The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 180

180. Wolves of the Desert (2)

-We are prepared to give everything for our lord!

-We will drive out the Mongols at all costs.

My words were met with a show of respect from the Easterners, a salute akin to a Western bow. Witnessing this, I felt a unique ‘solemnity,’ reminiscent of war movies.

Chinese, Koreans… and even people from Central Asia.

Despite knowing I intended to use them as a military force, they seemed grateful.

Having experienced the Third World War, which began in Asia, I understood their feelings. As a mixed-race person of ‘the Orient,’ neither here nor there, I knew their feelings well.

For a moment, I felt a lump in my throat.

‘Shouldn’t I be the one grateful to them?’

I strode up to them, placed my hand on their shoulders, and said,

“Rather, I am grateful to you all.”

“Your Majesty….”

Lee Yang-mu said, his voice moved.

I looked at the knights who were racially close to the East and said,

“I am well aware of the tragedies that have befallen you and your families in the East.”

The Mongols, by nature, are nomads. The essence of Mongolia lies in fighting with surrounding tribes to secure grasslands for their livestock and families, and conquering surrounding countries to produce soldiers and warhorses.

Of course, Temujin, the Great Khan of Mongolia, invoked the sacred cause of unifying the world under the Lord as a ‘devout Christian’.

Those who were invaded did not forget their wounds, and these people were voluntarily going to the battlefield for revenge.

“Even if our skin colors are different, never forget that you are my vassals.”

“Keuh…. Your Highness. How can we ever repay this grace?”

Akbulhoi, a descendant of Yue Fei [a famous Chinese general of the Song Dynasty], shed tears.

“Just come back alive. Akbulhoi, or rather, my knight, Akyeo.”

“I will carry out the orders properly.”

Some time later,

The Eastern Army boarded the landing fleet heading to the Middle East.

It was not an easy voyage, but I had no doubt that they would fight well.

‘I must trust them….’

I was a co-king in the Middle Ages, but now I was a monarch. Countless responsibilities weighed on my shoulders.

This world was not a historical strategy game that I used to play on Steam.

I even felt a sense of hatred towards the Mongols. Why were they waging wars of conquest under the guise of ‘devout Christianity’ instead of living quietly as an Eastern empire?

Another army had left.

I turned to my wife, who had been watching all this from the side, and asked,

“Mary, can I trust them?”

“Aren’t you already trusting them?”

“Yes, I already trust them.”

Starting with Akbulhoi, they were Easterners who had suffered in foreign lands but thankfully understood me. There was no reason not to trust them.

“John… they will not betray your trust.”

“I hope so.”

The English sunset painted the sky. It was a truly beautiful sight.

* * *

After sending off the Eastern Knights, two administrators approached me.

It was Peter and Amiar.

They presented a report, written as objectively as possible, and delivered some bad news.

“Your Majesty, we cannot avoid raising taxes.”

“Now you must make a decision.”

I had managed to avoid raising war taxes until now, thanks to the wealth I had accumulated.

I, John I, was the richest person in England.

Since my youth, I had made enormous profits leading the Safe Guild, and my wife Mary was also a wealthy heiress born with a silver spoon in her mouth. In the meantime, I contributed a large amount of taxes to the national treasury as much as I earned.

Knowing the fate of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI, who thought, ‘Ah. Mulla, take care of it with the money in the national treasury!’ even as France crumbled, I set an example myself.

However, the war, a money-eating hippopotamus, was not satisfied with the Safe Zone’s warehouse, and now it needed the power of others.

So, I called a meeting and shared my thoughts with my vassals.

“We must increase war taxes. Of course, as the war tax increases, so too will the taxes I bear.”

“…”

The original John collected taxes for his brother’s crusade but disliked paying taxes himself.

But since I, a taxpayer so faithful that even the Catholic Church recognized it, was saying this, no one in this central arena would openly oppose it.

“We are at war now! War! The foolish ones caused rebellions and died with their families, but aren’t you the most noble and wise nobles in this country?”

I reminded them of the reality of the situation.

“As long as you reign in this country, those who turn a blind eye to the crisis of the country can no longer reign. Do you really want England to become a battlefield?”

Upon hearing this,

“The nobles of England do not turn a blind eye to the crisis of the nation.”

The Earl of Oxford stepped forward first and submitted to me.

“Leave now.”

All the nobles retreated. In the empty office, I looked at the map.

‘Unlike history, the Mongols are openly aiming for Western Europe. In terms of difficulty, it would have been hell difficulty.’

Of course, this world is not a historical strategy simulation game.

So, anyway, I will use all means to protect the peace of Europe.

Even though the Holy Mongol Empire was strong right now, I knew their ‘expiration date’ better than anyone else.

The current Holy Mongol Empire is a great empire founded by the outstanding heroes Temujin and Jamukha. But if Temujin and Jamukha clash, or if Temujin dies, it will be divided like the end of the old ‘Great Empires’.

Even though it has the signboard of Christianity, the essence of the Holy Mongol Empire is a nomadic (conquest) empire.

Looking at it now, it seems that the former will not happen. Jamukha bowed his head and became a vassal.

‘Yes, our England must become a nation of hatred.’

A nation of hatred is the distorted name of the British Empire [a reference to Britain’s historical reputation for ruthless pragmatism].

If I don’t become vicious, if I can’t become a nation of hatred in this world where I get defeated, our country will be in danger.

Thinking about these mean European bastards, ‘Mongol’ was not the only problem.

I had the thought that all the most heinous things in the world should be made in England.

‘The war must end in Poland, Jerusalem, and throughout the Eastern Roman Empire. I cannot tolerate the Mongols entering our English land.’

With that thought, I drank wine.

“Your Majesty, it’s Robin.”

“Come in.”

Robin, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, entered the office and said,

“Your Majesty, the test run of the Black Dragon has been successfully completed.”

“Ha, good. Good. Let the Mongol bastards taste the dragon.”

* * *

-Throughout the Kingdom of Jerusalem-

“For the Great Khan!”

“For England!”

There were those who fought for the glory of their country: the Holy Mongol Empire and England.

The two forces were engaged in blatant close combat, but the remaining forces of the Mongols were holding out, and England was in a hurry.

‘If we are delayed like this, the city of Jerusalem will fall.’

Godfrey was genuinely worried.

He was anxious that if the advance was delayed even a little more, the Kingdom of Jerusalem would disappear into history.

The reason he didn’t look like he’s about to die is because there was ‘promised’ support before participating in the war.

And now that promise has been fulfilled.

-Doo doo doo doo.

“Let’s save our brothers!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

The Coptic cavalry appeared, raising dust. They quickly broke down the Mongol formation.

“You’ve been waiting a long time, Godfrey.”

“You came faster than expected, Grand Duke Masud.”

Masud smiled at Godfrey. He looked to the east and said,

“Let’s go… to protect our comrades.”

The Egyptian army, specifically the elite soldiers led by Masud, were strong.

This was because it included veterans of Khwarazm [a Central Asian empire destroyed by the Mongols] who had been defeated by the ‘Mongols’.

Masud, leading the cavalry, joined Godfrey, annihilated the Mongol ambushers hiding in various places, and then arrived near the city of Jerusalem.

“We must prevent the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.”

Godfrey and Masud knew what to prioritize because they had been exchanging letters for a long time.

That is to prevent the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

“Reinforcements are here.”

Masud’s army, Godfrey’s allied forces, and Jebe’s corps immediately entered the Jerusalem fortress.

Jebe was suddenly attacked, but the Mongol army fought well against the suddenly deployed Western army.

Just as the West was adapting to Mongol tactics, the Mongols were also beginning to adapt to Western field manuals.

But the Mongol’s leeway did not last long.

This was due to the difference in quantity that was difficult for the Mongol army, which had been exhausted in many ways, to handle. On the other hand, the morale of the Western army, which had joined the reinforcements, was soaring.

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

The new unit began to attack the Mongol army efficiently.

The Royal English Army, a standing army that John I had created with all his money and time, was qualitatively different from the Jerusalem Royal Army.

“Those are the generals of Khwarazm.”

“Why are they here?”

“Aren’t they trying to take revenge on us by clinging to the West?”

“General, we’re in big trouble.”

As time passed, the power began to reverse, centering on the Khwarazm cavalry, who were filled with a desire for revenge.

Still, the Mongols persevered.

From the Mongol’s point of view, no matter how many ‘stray dogs’ there are, they cannot defeat a ‘wolf’.

But then the Jerusalem Royal Army, which had been crouching inside the castle, came out.

“We are the guardians of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. From now on, we will support our brothers.”

At the same time, a new army arrived. Unfortunately for the Mongol army, this Christian force came from Spain.

“Heroes of Spain, it is time for us, who follow the great King Ferdinand I, to write a new story.”

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

“Long live Spain!”

The one leading the Spanish army was Rodrigo III, a contemporary of Masud and the grandson of El Cid [a Castilian military leader and folk hero], the hero of Castile.

Now the West’s proper counterattack had begun.

The Mongol legions were gradually becoming exhausted, and the Western armies were gradually becoming stronger.

‘Ha…. Is this the world?’

Jebe smiled bitterly.

Until now, the army of the Holy Mongol Empire had never experienced defeat. The enemies were always weak.

But from the moment this properly prepared force stood in the way of the Mongols, a protracted war that the Mongols hated was unfolding.

“We have received reports that the rear supply base has been captured.”

“It’s an attack by Muslims.”

“Damn… couldn’t they even manage that one thing?”

Jebe, who was angry for a moment, said,

“Anyway, we have achieved our initial goal. We retreat.”

He immediately ordered a retreat.

The Mongols were not very devout Christians.

* * *

-Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea-

“Lord, today we send you the infidels.”

Charles made the sign of the cross.

Hundreds of ships sank into the sea. But there were still many fleets.

The battle at sea was as important as the battle on land.

The two purposes of supply and landing are possible only if there is a strong fleet protecting them in the ‘sea’.

The Holy Mongol Empire’s fleet was clearly defeated by the Anglo-Venetian Allied Fleet.

But they did not easily succumb to defeat.

There had been several victories, but the Mongols did not give up their will to never lose the sea.

“Your Excellency, the Mongol fleet has reappeared.”

“They are persistent bastards, deal with them.”

“Fire the cannons!”

-Yes!

-Bang, bang.

“It’s another Mongol fleet.”

“Damn it, they popped out again.”

The gunpowder and supplies that had been prepared in abundance were gradually being consumed, and the crew’s patience was about to run out.

Charles was tired of it.

The Mongol was a huge monster.

It was not just because their courage was strong. Their monstrous manpower and productivity were frightening.

The Mongols continued to send fleets.

Of course, they were equipped with ‘cannons’, but they did not know proper naval artillery tactics and were just trying to climb onto the deck and fight a ‘melee battle’ with the support of the cannons, which was disgusting.

“Why is the Eastern Roman Empire’s fleet so incompetent? Is it because they only believe in the outdated Greek fire [an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire]?”

The Eastern Roman Empire’s fleet, which was trying to protect the land and sea with its own power, seemed unable to protect its own sea.

If the Eastern Roman Empire had a proper fleet, the Mongol fleet would not have been able to continue popping out in the Mediterranean Sea.

“Fleet appearing in the rear!”

“This time it’s our English fleet.”

“Your Excellency, the home country has sent another landing fleet.”

“As expected of our lord, he is thinking of properly beating the Mongols this time. He is even taking out that ship.”

“Your Excellency, that’s….”

“That’s the Black Dragon that our King has tried several times. It’s finally out at sea.”

Charles’ adjutant, Hubert, was impressed.

“Black Dragon….”

The Black Dragon, with its dragon head, armor, and countless cannons, attacked the Mongol fleet with cannon fire.

Yes, all the most heinous things in the world were made by England.