The Rise of the European Emperor

Just when the North Sea country was in full swing to carry out the research on the cowpox method, the winning Spaniard in Naples, Italy, did not feel happy at all. Because, their coach Gonzalo was excommunicated by the Pope.

Although it was only three years, it was very fatal. Because, according to the canon, no believer can interact with the excommunicated person, and other believers are not allowed to obey the excommunicated person's command. In other words, within three years, Gonzalo is not eligible to serve as the Spanish army coach.

However, after the previous defeat, the Spaniards realized that if they wanted to fight against the powerful France, they had to rely on famous generals like Gonzalo.

Although smallpox temporarily forced the French back, the French army suffered no losses. As long as the smallpox epidemic is over, it will inevitably make a comeback. At that time, who will lead the Spanish army to resist the French counterattack?

It is foreseeable that once the epidemic is over this year or next year, the French will definitely launch a fierce counterattack while Gonzalo is not in place. After all, it is impossible for the French to abandon the ash in Naples.

The Spanish government and opposition were in a hurry. Even Ferdinand II, who had a holiday with Gonzalo, had to admit that only Gonzalo could lead the Spanish army to defeat the French.

At this time, the Queen of Castile, the daughter of Maximilian I, Margaret of Austria suddenly suggested:

"Father, Juan (Juan III), I heard that Marin, the Grand Duke of Beihai, has a very good relationship with His Majesty the Pope. Why don't we ask him to mediate and intercede with His Majesty the Pope? If you don't say it, you can avoid the rejection. Punishment, as long as it can be reduced to within one year. Smallpox is expected to be difficult to end within this year. We just need to let General Gonzalo end the excommunication next year and go out to the mountains to take charge of the soldiers..."

The eyes of the father and son suddenly lit up—yes, that guy Marin has always had a good relationship with the current Pope Julius II. At first, it was Marin's army who escorted the Pope into Rome. Ask him to come forward and make peace, there is a play...

So, the two kings of Spain contacted Reed, the ambassador of the North Sea country in Toledo, and asked Reed to contact Marin with a carrier pigeon, asking him to help mediate the matter.

After receiving the letters from the two kings of Spain, Marin thought for a long time and decided to help. Because, he is indeed worried that Spain will lose to France, which will lead to a strong rise of France.

France has a very rich heritage. They have a large population, many knights, and the number of war horses is also the highest in Europe. Once the French have enough food, it is not a problem to pull up an army of 100,000. Although Spain has money, the potential for civil war is not great. Mainly, the knight class, which was the backbone of the army, was not strong enough.

No way, France is not only large, but also mostly plains. This gave the French monarchs the capital of a large-scale canonization of knights, so that there are 10 to 20 thousand people in France who have knighthood titles. As for the children of the knight family who can go on horses to fight, it is estimated that there are tens of thousands.

However, due to the lack of food and grass supply, France dispatched more than 10,000 knights at most in each battle. Any more and you can't afford it. The main thing is that the war horse can eat food too!

If the food and grass problem is solved for them, it is estimated that the whole of Western Europe will tremble under the iron hoof of France.

On the Spanish side, although the land area is not much smaller than that of France, most of them are mountainous! The mountains obviously cannot be used as the fief manor of knights, so the scale of Spanish knights has always been small. And, under the influence of the Moors who once ruled southern Spain,

Spanish knights are more like a division between plate knights and light cavalry. They are more than enough to deal with light cavalry, but they are not good for French knights, no matter in terms of combat power or size.

So, Marin preferred the Spanish to occupy the kingdom of Naples, and then let the French attack. For the request of the two Spanish kings, he naturally agreed...

...

So, Marin flew the pigeons and contacted the Pope's father-in-law who was far away in Rome. After receiving the letter from his son-in-law, Julius II thought again and again and replied.

He told Marin that it was impossible to pardon Gonzalo casually. After all, he is the Pope, and he also wants face. If the excommunication is easily withdrawn, it will have a blow to the Pope's WeChat.

However, it can also be changed. However, Spain and Gonzalo had to do their best to allow the Holy See to step down. Otherwise, casually reducing or exempting excommunication will inevitably make people look down on the Holy See.

Therefore, Julius II told Marin that Gonzalo could learn from the "humiliation of Canossa" of Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor who was excommunicated that year, and come to the Holy See to ask his forgiveness. In this way, after stepping down the steps, Julius II can take the opportunity to reduce the excommunication.

However, Henry IV, as the emperor, also stood in the snow for three days and three nights before being forgiven. And Gonzalo was just an earl, several ranks below the emperor. Therefore, Julius II asked Gonzalo to kneel at the gate of the Holy See for three days and three nights to be forgiven. And having the commander-in-chief of the Spanish army kneel for three days and three nights at the Holy See is also a huge boost to the prestige of the Holy See.

Of course, Julius II also gave a second choice, which is also a way to reduce or exempt from excommunication - caning, the penitent executes caning in public, and 3,000 canes offset one year's excommunication...

Marin got a letter from the Pope's father-in-law and found it very difficult. why? Because the punishment is a bit harsh. If a young man is fine, Gonzalo is already 62 years old!

Originally, General Gonzalo died this winter. Apparently, it was because of malaria. After all, he is no longer young and more prone to illness.

Even in the "humiliation of Canossa", Henry IV only stood for three days and three nights, which was much easier than kneeling. Moreover, when Henry IV repented, he was only 27 years old. He was a strong boy. How could the 62-year-old Gonzalo be compared?

But the other option is even worse, that is caning! 3,000 sticks can only be used for one year, doesn’t it cost 9,000 sticks for three years? Wouldn't Gonzalo, a 62-year-old man, be beaten to death?

If the Spaniards themselves execute the caning, and the execution is not public, you can also release water to make people feel good about it. But it was a public execution in the Holy See, or a confessor of the Holy See. Even if the Confessor was bribed, they had to make some noise in front of everyone's eyes. With a few sticks, this kind of punishment that only hears the sound and the injury is not serious may be able to pass the test easily. But if it were 9,000 sticks, no matter how fooled it was, people would be killed, especially an old man like Gonzalo.

Marin didn't know how to choose, so he gave the option to the Spaniards. After receiving Marin's carrier pigeon, the two Spanish kings were both happy and worried. They were happy that the excommunication could be reduced, but they were worried that the two kinds of excommunication were too shameful, and the other was easy to die...

The two kings had no choice but to hand over the choice to Gonzalo himself...

After receiving a letter from the two kings, Gonzalo decided to accept the punishment of kneeling for three days and three nights...

Although this punishment is humiliating, it is at least better than being beaten with 9,000 sticks. It is not that he is afraid of pain, but that he is afraid that after he is killed, Spain will lose to the French in the next war.

As for shame or something, the emperor bowed his head to admit his mistake to the Pope (Henry IV not only stood in the snow for three days and three nights, but also knelt down and cried and begged for mercy), he is an ordinary earl, kneeling for three days and three nights does not count Particularly aggrieved.

Moreover, this seemingly humiliating punishment of kneeling, while increasing face for the Holy See, can also be exchanged for the Pope's complete pardon for him, which is quite cost-effective.

So, Gonzalo informed the two kings of Spain that he was going to the Holy See to be punished for kneeling. At the same time, he also passed a letter to Marin by flying pigeons, begging Marin to help clear up the relationship in the Holy See. For example, when punishing kneeling, give a cushion to make kneeling more comfortable. Also, he is allowed to go to the toilet in the middle of the journey... Maybe he can insist on not eating or drinking for three days, and he will not go to the toilet for three days and three nights, but he will be suffocated...

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