The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 89

89. Jesus’s Little Disciple (1)

—Angevin England—

When the jousting tournament was held in Aquitaine, Father was on edge.

Of course, our good eldest brother wasn’t leading troops to invade Anjou.

The news was that our proud eldest brother had invited nobles from around Aquitaine.

It was a ploy to hold a ‘banquet,’ inviting clergymen to wish for a ‘male’ child in our eldest sister-in-law’s womb.

“That… scoundrel. He’s finally… planning treason.”

“If that were really the case, wouldn’t His Majesty be leisurely chatting with me?”

“Hmm…”

You might ask why he’s having a fit over a jousting tournament. The jousting tournament is young King Henry’s ‘boasting show.’ Henry may not be able to beat Richard in terms of martial prowess, but he still has fighting skills that he can be proud of as the second best among our four brothers.

As there are many French nobles in Henry’s territory, he seems to be boasting of his courage, implying,

‘The great rebellion failed, but there will be another chance.’

Well, I don’t care what my eldest brother Henry does as long as it’s not a rebellion, and looking at the current state, it seems he won’t cross the line any further.

How do I know? I’m not stupid enough not to send an informant disguised as a merchant to Aquitaine, am I? Father, who received a hot dose of filial piety during the Great Rebellion, would have sent even more.

If Henry were really making an unfortunate choice, he wouldn’t be just making a fuss like this.

“John, my beloved son… I fear Absalom.”

Father is putting on an act again.

Absalom is the parricide in the Bible who tried to thrust a spear at David out of national salvation but died miserably, a devoted son. Right now, our dear father, Henry II, is ‘pretending’ to tremble in fear that his firstborn son, who has the same name as him, will wield a second spear.

“You’re using Henry as an excuse again… to avoid giving me money, aren’t you?”

“Ahem…”

Looking at his expression, I guess I’m right.

Of course, I’m not just any son, but the only son Father treats like a human being, so he doesn’t get angry.

Right now, he’s showing me with his eyebrows and eyes that he doesn’t want to lend me money.

Of course, do you think I came to this place without any preparation?

“Take a look first and then tell me.”

With that, I handed Father the business plan that I had written with my inner circle.

After pretending to be solemn for a moment and reading the document, Father said.

“Son… your business plan isn’t bad.”

I’m not stupid. That expression on Father’s face is the expression he makes when he brings a young lover into his room. He looks like he’s slowly falling in love.

I know very well that he would never make that expression unless it was a beautiful woman or the ‘smell of money.’

As I remained expressionless and silent, Father spoke first.

“John, are you sure about this?”

“Your Majesty, as the Count of Mortain, the Duke of Ireland, and the Prince of England, I have grown a humble territory with filial piety and faith.”

Ireland is an island of rebels who try to revolt against England at every opportunity. Mortain is just a rural area.

Considering that the original John couldn’t even properly manage the Ireland that Father spoon-fed him, you shouldn’t doubt Safe John’s management skills.

Well, it’s mostly my brilliant subordinates who handle everything well. Isn’t using talented people well also a manager’s ability?

Then Father clearly said to me.

“But you must repay it.”

Of course, did you think I’ve only been deceived in my life?

Ah, you’ve only been deceiving, haven’t you? Our father.

And when I was about to leave Anjou, I heard the latest updated news.

Our brother Henry had a riding accident, but he only limped and regained his health enough to carry out purges.

How lucky. With a riding accident, it was natural to die. But he was able to survive because of the doctor sent by King Philippe. He also recovered quickly.

Was it Father, or that Philippe guy? Was it brother Geoffrey?

Or was it me?

The Middle Ages, it’s so difficult.

* * *

—Angevin Mortain—

Still, land routes are more convenient than sea routes.

Well, our Safe John’s procession isn’t bad whether it’s by land or sea. Why? Because you can make some decent pocket money.

“Oh… Lord.”

A bandit is making the sign of the cross. Judging by his eyes, he must not have expected this to happen.

My escort knights and Coptic [Egyptian Christian] mercenary friends are drooling.

“Got you, you rascal!”

“He’s big. Would this slave be good as a sailor?”

“Your Highness, I believe in the dividends.”

Because there’s fun in collecting manpower.

Even in the 21st century, backward areas are full of human trafficking, robbery, and rioters. In the 12th-century environment where security is only safe ‘inside the castle,’ there were plenty of bad guys to step on.

Of course, most bandits and pirates see only the Irish flag. They don’t act up, saying, ‘Wow, it’s Safe John!’ and make the wise choice to run away, but the reality is that stupid bandits or highway robbers who are late with the latest updates become manpower to be exchanged.

Anyway, having gained an unexpected profit, I headed towards Safe John’s fresh old territory after a long time.

“You’ve worked hard, Your Highness.”

“You’ve really worked hard.”

Knight Aymar came out to meet me from the outskirts of Mortain.

“Did things go well?”

“Yes.”

Look at that French vassal… his mouth is wide open. Yes. I’ll pour money into it, so do a good job.

‘There will be no lord as trustworthy as me until the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns.’

Safe John’s reputation for repaying even Jews to the medieval Europeans, who are more vicious and cruel than Hitler! With that alone, I was already highly trusted among merchants.

Anyway, I could tell from the smiling French knight. I have come to Mortain, where Safe John’s political life began after a long time.

Since I had notified them a few days ago from Anjou that I would be going to Mortain, the people of the territory came out to greet me.

“Waaaaah!”

What, why is there a scream all of a sudden?

Of course, having experienced ‘cheering’ in various regions and being able to read the emotions contained in the cheers like a textbook, I immediately realized that it was a positive reaction.

“Long live Prince John! Long live the great lord!”

“The great lord has three abilities, bestowing food, clothing, and shelter~”

Where did I hear those familiar melodies and different lyrics? Ah, it’s a hymn limited to Safe John’s territory.

Of course, I raised my hand and accepted their welcome, looking closely at the faces rather than the throats of the people.

‘Thank goodness… they’re eating well and their faces are plump.’

And I felt good. Because the faces of my friends in Mortain were plump. My heart swelled.

I’m the one who fattened the people of the territory.

At this point, I could say ‘I’m great’ like Louis XIV, but that’s the obvious mindset of medieval lords!

I have to show the attitude of Saint King Louis, Louis IX, who is known as a model of a capable monarch who cannot distinguish between a hero of chaos and a true saint.

Perhaps because I was born into the special family of Anjou and half of my bloodline is French?

I smiled a neat and reverent smile like Louis IX in the French historical drama ‘Saint King Louis’ and said to my people.

“Do not praise me, for it is you who have made the valley of crime into Zion.”

Zion, which later became a word symbolizing Jerusalem or Israel, is originally just a ‘mountain’ in Jerusalem. Compared to the land of ignorance, it is close to a ‘mountain’ rural territory compared to the island of abundance and peace, Ireland.

What I’m saying is that the territory has changed so much that it can be compared to that Zion.

Considering that the basic value of this area was theft and banditry, it can be said to be a development of the level of the creation of the world.

Of course, this is not a word for the underlings to hear.

It’s a word for the nobles and clergymen who are watching from afar.

Now, standby cue. Right.

After entering the castle, I said to the clergyman who must have been waiting somewhere.

“The Lord’s servant there. Prepare clean water and towels.”

Of course, the Lord’s servant I’m talking about is the high-ranking Bishop of Mortain. He had already received my call.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Like Jesus Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples, I piously distributed bread and beer to hundreds of carefully selected beggars.

“I, Safe John, will follow the high will of Jesus Christ and show Christ’s love to people and to all people.”

A medieval-style foot washing.

It’s the end of showing off, but my people in Mortain, from serfs to lower nobles, will be able to know the sacred meaning of Safe John.

Of course, it’s not just any beggar, and washing the feet of a medieval beggar is not an easy task, but I washed the feet of the poor beggars with a smiling, compassionate face without showing a difficult expression, as Louis IX did. That’s what foot washing originally means.

Yes.

Now people will know. Safe John has never forgotten ‘Europe’s foothold,’ Mortain.

And I invested quite a bit in Mortain. You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.

And before leaving the French territory, I sent a letter of condolence to my brother Henry.

* * *

—Ireland—

The last rest in Mortain is over.

Unless the first and third brothers take drugs saying, ‘John, I’ll get rid of your continental foothold!’ it will be safe.

Having finished all my business in Mortain, I returned to the island of peace, Ireland.

‘Damn sea route.’

I’m barely holding back my nausea, but I’m solemn.

“There will be a lot to do in the future.”

I struck a pose for the soldiers to hear. Yes, it’s time to return to the great lord Safe John mode of Ireland again.

I have money.

Of course, I’m not a devoted son like my other brothers, but a businessman Leverage John who has no shame in meeting God, so I don’t cheat on money.

Having come to the Irish territory, I immediately brought in the ‘players.’ They are trustworthy merchant friends who will spend money according to my orders.

“Safe Guild members.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The business I’m about to do now requires risking your lives. Of course, if you commit suicide, you’ll go to hell, so you shouldn’t do such an impious thing.”

Having given orders to the Safe Guild, I came to the Easterner.

“Ak Gyeong.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I admire both China and Rome at the same time.”

“Yes… I know all the intentions of the great lord.”

Ak Bul-hoe, who knows very well that Westerners praise the brilliant ancient Roman Empire, just as the East praises the Yao and Shun era, now that he has been eating European food for a long time, knew my intentions.

“Does Your Highness intend to reform through me?”

He understood very well that he would use the fact that he is Chinese to carry out reforms in the Safe John style.

“Of course, Wang Anshi [a Chinese economist, statesman and poet of the Song dynasty] crossed the line and failed, but at least in this territory, I am the government (emperor).”

“Is that so?”

Even if I called the name of Wang Anshi, the chancellor of the Northern Song Dynasty, Ak Bul-hoe did not think of me as a reincarnator, a possessed person, or a crazy southern barbarian possessed by a ghost.

Of course, there is a reason for this.

One of my hobbies is teaching Ak Bul-hoe about Europe and learning Chinese history.

Occasionally, the nobles would look at our appearance and make expressions like ‘people with nothing to do,’ but they wouldn’t be able to stop us.

In that way, I was a Renaissance John who dreamed of [reform] while being tutored in China by Ak Bul-hoe.

Of course, if you talk about reform in a well-off kingdom, you’ll foam at the mouth right away, but that will never happen here. Of course, they will oppose it, but they will be satisfied with the ‘compromise’ that I have appropriately made.

In my territory, in my area, I’m going to put more bread crumbs in the mouths of the people, so there’s no justification for opposing it.

It was no coincidence that I mentioned ‘arithmetic’ at the showy Three Estates.

This is not a medieval fantasy or territory management world where there is a status window, so I will reform step by step in the long term.

Having finished learning about Ak Bul-hoe and the East, I went straight to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Because one of the inner circle is there.

“Bishop Lothaire.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I, John, the lord of Ireland and Mortain, intend to reform by following the Lord’s example in the Bible.”

To interpret my words, [Your monasteries have received a lot of money, so we should do some business together?] is what it means.

Bishop Lothaire, a clergyman skilled in politics, immediately understood my words and… asked with a serious expression.

“What is that?”

“Sunday school.”

At my words, Bishop Lothaire looked at me with a blank look that would not normally suit him.