Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 154 Europeans Open Their Eyes to the World and Are Terrified!

Three months later, in Rome, at the Basilica of St. John.

The hall's dome soared high, and stained-glass windows cast dappled shadows in the dim candlelight, making the images of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles seem to gaze down upon the European kings and princes gathered below.

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily, Philip II, King of France, Henry III, King of England, and Andre II, King of Hungary.

King Afonso II of Portugal, King Jaime I of Aragon, King Waldemar I of Denmark, King Inge I of Norway, Eric X of Sweden, Alexander II of Scotland, Archduke of Llewellyn of Wales...

One hundred and thirty-seven influential figures from Europe, both high and low-ranking, were present.

Pope Honourius III stood on the platform temporarily placed before the altar, his white robes gleaming faintly in the candlelight, his triple crown pressing heavily on his forehead. He gripped his scepter tightly, his gaze slowly sweeping across the hall, heavy as a rock.

Behind him was a complete map of the entire Eurasian continent.

"Servants of Christ, guardians of Europe!"

Honnold III's voice boomed like a bell, carrying an unquestionable majesty: "Today, we stand in the Temple of St. John, not for power or personal gain, but for the glory of God! For the unprecedented threat to Europe! Look at this map behind me!"

He turned around and pointed with his scepter to the huge map behind him, saying, "This vast expanse of blood-red color is Mongolia! The evil kingdom that destroyed Khwarezm, the most powerful state of the True God religion, and seized the Rus' kingdoms and the Bagration Kingdom from Christ!"

"This is the land of Jin, Song, Xia, Dongzhen, and Goryeo. These are all countries of heretics! Most of the people not only do not believe in God, but also in idolatry. They are even more despicable than believers in the true God! They are all heinous sinners!"

"To the south of Song, there is another country of heretics, but we lack information to know exactly how many countries it is or how large its territory is. But it is at least the size of Song!"

"Although the main force of the Mongol army has returned to the East, their insatiable appetite will never be satisfied. Next, will they attack the eastern countries? Or will they continue to attack my Europe? No one knows."

"But whichever choice you make, it will not be good news for you, for Europe, or for all the children of Christ!"

"The Mongol hooves are like dark clouds pressing down, the walls of Kiva are in ruins, and the palaces of Khwarazm are reduced to ashes. Their blades do not discriminate between kings and peasants, their arrows do not distinguish between churches and huts. They bring only destruction; they will turn everything to ashes! If the Mongols continue westward, and we continue to fight our own battles, all the kingdoms of Christ will become their pastures!"

"If the Mongol army attacks the eastern countries, and they consolidate all their strength in the east before attacking Europe, we will have an even greater difficulty in resisting them!"

"Now, tell me, tell God, what is your choice! Are you willing to forsake God's glory, to turn yourselves into dust under the Mongol hooves, and to let your wives and daughters become slaves of the Mongols? Or are you willing to unite and, under God's light, become heroes who protect Christ and Europe?"

King Honnold III prepared this speech for three months, delivering it clearly, fluently, and passionately.

However, the results were actually not good.

"..."

As soon as King Hong Nuoli III finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

There's no way around it, it's too terrifying!

To emphasize the terror of the Mongols, Khonorius III claimed vast swathes of unclaimed land in the north as Mongol territory.

That vast expanse of blood-red color swept across the land, and it seemed as if the entire Eurasian continent trembled under the terrifying pressure of the Mongols.

Europe is so small, less than half the size of Mongolia. How can Europeans accept this?
Most importantly, Europeans in the past had absolutely no understanding of Asia.

When Pope Honolulu III wrote to the kings and princes of Europe, he did not have this map. He merely described the power and threat of the Mongols and asked them to come to Rome for a meeting.

After receiving the letter from Honnouli III, these kings and princes, unsure whether the Mongols were truly that powerful or if the Pope was merely using intimidation to enhance his own power, began frantically gathering information about the Mongols.

This search was terrifying; everyone was terrified.

It is said that the Mongols possessed a particularly powerful crossbow bolt, which resembled a javelin and could travel three miles away!
It is said that the Mongols improved the "slave catapult" and easily conquered the capital of the Khwarazmian people.

It is said that the Mongols were well-equipped, with even ordinary soldiers wearing iron armor, no less so than the gear of European knights. The Mongol army numbered in the hundreds of thousands, while how many knights did Europe have? Tens of thousands at most!
It is said that the Mongols rode tall and magnificent Arabian horses. Compared to these Arabian warhorses, European warhorses looked like donkeys!

It is said that wherever the Mongols went, they conscripted innocent men to participate in the siege. They would erect white, red, and black tents to undermine the defenders' will to resist. If the city resolutely resisted, no one would be spared except for artisans, children under the height of a cartwheel, and beautiful women!
That's so lacking in aristocratic spirit!
When European nations were at war with each other, or even when European nations were at war with nations of the true God, kings were captured and then released after ransoms were demanded.

The Mongols of today, however, regard those noble kings and nobles as no different from lowly slaves!
Whenever they thought of these things, those European nobles were both filled with hatred and trembling with fear.

For the first time, they felt that death was so close!
Even more terrifying is the Heaven-Shaking Thunder!

This weapon is said to emit light comparable to lightning and sound comparable to thunder; it is practically a weapon of God!
Zhao Shuo, the "Calamity of God" in the Mongol army, easily annihilated 50,000 Khwarazmian cavalry with thunderous bombs, captured Bukhara City, and conquered Samarkand, the capital of Khwarazm.

Perhaps due to insufficient quantity, or perhaps for the sake of secrecy, it was never used again after that.

How could the Mongols possibly not use such terrifying weapons when they once again trampled Europe on horseback?

Furthermore, it is said that Zhao Shuo, the "Calamity of God," used a weapon that could fly into the sky to set fire to the city of Daerban when he conquered it.

Oh, God!
How could you allow such terrifying weapons to be possessed by evil heretics?

The sky is a forbidden zone for you, sir.

Is Zhao Shuo truly a "disaster from God"? Was he sent by you, Your Majesty, to destroy us sinners? (Christianity believes that everyone is born sinful.)
These European elites were so terrified that they could only gather in Rome.

Otherwise, although the Pope has great authority, these European nobles are not so obedient.

For example, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily, consistently disobeyed the Pope. He readily agreed when the Pope crowned him "Holy Roman Emperor," but ultimately only sent three thousand reinforcements to the Crusaders.

For example, King Afonso II of Portugal rarely participated in foreign wars personally, actively limited the power of the Church, and even seized Church property. Therefore, at the instigation of the Church, the Portuguese contemptuously referred to him as "the fat man."

It must be said that Zhao Shuo changed history. His westward expedition not only destroyed Khwarazm, the most powerful state of the true religion, but also conquered the Rus' states and the Kipchak Steppe, putting immense pressure on Europeans. They actively sought intelligence from the East, enabling them to gather in Rome and discuss a joint strategy to deal with the Mongols.

However, the Pope displayed this map.

When they first opened their eyes to the world, they were all terrified!

The largest state power in Europe at present is the Holy Roman Empire under Frederick II, plus the Kingdom of Sicily, with a total area of ​​only about one million square kilometers.

The second largest power, the Frankish Kingdom, covered less than 600,000 square kilometers.

The Kingdom of England is less than 200,000 square kilometers!
Not to mention comparing it to the Mongols, it can't even compare to the Jin Dynasty, which was brutally ravaged by the Mongols!

How to fight this?
Yes, everyone wants to unite to deal with the Mongols.

But even if they unite, can they handle it?

Therefore, the scene was completely silent.

After a long silence, Frederick II finally spoke: "Actually, we don't need to worry too much. Although Mongolia is much larger than Europe as a whole, there are large areas of uninhabited land in the north, so it doesn't really matter."

"When the Mongols attacked Khwarazm, the Rus' kingdoms, and the Kipchak Steppe, the slaughter was extremely brutal, and the local population suffered heavy losses. Therefore, although Mongolia has a vast territory, its population is not as large as you think. We in Europe are by no means without a fighting chance!"

"Furthermore, when the Mongols attacked Rus', the Kipchak Steppe, and Khwarezm, it was already a long and arduous expedition. When they attack Europe, their logistical lines will be even longer. It will take them two years just for their main army to march. How could the Mongols possibly send their entire nation's army to attack us over such a long distance? We are not without a chance of victory!"

"Moreover, the Mongols ruled over such a vast territory, encompassing nearly a hundred ethnic groups with different languages, customs, and beliefs. Could the Mongols truly unite them into a cohesive whole? I doubt it!"

"Furthermore, Temujin is getting old and probably won't live much longer. After he passes away, will the vast Mongol Empire split up? I think there's a high possibility!"

"We Europeans share a common faith and a common spiritual leader. If we can unite, what do we have to fear from the Mongols?" "If we Europeans can unite, perhaps we can defeat the divided Mongols and spread the glory of God to the East!"

"Consider the boundless wealth of the East! It is said that every Mongol soldier has plundered treasures worth five thousand dinars. What riches will our Crusaders reap if they march eastward?"

Frederick II's final words finally boosted the morale of the European nobility.

They don't understand the East, but they understand themselves!
Europeans, who have long been categorized, have no understanding of the unified nations of the East.

How could so many people of different races and faiths be united into one country?
Even if it exists, it will be extremely short-lived and will soon fall apart!

Take Alexander the Great, for example. He established a vast world empire, but could he truly harness its full power? Absolutely not! He only had a few tens of thousands of troops at his core. Moreover, with Alexander the Great's death, this world empire immediately disintegrated.

For example, five hundred years ago, the renowned Charlemagne of Europe established a power that stretched from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Adriatic Sea in the south, occupying half of Europe. However, didn't he ultimately divide this vast empire among his three sons?
Hasn't Temujin already divided his new territory among his four sons and one son-in-law?

Why do Europeans view Mongolia as a whole?
Once Temujin dies, Mongolia will probably be no better than Europe and will soon disintegrate!
At least, Europeans share a common father: the Pope.

"Yes! His Majesty Frederick is absolutely right!"

"The territories newly conquered by the Mongols probably won't provide them with much assistance!"

"Temujin must be sixty years old by now. I'm afraid that once he dies, the vast Mongol Empire will fragment. If we in Europe unite, we might very well rise to power!"

"This is merely a test from God for us. God bless Europe, the evil Easterners will not succeed!"

"One day, the glory of the Crusades will shine upon the land of the East!"

……

Frederick II finally rallied the morale of the European nobility.

Thus, with the Pope as witness, the nations quickly reached six agreements.

Firstly, from this day forward, European nations shall not wage war against each other. Any major disputes between two countries shall be submitted to the Pope for adjudication.

Secondly, the Crusaders of the Fifth Crusade immediately withdrew from Egypt to strengthen the defenses of Europe.

Third, the "Crusader Tax" continued to be levied.

The "Crusader Tax" was a special tax levied by the Papacy on all Christians, requiring them to hand over one-tenth of their annual income to fund the Crusades.

Fourth, continue issuing "Crusader Bonds" and declare a triple exemption from sins.

"Crusader bonds" are an enhanced version of "indulgences".

The Vatican announced that believers could pay a certain amount of money to be exempted from the obligation to participate in the Crusades or to receive absolution of sins.

By the time of the Fifth Crusade, because the "Crusader Bonds" were not selling well, the Papacy simply announced that this time the "Crusader Bonds" would grant double the exemption from sins.

In order to deal with the Mongols, the Vatican has now announced that future "Crusader Bonds" will be exempted three times over.

Anyway, we'll deal with worldly problems first, and we don't care at all whether there's inflation in God's land.

Fifth, all proceeds from future Crusade taxes and Crusade bonds will be split 50/50 between the Papacy and the various nations to strengthen their military power.

Sixth, establish a standing crusade.

This standing crusade is tentatively set at 50,000 men.

Led by the Pope himself, it served as a mobile force to aid various countries when the Mongols attacked.

Three days later, the Treaty of Rome was reached, and Europe seemed to be at peace. The dignitaries returned home with relaxed smiles.

However, their confidence in the Rome Agreement was far less than they outwardly displayed.

For example, King Andre II of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Two months later, in the Royal Palace of Estelgom, the capital of Hungary.

"My dearest daughter!"

Andre II, striving to display his most loving expression, looked at his second daughter Elizabeth and said, "You know the current state of Hungary without me having to tell you. The safety of the Hungarian royal family rests entirely on your shoulders."

"Yes."

Elizabeth said, "After I marry Louis IV, I will certainly do my best to promote the friendship between the Duchy of Lingen and my Hungary. With the help of the Duchy of Lingen, Father will be able to suppress those unruly nobles at home and resist the invasion of the Mongols at home."

At the age of three, Elizabeth was betrothed to Louis IV, son of Hermann I of the Duchy of Lingen.

Elizabeth is now fifteen years old, and according to the agreement between the two countries, the two should get married this year.

This was, of course, a political marriage, Elizabeth knew it all too well.

However, Andre II shook his head repeatedly, saying, "If the powerful Mongols hadn't destroyed Rus', your marriage to Louis would indeed have been a great help to Hungary. But now, the powerful 20,000th Household of the Plain Blue Banner of the Semu people is stationed in Chiva. They can invade Hungary in seven days. What help can the Duchy of Lingen offer?"

Elizabeth's expression changed slightly, and she said, "So, Father means that I should break off the engagement and marry another prince?"

Andre II explained carefully, “It’s not about marrying you to some other prince, but about marrying you to Zhao Shuo, the Mongol prince consort. The East is different from our West; a man can not only have one wife, and other women can only be considered mistresses. In the East, a man can have many concubines in addition to one wife.”

"I've already discussed it with Guo Dehai, the commander of the Semu Plain Blue Banner, to announce to the public that you've suddenly died of an illness. Then, we'll secretly send you to Mongolia. You're my Hungarian princess, and so beautiful, how could Zhao Shuo not like you?"

Elizabeth looked puzzled and said, "Father, why? I don't understand. Didn't you sign the Treaty of Rome with the European countries? If Europe is united, why should it fear the Mongols?"

Andre II replied, “How can we not be afraid? They have only received some information about the Mongols. We Hungary border the Rus’ countries, and we know for certain how powerful the Mongol army is. Back then, we Hungary couldn’t even stop Milos of the Duchy of Galicia, how could we possibly stop the Mongols who destroyed the Rus’ countries? Even if the Pope leads 50,000 troops to our aid, how much help can that be to Hungary?”

"But the European countries are already strengthening their military!"

"so what?"

When this topic came up, Andre II became even more dismissive, saying, "The Crusader tax is supposed to be 10%, but local lords take the opportunity to collect more, churches take their share, and the king takes the opportunity to collect even more. The burden on the common people has long exceeded 30%."

"Crusader bonds are a bottomless pit, draining the savings of countless devout commoners. During the Fifth Crusade, Crusader bonds didn't sell well. Did you think the believers had lost their piety? No! It's because they've been completely drained and are truly broke!"

"And look at Hungary. Because I led 15,000 troops to participate in the Crusades and suffered a great defeat, those nobles forced me to sign some kind of Golden Bull, demanding that the nobles be given legal power to defy the king's decrees."

"If Hungary can't even unite itself, how can so many countries in Europe unite? It's a complete joke! So..."

After a pause, Andre II looked at Elizabeth with anticipation and said, "The Treaty of Rome is completely unreliable. I can only rely on you now, Elizabeth!"

There was something else he didn't say: The Eastern Roman Empire broke off their engagement with my son, giving their princess to Zhao Shuo as a concubine. Now, the Eastern Roman Empire and the Mongols are doing very well in business. Even if the Mongols attack in the future, it probably won't affect the wealth and status of the Eastern Roman Empire's royal family.

how?

If the Eastern Roman Empire could offer a princess, why can't Hungary?
(End of this chapter)