66 – Poitiers Family – 6
“Why are you bringing this now!”
“It appeared to be an important meeting, so I tried not to disturb it…” “
Actually, it wasn’t Juan’s fault. Since Juan had only recently become Charles’ subordinate, he could not have known how important this letter was. In short, it was as if Charles was venting his anger. When Charles realized that fact, he stopped being angry and immediately received the letter from Juan and received the seal. The sealing magic contained in the letter disappeared and the envelope was opened. When I picked up the letter, there was this message written on it.
[To Charles Jean Rochepol. I heard from Maris that you led the Battle of the Imor River to victory in the last tactical exam. He is reputed to be a rare genius for winning that difficult battle with Princess Leonia, but Maris has boasted several times that he won even more completely and cleanly than Her Majesty Leonia. I thought she was being scammed by her first friend, but after researching through my own information network, I was able to find out that all of Maris’s stories were true. The Battle of the Imor River was known to the world as a battle that was impossible to win. Even as someone who is somewhat versed in tactics, it was a fight that was almost impossible to win. However, Princess Leonia won that battle and is reputed to be a genius, and she defeated Charles-Jean-Rochepol even more perfectly than Her Royal Highness Princess Leonia. So I had no choice but to admit it. That you are the person who will change history. We are currently staying at our base in Crudia. If Charles gives permission, I would like to sell the mercenary group to him right now. If you still want to do the same as before, please contact us again.]
From Noble mtl dot com
Charles felt deep joy at that moment. Crudia mountaineer mercenary group. Although there were only 500 people, they had overwhelming skills and faith compared to other mercenary groups. If they were acquired, Charles’ mercenary group would no doubt become several times stronger. More than anything…
‘We can turn the situation around now…’ ‘
Isabelle de Poitiers is thinking of surrender, thinking that the situation will become more and more unfavorable. However, if the Crudia mountaineer mercenaries join together, they can fight on equal footing with a score of 1,700 to 2,000. And if it was a fight between equals, Charles had no intention of losing.
‘That’s the problem.’
The Crudia Mountaineer Mercenary Group is currently staying in Crudia. It takes 18 days at the speed of horse to reach Oxenberg, Isabel’s territory, from Crudia and 35 days at the speed of an army. That means that even if I write a reply right now and take over the Crudia mountaineer mercenary group, it will take at least 53 days to get there. Charles wrote the letter from where he was standing.
[I will buy it right now. I will also pay the price of 5,000 ducats right away. However, the situation here is urgent and quick reinforcements are needed. Please get to Oxenberg as quickly as possible. Since the enemy is right in front of the castle, communication through letters will be difficult from now on. So, let’s meet and talk in more detail. Posted by Charles Jean Rochepol.]
He entrusted the letter to Juan and ordered him to send it to Manfred. And Charles went straight back into the barracks.
“Charles? “Why did you come back?”
“Mr. Isabel. How much food does the castle have in stock?”
“It’s about 900 talents.”
“We have 1,200 soldiers, so we can feed them for 2 months and 3 more days.”
Isabel thought deeply about Charles’ mental calculation for a while and then nodded.
“… That’s roughly correct. “Do you think Charles has an abacus in his head?”
“Yes. There are several included. And after bouncing on the abacus, I came to the conclusion that it was worth holding on to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Reinforcements will arrive in about 53 days. If our troops have more than a two-month supply of supplies, it is worth holding out while looking for reinforcements.”
“… “
Isabel thought seriously for a while. And after a while she said:
“Are you sure about the reinforcements?”
“Once they say something, they will definitely keep it.”
The faith of the Crudia mountaineer mercenaries is famous.
However, Isabel continued to make repeated requests, as if she could not easily believe him.
“Charles, this is a matter that requires careful consideration. If it ends with negotiation, no one will die and only the territory will be lost, but if we fight to the death within the castle, the opponent will also try to kill us. “Aren’t you afraid of dying, Charles?”
If it were Princess Leonia, she would have clearly said that she was not afraid here. For she feared dishonor more than her death. But Charles was a little different.
“I’m afraid of dying.”
No matter how Charles is, how could he not be afraid of death? There are only two types of people in this world who are not afraid of death. The crazy and the brave. Charles was neither.
“But I am a person who values life more than death.”
“Do you value life over death?”
Isabel didn’t seem to understand for a moment, but Charles continued her explanation.
“Life is a limited resource. No one in this world can live forever. Every second that we are alive, we are burning the remaining lifespan. Everyone dies when the time comes. The reason I am afraid of death is because I have not lived life faithfully. For example, what I want to do.”
Games.
“What I want to achieve.”
No. 1 In ranking.
“Something I want to leave to future generations.”
Mad Movie.
“I am afraid of death because I have nothing. But if I win here, I can at least get one step closer to what I want.”
I will make a name for myself as a mercenary group, increase my ransom, conquer the world as soon as possible, and return home.
“That’s why I want to stay here. However, the decision-making power lies with Isabel, not me. This is Isabel’s territory and this war is Isabel’s war. As a mercenary, I can only suggest strategies that have a chance of winning.”
“Ah… “
“What will you do? If you choose to surrender, I will just leave. If you choose to fight, I will live and die with you, Isabel. Please make a decision.”
“… “
Isabel could not answer easily. She took a long time to make important decisions. This becomes the decisive reason why she cannot rise from second-class to first-class.
Yuria Russell or Princess Leonia make quick and bold decisions at critical moments to overwhelm their enemies. However, Isabel has a somewhat petit-like side, so she is not bold at important moments. Of course, thanks to him she survived to the end of her life, but her qualities as a general were a bit lacking. And Isabel answered.
“Can I have a little time?”
Charles quietly nodded his head because it was an answer he had fully expected.
The next day came. A diplomatic envoy arrived from the enemy camp. There was only one business. It was a recommendation to surrender. It seemed like they would attack if they did not surrender within three days. However, despite threats from her diplomatic envoy, Isabelle’s decision was not easy.
Is it resistance or surrender? It was a difficult problem, but soon something happened that forced Isabel to make her decision.
—–
The time suggested by the diplomatic envoy was 3 days. Isabelle planned to come to a conclusion within three days. Meanwhile, Isabelle’s younger brother, Georges de Poitiers, was well aware of Isabelle’s inability to make decisions easily. From her childhood, Isabelle excelled in many fields and was said to be an all-round beauty, but celebrities described her as a ‘flower of mist.’ It is a beautiful flower, but rather than standing alone, its role is to make other flowers stand out.
That’s right. Isabel was someone who had the qualities of an aide rather than a monarch or general. That’s why Georges thought, or was almost certain, that Isabel would give her answer after thinking about it for the full three days she had originally suggested.
For this reason, it was the second day after Georges sent a diplomatic mission. Georges communicated with the residents of the castle village, which had been discussed in advance, and tried to secretly open the castle gate under the cover of night. However, due to Juan de Balboa, who was never hasty in reconnaissance even when there was no battle, the citizens who tried to open the gate were quickly suppressed, and Georges’ plan was discovered.
Isabel, who was sleeping, heard the news and rushed out in her pajamas, not even wearing his armor properly.
“The people inside the castle tried to open the castle gate? “Where are those people?”
Then Juan de Balboa brought out dozens of people.
“These are them. “All the weapons they were carrying have been confiscated.”
Following Juan’s gaze, there were dozens of swords and spears there.
“This was done at the instigation of Georges!”
When Isabel shouted, the people were surprised and explained her situation. In fact, just before the sit-in protest began, an old man came and gave the people several gold coins, promising to give each person 50 ducats if they opened the gates.
Of course, there was no evidence that the old man was connected to Georges. However, when I looked outside the castle walls, I saw hundreds of soldiers milling about around the gates. It was very clear from the circumstances that Georges and his residents were conspiring inside and outside. Isabel caught the surrender envoy waiting inside the castle and asked.
“They obviously said they would give us 3 days to decide! But isn’t it beyond humanity and righteousness to do something like this even before the three days have passed? “You don’t even have the slightest pride as a diplomat!”
“No! “This is something that I had no idea about, and it was something that His Excellency the Baron himself brought about arbitrarily!”
“I am the Baron of Oxenburg!”
Wow! Isabelle kicked the diplomat. The diplomat was pushed back a few steps and collapsed into his seat.
“Drag it and cut it down. “I will send the head to Georges.”
“Your Excellency! Let go of my anger! I really knew nothing! Dismissal!”
Soon, Isabel’s men grabbed the diplomat by both arms and dragged him away, and soon his screams were heard. Isabelle said in a weak voice.
“This is the end.”
“What do you mean?”
“There is no room for negotiation. If Oxenburg is handed over to despicable people who do not even maintain the minimum level of humanity, the people will also suffer. “I will choose resistance as Charles said.”
Isabelle de Poitiers strengthens her resolve.