Chapter 928

Episode 928: The Imperial March 2 – Assault return, running on the ground. (16)

Charles looked like he didn’t understand Louis’ words.

“Are you serious about the war? “Is there a country that goes to war without sincerity?”

“Do you really think so?”

“I have no idea what you’re trying to say. “Try to say it properly.”

At Charles VIII’s command, Louis shut his mouth for a moment and collected his thoughts. After a while, Louis, who had gathered his thoughts to some extent, opened his mouth.

“They were not going to war for the sake of negotiation.”

“Isn’t negotiation the goal? Hmm...”

Charles VIII pondered Louis’ words with a serious expression. Looking at Charles VIII like that, Louis added:

“your majesty. Think of Burgundy.”

“Burgogne? Burgundy... Ah!”

Charles VIII, who had repeatedly said ‘Burgundy’, finally learned what Louis meant.

“When the Empire begins negotiations again, it will be at a point where the game has been decided? And are you saying that the point at which the game is decided is when the empire has achieved complete victory?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm...”

In response to Louis’s response, Charles VIII’s expression became serious.

* * *

The war in Europe during this period had a strong characteristic of a ‘war for negotiation.’

In other words, the best means to gain the upper hand in political negotiations was war.

The Hundred Years’ War between France and England did not last for 100 years.

Rather, the negotiations that took place in between took up more time.

The ‘Brugony’ that Louis spoke of was the ‘War of Annexation of Burgundy’ waged by the late King Louis XI.

At that time, Louis XI did not engage in any negotiations until the annexation of the Duchy of Burgundy ended. In fact, in the time wasted through negotiations, they took control of every inch of the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy.

Thanks to this, the Habsburgs and the Vatican missed the opportunity to intervene and eventually had no choice but to acknowledge the annexation.

* * *

“Isn’t the only ‘war that goes to the end without negotiation’ a civil war?”

Charles VIII’s point was valid.

This was because the justification given by Louis XI during the ‘War of Annexation of the Duchy of Burgundy’ was ‘civil war’.

-Even though it is an autonomous principality, Burgundy is French territory! They say this is an internal affair in France! No outside interference is allowed!

Louis XI used this justification and blocked the intervention of the Habsburgs and Rome.

By the time the Habsburgs and Rome found a reason to defeat Louis XI’s cause, the annexation of Burgundy had already ended.

Louis responded immediately to Charles VIII’s point.

“Couldn’t the war taking place in Italy also be viewed as a civil war?”

“That’s right. So the Empire has no intention of negotiating?”

“That’s right.”

“Even though the previous emperor of the empire came?”

“The former emperor came not for negotiations but to find a cause for war. “I have already reported to you, but the first thing the former emperor of the empire did when he came was to block foreign powers and Roman intervention.”

“how?”

“Do you remember the ‘Caesar Controversy’?”

“You mean it wasn’t just a religious debate?”

“That’s right. As a result of these negotiations, Rome lost its role as mediator.”

In response to Louis’ answer, Charles VIII stroked his chin and muttered.

“That’s right. So, is ‘winner takes all’ what the empire wants?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm...”

Charles VIII kept his mouth shut in response to Louis’ response. Charles, who had been mulling alone for a while with his mouth shut, raised his head and looked back at his subjects.

“If the empire is determined to see to the end, we will have to change our attitude. “I want to hear what the gentlemen think.”

Following Charles VIII’s order, the civil servants and nobles in the royal palace began to organize their thoughts.

At that moment, the front door opened and a young officer rushed in.

“What’s going on?”

“The empire is far away. No matter how powerful you are, it won’t be easy.”

When the French people were anxious, assessing the outcome of the war that had finally begun, a rumor circulated.

-If we win this war, the route to Shinji will be opened!

-In Shinji, it is said that gold and silver nuggets are so common that you can get your feet kicked!

“Is that so?”

The eyes of people who had been worried about the war until recently began to change strangely.

“You just have to win, right?”

“yes!”

“Then we must win!”

“Long live war!”

The atmosphere of French society suddenly became belligerent.

And Louis reported this to Charles VIII.

“Thanks to you, the people of France will do their best to support the war.”

“Good job.”

“It was the right thing to do.”

“But if we win the war, will we be able to obtain the real Shinji?”

Louis answered Charles VIII’s question with a stern expression.

“It was the Empire that first advocated ‘winner takes all.’ In that case, they should also bet.”

“That’s right...”

Just then, an officer came into the blackout.

“We have confirmed the location of the Imperial Army’s main force!”

“Where is it!”

“We have captured Bologna and are advancing northwest!”

In response to the officer’s answer, Charles VIII and Louis looked at the map and shouted at the same time.

“Milan!”

“It’s Milan!”

The generals were also convinced that Milan was where the main force of the imperial army was headed. But at the same time, he tilted his head.

“Why from Milan?”

“I understand that you attacked Bologna. Because the Apennine Mountains block the road to the north. But why Milan?”

“Is it because you can protect your flanks by following the Apennines?”

“The other side is clearly exposed?”

“From a common sense point of view, it would be advantageous to start with Venice...”

‘Why Milan?’ While the generals were pondering over this, new urgent news came in.

“It’s urgent! Imperial Navy bombards Genoa!”

“Genoa is in danger of falling!”

The generals who heard the urgent news asked, ‘Why Milan?’ I found out the answer.

“Bologna was just a defensive base blocking the northern entrance!”

“If Genoa falls to the Empire, the Empire won’t have to worry about its flanks!”

“If we connect Genoa and Milan, the land route through which our French and Spanish armies can enter Italy will be blocked!”

If the empire succeeded in preventing France and Spain from entering Italy, the only remaining opponent in northern Italy would be the Habsburgs.

“If the Habsburgs are pushed back, there is only the south. Check how far south the imperial army has advanced!”

“After occupying the Principality of Siena, we are building a defense line!”

After confirming the movements of the imperial army, the French generals quickly visited Charles VIII.

“We will dispatch troops immediately!”

“Allow me! “Be sure to win!”

Two days after Charles VIII’s permission was granted, the first line of French troops waiting at the border entered the Duchy of Savoy.

At the time, Duke Carlo II of Savoy, monarch of the Duchy of Savoy, was only two years old. His mother, Bianca di Montferrato, who was in power as regent, allowed the passage of French troops.

“The reason the French army was allowed to pass...”

The duchy’s officials quietly expressed their opposition to the regent’s decision. However, their mouths couldn’t help but join together at the regent’s words.

“So, if you block the passage of the French army, you can win the war?”

“....”