Chapter 132: Crown Prince’s Request (2)
As I braced myself, the Crown Prince looked at me with a smile that seemed to say it was nothing serious and to relax.
Can you do it?
Upon hearing this, I felt as if my head had been bludgeoned with a mallet, stunned and numb.
Because I thought, how difficult must this task be if he was asking me whether I could do it without even explaining what it was?
Given that he was asking for my agreement without telling me what it was, it must involve some highly sensitive and crucial information.
If I fail, it would greatly disappoint the Crown Prince, so I must succeed at all costs.
Still, the consolation was that they probably wouldnt put me, a lieutenant general, in some kind of special forces operation like in the movies.
The fact that there was unlikely to be any life-threatening situation was really a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Please command me. I will accomplish it as ordered.
Indeed, Lieutenant General Yaeger. I believe you would surely act to resolve my concerns.
Although it felt like I was bowing down, whenever the Crown Prince commanded me to do so, it was the path a loyal subject must choose.
Moreover, doing something rather than being idle during the month of suspension wouldnt be boring.
The Emperor granted me Strasbourg, a huge commercial city, providing me with a foundation to build a significant power.
With the resolve to work as much as Id received, I must do my best to repay so that I could be promoted even faster next time.
Good, then lets get to the main issue.
Yes, Your Highness.
A few days ago, His Holiness the Pope sent a special envoy to convey that he strongly opposes lifting the excommunication against the Francois Republic.
Upon hearing that, I almost let out a curse, but I managed to restrain myself.
Because the Pope, a figure respected only nominally by everyone for hundreds of years, had been given an opportunity to exercise some real power and influence over the secular state of the Francois Republic in a bid to restore some of his authority due to aligning interests.
It was like having saved someone drowning and given them a check for 20 million won, only for them to demand an additional 50 million won after getting a taste of the money.
Honestly, if I werent in front of the Crown Prince, I would have spewed a mouthful of curses.
Even hearing about it makes my head spin with its absurdity.
The Crown Prince, agreeing with my words, sipped his tea and sighed deeply, saying,
I agree with you. However, as you know, His Holiness the Pope, as a representative of God, holds a higher status than the Emperor of our Empire, yet his territory and population are similar to those of a mere duke in our Empire. He hasnt exercised power proportionate to his authority for hundreds of years. So, perhaps having tasted power through this matter, he has started talking nonsense.
When I heard that, I irreverently thought of young soldiers, barely 21 years old, in a program like White Tower, who thought too highly of themselves.
Because of their rank as sergeants, they would boss around private soldiers at will and try to lord over their juniors.
Similarly, His Holiness the Pope, while leading over 70,000 troops for our Reich Empires interests and waging war against the Francois Republic, seemed to be under the delusion that he could dictate the Empire, having been boosted in papal authority and having pocketed a substantial sum.
Didnt he realize that if he overstepped his bounds, the cardinals beneath him might replace or even assassinate him?
No, it wasnt that he didnt think so. After centuries of being treated merely as a figurehead and a peacekeeping device, the Popes stature had suddenly risen.
Even at the risk of his life, he might want to seize this opportunity to become a Pope who truly reigned over monarchs, like in the old days.
The problem was that it was the Reich Empire that suffered because of this absurd notion.
However, if we dont comply with this request, the relationship between the Papacy and the Empire will deteriorate, and it would cost a substantial amount to mend. Moreover, wouldnt we always be at a disadvantage in our future relations with the Papacy?
If it were any other country, we could refuse such a coercive proposal based on the situation, but our opponent is the Papacy. You know better than I do what could happen if we truly antagonize the Papacy.
Yes. If we refuse, His Holiness the Pope might not corner us with excommunication this time, but he could demand repentance under the pretext of our lacking devotion, despite winning with Deuss power.
If we complied, wed be marked as bad actors who blindly followed the Popes nonsense.
This would give the cardinals of other nations opposing the Pope a pretext to target the Reich Empire.
In the worst-case scenario, the Reich Empire in Europa could face a situation like Germany during World Wars I and II, surrounded and forced into a total war by numerous nations.
Because, just like Germany, there were too many who were eyeing the Reich Empire.
Thats why Im so worried. Ultimately, theres only one solution.
Please tell me.
Currently, in Reichsburg, theres an envoy sent secretly by His Holiness the Pope. He wishes to negotiate with us. You must persuade him that lifting the excommunication now would further elevate the Popes authority.
Honestly, I had a strong feeling that this persuasion wouldnt be easy
If what the Pope ultimately wanted was to strengthen his papal authority, then there might be a way
Why, of all people, had the Crown Prince entrusted me with the role of persuading the envoy?
Understood. But may I ask why I am being assigned to persuade the envoy?
The Crown Prince answered cautiously with a serious expression,
Its simple. This envoy came secretly, making it difficult for other diplomats to meet and negotiate with him directly. Besides, you demonstrated your diplomatic skills by completely outmaneuvering Assistant Henri at Nancy Castle, securing a far greater expanse of land than Emperor His Majesty could have imagined. Moreover, you are officially under house arrest, so even if the envoy does something crazy like leak a confidential agreement, you can excuse yourself by questioning how someone under house arrest could have signed it.
I see. Then they must have already brought an initial proposal to Your Highness. May I see it?
Upon hearing my words, the Crown Prince showed me the draft of the negotiation proposal sent by the envoy.
After removing all the formal fluff, the content was that the Francois Republic government recognized and repented their sins, which was good, but they think it was appropriate to offer more money to be forgiven for their excommunication.
Alternatively, they suggested offering something that would further elevate the Popes authority.
If this were the only content in a diplomatic document under normal circumstances, it would be maddening, but in the current situation, with such straightforward and clear demands, it might actually make persuading the envoy easier.
Because I had a simple way to elevate both the churchs authority and the empires reputation.
Since weve already signed a peace treaty with the Francois Republic, its impossible to get more money from them to offer to His Holiness the Pope. We received compensation for the Papacy as part of the treaty. Its also difficult for us to cough up our own money to add to the compensation. Is there a way to resolve this?
I nodded in agreement and replied,
There is a way. In fact, it might be easier since our counterpart is the Church.
Then, Ill trust you, Lieutenant General. Ill prepare the most generous reward possible.
Having left the Crown Princes residence, I was able to meet with the secret envoy from the Papacy that late night.
Good evening. I am Bishop Luigi Valliera, here to represent His Holiness the Pope.
I am Lieutenant General Peter Yaeger, entrusted with the task of implementing His Holinesss wishes through secular means.
Next, we exchanged a few more pleasantries for the sake of courtesy before saying,
Lets start our formal discussion.
This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om