The Best City

To name the most prosperous cities within the Empire, most Germans from the imperial heartland would unhesitatingly list Cologne, Nuremberg, and Prague, which are indeed some of the most representative cities within the Empire.

Regrettably, almost no one would mention Vienna, which Laszlo had painstakingly developed.

In everyone's impression, Vienna seemed to forever be a dilapidated small town in a remote border region.

However, this view is actually not entirely fair.

At the beginning of Laszlo's reign, Vienna, as the center of the Commonwealth, absorbed a large number of immigrants, and the city's scale expanded rapidly, with its population already exceeding 30,000.

This advantage was particularly evident after the Second Hussite Wars.

Laszlo broke through the prosperous Prague, nearly reducing this "foremost capital" of the Empire to a wasteland.

At that time, Prague, with a population exceeding 50,000, was undoubtedly the most populous and prosperous city in the imperial heartland, and it also held a significant lead within the Habsburg Commonwealth.

After Prague was destroyed and a large portion of its population was lost, Cologne, also with a population of 50,000, immediately became the largest city in the Empire.

Nuremberg, slightly smaller in scale, followed closely behind.

In third place was Vienna, the nominal capital of the Empire.

Compared to other capital cities, such as London, Paris, and Constantinople, Vienna's population was truly meager.

However, Laszlo had no intention of relocating the capital; he hoped to develop Vienna into a true imperial center.

Moreover, regarding the debate about the Empire's major cities, none of the aforementioned cities are the correct answer.

After the Italian Wars, people on the European continent quickly realized that their understanding of the Empire's territory should no longer be limited to the German regions north of the Alps, but should revert to the territory generally recognized during Frederick I's era, which included the vast Empire of the Four Kingdoms.

And when people shifted their gaze to the Northern Italy territories under the Emperor's rule, the previous debate almost lost its meaning.

Milan, with a population approaching 100,000, crushed all competitors, becoming the undisputed largest city in the Empire.

Genoa and Florence, with populations around 60,000, could not compare to Milan.

The only city that could rival Milan was Venice, which had a population exceeding 100,000.

With the gradual decline of Venice, its population is rapidly decreasing.

Meanwhile, Milan's population has essentially recovered to its pre-1421 level, which was before the 30-year Northern Italy War for hegemony began.

Currently, Milan's population is still in a growth phase after many years of major wars.

As Laszlo's personally chosen "Capital of the Kingdom of Italy" and the seat of the Permanent Council of Northern Italy, Milan's status is higher than ever before.

It has become Laszlo's political and economic center for controlling the entire Northern Italy.

If he weren't worried about provoking the small states of Northern Italy, Laszlo even considered abolishing the Duchy of Milan and directly renaming Milan to the Kingdom of Italy.

After all, Milan's territory now occupies half of Northern Italy, and it has lost its long-term rival, Venice.

Under the powerful suppression of the Duchy of Milan, the states of Northern Italy have uncharacteristically become peaceful, and this war-torn land has ushered in a long period of stability.

The most direct manifestation is that the famous Italian mercenaries who used to roam this land are now going elsewhere to find work.

Many have gone to Naples in the south, where a war is currently taking place.

Some mercenaries have also crossed the Alps to find employers within the Empire, competing for jobs with Swiss and German mercenaries.

Those who remain unwilling to leave can only accept a low-priced long-term employment contract, gradually transitioning from wartime employment to standing armies of the states.

Although the Milan Pact strictly limited the number of troops that states could maintain, supervision in this area was not as satisfactory.

However, with Piccinino, the military commander of the Duchy of Milan, forming the Milan Army as per Laszlo's instructions, those restless states immediately returned to peace.

If the Austro-Hungarian Army, which has returned to be stationed in Venetia, is included, the Emperor's garrison in Northern Italy already exceeds 10,000.

Anyone who dared to challenge the Emperor's authority at such a time would be courting death.

It is for this reason that when the Emperor's messenger conveyed the news of the upcoming Imperial Assembly to Northern Italy, the various states quickly dispatched important figures to attend the gathering to be held in Milan.

Laszlo and Marquis Ludovico of Mantua were, in fact, the last to arrive in Milan.

Outside Milan, the Emperor rode side-by-side with the accompanying Marquis of Mantua.

"No matter how many times I see it, Milan always makes one marvel at what a magnificent city it is."

Gazing at the astonishingly long and tall city walls in the distance, the Marquis of Mantua couldn't help but exclaim.

Laszlo glanced at the Marquis, who was so flustered that he was grasping for words, and nodded slightly in agreement with his statement.

As a person from a later era, he had seen many cities with populations exceeding ten million, so he naturally wouldn't be shocked by a city with a population of less than 100,000.

Even in this era, he had already seen Rome and "New Rome," Constantinople.

One of these ancient capitals of the Roman Empire once had a million inhabitants, while the other's population had long been maintained at 500,000.

However, at this moment, the combined population of Rome and Constantinople might not even surpass Milan.

Thinking of Vienna, which he could almost see from end to end, Laszlo sighed helplessly.

In a sense, Milan truly was a magnificent city.

Perhaps in a few more years, the only behemoth in all of Europe that could steadily surpass Milan would be Paris.

Laszlo had heard that at the end of the 15th century, Paris's population once approached 300,000, while Vienna would have to wait several centuries to reach 300,000.

He couldn't wait that long.

In his lifetime, to make Vienna surpass Paris and become the "foremost city" of Europe, he either had to continue attracting foreign residents or conquer Paris to de-urbanize the French.

Of course, Laszlo only thought about the latter method; by that time, his struggle for hegemony with Louis XI would be nearing its end.

Although the French King's capital was much more prosperous than his, Laszlo had six capitals at his disposal.

Vienna, Prague, Milan, Budapest, Belgrade, and Sofia, combined, might roughly equal one Paris. Laszlo also knew that calculating it this way was somewhat a form of psychological victory, but what could he do when Austria's land was so barren?

It couldn't compare to the fertile plains of Northern France, nor the richness of the Po Valley.

If he hadn't diligently developed it, Vienna would probably only be considered a second-rate city within the Empire now.

Temporarily suppressing the jumbled thoughts in his mind, Laszlo focused on the present.

Hermes, the Milanese regent he appointed, along with a large group of Milanese officials and nobles, had already been waiting for his arrival outside the city.

They were still quite a distance from Milan, and their reverence deeply pleased Laszlo.

"Hermes, Piccinino, and all of you waiting here, it's a pleasure to see you."

Laszlo warmly waved to everyone.

Not only were there important Milanese officials and Generals, but also people from the various states of Northern Italy.

For example, the representatives of the Pazzi Family, the rulers of Florence, and John, the Marquis of Montferrat from the Palaiologos family, along with his brother William.

John's health seemed to have deteriorated significantly; years of military campaigns had left him riddled with injuries, and it was feared he wouldn't live much longer.

Meanwhile, William had spent these past few years serving as Laszlo's court diplomat, traveling throughout Northern Italy, primarily to understand the situation of the various Italian states, and occasionally presiding over councils in Milan.

Once William inherited the title of Marquis of Montferrat, he would likely become even busier.

"Your Majesty, the people of Milan are eagerly awaiting your arrival."

Hermes respectfully welcomed the Emperor.

Although the Emperor visited Milan only rarely, his influence over the city never waned.

Royal bailiffs frequently came to Milan to review the situation and report back to the Emperor.

For this reason, Hermes had no choice but to govern Milan diligently, fearing that anything might displease the Emperor. The councilors of the Golden Republic had been hung on the walls of Milan for a long time, allowing the Milanese to feel the Emperor's terror.

Hermes certainly did not want to follow in their footsteps.

Fortunately, his work was going well, and Milan's situation was indeed improving.

"Your Majesty, your two legions are currently stationed in Novara, awaiting your inspection."

Novara was a crucial transportation hub connecting Milan, Turin, and Genoa, located not far west of Milan.

Piccinino wore a magnificent and exquisite suit of armor, looking utterly pleased with himself and full of vigor.

He had been granted two castles and vast territories by the Emperor and commanded the Milan Army, which he had personally assembled, making him immensely powerful in Milan.

The only thing he regretted was that his army seemed to have lost its purpose.

He had achieved numerous military successes during the Italian Wars, notably capturing Milan by surprise, which earned him a noble title, wealth, territory, and the authority of a General.

In the past, these were things his father and elder brother had only dreamed of, and he was the one who finally made these dreams a reality.

As his status rose, Piccinino's ambition and desires continued to swell.

He hoped to achieve more military merits to earn further rewards from the Emperor, ideally allowing his family to achieve a complete class transcendence, transforming from a mercenary family into true Imperial nobility.

This was not mere fantasy; in his view, his opportunities were actually quite numerous.

Fighting against the French and the Swiss would certainly provide opportunities for him and his army.

However, the Emperor seemed to have no intention of starting a new war in the short term.

This greatly disappointed him, so he could only demonstrate the ready Milan Army to the Emperor to show his resolve.

"Hmm, it has been a long time since I last came to Milan; this time, I will take a good look at Milan.

Let's go, we'll enter the city."

Laszlo slowly entered Milan, surrounded by the crowd.

The last time the Emperor came to Milan, he had led a large army to break through the city, and people were too scared to leave their homes, fearing being caught in the conflict.

Today, Milan had long since recovered its long-lost peace, and people's perception of the Emperor had significantly changed.

The Milanese had endured 40 years of continuous warfare, and the Emperor had brought an end to it all.

Therefore, whether out of curiosity, reverence, or gratitude, people flocked to the streets, eager to witness the Emperor's majesty.

Milan's streets were bustling with people, creating an empty city elsewhere; this enthusiastic welcome even startled Laszlo.

Although he had driven out the French as Milan's liberator during the Italian Wars and ended the illegal republican government,

this was the first time he had been welcomed like this; he had never experienced such enthusiasm, not even in Vienna.

The two squadrons brought by Piccinino struggled to keep the cheering crowds, shouting "Hail Caesar," separated, preventing them from colliding with Laszlo and his entourage.

After a long series of city tours, Laszlo went to the Milan Cathedral to meet with the Archbishop and offered prayers there.

Early the next morning, Laszlo convened a new round of Imperial Council meetings at his residence, the Visconti Castle.

By careful count, Laszlo had already conducted many tours and court assemblies, and even the chroniclers he hired said he possessed "the demeanor of ancient emperors."

This was, of course, flattery, and for Laszlo, it felt more like sarcasm.

Although he was committed to building a foundational administrative system capable of controlling the state from scratch, he was constantly forced to travel between various territories and within the Empire.

Without a central authority, each vassal state had its own central authority, and this feeling annoyed him, but he found it difficult to truly change anything.

Even so, Laszlo decided to be a diligent emperor to the best of his ability.

At least he was still young now and had plenty of energy for these tasks.

"Your Majesty, representatives from all the states have arrived, none are absent."

His attendant, Al, walked into the meeting hall and reported to Laszlo.

"Excellent, let them in."

Soon, Al led the representatives of the various nations into the meeting hall.

Representatives from Florence, Genoa, Mantua, Ferrara, and Montferrat sat closest to Laszlo, with other smaller states arranged in order behind them.

Laszlo himself participated in this meeting as a representative of Milan and also as the convener of the assembly.

"Gentlemen, it has been several years since the last Italian assembly was held," Laszlo said in a gentle tone, clearly very pleased. "To my knowledge, you have admirably carried out my will, and a turbulent Italy has temporarily returned to peace. For this, I express my gratitude to the Italian states."

"This is all due to Your Majesty's grace."

William, who was attending the meeting on behalf of his ailing brother John, immediately said sincerely.

Everyone present echoed his sentiments, especially the representatives of the Pazzi Family and Genoa.

Montferrat's independence and recovery of lost territories, the Pazzi Family's acquisition of Florence, and Genoa's liberation from French military control—all were due to the Emperor's benevolence.

Now, Montferrat and Florence had sworn allegiance as Laszlo's vassals, and Genoa's Doge also required the Emperor's authorization to rule legitimately.

Only Ludovico, the Marquis of Mantua, and Borso, the Marquis of Ferrara, felt somewhat awkward.

One had joined the alliance against the Emperor, while the other had little involvement in Italy's tumultuous affairs, focusing solely on promoting the Renaissance.

However, since the Emperor had spoken to this extent, they could only concur.

As for the remaining smaller states eligible to be at the table, they were equally grateful to the Emperor.

Wars between the five dominant powers of the Apennines often caused them suffering, and the Emperor had put an end to all of it.

After Laszlo exchanged pleasantries and greetings with the representatives, the meeting finally moved to the main agenda—Laszlo's decision to hear the demands of the Northern Italian states.

If he only used military force and diplomatic pressure, constantly demanding from the Northern Italian states, sooner or later, new troubles would arise.

Laszlo's purpose in coming this time was to ensure that when dealing with Imperial affairs and conflicts with the Franco-Swiss alliance, there would be no unrest in the rear.