Chapter 556 Meeting

"So, Sybein I, Duke of Brabant, has abdicated and lived in seclusion? He was ruled by his heir, Gismond II?" Jiang Ting casually flipped through an ancient version of the gospel and asked a messenger from Brussels, "What is the difference for me?"

"The Duke is willing to pay five hundred pounds of gold, plus three hundred thousand Eju (silver coins); as compensation for offending your territory: "The messenger responded respectfully: "And sign a brand new subordinate feudal contract, contributing half of the taxes and a quarter of the troops every year; and the priest bishops of the Principality, following the kingdom's declaration of war and synchronized diplomatic rights, military access within the territory, construction and garrison of the frontier fortresses; commercial access and special monopoly... and sending heirs into your court, only to ensure the general integrity of the Principality's territory."

"It seems pretty good..." Jiang Ting patiently heard the other party listing a lot of seemingly moving terms, then waved his hand indifferently: "But you ignore the most important problem; this is a double punishment war against betraying the oath and interfering in the internal affairs of the king."

"Your Majesty..." The young envoy with beautiful bearded wig powder couldn't help but rush: "Do you still want to destroy and annex the entire Principality of Brabant? This is something that even the founder of the kingdom, King Alstoford, or King Mirona, could not do."

"You are right. Of course, I don't plan to destroy the Principality easily with one or two wars." Jiang Ting smiled lightly and said, "But I am fully capable of changing the Principality to a ruling family/or a political system, such as letting several great nobles join forces to rule?"

"I believe that among the dozens of nobles and hundreds of vassal families in the Duchy Kingdom, they can always find some of them who are willing to cooperate and obey the existence of the kingdom? Perhaps, even the title of duke is not necessary, just let a bunch of earls, viscounts, and barons maintain the country."

"You... are such a cruel and persistent king!" The envoy sighed almost moaning when he heard this: "The Principality is so unfortunate that it offended such a terrible enemy... In this case, I dare to ask what other conditions does Your Majesty need to satisfy you?"

"Excluding most false clauses, the biggest problem, shouldn't the culprit be punished as due, rather than continuing to pay more joint losses and harms?" Jiang Ting then raised his hand and said, "This is not contradictory to territorial integrity and family rule, right?"

"I'm afraid the Duke will never agree to this condition." The young messenger's face changed suddenly when he heard this: "Even if Lord Xi Beien abdicates, he is still the legal lord of everyone. The elder of the Duke's family cannot be humiliated by judgment or punishment."

"Then most of you are waiting and destroying this city!" Jiang Ting smiled and said, "Of course, if you can break through the siege in front of me, or persist until the Saxons arrive, maybe there will be a chance to follow the Duke and go into exile abroad!"

"..." The messenger suddenly became silent and silent when he heard this, and then said with a rare stern voice: "Since that is the case, maybe you need to let Your Majesty, see the determination and will of the subjects of the principality under the city of Brussels, to change your mind..."

"Your determination and ambition are very good!" Jiang Ting waved his hand and said, "I don't know how solid will the walls of Brussels and the will of the defenders be compared to Amiens, which was broken in one evening, or the city of Seine, whose master's capital was completely replaced in a few days?"

However, when the messenger with greasy heads and pink faces walked out of the blue tent, he saw groups of people gathered in the camps in the distance, completely different from the unified blue uniform kingdom army; from their loud accents and their clothes, they were the locals of Brabant.

But they gathered in groups of three or five, with disorganized weapons around them, and only a few people had decent armor; they surrounded a large pot or grill with smoke, and sometimes they also carried large bags of small bags, and led companions full of pack horses or donkeys and mules.

This scene made him feel a little angry and helpless. As long as someone who is unreasonable and loyal, as long as someone is willing to spend enough money to hire them, he can raise his swords and guns to the village party from the same place, and even father and son and brother without hesitation.

On the road far away, there were groups of people who sent the harvested wheat, cut firewood, whole tree trunks, and flowing water to the camp; they became tall soil trunks under construction; one cannon after another had been deployed.

Between the tall earth and earth, there were a large number of cavalrymen rolling in smoke and dust; under the sun, there were countless people with their armor shining. However, from the gaze of those flags and guns and the standing heraldic flags, it was afraid that the Dutch princes and their vassals and vassals around them had come.

There are even many of them, including Luxembourg, which was defeated and surrendered by the Triangle Alliance and the already destroyed Principality of Namur, with various family emblems of nobles and vassals. However, the next moment, his eyes suddenly shrank, and he saw several logos and emblems that belonged to the Principality of Brabant.

It was Duke Brabant who was fled by the city and abandoned one of the dozen noble lords in Amiens. After a while, the envoy turned around without hesitation and returned to the main tent of the Kingdom Army. However, he had already taken off his wig and wiped off the ointment and powder from his face.

"Contemporary Duke Brabant, Earl of Lephin, Viscount of Brussels, Captain of the Silver Frost Knights, Flemour, Varon and Breda's co-lord, Gismond, see His Majesty the Knight King." At this moment, the young messenger seemed to have changed his body and saluted again solemnly:

"Swearing with the honor and tradition of the Luwen family, I am willing to pay any price besides the title and territory of the Principality in exchange for your forgiveness of the previous duke." The young man who claimed to be Gismond proposed again: "I only want to be exempted from the humiliation of public trial."

"It's really amazing courage and courage, and enviable family affection." Jiang Ting couldn't help but pat his hands gently, "Just pretending to be his subordinate and entering the enemy camp is not what a lord should do; aren't you worried about the risk of never returning?"

"I can only rely on Your Majesty, the demeanor, honor and virtue of being a king." Gismond spread his hands on his chest and smiled bitterly: "After all, I have nothing more to lose except this surrounded Brussels city and those titles."

"But my father, after all, was the master who gave me bones and blood, and he also made me a successor to the principality since childhood. With God as a witness, I could not give up, or watch the dangers and humiliations he was about to receive."

"Since that's the case, I'm willing to give you a chance, or a replacement clause." Jiang Ting nodded confidently and said, "As long as you open the city and surrender and let Shiben I go to Senna for supervision, I can retain the title of Principality and basic rule."

"But, in addition to the provisions previously proposed, you must also lead the remaining army in the city, join the coalition forces of the Dutch princes, and even participate in the war against the North Rhine Union and the Principal of Saxony..."

"This..." Gismond hesitated for a moment and made another suggestion: "His Majesty the Knight King, what if I could contact the Senksen people and the North Rhine to join forces and try to persuade them to give up or withdraw their troops? Can I change my father's freedom?"

"This is not enough...far from it." Jiang Ting put down the gospels and shook his head, "Unless you can let the Saxons and the North Rhine army continue to attack the Netherlands and even invade the territory of the kingdom according to the original plan..."

"Your Majesty..." Hearing this sentence, Gismond's expression changed slightly: "Are you planning to let my father and the Luwen family be criticized for being rebellious and capricious?"

"What else? What's the point of these reputations if the Principality of Brabant and its ruling family were cut off from your hands?" Jiang Ting sneered and looked at him, "Or in the future, you are ready to face the North Rhine or Saxons alone, those angry North Rhine or Saxons?"

"Maybe...you're right." Gismond's face changed several times, and finally turned into a sigh: "But please be kind to your Majesty, give me three days, no, two days to convince those potential opponents; let Brabant become the wings of the kingdom again."

"No, there will be only one day since you left." Jiang Ting shook his head unmovedly and said, "After more than twenty-four hours, I will launch an attack no matter what; at this moment, all the verbal agreements that exist will no longer exist..."

"No, Your Majesty, please ask for your mercy and forgiveness!" Gismond shouted in pain: "For this, I am willing to tell you a message from a personal secret... My father was willing to continue the Kingdom's vassal contract, and hesitated only on the specific terms."

"But when he met a lady from the kingdom, he suddenly changed his opinion overnight, and even exiled his long-time trusted court adviser, and drove many court officials who had objected and advised him; and he went back to his territory..."

"So, I have doubted that the Duke's decision was made under some abnormal mind. Especially after returning this time, he even refused the visits of the bishop and the court physician in a fierce manner..."

"Oh! Then how much do you know about this woman?" Jiang Ting asked back with interest: "For example, her pseudonym and superficial identity, appearance and other characteristics?"

"I only know that her name is Ms. Dilaimi. The first time she appeared was at a court dance, she was secretly recommended to the Duke by a court minister." Gismond shook his head gently and recalled: "Then he was arranged by the Duke in the Cuckoo Garden; but almost no one had seen her true appearance, even the maids and servants in the garden... When I sent someone to capture her, she was gone."

(End of this chapter)
Chapter completed!