The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 74

74. Like Edward I (2)

—1187, Isle of Man, British Coast—

I was making final checks on the Isle of Man, a small island nestled between England and Ireland.

After the inspection, I penned a letter before boarding the flagship.

It was addressed to Casimir II, who had rebuilt the Kingdom of Poland and ascended to its throne while retaining his existing titles. I expressed my desire for a friendly relationship as the Lord of Ireland.

Given that it was the 12th-century Middle Ages, the letter would take some time to reach the Kingdom of Poland, but it would arrive at the opportune moment.

By a friendly relationship, I meant that I wanted him to keep Denmark, one of the masterminds Duke Norfolk suspected, in check.

Casimir II, a shrewd monarch who skillfully managed the Polish nobles preoccupied with the Crusades, would surely understand my intent.

Just then, Godfrey approached and announced,

“Your Highness, it is time.”

“I understand.”

As I was about to board the flagship,

“John, you are truly amazing.”

Masoud approached and exclaimed. It wasn’t sarcasm, of course, but genuine praise.

Masoud, who had calmly observed the Irish army’s charge, shock, and evasion tactics training on the Isle of Man, was astonished by my efforts.

“Did you see it?” I asked.

“Yes, I am truly amazed that you have adapted the Khwarazmian tactics we taught you in this way.”

“Is it useful even in the eyes of a Turk?”

“Useful? It’s almost on par with our combat power.”

“Almost? There’s still much to improve.”

“In my eyes, from the Sultan of Khwarazm’s perspective, ‘almost’ is akin to ‘soon.’ What greater compliment is there than for people living in blessed lands like yours to approach the combat power of those living in cursed lands like ours?”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I had the Turkic Coptic Christians learn Khwarazmian equestrian tactics.

Although my participation in the Crusades was partly voluntary, I gained valuable experience on the Egyptian front.

And the Mamluks [slave soldiers], who would later form the foundation of the Mamluk dynasty, were utilized as a type of cavalry after converting to Coptic Christianity.

I ‘asked’ Masoud, who had some free time, to teach Khwarazmian equestrian tactics. Naturally, I paid a substantial tuition fee.

Wasn’t the Khwarazmian royal family a Turkic nomadic people before settling in Central Asia, closely related to the Mamluks, who could be considered Egyptian Turks?

If so, equestrian tactics could be mutually beneficial.

Of course, I also had the knights of our Irish territory, who had Norman blood, learn those equestrian tactics.

—Heeheeheeing.

Thanks to that, the combat power of the heavy cavalry increased.

But I’m not swimming in money, so not all units are cavalry.

Even so.

“The knights are impressive, but there’s something else.”

“Are you referring to John’s vanguard?”

“Moreover, that penal unit applying Khwarazmian infantry tactics… I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“Wouldn’t it be more effective to use them as a combat force rather than as human shields?”

As it was the Middle Ages, there were many criminals in Mortain and Ireland.

In particular, there were many who committed heinous crimes such as rape, murder, robbery, and massacres.

Of course, the standard punishment was hanging. A public execution that ended their lives.

The reason I increased festivals, banquets, and welfare for the people of the territory was to replace the public’s gratification from public executions.

‘Death row inmates are excellent combatants for carrying out the most dangerous operations.’

No one wants to die. While there might be exceptions, none of the death row inmates I encountered wanted to die before their execution.

A special unit that combined the best aspects of the existing English formation, the basic formation of the Capetian French army that I learned from Godfrey, and the formation of the Song Dynasty at the end of the 12th century that I heard from Akbulhoe, all adapted in an English style.

Safe Marines.

Of course, these men would not merely serve as meat shields like other penal units, but would be used as strategically as grenadiers in early modern Europe.

Deploy cruelly, train harshly, reward generously.

By adhering to these three principles, I guaranteed them more than just basic sustenance and urged them to risk their lives for me, John.

And now it’s time to bid farewell to Masoud.

“It seems the agreement entrusted to my son is complete, so I must return to my territory in Egypt. Now I am truly Masoud (prosperous).”

“Thank you for everything.”

“I am the one who is grateful. I will take good care of the Egyptian territory that you persuaded the Western Emperor Frederick to grant me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“May God be with you.”

“May God be with you, Masoud.”

Masoud departed from the Isle of Man, and I pondered.

‘I have to emulate Edward.’

Edward I, he established various laws and demonstrated great political power that enriched the lives of the people.

He is a monarch famous as a tall, magnificent man who received Scotland’s declaration of surrender by creating a large and magnificent catapult, like a street thug from the Scottish border.

In fact, the large and magnificent catapult is like the robot boarding at the end of Power Rangers, or the finishing move like ‘Love, friendship, hope. Gather all the power into the Vulcan Cannon.’

‘In the first place, Edward I had already overwhelmed Scotland on all fronts before relying on the large and magnificent catapult.’

To completely overwhelm Scotland, it is effective to launch amphibious landings from all sides and make it impossible to move at all. But as I thought last time, an amphibious operation is impossible from the start.

Otherwise, it would only recreate the ‘Gallipoli Landing’ that Churchill attempted in World War I and was brutally defeated by the Turkish army.

‘I already raided the coast like that last time.’

So the most orthodox operation is just one thing.

“After entering the English mainland, there is no choice but to advance north.”

“I think so too, Your Highness.”

So, on the ship, I planned the final operation with my safe knights.

“This is the island of Britain. Thank you for enduring the seasickness.”

“I wasn’t seasick.”

“Raid them well.”

“Your Highness, pillaging is my specialty.”

Charles was planning a special raid today, so he led the fleet and departed first.

Then, what should I do?

Akbulhoe looked at the gloomy sky and asked me.

“Is this the English mainland?”

England, a true Western European island nation.

A gloomy climate where you can count the clear days on your fingers is common knowledge.

“That’s right. This is the mainland of England where I grew up. Anyway, let’s go find the nobles quickly.”

I immediately arrived in London and met the old nobles stationed on the English mainland.

They are mostly from Duke Norfolk’s faction, but in the end, they are my father Henry V’s people.

“Prince John, welcome to England.”

“I sincerely thank you for loyally defending Britain. But now time is of the essence.”

I couldn’t treat them carelessly, those who were extraordinary in age, experience, and loyalty when my father Henry II rebelled against his uncle and waged a civil war in Britain, but I could share English etiquette like this and that.

“What do you mean?”

“I am not a prince now, but the commander-in-chief of the suppression army. Rather than being treated as a prince, I need something as a commander.”

One of them looked at me and asked.

“Not at all, then what do you need as a commander?”

“We have enough troops. However, we need food.”

First of all, you have to eat to run.

I was going to run. Very quickly.

* * *

—Edinburgh, vicinity—

—Heeheeheeing.

My beloved horse Cromwell, perhaps he missed his owner while I was in the Middle East. He was running quite well.

No, is it because of the weight of the head of the family?

Last month, he formed a family with the mare Nefertari that I brought from the Middle East and became the head of the family, so I feel the experience as the head of the family. It didn’t seem like just a 착각 [delusion/misconception in Korean].

Of course, I run through the battlefield with this beloved Cromwell. Shooting, ramming, and cutting.

I cut down the rebels who called themselves the liberation army.

Of course, having suffered a lot in Egypt, I made a pledge to completely reduce the probability of commanders facing unfavorable situations.

Because I streamlined the basic troops to reduce the number of enemies that the commander had to deal with directly.

I advanced as quickly as possible.

London,

Nottingham,

York.

And to the front of their base.

When planning the operation, there were many points that my subordinate knights said were impossible.

“Your Highness… how is this possible?”

“Theory is sometimes different from reality. Besides, our elite troops have become stronger.”

Godfrey said that he couldn’t believe our advance, which was progressing so quickly, but it had to be possible.

When recruiting a new suppression army, most of them were veteran soldiers from the Middle East Crusades.

They decided to fight for me again for a salary, and they were worth more than bread money than the last Crusade.

Just before the Scottish rebellion broke out, the English army was careless.

They never thought that the Scottish nobles who had been won over would betray them again, and they didn’t know that there would be a capable commander in Scotland.

But the situation has changed, and now the Scottish rebels are careless.

With the title of ‘Liberation Army,’ they swept through the northern region of England, which was careless, and were obsessed with the immediate and visible results of ‘liberation’ rather than objective operations.

Of course, their commander-in-chief Robert is not incompetent, but we were too fast.

In medieval warfare, 선 함락, 후 약탈 [first capture, then pillage in Korean] is common sense, but my vanguard omitted it in the process for a quick advance.

Besides, the fight doesn’t just happen outside.

Before the Reformation, Catholicism still took the best care of the people. Then you can do a lot.

Until our father raised a large army using me as an excuse, the serfs who had long been loyal to the Scottish royal family.

They may suspect the ‘nobles’ who raised the resistance army. Or have an unfaithful heart.

‘In terms of chess, it can be said that the chariot and cannon have been removed.’

The Scottish self-proclaimed liberation army was trapped in the castle. We looked at them leisurely.

Now it’s the finish.

“Bring the New John’s Bow.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I have to finish the attack like Edward I.

* * *

—Normandy—

While Prince John was quickly suppressing the Scottish rebellion.

Richard, Duke of Normandy and the second prince of England, returned to his territory with a woman.

Of course, as the lords who participated in the Crusades did, Richard did not return empty-handed. He brought all kinds of wealth.

This wealth would be distributed to the veterans of the Crusades, and the rest would surely be used for Christ’s mercy (welfare).

“Long live the Duke of Normandy!”

“Long live the new Duchess!”

A hot reaction, and the public was not surprised that there was a woman next to Richard.

Because rumors had already spread in Normandy that Richard had a lover in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The people cheered.

Richard is a protector who safely governs Normandy and a competent great lord.

Richard is respected and revered by their lord, who has a strong physique, wisdom, and martial arts, as well as compassion.

Richard is receiving enthusiastic cheers from the people of Normandy, but his expression has not changed yet.

For him, outwardly 드러나는 [revealing/showing in Korean] emotions were an unnecessary luxury.

He was a person who was satisfied with giving ‘emotions’ to a small number of people and showing fairness to the rest.

Then the woman said to Richard.

“Richard.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really not going to regret it? Choosing a woman like me?”

“Regret… My life has been a series of choices, but I will have nothing to regret just by being with you.”

Her name is Sibylla.

Born as a princess of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, she is a woman who has experienced countless joys and sorrows.

But Richard, who had already received the consent of Henry II and Baldwin IV, chose her as his marriage partner.

“My love, this will be your resting place.”

“Richard, was choosing me… so important that you gave up your unrequited love?”

“I’ve already forgotten everything.”

Just as Safe John has pure love, so does Wild Richard.

And Richard, like his brother John, sometimes had to forget his first love and start a new love.

‘Princess Marguerite, I will give up on you now. But I will be your comrade.’

As the two lovers were exchanging affectionate words, the latest news came.

“Prince John has suppressed the Scottish rebellion.”

“John, that child gave us a really good wedding gift.”

The whole world was surprised by the news of John’s suppression of the rebellion.

This is because John, who had been leisurely enough to start a festival, suppressed the rebellion so quickly that the nobles were surprised.

The waves of the world were shaking.