Chapter 904

Episode 904: The Imperial March (7)

“Is that all?”

“Is there nothing more you can say other than that?”

In response to the Minister of Finance and Economy’s words, Shin Sook-ju and Seong Sam-moon requested additional information. However, the Minister of Finance and Economy did not open his mouth.

Yu Eung-bu, who had been thinking about something for a while, asked an odd question.

“How big is the military band being sent to Florence?”

“I didn’t hear it properly, but they say it will be organized with at least 50 people. “If you want to play ‘Imperial March’ properly and worth listening to, you have to be at that level.”

“Hmm...”

In response to the Minister of Finance and Economy’s answer, Yu Eung-bu nodded with a snort. Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-moon, who saw Yoo Eung-bu’s expression as if he knew something, grumbled inwardly.

‘what? ‘Is there something we don’t know about?’

‘This is it... I want to ask the Minister of Finance and Economy more, but my pride is somehow hurt... I guess I’ll have to ask Byeok-ryang, Yu Eung-bu’s nickname, later.’

The Minister of Finance and Economy seemed to know the feelings of Shin Sook-ju and Seong Sam-moon and stood up.

“I think I’ve finished all my business here, so I should hurry up and get ready to go back. I feel uneasy at my desk in Seoul. “How many documents must be piled up... wow~.”

The ambassadors looked pitiful as the Minister of Finance and Economy complained, which ended in a sigh.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You have accomplished a great thing. His Majesty will probably praise you greatly.”

The ambassadors stood up and offered well-wishes to the Ambassador of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

* * *

When the Minister of Finance and Economy left, Seong Sam-moon and Shin Sook-ju asked Yu Eung-bu questions.

“What is the significance of the size of the military band?”

“What are we missing?”

To Seong Sam-moon and Shin Sook-ju’s questions, Yu Eung-bu answered with an expression that it was no big deal.

“Didn’t you listen to the Imperial March many times? What are the characteristics of the Imperial March? “Don’t you think you have to gather at least 30 musicians to make it worth listening to?”

“That’s not true...”

Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-moon nodded in response to Yu Eung-bu’s answer.

* * *

The Imperial March was a song famous for its unique grandeur and intense intimidation.

Thanks to this, the first song foreign envoys – especially Ming and Japanese – heard when they arrived in Seoul was the Imperial March.

When an envoy arrived in Seoul, it was polite to first visit the emperor and offer greetings.

And from the moment they crossed Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, to meet the emperor, foreign envoys began to feel discouraged.

Fully armed guards were lined up on both sides of the road leading from Gwanghwamun to Geunjeongmun, and envoys had to pass through the road.

And the moment the envoys crossed Geunjeongmun, the Imperial March began to play.

There were more guards lined up in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon, and as they got closer to Geunjeongjeon, large and small officials were standing in rows.

And in front of the wide open door of Geunjeongjeon, the emperor sitting on the throne was waiting for the envoy.

The envoys, who walked along while listening to music that oppressed their hearts through their ears and receiving the gazes of the guards and major and minor officials – which were not at all favorable – were already in a state of dispiritedness. Thanks to this, when they arrived in front of the emperor, the subjects naturally kneeled and paid homage to the emperor.

Having experienced this over and over again, the great and small subjects of the empire truly realized the value of the imperial march.

“You can make people kneel with just one tune! “It’s not something to ignore just because it’s a piece of music!”

Additionally, the envoys who had this experience returned to their countries and emphasized the need for this type of music.

As a result, European powers were the first to begin producing similar songs.

This was because similar music, such as church hymns, already existed.

On the other hand, Asian countries such as Ming and Japan had difficulty composing music. It’s not that Asian countries don’t have solemn and heavy music, but there’s very little that immediately creates pressure like the Imperial March.

“What should we do with these middle school students...”

The most urgent task was to console the Florence’s anti-corruptionists.

The number of Swiss mercenaries stationed in Florence had already exceeded 30,000 and was approaching 40,000, and the number of mercenaries remaining in Switzerland in charge of defense was also exceeding 10,000.

“We have enough troops! Now let’s start a rebellion!”

“To the north! To the north! “Let us take Milan and Venice!”

The main faction, led by Lorenzo de’ Medici, shouted to mobilize troops and advance north immediately.

Thanks to this, most of the ambassadors’ daily work involved dissuading these main proponents.

“We don’t have enough troops yet. “Let’s hold on just a little longer.”

“Swiss mercenaries and Florentine troops combined number more than 60,000! “How can this not be enough?”

“If you just look at the numbers, it’s amazing. But let’s not get carried away by the numbers. “We are not yet equipped to handle a two-front battle.”

“Speaking of two fronts....”

“The Vatican and the Kingdom of Naples. The moment war breaks out, the alliance will collapse and they will become enemies. You need to think about that too. In particular, do not forget that the Kingdom of Naples is in a position to block the sea route to Livorno.”

“Oh my...”

– We join forces to fight against the foreign powers that are targeting Italy.

In the cause of survival, the Papal States of Florence, Venice, Milan, and the Kingdom of Naples were allied with each other.

However, from the moment the first gun sounded in the war of Italian unification, this alliance would become a piece of paper, and from then on, each would become each other’s enemy.

And the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, which occupied southern Italy, were formidable opponents.

Although commerce and industry were far behind those of northern cities, it boasted enormous farmland and a large population based on that farmland.

There was no way the powers that were dealing with Florence would just leave them alone, and Florence and the empire had to endure a two-front battle.

While the ambassadors were continuing their vicious struggle against the main airwaves, breaking news arrived from Livorno.

-Imperial military band arrives.

-Size: 80 people.

“at las!”

Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-moon were delighted with the news they had been eagerly waiting for, and Yu Eung-bu muttered with a more serious expression.

“Now all that remains is who will pull the trigger first...”

* * *

With the arrival of a military band and massive amounts of supplies, the mood in Livorno changed once again.

The mood of the imperial troops stationed at the military port of Livorno began to become more and more serious, and their actions gradually began to take action.

Livorno was the beginning. The changed mood of the imperial army and people was transferred to Florence.

Imperial Army instructors once again conducted intensive training for Swiss mercenaries and Florentine troops and meticulously checked the inventory and condition of various supplies, including ammunition.

And at some point, a monk appeared in the sky over Livorno Naval Port, and the patrol range of the imperial fleet stationed in Livorno gradually expanded.

Two months and ten days after the military band arrived, the bhikkhu floating in the sky began sending out luminous signals like crazy.

The signalman who deciphered the signal sent by the monk immediately ran to the commander and reported it.

“It’s urgent from the bhikkhu! ‘The Imperial Fleet has arrived! ‘Multiple plumes of smoke confirmed!’”

“Send them to Florence immediately!”

“ancient!”

The officer who gave the order immediately climbed the signal tower. The officer, who was scanning the horizon through a telescope, soon began to see plumes of black smoke.

“one two three four five six? what!”

The officer, who was once again counting the number of plumes of smoke, soon sorted out the situation.

“It was said that the main branch and the new branch were developing new electric wires and transport ships equipped with steam engines. You said that since the front line has an assault return line, you should develop transport ships first, right? So are they all transport ships? No, what kind of crazy people are our navy? There is no way the assault return line is missing. And that’s more than two ships...”

The officer who had analyzed that far continued with a smile.

“This Mediterranean Sea will also become the sea of our empire....”