Episode 86
Richard, suppressing a fiery rage, devised a rational plan.
After all, the main players in this incident were Richard and Heinrich VI.
He was tempted to rush headlong into action or concoct an ill-conceived scheme, but fortunately, he kept his wits about him.
This was the best outcome for me.
Helping to resolve the situation is one thing, but if I were to take the lead, it wouldn’t look good.
Richard’s image as a lone warrior capable of turning the tide of battle is strong, but he’s not just a brute like Xiang Yu.
To be precise, he’s not only good at fighting; he’s also adept at strategizing and executing plans.
In history, Richard was a tactical genius who understood the importance of stable supply lines during long campaigns and devised concrete solutions for them.
His ruthless efficiency in the Crusades against Islamic forces was largely due to these factors.
With knights and horses always well-supplied, it would be strange if they didn’t fight well.
Of course, as a ruler, Richard’s abilities don’t compare to those of Philip II.
But when it comes to battle, there’s no one in Europe who can match Richard.
Perhaps a few might be found far to the east on the plains of the steppes.
In that sense, I secretly believed that if the Angevin Empire and the Holy Roman Empire went to war, the former would win decisively.
Not because the Holy Roman Empire was weak, but because the difference in ability between Heinrich VI and Richard was embarrassingly vast.
Even in planning to resolve this current issue, it was evident.
Richard was well aware of how he was perceived by the public.
He even used that perception to his advantage, lulling his opponents into complacency before seizing the upper hand.
“Marshal, as we discussed, I’ve sent someone to Heinrich VI.”
“There’s no turning back now. But if word gets out, they might catch wind of it.”
“That won’t happen. I’ve instructed Heinrich VI to keep it to himself. He’ll come up with a suitable excuse for the other nobles.”
“Then I’ll send a letter to His Holiness the Pope. Of course, I won’t mention Your Majesty’s plan.”
Richard’s plan was roughly as follows:
First, announce that decisive evidence has been found implicating the Holy Roman Empire in this incident.
Propose a final negotiation to prove this and seek an apology, holding a meeting at the border.
To gain credibility, request the King of France, who maintains a neutral stance, to judge the matter, and ask the Pope to send a representative.
If the Pope and the King of France are not convinced, Richard would even agree to take full responsibility for the incident on behalf of England.
With such a proposal, the Holy Roman side would have no choice but to accept Richard’s offer.
Once the truth is revealed in this grand setting, the situation would be resolved.
“What do you think? No obvious flaws, right?”
“Nothing suspicious stands out. If I had to point out one thing, it wouldn’t be strange for either side if Your Majesty personally attended. Both of you are young. But the King of France, though young, might choose to send a representative instead.”
“With both kings attending, I doubt the King of France would miss it.”
“That’s possible, but not certain. So, perhaps add a bit more reasoning.”
I had a few excuses in mind.
If this matter leans towards one side’s fault, it could be resolved without war.
That’s fortunate, but the aftermath could inevitably cause issues.
To smooth this process and prevent future incidents, neighboring countries should establish some principles.
“With such an introduction, the French side will likely have the king attend. France shares a wide border with us and similarly with the Holy Roman side.”
“Indeed. You always pay attention to these small details.”
Richard, satisfied, pulled out a paper and added the necessary phrases.
“Perfect. No one will suspect a thing.”
“Will you cancel the order to gather the troops?”
“That would be… No, canceling it all at once might look suspicious. I’ll adjust it to a smaller scale.”
It would indeed look odd if someone who was fervently rallying troops suddenly canceled the order.
A wise decision.
“Then I’ll go write the letter to His Holiness the Pope.”
I nodded slightly and turned away.
Once this is over, France will inevitably suffer significant damage, even if they don’t lose a war.
Philip II’s credibility will take a severe hit.
Naturally, relations with the Angevin Empire and the Holy Roman Empire will sour.
Then, Richard and Heinrich VI will keep Philip II in check without my intervention.
Potential threats must be nipped in the bud.
Now, I can leisurely watch Richard’s skill at work.
In the bustling heart of France, Paris, Philip II was reading a letter that had arrived for him.
“So, it was the Byzantine Emperor who first proposed the marriage.”
Marshal had responded to his letter with a detailed reply.
Having already heard from the clergy who accompanied him to Jerusalem, he could easily verify whether Marshal was telling the truth or not.
“Nothing particularly stands out…”
Marshal didn’t hide anything; he described his experiences in detail, even sending souvenirs from Jerusalem with the letter.
”…The Count of Dammartin is secluded in his mansion, avoiding contact with the outside world?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. His previous illness has relapsed. His cough is so severe that meeting others is difficult.”
“I see. But he can still write, can’t he? Has he sent any letters?”
“No such evidence has been found.”
Philip II leaned back in his throne, continuing his questions leisurely.
“That must be frustrating. I should send a physician.”
“Your Majesty, shouldn’t you respond to King Richard’s request first? We need to consider our response…”
“That’s a foregone conclusion. There’s nothing to think about.”
Philip II chuckled, and the Count of Dreux nodded in agreement.
“Will you go personally, Your Majesty? I’ll gather the knights to accompany you.”
“I’ll leave that to you. But what evidence has our King of England discovered?”
“I don’t know. If he reveals it prematurely, it would give the Holy Roman side time to respond.”
“What did the Holy Roman Emperor say?”
“You already know, Your Majesty.”
“There’s always a chance, however slim.”
Philip II trusted his abilities but wasn’t arrogant.
There were still mysterious things in the world beyond his understanding.
Like prophets who hear the voice of God and predict the future.
‘If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it…’
No matter how well he anticipated human actions and planned meticulously, he couldn’t account for someone who hears the voice of heaven.
Of course, God wouldn’t bother with trivial matters.
At least, according to Philip II’s faith, that was normal.
But the world doesn’t always follow common sense.
Even in the Bible, Moses received immediate responses from God when he prayed.
Marshal might be such a person.
If that’s the case…
“Count of Dreux, is it true that Heinrich VI will come to the border?”
“Yes. They claim innocence and have nothing to hide. If King Richard has decisive evidence, it must be fabricated, and they intend to expose the falsehood.”
“They’ve said they’ll take responsibility if they can’t prove the Holy Roman Empire’s fault. So, in a way, the Roman side has nothing to lose.”
But conversely, it means Richard has solid evidence.
How could that be?
The first possibility is that Richard fabricated the evidence.
‘What evidence could he present besides witnesses? But if the witness testimony is fabricated, it can simply be dismissed.’
As Philip II pondered in silence, the Count of Dreux asked with a worried expression.
”…Could a certain viscount have other schemes?”
He didn’t specify which viscount, but it was clear who he meant.
“A viscount’s scheme?”
“Yes. Combining what we provided with what they unearthed amounts to quite a significant quantity.”
“Isn’t it possible that the Viscount secretly took a few items and is plotting something with them?”
“If that were the case, we would have heard something by now. Have you received any word?”
“This morning, they did send someone over. They asked if we were planning anything additional, but I don’t trust that person.”
So, they set up a scheme and then pretended to know nothing, asking us questions?
It’s not impossible.
“We have no choice but to go and find out what kind of scheme the King of England is plotting.”
“But if the talks succeed, won’t it end in a way that avoids war, regardless of who wins? Are you okay with that?”
“Even if this doesn’t lead to war, once the seeds of discord are sown, it’s only a matter of time before they sprout. It’s fine. Just make sure to take good care of the Count of Dammartin.”
“Understood. I’ll take my leave then.”
“Oh, and let the Duke of Burgundy know he can come in. He’s probably waiting for his turn.”
Philip II watched as the Count of Dreux bowed deeply and left, then picked up the letter from Marshal again.
“A prophet who can hear the voice of God…”
It might not be a bad idea to assess this opportunity thoroughly.
The king’s face, which had been graced with a benevolent smile just moments ago, now showed not a trace of emotion.