The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 202

[Episode 202, Final Part 2]

I stared at King John (a ghost, I should note), who was gazing back at me, and said,

‘The Earl of Hartford is the man for times like these.’

[Isn’t he one of your… less friendly aides?]

‘Paradoxically, a neutral party makes the best commander. You know that from experience, too.’

[Perhaps. Safe John, the Earl of Hartford is indeed a capable man, as you say. Even when I was alive, that fellow was an active rebel, tormenting *me*.]

If only you had played politics on such a grand scale when you were alive, our King John.

Anyway, as I was talking with King John,

The guest I had been waiting for arrived.

‘Your Majesty, the Earl of Hartford has arrived.’

‘Let him in.’

Then, a strikingly handsome nobleman entered and approached me.

‘Your Majesty, you summoned me?’

It was the Earl of Hartford, outwardly my brother-in-law, or more precisely, a person related to the Varangian Guard [an elite unit of the Byzantine army composed of Scandinavian and East Slavic warriors] who acted as Princess Anna’s protector.

‘Earl of Hartford, now is the time for you to help me.’

‘Why didn’t you call for me sooner? Is it perhaps because you were hiding the Queen’s secret?’

The Earl of Hartford said with a hint of regret in his voice.

But I shook my head and said,

‘That’s not it. Rather, I am grateful that you protected the Queen. The reason I didn’t call you for a civil war, but for *a war*, is for another reason entirely.’

‘Another reason, you say?’

Having brought up the subject, I said in a calm voice.

‘Earl of Hartford, you are the sharpest greatsword in England. As such, I needed to handle you with care.’

On the surface, it seemed like excessive praise, but it wasn’t entirely wrong. From the start, the Earl of Hartford’s family was essentially a mercenary force that even Henry II used as an ‘outsourcing company.’ They also had considerable connections in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

However, my relationship with them was only that of outward in-laws. Even though they had helped me out of ‘goodwill’ last time, this time a considerable price would be required. That’s why I didn’t ask for their help unless it was an urgent moment like the last War of the Lions.

‘This time, I need the Earl of Hartford’s strength.’

‘Haha, do not worry. The enemies are already shaken, and I have already devised a plan to cut off their retreat.’

In other words, he had been waiting for me all along.

‘You already have a plan?’

‘Yes, I do.’

The Earl of Hartford said confidently. I knew best that his confidence was not just a bluff.

‘It’s a pursuit that strikes at the core.’

‘How so?’

I was intrigued by the unfamiliar tactic I was hearing for the first time.

So I asked again.

Then, the Earl of Hartford said in a composed voice.

‘The Holy Mongol Empire will have no choice but to retreat to the East, but they will likely have a desire to preserve as much territory as possible. So, I will exploit their greed.’

The Earl of Hartford, his face etched with wrinkles, slowly told me his plan, and I listened calmly.

* * *

‘Then, I will go and play a significant role for Your Majesty.’

‘Go and return safely.’

With that, the Earl of Hartford left.

‘Everyone, leave the chamber. I have things to think about alone.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

After dismissing the attendants, I was once again alone on the throne.

Of course, I am not exactly alone here.

There is now an old ghost that is clearly visible to the eye.

‘Hey, tell me.’

[Tell you what?]

‘All the political rivals who were a threat to you.’

[Why? Don’t you already know everything through history? Well… besides Godfrey and Pierre (Peter) that you know…]

King John, though dissatisfied, told me. I thought about how to utilize them while listening to his explanations.

‘There are names I don’t know. I’ll make use of them.’

I should use a 100 percent historically accurate method of utilizing talent. At least, most of the ‘political rivals’ that King John mentioned were people who were favorable to me. It’s all because I play politics on a grand scale.

Thinking that, I gave a satisfied smile and said to King John’s ghost.

‘Thinking about it, King John, you must have felt wronged.’

[What did you just say?]

King John looked at me with trembling eyes.

But then he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled silently.

Although our faces are similar, seeing it like this, I seem to be better looking.

Well, depending on whether the personality of the soul is good or bad, the impression may look different even with the same appearance.

‘At first, I only thought of you as an incompetent monarch. But after living as Prince John myself, I understand how difficult it was for you.’

[…]

King John is silent.

He must be moved. Look at him trying to hold back his tears, even though he used to be a king. I can see his eyes are stinging.

Of course, I have to say what needs to be said.

‘But it’s also true that your sons and grandsons, who were in even more unreasonable positions than you, suffered.’

The work that Henry III and Edward I did throughout their lives was cleaning up the mess that their father and grandfather, King John, had made. Above all, the ‘struggle’ recorded in the history recorded on Edward I’s side is not a record of the victor.

[Safe John, the emotion you gave me has collapsed.]

‘It’s true that you made your descendants suffer. But King John, you truly lived in this era. If you hadn’t unfortunately contracted dysentery in 1216, you would have suppressed the rebellion.’

He’s falling for it again, this guy.

What King John said is not wrong in itself. If he had suppressed the rebellion magnificently at that time, he would have been able to render the Magna Carta [a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215], which had brought shame to him, meaningless.

‘But you wouldn’t have won. You know it too, even if you somehow stopped the rebellion at that time, another rebellion would have broken out.’

[You’re touching a sore spot.]

After becoming the King of England myself, I could see it clearly. At that time, King John would never have been able to suppress the sporadic rebellions. Because he lacked popularity.

With King John’s cursed art of personnel management, which made even the vassals who followed him when everyone abandoned him betray him, he had no power to prevent a ‘chain rebellion’.

[So. In the end, are you sending that guy to finish it off for sure?]

‘That way, no foreign bastards will be able to think differently again. To take a favorable position after the war, you have to finish well.’

The Holy Mongol Empire is now a giant eagle that has lost its right wing, Temujin. Of course, as big as its wings are, it can still fly, but it will soon crash or return to its nest.

A wise man like General Jamukha will know that the Mongol’s world conquest mission has no chance of success at this point, given the time limit.

The new emperor is likely to be Ogatai.

As in the original history, there is no one among Temujin’s sons as good as Ogatai.

Having finished thinking, I turned my gaze.

In my eyes, I saw a middle-aged king who looked exactly like me, but unlike me, had aged sadly.

I called him.

‘King John.’

[Why are you calling me, Safe John?]

A strange ghost who doesn’t seem to be upset at all even if I keep calling him the sensitive King John.

Anyway, I said to such King John.

‘I will show you an England that will be extremely beautiful in your eyes.’

[I’m very much looking forward to it. Safe John, you might be able to put me to ‘rest’.]

This guy is unnecessarily emotional too.

* * *

-Throughout the Middle East-

After Temujin’s death.

There is no way that the people of Europe would not know about the creaking movements of the Mongol army.

The death of the Great Emperor shattered morale, and the movements of the formation became sluggish.

In particular, the Anatolian ‘landing operation’ that began with the support of the English fleet, which had seized naval supremacy, was even more successful due to these lukewarm movements of the Mongols.

-Well, the passage is open.

-Let’s stab the Mongol bastards in the side.

The Crusaders landed in Anatolia.

The Mongols, who had occupied ‘half’ of Anatolia, were now deprived of everything except a quarter of Anatolia.

While everyone was excited about the Crusaders’ achievements, Godfrey remained calm.

‘It’s an ambush. Be careful!’

The dust of the desert rose far away. The ambushed Mongol army revealed itself anew.

‘Long live the Holy Mongol Empire!’

‘Your Excellency, they must be a penal battalion.’

‘No, they are patriots…’

‘Patriots, you say?’

‘They must be people who volunteered to die in order to buy time for the main force to retreat safely.’

However, what was important now was to deal with the enemies in front of them.

‘Fire!’

‘Fix bayonets, charge!’

‘Your Excellency, we have defeated all the ambushed Mongol troops.’

‘As expected, not a single soldier ran away.’

‘All the Mongol troops fought bravely… and the commanders refused to be taken prisoner and committed suicide.’

‘If they had converted to Christianity, they would know that direct suicide is the path to hell… Well, it’s not like they sincerely followed Christianity, so it’s not a new thing.’

A few days later.

Jeffrey, the monarch of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, who had reorganized his troops and came to Godfrey, said.

‘Perhaps, it is certain that they are moving to fix things. They must have gone to address the atrocities of those princes.’

I trusted the words of Jeffrey I, who himself had caused a ‘great rebellion’ to drive out his old father.

‘I think so too.’

‘Now, Godfrey, what do you think the Mongols will do?’

When the owner of the Kingdom of Jerusalem asked, Godfrey thought for a moment and soon said in a confident voice.

‘The wise men of the Mongols will move.’

‘We must prepare for their choice. I understand, I will go to the main force of my kingdom for now. Call me if you need anything.’

‘I will.’

As Jeffrey I left, Godfrey thought,

‘Jeffrey, who treated me like a beast, to think that I would be carrying out a joint operation with that man like this. As expected, the great Safe John is behind this.’

Safe John seemed great again.

The Holy Mongol Empire, which had lost the Great Emperor Temujin, would not collapse right away.

But the moment of choice will come.

‘Your Excellency, a letter has arrived.’

‘What letter is it?’

At Godfrey’s question, the reporter said.

‘The Rajas [Indian Kings or Princes] of North India have begun to riot.’

* * *

-Mongol Main Force-

War often changed drastically due to the absence of the supreme leader. Alexander and Attila were in different positions, but their deaths marked the end of the true ‘world conquest’ activities.

After converting to Christianity, the Grand General of the Holy Mongol Empire, who carefully examined the history of the East and West, knew this flow well through history.

However, the news coming from the vast empire was not good.

‘General, rebellions are breaking out in Goryeo [ancient Korean kingdom] and China.’

‘Rajas are rebelling in India.’

‘Rebellion… Is there any other news besides rebellion?’

Jamukha muttered after hearing the news.

‘The Holy Mongol Empire cannot collapse. However, the great work as a world empire has failed.’

What was needed for the great work as a world empire was to create a large supply base in Eastern Europe, excluding the Eastern Roman Empire, and to build a base that could neutralize the enemy’s counterattacks.

But the grand plan has already collapsed like sand.

‘But the power of our Holy Mongol Empire, called the Eastern Empire, is still strong.’

That was why Jamukha, the Grand General of the Holy Mongol Empire, remained calm even in the worst situation.

The most certain retreat is to retreat when the enemy does not notice. Key commanders began to carry out large-scale retreat operations to prevent strife.

But there was interference.

‘But I didn’t know they would stab us in the side.’

The Crusader’s landing operation eliminated one by one the retreat routes.

But the rational Grand General Jamukha was prepared.

‘General Tosbukha.’

‘Yes, General.’

‘Now our great empire has chosen. To give up world conquest. So, I think we should retreat effectively and sort out the situation. So, I ask you to take care of our rear for a while.’

Tosbukha, the grandson of Ong Khan and one of the founding contributors of the empire, obeyed the order without any protest.

‘I will follow the General’s will.’

And a few days later.

Jamukha, who had successfully returned to his country, quickly ended the strife between the princes before the Crusaders noticed.

‘Uncle Jamukha. I am wronged.’

‘That mixed-blood was the problem!’

‘Put gags in the mouths of the sinners.’

‘Yes, General.’

After shutting up the captured princes, he said in a loud voice.

‘Now, I will suspend the prince status of Jochi and Chagatai and sentence them to exile. And I will be loyal to the new Emperor Ogatai-Solomon.’

< End of Part (3) >