Vol 5 Chapter 12: Another year of King Wangwang?

Grand Duke Carl listened carefully to the report of the near attendant. He listened very carefully. Sometimes he would interrupt the other party to ask some questions, and then motioned to continue.
After listening to the report of the near attendant, the Grand Daddy paced slowly with his rough chin.
"His Royal Highness, I seemed to see your aunt and Princess Alexandra when I left," the near waiter remembered something and said, "They seem to be near the Earl's house."
"Really," a glance of disgust appeared in Dagong's eyes. "My aunt is always unwilling. She has opposed my father from a long time ago, and now against me."
"Your Highness, maybe you should send her to the monastery instead of just being exiled to the territory," the nearby attendant whispered, "but it's not too late, she will leave Caniola forever."
"Are you saying that she is going to host Sudan," Grand Duke Carl shook his head. "It's not that simple, although I also hope that she will leave quickly, being hostage to other people is always unpleasant, and this Actually, it ’s not safe,
he said, glancing at the waiter.
Do n’t forget that the Transipesian Zepes had also taken hostage for the Ottomans, but when his father and brother died, he did n’t. Able to return to Transylvania to inherit the territory. "
The near attendant closed his mouth immediately. He watched the hunchbacked Duke walking slowly in front of him, and suddenly stopped after a while.
"Did you notice their expressions, happy or depressed?"
"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, I just saw their people from afar, and didn't notice so much." The near attendant replied in a panic. The Grand Duke's punishment for the wrongdoers was cruel. At this time, he even regretted to report this. thing.
"Oh, it's nothing," Carl rarely blamed the waiter. He waved his hand casually and seemed to put the matter aside. "Be prepared. Since you want to invite the count, you need to be beautiful, but remember that this is just It ’s a private gathering, so the atmosphere should be more comfortable. Find some fun that makes everyone happy. You know everything. Hurry and do it. "
The Grand Duke waved his hand and sent away the nearby attendant, then sat down and shook his body slightly with his fingers against his lips. His eyes were shining brightly, and his hunchback was more protruding because he lowered his head. Beasts rushing to their prey.
"Let me see why you are here, what you want, and what you can give me." Karl murmured slowly.
The meeting with the two princesses did not make Alexander change his mind, although the signal vaguely revealed by the two Alexandra vaguely hoped for help was very strong, and even the great Alexandra hinted that the conversion was used in exchange, but this Apart from a little surprise to Alexander, he did not impress him.
If you are a devout Catholic, you should have already agreed to the princess ’s request at this time, because the lord of a region and her people will be converted to Catholicism. With this merit, they may be consecrated in the future.
But Alexander didn't care about this. After all, for him a title that might be obtained after many years of death was meaningless, and he was also very clear that it would not take a few years. With Martin Luther and him With the rise of Protestantism, a great split that completely fragmented the Western Catholic world, even if it swept across Europe, it would have little practical significance to encourage the conversion of a small territory in the Principality of the Balkans with this near-fatal blow.
Of course, the most important thing is that he has just accepted the invitation of the Grand Duke. He will not easily bet on either side until he knows what kind of promise the Grand Duke will come out of.
Alexander has decided to leave a retreat for the future at Caniora. After all, the Ottomans ’aggressive attitude is disturbing. Considering the troubles Sophia may be in, Alexander feels that although he does not want to be as powerful as Bayesert. The arrogant of the heavens is an enemy, but at least he has to contribute to delaying his attack on Bucharest.
After all, it is still unknown whether Sultan can successfully bring Sophia out of that big trouble when he really comes under Bucharest.
The nobles who are preparing to raise the banner of resistance in the name of the Greek princess are also unlikely to allow him to easily take away their "Jeand", so in order to calmly run away from Bucharest with his wife, he also To contribute to delaying the Sudan's march.
Just thinking that he still had to blend into the vortex of the Balkans, Alexander would inevitably be unwilling.
The meeting with the Grand Duke was in a hunting lodge not far from Alexander ’s residence.
This wooden house is not small in size, with several rooms of different sizes. The whole house is built from logs. The wood is obviously taken from the forest not far away. The bark on the outer wall is still unpeeled. Go, from afar, the appearance of the house is rough and mottled.
The floor of the hunting chalet is raised. Walking on it will make a booming sound. A large hole has been dug in the ground in the middle of the lobby. A large stone stove is burning red coals.
A large tin pot was placed on the floor stove, and the hot water inside made a grunt, but a pungent smell came out of the pot. Obviously, it was not ordinary boiling water.
Because the wooden house was very hot, Karl sitting by the hearth only wore a simple thin robe. When he saw Alexander walking in, he did not stand up to greet him.
"You should try this," Carl took a squirt of smoke and pushed another smoking set in front of Alexander, who was sitting down. "I added something else to it. I promise you that it will be better than the Ottomans. Shisha is more enjoyable. "
Alexander took a bit of curiosity and immediately choked with a pungent strange pungent odor on the head.
"Haha ..." Dagong sneered like a revenge. He patted his knee hard, and after a while, he passed the prepared wine beside him.
"Relax, I'm not stupid enough to get poisoned," Karl explained first, then laughed bitterly at himself again. "The current Caniola can't afford such consequences anymore."
Alexander nodded and took a sip of the wine. The cool sour-sweet liquor quickly quelled the discomfort caused by the strange smell of hookah.
"I can provide you with a lot of things," Karl suddenly turned to the topic "your army needs to be resupplied and repaired, and if you can get help from the locals, you can also have loyal guides and sources, think carefully a bit."
"And what about you, what do you want?" Alexander looked at Karl. "You know that this can only slow down the advance of the Ottomans. On the contrary, it will cause you and Caniola a lot of trouble. Sudan probably won't have So much patience listens to your explanation, so tell me what you want. "
No one will do things for others for no reason. The purpose of doing so is always accompanied by some kind of reward and demand, even if this is just to satisfy a certain sense of vanity in the heart.
Alexander knew that it might be weird to think so, but the reality is the same, even for those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for faith, carefully speaking that kind of faith is actually a spiritual need.
"I need to talk to Sudan about the conditions." Duke Carl said frankly his purpose.
Alexander nodded slightly, understanding, although he knew that this may not be the whole intention of the Duke, but it should be like this.
"So although I can help you, all this requires you to 'take' or even 'rob'," Karl looked at Alexander. "I'm still your enemy, and I will because you support my aunt and fiancee. You have contradictions, and you know that this is just cooperation between us, as for how I will not know in the future. "
"Let me be clear, you want our presence to prove that you are important and useful in front of Sudan, so that you can at least retain enough power instead of being replaced by Sudanese, and once your purpose is achieved, Our previous agreement will be considered null and void, and then you and the Sudan will purge us, right? "
"Maybe you have left Caniola at that time, so there will be no later things." Karl did not answer positively, but the meaning was already clear.
Alexander narrowed his eyes slightly. He seriously looked at the person sitting opposite. He couldn't help but admit that he was "candid" with this person. He really admired him.
"So what do I get from doing this for you, Grand Duke? You should be very clear that I didn't come just to resist the heathen."
Since everyone has said everything, there is no need to cover up.
"Oh, the Vatican is going to call for a new crusade, and the pope issued a decree to call for the European nobles," Karl said aside from what he had said before learning Alexander, and then his face fell. People believe that everyone is not so stupid now. "
"But you need your people to believe it," Alexander dismissed Carl's mockery. "You also need to make this lie a reality. Only in this way can you highlight your importance in front of Sudan."
"It is indeed true. I want to use all means to keep Caniola. This is what my ancestors left for me. I cannot let Caniola perish in my generation because of my inability."
Looking at Duke Carl's eyes staring at the firelight, Alexander could understand how much this person's mind was.
It ’s just that the benefits should still be needed, although he himself is actually planning how to delay Sudan ’s march.
"Caniola has nothing worth taking," Grand Duke Carl whispered to himself, but then he raised his head and showed a strange smile on his face. "But there are some places, such as in Cagnola. There are large areas of land and resources in the South. If you are willing to take risks for God, I can provide you with enough help. "
Alexander's eyes gradually became colder, and by then he would be really stupid if he didn't understand Carl's intentions.
Where is Caniola's south? If he remembers correctly, it should be that a large area of ​​land has been controlled by the Ottomans in Bosnia.
Bosnia, which was occupied by the Ottomans and brutally ruled as early as the time of Mohammed II, possessed a wealth of resources that all its neighbors envy and envy.
Because of the nearly inexhaustible resources, Mohammed II started the war twice in succession, and finally defeated the Bolamian dynasty of Bosnia 40 years ago, taking the opportunity to occupy most of the Bosnian land .
The fall of Bosnia was very sensational decades ago. It was because of the occupation of Bosnia that Mohammed II opened the door to Belgrade.
It was just that the Sultan at the time did not expect that his pace of conquering the world would stop under the city of Belgrade.
Bosnia, which had just been occupied at that time, was full of uprisings and riots. This obviously affected the forces of Muhammad II who were fighting on the front lines.
Poor supplies made the Sudanese army and the enemies who were able to get sufficient supplies and a steady supply of troops at any time continue to fight hard. When Sudan had to retreat because of injuries, the attacks encountered along the way were endless.
Among them, the Ottomans in Bosnia almost fell into "the vast ocean of the people's war."
But as the time of occupation became longer and longer, the Bosnian resistance became weaker and weaker. The Bosniacs, who had hoped to be liberated by their Christian brothers, were gradually disappointed, and the Ottoman rule in Bosnia gradually strengthened stand up.
These are of course things that happened decades ago. Today, except for the control of some places in the north, the majority of Bosnia's land has been firmly held by the Ottomans.
It is precisely because of this that Bayesert II decided that he would rather go to Bucharest on a detour but rather a reliable road, and did not take the Bulgarian short path that was not safe enough.
But now Karl actually encouraged himself to invade Bosnia, so Alexander really looked at this person a little differently.
"Duke, are you suggesting that I invaded Bosnia?"
"This is just a suggestion," Carl didn't intend to deny. He reached into the tin jug with tin pipe filled with hot smoke water and took a sip, then coughed for a while because of the irritating smell. Tears shed, "This tastes really good, do you really stop coming?"
Seeing Alexander just glance at the hookah in his hand, Carl smiled: "There are still places in the north where the Bosnians are not controlled by the Ottomans. These places not only have very rich resources, but the most important thing is that there are Many of the fled nobles of Balaman had fled there, and many of them wanted to recapture Bosnia. As for the descendants of the Balaman royal family, they are looking for help everywhere. Isn't this useful to you? "
"Dagong, if I guessed right, the help you said included yourself, right?" Alexander asked indifferently.
"People of the Balaman family did find me, but we all know that I am being threatened by the Sudan. Canola is not even allowed to have an armed force of more than 30 people, so I have no way to ask them. of."
"Your idea is good," Alexander said coldly. "Do you want me to expand your territory in Bosnia for you?"
"I just hope you make me appear more important," Karl corrected. "This condition is not harsh. You want to be rewarded. And I can provide you with supplies and camps. Your army is safer in northern Bosnia. As long as you do n’t go too deep, you can even have a big fight there, and once the Ottomans in Bosnia really send troops, if you ca n’t stay in northern Bosnia, you can directly return to Canola, of course, you do this I do n’t know everything, and as you said before, you must not act in the name of any relationship with Caniola, "
"Do you want me to pretend to be a robber or a bandit?"
"Or it might be better to declare that the army sent by the Vatican might be better," Karl squeezed a smile at Alexander. "Those Bosniacs in the north will be willing to hear the news. Know that they are looking forward to the brothers of the Christ world to save them It has been too long, and a little hope is enough to ignite the fire in their hearts. "
Alexander shook his head slightly. He didn't believe these words from Duke Carl, but he didn't trust him.
He believes that Karl really wants to use his power to show Sudan his importance, but he also believes that it is like deciding to sacrifice the old Kaniola nobleman for the moment of immovability, he can sell it at the next moment if he needs it. Yourself.
It's just that North Bosnia is indeed a very attractive place.
As Karl said, Bosnia ’s resources are very rich. In addition to the important copper, iron, lead and tin deposits, there are huge reserves of coal and the largest well salt mine in Europe.
The possession of these things is far more important than the occupation of several large cities, and most of those resources are now in the hands of the Ottomans, and they are using these resources to prepare to continue to embark on a larger expedition to the interior of Europe.
Is it just that this person is trustworthy? Alexander felt that this was hardly a problem.
It is indeed a very tempting idea to use the Montina army to penetrate into northern Bosnia and harass and plunder Ottoman resources prepared for the arrival of the Sudanese army.
And the North Bosnian dislike of Ottoman, which Karl said, is an important part.
Any invasion war without the understanding and support of the locals would be a very rash action. Www.EbookFREE.me The attitude between the wars was indifferent.
In their view, this is just a new lord to pay taxes, but in Bosnia it is clearly not the case.
The collision of different beliefs and cultures, the brutal and high-pressure rule of the Ottomans, and the desire of the old Bosmian nobles for restoration have all made the situation in North Bosnia complicated and changeable.
Is the person in front of you trustworthy?
Alexander asked another secret question in his heart, and then shook his head slightly funny.
Trusting all kinds of things is already precious, and it seems even more extravagant in this day and age, so why should I be so demanding of him?
"Northern Bosnia?" Alexander whispered, seeing Duke Karl's eyes beating with excitement. He continued to ask, "I think you must be connected with those locals, so tell me what you are prepared to help me."