There is no substance on Earth that can kill people as quickly and efficiently as gunpowder.
If someone were to say this, those unfamiliar with war might retort, “Aren’t spears or swords enough to stab or slice people without limit?”
But this isn’t Japan, and the sharpness and durability of spears or swords used in actual combat are no better than that of a ‘kitchen knife,’ which becomes dull after stabbing just 2 or 3 people.
“Even a masterpiece known as a famous sword can handle only about five people.”
Moreover, unless one has trained in close combat to some extent, it’s not easy to kill someone with a sword.
Even if you attempt murder with a kitchen knife made from 21st-century steel, it’s common to stab someone multiple times without killing them with just ‘one’ thrust.
“Nonetheless, procuring gunpowder in this era isn’t an easy task either.”
In the 21st century, a bullet costs less than 300 won, but in this time, the price to fire just one bullet is equivalent to a peasant’s daily wage.
Looking at how a lead bullet costs only 10% of the total, while the gunpowder amounts to less than 8g but takes up a whopping 90% of the cost…
“That’s how incredibly precious it is.”
So, when Lord Nador asks me to sell him some gunpowder and matchlocks, it makes sense.
While I was lost in thought, a knock sounded on the door.
“It’s Chris, may I come in?”
“Come in.”
Today, I had no plans to meet Chris, and I had tasked Sebastian with securing the supply of gunpowder.
Given the importance of the job, I thought he would come himself.
“Chris is practically family to me, after all.”
It’s just that we’re not directly related by blood.
Chris entered carrying an enormous pile of papers.
“Master Butler is too busy supervising the Medici Guild’s business to come here himself, so he asked me to hand over today’s report and to relay things personally.”
Sebastian must be having a hard time managing and executing all the tasks since I returned.
“First of all, I’ve secured all 2,000 matchlocks that you promised to supply to Lord Nador. Additionally, although we paid about 1.5 times the market price for 20 tons of gunpowder, we’ve successfully procured the entire amount.”
I only thought it was fine to secure that within this winter.
How on earth did Sebastian manage to get such a vast quantity of gunpowder and matchlocks a full two months ahead of my expectations?
I should ask him about the magic he used later when he submits his report.
But first, let me treat my exhausted body with some financial therapy.
“Not paying people and working them to the bone is a level of bad comparable to Hitler.”
“I think I should give a bonus to the hardworking Sebastian.”
I heard that Sebastian’s son is getting married in a month, so considering all his hard work, I think I should get him a mansion in Florence.
Since it’s basically free for me, courtesy of the Spice Guild guys, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“The Master Butler will surely appreciate it.”
“There’s a nice house in Florence. I should reward Sebastian for his dedication to our guild and me. Later, I’ll ask the Commercial Law Department to prepare the tax and transfer of ownership.”
“Yes, Young Baron.”
In this era, where the gap between the rich and poor is extreme, bonuses are truly on a different level than we imagine.
For someone like Sebastian, who effectively holds the position of ‘vice president’ in our family, even the stingiest of nobles would do something for him.
Providing a luxurious villa for a vassal who has worked for 30 years upon retirement, or giving hundreds of gold coins as a wedding gift, is the least they can do.
And as if that’s not enough, to transfer ownership of a beautiful woman who will serve him for life in his old age, and so on.
“Of course, the value increases significantly if the person receiving that reward is a noble.”
It’s likely that no one other than me would lend a mansion in Florence for the wedding of a knight who merely holds the title of a baron with only a nominal territory.
My guild members will likely jump at the chance for such a beautiful tale, volunteering to work harder.
“And there’s one serious problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“I’m not exactly sure where the war will break out, but it seems that a war will happen soon.”
When war occurs, the consumption of gunpowder skyrockets.
However, there’s a limit to how much gunpowder production can be increased.
“Gunpowder prices will likely double or triple, won’t they?”
Even though gunpowder has become frightfully expensive, I feel like if I scrounge it from Lord Nador and sell it, I could still make a decent profit.
The real issue is whether our empire will have enough gunpowder stock when the army initiates a buying frenzy at doubled or tripled prices.
“I had a hunch from the moment I was sent as the Quartermaster of the First Division, but they really do intend to go to war?”
From the Emperor’s perspective, it really is time to wage war.
The Milanians have been increasingly annoying, often raiding the Toscan Empire’s merchant ships.
“Of course, we’ve done a bit of what Britain does as well.”
But the reality is that in international diplomacy, if I do something it’s romance, but if someone else does it, it’s infidelity.
Thus, a wise noble of the Toscan Empire would think this way:
“Just because our empire played a prank, are we really going to be hurt like this? In the name of Deus, this cannot be forgiven!”
“Just as we don’t need to concern ourselves with their circumstances, they won’t care about ours either. If we can’t secure gunpowder, the deals will fall apart.”
When staff take leave, it is usually understood if it’s for funerals or urgent matters.
Of course, some people who have thrown their personal integrity in the garbage occasionally use this as an excuse to skip work.
“Crying over your deceased parents won’t bring anything productive. So focus on what’s productive.”
Once someone is dead, they won’t mind if you don’t hold a funeral for them.
If Lord Nador also has to deal with an unexpected variable like ‘war’ at a level of a ‘parents’ funeral’ and I can’t deliver…
I doubt he would despise or distrust me for not meeting the deal because of that.
However, as they say, in life, the result is more important than the process…
“The deal will fall apart.”
That’s why I operated Café Medici as usual, creating a triple price event for sugar in Guillaume City.
“What do you plan to do?”
Fortunately, gunpowder can be mass-produced if we want to.
So, while I’d love to monopolize gunpowder production, if I tried such a stunt, I’d actually end up dead.
“No matter how great the Emperor is, if I try to monopolize gunpowder manufacturing techniques alone, I might end up with a split belly!”
“There’s no choice but to produce gunpowder.”
“I believe we could easily manufacture gunpowder by utilizing our guild’s connections and artisans, but…”
The problem is that the process of making gunpowder in the Toscan Empire is incredibly barbaric.
They invade noble mansions every ten years, scrape up dust caked in the eaves or corners, and collect the salty, dirt-like stuff around toilets.
It’s a daily routine to break into all the places where commoners live, searching for ‘earth that can be processed into gunpowder.’
To survive doing this, one must have power above ‘Count.’
Would a mere Young Baron like me pull such a stunt?
“It’s truly a perfect recipe for getting beaten to death.”
“Chris, that’s not the kind of method I’m thinking of.”
With surprisingly simple shifts in thinking, anyone could do it, but I’ll be using a method that no one uses well to get out of this crisis.
“Gunpowder is originally cultivated like mold, after all?”
This simple fact had been common knowledge for humanity for hundreds of years until Professor Harbor developed the magical method of atmospheric nitrogen fixation.
I should take advantage of that.
“A more certain and less burdensome method for everyone.”
But to attempt this right now, I would need to get into public office.
Should I directly ask the Emperor?
If I say I have a way to increase gunpowder production, he’ll welcome it with open arms.
“I might end up commuting to the Florence City Hall for a while.”
To secure a large amount of manure, the main component of gunpowder, getting into public office and pushing through with power would be the fastest and most certain way to do it.
“What exactly are you thinking, Young Baron?”
“A way to produce a ton of gunpowder. It’s not precise, but it should be way more efficient than how we’re currently scraping dirt off the bathroom or walls.”
Using this method, I’m certain that we can secure at least several times more gunpowder than the current approach, at a tremendously improved efficiency.
“Plus, it’ll probably significantly reduce things like plagues too.”
Florence isn’t as unsanitary as the medieval cities we often imagine, but let’s be honest, the hygiene situation isn’t that great.
And I wrote a very simple but clear letter to the Emperor.
[After analyzing the principles of gunpowder production, it seems that gunpowder can be made from manure and urine. Therefore, I would like to conduct an experiment, and the costs will be fully covered by God, so please lend me a little help.]
The next day, I was able to receive a temporary official position in the city of Florence from the Emperor.
It seems the Emperor is more serious about war and gunpowder than I thought.
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