OBS Chapter 900
Chapter 900
Chapter 900: The Imperial March (3)
The members of the Swiss Federal Council and the citizens of Bern treated the imperial delegation that arrived in Bern with great hospitality.
Bern city officials willingly provided their mansions so that the delegation and the imperial army could rest comfortably.
Two days later, the imperial delegation met with members of the Swiss Federal Council in Bern.
“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to get some more rest?”
The Minister of Finance and Economy responded with a smile to the recommendation of the Speaker of the Federal Assembly.
“I got enough rest.”
‘And I have to go back quickly! The longer you delay, the higher the mountain of documents grows!’
Although he was anxious on the inside, the Minister of Finance and Economy continued speaking with a calm expression on the outside.
“Then let’s get straight to the point. “The situation in Italy is not easy right now.”
“yes. According to the letter sent by General Hans, the empire would not only contract more troops than expected but also provide various preferential treatment. Is that correct?”
“exactly. “Here are the terms we propose.”
At the gesture of the Minister of Finance and Economy, the official sitting behind held out a folder with a thick cover.
The Chairman took the folder and opened it and began to carefully read the Empire’s proposal written in Latin.
“Huh... gasp!”
The chairman, who was reading the proposals written in the proposal, was out of breath and gasped.
“Why... gasp!”
Seeing the chairman’s appearance, the lawmakers who had taken the proposal and read it as if taking it away also had similar expressions.
* * *
The Empire’s proposal to Switzerland was summarized as follows.
-The Empire hires Swiss mercenaries under the following conditions.
-100,000 employees, 30 years of employment.
-After 30 years, the number of employees and period are adjusted every 5 years.
-Switzerland deploys 75,000 of the above-employed personnel under the imperial army dispatched to Italy. 25,000 remain in their home country to defend Switzerland.
-The Empire supplies armament, clothing, and ammunition for the 100,000 people it employs.
-However, armament, ammunition and clothing are not provided free of charge but are provided at partial cost.
The classification conditions are as follows.
Armament, clothing, bullets, and other materials for use by 75,000 Swiss mercenaries stationed in Italy will be provided free of charge.
The armament and ammunition provided to the 25,000 troops stationed in Switzerland are paid at a regular price of 30% of the purchase price by the Florentine military.
However, if Switzerland wishes, it can receive it in bonds.
-The armament and ammunition supplied to the Swiss army are as follows.
Florentine long guns and ammunition Commander’s 6-barreled short guns and ammunition Military wagons and ammunition Medium and small toys New high-speed thunderbolts to be used for them Uniforms and military equipment identical to those of the Florentine army.
This is the same for both the Swiss troops stationed in Italy and the Swiss troops stationed in their home country.
-The Imperial Army is responsible for training Swiss troops stationed in Italy.
If this is what the empire provides to the Swiss mercenaries, the empire’s requirements follow.
-In the event of an armed conflict in Italy, the Swiss Army will only be under the command of the Imperial Army.
-The Swiss Confederation and its constituent cantons (kantons) do not supply mercenaries to countries other than the Empire.
-If the Empire requests it, Switzerland will provide priority in supplying the troops requested by the Empire in addition to the troops contracted above.
-The Empire is responsible for paying the salaries of Swiss troops under contract with the Empire. However, imperialization is given priority.
-The moment this contract is concluded, Switzerland declares territorial neutrality. At the same time, the Empire recognizes Switzerland as an independent country.
If Switzerland invades another country, the empire will cancel the contract and stop providing support.
The Minister of Finance and Economy continued speaking while looking at the Swiss people who froze as they saw before their eyes a large amount of money that they could not save even if they spent their entire lives.
“I will be honest. Aside from the two major wars it fought in the past, the Empire has never truly emptied its pockets. To be precise, more money came in than was spent.”
‘Because of that, we are having a hard time managing prices...’
The Swiss, who could not understand the Minister of Finance and Economy’s true intentions, nodded to the Minister of Finance and Economy’s words.
“Indeed....”
“Indeed....”
After the sea route to the East was opened, many merchants began to make a lot of money. Most of those merchants were those who brought in and sold goods from the ‘Land of Flowers’. In the end, the Empire was making the most money.
“If you’re worried about paper money, I’m willing to pay in real gold. “The Empire has ample capabilities.”
Swiss people fell silent at the confident words of the Minister of Finance and Economy.
After the negotiations ended that day, the lawmakers gathered again and exchanged opinions with serious faces.
“Can I really believe it?”
“Imperialism is the currency with the highest credibility. Don’t you say that even the Jews store imperial currency in their treasury, not gold bars or jewels? “If they weren’t so stupid, they wouldn’t trash their own currency.”
“But... if I receive it in gold bars...”
“How will you handle transportation and storage distribution?”
“That’s true, but will they be able to pay in gold bars until the end?”
“If you doubt that, everything we’ve talked about so far will be in vain!”
“That’s true, but I’m so anxious...”
“Didn’t you see the confident expression of the person who came as the head of the delegation? “I guess that means you’re confident.”
The lawmakers all nodded at the last words. When we talked earlier, the Minister of Finance and Economy continued to talk with a confident expression.
In reality, the Minister of Finance and Economy was confident.
* * *
Although other countries did not know, the empire at this time was accumulating the largest amount of gold in the world.
Gold mines were being discovered here and there, including Unsan. In addition, large and small gold mines were being discovered in the northeastern forest and in Shinji.
Thanks to this, the empire was now in a situation where only a few suitable gold mines were mined and the rest were sealed and only recorded their locations.
-Mined later when needed.
There were so many gold bars piled up in the Imperial Ministry of Finance and the imperial warehouse that it seemed like such a leisurely move.
* * *
As the conversation about the same content continued among the lawmakers, the oldest member summed up the situation.
“Isn’t this making it too complicated? It’s a mercenary contract. What is a mercenary? It’s an exchange of money and life. Maintaining this agreement is a matter of trust. “The moment this trust breaks down, the contract ends.”
“ah!”
The faces of all the lawmakers who heard those words brightened.
From then on, talks between the Empire and Switzerland continued smoothly.
When the contract was concluded with each other’s stamps and seals placed on the contract, the President of the Swiss Federal Council asked the Minister of Finance and Economy:
“Let’s be honest. Why on earth did you sign a contract for 100,000?”
“To win before the fight.”
The Speaker of the Federal Assembly nodded to the Minister of Finance and Economy’s words.
If you add the Florentine army to the 75,000 mercenaries, the number was 100,000. I don’t know how much it would be there, but if the imperial army was added, it would become the force with the most troops in Italy.
It was clear that there would be no one who would provoke such a force.
‘I guess we can fight an easier war than expected.’
The Minister of Finance and Economy muttered to himself as he looked at the Chairman of the Federal Assembly whose face lit up.
‘And because it’s cheaper.’