The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 157

157. Messenger of Peace (3)

-1202, Europe-

Though a ‘global-scale’ newspaper wasn’t widely distributed in this era, rumors still spread like wildfire in Europe.

-Neigh.

The whispers of England’s actions in the North Sea began to circulate.

‘The things that happen in this world!’

This was the gist of how the nations in Europe reacted.

Was it a show of force, a declaration of ‘Forget the England you knew; we’re strong again!’?

All of Europe had suspected something for a while now.

Safe Zone, his vassals, and the few who followed Richard were plotting something somewhere in Mortain.

But no informant could figure out what John was up to, and even the Eastern Roman Empire’s famous intelligence agency, the ‘Immigration Bureau,’ couldn’t grasp the details of the new weapons.

In the end, they shuddered at the sight of the enormous ‘results’: gunpowder weapons and new battleships.

Until now, they had regarded England, which governed the West French region, as a rising power and kept an eye on it, but after witnessing the quasi-imperialistic ‘gunboat diplomacy’ they displayed.

All of Europe began to consider England a serious contender. It was the moment the ‘rising’ tag was dropped from ‘rising power.’

[Eastern Roman Empire]

The Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, who was restoring lost territories and regaining strength, spoke upon hearing the news.

“That England has gained such power… Have we been too complacent?”

Even Emperor Alexios II of the Eastern Roman Empire was genuinely concerned, so much so that he couldn’t enjoy his usual meat dishes or visit Empress Agnes.

Naturally, the Eastern Roman Empire had reason to be worried.

The new battleships and booming weapons that England had created.

They posed a serious threat to the Eastern Roman Empire’s naval power, ‘Greek Fire’ [an incendiary weapon that could burn on water].

‘Is it our turn to be challenged now?’

He summoned the governors, with whom relations had recently become strained, and said with a grave face.

“By any means necessary, replicate their weapons.”

The Eastern Roman Empire, which the late Emperor Manuel I had declared an empire of Greeks, willingly or not, still retained the habits of ‘Europeans.’

They could never stand to see others prosper.

[Holy Roman Empire]

Otto IV, who had ascended to the throne after a short but intense civil war, was talking with his mother, Matilda.

About England, which could be considered his mother’s family.

“Your Majesty, I never knew my brothers could hide something like this.”

To the words of his mother and Queen Mother Matilda, Otto IV replied with a bitter smile.

“My uncles had reason to be confident.”

“Your Majesty, they are members of the Angevin family [a royal house of French origin]. It is only natural for them to hide a secret weapon.”

“So… what would you have me do, Mother?”

Otto IV asked his mother.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? As long as France is our neighbor and the Eastern Roman Empire exists in the Mediterranean, England will not be able to betray us.”

“I agree with Mother’s thoughts as well.”

As long as the Eastern Roman Empire is nearby.

The Holy Roman Empire, or more precisely, the territories directly under the Emperor, Saxony and Bavaria, would have no choice but to maintain close ties with England.

Of course, separately from that.

“We must send someone to investigate those weapons and battleships.”

The Holy Roman Empire, too, must keep up with the new era.

[Kingdom of France]

The Kingdom of France also heard the story from the North Sea.

Philip II said with a relieved expression.

“So, this was the source of the unease I felt.”

Although he didn’t show it, Philip II was also suspicious of the mysterious Mortain. What honey pot was in that rural area that Prince John’s aides were constantly visiting?

But ta-da.

It was England’s new power that no one had expected!

“Your Majesty, what shall we do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We must create the same thing!”

Replication may not be easy, but someday they will be able to create the same weapons.

The existing powers were in such a complex mood, but England was still at peace.

***

-England, Rouen-

The pre-modern plunder economy of the kingdom was revitalized. And the major powers of Europe began to recognize England as a ‘strongman’.

Naturally, the ‘Angevin’ people of England became proud.

“Ah, is this the power of the ‘Angevin’s great nation, England?”

“Ah…! It’s worth living here!”

“Now our England is a ‘great power’!”

The new capital, Rouen, was also happy due to the spoils of war. It was a medieval economic development.

Suspiciously, songs and poems praising Richard I began to spread through the bards.

[In the age of religion and war, the legend of the Lionheart resounds~ This beast in human form dreams of conquest~]

It was a Richard praise that John made, saying that only one king should be cheered before going to the Papal States.

The atmosphere in Rouen was very good.

Richard I couldn’t have been unaware of this atmosphere.

Richard I himself and Duke John of Normandy showed off their power in the North Sea, bracing themselves for a surprise invasion, and openly supported the Kingdom of Poland.

It was a declaration that England still loved ‘peace’ as before and had the power to do so.

“Everyone will have realized that we are not just a rising power, but a great power.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“By the way, to run to my teacher at such a glorious moment.”

But Richard I’s expression wasn’t bad.

Although there was the justification that John’s teacher, who had become Pope, was not in good health, he knew why John had gone to the Vatican so quickly without any preparation.

“Before John went to the Vatican, did that guy say that glory is only allowed to the monarch?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Honestly, I don’t completely trust him, but he’s not the type to start a rebellion unless he has to.”

“Your Majesty, I have something to say.”

“Henri, speak.”

As the king raised his hand as if to allow it, the Count of Champagne spoke.

“There will be no one who would slander John out of mere jealousy. But something else is the problem.”

Richard I, looking at his nephew and confidant, the Count of Champagne, gave him a look to continue.

“Opponents with their own political philosophies will emerge. They are the ones who will truly oppose the Duke of Normandy. Of course, Your Majesty is already aware of this.”

The Count of Champagne said that someone would oppose John now. Richard I raised the corners of his mouth as if he was interested.

“John would rather like it. To have his opponent.”

Richard I, who had been subtly checking his younger brother John and still couldn’t completely trust him, thought that John might be secretly fostering opposition.

His younger brother was the type of person who would do anything to be safe. The fact that an opposition party had emerged meant that he could not act alone, and the fact that he could not act alone meant that he could avoid the king’s suspicion.

But at this moment. A guest that the king did not expect came to Rouen.

-Your Highness, the Duke of Brittany requests entry.

“Henri, you may step down.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After the Count of Champagne left through another door. Richard I welcomed the Duke of Brittany, once called Henry II. His father, who now had only honor left without power.

“Greetings to the King.”

Richard I asked with a puzzled look at the Duke of Brittany’s greeting, who showed proper respect to his son.

“What brings you here, Father?”

“I am no longer the King. Call me Duke.”

Richard I changed the word again and said.

“What brings you here, Duke of Brittany?”

“I have come to tell the King something important.”

“Is it about the Duke of Normandy?”

The Duke of Brittany, who had already stepped down from the throne and handed over the crown to his son, did not interfere in politics. Even if he did, he would quietly enjoy his leisure life unless it was a problem with ‘John’, whom he loved.

“It’s not about John, it’s about another man.”

The Duke of Brittany came to discuss the affairs of another person exceptionally.

* * *

-1202, Papal States of Rome-

England was in a festive mood, but I came straight to the Papal States (the land ruled by the Pope).

Because my teacher sent me a letter directly.

The Mediterranean sea route, where I could feel the warm sea breeze, was very smooth for me, who had overcome the rough seas of the North Sea.

However, I wasn’t in a giddy mood.

Because I knew that my teacher called me this time not because of ‘work’.

Then what did he call me for? I could guess because I had recently heard that His Holiness the Pope had weakened in many ways. He probably called me to talk to me for the last time.

It tasted bitter in my mouth.

“Your Highness, we have arrived in the Papal States.”

“I know.”

I landed on the land belonging to the Papal States, and someone came out to greet me.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

The Italian knight Galgano, who would have already died in the original history, was alive and well and came to escort me. I heard that he was hired by the Roman Catholic Church in the past?

“It’s really nice to see you like this. Sir Galgano.”

We met on the battlefield in the past, but that was only because of a contract.

I feel happy to see you like this now.

It was also comforting to have someone familiar give me a tour guide.

“Rome is always amazing, no matter when you see it.”

You might get tired of seeing it every day like the citizens of Rome under the rule of the Vatican, but I really liked the scenery of Rome that I saw occasionally like this.

“By the way. England seems to be a really great country.”

“Did you just find out?”

As someone who remembers the eyes of the nobles who looked at us when we came to the Italian peninsula, I had a strange thought.

In the past, it was like, ‘Ah, those England… guys!’, but now it has changed to, ‘Ha… those England guys…!’

I felt like England was being recognized as a great power beyond a rising power?

But meeting my teacher was a priority over that. I went to the Vatican as soon as possible.

“I see His Holiness the Pope.”

“Welcome, Duke of Normandy.”

After that, my aides and Pius II had side conversations. Roughly, it was a place to share the Vatican’s official position toward England.

He said it in a roundabout way with some rhetoric and metaphors, but my teacher expressed through his mouth that the Papal States still wanted to maintain a close relationship with England.

Also, as a Pope from England, he conveyed the Pope’s will to acknowledge that England had entered the ranks of great powers.

After the political conversation was over, it was time to have a private conversation.

“Everyone step back.”

“Yes, Holiness.”

People stepped back and a one-on-one conversation with the Pope, or rather, with my teacher, began.

“It’s nice to see you like this, John.”

“It’s been a while, teacher.”

My teacher, who didn’t look healthy at all. First, he told me a scary story.

“The Mongols… attacked Khwarazm [a large Persianate empire in Central Asia], a Muslim force in the east. Maybe by now….”

If my teacher is saying this here, it must have already been destroyed or is on the verge of destruction.

* * *

-Khwarazm Sultanate, Gurganj-

The Eastern Crusades of the Holy Mongol Empire did not stop, and its forces immediately targeted the Khwarazm Sultanate.

‘Let’s judge the infidels who do not believe in Jesus Christ!’

The justification was simple.

“Judge those infidels!”

“To dare not believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord.”

It was ‘eradication of infidels’.

For the Khwarazm Sultanate, which was trying to restore the damage it had seen during the Crusades and stabilize its hegemony in Central Asia once again, it was truly a ‘disaster’.

“Sultan, you must escape now.”

A young monarch sheds tears.

He had only been on the throne for two years, but his country, which his ancestors had built after suffering, was about to be destroyed by the absurd Eastern Christian invasion.

He was not incompetent. He was not careless.

From his experience of being defeated by John in the Crusades, he always ruled the country seriously. After hearing the news that the two great powers of China (Jin Dynasty, Song Dynasty) had fallen, he focused more on defense.

The Khwarazm army was brave. They did not forget the fact that they had been brutally defeated in the Middle East, including Egypt in the past, and used all means to block the Mongol attack.

But the brutal Holy Mongol Empire was a monster that took out the outdated name of the Crusades, even in Europe, and declared the ‘Eastern Crusades’.

After conquering the infidels China and Western Xia [a Tangut empire that existed from 1038 to 1227], they took a breather and now had the Khwarazm Sultanate on the verge of destruction.

That’s a beast.

It is the Antichrist that Christians speak of. Those things are Satans wearing the skin of ‘Christians’.

So, after much deliberation, the Sultan opened his mouth.

“General Timur, I will give you my last order. Take my son to my uncle in Egypt.”