The library of the University of Paris is said to be the largest collection of books in France.

Thanks to the financial and academic resources of the University of Paris, as well as the support of the nobility and the royal family, the library's collection is expanded with many new resources every year.

Not only that, there are many precious scientific research materials and historical documents in the museum, which cannot be found anywhere else.

Therefore, Bella decided to go to the University of Paris to find some books about the Hundred Years' War.

At the same time, as a "punishment" for losing the game before, Elena also has to accompany Bella.

To some extent, it is indeed a kind of "punishment" to let a person like Elena, who is lively and likes to be lively, go to a quiet place like the library, right?

"Elena, do you know what the Hundred Years' War was fought for?" Bella asked.

"Isn't it because of the succession to the throne?" Elena said.

It is said that both Edward III and Philip VI claimed the right to inherit the French throne, and the battle for the throne eventually turned into an armed conflict, and war broke out.

"That's just one of the reasons, just the superficial ones, to be exact." "You know, Britain was an island country, not very rich in natural resources, and the lifeblood of the economy at that time was mainly dependent on the wool trade. In the late Middle Ages, the British began to vigorously develop animal husbandry, producing wool for export. The centre of the wool trade was Flanders. Flanders is located on the coast of northern France, where the British sold large quantities of wool and then brought back to England finished products such as woolen wool. The export of wool raw materials and the import of finished woolen products need to pay a certain tax to the British king. In other words, as long as trade continues, the income of the British royal family will also be continuous. However, the Count of Flanders at the time was a Frenchman, and he wanted France to enjoy the wealth of Flanders alone. In this way, it will not only cut off the financial routes of the British, but also weaken Britain's control over the European continent. So, although nominally a struggle for the throne between Edward III and Philip VI, it is in fact a long-standing conflict of interest between the two countries."

"Then why did it take more than a hundred years?" Elena asked, "Since it's a matter of interests, then after fighting for so long, no matter which side you are, you will pay a big price, right?" Isn't that more than worth the loss?"

"The authorities don't think about things the way we do." "They only account for the more general interests. As long as Britain could win, they could take back control of Flanders and control most of the French territory. France, too, had complete control over taxes and finances by driving the British out of continental Europe. Therefore, neither side will back down. Even if Britain doesn't go to war first, France will do it sooner or later."

"That's right......" Elena had never done such a detailed analysis of history, she simply felt that it was ridiculous enough to fight for more than a hundred years for such a.

But isn't history sometimes so absurd? Because, reality is often more bizarre than fantasy.

"Remember what we said about Vikings?" Bella asked suddenly.

"Is that the Vikings that Miss Margaret mentioned when she was looking for her grandfather's inheritance?" Elena replied.

It is said that Margaret's grandfather found the treasure left by the Vikings through the treasure map, and left it to Miss Margaret as an inheritance. In fact, it is not gold and silver jewelry, but some technical design drawings.

"That's right." Béla continued, "The Vikings of the time have somehow disappeared, and one of the related theories is that during the Carolingian period, they settled in Normandy on the northern coast with the consent of Charles III, the ruler of the Frankish kingdom. This was the formation of what became the Duchy of Normandy."

"That's how pirates disappeared."

The pirates became normal land dwellers.

"However, this is only one of the theories, and some people say that what is now Norway is a country founded by the Vikings. However, the main reason why the British would have a territory in France was because William the Conqueror, who would later be of Norman origin. When William I invaded England, he successfully defeated the Anglo-Saxons and ruled England, establishing the Norman dynasty. However, this dynasty lasted only four generations of kings, and about a hundred years later, Henry II ascended the throne and began the reign of the Plantagenet dynasty. Therefore, at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War, the rulers of England and Normandy should have been the same people. After the war, the Duchy of Normandy was effectively controlled by the French crown. As a result, France seems to have gained a little more from a war that has lasted for more than a century."

"So, France is the victorious side, right?"

"To some extent, this is true, because this struggle against foreigners gave France the concept of state and nation for the first time. This laid the foundation for the mighty empire of the Bourbon family today."

"And what do you want to look up in the library?"

"Well...... "Well," said Bella, "in addition to the books I didn't find at Picker's bookstore, I want to look up the 'Saint of Orleans.'"

"Jeanne Darke?" Elena asked.

"That's right." Béla replied, "Because Jeanne appeared to turn the tide of the decadent war in almost the whole of France, and led the army to regain the lost territory from the British."

"I do know something about this, after all, there are not many people who have been canonized by the Catholic Church for this kind of merit."

"Yes, even if religion is not taken into account, Jeanne herself is a very good general and military commander."

"Why can a girl from a rural background become an army general?" Elena was puzzled by this.

"That's what historians have been baffling all along." Bella continued, "Perhaps, Charles VII, who was the crown prince at the time, tried all kinds of efforts to save the tide of the decadent war, but in the end it was all in vain. And at this time, a person with God's guidance appears, and even if it is a life-saving straw, he will hold on firmly. However, it turned out that his judgment was right, and this young girl who was not good-looking did lead France out of the trough. The Battle of Orleans also became an important turning point in the Hundred Years' War, laying the foundation for France's comeback from defeat to victory."

When human beings are on the verge of despair, it is always easy to make desperate bets and pin their slim hopes on seemingly outrageous and small possibilities. Perhaps then they will feel that they don't have to bear the consequences of their incompetence, which is also the cowardly side of human nature.