Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1029: Alsace-Lorraine. (7)

The actions of France, which took control of the three bishoprics in the Lorraine region, were very different from those before. Until now, the practice of France and other European powers had been to allocate fiefdoms to trustworthy nobles. However, France dispatched administrators to these regions. It was not the fiefdom of nobles loyal to the King of France, but the land of the King of France.

This was a similar approach to that taken by empires, not Europe.

* * *

The empire dispatched observers to all territories except Shinji. Of course, extremely large areas such as the northern and northeastern forests were divided into two or three areas and multiple observers were dispatched. Of course, Shinji was different.

The situation was that while serving as the governor, he collaborated with the inspector general sent from the headquarters. However, as time passed and Shinji’s power area expanded exponentially, changes occurred. Before we knew it, the number of governors managing the new land had exceeded 15, and the number of high-ranking officials from the indigenous people or new land had increased significantly.

Thanks to this, five years before Hyang handed over the position of governor to Wan, the authority to appoint and appoint governors in Xinji was transferred from the emperor to the governor. Of course, nominally it still required the emperor’s approval, but in reality it was a posthumous approval. It could have been politically problematic, but thanks to the situation being that of the Governor-General, no one thought anything of it.

* * *

The administrators and officials who arrived at the Bishopric on appointment by King Charles VIII of France were not idle. Officials scattered throughout the diocese visited the cathedrals serving local dioceses and received copies of birth and death records. And based on this record, comparison work began. Afterwards, the tax collector was detained and robbed. However, unlike when I did it in France, I shook it off quite gently.

If he handed over his tax collection records properly, he could get at least half of his wealth. A tax collector who made a fortune could either leave the Papal States or find another job, usually investing. However, there was no mercy if tax collection records were deleted or if people refused to cooperate. All property was confiscated, and the tax collector himself was hanged or beheaded. And the remaining family members were exiled outside the boundaries of the Papal States.

When administrators and officials took control of the administration of the Papal States, symbolized by family registers and taxes, surveyors and civil engineers also arrived. The reason they flocked to the Papal States was to lay a railroad. This French move was a method that the empire showed in the North.

And the ministers of the county and county who received related reports all spoke similarly.

“If we have a reseller, that’s our method, right?”

“It’s a little different from us. We started with the monopoly.”

“is it?”

* * *

France did not stop here. France immediately dispatched a large number of mining engineers to the Bishopric. They inspected existing mines in the Bishopric and scoured the Bishopric for new veins. Based on their reports, the French government hired miners on a large scale and began mining operations.

Soon, carts filled with iron ore and coal were headed to Pompe, France. The three Papal States were more than just iron ore and coal producers. France used these places as bridgeheads and opened trade lines with nearby lords. Iron ore and coal mined in the territories around the Papal States were collected in the Papal States and then headed to France.

The lords of the Holy Roman Empire, including the lords around the Lorraine region, and Emperor Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire learned of France’s goals by watching France’s movements.

-France is not simply aiming for territorial expansion! What France was targeting was Lorraine’s iron and coal!

-It must be seen that Lorraine, not just the Papal States but the entire region, has already been taken over by France!

-France’s momentum will become stronger in the future. What are the measures for this?

Here, the opinions of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire and Maximilian I were divided. Maximilian I began to push for the strengthening of centralization, and the princes, especially those located in areas far away from the Habsburgs, began to dream of independence. Maximilian I, who noticed this, found himself at a critical crossroads.

-Prepare for catastrophe and push for centralization.

-We may have to make many concessions, but we will maintain the national structure of the empire intact.

After much deliberation, Maximilian I chose the latter.

* * *

At the Imperial Diet held in Worms, Maximilian I raised his voice against the imperial nobility, the members of the parliament and the lords.

“If we continue like this, our empire will be torn apart and become prey to our enemies! This cannot go on!”

Maximilian I raised his voice and insisted on the importance of reform. This time, many lawmakers nodded to Maximilian I’s argument. This was because they were wary of France’s growth. As lawmakers responded favorably to Maximilian I’s claims, the Holy Mora Empire also joined the changing trends of the times.

Following the reform, later named the ‘Imperial Reformation’, the Holy Roman Empire introduced significant changes.

– Break away from the behavior that was close to living alone and organize an imperial province. Promote common defense and secure imperial taxes through imperial provinces.

-Build a railroad that spans the entire empire.

-Abolish toll taxes and customs duties between territories within the empire.

-Establish the highest court of the empire to deal honestly with various disputes within the empire.

But this was only half of the reform. Although the creation and operation of a ‘provincial army’ was possible through the imperial provinces, the creation of a ‘Holy Roman Empire army’ was rejected. In addition, the key powers of the empire, the fiefdoms of the electors, were excluded from the imperial diocese. Since Habsburg territory was also excluded in this area, it was not my place to comment.

Although it was only a half-reform, it was important that members of the Holy Roman Empire began to show interest in integration. What is noteworthy is that the princes who dreamed of independence actively agreed and cooperated with the creation of the imperial province.

-It is difficult to create an independent country alone anyway. We need to gather people to work together.

-The Imperial Province is the best opportunity and means to create such sympathizers!

Because they had such a plan, they responded favorably to the reforms of Maximilian I. And to further solidify the support of these lords, Maximilian I held an event.

The coronation ceremony of the Holy Roman Emperor was held in Worms, where the parliament was held. The previous plan was to go to Rome and have the Pope crown him, but this was replaced by the Archbishop crowning him in Worms. This was to secure the support of the feudal lords who believed in the new sect, while at the same time revealing that he was a secular monarch who broke away from the Pope and Catholicism.

* * *

It was a half-reform that hid its own agenda, but once it started moving, it slowly began to gain momentum. The first thing to start was, of course, the development of the steel industry.

“For the Holy Roman Empire to be an empire, it must have iron!”

“The world is ruled by steel!”

Under this slogan, the search for iron and coal mines became active throughout the Holy Roman Empire. At the same time, railroad construction began to get on track in earnest.

“The new Roman road is a railway!”

“Railroads are the symbol of a great nation!”

The ambition to build a railroad was raised with loud slogans, but it was soon blocked by a wall. It was a problem with the iron horse.

The Habsburgs and some pioneering princes studied steam engines and iron horses and produced their own results. But performance was an issue. In the case of steam engines, they were barely usable in mines or factories. But the iron horse was not good.

It was slow and could not carry a lot of cargo and people across the vast territory of the Holy Roman Empire.

“The ones that have the capabilities we want are imperial, famous, English, French…” ”

There is no need to even think about French, and English and famous do not guarantee durability…” ”

The bottom line is, imperial. But… wow~.”

“Haa~.”

The working-level staff stopped talking and sighed. In some ways, it was the empire that held the Holy Roman Empire back as much as France. I did not feel comfortable introducing iron horses made in such a country.

“Let’s report to the higher-ups first, and then report the decision to the higher-ups.”

“That’s right.”

* * *

After receiving the report, Maximilian I placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.

“Whew~. Do we have to open our hands to the empire again?”

“The report is that it is for the best.”

“This and that empire… I don’t even have the energy to get angry anymore. Will I be able to catch up, let alone get ahead?”

“You just have to do your best.”

“Whoa~.”

Maximilian I let out a long sigh and looked back at the chancellor.

“I can’t help it. Send someone to Seoul. But tell them to take as much as they can.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After finishing the matter regarding the iron horse, Maximilian I discussed the next agenda with the chancellor.

‘What is Spain’s reaction?’

“It wasn’t bad. However, I would like the conditions to be modified a little more.”

“It is a marriage between royal families. It’s not a business bargain. Emphasize this part.”

“Yes.”

“Only when this marriage takes place can we keep France in check. “Tell me to emphasize this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Maximilian I started the famous ‘Hapsburg marriage diplomacy.’

– Spain is in an alliance with England. If you become an alliance with Spain through marriage, you will naturally also have an alliance with England. become an alliance.

– Through this Triple Alliance, France is kept in check.

This was one of the main reasons for pursuing marriage with the Spanish royal family.

* * *

Meanwhile, the local government and ministers who received the agenda through a messenger who arrived in Seoul responded to it. There was discussion.

“The total number of iron horses they want to save is 120. Among them, 60 units will be purchased in kind from the empire, and the remaining 60 units will be built in our own factories… What do you think?” ”

Considering the extent of the Holy Roman Empire, 120 units is nothing more than a premature death. “I’m guessing they are planning to make it on their own using the technology they have accumulated while making the 60’s.”

Hyeon nodded in response to Im Soon-wook’s answer and asked again,

“Then would it be better to refuse?”

“No. If you can sell it, you should sell it. Instead, I think it would be more profitable to sell it rather than have it stolen. “It makes sense because imperial iron horses are already common in Europe.”

As Lim Sun-wook said, imperial iron horses were common in Europe. This was because Portugal, Italy and Switzerland had already introduced imperial iron horses. France and England took on the challenge of developing iron horses on their own. It was a situation where results were achieved each year.

According to various rumors, Italy and Portugal were attempting to develop domestic iron horses by thoroughly analyzing the imported imperial iron horses.

Therefore, Lim Soon-wook proposed preemptive technology sales.