The gold of the Kingdom of Ghana is just a target used by William to divert domestic contradictions, and the Kingdom of Ghana, which is plotting for the "Golden Country" of Western Sahara, does not matter, and it is not the best time to do it at least in ten years.

Thinking of this, William seemed to have something to gain, since the gold of the Kingdom of Ghana could attract Norman adventurers and merchants in the Norman Kingdom, why not attract Sicilian adventurers, who were the most adventurous among the Normans.

Thinking of this, William immediately called Prime Minister Ladolph to discuss with him at this time.

"Ministerradorf, see Your Majesty." Although the prime minister has the right not to bow down when he meets William, in order to show respect, Prime Minister Ladolph still kneels on one knee and bows his head.

"Hurry up, Lord Ladolph." William stretched out his hand and asked Ladolph to get up, and then he said to Phale, who was standing beside him, "Faller, let Master Ladolph sit down." ”

After Prime Minister Ladolph was seated, William continued: "Prime Minister Ladolph, how is the new coin issuance going?" ”

"Your Majesty, thanks to you, the issuance of new coins is progressing well, and 200,000 gold coins and more than 800,000 silver coins have entered circulation, making a profit of up to 120,000 pounds of silver.

In addition, the old gold and silver coins are also being gradually withdrawn, and it is expected that more than 70% of the old coins will be recovered by the end of this year. Prime Minister Radoff reported to William.

"Well done, Prime Minister Ladolph, you must continue to work hard to get a good grasp of the issuance of new coins, not only in the Norman kingdom, but also in other countries through trade.

In fact, our new gold and silver coins are not inferior in quality compared to gold and silver coins from other countries, and the gold and silver content is not much different, but the fineness is better, the casting process is more advanced, and the appearance is more beautiful, and it is believed that these coins will be extremely popular because of the strong competitiveness of Norman goods. William then commanded.

"Your Majesty, in this way we can continue to issue gold and silver coins, and draw seigniorage from them, without worrying that the country cannot digest them, you are really wise." Prime Minister Ladolph praised.

"Let's not talk about this for now, I came to you today to discuss a few things with you." William waved his hand and said: "Now that the whole world is settled, my Normans have Britain, France, Lorraine, Brittany and other places, occupy a small half of the land of Europa, and their prestige is growing and boasting of the world, but at present we still have two great enemies, one is the Salian Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire, and the other is His Majesty the Holy See of the Holy See.

If we do not defeat these two sides, we Normans will not be at peace for a day.

If you want to defeat the Holy Roman Empire and the Holy See, you must start step by step, gradually weakening them, causing them to lose blood, and finally completely crushing them. ”

William was reasonable, and he called Prime Minister Ladolph to applaud: "Your Majesty is indeed as you said, the HRE Empire and the Holy See are the two major troubles of my Normans, but how to solve it, please explain it in detail." ”

"In fact, the solution of the Holy Roman Empire and the Holy See is one and two, two and one, and both can be solved at the same time." The corners of William's mouth hooked, and he said: "Prime Minister Ladolph, do you know the previous dynasty of the HRE Empire, the Rudolph family of the Saxon Dynasty?" ”

"Naturally, I remember, Your Majesty, at that time the powerful Otto III led a large army south to Rome and fought against the pagan Saracens in Sicily, but it is a pity that His Majesty Otto III died young, the Saxon dynasty died without an heir, and the cunning Sallian family of the Franconian dynasty finally took its place." Speaking of this, Prime Minister Ladolph said similarly: "Your Majesty, do you want to provoke contradictions, or even wars, between the Holy Roman Empire and the Holy See? ”

William nodded with a smile and said, "Prime Minister Ladolph, as you said, I am ready to send spies to sow discord between the Holy See and the Holy Roman Empire, and set the two sides against each other.

In addition to going to Rome to be crowned by the Pope as HRE Emperor, the wealth and fertile land of the Italian city-states continue to attract every German emperor who comes here.

Starting with Henry the Birdcatcher of the Saxon dynasty, to the three Otto Emperors, to the previous generation of the HRE Emperor Conrad II, and finally to the Emperor Henry III who was in charge.

For more than 100 years, seven emperors led their armies south to Rome, and several emperors even fought wars with the Holy See and the Italian states.

Therefore, when the conflict between the two sides is exacerbated by the right to appoint bishops, I only have to stir up the situation, and with the coveting of Italy by the Emperor of the HRE, Henry III will once again lead a large army south to Rome.

At that time, a big war is inevitable, and we can also fish in troubled waters. ”

"Your Majesty, what are you going to do, how are you going to profit from it?" Prime Minister Ladolph asked curiously.

However, when Prime Minister Ladolph asked him about the method, William asked him: "Prime Minister Ladolph, do you know what my ambition is now?" ”

"Your Majesty, is it to reproduce the great deeds of Charlemagne? I've heard you talk about it a lot. ”

"That's nature, since I have possessed all of Britain, France, Brittany, and Aquitaine, and only MacPace, a mere part of Scotland, is left to survive in the Scottish Highlands.

I am confident that I am not as proud of my deeds as Charlemagne, but I am still one crown away from the crown of the Frankish Empire.

But I wanted to wear this crown on two conditions, one was to occupy the vast majority of the de jure territory of the Frankish Empire, and the other was for the Pope to crown me Emperor of the Franks.

Territory-wise, I have occupied France, Aquitaine, Brittany, and only the Kingdom of Burgundy remains uncovered, including the Duchy of Provence, Dauphing, Savoy, and Haute-Burgundy.

As for the second point, it is natural that the crowning of the Frankish Emperor would be more legitimate for the Pope to crown me, but I will not be at the mercy of others like the previous emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.

I have decided to lead my troops south to Rome at the right time in the future, and to invite the Pope to Paris forever, like the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in Byzantium, to crown me Emperor and my children and grandchildren for generations to come. ”

The Kingdom of Burgundy, according to William, was formed by the union of Upper Burgundy (whose ruling center was in present-day western Switzerland, but also included parts of present-day France and Italy) and Lower Burgundy (mainly in present-day southeastern France), which included the Duchy of Upper Burgundy, the Duchy of Savoy, Graubünden, Dauffingen, and Provence in Switzerland.

However, these principalities all belong to the Holy Roman Empire, and if you want to get them, you have to fight another war with the HRE Empire.