Chapter 96. Hygiene, Gunpowder, and War (6)

From the Tuscan Empire to even the Sultanate ruled by infidels over there.

All those belonging to the world as we generally know it are suffering from chronic gunpowder shortages.

How scarce must gunpowder be for mere soil collectors to scrape even 'soil containing excrement components' from noble mansions?

Therefore, when they heard words denying the common sense they had known as naturally as breathing all their lives, protests poured from those gathered here.

"Viscount, I won't deny that you're an outstanding talent. But are you saying you've become some kind of god?"

"When I was logistics commander, it was called a miracle when I somehow increased gunpowder production by 5%. But you're saying we won't have to worry about gunpowder?"

"What nonsense is this young bastard spouting?"

Honestly speaking, what I've done is nonsensical.

It's so nonsensical, it's like saying a student who got the lowest grade in the college entrance exam studied until their nose bled for a month and got into Seoul National University Medical School.

So when I proposed this method to the Emperor, I greatly reduced the expected production amount.

'I said it would be about 1.4 times if it went well.'

If I had honestly said it was almost 10 times the current production.

There's a high probability I would have been diagnosed with delirium due to overwork and forcibly rested for a month.

But now I've proven it with results in Florence, right?

So I decided to push harder.

"Seven times the existing production amount."

Hearing the words seven times, some older nobles grabbed the back of their necks and gaped.

It seems unbelievable to them that I'm spouting nonsense they can't handle in a place full of nobles and current and former generals with stars.

"If we use the new method I devised, we can stably obtain over 7 times more gunpowder every year."

While everyone was too dumbfounded to speak.

The Emperor, who already knew all the inside story, smiled faintly.

He's looking at me with deep eyes like a farmer looking at a yellow cow.

Is it just my feeling?

When the Emperor didn't rebuke first, the Minister of Military Affairs stood up from his seat and reprimanded me.

"Fabio de Medici! No matter how many great achievements you've made at a young age and how favored you are by His Majesty. Spouting lies about the military is unacceptable!"

At his gesture, soldiers guarding this place approached me.

In another situation, I would have written the Minister of Military Affairs in my mental Death Note and prepared for long-term revenge like how a gentleman's revenge isn't late even after 10 years.

But from the perspective of that gentleman and other nobles, this is a natural reaction.

What I'm saying must sound like selling Daedong River water as a panacea in the National Assembly.

Does it make sense to reflect in national policy stories about making rice from sand and grenades from pine cones?

'Our empire seems terribly rotten, but it's surprisingly fine when it's fine.'

I handed over the report to the guards who approached near me.

Without being told, they naturally handed over the documents I wrote to the Minister of Military Affairs.

Some terrible history students compared slaves or subordinates to 'smartphones'.

I think I understand why they thought that way.

They can perform various tasks like smartphones, and they even have AI functions that do simple tasks without being told.

The Minister of Military Affairs who received my report let out a single scream.

"Impossible! How can this be?!"

Everyone's attention turned to him.

It would be strange if attention wasn't drawn when a former four-star general with a high status of 'count' or above is acting like that in a place where the Emperor himself is watching.

Everyone started whispering.

"What on earth did His Excellency the Minister of Military Affairs see to react like that?"

"Seeing that reaction, it doesn't seem like the report was fabricated."

"But does 7 times make any sense?"

The Emperor deliberately left this commotion alone for a while and then struck the floor with the staff in his hand.

"Be quiet. Isn't this place for discussing imperial state affairs?"

Unlike my viscount investiture ceremony which anyone could attend with slight exaggeration, most of those gathered here now are nobility of the robe or generals with stars.

That's because it's a 'business meeting' discussing important imperial matters.

Of course, Duke Visconti, who's unusually obsessed with me, is sitting with a brazen face.

'But what can you do, he's a duke? They can't protest even if they dislike it.'

Who would say anything when the Emperor is tacitly approving from the start?

"What on earth did the Minister of Military Affairs see to be so surprised?"

The Minister of Military Affairs immediately bowed his head.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. The report written by Viscount Medici states that over 80 tons of gunpowder was produced from excrement collected throughout Florence."

The Emperor has already read the summary report I delivered in advance.

So he could continue speaking very calmly.

"That's an enormous amount of gunpowder produced."

The Minister of Military Affairs carefully answered in a trembling voice.

"Your Majesty, before Viscount Medici's intervention, it was difficult to produce even 10 tons of gunpowder annually in Florence and its surrounding areas. In years with low production, we couldn't even obtain 6 tons annually."

The generals and nobility of the robe gathered here covered their mouths with their hands.

Those who were late to cover their mouths were gaping like insane people.

It's to the point where some people might even drool like idiots.

But no one dared to laugh at that.

"But securing 70 tons just in Florence city without causing much trouble to the people means that if this system is applied to other cities, it's equivalent to saying we can increase the amount of gunpowder produced annually by the empire to 7 times the current amount."

The Minister of Military Affairs's eyes shone every time he mentioned 7 times.

"Having a lot of gunpowder doesn't necessarily mean winning wars, but having more gunpowder means we can fight longer than the enemy. Just this alone puts us in a much more advantageous position in wars than enemies."

"We can fight much more advantageously than the enemy? Does that mean even those damnable Millania Grand Duchy bastards..."

"More gunpowder doesn't necessarily mean winning, but our chances of victory increase much more than now. And our empire overflowing with gunpowder will now become something no one can ignore."

Hearing the Minister of Military Affairs' confident words, the Emperor sprang up from his seat.

It seems he feels good hearing it again even though he already knows the contents because I sent the report in advance.

'It must feel like looking at a full bank account.'

If the happiest time in life is when you've filled your bank account.

Even afterwards, just looking at the bank account relieves worries in your heart and makes your chest feel at ease.

Sometimes when I'm having a hard time, looking at my personal asset list deep in my study gives me peace of mind too.

"Viscount, do you have anything more to say?"

Here, the standard answer is to say this is all thanks to His Majesty.

But shouldn't I also report other positive effects that came from cleaning up Florence's excrement?

'Like how even chaebol chairmen lick yogurt lids...'

I should take everything I can take without missing anything.

"Although it wasn't my intention, it seems the frequency of citizens getting sick has decreased while cleaning up Florence's excrement."

The Emperor was puzzled hearing my words that deviated from the usual response.

"It's not a survey targeting all citizens of Florence, but when I asked 1,000 people, they say the frequency of catching minor illnesses like colds has decreased compared to last year."

To meaningfully investigate this, variables need to be strictly controlled.

It would be a scientific statistic if we surveyed 1,000 people based on a year when excrement cleaning wasn't done, and next year based on when excrement cleaning was done.

'Is such a scientific survey method really necessary?'

People aren't getting sick right now.

Nobles can die in vain at any time from waterborne diseases too, so they'll be very interested when they hear my words, right?

"Moreover, when I tried using leftover materials from making gunpowder as fertilizer in vegetable gardens as a test. The effect was quite good. It seems good to give it to serfs farming nearby too."

Just gathering excrement to make gunpowder is actually a great success.

But isn't it even better if we gather excrement to make gunpowder, and use the leftovers as fertilizer too?

The Emperor smiled broadly hearing my words.

"As expected of the Viscount. Not even carelessly using mere leftovers from making gunpowder."

"All this is because Your Majesty believed in me and supported me by even creating the public office of Public Security Division Head and Gunpowder Production Division Head."

The Prince said this.

If you're going to be hostile, be hostile, and if you're going to take sides, become an ally risking your life. You'll only die if you're half-hearted.

So it's common sense to flatter with all your might too.

"Thanks to increasing gunpowder production, the empire's power has become much stronger than before. Although the merit Fabio achieved isn't military merit achieved on the 'battlefield', I think I should rightfully raise his rank. What do you all think?"

If you have any sense, it would be good for your well-being to just keep your mouth shut.

I thought everyone would keep their mouths shut and nod their heads...

But some tactless bastard opened his mouth and objected.

"Your Majesty! Viscount Medici isn't even married yet! How can he already be a baron?! It's understandable if he's inheriting his father's title, but this is impossible!"

It seems nonsensical, but it also seems like a really valid objection.

But Emperor, Emperor why are you smiling?

And Duke Visconti, why is your mouth about to split?

For some reason, this is how I feel now.

What is this, I'm scared.