Temple Sword

Chapter 88 The Burning Kingdom

1310, Christmas month (December)
Visegrad, Hungary

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The armies had been marching for weeks, they had come from the north and flowed down in long lines like a swift river.They started from Trencin and did not stop until they came to the mighty walls of Visegrad.

They met at the foot of the wall, where Antar, son of William Barto, won his first tourney, and where young Charles Robert found himself a champion knight.But now, neither of them would be welcome, and a war was brewing in the castle that Bela IV had built after the Tartar invasion.

"What do you think of my army, Janos?" asked a man in armor, who was sitting in the saddle watching the armored soldiers. "These men are only half of them!"

The man was over forty, and the remaining hair coiled like a garland around his shiny head, but the thick black beard was intact.Mate Chuck looks proudly at his vast private army, each member of which is ready to make that vaunted fool, Carlo Matro's son Charlie, pay for what he claims to be.

"It's amazing," the young man who was also sitting on the horse swallowed and praised.He knew that Mate Chuck was the most powerful and richest lord in the kingdom, but he never imagined that he could muster so many soldiers. "With so many soldiers, it's sure to push Charlie off the throne!"

"Oh, no," Mate Chuck shook his head, "I won't risk failure. All I want is Esztergom and the other castles on the Highlands, and of course Buda!"

"Their army has been loose for nearly three years," the young man waved his hand. "The priests, bishops, and archbishops have brought home their armies long ago. Archbishop Thomas's men guarded Esztergom, and in Buda, beside the king, it has long been no longer the huge army of before. The army is here, now is a good time to attack!"

"Enough!" Mattei raised his hand to silence him, "We'll wait until spring. By then, the size of this army will have doubled again, and we've only completed part of the castle's fortifications. A war needs a really strong solid army." Basics, you should know that."

"You are right, my lord." Janos agreed, but he totally disagreed with Mate Chuck's point of view.He had seen what the inside of Buda looked like, and was sure that such an army would take it easily, without waiting until next spring.

"Tell me, Janos of Abba," the oligarch turned to the son of Palatine Ahmad, "are you sure of what you just told me. Are you sure your father will put aside his dignity and stand by my side and lead his army Against Charlie? After all, he has supported the Italian from the beginning..."

"My father has learned what it is like to help an ungrateful snake take the throne," the man replied. "It will be a matter of time before he rebels, and then he will have no choice but to side with you, my lord."

"I hope you know what you're talking about and not lie to convince me, after all Ahmad didn't even know you came to me."

"He really doesn't know, but I'm willing to take the risk. I want to know in advance who my family can trust, because we can't trust the king, I can guarantee..."

"How old is your father?" Mate Chuck asked without respect, "What should I do if he dies before allying with me?"

Janos Abba's face was flushed, but he tried to stay calm.Who dared to speak of his father or any of his kin in such a tone, he would have drawn his dagger and thrust it into the body of the disrespectful.The exception was Mate Chuck, the most powerful man in the kingdom, and he knew it all too well.

"My father," Janos stammered, "he's still healthy."

"Very good, then I'm relieved." The man nodded, "Because if he dies, his estate will be divided into seven shares. Even if his daughter inherits nothing, it will be divided into six shares: the army, Wealth, estates, everything. Then you'll mean less to me, boy. You'll be worth one-sixth what you are now, to be exact..."

child?who do you think You Are?Dare to call me a boy?I should have ripped this son of a bitch right here right now!
"If my father dies unfortunately," the eldest heir gathered his strength and said in a calm voice, "you don't need to worry, my younger brothers will stand by your side."

"We'll see, Janos." Mate Chuck urged his horse, and began to review his troops. "Remember one thing: Next summer, whether you are with me or against me, I will set the kingdom ablaze. For your own sake, I suggest you choose the former."

　Interesting fact: After the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, Matejcák and his rule were regarded by some Slovaks as a symbol of independence and romanticized, but this idea was gradually criticized by intellectuals, and now Matej is only recognized by historians The family considered it a big feudal lord.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)