Chapter 877

Episode 877: Generation Change (8)

Corleone could not hide his doubts in response to Yu Eung-bu’s question, and Lorenzo de’ Medici also had a similar expression on his face.

Those who seemed to understand something in response to Yu Eung-bu’s question were Giovanni, who came with him, and the mercenaries around him.

Responding to the reaction of the people divided into two, the responder asked Giovanni.

“Did Prince Lorenzo de’ Medici and that mercenary unit ever see or experience the Suez War?”

Giovanni answered immediately to the question asked by the nurse.

“Lorenzo was too young when the war broke out...”

“Then what about the mercenary unit?”

“It was the core force defending Florence, so we couldn’t move.”

“Is it the same in other cities?”

“It’s similar.”

“her!”

Yu Eung-bu cried out inwardly with a bewildered expression on his face.

‘There are no frogs in the well!’

However, the characteristics of Italian city-states also played a role.

As these cities grew based on commerce, they had absolutely no intention of launching a siege.

Therefore, most of the battles between cities took place on the plains outside the cities, and most of the victories and defeats were decided by clashes between cavalry.

In this situation, the city-states’ core strength was a mercenary unit consisting of cavalry, and they could not be sent to Suez.

Thanks to this, the Italian city-states moved ahead of everyone else in the commercial sector, but were lagging behind in the military sector.

* * *

Yu Eung-bu gathered his wits and continued asking questions.

“Do you have artillery or long guns?”

“Of course there is!”

Corlione confidently showed off the artillery that his unit possessed. After seeing the artillery pieces, Yu Eung-bu nodded slightly.

“It’s an appropriate gun to use in cavalry. “Isn’t there anything bigger?”

“This is the biggest cannon.”

“...Then how many more doors are there?”

“These five doors are all.”

“barely?”

Corleone got angry at Yu Eung-bu’s words.

“It’s only winter! Among the mercenary units in Italy, no one has more artillery than us!”

Rather, Yu Eung-bu, who was looking at Corleone who was getting angry, asked something else.

“Then how many long guns do you have?”

“If you count 40 musketeers and extras, that’s 60 guns.”

“...Do cavalrymen also carry guns?”

“Of course! These days, it is standard for even cavalrymen to have at least two single guns.”

“Let’s look at the musketeers’ long guns and the cavalry’s guns.”

“yes!”

After a while, after seeing the long guns and short guns that the mercenaries had brought, Yu Eungbu looked back at Giovanni.

“Surely the Empire purchased a significant number of Japanese style long guns and short guns?”

Giovanni answered Yu Eung-bu’s question with an embarrassed expression and voice.

“Most of them were assigned to the forces stationed in Suez. “The only thing that came into Italy was a few rifles provided to the guards.”

“Haa~.”

Yu Eungbu sighed in response to Giovanni’s question.

The long guns and short guns proudly displayed by Corleone’s mercenaries now were long guns and short guns fired using flintlocks.

Giovanni, who was watching Yu Eung-bu’s thoughts, immediately explained the reason.

“Considering the interests at stake in Suez, we should never have fallen behind in armament. And because the Italian mercenaries are all armed... there is even talk going around that our mercenaries, which even have artillery, are excessive.”

“is it? Right. “I hope I can keep that honor elsewhere.”

For the first reason, they left the unit with a positive evaluation and farewell.

But those who left for the second reason did not.

“Hey~! “Cowards!”

“Take away the thing that is shaking between your crotches!”

“Cowards with no pride!”

“Those who always have death as their friend are mercenaries! “Don’t go anywhere and say you’re a mercenary!”

They had to leave the unit after hearing all kinds of ridicule, jeers, and insults, saying they had no pride as mercenaries.

“There is no shame.”

Colleoni could not hide his shame as he reported the large number of deserters. Lorenzo, who received this report, also spoke to Yu Eung-bu with a similar expression.

“This is truly shameless.”

Yu Eung-bu responded to Lorenzo’s words with an expression that said it was no big deal.

“it’s okay. Prince Medici. “In fact, it’s even better because I skipped it once.”

“Is that so?”

“yes.”

Yu Eung-bu, who gave a positive evaluation, did not forget carrots.

“But it is also true that morale is low. “We need something to boost our morale.”

“Shall I give you a raise?”

“That’s good too, but...”

What Yu Eung-bu suggested was a unified uniform and armor. The armor worn by mercenaries during this period was purchased at their own expense, so it had different shapes.

“Good.”

Lorenzo accepted Yu Eung-bu’s proposal. Accordingly, black tunics and black plate armor were issued to the remaining mercenaries.

This was the beginning of the later famous ‘Black Legion’.

* * *

The second creaking factor was conscription.

Thanks to the bribes Lorenzo paid to the Vatican, the instructors knew with some certainty the number of people living in Florence and its territory.

In addition, the instructors, who knew the number of city residents through the usury ledger obtained from the Medici family, were able to calculate to what extent the army could be increased based on this.

-The appropriate size of the standing army is 23,000 for the navy and the rest for the army.

-If all available manpower is conscripted, up to 80,000 people can be recruited.

“80,000? “Is this really possible?”

The instructors answered the questions of the Florentine officials right away.

“This is possible if we gather all the men of the age group who can go to the battlefield. ah! Slaves were removed.”

“When you say gathering everyone, do you mean gathering everyone from farmers to merchants and artisans?”

“yes. Therefore, this is a figure that should only be used in the worst case.”

“Then you’re saying 20,000... isn’t that too much? No, there are too many!”

The instructors looked like they couldn’t understand what the Florentine officials said.

“yes?”

In response to the imperial army instructors’ reactions, Florentine officials explained the reason.

“Even for France, it would be best to mobilize around 30,000 troops at once! Even France! But 20,000? Do you think it is possible?”

“Is this a figure that came out because it is possible?”

“No! Impossible! “About 10,000 is best!”

“10,000 is too little...”

“I heard it’s a standing army? standing army! “We need to think about our finances too!”

“that’s right! Why would we use mercenaries?”

“....”

It was a squeak brought about by the difference in thinking about the military and military service.

“For a country that manages finances at this level, up to 20,000 is not unreasonable...”

“I’ll say it again, up to 10,000 is possible! “What nonsense is a standing army of 20,000!”