Chapter 53

The king received his cousin, General John.

The redemption of General John was a tortuous road. First, the inheritance tax was levied on the nobles. Then, the change of the rose interrupted the collection of ransom. Then the civil strife was calmed down and the nobles handed in their ransom. However, the rebellion of the five Port Alliance broke out, and the brescian expeditionary army tried to take advantage of the fire.

From September to the end of winter, the general, who was closely related to the king, was able to return to the capital Merz.

General John's return is very low-key.

After careful consideration, the king chose a time when the Duke of Buckingham was not in the Rose Palace and asked General John to meet him.

General John is eight years older than the king. When he became a knight, he was thrown to the battlefield by the Duke of Buckingham. He didn't become a general by his noble status. He became a general on his own merits. General John's silver hair of the rose family logo was a little rough at the back of his head, which made him look like a young lion.

"Thank you for your kindness, your majesty."

Now the young lion was quite depressed. He knelt down in front of the king in a low voice.

"My default has brought disaster to Legrand. Please punish me."

He leaned down with his forehead on the ground.

"You are indeed in default."

The king's voice came from his head, accompanied by the sound of turning the pages carelessly.

General John didn't say a word for himself, and his guilt almost overwhelmed the young general.

"20000 pounds." The king gave a low smile. "Your loss of responsibility is as high as 20000 pounds. Do you think the price is high enough?"

"I failed your trust."

General John answered bitterly.

With a bang, the manuscript in the king's hand was closed heavily by him, and the soft voice suddenly became cold and sharp.

"Do you think 20000 is enough? No, far more than that. "

"I ask you to deprive me of all my titles, but please allow me to continue to serve you. Your majesty. "

General John replied in a low voice.

"Do you think that's enough?"

There was anger in the king's voice.

He put down his book, stood up and went to General John.

"You've almost lost an old man's life, his beloved son, a king's powerful general, Legrand's impregnable barrier, and a man who doesn't have much trust, his respected brother."

General John raised his head abruptly and looked at the king in a daze.

The king crouched down in front of him, his hand on his knee, and his ice blue eyes were filled with anger. "Now, tell me, do you think 20000 pounds is enough for your mistake?"

General John looked at him blankly.

The king extended his hand to him.

He held the king's hand tightly, and the poor general was afraid to blame his defeat for the upheaval of Legrand. His guilt almost overwhelmed him. He held the king's hand tightly and couldn't say a decent word for a moment.

If General John's soldiers saw him like this, they would be surprised and speechless.

The king sighed in his heart.

He had learned of General John's behavior during this period from the other defeated and captured people who had been released together. After being captured, the brachy expeditionary army had made great efforts to prevent General John from committing suicide.

Before John arrived at the palace, the king had thought for a long time about how to deal with today's meeting.

"You make me have to choose a gentleman who wanted to kill me before to be my general. It's your fault."

Said the king softly.

He reached out and gave his cousin a gentle hug, just as the Duke of Buckingham had given him.

"You have to compensate me for a stronger army. That's what you should do."

"I will, I will, your majesty."

General John repeated hastily, his blue eyes wet as if they had been washed by rain.

For a moment, the king released him uneasily and returned to his seat: "now, please tell me something about the battle of Bowen. Even if you doubt yourself, please don't doubt your uncle's teaching for many years. I don't believe your failure will be so simple. "

The king pointed to another chair beside him and motioned General John to take his seat.

When it comes to the battle of Bowen, there is a cloud over General John's eyes. Obviously, during this time, he was also thinking about that battle.

"Someone betrayed." He had a low voice, "but that's not the point I wonder how they predicted my actions. "

This doubt seems to have troubled General John for a long time.

The timing of the arrival of the brescian expeditionary army was very good. It was just after the rebellion between the two places, that the Duke of Buckingham wanted to lead the army himself, but because of the domestic situation, he had to stay at home.When General John arrived at the front, he put in a tight defence.

There are three lines of defense, and Yuehe fortress is on the last line. And General John himself was on the first front of the Blaise expedition. He didn't defend blindly. Before the brescian expeditionary army had a firm foothold, he sent two teams, one along the north side of DOMA, to attack the brescian expeditionary army stationed in Casson, and the other to attack the port where the brescian expeditionary army landed, trying to cut off their supply lines.

The troops on the front line of Carson won a great victory, which made it impossible for the brescian expeditionary army to launch a direct attack. The attack on the port was not successful, but it also played a disturbing role.

The early campaign was smooth. The brescian expeditionary army was drawn into the mire of attacking the castle for a long time. General John thought that they could not bear the huge material consumption more than themselves when they fought across the sea. The king's later negotiation victory also confirmed this.

However, in the battle of defending the city, betrayal appeared.

An important castle. The watchman put down the drawbridge. The commander of Blaise's expedition drove in and killed General John by surprise.

In a critical situation, he made the quickest response and retreated with the core army.

The incident of the first castle made General John realize that there were traitors in his army, and there might be problems in the following castles. After a brief judgment, General John made a decision - "to attack instead of defend".

He retreated with his army, and in the middle of the March, he suddenly turned around with his army and raided the rear wing of the Blaise expeditionary army. This decision was made immediately by himself under the circumstances at that time, and there is absolutely no possibility of leakage.

But he was ambushed, and after a hard fight, he was able to escape.

General John knew his opponent, and the leader of Blaise expeditionary army was a calm general. After he captured the castle, it was impossible for him to divide his forces to intercept on the way.

After that, there were several key operations in which the enemy had made preparations in advance.

How did they do it?

General John almost questioned his command ability.

"I see what's going on."

After listening to General John's statement, the king seemed to have a cloud in his eyes.

"Please don't feel guilty. It's not your fault."

General John looked at him suspiciously.

The king didn't explain it directly. He seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment, he said, "now, an order."

"At your command."

"To see my uncle, that's an order."

The king gave a little smile.

………………

After General John left, the king's lip line was suddenly straight and cold.

He had a guess.

It's true that generals always speculate on the enemy's actions on the battlefield, but the king believed in General John's strength and felt something from those "coincidences".

If the action is not revealed, but the enemy knows in advance, then this kind of "anticipation" can be associated with one thing - foreknowledge.

The king thought of the man he had met during the negotiations at Yuehe fortress, the young astrologer who was standing next to general Blaise.

Why does a war involve a young astrologer, and the astrologer's status is very high? Because this easy to be ignored astrologer, is likely to play an important role in the battle - such as divining the actions of the enemy.

Non human forces secretly interfere in the direction of war.

If so, there is another hidden shadow behind the battle of bouvin - the Holy See.

Today's astrologers are almost all under the control of the Holy See.

The king leaned back in his chair and thought.

He once asked the devil whether these non-human forces would directly participate in human wars, and got a negative answer. The devil once mentioned that "the damn knife is on the head", which means that there are some restrictions.

What about the astrologers at the battle of bouvin?

Although the devil is always full of lies, the information obtained from the King through the former Knights Templar during this period confirmed that there was indeed a "law" restriction.

If astrologers are really able to participate in the war without fear, then other non-human forces will also join in - which is undoubtedly impossible from the history of Legrand and other countries.

Then there is only one explanation:

by some means, the Holy See bypassed the "laws" and indirectly intervened in the war.

The king must know, what is the price of such means? This is related to whether the king will face the enemy who always anticipates his own actions indefinitely in the future war.

He called in Mr. astrologer of the madman Academy of Sciences.

After listening to the king's question, Mr. astrologer showed a look of amazement: "which astrologers are willing to lose their lives like this?"The king was explained.

Astrologer's divination is often vague and unclear. If you want to achieve such accurate divination, you must need the blessing of some special items, and you need to gather the power of many powerful astrologers to transfer the ability of clear divination to specific people.

The cost of this ability is so great that it's hard to imagine.

What is more important is the following "punishment".

As for what is "punishment" astrologers, it is vague to say that they are hindered by some kind of prohibition, but it is still clear to the king that once they do so, all the astrologers involved will die.

After the astrologer left, the king raised his hand and pressed his forehead.

He has a headache, which is getting worse these days.

He frowned and thought of the "holy things" that the gurus family wanted to use as a bargaining chip with the Holy See. The Holy See was collecting holy things. Were those holy things the special items needed for this kind of divination? If so

The king looked serious.

The Vatican may want to launch a war.

…………………………

Kosia.

Pirate ships flying the rose flag roam along the coast.

Although there was money, the ship could not be built so quickly, so now the king's fleet was composed of 40% of the original Royal Fleet and 40% of the pirate ships. The remaining 20 per cent was the seizure of the remaining five Port Alliance ships and the purchase of some armed merchant ships.

At the beginning, people in the coastal areas and ports were still a little worried, for fear that the pirate ships flying the king's flag would return to their old business and brazenly rob themselves.

However, they soon found that the pirates did not give up their old business, but the target of robbery was no longer them.

They were the merchant ships of Blaise and some of the merchant ships of Virginia.

The former and Blaise are feuds, the latter Well, don't forget that today's merchant ships are often engaged in some disgraceful piracy activities. As long as the pirates didn't come for roglan's ship, who did he rob.

And because of the hostility to the brescians, people are happy to see the brescians suffer. Warwick pirates are active in various ports.

Who would like to live on the sea if they could drink and play?

Warwick pirates because of their own frank and generous, as well as the legendary experience of the sea, actually won the support of some young people. Older parents have to worry about how to stop their smelly boys from following the careless pirates

The king won a Well Less laudable Title:

pirate monarch.

However, it seems that the "tyrant" used to describe the king before is also not a good word?

The pub.

"The pirate king?"

The drunk man with a black hat and a scar on his face held up his beer, holding a guy with a bitter face in one hand. He laughed scornfully and patted the table.

"He didn't even set foot on the pirate ship. What kind of pirate monarch is he Bah, I didn't even get on the pirate ship. At the beginning At the beginning, that bastard William... "

The voice of Hawkins, Captain Warwick and Admiral of the Royal Fleet, was getting lower and lower.

He grunted, climbed up to the table and dropped his hand under it.

The Warwick sailor, who was held by him, took out his wallet in agony.

After knowing that the captain was a general, the pirates gathered on the ship and cheered all night to celebrate that they had finally got rid of this crazy and unreliable captain. At that time, even the ghost ship was very energetic.

As a result, the next day, they wake up from a hangover.

As soon as I wake up, I face a smiling face:

"Hi! I'm so - touched - moved that you have held such a big party to welcome me

No!! No one welcomes you back!

It's hard to look back.

The poor pirate paid the money, and captain Hawkins, who was dragging the bottle, moved out with difficulty. In order to avoid losing face, he pulled off his turban and carefully covered his face.

The healthy general Sean was pressing the hilt of his sword around his waist, and the green tendons on the back of his hand were bouncing.

He stood at the door, looking silently at captain Hawkins, who was dragged by the masked pirates, and felt that his endurance was rising in a straight line.

Is this his colleague in this operation?

This is the one who's going to be in charge of the blockade with him?

General Sheehan felt that the heavy, oppressive and solemn atmosphere on the way before he came was broken into a pile of crows, whistling and flying away from his head.

General sheen took a deep breath and walked in.

He was just about to speak.

Captain Hawkins, who was pulled on one leg by a sailor, turned over, opened his mouth, and a puff of wine came straight into general Sheen's face, interrupting his self introduction.General Sheehan

Seriously, can he draw his sword and cut this guy?

An ominous premonition -

this time the task seems to be unfolding in an abnormal melody.

……………………

When the rose flag of the royal family of Legrand wanders on the sea, the Holy See.

In the grand castle of the Holy See.

The night is deep, and a group of people in black robes walk through the shadow of the holy light. Their black robes are embroidered with blood and white cross patterns, and their sleeves are embroidered with a sword.

A sword wrapped in fire.

This reveals the identity of these people, who are the "Tribunal" of the Holy See.

These people are the other side of the Holy See.

The holy court advocated "the truce of the Lord" and also said, "do not think that I am here to make peace on the earth; I am not here to make peace on the earth, but to use swords on the earth." ——They are the sword to cleanse all the heretics who disobey the will of the Lord.

They are the Knights of the Holy See.

The adjudicators quietly walked into a black iron building.

There is also a group of silent astrologers gathered here, they are sitting in every corner of the room, facing the huge crystal ball, closed eyes. In the middle of the hall, there is a deep pool, which is similar to the holy pool where lockeves stood when he was baptized.

Now, the pool is full of blood.

"Here we go."

The adjudicators were scattered around the holy pool. They put a silver cross into the blood and sat down around the holy pool.

They are carrying out an order jointly signed by the Pope himself and the Privy Council:

Top Secret cleansing.

"Holy, holy." The judge read low, cut off his hand, blood from his fingertips like a snake fell into the holy pool.

The pool rolled.

Not far from the holy pool, on a stage with exquisite relief, the Golden Eagle beaked holy oil bottle glows in the flickering light.

"Holy, holy!"

All the adjudicators read in unison, they also cut their hands.

One by one, the silver crosses in the blood floated and stood straight down, like a sword that was suddenly cut off.

………………

Rose Palace, night is deep.

The king has rested.

The guards of the palace were conscientious. The chief bodyguard who inspected the palace passed by the king's bedroom and found nothing unusual.

The king closed his eyes and didn't know how long he had been sleeping. Suddenly he found himself in St. Louis cathedral.

Is he dreaming?

There are a lot of people in St. Wes Cathedral, they are wearing thick black robes, holding crosses and holy books. One by one, their heads were drooping, and the dazzling light fell from the willow leaf windows on the top of the beam arch, so white that people felt uncomfortable.

The king stood on the red carpet, at the door of St. Louis' Cathedral. He looked at the black robed monks and felt his head ache again.

And it hurts more and more.

The feeling of cutting with thousands of knives swept over again, stronger than ever, from the inside out. The king involuntarily raised his hand and pressed his head hard - he felt his soul being torn.

The pain is familiar and strange.

It's as if he's really experienced the tearing of his soul.

He clenched his teeth to prevent himself from kneeling down because of the sudden outbreak of pain, and his consciousness gradually lost. When he woke up again, he found himself on the high platform in the middle of St. Louis cathedral.

The high platform is similar to but different from the altar where grand duke geles was crowned.

He was drowned in a pool of blood, and the people in black robes had come from the choir to the platform and surrounded themselves. They raised their hands, they had fire and swords on their sleeves, they all had pale masks on their faces - except one.

The man had a black iron mask on his face.

The man with the black iron mask held a golden beaker in his hand, and the blood gushed out of the beak and poured on the king's head from mid air.

They're here to kill themselves!

The idea flashed by.

The king instinctively wanted to break free from the holy pool, but the blood was all around him, and he felt uncontrollably that his consciousness was breaking apart. From the depths of the soul of those pain, those knife like headache at the moment and pouring blood from the air together.

My ears are buzzing.

A hunch.

If he dies in this strange dream - if it's a dream - then he's really dead!

They, they're here to kill him!

The feeling of familiarity overlaps, and everyone wants him to die Those are the people who surround him at this time! They have been haunting themselves like shadows for more than ten years, just to let him die completely!These are the people!

Anger mingled with the feeling of soul tearing and breaking, and the king tried hard to lift his hand from the water.

The royal families who survived biting their teeth came roaring.

He doesn't want to die!

"Holy, holy! The sword of armies

The man with the golden beaked pot recited in a low voice.

"Holy, holy! The sword of armies

The rest of the people in black reached out their hands. The fire on their sleeves started to burn. They held a sword from the fire.

The king was surrounded by blood, and the swords in his eyes fell towards him.