While eating breakfast, Egil once again sensed Artoria's reluctance. I could have eaten 20 people's food, but this time I only ate 19 people. And the pace of eating has slowed down significantly. Egil looked at Artoria so uncomfortable. Heartache to death. I almost said, "Or you'll stay with me." Germany: I'll figure it out again. "That's the case.

But in the end, Egil still didn't say it.

Family affairs are small, but state affairs are big. Egil is playing a big game of chess. And the opponents who played against them were the top kings of each era. Although I won a few times by luck before. But it is still not the time to be arrogant. The slightest carelessness is the end of defeat and death, and the country and family are ruined.

Therefore, Egil is really afraid of death. He knew that if he died like this, the entire Norman kingdom would immediately fall apart. The dream of a thousand-year-old empire that he made can only be a big dream. Like all the great conquerors in history. It's just a flash in the pan. After that, there is a boundless silence.

"So, Joan of Arc, why can't you understand my mind when I look at you so sincerely?"

"All I know is that someone was in love with his wife a few minutes ago, tearfully saying goodbye. But a few minutes later, I went back to pestering another girl. Joan of Arc snorted lightly. Then he flicked his whip and ran away.

Egil touched his nose. I thought to myself: You are the only woman in this army of 45,000. I don't pester you to pester who to go. He also flicked his whip and chased after him.

The situation was exactly as Egir had thought. After sending Artoria away, Egil sent a messenger to ask Charles of Burgundy to take care of him. Let your 5,000 elite cavalry pass. and urged Charles to lead Charles' Burgundian army south as soon as possible. Make peace with your own side and form a crusade to rescue the Holy See.

At the same time, Egil also promised two things on behalf of Emperor Frederick of Bavaria and Innocent III of Rome. One was to allow Burgundy to legitimize the occupation of Alsace, Lorraine. And again ceded Lower Saxony, including Bremen. The Papal States' reward for Burgundy was two million gold coins per year. Distributed at the same time as Norman's rewards.

Speaking of which, Egil is not a papal patron today. Not Holy Roman Emperor. These two promises are completely red-mouthed and white-toothed big talk. Burgundy is not without understanding people. And the European countries of this era are not like the Celestial Empire, where they have to risk killing their heads if they advise the monarch. Therefore, there are still many people who dare to speak. It's just that Charlie has almost been stunned for decades for the title of king. I don't listen to persuasion at all. All the more so because in the last alliance, the Normans were abandoned in advance. So I was annoyed that I didn't get any benefits. Therefore, it has been decided that this time it will go to the dark with the Normans.

That's it. Artoria took the elite Norman cavalry to North Germany. And "the other woman in the army of forty-five thousand", Aurora, Echill's cheap sister, was also driven back to Gothburg by Egil. Also taken away was Egil's latest compilation of a second plan for the Norman Navy.

In this way, whether it is the lair or the second battlefield, Egil has someone to rely on to support the scene. He could go south with his army and loot - I mean save Rome.

Burgundy was very talented in convincing. But Duke Charlie, whose surname is reckless, is quite simple. The real problem for Egil was how to persuade the union between Burgundy and France.

In fact, the two countries have not signed a peace treaty until now. In other words, the two countries are actually still at war. Especially the lord is weak and the minister is strong. France is now in ruins. The number of troops that can be mobilized is only about 10,000. On the contrary, in the previous wars, Burgundy did not break its bones. It is not a big deal to grit your teeth and mobilize an army of 35,000.

So, Egil went around in circles. Bypassing King Philip II of France, he found Edward, Duke of Aquitaine. to forgive the full amount owed. And the issuance of low-interest loans as a condition. Invite him to join his allies.

The reason why Egil was so generous to let Edward go. But it's because it's not the same time. Broad-minded, I can't look down on Aquitaine's reparations. In addition, more than half of the time has passed. Aquitaine was also ruined. Edward hanged himself in a hurry. And it just so happens that Egil has such a place to use him. That's why he was let go.

After this, King Philip II of France was surprised to find that several powerful dukedoms of France, Aquitaine, Burgundy, and Brittany, Normandy, were once again united. That's when he became afraid. Egir asked again, and Philip II agreed.

February 8, 1003. The Norman-Franco-Burgundy-Aquitaine League is established. It marked the beginning of the union of the whole of Europe. It also marked a new phase in the war between Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

Three kings and a duke gather in the southwestern French city of Lyon. Swear an alliance in the Cathedral of Lyon to save Christendom from its perils. Pull up the crusader flag with a red cross on a white background.

Among these three kingdoms, one of the principalities, the number of Egil led a large number of soldiers, and the battle records and prestige were also great. Even more so at last year's Normandy trial. Everyone elected Egil as the commander of the coalition forces. And Egil is up to the task. With an attitude that makes the pursuit of low-key and low-key, low-key is king, but does not know that he has a mocking face, and the natural annoying idiot cannot understand. I am very happy to be the commander of this coalition army.

The total number of troops of the Four-Nation Coalition is 100,000. Of these, Egil's Norman army accounted for nearly half. The remainder consisted of 25,000 Burgundian troops and 10,000 Swiss mercenaries hired from Switzerland. Fifteen thousand troops of France, and five thousand soldiers and horses of Aquitaine. Plus a few other wandering knights, outcasts, devout cultists, and so on. It's really a big army.

On this side, the four-nation alliance went south, and when discussing the route of the march, Philip II of France was selfish. It was advisable to continue the army south, rest in Marseille, and then cross Genoa from the south and enter Italy by the same route as the Western Alpine Pass. Egir knew that Philip II wanted to use the power of the coalition to coerce Genia and return Marseille. But he didn't say anything. He just smiled and nodded, agreeing with Philip II's proposal.

The monarchs of the other two countries, neither Charlie nor Edward, were fools. Naturally, I understood what Philip II meant. However, they are also quite unpleasant to the so-called "republics" of northern Italy. The wealth of the people of Genoa also aroused the covetousness of the kings of these two countries. After making such a decision: "Marseille to the king of France, half of the booty to the Norman king, forty percent to the Duke of Burgundy, and one percent to the Duke of Aquitaine." Everyone was happy. They all expressed their willingness to help the King of France against the damned merchants.

From Egil's answer to the Holy See's plea for help, to the present four-nation alliance army moving south. Months have passed. In order to increase the danger of the Holy See, Egil made himself the savior of Rome a little more important. He also sent someone to assassinate the only mercenary general in the Holy See who could lead his troops to defeat the invasion of Eastern Rome.

But the Holy See has not even fallen!

I haven't fallen yet!!

Egil was thinking about delaying time. It is better to appear on the outskirts of the city as a savior at the moment when Rome is about to fall, and then command the coalition forces to defeat those Greeks. In this way, fame and fortune will be gained. There are both virtual and real.

However, the Holy See was able to withstand it. Forty-eight letters for help were not sent to Egil a day, as Egil had imagined.

Unbeknownst to Egil, Egir, the situation in the Holy See was already very dangerous - after further troop build-ups, tens of thousands of Eastern Roman troops besieged the city of Rome. Bombardment of the city walls with catapults, stone crossbows, and sky-to-day bombardment. No night attack. And the mercenaries and militia of Rome were in disarray because of the loss of a unified commander. You can't even hold on to the city. There were tens of thousands of troops, but to no avail.

At the critical moment, Innocent III was ruthless and personally carried the golden box containing the holy bones and the holy shroud to the head of the city of Rome to boost morale. This made the defenders burst into unprecedented enthusiasm. Knocked down the Eastern Roman army.

Immediately afterwards, Innocent III completely unloaded the so-called papal reserve. A large number of mercenaries were dispatched to investigate and deal with them from house to house. Will all have a connection with the Eastern Romans. Commoners, nobles, and clergy who could have been internal agents or spies were all arrested. Killed a fine light without interrogation. Half of their accumulated wealth was then deposited into the Holy Treasury. The other half was given to the defenders. to motivate morale.

The Holy See, just like that, survived.

Such a violent purge by the papacy also greatly hindered the operations of the Norman spies. This is the reason why Egil did not receive the news in the first place.

"It's weird. "Thirty miles from Marseille. Among the coalition camps. Egil listened carefully to the sound of other soldiers and battalion keepers in the other tents hundreds of meters away. While banging on the table. Talking to yourself like this.

"Your Majesty, what is strange?" asked King Philip II of France, who was sitting next to Egil.

"Oh......" Egil chuckled, "I was just thinking that the messenger sent to liaise with Marseille has been there for a day and a half. There hasn't been a word yet. What the hell is going on?"

(To be continued)