"Send to hell those arrogant people who have no piety!"
The look on the face of St. Trefus II was so terrifying that it could make one's heart chill. He was still middle-aged when he wore the all-white cassock, but now he looks like an old man. Since the dead King John VI sued the Pope, he began to age rapidly. Confusion and anger made the muscles disappear quickly from this skeleton, and stubbornness made every line of him look extremely strong.
The holy father's thin chest heaved violently, and his skinny hands were tightly grasping the armrest of the pope's chair.
Siul's attack on the Papal State lasted for half a year. God's kingdom on earth was invaded by pagans. The anointed monarchs should have immediately recruited troops to fight against the pagans, fulfilling their coronation promises and fulfilling their duties The residence of the Guardian God in the world. The results of it! To this day, only the king of the pitifully small Principality of Elno has the most reinforcements coming... The entire army has no more than a thousand people, and most of them are peasants without armor or swords.
The church had to provide weapons for the pious but ridiculous king out of its own pocket.
Those who are really powerful use various excuses to shirk their support. Rather than serving God, they cared more about Jager after the death of John VI. Now there are six successors competing for the throne in Jager, each with supporters behind them. After Yager fell into civil strife, the shipping routes, islands, and straits that originally belonged to it were quickly divided up, just like Roland's situation earlier.
So far no monarch has officially led an army to protect the god's territory.
When St. Trefus II had to personally write a letter humbly asking them to provide an army in his capacity as the Holy Father, these monarchs suddenly became ill and were not in a good position. These people's hearts are as bright as a mirror. Winter is coming, and the Xiul army will not stay for too long. As long as the Papal State pays the ransom to these heretics from the grassland, they will naturally retreat. Naturally, these people were happy to see the Papal States being captured by Siul's army. As for the dignity of God and the church, what did they care about? ... Over the years, the expansion of the Papal State has long made some people dissatisfied. What they needed was a shrine to be enshrined, not a Papal State with lands and armies.
St. Trefus II sat on the chair, the expression on his face was as cold and hard as solidified pig iron.
He listened to the muffled and dull sound of the heavy stones thrown by the trebuchet hitting the city wall in the dark night. The Xiule people are attacking the holy city. They were not good at besieging the city or attacking the city, but the "renegade" Prince Arthur has outstanding military engineers. They provided the Xiule people with exquisite tools and tools. accurate guidance.
St. Trefus II pondered for a long time, and told Cardinal Castel: "Let Servetus come to see me."
"Okay." After Cardinal Castel agreed, he asked hesitantly, "The Archbishop of Lyon is still waiting for your audience."
"An audience?" The Pope's voice became colder. "If they still have the idea of abandoning the Holy City and fleeing, then tell them that the Inquisition is waiting for them."
"But… "
Cardinal Castel stood where he was.
"Holy Father, we don't have any reinforcements. It's not Root, not Roland, but Dong Ule."
He struggled to get the worst news out of his mouth. This is a very absurd and ironic thing. The army that the Pope is really waiting for is not Root or Roland, but East Ule—the same pagan as Si Ule. The Ule empire was divided into two parts, the east and the west. When West Ule was advancing, the Pope's envoy secretly went to East Ule. This is a dangerous move. If the matter is revealed, it will be enough to ruin the Pope St. Trefus II. But it is also the most feasible.
East and West Wule have the same roots, but the relationship is not friendly at all. They are eyeing each other and want to annex each other. Prior to this, Xi Ule's strength was relatively strong, which made Dong Ule stand still in recent years. But if Siul can capture the Papal State, both strength and prestige will be raised to another level.
It's ridiculous to say that those who really don't want the Papal States to fall are not the monarchs who are gods in the world, but their pagan enemies.
Although extremely angry, St. Trefus II did not pin his hopes on Western reinforcements from the beginning. As early as when the West Ule army set off, the Pope's special envoy arrived in East Ule. The two sides reached an agreement, the Papal State contained the main force of Xiul, and Dongul took the opportunity to attack Xiul. However, out of the idea of weakening the strength of Siul and the Papal State, Dongul moved at a very slow pace, and did not feel a sense of urgency until he found that Siul was moving at an unusually fast speed.
Even so, Dong Wule should be here soon.
"what happened?"
"Orsis intercepted the East Ule cavalry."
Cardinal Castel's face was as pale as paper.
St. Trefus II didn't seem to understand for a second, and then his tall and thin figure shook twice, and fell backward into the back of the chair.
Cardinal Castel stopped talking.
The reason why the Lute Empire intercepted Dong Ule was simple and ironic-intercepting heretics is an obligation that must be fulfilled as an anointed person. That's what the young emperor said. He even sent a letter to the holy city, telling the church that the pagans still have a very strong reinforcement army. In order to protect the Holy Papal State, they have tried their best to stop the other side's reinforcement army. . I paid a huge price and manpower for this. It is a pity that I cannot come to the city of Rhone to personally guard the Holy Father with a sword, but they will definitely use the head of the pagan leader as a gift...
Cardinal Castel blocked the letter and did not hand it directly to St. Treves II.
Why did the Root Empire take the initiative to stop the East Ule people
Because they don't want the Papal State to receive reinforcements, or in other words, they also want to see the city of Rhone fall. As for the purpose... The Pope's Kingdom is close to the Roland Empire, and Adele is well-known as the "God Blessed King". Before the city of Rhone fell, she could find various excuses to stand by. But once the Holy City falls, even the Roland believers who have been gradually combing with the Holy City Church will be shocked by it.
The pressure of faith and her own royal power will both force Queen Roland to step onto the battlefield to fight against Xiul.
In other words, Orsis arbitrarily used the Papal State as a pawn in exchange for suppressing Roland.
"Meet the Cardinals of Lyon, Holy Father."
Cardinal Castel said sadly.
St. Trefus II's Adam's apple slid up and down several times, and he squeezed out a hard word from his dry throat: "No."
"Holy Father!" Cardinal Castel shouted.
"Castel," St. Telefus II clasped the armrest tightly with both hands. After his anger and disappointment reached the extreme, he calmed down instead. The troops must be retreated. If King Siul personally leads the army this time, there is a possibility of overwintering. But the army is only led by one of their generals, and they will not continue to attack for too long. Queen Roland is not an idiot, since Root intercepted If the Dongwule people are killed, she will definitely send troops to support us immediately. We just need to hold on for a while."
"But we can't hold on anymore!"
Cardinal Castel couldn't help interrupting him loudly.
"You're right! But we can't hold on any longer! We almost drove everyone to the city wall... But Holy Father, have you heard the rumor? Prince Arthur is the devil who walks in the world. He led With a bloodthirsty army, he's come to bleed the Holy Land. The people are terrified... Holy Father, they're just a bunch of lambs, you can't expect lambs to fight hungry wolves, they just want to flee."
No one knows better than the people of the Church what kind of city the heart of the Papal States is.
The holy city is a palace built on ruins.
There is nowhere nearer to the kingdom of God, nor nearer to hell. The Holy Gate stands majestically, where the pope with the triple crown dominates the spiritual world of believers all over the world, and the cardinals in bright red robes line up here, and the princes and nobles of all countries have to bow their proud heads here. On the outskirts, countless low-rise houses of civilians are crowded together like ants' nests, brothels are everywhere, grandly receiving people wearing monk clothes, and assassins and killers walk everywhere.
Such a city, how can you expect it to be heroic
To be able to support until now, it is all thanks to them to drive all the civilians to the top of the city and guard them. But don't expect how brave these people are. They do have a certain awe and trust in the Pope - this is thanks to the Purification Movement since St. Trefus II took office. But more, such as living and dying with the Holy City... that's gone.
in particular…
"Someone has started to run away, Holy Father." Castel said, "Bishop Bernard tried to leave, but we found him."
"Throw him on the stake." St. Trefus II said sternly, "then, tell all the cardinals that all adult men in their families must go up to the city wall for defense. And they themselves need to fight every day In the morning and evening, pray for the soldiers defending the city, and tell everyone that all the defenders of the city can be forgiven for all past crimes and can be redeemed. Lambs can also fight hungry wolves, Castel.”
"No."
Cardinal Castel paled.
"We can't, Holy Father, we can't do this."
"Are you going to oppose me too?" St. Trefus II stood up, "You were bought by them too? Even you are more willing to live on mediocrity?"
"It doesn't matter whether I live or die, but we can't do this." Cardinal Castel was emotional, "They just want to escape now, if you want them to give up running, they have to turn their swords to point at you first " He sadly called out the Pope's common name, "Luvis, meet the Bishop of Lyon and the others, and give up the holy city."
"Then become a prisoner of the Rolands?" the Pope asked. "Do you know who most wants us to abandon the holy city and run away? Roland! Roland! They have delayed sending troops until now, so they just wait for us to go to them? Since then the Church As long as it is under their control, Roland's monarch will become a veritable 'king of heaven's protection' - even the gods are just puppets in their hands, what else do they need to fear and fear? Go and inform the bishops."
"Sorry," Cardinal Castel said with difficulty, "I can't, Luvis."
"Then get out and let Servette in."
snapped the pope.
Cardinal Castel staggered two steps, turned around and staggered out.
The Pope fell back into his chair, as if only his skeleton was left, he disappeared into the darkness, feeling extremely tired.
After a while, footsteps sounded.
He forcefully pulled himself together: "Servette, go tell... Bernard?!"
The pope's face changed suddenly, and he was about to call someone. Bishop Bernard, who was supposed to be on guard, walked in. Bishop Bernard covered the Pope's mouth, and cut his throat with a sharp knife.
"Sorry, Holy Father, we didn't want to do this either," Bishop Bernard said.
"Kastie... where's Kastel?"
the pope asked vaguely.
"Don't worry, he's just one step ahead of you."
… … … … … … …
The spies dressed as monks walked quickly into the queen's palace.
The queen was originally talking to Mrs. Kelly, and her expression was soft. She only glanced at the secret letter, and the softness on her face instantly faded like a tide, and it became dignified and cold.
"What's the matter?" Mrs. Kelly asked.
The queen folded the letter, stood up, and answered concisely:
"The Pope is dead, and the Holy City has fallen."