The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 186

[Red Eagle (2)]

The middle-aged commander, catching the unfamiliar scent of the Mediterranean, spoke.

Though nearing fifty, the commander, maintaining a physique unchanged from his youth, gazed at the flock of eagles now observing him and said,

“Is this the Eastern Roman Empire?”

“Yes, Great General.”

The commander was Jamukha, Great General of the Holy Mongol Empire.

Jamukha found this place unfamiliar.

More so because of the smell than the exotic scenery. Westerners might not know, but the Mongols have a sense of smell as keen as their eyesight.

“This place is quite strange. Even the smell is different.”

Ogatai, the chiliarch [commander of a thousand soldiers] under Jamukha, spoke to the Great General.

“It is a smell you will have to get used to, Great General.”

“Yes, I will have to adapt. To this battlefield, I mean.”

“Have you not always adapted well, Great General?”

“Flattery…”

It was not flattery.

Jamukha’s illustrious reputation was built on the merits earned in countless decisive battles.

He was recognized for overcoming and winning through countless moments of death.

In the original history, Temujin failed to completely conquer the Southern Song Dynasty [Han Chinese nation], but in this altered history, he completely annihilated them. Leading the vanguard was none other than Jamukha.

Jamukha was not arrogant.

Rather, he considered each day a new challenge, a sage who believed that one could gain much by always maintaining the attitude of a challenger.

Therefore, before the invasion, he obtained a great deal of information about Europe.

“Europe… Europe, you say. It will be a new trial for our Mongol Empire.”

“A trial, you say?”

“Yes, a trial. Our Mongol is mighty enough, but many commanders are already intoxicated by that power, believing they have already won every war.”

“I am well aware. They only think about accumulating achievements and do not even consider defeat.”

“But we must be different. Let us consider the current situation.”

Ogatai was one of the princes of the Holy Mongol Empire, but he knew well that he still had much to learn from Jamukha. Therefore, he acted as an ‘adjutant’ under Jamukha.

Jamukha also did not give Ogatai any special treatment, treating him as an ordinary adjutant.

“The battle at the holy city of Jerusalem was merely a preliminary to get to know the enemy, but our Mongol lost at sea. That is proof that our army is not invincible.”

The Mongol, boasting the world’s strongest army, conquered the East and tore India to pieces, displaying its might to the world.

But ‘the sea’.

The Holy Mongol Empire had not yet adapted to the battlefield that was the sea, not land.

Due to the obstruction of the English fleet, known as the strongest in the West, the Holy Mongol Empire’s fleet lost control of the Mediterranean Sea. This was already a fact grasped by the Mongol command.

Yes, now they had to admit it. The Holy Mongol Empire had unfortunately fought poorly at ‘sea,’ and as a result, landing and resupply via sea routes had become impossible.

Therefore, the Mongol was not a flawless, perfect army.

Jamukha, well aware of this, spoke bitterly, and Ogatai replied,

“That is correct, Great General.”

“The Westerners also have considerable animosity towards our Mongol.”

“When my imperial father declared world conquest, I was already prepared.”

“Yes, a war of conquest must be prepared for the resistance of the natives. Moreover, Westerners, who have historically feared Easterners, will not quietly submit to us.”

Above all, there were too many who were wary of the Holy Mongol Empire.

And again, Jamukha asked,

“They have gunpowder weapons, do they not?”

“Yes, Great General.”

The reason Mongol is strong is because of its unique military power, but what is more frightening is its intelligence. They already knew well what preparations the Western army was making.

“But gunpowder weapons are not invincible. Do we not know well? The terror and weaknesses of gunpowder.”

“We learned properly from the resistance of the Han Chinese bastards. The fact that gunpowder should not be ignored.”

During the conquest of China.

Jamukha had tasted enough of the Song Dynasty’s ‘gunpowder’.

At first, it was unfamiliar and frightening, but now it was a familiar weapon. Above all, Jamukha was the vanguard who had tasted the gunpowder with his whole body at that time.

“Ogatai, you have not forgotten the lessons learned during the siege of Xiangyang, have you?”

“I have not forgotten.”

That was the same for Ogatai.

The gunpowder that the Han Chinese, desperate to prevent their destruction, utilized the most gave Mongol hardship in many ways. Of course, after that, the Han Chinese bastards were trampled under the hooves of the great Mongol and perished.

As the two generals were talking, a scout quickly approached and said,

“Great General, the enemies are rushing in.”

“Those Western friends are attacking first.”

Jamukha heard that the enemies were coming, but he was not greatly shaken. Rather, he was even excited.

Because it was the first battle against the Eastern Roman Empire army, one of the two great powers with the name of ‘Rome’.

He refocused his mind and thought.

‘As much as the Great Khan trusts me, I too must show my skills.’

Because he realized that the battle in Anatolia, the ‘front yard’ of Eastern Rome, would be a little simpler for the sake of the Great Khan, his longtime friend and lord, who was facing France and England in Poland.

* * *

Now, as a rain of arrows more terrifying than raindrops fell.

The soldiers of the two forces realized the extremely obvious fact that the fight here would be fierce.

The army of the Eastern Roman Empire, which had already undergone actual combat with Islamic forces, had its ‘war muscles’ strengthened by suppressing rebellions, and had even recovered lost territories, was strong.

Perhaps even considering all of Europe, the only opponents that could compete with Eastern Rome 1:1 would be England and the German Empire at best.

But the opponent was the Holy Mongol Empire, a great empire that had suddenly converted to Christianity and absorbed all of the East.

-Dududu [onomatopoeia for drums].

Cavalry in a frenzy and.

“Waaaaa!”

Ceaseless shouts.

“Ha…”

“I expected it, but they are strong. And they are not even the Emperor’s personal guard.”

“That is because it is the army of the Great General Jamukha.”

“At this rate… the damage will be too severe.”

They had not yet been defeated. But even without dragging out the time, the loss of troops was visible.

But there was good news for Eastern Rome as well.

“Finally, the English mercenaries have arrived.”

The most cost-effective mercenaries in the world that England had offered to the Eastern Roman Empire.

The ‘Eastern Legion’.

They shouted in Latin.

“Mongol… we Easterners have come to receive the price of blood.”

Akbulhoe said with tears of blood.

The killing intent of those who were even prepared for death would become a new weapon.

* * *

-England, Anjou-

A letter came to Akbulhoe. News had arrived that our dear Eastern Legion had safely arrived in Anatolia.

Yes, having arrived safely like that, they would fight against the Mongol together with our Eastern Roman friends.

It was war.

I could feel it instantly. Countless supplies and manpower were flowing into the battlefield.

‘It’s fortunate that we have taken control of the sea.’

As the Holy Mongol Empire’s only weakness was its navy, our great English Royal Navy, with the ‘support’ of the Venetian fleet, reigned over the Mediterranean.

When I was young, I didn’t understand the actions of the conquering monarch Louis XIV.

But having been reincarnated in the Middle Ages and becoming a ‘co-‘ king, I felt like I knew why Louis XIV acted like a warmonger.

As a king, the allure of war was truly great.

War gives ‘power’ to the monarch. Especially defensive wars that we have to engage in because of the enemy’s invasion, not because we want to.

Moreover, England was stopping those terrifying Mongols outside its borders. This simple fact was a great comfort to many people, and because they used another country as a battlefield, England’s foundations remained intact.

If a war was going to happen anyway, it was best to use a foreign country as a battlefield.

The Ming Dynasty’s dispatch of troops to Joseon [Korea] during the Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598] was also because they had no intention of fighting the war on Ming territory.

Dispatching troops was ultimately done with money, so the Ming Dynasty also suffered many side effects. On the other hand, Joseon, the party involved, had its territory devastated, but at least the Japanese did not ruin Ming territory.

Well, the Ming emperors were stupid and ruined that opportunity.

As I was having such complex thoughts, Robin, the head of the newly created Central Intelligence Agency, came in and said.

“Your Majesty, the Holy Roman Emperor has declared a large-scale dispatch of troops instead of a personal campaign.”

“Looking at the troops written here, it seems quite passive.”

I understand not going on a personal campaign, but it looks like he’s playing it safe.

“It seems our nephew wants the weakening of Eastern Rome.”

Of course, the Holy Roman Emperor does not want the destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire, which, along with Poland, is called the bulwark of Europe. He probably wants them to lose some strength.

‘As expected, he’s a nephew who inherited the blood of the Angevin family, my mother’s side.’

Seeing my nephew using the fact that the Eastern Roman Empire wants to show their strength internationally, I felt that our Angevin bloodline had been passed down.

“Anyway, go. I have other things to take care of.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Robin left like that.

‘In times like these, cooperation with the nobles is necessary.’

No matter how unpleasant it is, the Middle Ages is the age of nobles. As king, I had to compromise on the parts I had to compromise on and move forward.

So, I invited a special aristocrat in this situation.

“Earl of Oxford, thank you for accepting my invitation.”

“I don’t know why Your Majesty called me.”

Of course, the other party doesn’t seem to understand why I called him. His reaction is too much.

“You nobles think that I only favor the Royalists, but I am a safe zone that embraces even the nobles of the Aristocratic faction. Oh, of course, my accession name is John I.”

“Is that so?”

“It is too dangerous for one force to monopolize everything. Countless histories have already proven that, have they not?”

A bird cannot fly with only one wing.

A government monopolized by only Royalist nobles will not last long. Rather, countless factions will arise within the Royalists and another disaster will occur.

From ancient times, enemies had to be kept closer.

The Earl of Oxford is a difficult opponent. He does not resist.

But he is looking for my weaknesses, and there have been quite a few cases where he has opposed my policies.

‘It’s hard for the people of this era to accept it.’

‘How will you handle the manpower and budget?’

‘Your Majesty, nobles are not living warehouses.’

But the opposition is not just opposition for the sake of opposition. It is a legitimate opposition as a true nobleman who thinks about the future of England.

So I.

“I have something to discuss with the Earl of Oxford.”

“What is it?”

I said, looking at such a nobleman.

“War…”

The only thing to discuss is war.

In Poland, my brother Richard clashed with Temujin, and there was a 1:1 big match between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Mongol Empire.

I heard that the battlefield over there is so fierce right now.

I’m really worried about what will happen.

Unlike the original John, I, who became John I, am a person with affection.

Still, I’m worried about my brother. The Mongol bastards are so vicious!

* * *

-Poland-

As John I expected, the Polish front was fierce.

On the first day, Temujin and Richard had a short battle for over two hundred steps, but that was actually half for show.

But even so, the desire to target the other party was genuine.

“Great Khan… how did it come to this?”

“It can’t be helped in a duel with a hero.”

Both monarchs were injured, but Temujin was hurt more.

Of course, Richard’s condition is not good either.

Anyway, in such a large-scale battle, a short battle is just a romantic entertainment for the heroes’ first greeting. Richard and Temujin knew very well that what was needed in war was not individual bravery but strategy.

The clash between the two armies began in earnest.

“Is this the power of the Westerners?”

The Mongol Great Khan Temujin was impressed.

Because he felt the true power of the West through Richard’s army.

He already knew about ‘cannons’ through the battle with the Han Chinese.

But comparing the ‘guns’ and ‘muskets’ that the Han Chinese used to use was a disservice to the Westerners.

Infantry dense formation against the Mongol’s fierce cavalry.

He had already heard about it from Jebe and had made some preparations, but hearing about it and seeing it in front of his eyes were completely different.

Of course, Temujin was not the only one impressed.

“Amazing… that guy Temujin.”

-Scatter!

-Do not approach the firing range.

Of course, Richard was also impressed. Muskets would be unfamiliar weapons to the Mongol. But even so, the Mongol was gradually showing signs of ‘adapting’.