In the Hereafter, there will always be no shortage of 500,000 walking.

They boasted and longed for the outside life, kneeling and licking the foreigners who had bullied us, talking about how comfortable a free life was, and even the air was sweet.

But also in the light of that, freedom has always been admired by those people, who promote freedom, advocate freedom, and even do things that are indignant to people and gods in the name of freedom.

In contrast, the 5,000-year-old civilization of the flower growers is full of the shadow of self-discipline.

In the 5,000-year-old culture, we have always believed that virtue is higher than talent, and we have pursued the principle of being a person in advance.

Freedom is what everyone yearns for, after all, unrestrained indulgence always makes people feel comfortable.

Freedom has always been the opposite of self-discipline, but the end of freedom is self-destruction, and only self-discipline can make a civilization last for a long time.

And now, what happened in Aachen, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, confirms this.

In the final analysis, the army is still made up of ordinary people, they are not powerful people, and when faced with the choice between life and death, they do not hesitate to betray their monarch, even the pope.

When he learned the news, Zhu Zhanyan rushed from the big tent of the Chinese army to the city of Aachen as quickly as possible, watching the people who shouted for freedom being shackled, and watching the emperor and the pope of the free capital being tied up by their people and sent to the Ming army as a bargaining chip for their survival.

When he saw this scene, Zhu Zhanyan really wanted to let the 500,000 walking people in later generations take a look, and see what kind of faces the foreign adults who claimed freedom that they admired and kneeled and licked were in the face of life and death.

Then point to their noses and ask them to think about how the people who are actually protecting them do in the face of danger and aggression.

However, all this can only be imagined after all. (Note 1)

"Is there anything you'd like to say?" Ignoring the puppet Pope Eugene IV, Zhu Zhanyan looked directly at Sigismund.

The translator faithfully conveyed Zhu Zhanyan's words to Sigismund, but in exchange for Sigismund's mocking smile.

"You can kill the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, but you can't insult the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire."

……

While listening to the translator relay this sentence, the expression on Zhu Zhanyan's face became more and more weird.

In fact, needless to say, everyone knows what this sentence represents, and they also know what Sigismund wants to do, but Zhu Zhanyan doesn't seem to be afraid at all, and even looks forward to it, and finally directly asks people to loosen his ties.

Pulling out the saber at his waist, Zhu Zhanyan sent it to Sigismund: "Come, give you a chance, you can try it." ”

"Before that, though, I think you should need to meet someone."

As he spoke, Zhu Zhanyan beckoned, and Zhu Ling immediately turned around and left.

Sigismund clutched the saber handed over by Zhu Zhan and looked at Zhu Zhan Yan with some uncertainty.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Although he knew that it was impossible to die with Zhu Zhanyan in this situation, Sigismund also knew that this was his only and best chance.

However, Zhu Zhan's appearance in his chest made him a little jealous.

He didn't know what made Zhu Zhanyan have such confidence, and even confident enough to put the weapon in his hands.

After a while, two healthy horses galloped from a distance, and suddenly stopped when they were about ten steps away from Zhu Zhanyan.

Zhu Ling turned over and dismounted, and at the same time pulled the rope in his hand, pulling the person on the horse behind him.

When the ......

The sound of the saber falling to the ground sounded, and Sigismund let out a long sigh, Sigismund, who was already sixty-two years old, no longer had half of the majesty of the Holy Roman Emperor, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant, like an old man.

It was none other than Sigismund's only son-in-law, Albrecht, who was brought by Zhu Ling.

Sigismund knew that this was a threat to Zhu Zhanyan.

A son-in-law is not enough to be Zhu Zhanyan's bargaining chip to threaten him, because what he really values is his daughter, but now that his son-in-law has been dragged out, it proves that Zhu Zhanyan already knows the whereabouts of his daughter.

At least he knew where his daughter was fleeing.

He didn't blame Albrecht, because the other party was just a son-in-law, and women could be found again if they were gone, and in this chaotic era, women were the most lacking, but their lives were only once.

If there was an exchange of identities and positions, Sigismund would do the same.

Seeing Sigismund's reaction, Zhu Zhanyan smiled with satisfaction and raised his hand.

Zhu Ling was very simple, Albrecht's head was cut off by him with a knife, without the slightest drag.

Sigismund didn't react to this, but was taken away by the prince's guards like a walking corpse.

Although Albrecht betrayed him, for Sigismund at this time, the life and death of Albrecht, the betrayer, no longer mattered, after all, even if he died, there was no guarantee that his daughter would be alive.

"Sweep the battlefield." Zhu Zhanyan gave the last order, then turned over his horse and headed in the direction of the Chinese army's tent.

At this point, the Central European battlefield basically assessed that although the Holy Roman Empire still had residual forces, in this situation where both the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope fell into the hands of the Ming army, these remnant forces did not have the people who could gather them, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

……

It's night, the Holy Roman Palace.

This place, which once symbolized the supreme power of Central Europe, has now become Zhu Zhan's.

Standing at the highest point in the entire Aachen, Zhu Zhan Yan looked at the first quarter moon in the sky, not knowing what he was thinking, but he could see that Zhu Zhan Yan did not have the joy after the victory of the Great War.

At least, he didn't show it.

Below, Qian Zhong leaned on the pillar and looked at Zhu Zhanyan above.

After such a long period of exposure, Qian Zhong already knew the situation in the European battlefield and the direction of the future European battlefield, and even more so knew how significant the destruction of the Holy Roman Empire was for the Ming army's westward expedition to Europe.

However, he didn't know why Zhu Zhanyan still had such a flat expression.

"His Royal Highness the Prince!"

Just when Qian Zhong was looking at Zhu Zhanyan above in a daze, Zhu Ling passed by him, knelt down on one knee not far in front of him, and reported to Zhu Zhanyan.

Qian Zhong subconsciously wanted to leave, because at this moment he was not qualified to listen to this, even if he was Qian Yong's son.

However, before he could leave, Zhu Ling had already spoken.

"This time to break through Aachen, a total of more than 120,000 slaves, including 40,000 young and strong, more than 70,000 old and weak women and children, have been fully organized, and they can set off tomorrow!"

"Got it." Zhu Zhanyan said very calmly, and then looked at Qian Zhong below.

"Come up."

"Huh?" Qian Zhong was stunned for a moment, looked around, and met Zhu Zhanyan's gaze again, only then did he be sure that Zhu Zhanyan was talking about himself.

"Yes......"

The Holy Roman Empire is a political alliance composed of Central European countries, and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire are often only very high-status, but in fact they do not have much power, unless they encounter such a powerful enemy as the Ming army as in the past two years.

However, as the face of the Holy Roman Empire, even for the sake of face, the residence of the Holy Roman Emperor is definitely the best.

As soon as he came behind Zhu Zhanyan, Qian Zhong had a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

The invincible vision gave Qian Zhong a feeling of seeing the mountains at a glance.

"What are you looking at?" Zhu Zhanyan didn't turn around, and spoke lightly.

"Ah......" Zhu Zhan's sudden opening startled Qian Zhong, but he quickly reacted and replied with his head bowed.

"The villain originally wanted to ask His Royal Highness the Prince why my father uncharacteristically gave up the white phosphorus eggs and fire oil bombs before your arrival, and changed to the traditional siege method, but ......"

"But what?" Zhu Zhanyan turned around, leaned on the railing, and looked at Qian Zhong quietly.

"But...... For some reason, the villain felt that His Royal Highness the Prince ...... you" Qian Zhong hesitated, but after thinking about it, he gritted his teeth and said his thoughts.

"You don't seem to be happy."

"Why should I be happy?" Zhu Zhanyan's reaction was still flat, as if he was not talking about it.

……

Qian Zhongwen was speechless.

Why rejoice? Shouldn't you be happy? The capture of Aachen represented the complete end of the once-prosperous Holy Roman Empire, and also represented a new milestone in the Ming army's westward expedition.

Is it supposed to be asked why upset?

"Hehe......" Zhu Zhanyan straightened up with a smile, stretched out his hand and rubbed Qian Zhong's brain.

"For example, you went to participate in the imperial examination, but you were unlucky, all the scholars who participated in the imperial examination this time were geniuses, and in the end you fell to Sun Shan."

"After you go back, you redouble your efforts and sign up again for the next imperial examination, and become the champion in one fell swoop, but the scholars who participated in the imperial examination this time are all fools with no ink."

"Let me ask you, will such a champion make you happy?"

……

Qian Zhong was silent.

He was actually very smart, at least he immediately understood what Zhu Zhanyan wanted to say.

In fact, the combat effectiveness of Europe and the Ming Dynasty is not at the same level.

In terms of weapons, Daming has the most advanced firearms in the world, as well as white phosphorous eggs and fire oil bombs for dimensionality reduction.

In terms of discipline, the Ming army was highly disciplined, but the Holy Roman Empire was a mess.

In terms of supply, the Ming army had sufficient food and grass for its armaments, while the Holy Roman Empire's grain production last year was not a failure, but it was also worrying.

A war that crushes the enemy army on all fronts, and victory seems to be expected.

Thinking about it this way, it seems that ...... There's really nothing to be happy about.

Looking at Qian Zhong, who was deep in thought, Zhu Zhanyan smiled slightly, turned around, and continued to look at the night scene of Aachen.

In fact, there is another reason why he is unhappy, but he can't tell Qian Zhong.

Because in Zhu Zhanyan's view, everything he is doing now is just a revenge plan launched in advance by a junior who has learned that period of suffering history and gets the opportunity given by God.

He did succeed, but it was not enough to erase the resentment in his heart.

Because this is what this land deserves, and it is also the sins that the people of this land should atone for.

I won't explain much here, but the people who protect us are naturally the soldiers, who are afraid of harmony, so they didn't write it directly.

(End of chapter)