John Mendekovino shook his head and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor, I am also very curious, the letter from the Mongols did not explain it, and I think it is very likely that they do not know, but they have just made up their minds to go west." Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info You have experienced many wars, I dare to try to analyze it in front of you, please advise. I have heard that according to the laws of war, usually after a big war, even if the victorious side is victorious, it takes about four to five years of recuperation before another war of great scale can be launched. What's more, it was an expedition from the East to Europe, and perhaps the Mongols needed a longer preparation. ”

Rudolf I frowned and said, "If this is the case, the Pope sent you as an envoy, I am afraid it will be difficult to eliminate the will of the Mongols to invade." With all due respect, what you should do is to try to understand the reality of the Mongols and spread the Gospel of God to them. Oh, and of course, make sure that you make friends with the Mongol generals, especially Cheng Yue, mentioned by the Pope, and make him realize that without converting to Christianity, his soul will never be saved, and that if he dares to invade Europe, God will judge him severely in Hellfire. Moreover, on behalf of the German Empire, I would like to assure the Pope that he will devote all his forces to the security of the Holy See and to act as a shield for the Holy See in the north against the infidels in the East. ”

John Montcovino was overjoyed and said, "Your Majesty, Dear Emperor, thank you for your loyalty to the Holy See, the Pope has never doubted His Majesty's devotion to God. Your advice is very useful, I will take it to heart, and when I arrive in Mongolia, I will definitely do what you tell me and I will surely get satisfactory results. ”

Rudolf I nodded and said, "The Pope mentioned in his letter that I should send someone to escort you to the Kipchak Khanate, and I should do as he was told. Dear Bishop, would you please stay with me for a few days? I'm going to do some preparation for this. It won't take long for me to organize an elite cavalry in about three days. ”

John Montcovino was very happy and said, "Your Majesty, I am very grateful to have your help, and I and the others would be very happy to rest with you for three days and replenish some food. ”

Rudolf I smiled and said, "Of course this is no problem, I will definitely satisfy the Bishop." Also, I would like to have a private request, would you like to hear about it? ”

John Mendecovino was stunned for a moment, and said, "Obey your commands, Your Majesty. ”

Rudolf I. said: "Some time ago I was given a pamphlet on how to farm the land, and then I found a field and tried it, and I must admit that I was very struck by its effect, and the farmers who planted it estimated that by the autumn they would increase their harvest by at least fifty percent. If I'm not mistaken, the author of that pamphlet was Cheng Yue, and it seems that he was not only a general, but also led the peasants to farm, and I was very interested in the knowledge he had. ”

John Mendekovino said suspiciously: "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you mean. ”

Rudolf I coughed lightly and said with a smile: "That's so, honorable bishop, I would like to ask you to collect as many of these books and people as you can in the East, and if you can bring them back, I am willing to pay you a high reward." ”

John Mendecovino suddenly came to his senses and said admiringly: "Yes, my esteemed majesty, I can promise you that you will do your best in this matter." ”

Rudolf I nodded: "Okay, thank you very much." He looked down and thought about it, then raised his head and said, "Then, in order to show my respect to the Pope and my gratitude to you, I will send a son to lead an army to escort you, please do not refuse." ”

John Montcovino was taken aback and blurted out, "What? Your Majesty is going to send a son to the East? You know, this is a very dangerous thing to do. ”

Rudolf I waved his hand decisively and said, "Is it more dangerous than on the battlefield?" Please give me this opportunity to dedicate my faithfulness and prove that I am the most faithful servant of God. ”

John Mendekovino was speechless, so he had to nod his head and said, "No matter who Your Majesty sends, I am full of gratitude. ”

Rudolf I smiled, of course he had other plans. The blind man could also see that Pope Nicholas III wanted to take the opportunity to open another overland trade route to the East, and since there was this opportunity, Rudolf I did not intervene, was he not stupid? The reason is also ready-made, a hundred priests and more than three hundred merchants carry huge wealth, how can only three hundred knights protect it? The pope was reluctant to add too much money, so he asked Rudolf I to help escort them to the Kipchak Khanate, but Rudolf I could take advantage of this and send someone to accompany them directly to the capital. Although Germany is likely to be at war with the Kipchak Khanate in the future, the two sides have no intersection at this moment, let alone hostility, and if war does not break out, or if the European countries force the Mongols to withdraw their troops, Rudolf I can take the opportunity to conclude an agreement with the Mongols and open up a new trade route, and with Germany's geographical position in the center of Europe, Rudolf I can certainly grab great benefits!

After settling Johann Mendecovino for the time being, Rudolf I immediately sent for two of his three sons, Albrecht and Hartmann, and the youngest son, Rudolph, who had the same name, was naturally not a candidate because he was just over seven years old. Strictly speaking, Hartmann was also not very old, only a little over fourteen years old, and it was quite difficult for him to command the army. The eldest son, Albrecht, was older, twenty-two years old, but because he was the eldest son, Rudolf I had great hopes for him, so he did not intend to send him, but only wanted him to come over to discuss and persuade Hartmann, the second son, Hartmann, although he was young, in fact he could only send him, which was also a helpless choice.

Albrecht heard the call and immediately went to Rudolf I's room, while Hartmann met his two sisters, Caterina and Clementina, on the way there.

Caterina was the second daughter of Rudolf I, only a year younger than the eldest son Albrecht, the most beautiful of the six daughters of Rudolf I, inheriting all the virtues of Rudolf I, with a slender figure, blond hair, and a strong and courageous character. Caterina once encountered a large number of thieves when she was going out, and Caterina took the lead in driving away more than 100 thieves with only 30 knights, and killed and wounded more than a dozen people, which was praised by her subjects. Because of these distinctive qualities, Catalina has long been admired by the Wittelsbach family, another prominent family on a par with the Habsburgs.