Episode 910: Alliance (4)
As soon as Charles VIII’s sanction was granted, French diplomats began to busy themselves with the Habsburgs and Spain.
A banquet was held for those in charge of envoy duties, and many nobles attended the banquet. Banquets were also held in Paris for middle and lower-level officials who could not attend due to status issues.
Afterwards, the nobles who had attended the banquet gathered in groups of twos and threes according to their factions and had a drinking party again in the gibang.
Thanks to this, Milwi’s agents stationed in Paris had to be busy.
This was because, while attending a banquet held in a gibang, he had to collect information spilled by drunken lower-ranking officials and overhear nobles attending a banquet held by the king and the highest nobles discussing the possibility of success.
Ard with the information thus obtained, the secret service official stationed in Paris headed to Italy.
* * *
The executives of the wheat committee gathered at the liquor warehouse in Livorno and shared their opinions and shared the information they had obtained.
“I am worried that the changes in the situation in Europe are accelerating. “Seoul is too far away.”
An executive working in Lisbon pointed out the problem with a frown on his face. At his point, other executives also nodded with similar expressions.
It took 4 months if I was lucky, or 6 months if I was lucky, to send information from Italy to Seoul and receive a reply from Seoul.
In any other ti, I would have accepted it and moved on, but now was not any other ti.
And right now, the person in charge of Lisbon was in the most urgent situation.
“How is Lisbon now?”
In response to the Paris representative’s question, the Lisbon representative sighed.
“Whoa~. Don’t even talk. Every day in the palace begins and ends with argunts, and the streets at night have turned into a lawless zone. “Thanks to this, sales are at a low level and information collection is a ss.”
The Lisbon representative’s complaints continued for a long ti.
“…Why did I have to settle down in a place like that… No, when all the prominent people passed away… Pooh~.”
Other executives who heard the Lisbon manager’s complaints were able to understand his difficulties.
As it beca clear that not only the European powers but also the empire would be involved in the war taking place in Italy, it was Portugal that found itself in the most difficult position.
* * *
Portugal had been enjoying a golden age ever since Henry visited the empire.
This was because they gained enormous economic benefits by joining the empire and were able to keep Spain in check by importing weapons from the empire.
In addition, as Portugal beca a community of interests with France through Suez, the situation continued to be ‘no better than this’.
This was because Portugal’s burden was gradually decreasing as France, a powerful army, kept Spain in check.
Portugal did not miss this opportunity and moved quickly. It was to steadily improve the army’s strength and at the sa ti strengthen the naval power.
Thanks to this, Portugal’s naval power has grown to a position where it is competing for the lead in Europe. And based on that naval power, the colonial project in Africa grew further.
Afterwards, in the race to find the rumored ‘Southern New Continent’, I was able to get ahead of other competitors and was having a lot of fun.
However, because of Italy, all this opportunity turned into a crisis.
And Portugal was faced with a choice. It was because of France and the empire.
Both justification and practicality only showed the conclusion that France and the empire could not coexist.
There was also a conclusion that Portugal would find it difficult to survive on its own if it did not choose one of the two.
Because of this, a fierce war of words was taking place every day in the royal palace in Lisbon.
“Empire! We must join the Empire! “Even a child knows how powerful the empire is!”
“But the Empire is far away! We must join hands with France! “Empires have to cross the sea, but France can co right on foot!”
“There are rumors going around that France and Spain could join hands! “Spain is targeting our Portugal!”
“So you’re saying we’re going to pretend to be with France? “I think our army can handle the French army!”
“Whoa~.”
King Joao II sighed as he watched the nobles and ministers divided into two groups and engaged in a war of words.
Both sides were asserting their opinions out of consideration for the country, and both sides had pros and cons.
“Whoa~.”
King Joao II sighed once again and intervened in the war of words.
“stop. Everyone was so excited. “Let’s calm down for a mont.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was disgraceful.”
At Joao II’s point, the ministers and nobles bowed their heads and remained silent. After stopping the war of words, King Joao II shared his thoughts.
“How about we just declare neutrality?”
Ministers and nobles, regardless of faction, simultaneously shook their heads at Joao II’s proposal.
“It’s impossible.”
“The Empire may recognize it, but France will reject it.”
“Why?”
The nobles and ministers responded imdiately to Joao II’s question.
“It’s because of our Navy.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing the answer, King Joao II imdiately nodded.
Again, Portugal’s naval power was one of the most powerful in Europe.
As the empire beca involved in the war over Italy, European military officials studied ways to win against the empire.
-To win against an empire, the best way is to cut off the supply lines in the diterranean.
-For this, a strong naval power is needed.
All European military officials who reached this point focused on Portugal. No, I focused on Portugal’s navy.
“They will definitely force an alliance on us because of our proud navy?”
“That’s right. “I will definitely try to get my hands on it, especially after the Imperial Fleet crosses the Atlantic and arrives in Italy.”
“Whoa~. “It’s a pain in the ass.”
King Joao II placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“So, join hands with the empire…”
“No, join hands with France…”
While King Joao II was pondering, the nobles and ministers began to engage in a fierce war of words again.
While there was a fierce war of words in the palace during the day, life and death were fought at night. This was because each side sent assassins to eliminate political opponents.
* * *
As this ss continued, everyone from King Joao II to the general rchants at the market had the sa thought.
“If only they were alive…”
The people they miss were the first Duke of Coimbra and Prince Henry the Navigator.
Those two were the ones who created what Portugal is today. With quicker judgnt and bolder decisions than anyone else, he enriched Portugal by heading toward the empire, and prevented the tyranny of the nobles through a great purge of nobles, including the Duke of Braganza.
But now they too have beco figures of the past. The second Duke of Coimbra, who succeeded the first Duke of Coimbra as pri minister of the kingdom, was also a capable person. However, compared to the first Duke, it paled a little.
Thanks to this, I was still confused and couldn’t make a decision. And this was increasing the burden on Joao II.
After the Great Purge symbolized by the purge of the Duke of Braganza, Afonso V almost entrusted full authority to the Duke of Coimbra. The first Duke of Coimbra, who was disappointed with Afonso V, did his best to teach kingship to Afonso V’s son, Joao II.
Thanks to the teachings that included examples of famous emperors from the old Roman era, as well as anecdotes of King Sejong and Hyang, King Joao II was able to beco a competent king.
Even in history before the intervention of Hyang, he was called ‘King of Perfection, King of Muheum, King of Wanmi (o Príncipe Perfeito).’
However, no matter how capable the king was, if his subjects were confused, there was no way the governnt could run properly.
Like right now.
King Joao II, tired of the repeated war of words every day, looked out the window and muttered.
“I envy the Ottomans….”
Bayezid II, who succeeded ht II as sultan, was doing his best to strengthen the internal stability of the Ottomans while watching the chaos unfolding over Italy.
“Just watch them bite each other. But if you bite , raise your club without rcy.”
This was Bayezid II’s idea.
* * *
The executives of the Militia Committee, who were looking for the best thod in an increasingly urgent situation, soon reached a consensus.
“Do you agree that the current situation is ‘a situation where on-the-spot judgnt takes top priority?’”
“agreent.”
“agreent.”
“Then let’s docunt it and put a stamp on it.”
After reaching an agreent among all mbers, the executives of the Militia Committee soon put their heads together and began to co up with a plan.
A few days later, a man entered the imperial embassy in Florence.
“What’s going on?”
In response to the embassy official’s question, the man hesitated, then looked around intently and quietly opened his mouth.
“I… I’m a person nad Song Mo who works at a bar in Paris. “I have sothing urgent to report to the ambassador…”
“Sothing urgent to report?”
“yes. “The safety of the country is at stake.”
At the man’s words, the official quickly got up from his seat.
“Wait a mont.”
* * *
After a while, the man was called to where the ambassadors were sitting.
“See you ambassadors.”
“Did you say you were from Paris? The elders are having a hard ti. “Please take a seat.”
“Thank you.”
As the man sat down, Shin Suk-ju opened his mouth. “
So, what is it that the safety of our empire is at stake?”
“Soin works at a bar in Paris. “It’s a rather expensive bar, so the custors are people who pretend to act a bit even in Paris.”
“If it’s Paris… ‘red moon (lune rouge’)?”
When Shin Suk-ju pretended to know, the man nodded loudly.
“Yes it is!”
“Right. “Let’s keep going.”
“yes. After working for a few years, I learned to understand a few words of French. Not long ago, officials from the royal palace ca over and had a company dinner. As I was bringing drinks to the place, what I heard at first glance was sothing like ‘Spanish-Hapsburg alliance’. So I listened a little more closely and it seed like France was sending ssengers to those countries. “I’m a guy who works at a bar, but I still know a little bit about what’s going on in the world, so I ca here just in case.”
“is it? Thank you so much. But do you know when it will be sent?”
“It would already be Dalpo.”
“is it? “Thank you.”
“I will report your matter to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“It’s an honor!”
After sending the man who repeatedly bowed down, the three looked at each other with serious faces.
“I expected it to so extent, but…”
“We also need to take asures.”
“So…”
Shin Sook-ju looked at the other two people and spoke her thoughts.
“I should go to Portugal. “If we do well, we’ll be able to drive in at least one wedge.”
Seong Sam-moon and Yu Eung-bu also nodded at Shin Sook-ju’s words.
“Good idea.”
“If it’s Portugal, it could be a pretty cumberso wedge.”
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