The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 124

124. With My Teacher (1)

History, in its essence, is shaped by unpredictable variables.

From the moment I, John, was reincarnated as a prince of England, much of history had already begun to diverge from its original course.

I had prepared diligently. My influence grew, and I subtly steered the direction of Europe through collaborations with Dandolo, a Venetian power broker, Count Habsburg, an ambitious nobleman, and through my holdings in Ireland—Mortagne.

Yet, variables remain unpredictable. A major upheaval had erupted in the East.

‘Why Temujin, of all people…’ I thought.

The news arrived from the Papal States, leaving me utterly dumbfounded.

It was astonishing how swiftly Temujin had united the Mongolian steppes and set his sights on dismantling the Jin Dynasty, still a formidable power.

Moreover, the “Holy Mongol Empire”? It sounded like something out of an alternate history novel, akin to the Russian Empire claiming the mantle of the Chinese Empire.

‘Ha, does this mean the Mongol Empire will cross deserts and steppes to strike the Middle Eastern Muslims, a literal Eastern Crusade?’

Richard, however, wore a delighted expression.

“John, religion fuels sectarian conflict. Aren’t they a variant of the Nestorian sect [an early Christian sect that emphasized the distinctness of the divine and human natures of Christ]?”

“Indeed.”

“This is amusing. Nomadic origins, Eastern Christianity. Surely, they will eventually challenge us for legitimacy.”

‘How terrifying is an environmentally conscious Mongol Empire? Add Christian fanaticism to the mix, and the prospect becomes truly dreadful.’

A sense of impending doom washed over me.

As someone from the future, I understood the Mongol Empire’s potential better than anyone.

Timing was the critical issue.

Their declaration of the Mongol Empire and the destruction of the Jin Dynasty indicated that they had resolved their conflict with Jamukha, their arch-rival, far earlier than in my original timeline, unifying the steppes. While an Islamic force remained to be subdued, fear was already taking root.

Yet, Richard was more jubilant than after his victory in the civil war.

Perhaps the Crown Prince position he was about to secure was already a foregone conclusion, but the emergence of a new ’empire’ was a fascinating novelty for him.

“John, we in the West do not recognize a country as an empire unless it inherits the traditions of Rome.”

“Yes, I am well aware.”

Unlike Napoleon I, who declared the French Empire and dismantled the Holy Roman Empire, prompting others to adopt the title ‘Emperor,’ such a claim was untenable in the Western world without a connection to Rome.

Of course, there were ‘Emperor’ claimants in Serbia and Bulgaria around the same time, but their influence was limited to their immediate surroundings.

“Currently, Western powers may dismiss them as ‘Eastern’ upstarts who haven’t even conquered Southern Kitai (Southern Song), but if they pacify the East and turn westward… a conflict with the Christian heartland will inevitably arise.”

“That is a frightening prospect.”

A medieval world war, even more devastating than the Shia-Sunni schism among the Islamic factions, could erupt. The thought was terrifying!

“What I find truly intriguing is that the Holy Mongol Empire, despite its apparent simplicity, possesses patience.”

“Patience, you say?”

“The Mongols, Temujin… he uses religion as a tool for conquest. He conquered Northern Kitai as an example, establishing a new system in a vast territory. Perhaps his second-in-command is a thoughtful strategist. Conquest may halt temporarily while they consolidate their gains. They might even swallow Southern Kitai once they’ve digested their conquests. They possess a keen understanding of reality for nomads.”

Richard’s ability to extrapolate so much from limited information marked him as a hidden genius.

Despite the variables within the Mongol Empire, the Southern Song had endured for over 40 years in the original timeline. But if, as Richard suggested, they were swiftly digested and destroyed? The implications were dire.

The fear of the environmentally conscious Holy Mongol Empire intensified.

“By the way, it seems our father intends to show mercy to the French Kingdom.”

“Mercy, you say?”

My brother shifted the topic from the Mongols to Europe.

“John, do you know why the late King subdued the French Kingdom appropriately after suppressing the great rebellion decades ago?”

I had also pondered this question.

Aside from Henry II’s surprisingly favorable disposition towards Philip II in the original timeline, why did he spare France, which had meddled in his family feuds?

“France is a tough nut to crack, difficult to bite carelessly.”

I understood Richard’s point.

France was a burden to our mighty England. Swallowing it carelessly would lead to indigestion.

The ‘neutral countries’ that had been observing quietly would seize the opportunity to tear apart our ascendant nation, adhering to European tradition. ‘Moderation’ was paramount.

“The territory will not increase significantly, as we require time to consolidate our gains.”

“If that is the desire of my brother and father, I have no objections.”

My primary objective was to demonstrate my ‘value’ to my future in-law, my brother, and to safeguard my territory.

Having already defeated Geoffrey and plundered Paris, I had sufficiently showcased my capabilities to Europe.

* * *

—Anjou Territory—

Ignorant people believe London to be the capital of England. In reality, Anjou held that distinction.

It had long served as the base of our Anjou-Plantagenet family, and my father, Henry II, maintained his political stronghold there.

Consequently, Anjou was deemed crucial during the civil war, as the victor would secure Henry II, who remained in a coma, a living symbol of legitimacy.

Thus, the second and true trial for the rebel leaders unfolded here.

While wigs are associated with pre-modern judges, these medieval judges eschewed such cumbersome attire.

Judges, eager to appease the nobles, had already begun to impose the punishments decreed by Richard and his father.

Of course, the punishments had been predetermined by ‘King’ Henry II’s decree.

“…The nobles named above are sentenced to exile.”

“~The nobles named above are sentenced to confiscation of territory.”

“~The named nobles will have some of their property confiscated.”

Unlike the nobles who were executed as a warning, these nobles received relatively lenient punishments, a concession to the times.

The confiscated or seized property naturally became the possession of the righteous Black Lion Army.

And then came the punishment for the most prominent rebel leaders.

“Next, Duke of Brittany….”

What fate awaited the rebellion’s second-in-command?

“Duke Geoffrey of Brittany has proven his ability. He will be awarded the vacant throne of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be occupied by Geoffrey’s descendants for generations.”

Viewed favorably, he was being sent to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a vacant and strategically important territory.

However, the influential figures in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which existed after the death of William I, were all Richard’s close allies. Furthermore, going to the Kingdom of Jerusalem meant he could never return to the English political stage.

Yet, Geoffrey responded with indifference.

“Thank you for saving me.”

At that moment, I realized it must have been a compromise influenced by my mother, Richard, and my father.

And then, the true ringleader, Henry.

—Duke Henry of Aquitaine.

“I will make the decision on this person myself.”

My father emerged.

“I confiscate the title of Duke of Aquitaine from the sinner Prince Henry….”

This was an expected outcome. His temporary claim to Aquitaine was revoked. Why had he initiated a rebellion?

But the true punishment that followed shocked everyone.

“I bestow the mercy of God and appoint the traitor Prince Henry as the co-king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.”

Wow, so merciful it brought tears to my eyes. Co-King.

In any case, all the remaining sinners were punished, and my brothers and nephews (Henry, Geoffrey’s children), whom I preferred to avoid, departed.

My nephew, Geoffrey’s son Arthur, was destined to rule Jerusalem, not Britain. I hoped Baldwin V was watching over him from heaven.

The next day.

—Ding, ding, ding.

In the church of Anjou, a monumental bell tolled, not the solemn Angelus [a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation].

Addressing the nobles, Duke Richard of Normandy declared with great ambition.

“As Crown Prince, I will make England even greater in the future!”

A new title was created in England: Duke of Normandy. Like the Prince of Wales in the original timeline, the title of the Crown Prince had been changed to Duke of Normandy.

Perhaps when Richard became king, I would become the Duke of Normandy, and my son James would inherit the title.

It was a pleasant bell.

* * *

—Italy, Papal States—

My brother’s title was elevated to Duke of Normandy, effectively making him the Crown Prince. But I sought out my teacher.

With the emergence of the Eastern problem, it was time for a visit to Italy.

‘If there’s something to do, I should do it in advance,’ I thought.

I hastened to Italy before returning to Ireland.

There were many details to discuss.

I possessed expertise in the East.

Among my vassals was Ak Bul-hwe, an Easterner, providing me with an Eastern perspective. I also maintained close ties with the Coptic Christian [an early sect of Christianity originating in Egypt] forces.

If there was a country with close ties to Ak Bul-hwe’s lord and a strong friendship with His Holiness the Pope, it was me.

I would be able to share valuable insights with His Holiness the Pope.

Most of my soldiers were dispatched back to their territories, and I traversed Italy with my father’s elite army and the Italian mercenary corps and Habsburg mercenary corps that I had temporarily hired.

“This is the Great Jin Dynasty you were talking about.”

“Amazing.”

Ak Bul-hwe, whom I had brought as an expert, was impressed by the grandeur of Rome, which possessed a distinct charm compared to China.

“Long live Prince John!”

A crowd greeted me warmly.

‘Of course, they welcome me so enthusiastically because I’m generous with my money.’

By distributing a considerable sum to appease the local merchants, I secured a warm reception.

The Lateran Basilica, the Pope’s residence until the 13th century, came into view. Traditionally, the Pope would have welcomed me, a guest, at the Apostle’s Cathedral.

To demonstrate his affection and regard for his former disciple, John, Pius II invited me to the Lateran Basilica.

“His Holiness requests your presence. However, he has specified that only Prince John may enter.”

At the Cardinal Secretary of State’s words, I replied politely.

“I understand.”

The door opened.

Pius II, the successor of Peter in the modern era, my former teacher Thomas Becket, greeted me.

“Welcome, Prince John.”

“Your Holiness, it has been a while.”

My old teacher, Thomas Becket. Or should I call him Pius II?

It had been a long time since I had seen his face, rather than a letter, after he became Pope.

“Everyone, step back.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

It was time for a private conversation between my teacher and me.

“It has been a long time since we have met so intimately, John.”

I did not mind my teacher’s informal address. I preferred it. It indicated that he still regarded me fondly. Now that my teacher had ascended to the papacy, formal address would have felt awkward.

“It has been a while, teacher.”

It was time to drop the ‘old’ from ‘old teacher.’ Perhaps due to our respective positions, we had to maintain a distance in public, but now we were alone.

“I was unaware that Bishop Lothair was your man.”

“To be precise, I made Bishop Lothair’s family my personal guard. It was quite challenging. Still, they are a prestigious clergy family in the Italian peninsula, are they not? Lothair’s family must wield considerable influence.”

My teacher feigned difficulty in controlling the clergy forces in Italy, but I remained unconvinced.

While it was true that the clergy forces, including Bishop Lothair’s family, were powerful, I knew that my teacher, Thomas Becket, who had wielded immense power since his days as a cardinal, was merely pretending to be weak.

It might not be difficult for a bishop from England to rise to the position of cardinal.

However, it was exceedingly rare for a Pope from England, not of French or Italian descent, to emerge. There was only one Pope from England in the original timeline. My teacher, who skillfully leveraged the understanding between my father and Grandpa Friedrich to ascend to the papacy, was a true powerhouse!

But I should not reveal my knowledge here. While confidence and guts were valued by Europeans, it was crucial to discern when to display them.

Now, as an expert in the East, I needed to advance the plan to establish a base in the Papal States and position Bishop Lothair as the future ‘Pope’.

As I concluded my thoughts.

“John, I have been observing your activities closely, your use of Venetian friends and a rural count like Habsburg. But your hidden desires are far more terrible.”

My teacher’s words were too direct, leaving me unsure how to respond.

No. And was it not an exaggeration to call them terrible?