The Dragon That Devours the World

(Maybe the third update is late, don’t wait, and update it tomorrow.)

Chinon Castle, France, January 1429.

Christmas has just passed and the New Year has just arrived, but there is no festive atmosphere in Chinon Castle, but a gloomy mood. Whether it is the waiters or the nobles, even if they are forced to laugh, they will inevitably be worried.

The battle report from the front line had already arrived a few days ago, and the reinforcements that rescued Orleans were unsuccessful and had to be defeated.

This news can be described as desperate for the French court in a precarious situation at the moment. Even if Crown Prince Charles tried to relieve the pressure of the public, it was of no avail. Yes, for the current France, this is already in a crisis of destruction.

Since the beginning of the Hundred Years' War, after a decade of defeat at the Battle of Akugin, the whole of France has completely lost its vigor and defeated again and again in the face of the British army. Now the north and southwest of France are occupied by the English, and the southeast is occupied by the Burgundians. Under the attack of the north and the south, France has lost more than two-thirds of its territory. Up to one-third of the territory is also at risk.

If it weren't for the French army to desperately block England in the north by the Loire and rely on the city of Orleans to hold on to the defense, I am afraid that the whole of France would no longer exist.

But it is precisely because of this that the siege of Orleans is so important. Once Orleans loses the entire France, it will be completely insecure. The English army can directly swarm south and completely annex the remaining French territory...

In such a situation, if the analogy is to be like the Song Dynasty, the North was attacked by the Jin Dynasty, and the Song people were forced to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River. However, countries such as Vietnam in the south took the opportunity to collude with the Jin people to invade the southern lands, and eventually the Song Dynasty monarchs could not Not trapped in Jinling, lingering on the only bit of territory.

But in a sense, the situation of Prince Charlie is even more tragic than this...

Because the other rulers are at least orthodox kings and emperors.

But now, his mother, who doesn't like him at all, is even saying publicly that he is not his father's child and is not worthy of being a king. The nobles are talking about this, and his royal blood is even seriously questioned.

...

In the main room of the castle, Prince Charles's eyes were full of bloodshot eyes. After hearing that the rescue failed, he could not fall asleep all night yesterday, but even if he was tired, he had to insist on standing up.

He looked at the minister in front of him and said in a low voice.

"Bruno, tell me how much money we have now."

Bruno in front of him and the ministers beside him looked at each other, looking at each other, not knowing how to answer the best, and finally said hesitantly.

"His Royal Highness, now...now we...have less than 13,000 francs."

When talking about the numbers, the minister couldn't help lowering his voice, his face full of anxiety.

Hearing this number, Charlie was silent and did not speak.

What does 13,000 francs mean? This is actually a huge sum of money for a single family.

Two or three francs can buy a good bottle of wine, a dozen francs can buy a pony with a heavy load, one hundred francs is enough to buy a good horse, and many noble servants earn only two or three a month. Francs, ordinary workers may not even earn one franc a month.

But what does this mean for a war?

Nothing!

Soldiers’ armors need money to repair, war horses also need rations, warm clothes, rations, soldiers’ wages...

Money is needed in all aspects. In a casual battle, you will spend at least tens of thousands of francs to replenish supplies. If the loss is large, you may not be able to fill this hole with 100,000 francs.

Less than ten thousand francs means that Charlie will not even be able to start a slightly larger war at this moment, he has no money to fight.

How absurd, France, which once had a population of more than five million and has annual taxes of no less than millions of francs, is the richest country on the European continent, but now it is embarrassed for money.

After a long time, a voice rang in Bruno's ear.

"Bruno, you can try to communicate with those businessmen and sell them some of my land, such as my land in Danley, and see if I can exchange some more money."

Under this circumstance, the crown prince also had to choose to sell the land to the merchant in exchange for funds for the war, but the only response to him was silence.

"His Royal Highness..."

Bruno's hesitating voice sounded, as if he didn't know how to explain to the crown prince in front of him, and finally gritted his teeth.

"Danley's territory, you sold it to Danliston merchants last week."

Opposite him, the voice fell into silence again.

"Then sell Mulan's estate."

"Last week, those Luxembourg businessmen bought it."

"Auxerre."

"Two months ago..."

"Those lands in Bourges should always be returned..."

The young voice opposite seemed to be a little angry because of Bruno's words. He couldn't help standing up, but before he could finish speaking, there was already a voice whispering.

"His Royal Highness..."

There was something unbearable in that voice.

silence.

The young voice did not speak any more. Although the minister in front of him just lowered his head and did not speak any more, he could understand what the other party hadn't said yet.

He clenched his hands tightly, but in the end he sat down sullenly, his body filled with a breath of confusion.

Foreign enemies have invaded, and the war has been defeated and defeated. The nobles are restless, even if they are the king's children are not sure, the succession to the throne is questioned, and at this moment of crisis, the treasury is empty...

All kinds of bad news came one after another and never stopped. When you open your eyes every day, you are surrounded by these bad news.

In all fairness, Charlie is a very hard-working ruler. Unlike his mentally ill father, he is very smart and extremely frugal. He is desperately planning and saving money to try to win the chance. He has been blocking the left and right for a long time, and has been struggling until now. Everyone who knows him All the nobles were amazed at his talents.

However, no matter how hard you try, it cannot change the fact that France has been defeated repeatedly.

It has been seven years since the death of his father Charles VI, but the crown prince has not even been crowned and has not officially become a king. Is there any worse situation in this world?

Charlie didn't know, but at least he didn't think there were any more.

At this moment, it seems that only a miracle can allow this country to survive, but is this miracle possible?

Charlie looked out the window in a daze~www.readwn.com~The gloomy weather was just like his mood.

There is not much time left for France.

This year, Charlie is twenty-six years old.

...

France, Vauculer, the stronghold of the crown prince.

Robert, wearing armor, looked at the person in front of him, frowned, and said dissatisfied.

"Why are you here again? This is not where you women should be."

In front of the garrison commander, the young girl dressed like a boy did not rush to refute. She had a calmness far beyond that of her peers. She just turned towards the garrison commander in front of her. Bow slightly.

He raised his head, that dignified and quiet face had no fear, and there was a certain brilliance in the bright eyes.

This year, Jeanne Aker is seventeen years old.