That's it, as if the old things in France were played out before. Egil also deliberately revealed his private contacts with other vassals of the Holy Roman Empire, including the two old Saxon ministers who had just been promoted to dukes. Frederick was very anxious for a while. As a native of the Holy Roman Empire, he naturally understood better than Egil himself how important the support of the electors was to an emperor. If all the Electors turned their backs on him, then he, the Holy Roman Emperor, would not be a. It's not even as easy as being the Duke of Bavaria.

In addition, the Pope was also very eager to urge him, and wrote to Frederick to ask, saying that you said before that the Alps were difficult to climb due to heavy snowfall. So why did the Norman king crawl over? And fought a lot of battles with the Eastern Roman heretics? Do you still want to do it, the emperor? Do you have to tear your face, and I excommunicate you before you can act?

Of course, blind scare is not the same thing. In the second half of the letter, the Holy See turns around and says: "The past is no longer to blame." If you know that you can change your mistakes, you can be a good comrade, you see that the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire are almost done now, and the time is also in April. Heavy snow or something, as long as you don't run hard to high altitudes. That's basically not going to happen. So, what about the 200,000 troops you promised?

That's it. was previously troubled by Egil's private courting of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire, and then he was overwhelmed by the reproach of the Pope. After thinking carefully and deciding on how to deal with it, Frederick announced in a high-profile manner that he would join the ranks of the Holy Crusaders and teach the Orthodox heretics a profound and unforgettable lesson.

After that, the princes of the Holy Roman Empire marched together and gathered under Frederick's banner. In total, 150,000 troops were gathered and marched south.

Of course, this figure is a little different from what Frederick had promised. But wouldn't it be fun to besiege Otto I with troops?

Regardless, it's a good start. After the Holy Roman Empire announced its participation in the crusade, the three countries of northern Spain, León-Castel, Aragon and Portugal, also announced their official participation in the crusade. Although, because of distance and strength, it is basically impossible for these countries to send troops to the Apennines. The symbolism of their joining is very obvious.

A total of twelve Catholic nations have gathered under the same banner in the name of Jesus Christ to form an alliance to confront the Orthodox heresy together. This was the first time since the split between the Eastern and Western Churches that Basil II had been unable to sleep again when he heard the news.

Ten days, ten days later, the Norman army was able to move south into Italy.

Fifteen days, fifteen days, the armies of the Holy Roman Empire can also go south to Italy. At that time, the number of Catholic coalition troops in the whole of northern Italy will reach 350,000! a terrifying number that is not inferior even to some of the great powers of the East. It's safe to say that such an army is enough to deter the whole of Europa!

It will take a little time for the news to reach Hungary. However in the south of Italy. Narciss, the plenipotentiary of the Eastern Roman Governor in the Two Sicilies, had been sleepless for two days.

Basil II's orders were strict. If you can beat Rome for meritorious service and training, you can't beat Rome to see you. The problem is that Rome is also the capital of a country, a historical city, and the original commander of the defenders has inexplicably hung up. But after such a long time, several battles were fought. The Pope had already chosen a new commander-in-chief. There were still more than 10,000 defenders in the city. It's hard to break through in a hurry.

If there is no time limit for this task, then it will be enough - but how is it possible?! In another month, at most, 350,000 troops will gather under the city of Rome. Those who lead the army are the choice of the moment, the king of men. There are countless famous generals, and the warriors are like clouds. With this little bit of soldiers, it is not easy to keep yourself from being swallowed. Still fighting Rome?

In fact, Narcisse felt like he was doing death right now. Basil II's imagination that the capture of Rome would contain the Catholic coalition is unreliable. Indeed, in the dreamy Middle Ages, religious beliefs occupied a very important place in people's lives. However, this is not to say that all people really care about the so-called God. ,

Moreover, the degree of care is, from a certain point of view, inversely proportional to status, wealth, and power. The richer you are, the less religious, for example, the Venetians famously say that they are Venetians first, then Christians. And the more status there is, the more ungodly it is, the filth and filth in the Catholic Church, the higher the status of the clergy, the faster their lives are corrupted, and the more powerful they are, the more unreverent, the only emperor in the whole of Catholicism, the monarchs of the Holy Roman Empire, are all committed to the struggle for power with the Holy See. The debate over which is more important, the pope or the emperor, has been going on for centuries.

Therefore, Narcisse was very convinced that under the banner of the so-called Catholicism, the so-called crusaders, the so-called devotion to faith in Jesus Christ, brought these Catholic kings together - this is simply a.

It is true that there are pious kings - they are basically the neures born of close marriages, it is true that there are rich merchants who believe in piety - they are basically broken settlements that have failed to a certain point, and it is true that there are pious clergy - they are, certainly, heretics!

That's it.

Narcisse was sure. Even if he could defeat Rome as promised, he would certainly not be able to prevent the entire Catholic world from moving towards unity. It even gave the kings an excuse. What awaited Narcisse could not be the triumphal arch, the laurel wreath and the blue eyes of the noblewomen. Instead, he was furious and vowed to retake the holy city's 350,000 army. and a dozen kings, dozens of dukes, hundreds of counts, and hundreds of other nobles who wanted to increase their prestige.

Narcis shuddered.

Narcisse felt that he was likely to be trampled to death like an ant. 350,000 people, one person can drown him with a mouthful of saliva.

Narsis didn't want to die yet. He is still young, with a beautiful wife and two children, a boy and a girl. The plantation produces grapes, olives and figs. He also had thousands of slaves, five merchant ships, and several workshops - if he died, it would be someone else's!! God, is there anything more terrible in this world?!

So, Narsis gritted his teeth and wrote a letter from what he thought to the messenger, asking him to deliver the letter to the emperor. In addition to stating that it was impossible for him to capture Rome and asking His Majesty the Emperor to forgive him for his crimes, the letter also assured the Emperor that he was willing to protect the safety of the two Sicilies for him. Although he could not expand his territory, the Catholic heretics promised not to take an inch of land from him. It is hoped that this will be used as an excuse for His Majesty the Emperor to forgive him. Give him another chance. After all, it's not that they are incompetent, it's that the enemy is too strong.

Then, when Egil led his army south, joined up with the armies of France, Genoa, and Bologna, and then marched into Rome, he was very, very surprised to find it. The 100,000 troops who had originally besieged the city retreated, and not one of them was left. Leaving a messy camp like a garbage dump.

"The credit for rescuing Rome is too worthless. Egirzema circled twice in the abandoned camp of Eastern Rome, until the professional hussars returned and reported that there were no enemy troops within a radius of tens of kilometers, and then he smiled with extreme sarcasm. The task of aiding Rome was accomplished so easily. It's just so ironic.

Of course, if this irony is not enough, it is even more ironic that Egil received a title for aiding Rome.

True Knight of Christ: "I am the holy Catholic Knight Valhalla!" The effect is to add a little prestige and a little piety. This is the first time Egil knows that his piety can be positively increased. It's just incredible.

And just as Egil was sighing there, another professional hussar suddenly ran over.

"Your Majesty, a guy claiming to be an emissary of the Holy See has arrived. Would you like to see it?" asked the pagan cavalry, who was not Catholic at all and addressed the bishop of the Holy See by "fellow".

"Oh. Let him come. Egil was still in a very esoteric, lost, and at the same time extremely excited emotion, and his voice fluttered as if he were sleepwalking. Of course, you can also understand this as the sense of sanctity of God's chosen Norman kings.

After a while, a bishop in a splendid red silk robe with the sleeves came running briskly—it was hard for him to see how fast he could run in such a heavy bishop's garment, that even the few heavily armored guards behind him could not catch up.

Egir looked at it from afar, and was stunned, the red gown, the red shawl with the angel pattern drawn with gold thread, and the red square hat...... This guy turned out to be a cardinal?! Thinking about it, the Pope actually sent a cardinal directly, this etiquette is heavy enough. So Egil could no longer pretend, and quickly jumped off his horse, and ran quickly as fast as he did not lose to the cardinal......

(To be continued.) [