episode_0133

Rudolf and Heinrich were throwing punches at each other so spectacularly that the entire attention of the empire was focused on them.

It was a fact that everyone overlooked, but there was clearly one more piece on this magnificent chessboard.

Papal States.

The heart of Remus, the greatest city there, the Holy See.

In front of the constellation, where only the most powerful of believers could sit, loud chants that were far from the sanctity of its name continued day after day.

“Your Holiness, it is not time to leave hastily. Let’s try to persuade the Count of Canossa a little more. A while ago, I received an answer saying that a road would be opened.”

“It was something that was put off like that for a day or two! If Hansi is in a hurry, he will have to trample on his territory immediately and move upward. Your Holiness, please leave the military to me! It will definitely bring results.”

“Isn’t this a trick to gain military power? Your Holiness, if a battle were to break out right under the Vatican’s nose, you never know how things could go wrong. Please make a wise decision.”

“No, the way he talks like this makes it clear that he is loyal to an emperor who has already been dethroned!”

“Can’t you confess to God in detail what you plan to do with your army!!”

“Stop… stop… … !”

The sight of two camps bickering with the Pope in the middle, like dogs barking across a fence, was no longer an unfamiliar sight in the Vatican.

There were many enemies who claimed to be the Pope, and there were also many people in the Vatican who were keen to find fault with everything.

Even if we move forward with a unified opinion, the left and right brains were biting each other, so there was no way to get things done properly.

There, the seeds Heine had sown while attending college sprouted.

The clergy who had listened intently to the princess’s sermon flowed into the Vatican, and although they were already mentally paralyzed, they had no choice but to cry out as their brains were being eaten away.

“When are we leaving? Now, I think we have to do something, whether it be a slow attack or going back and disbanding.”

“… Go ask the captain, not me.”

“Isn’t that position vacant to begin with?”

“Okay, so don’t ask me.”

Creepy. Sniff. The weather is getting colder, but there is silence from above.

In this way, the troops and mercenaries sent by the Pope wandered across the Alpine Mountains all winter, raising questions about how Henry could survive in such a snowy field for three days.

It was in early spring that this stalemate finally began to change.

The Pope, who sentenced people to excommunication twice, had to throw some authority, connections, and fame into the air in return.

However, I managed to gather what little was left over the winter and succeeded in breaking the seal with the raw energy I had somehow accumulated.

“An order came from the Vatican. Now let’s go! For our emperor!”

“Yes, for His Majesty the Emperor! But which emperor… You mean?”

“Is your head frozen and you can’t think? Of course, His Majesty Rudolph was crowned by His Holiness!”

And when they just crossed the mountain range a little late.

In Elster, the two emperors were already facing off with their armies.

*****

Power has the characteristic of being unable to remain still, striking down when bad news occurs, and rising to the sky when only good news abounds.

From the moment he hit his head in front of Canossa Castle, his power has been on a downward spiral, but falling has wings.

Even though right now I’m just grabbing my son by my side.

The Count of Ravenna knew Henry at the height of his authority before his fall.

A person’s true nature is revealed only when he or she has power that cannot be overlooked.

And he himself had fully seen the fragments of that nature.

“Confiscation.”

“Please, have mercy just once… … !”

He resolutely cut off the words of a shabby duke who was begging.

“Shut up. Your title is forfeited.”

“Kaaa!!”

Even if he couldn’t eat it himself due to lack of justification, he would cut it into small pieces and distribute it to his successors.

It was a way to step on them so that they could never be challenged again. The friendship between siblings and parents and children changes direction in the face of power and pushes each other away.

As time passes, memories tend to blur and spread.

Naturally, this image in my mind was somewhat exaggerated, but at least the determination and resoluteness were clear facts.

Heinrich was a person who would not hesitate to take advantage of an opportunity.

Moreover, he was very good at creating opportunities. He was a difficult opponent to have as an enemy.

“Count.”

The Count of Ravenna turned his head. His one and only lord came next to me as I was looking at the wide grassland.

“Your Majesty, the weather is still cold.”

“Still, I should see the place that will become the battlefield in person at least once.”

There was no way Rudolph had really come just to leisurely watch the battlefield and get some fresh air.

Sure enough, he looked confused for a moment and quietly asked.

“… Have you found out anything?”

“… … .”

The Count could not bear to give him the answer that he thought Raven was his illegitimate son.

Even if he were a count who was king in his domain, he could not overthrow the church, take out all the records inside, and burn them.

Now, falsifying even some of the records was no different from saying that the fractures shown on the X-ray were cured by erasing them with paint.

Rudolph knew the meaning of that silence.

However, since something important was about to happen, I chose to pat him on the shoulder a few times and encourage him instead of questioning him further.

It was “. How important is that? Anyway, whoever wins is right. Just focus on what’s ahead.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Rudolph was actually relieved by the answer, even if it was only a little.

Although he was an illegitimate child, he had more than enough justification to take the title from the Count of Ravenna. The Count still had reasons to fight.

“I will not forget your dedication.”

Therefore, Rudolph could only hope that the Count could prove his desperation.

*****

There was nothing more motivating than money. History has proven that the sparkle of gold and silver has the power to move something inside humans.

However, unlike soldiers who squealed with joy like children over a few silver coins, once you became a powerful nobleman, you had to put a more appetizing cack in your mouth.

For example, land.

“Your Majesty! We will bring you victory in this war!”

“Oh… … !”

“But only your Majesty can give me such strength! Please give me strength!”

“Yes. If you capture enemy nobles, you will be given gold coins corresponding to the number!”

“But only your Majesty can give me such strength! Please give me strength!”

“… There is a small iron mine near the baron’s territory.”

“My loyalty! Please accept it!!”

If there was a lack of justification, it would not have been possible to take over the title itself, but it was possible to take over some of the strategic locations.

Of course, there was no way I could come out of my own pocket to satisfy everyone’s needs. In the end, most of the rewards were taken from the enemies, torn apart and distributed in the form of loot.

It was a typical ‘just pay it back’ mentality, but it was a universal practice. Selling something that did not exist was truly a medieval-style short sale.

However, it was not possible to survive forever by issuing blank checks like this.

Even if you say that if you wait without eating one marshmallow, you will get two, you must first have a soft and tasty marshmallow in front of you to become motivated.

The more sluggish the performance, the lower the morale.

Also, that wasn’t the only bad news that existed.

“This is news from the Vatican. It is said that Gregory’s mercenaries have departed.”

“When did that happen?”

“They say they are about to cross the Alpine Mountains… If you think about when the letter was sent, it would have already come over by now.”

“You managed to cross the mountain range.”

Although the Count of Canossa worked hard, it was still difficult for one count to stand against the Pope.

It could be said that the Count had made sufficient efforts by taking such a long time through diplomatic rather than military methods.

Even the Pope got soaked in the water before he could even put his feet on it, so it took a kind of time attack for his troops to arrive.

But it didn’t really matter. Because we will have to settle the matter here today.

On the other side of the meadow, a small rebel flag was fluttering.

I heard that not only Rudolph was there, but also the Count of Ravenna.

I looked at Lisia and the scenery for a moment.

“Please come back without getting hurt.”

“No matter what, it should be like that.”

“Unless you want to make me a widow.”

“You’re not even married yet, so what.”

I patted the head of the girl who was talking nonsense. Even though he had grown up a lot, it was still an accepting hand.