The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 171

171. Co-King (3)

“The army of the Holy Mongol Empire is now…”

The knight’s words, delivered with a look of urgency, made my heart pound.

‘Could the Mongols be planning a major advance? We’re not ready yet.’

But thankfully, the ‘catastrophe’ I feared didn’t immediately materialize.

“They’ve halted their advance in the direction of Syria and have begun constructing fortresses.”

“Haa…”

A wave of relief washed over me at that moment.

Indeed, even my Mongol friends wouldn’t be able to handle the supply lines. And the troops that have been marching westward without rest must need to relieve their fatigue.

‘Okay, there’s still more time.’

I need to use this precious time to gather strength to stand against the Mongols.

But it seemed the knight’s news wasn’t over yet.

“But the Mongols, who have stopped their advance…”

“The Mongols?”

No, what else about the Mongols!

The knight trailed off, and at that moment, my heart sank.

Mongol.

Just hearing that word made my hands and feet tremble.

Could it be that the blood of a Goryeo [ancient Korean kingdom] person somewhere in my soul is reacting?

Surely, my Mongol friends aren’t pretending to be quiet and launching a surprise attack, are they?

It’s entirely possible.

Originally, the Mongols’ mobility was the best in the world, wasn’t it?

The knight said with a look of urgency.

“The Mongols have sent Kyunggyo [Nestorian Christian] missionaries to the border areas.”

“Huh, missionaries?”

Richard asked, dumbfounded.

“Missionaries!”

I was shocked.

What kind of terrible hybrid is this? The Christian empire of the Mongols is already giving me a headache, and now they’re sending missionaries to declare peace?

What kind of imperialist Mongols are these?

Missionaries, really?

Aren’t 19th-century missionaries and explorers the product of imperialist white guys? It’s not like our Mongols’ personality has undergone a dark evolution like the British Empire.

“…”

Richard and I were stunned for a moment.

But the silence was fleeting.

“Hahaha.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Interesting. Sending missionaries.”

Richard found it amusing. It was probably because the enemies, who were expected to attack the Eastern Roman Empire at any moment, were showing unexpected movements.

My brother doesn’t seem to know what sending missionaries means.

“Your Majesty, this is not a funny matter.”

“What do you mean?”

I told Richard how the Mongol bastards would use the missionaries.

“…So, missionaries are the vanguard of the empire.”

“Intriguing, that an Easterner, not us, would think that way. Next will be merchants, I presume?”

“That’s right. They’ll pretend to want trade, find fault, and then, if I’m ever captured, they’ll pour mercury into my eyes and kill me.”

“Surely they wouldn’t go that far.”

Of course, they would. The Mongols I know were the horsemen of the apocalypse themselves.

I don’t know what kind of drugs they took, but the Mongols’ behavior is truly cunning.

It really seems like imperialist Mongols.

And a few days later.

“Your Majesty, an envoy has arrived from the Eastern Roman Empire.”

“A special envoy has arrived from the Kingdom of France.”

“From Spain…”

“From the Holy Roman Empire…”

“A special envoy has arrived from the Papal States.”
.
.
.
.
“A special envoy has arrived from the Kingdom of Poland.”

Not long after hearing the touching story of the Mongols sending missionaries, European countries with some renown sent people to Rouen.

Perhaps these people have also realized that the peaceful days are over. Pax Europe [European Peace] is now goodbye.

Wait, but has there ever been a peaceful time in Europe? Having lived as an Englishman for so long, I must have developed cognitive dissonance like any other European.

“A new force will gather.”

It’s not like the European Union or an Avengers assemble, what is it?

‘Winter is coming.’

Now winter has come.

It’s the beginning of a long European winter that may never end.

But these people don’t know the true terror of the Mongols.

* * *

-December 23, 1204, England-

Now winter has come to England as well. It meant hardship rather than just a new season with white snowflakes fluttering down.

A nobleman, lamenting the current situation, said.

“I never imagined such things could happen.”

He looked almost ashamed.

“We haven’t been very noble-like,” said another nobleman, dressed in luxurious Eastern Roman silk clothes, with a look of embarrassment.

Nobles were privileged people who protected themselves with military power and information.

Therefore, they may have been people with both pride and arrogance.

But the nobles who thought so highly of themselves, especially those who followed the Earl of Oxford, were surprised in many ways.

“Haa…”

“Things have become very difficult.”

But the English nobles felt like they were losing their minds.

It was a series of events that kept them from coming to their senses.

Because of Safe John and the Mongols.

They were preparing for an invisible political showdown with the Duke of Normandy, who was virtually the Crown Prince.

The nobles no longer looked down on Safe John.

This was because there had been public opinion for a long time that ‘the Duke of Normandy might be plotting something.’

To be honest, the English nobles in this place are dignified nobles who are different from the nobles just before the French Revolution, so they never use obvious cheap tricks.

Those who were executed or suffered confiscation-exile were just bugs who didn’t even deserve the name of nobles, and were different from real nobles.

Real nobles are people who play politics carefully, like playing chess.

They are not kind enough to watch a single person monopolize power.

But at the moment they tried to check the Duke of Normandy, the Mongols, whom John had mentioned countless times and scared people with, appeared and destroyed Islam.

The threat of the Mongols in front of them soon strengthens the power of Safe John, who usually emphasized the threat of the Mongols.

As the situation was like this, the ‘thoughtful’ nobles had a headache. The Earl of Oxford, who was unknowingly trying to politically check the Duke of Normandy, was one of them.

“Many people mistake it for central politics, but our power comes from the territory.”

As the Earl of Oxford brought up the topic, the nobles’ eyes became heavy.

Of course, the real power of the nobles who advanced into central politics was the base to maintain production facilities even if they were in Rouen at important moments, that is, the territory.

“But if the Mongols really invade, it will be difficult.”

“Our children and relatives also have territories in the Middle East.”

“Ha, the territories in the Middle East are also our power base.”

There are many lords from the second sons of noble families in the territories of Egypt, which are divided according to interests. This means that a trade network was established between England and the Middle East.

If the Mongols pushed into Egypt, the safety of the second sons of noble families who were given appropriate territories, as well as the English economy, could be shaken.

“The Duke of Normandy’s prophecy was correct, and he gained justification.”

“The future is more of a problem.”

The Earl of Oxford really sighed.

He was also an English nobleman, but the English nobles don’t know how serious the situation is. No, they don’t even think about it.

“First… we need to talk.”

The time has come to enter into a grand compromise.

* * *

It’s a cold winter. My heart was so cold.

I burned my youth for my country England this year, but because I was so passionate, my heart was weary as a reaction.

Is this the heart of a prophet?

To my claim that ‘the Mongols are dangerous guys!’

While listening to the nobles who said things like, ‘Well, they’ll be blocked in Eastern Europe!’ I started building an ark (army) to protect Europe with the heart of Noah.

Honestly, looking at the efforts I’ve made so far, it’s confusing whether I’m a real person or a machine.

Fortunately or unfortunately, after some time, the Mongols conquered Syria, as if to support my claim.

Anyway, because of that, a letter came from the Vatican.

[We will make a decision soon.]

They say they are ready to make a decision.

What is that decision? It would be a response to the Mongols, who are more dangerous than the Huns.

Now the Mongols are probing Western Christianity by sending missionaries.

But I know it well. My Mongol friends may seem to be acting strangely on the outside, but they are smart people.

Maybe now they are showing a surprisingly docile appearance.

But the moment the rear is stabilized, they will act again and show a terrifying appearance.

While the agony for the peace of Europe continued, I was tormented even by the wind blowing through the leaves.

Because I was mentally very tired.

‘Ha… time is scary. I’m getting old too.’

Anyone who sees it would think that a very long time has passed and I have become an old man.

I’m still Safe John at a young age.

However, since I have a history of being reincarnated with memories of my past life, I have a mental age close to Old John.

Anyway, there is not much left in 1204.

‘I agree with the Duke of Normandy’s opinion…’

When the Mongols occupied Syria, the nobles of England did not dare to oppose the war tax. Rather than my strength being strong. It must be because the new threat was pressing them.

To put it nicely in the 21st century, the Mongol coin has soared. But can the people of Western Europe say good things about the Mongols now?

But what is Mongolia?

Isn’t it an irregular of this era called Eastern Christianity?

Anyway, with justification, I went to the Earl of Oxford and said.

“Now, do you feel the danger of the Mongols?”

“Why are you doing this to us nobles?”

“Doing what?”

“Aren’t you tying our hands and feet?”

“You’re saying things that people will misunderstand if they hear you.”

“Haha, the war tax is just the beginning. Now, Your Highness will issue orders that we can never refuse, right?”

Me? Surely not?

Are you talking about taming the nobles? I don’t know why this person is misunderstanding this.

If I were an incompetent original John, I would be having a pointless power struggle with my noble friends right now, but I’m so busy with things to do in the future that I’m going crazy.

No, honestly, I don’t have time to fight with the nobles.

The Earl of Oxford, who understood my silence as affirmation, said.

“His Highness the Duke is probably looking to a bigger future and intends to achieve the reforms he wants as he intends.”

That’s a really big misunderstanding?

I said calmly.

“Earl of Oxford, your relationship with me may not be that comfortable. But shouldn’t we join hands in the face of England’s crisis?”

There are many histories of countries that have failed because nobles and royalty fought each other. So, I wasn’t going to create unnecessary conflicts.

I trailed off and said to the Earl of Oxford again.

“I have come here for negotiations. For the negotiations between you honorable people and me, the future king.”

I’m not here as a prime minister.

* * *

Christmas Eve, I had a good time with the nobles.

It’s a good time to talk. It was such a tiring place because of the various exchanges of opinions according to the mobilization of troops.

Still, Richard came again without knowing people’s hearts.

Co-King.

I don’t know what Richard was offering me.

Okay, let’s think of the co-king as acknowledging my authority.

Our King is so persistent.

No, I don’t want to, but he keeps trying to make me do it.

Don’t be fooled by the empty name of co-king.

It’s not that good. Even the dead Henry was deceived by our father and enjoyed responsibility without authority, and then rebelled.

And.

I know it well. You shouldn’t judge our Richard by looking at that size.

If I came out here without noticing, ‘Oh, co-king, I’ll give it a try!’ I could be in danger again. Even if Richard protected me, there were nobles who would use this as an excuse.

My interests with Richard may be in line with the point of handing over all the power of England to my son James, but the issue of co-king was a different case.

As if Richard had predicted my thoughts, he said.

“John, a holy war has come before our eyes.”

Is the war with the Mongols even holy?

“So, you’re telling me to be a co-king?”

“Because it’s easier for me.”

At this time when I was refusing the co-kingship, I had no idea what kind of accident my second son Charles would cause.