Chapter 334 334-The Situation is Settled
Howard spoke up, "Do you believe that the new culture stripped you of your princess's status? But you still hold that title. I think this could also be interpreted as a complex family dispute. I advise you to let go of your hatred."
Mary, as if a rabbit stepped on its tail, suddenly stood up from her seat, pointing aggressively at Howard's nose and berating him like a quarrelsome woman.
The surrounding guards quickly drew their swords, directing them at Howard.
"You think I only lost my father's affection and the respect of the courtiers?" Mary exclaimed.
"Let me tell you, I lost my status as a princess. When Cranmer, the great teacher, announced my parents' divorce, he also declared that I was a bastard. I've been caught in the tides of history, enduring suffering you can't possibly imagine. A princess, legitimate in her parents' marriage, becomes a bastard after their divorce, losing all her rights to succession. Even if I speak of it, would you dare believe it?"
Howard was somewhat shaken by this revelation, looking at Mary with new understanding, realizing that her earlier words towards him were, perhaps, justifiable.
His anger subsided as he said, "We are in an era where new and old cultures collide, and some matters and regulations are not yet perfectly established. I sympathize with your plight, Princess Mary."
The second prince then addressed Howard, "Alright, my wife understands now. Tell us the purpose of your visit."
Howard urged the second prince to withdraw from the war, pointing out that Nora currently had a significant advantage.
The prince disagreed, considering it naive to advise retreat before even engaging in battle.
Howard explained, "It's not like that. As an outstanding lord, you need to recognize which wars are worth fighting and which are not. When faced with a winnable war, one should advance triumphantly, seizing territory. But in a war that cannot be won and has already dragged on, one should find a way to minimize losses and exit the conflict as soon as possible."
The prince pondered this.
Turning to Mary, Howard said, "Princess Mary, please hear me out. Our region isn't just about the Renaissance; the bountiful seas have always been a treasure bestowed by the heavens. I once overheard two merchants conversing in the port of Luka. These merchants buy goods, transport them by land or sea to another place, aiming to profit from this."
"But sometimes, the market price of certain goods can fluctuate. If a merchant encounters a situation where the local price is lower than expected, what do you think they do?"
Mary responded, "If it's below their expectations, they obviously won't sell. Why should they bring joy to someone they dislike?"
Howard replied with a soothing smile, "Merchants understand that the price of goods fluctuates. Sometimes it rises after a while, sometimes it falls. Faced with a potential loss, merchants have their own perspectives. "
"Some choose to sell immediately, accepting the loss and using the money to invest in other commodities, hoping to recoup the loss elsewhere. Others, like you, Princess Mary, choose to endure. They grit their teeth, sweat profusely, and keenly watch the latest market trends, hoping the value of their goods will suddenly increase."
Mary settled back into her seat and asked, "So, what does this have to do with my husband's war of succession?"
Howard explained, "Both situations involve taking significant risks as a cost, clinging tightly to one's hand without letting go. And with each passing day, more is lost. In this war of succession, your husband faces a similar situation. I've gathered that the troops he brought from his domain are few. The bulk of your current forces relies on mercenaries."
Mary, with a hint of coquettishness, stretched out her hand, examining the smooth back and slender fingers, and spoke unhurriedly, "The leader of the mercenaries granted us the right to use promissory notes as payment. Even if my husband is now in economic deficit, as long as he ultimately secures the imperial throne, won't we have as much gold as we desire? I won't be scared off by a financial deficit, so don't bother trying."
Howard hoped to deter the second prince and Mary, but the prince soon grew bored and wished for Howard to leave.
Howard, realizing the futility of his efforts, left.
The overall situation was already determined; even without the prince's agreement, it was merely a matter of additional complications.
Subsequently, Howard spent eight months halting the war in Castile.
The elder prince announced his renunciation of the imperial succession, and he wished the brave Nora success in becoming the empire's first empress, leading the empire down a new path in these tumultuous times.
Defeated by Nora, the second prince was pursued by her forces to the banks of the Danube River, where he received a letter from his father-in-law, Henry IV.
In the letter, Henry IV chastised his son-in-law for accumulating numerous debts.
He warned that if the debts remained unpaid, it could entangle and tarnish the royal family's reputation.
Consequently, the second prince withdrew from the war, reaching an unconditional peace agreement with Nora.
He then renounced his claims to the empire's succession.
Nora was crowned as the Empress of the Empire.
Howard, having gained control of the Oungria Kingdom's territories, was crowned the King of Oungria in its capital.
Resarite, Anna, Margaret, and Bosiden were all made dukes, while others were granted varying degrees of titles, ranging from a few earldoms to dozens of villages.
Those who followed Howard were profoundly grateful, viewing him as an exceptional and wise ruler; aligning with Howard was considered their most correct decision.
That year, significant events unfolded across the European continent.
After ascending to the throne, Nora vigorously promoted the establishment of the Imperial Council, aiming to enhance innovation and achieve centralization of power.
Charles V married a princess from the Kingdom of Aragon, leading to a joint rule over Aragon, with Castile as the primary governing body.
Subsequently, Castile annexed Aragon, forming the Westia Kingdom.
The Fran Kingdom declared war on the Duchy of Savoy, with Provence aiding Fran in the attack.
When Howard and Anna discussed this at the outset of the war, they deemed Charles of Fran Kingdom's decision misguided, a blunder in the game of strategy.
Howard believed that since Nora's ascent to power was aided by the Duchy of Savoy and considering Nora's position as Emperor, Fran Kingdom was effectively challenging an iron wall.
Nora did not offer any support.
The Duchy of Savoy lost the war, with three of its five territories carved away, leaving only two inland earldoms.
Rolf approached Howard, expressing his disappointment in Nora's actions, which he felt betrayed those who had fought for her.
Howard empathized deeply; he recalled standing shoulder to shoulder with the Duke of Savoy on the battlefield against Castile's forces, their shared experiences of life and death seeming like only yesterday.
Yet, Nora's apparent indifference to the erstwhile royal allies felt like a betrayal of trust.
To the north, the Duchy of Saxton faced internal turmoil, leading to negative national stability.
Bohemia seized this opportunity to annex the entire duchy.
The world heard Bohemia's roar and no longer underestimated its might.
In the post-war report, the intelligence brought back by Howard's military and espionage ministers, who were dispatched to observe and gather information, indicated significant advancements in Bohemia's military technology.
According to Resarite, he had seen Bohemia's reserve forces moving to the front line, led by cavalry, followed by artillery, and finally the infantry.
Resarite also mentioned seeing a special type of war wagon that could reduce the damage inflicted on Bohemia's infantry during charges.
Subsequently, Bohemia proposed an alliance to Howard, which he declined.
Bosiden disapproved of this decision, arguing that Howard should have accepted the proposal as Bohemia was now a formidable ally.
Howard responded, "Let's wait and see. The last time I fought alongside Bohemia's army, they were weak. I need more time to observe their progress."
The Kingdom of Porlia officially declared war on the Molo Kingdom in the northern part of the continent, a conflict whose motives and causes were almost universally known and long anticipated across the land.
Porlia emerged victorious, capturing significant territories.
In the aftermath, they engaged in the promulgation of laws and governance in the newly acquired lands, striving to prevent rebellions as much as possible.
Meanwhile, in a surprising turn of events, the Osland Kingdom waged another war within the year, achieving a resounding victory and expanding their territory further east.
This series of conquests began to instill fear across the continent, particularly among the lords under the Empire's jurisdiction and various independent nations.
The reputation of the Fran Kingdom gradually started to decline.
According to some friends of Howard's brother-in-law, Kaido, the audacious Charles of Fran had indeed shown great daring.
It was rumored that he had once spoken in the palace of the possibility of forming an alliance with Osland Kingdom to escape the pincer movement of forces within the Empire.
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