I Am Louis XIV

Chapter 337 Battle of Camnico (4)

Europa is different from another country in the far east. If their generals or even kings die in the war or are captured, the remaining people will just scatter. There will be few people clamoring for revenge or revenge for him. It is said that this is the power that only heirs have, and they have to wait until they re-elect an heir before they can proceed to the next step - so even a brave king like Richard the Lionheart had to endure the humiliation of being detained and extorted for ransom; a sage like Alexander Even King Arthur, after their death, the huge empire will only fall apart; not to mention that now, almost all the people who follow the king and generals to fight are princes and mercenaries. The former only recognize their vassal obligations, and the latter only see who can Give them money, and as soon as their master and employer dies, they will give up everything and go home.

The situation of the Ottomans is slightly better, but if Grand Vizier Ahmed is really captured or killed, the army without its only commander will have no choice but to return to Istanbul. The one who dies now is the Grand Imam. All we can say is that This was not good news, as the Grand Sheikh was a spiritual leader and his death would only inflame the anger of all the Ottomans.

Later, when the monks of Camnik recorded this battle, surprisingly there were only a few numbers and no lengthy narrative. He said in the record that from that day on, the Ottoman attacks became crazy. , there is no difference between day and night anymore, they are attacking all the time, and they are constantly destroying the caravans trying to transport supplies to Camnico, and Camnico’s defenders have blocked all The city gates, just like in the past hundreds of years, they poured stones and cement into each city gate, turning it into a solid weight.

But before that, no one thought that the king of France would store so much gunpowder, grease and white phosphorus bombs in this city. This wealth was enough to buy a city or more. When they burned the enemy, they rose The flames caused the city walls to glow red, and the smoke connected the sky and the earth like a heavy rain. Even so, the defenders still suffered terrible blows - several times the Ottomans climbed up the city walls, their white hats flying in the wind. Swinging like frightening flags - soldiers with such hats belong to the Yenicherry Regiment. Logically speaking, they should be put in at the end.

Everyone thought that Grand Vizier Ahmed was crazy. Maybe, he was almost doomed to fail. Even if he could capture Kamnik, the remaining supplies would not be able to support him to go to Vienna. Mohammed The great achievements that the fourth generation pursued to surpass his ancestor Suleiman I had come to nothing, and Ahmed was destined to be quartered by five horses in the Grand Market Square. People who have this idea are not only their enemies, the Ottomans are also whispering like this. The Grand Priest has gone to heaven, and the initial anger has turned into fatigue. Even the stupidest Tatars know how to capture this city. Cities have become impossible.

——That terrible thing happened on the night of the eleventh day of the siege. So wrote the monk.

At that time, he heard a strange sound that seemed to overflow from hell, countless screams, countless wails, countless creaks, and countless squeaks. He put on his clothes, held up the candle, and walked out. Go to the gate - his little monastery is not far from the city gate, and he is one of the few monks who did not leave with the kings - he is familiar with the situation here, because during the day, he worked with the craftsmen , carrying grease, shells and arrows for the defenders.

He walked to the movable slope connected to the city wall - it was a slope made of several wooden planks. It was very steep. He expected to see a group of tired soldiers and perhaps an anxious officer, but he was surprised. What's surprising is that the person standing on the city wall turned out to be a bishop. He could swear to the Virgin that he was absolutely right, that was a bishop! Although he was wearing ordinary clothes, the purple-red belt around his waist was so conspicuous under the torch. There were no soldiers on the city wall, only monks in brown robes and priests in black cassocks.

The bishop was a little surprised when he saw the monk, but it seemed that something important had come and he had no time to care about a little mortal. He only waved his hand, and the monk walked back to the room in a daze, but his With his will still a little clear, he almost climbed out of the window of the room, but before he could think of falling from the small room on the bell tower to the ground thirty feet away from him, he saw the black tide coming from outside the city wall. Stand up.

Look again, what kind of tide is that? They are simply devils crawling out of hell. No, even devils can't be more terrifying than them. Devils at least have skin, eyes, and mouths, which are destroyed by white phosphorus bombs. The body burnt by kerosene is like pieces of charcoal stuck together. In winter, people often hang a pot in the fireplace to cook soup in it, or set up a barbecue fork. Even the most experienced chefs make mistakes sometimes. Once these things fall into the charcoal, they will immediately burn rapidly, emit smoke, then curl up, and finally stick to the charcoal tightly.

What the monk saw was this kind of thing. Their bodies were still flashing with dark red light. Some had no heads, some had no arms and legs, but they were all glued together. What the monk heard before was the sound of these things moving. The sound - black smoke and debris continued to fall down, as well as countless stumps and half-cooked internal organs - the monk thought he should have prayed loudly at that time, but he also admitted that he It is also possible that he cried or trembled in fear. He did not remember how he crawled back to the room, and he did not even dare to stretch his head to take a look.

More likely, the prayers he heard were not his own, but those of the saint.

His little monastery was so close to the city wall that half of the wall and several rooms were demolished to block the city gate, but the devils he feared never climbed up the tower and tore him apart as he imagined. Break into pieces, devour.

After seeing the sunlight coming from the window, the monk finally got up with difficulty and looked out the window. All he could see outside the window were patches of black dust. He tried his best not to think about what they were originally, but fortunately, , he saw a line of footprints heading from the city wall to the city.

Later, the monk's notes were left in this small monastery. Around 1997, several historians accidentally discovered it while studying the Battle of Camnico, but they always believed that the so-called devil It was just the monk's imagination. This situation was very common on the battlefield. Like other documents and information about "abnormalities", this record was quickly found and collected by the Roman Church, and never saw the light of day.

————

Bishop Barras's mood was very complicated. He thought that Louis XIV would vent his hatred in this battle. He was presented to the king like a sacrifice by the cardinal leader. When the king was still young, Barras abandoned him and France, almost killing him. Now he has become a behemoth that the church has to avoid, and Barras was still a troublesome dog, and the episcopate was a piece of bread dropped before hanging him, lest he go mad with hunger.

He also knew that the king asked for him and the priests around him from the Roman Church, intending to use them as shields and abandoned sons. Barras was not very resentful. Although he was short-sighted and ungrateful, he still had a little bit of trouble. Due to his own dignity, he would not beg a victim to give up the right to revenge - but Louis XIV gave up his original plan at the last moment - indeed the last moment.

He gave Barras information (Baras really didn't want to know where this information came from), and also gave Barras more monks and priests, as well as several sacred objects. This allowed them to defeat their enemies and see the sun the next day.

When Louis XIV heard the news that Barras had repulsed the enemy, he clapped his hands happily and ordered Hood to remove the final safety policy - let's put this aside for now while waiting for Barras to come to see him. Mr. Bishop must come to see him first.

Barras had thought a lot along the way, from the Inquisition to the wizards, from the wizards to the Huguenots, and from the Huguenots to the Roman Church. He thought about how the king was willing to forgive him, and what was there to do with him? A useful place... But he didn't have to think for long, because a few minutes later, Louis XIV bluntly revealed the answer: "I intend to let Elario go to Rome, what do you think?"

Baras could hardly control his jealousy. The meaning of Eralus going to Rome was completely different from the meaning of his going to Rome. Behind him stood the Sun King, the richest and most powerful king. When he spoke, he realized that his throat could barely make a sound: "But I am just a bishop, Your Majesty. There are so many bishops in Rome."

"Hey," Louis showed an interesting look: "Do I still hope that you can give us any surprises? Sir, you must stay in Paris," he said, "I hope you can fulfill your duties as you are now. , loyal," these words made Barras couldn't help but lower his head, "If you can do it," Louis said: "Mr. Bishop Lariviere is seventy years old, sir," he looked at Barras, who couldn't hide his surprise, nodded: "I will get you a cardinal's shawl and a house in Paris. If you think you need it, there will be a place for you in the Palace of Versailles." .”

Barras was completely bewildered. He couldn't understand it at all. If the king said that he had a place for him in the Bastille, he would definitely believe it, but the cardinal? Or a French cardinal? The assets left by Bishop Mazarin after his death supported a country's expenses for several years. It goes without saying how powerful the Cardinal of Paris can be! Even if he couldn't reach the level of Bishop Mazarin... it would be countless times better than being an unknown little bishop in Rome!

"But what can I do for you? No, no, no, Your Majesty, I can do anything you want me to do, even if I go to hell to fetch water!" Barras confirmed that he was not dreaming and was not being played. , shouted eagerly and excitedly, holding the cross on his chest tightly with both hands, walking over on his knees, and kissed Louis' shoes without hesitation.

"What I want you to do is not complicated," Louis said. "Whatever you give to the church, give to me."

Barras raised his head suddenly, panting, and his eyes moved uneasily: "But I have..."

"I will give these to Elario," said Louis. "How the people in the church will treat you, I will know just by looking at you and Elario - they will be better in the hands of Elario than in the church." It’s safe in your hand.”

Baras was reluctant to remain silent. Indeed, if he had been one of the people he betrayed to the church, he would have been willing to follow Elalius instead of a harsh and vicious mortal.

Bishops, priests, monks in the church, and all those who know the inside story, regard them as followers of the devil. They are not very different from wizards. They use them like the slave soldiers of the Ottoman Turkish Sultan. They are the most dangerous. They are doing things, but always only get scraps.

"What if I don't go back to Rome?" he asked.

"I will not return to Rome," said Louis. "I will now appoint all the priests in France."

"I have no idea……"

"Eralus will know," Louis said with a smile: "I always believe that a person should be allowed to do what he is good at-Eralus has never bothered me about monks, and I think you can too, or Said, Elario in Rome and you in Paris can also meet my expectations... I don't think you will have any back-up, now, I want you to give this back-up to Elario, and then you can spend your time in Paris Peaceful days after that.”

The King of France tapped his cross with his toe: "What you wanted thirty years ago, sir, you can get now."

——————

Bontang walked in after Barras left. Louis looked up and saw that there was only a cup of tea in the silver tray. It seemed that Bontang did not think that the king would be willing to keep Barras for a cup of tea, and there was no need for it. In a certain way, Generally speaking, Louis quite likes this kind of person. As long as there is enough bait, he will pounce on him.

"You really decided to leave Paris to this man?"

"I need such a person to supervise Paris for me." Louis said, a shadow flashed across his face, "Maybe I am too tolerant." Not long after he left France, those careerists were ready to make a move again.

"Isn't it enough that Madame de Montespan erected the gallows in Paris?" said Bontan.

“Bishop Lariviere was not a hard-working and good student when he was in the seminary, and he is really exhausted now,” Louis said. “I need a cardinal who is definitely on my side. "

"Baras?"

"His age and experience are just right, and no one can afford a higher price." If it were Barras twenty years ago, Louis would not consider it at all, but now Barras has been tortured and lost Without all his confidence, he would tightly hold on to the life-saving rope dropped by Louis XIV.

When Larivère was initially selected as Cardinal, it was because he was not an ambitious person who liked to dictate to others. He was happy to accept everything the king gave him and was very satisfied. He had a room in Versailles. He had mansions in Paris and Fontainebleau, and lived a happy life, except for the occasional need to cover up the king's impiety. But for such an optimist, it would be too difficult for him to face the oppression from the Roman Church and the French conservative forces.

Louis XIV promised him before leaving for the expedition that he would choose a new cardinal after returning, and Bishop Larivière would retire to a monastery to be the abbot.

Regarding this candidate, Louis XIV originally wanted to give it to Elario, but the unrest in the Roman Church made him change his mind. Although the cardinal leader is now willing to cooperate with Louis, he even sent his illegitimate daughter as a hostage. But no one can tell what will happen in the future, and Louis's uncompromising behavior on the appointment and removal of priests and religious taxes destined him to have difficulty reconciling with the church, not as long as the church still has an ambitious bishop.

In this case, why didn't he choose one of his own to join the church?

Eralius was an extremely bold man who was good at seizing opportunities. He was an Italian, in his prime, and could secretly control the monks of Caiola Island and Jile Island (the power in the hands of Barras), whether it was Whether it was the Inquisition or the Roman Church, he did not need to worry about finding strong supporters. Behind him was the support of Louis XIV, the Sun King, an out-and-out giant.

And compared to those Roman priests who were full of desires, he definitely didn't ask for much. Louis tentatively mentioned this to him, and Elario was of course willing, even if there were bound to be thorns along the way, and those who had solidified their classes He will inevitably be slandered and blamed in every possible way - but when he thinks about the rewards after the success of this matter, his face that still looks cute even after 40 years of age can't help but smile sweetly. He even asked Louis Recommended Barras.

Barras is a short-sighted wretch, but he still has some advantages - Barras has been the Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition in Paris for twenty years, he has been working in the Roman Church for twenty years, and he also has some good things in his hands. A group of monks and wizards who were loyal to him. He was old. If Louis XIV gave him a chance, it would be his last chance. Even he could not withstand another torment.

And what can those people give him? He has lost confidence in the Roman Church. The dignitaries in Paris have changed several times. Except for the king, he has no one he is familiar with.

Of course, there are still necessary beatings, but even if the life span of a wizard is longer than that of a mortal, it still refers to ordinary mortals. Louis thinks that it would be good if Ballas can let him use it for ten years. Ten years is enough for him to choose. and raise a suitable cardinal.

While he was making this plan, Hood came back. Like Barras, he must repay after completing such an important thing.

The wizard was covered in white ash powder, and there was even some invisible milky mud under his feet.

"Is everything settled?" Louis asked.

"Everything is as you expected." Hood said, his clothes were all soaked, not because what he was about to do was difficult, but because it was too dangerous. It was so dangerous that if it was not handled carefully, half of it could be destroyed. Kamni can be sent to heaven.

The gunpowder of the coalition forces was not endless, and since the beginning of the siege, they had been isolated from the outside world. They had used so much gunpowder before that Louis XIV could not conjure some out of thin air, but Camney But in order to satisfy the appetite of more than 100,000 people, a large amount of food was hoarded, and these foods contained a large amount of wheat flour.

Camnice is an ancient city, which means that like most cities in the Roman era, it has sewers and catacombs. To a certain extent, its bottom is also riddled with holes, with wizards and kerosene. It's easy for them to dry out.

Louis did not expect these things to have the same unexpected results as in Ljubljana, but he had to ensure that even if there were mistakes in Baras and his monks, his preparations could bury those terrible evil spirits. In the Stone - How could Prince Theodric of Vandro leave Paris and go all the way to Slovenia? It was because he heard that the head of the Hitai clan of the Vampire clan seemed to have reached a deal with a certain high-ranking human being.

The sacred weapon of the Hittites is a scimitar. It is said that all those killed by this knife will become its slaves and be driven by it - not entirely true, but it can indeed drive corpses.

Making a deal with the devil was an act of disobedience to the Ottomans, but now that there was a Louis XIV, it was hard to say whether there would be an Ahmed.

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