to the castle gate to welco the imperial delegation.
“welco!”
“Thank you for welcoming like this.”
The imperial delegation entered Bern, welcod by the Swiss.
It was the first ti the empire appeared on the European diplomatic stage.
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