Water Margin people

The war started suddenly and ended suddenly. The civilians who survived the disaster stood there in a daze. They thought they were going to die today, but the fierce army didn't even look at them.

"Those... seem to be the Qi army! They are the Imperial Cult army!"

Someone said tremblingly in fear.

Everything in Qi was different from that in the West, including the hair color, skin color, pupil color, facial features, writing system, and language.

Just now they saw that the army that suddenly appeared had black hair, black eyes, and Chinese characters on their flags.

"Qi State! Imperial Religion!"

The civilians were terrified. They knew that they were involved in something serious: the war between the Holy See and the State of Qi, and the war between the Crusaders and the army of Qi.

"Run!"

Someone shouted, and the civilians mustered up their courage and ran away. If they stayed here, they would surely die.

South bank of the Po River.

At the foot of the mountains.

City of Parma.

Pope Eugene III and a group of cardinals welcomed the incoming army outside the city.

"Your Majesty the Pope!"

Conrad III, Louis VII and a number of kings of other kingdoms saluted Pope Eugene III and said that it was a great honor for them that the Pope could come to the city in person to greet them. Since the high and mighty Pope had humbled himself, they had to stop while they were ahead.

"It is a great honor for the Holy See that you are all here!"

Eugene III looked at the army with satisfaction. There were more than 100,000 of them, which was enough to deal with the State of Qi.

"We are all believers in God, and it is our duty to wipe out the pagans!"

Conrad III smiled and said that at this time he needed to stand up and take all the glory.

"Your Holiness, the State of Qi dared to come to our west and occupy Venice. We must not let them off easily this time!"

Louis VII spoke.

"Of course we can't forgive these pagans. We're going to kill them all this time!"

An archbishop said that if the Arabs had only occupied Jerusalem, they could organize a crusade. Now that Qi occupied Venice, they had already planned to kill it.

Although the two kings looked in good spirits, their faces were pale and their lips were pale, all of which caught Bernard's attention.

Everyone shouted and killed, as if they could destroy the State of Qi immediately. Only a strong man with a big beard had a gloomy face and did not speak. He looked around, as if he was looking for something.

"What are you looking for, Richard?"

Bernard took notice of Richard I, the young king of England and Angevin.

"Those Vikings haven't arrived yet?"

Richard I spoke.

"Your Majesty, the sea route is difficult, and the Vikings may need some time."

Bernard looked at Richard I and said with a smile that the Vikings and the English were mortal enemies and would fight to the death when they met.

At the peak of the Viking Empire, the territory extended from Denmark to the coast of the Netherlands, to the eastern coast of England and Scotland, the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Faroe Islands and even Iceland, almost covering the entire North Sea. The Viking Empire was also called the North Sea Empire. However, the Vikings gradually declined over the years, and the English took the opportunity to rebel. Now they have regained control of the British Isles, but the Vikings are unwilling to give up the British Isles, and wars have continued over the years.

"Will it take some time?"

Richard I's voice was cold. He was very dissatisfied with the Third Crusade. They and the Vikings were mortal enemies.

"Your Majesty, the Pope has issued a papal decree. As long as England makes enough contributions in this holy war, the church will force the Vikings to completely withdraw from the British Isles."

Bernard looked at Richard I and said, this is why England still sent troops to participate in the holy war even though they knew that the Vikings were sending troops.

"So what benefits did you give to the Vikings?"

Richard I looked at Bernard and asked, he was curious how the stupid and barbaric Vikings could agree.

"The Pope will recognize the Vikings' North Sea Empire! From now on, the Vikings will also be an empire recognized by the church and nobles, no longer northern barbarians!"

Bernard smiled and said that the entire West has a chain of contempt, and Italy looks down on everyone because this is Rome.

The French looked down on the Germanic people in the east, the indigenous people on the peninsula in the west, and even more so on England in the north.

The Germanic people also considered themselves to be the strongest nation in the West and the continuation of the Roman Empire.

There is also Byzantium to the east, which also considers itself to be the orthodox Roman Empire.

"Humph, the Vatican is trying to smooth things over like this. How will it end when everything is over?"

Richard I looked at Bernard and said, if we recognize the Viking Empire, what about the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Duchy of Saxony, the Old Prussians, and the Duchy of Mazovia in the north? Let these kingdoms suffer in silence? These are not easy to deal with.

"Your Majesty, do not worry about these things. God has his own will, and His Holiness the Pope will solve these problems in due time."

Bernard said with a smile, he knew very well that the follow-up would be troublesome, but now they had no choice but to destroy Qi first, and other things could be put aside.

Crowds of people began to enter the city. With so many people coming, the Holy See naturally had to entertain them.

"How was it? Didn't you ask anything?"

Philip II looked at Richard I and asked, although the relationship between France and England was not good, this war was of great importance and Philip II was well aware of the power of Qi, so they must contact all forces.

"Nothing has been said. The Vatican is still the same, high and mighty, thinking it can control everything."

Richard I spoke.

"You French don't seem to get any benefit!"

Richard I looked at Philip II and asked, the biggest bargaining chip offered by the Holy See this time is the orthodoxy of the Roman Empire, but France is not qualified to compete for this.

"Look at Barbarossa, how proud he is!"

Philip II glanced at "Red Beard" Barbarossa in the distance and said in a cold voice, Barbarossa is the nickname of the German Emperor Frederick I, which means red beard, and Frederick I is also a popular candidate for the next Holy Roman Emperor.

France is the only country on the continent that can pose a threat to the Holy Roman Empire. If the Holy Roman Empire becomes the orthodox continuation of the Roman Empire certified by the Vatican, then the Holy Roman Empire will completely rule the continent, which is not in the interests of France.

"So, letting them die is not a bad outcome! It will be a good thing for Byzantium!"

Philip II suddenly spoke.

"Want our help? The price is negotiable! But for such a big thing... we have to pay extra!"

Richard I whispered in Philip II's ear that the Holy Roman Empire would not benefit England if it became bigger. Only by letting them fight with France could England take the opportunity to develop and stabilize the country. (End of this chapter)