The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 38

[Episode 38, My First Victory]

-Mediterranean Sea-

In this era, naval battles didn’t involve cannons firing from afar.

At most, there were arrows flying, decks colliding, and swords clashing on the decks! It was a barbaric free-for-all, the mainstream of naval warfare.

However.

It was precisely because they fought with such crude methods that medieval naval warfare demanded extra caution.

Even a single misstep could ruin the entire strategy.

And then, the variable of the Egyptian fleet, temporarily disguised as Crusaders, popped up.

In any endeavor, or war.

One must be really careful about ‘variables’.

“Oh, those clever fellows! John, approaching you pretending to be Crusaders.”

“Fortunately, I foresaw it in advance.”

The old emperor of the Holy Roman Empire said with a light smile.

“John, I say this with a smile, but our great Christian fleet is in crisis! What do you intend to do in this situation?

Well, I’ll take responsibility, so you can retreat. We have Christian countries to use as naval ports.

Anyway, just looking at your achievements so far, our brothers in faith will recognize your abilities.

So, don’t overdo it.”

Like the ‘serpent’ who tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.

The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick tempted me.

But this old man.

If I ‘retreat’ without a plan.

I don’t think he’ll leave me alone.

‘Daring to stand out in such an important initial battle is like throwing my reputation into this Mediterranean Sea.’

Of course, there is no retreat.

‘But when the enemy fleets and our fleet are in close combat, Greek fire [a flammable liquid weapon] is dangerous, and we will also be damaged.’

The Eastern Roman fleet uses Greek fire.

For a navy in the Middle Ages.

It crisply chars the opponent’s ships with a thrilling pseudo-flamethrower.

But conversely, if the chaotic situation continues where that pseudo-flamethrower cannot be used properly.

Our side will also be in a lot of trouble.

In addition, the movements of the enemies changed with the joining of the Egyptian fleet that changed its flag.

Unlike the previous movements that aimed for the flagship to eat it raw.

The Islamic fleet showed more agile movements with the joining of the Egyptian fleet.

Like drawing a sword from its scabbard.

Wow.

Egyptian fleet!

There is a high-ranking commander among them, 100 percent.

Until just a moment ago.

If they showed movements like ‘Just get caught once, you damned Christian bastards’.

Now.

They were showing the appearance of ‘Let’s properly sink the Christian fleet.’

‘The commander of the Egyptian fleet is capable. The fleet’s movement itself is different.’

The skill of striking and retreating was not ordinary.

It was no coincidence that the Egyptian fleet was called Saladin Sultan’s genuine fleet.

But for me.

There is Charles, who ate some seawater in France.

“Charles… what should we do in this situation?”

‘Now, my command alone is only up to here. It’s time to use skilled subordinates.’

If it’s something beyond my limits.

I need an expert.

So, I asked Charles, a knight of Toulon who had accumulated various experiences in the French waters, for his opinion.

He said calmly.

“The best force of their fleet right now is the Egyptian fleet, Saladin’s first force, which just arrived.

They will probably try to preserve the power of the elite Egyptian fleet, no matter what damage other fleets take.

Then, we just need to attack only the Egyptian fleet with all our forces.

Besides, Your Highness has already prepared a trump card for the worst-case scenario, haven’t you?”

“That’s right…”

A trump card.

I don’t know what kind of bad things these Islamic friends will do in this vast sea.

After being appointed as the first admiral.

There was a ‘prepared card’ in advance before the expedition.

Those merchants who made me a VVIP customer by offering tearful gold coins!

“Send a liaison ship quickly. I need their fleet.”

The northern sea route, where our fleet is not confronting the enemies, is empty right now.

We need to call the fleet using this route.

I gave the order again with flags.

“Entrust the main fleet to the Eastern Roman fleet. And our proud Irish fleet will strike their main force!”

-Yes, Your Highness.

-Flutter.

Soon after, the flag moved.

The fleets began to move according to our command, the flagship of the Christian fleet.

So.

Just like they were trying to end the naval battle quickly by aiming for our flagship.

We are fiercely trying to devour the Egyptian fleet.

Of course, the Islamic-Egyptian fleet could not possibly not know about our blatant movement.

Of course, we didn’t intend to immediately gnaw at the Egyptian fleet.

Appearing to rush towards the Egyptian fleet.

We are waiting for our fleet to come to the rescue.

“The rescue fleet has arrived.”

“It’s our Christian fleet!”

“They are attacking the Islamic fleet!”

“This time, it’s not a disguise, it’s a real Christian fleet.”

The company I often use.

The fleet of the Republic of Genoa appeared from behind the Egyptian fleet.

And the Sicilian fleet revealed itself.

Soon after, the Egyptian fleet, surrounded on both sides.

Couldn’t do anything.

And before long, the enemy’s main fleet began to retreat.

“Checkmate.”

I took a pointless pose.

The Holy Roman Emperor, who was watching enthusiastically next to me, said.

“John, my judgment in choosing you was right after all.”

“No. It’s luck.”

“Luck, you say.”

“Isn’t it because the enemies looked down on me and got a big nose?”

I could see the retreating enemy fleets in my eyes.

To be more precise,

The sight of the Egyptian fleet, said to be the most elite of the Islamic fleets, retreating diligently.

At that time, one of the commanders, watching my mood, asked.

“Your Highness, shall we issue a pursuit order?”

“Isn’t that their last struggle? There’s no need for us to volunteer for damage.”

‘Looking at it, there will be a final ambush fleet.’

“Rather, let’s repair our fleet. Anyway, this naval battle ended in our victory, so there’s no need to rush.”

“Yes, I will follow the order.”

Anyway, I repaired the fleet.

And enjoyed the victory.

Yes. We won.

“Wow! We drove the infidels out of the sea.”

The shouts of the Christians.

And the burning Islamic fleet could be seen in the distance.

The ‘Egyptian fleet’ was strong.

However. Due to the Christian fleet’s desperate and safe operation.

It would have been difficult for them to wield their power to the fullest.

As Charles said, the Egyptian fleet is an elite fleet that must not be lost.

Anyway.

For now, we won. Shall we enjoy the joy of victory to the fullest?

“Then, we have to return as much as we received.”

Of course, right now.

I could say, ‘Acre. Sharpen your neck and wait!’

I can hit Acre right away.

But I decided to postpone targeting Acre for now.

In the first place, Acre Port is a coastal fortress that Saladin had prepared for a long time.

Defense preparations are already in place.

That means there’s no difference whether we attack early or late.

So, I’m going to show a different movement.

For now, at the Christian fleet level.

‘These Middle Eastern seas are ours now.’

We need to properly show that our Christian side has taken control of the sea.

“Before hitting Acre, we need to collect money in Alexandria.”

The great port in the Egyptian region founded by Alexander.

I have to go there for a while.

**

The first naval battle to strike Acre Port.

The naval battle between the Islamic fleet and the Christian fleet, which would later be called the Battle of Lepanto, has just ended.

Of course, it was a victory for the Christian fleet.

The fame of the victorious Prince John and the Christian fleet will spread throughout the Christian world.

But if there is a winner, there is naturally a loser.

The admiral in charge of the Egyptian fleet and the Middle East defense fleet was a complete loser.

And the name of that unfortunate loser was Saladin’s brother, Saif ad-Din, or Saphadin.

“To lose so futilely.”

He still had a hard time accepting reality.

There was no excuse.

There was only the shame of being defeated by the Christians.

Besides, it was the damned John who moved the Christian bastards’ fleet.

“I would have been less ashamed if the Western Emperor had led the fleet.”

If our Islamic fleet had been defeated because of the command of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick.

That would have saved face.

But to be defeated by the fleet showdown between the brat John, the Prince of England, and his subordinates.

That is tantamount to widely proving that his fleet command is terrible.

The strategy was perfect.

John, who had been attacked by the Berber Islamic navy disguised as a Crusader fleet.

In a way that stimulated his trauma, he tried to screw John over by disguising the Egyptian fleet as the navy of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

John did not panic.

He appropriately put in the ‘Genoa Navy’ prepared as a joker.

He was never caught in a ‘trap’ even once.

So, in the end, the Islamic army was defeated, and John won.

“This is because I am incompetent.”

But his subordinates did not blame the admiral.

“Anyway, the Sultan knew in advance that we would lose due to the difference in power. In the first place, they operated the Christian fleet, but our power was inferior, wasn’t it?”

“I know that too.”

The admiral also knew that fact.

The strategy that his brother Saladin was trying to obtain through the Egyptian fleet.

It was not to sink the Christian fleet altogether.

It was to drag out time by fighting the numerically inferior Christian fleet.

Fortunately, Admiral Saphadin preserved the power of the Egyptian fleet even in that defeat.

“I should have fallen into the sea at that time.”

Saphadin said with a wry smile at the words of his stubborn subordinate.

“It’s just a joke. I’d rather die to the enemy general than commit suicide and go to hell.”

“Now, there’s only one thing we can do, right?”

“It is to block this place as much as possible.”

“They say the Christian bastards are attacking Al-Iskandariya (Alexandria) right now.”

“Oh, Allah…”

Saphadin, horrified by the words of his subordinates.

He soon smiled coldly and said.

“We will not give up only Acre easily.”

**

-Ireland-

The victory report of Prince John, who wore the admiral’s name in the Battle of Lepanto.

It was heard all the way to Ireland, once an island of rebels, now famous as the island of Safe.

The most excited person.

Wouldn’t it be 당연히 [of course] Duchess Mary of Ireland?

“Did you hear? Our husband swept away the Islamic bastards in the sea properly.”

“… Yes, I heard.”

“What about Princess Matilda?”

“Ah, sister-in-law… how many times do I have to say it! Please stop it.”

Both her mother-in-law and sister-in-law looked at Mary with tired expressions.

Mary was really happy.

When the Crusades were in full swing, it was too honorable and 자랑거리 [something to boast about] for Prince John to have made achievements.

“Oh, her husband is the best.”

“Mother, how can you say that?”

After 자랑질 [boasting] to her heart’s content, Mary, who somehow had a tired expression, parted ways with her in-laws and arrived somewhere.

She said to the man in front of her with a gentle smile.

“I knew you’d be here.”

Then, that man.

“What brings the Duchess of Ireland to such a humble place?”

A Catholic clergyman with a shaved head that looks quite cool.

It was Bishop Lothair.

It is the same man as the ‘bomb’ that John’s brothers sent to John.

“Do you still suspect me, Duchess?”

“Of course. There are many scary people in this good Ireland… Among them, you are one of the top five.”

“I am just a servant of the Lord.”

“You are a servant of the Lord who is more secular than anyone else. But Bishop Lothair, you’ve been suspicious lately.”

Everyone is slowly forgetting.

Bishop Lothair, a clergyman who aims for silent power in Ireland.

He was never an ordinary person.

“Why did the Duchess hide her identity and come to England?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Mary pretended not to know anything and asked Bishop Lothair.

“The purpose of my coming here is not actually because of Prince John.

I have business with someone who is using the pseudonym Mary.”

“Wow, it sounds like I’m hiding something?”

“Isn’t that so? Your Excellency is…”

“Wait.”

Mary, who stopped Bishop Lothair in the middle of his words, smiled slightly and said.

“I’m just a woman who loves John. Got it?”

Mary was clearly smiling.

She was smiling too eerily.

Mary’s biggest secret is ‘age’ rather than ‘status’!

So, the ‘age’ story is a very sensitive issue!

Red River (1)