At that time, after receiving this letter from Egil, Austria's current Duchess Theresa felt a chill that could not be stopped. She was originally quite arrogant about her viciousness and tricks, but now she saw a person who was a hundred times more vicious than her.

"There is no good day to go to bed in the future." Duke Teresa sighed, shook his head, and then placed the letter next to the candlelight and burned it to ashes.

Her situation was worse than that of the Duke of Moscow Ekaterina who directly ascended the throne and snatched her son. The latter's son had never ascended the throne. It was reasonable to be a crown prince. However, Paul was willing to use external forces to make Moscow lose his status as a vassal of the Norman Empire and compete with his mother. Teresa directly snatched the throne of the duke from her son. Frederick was just ten years old at this time. Naturally, he had no choice but to do anything. However, when he grew up and understood the truth, what would happen then?

In short, it's very troublesome. Originally, Teresa didn't want to think about this. It was not because she was not smart enough. It was because she had a little bit of a mother's mentality and would subconsciously resist things that were unfavorable to her son. She had some ostrich mentality. However, Egil made the matter clear at this moment. Teresa could no longer avoid this issue.

The duchess who had just ascended the throne knew that this was the Norman Emperor's warning to her. Let her understand what it means to be outsiders. Let her not be arrogant because things have been done smoothly in recent times. Obey the arrangements of the Norman Empire and not have any greater ambitions.

"However, if you think so, can you say that the Norman Emperor was also a little afraid of me. So he used this method to warn me?" At this moment, Duke Teresa finished feeling and thought from another perspective: "Maybe, this is also a certain affirmation."

Thinking of this, the duchess felt that she was amazing again. It was not easy to let Emperor Norman look at him differently.

In this way, after Egil's letter was sent to Teresa, the duchess sent another army to help, but did not mobilize the 30,000 troops she originally planned. Instead, she only dispatched 20,000 people. The idea of ​​making a name for himself in this war also disappeared. When she met Egil and met other German princes in the northern foot of the Alps, she was also extremely well-behaved, just like an ordinary noble lady with harmless personal life.

"Maybe she will refuse her son to kill him in a few years. A vicious woman." Egil thought so, while wrapping the white fox fur tighter on his body. Although it was already spring, in the Alps, the higher altitudes were still very cold. The Norman army was fine. Most of them came from cold Northern and Eastern Europe. Moreover, the sound logistics system could also ensure the sufficient supply of cold-proof supplies, cotton coats and blankets used by the army. However, the army of other countries was a little miserable. Although it was rare to freeze to death, it would happen every now and then.

However, these things have nothing to do with Egil. What does that mean is that my vassal is not my vassal. Well, so Egil is responsible for the dukes under his command, while the other troops and soldiers under the dukes. These Egil is not in charge. If you lack food and clothing, you will ask Egil for it. Egil asks them to write IOUs.

"In recent times, His Majesty the Emperor seems to be much more stingy..." Many people thought so. They didn't know that soon, in another year or two, the Normans' actions in the New World would spread. In another one or two years, the iron hooves of Mongolia would also swarm in. At that time, Egil would not care about these guys. He dared to conclude that the European countries that he had recovered by force would never feel much better about him than the Kumens' centaurs. So...

"What are you afraid of? I have an unparalleled Moscow defense system. The city is high and the pool is deep, and there are artillery guards. No matter how powerful the Mongolian cavalry is, he cannot let the war horses climb the city walls. The infantry will die as much as the infantry comes..." Egil had to recite such words more than three times a day. He cheered himself up and hypnotize him.

In this way, in early April, the vanguard of the Norman United Army finally crossed the Alps and appeared on the southern foot of the Alps. At the same time, Egil also sent envoys to Milan and Venice again, reiterating to ensure their interests. At the same time, they also announced that they would join the Norman army.

In contrast, the response speed of the Roman Catholic Church was quite fast. The 80,000 Holy See's army quickly headed north. At the same time, the envoy of the Holy See also headed towards Milan and Venice with Gregorian's handwritten letter.

When the envoys of the Holy See and the Norman Empire came to the Principality of Milan and the Republic of Venice, they received completely different treatments. The Duke of Milan, Francisco, and the Governor of Venice, who had already made the decision, accepted the invitation from the Norman Emperor without thinking. They "commanded" the envoys of the Holy See and "politely" "invited" the envoys of the Holy See out.

On April 10, the Principality of Milan and the Republic of Venice announced that they would recognize the legitimacy of the Norman Emperor Egil, inheriting the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. At the same time, they recognized the Holy Roman Empire of Egil and ruling power over the Lombardy Kingdom. They recognized themselves as the shackles of Egil and swore allegiance to Egil.

A total of 30,000 Northern Italian troops joined the ranks of the Norman Union, bringing the Norman army to 240,000 (100,000 regular troops, 30,000 Eastern Army, 40,000 Central Army, 20,000 Austrian troops, 20,000 Bavarian troops, and 30,000 Northern Italian troops). It is three times that of the Roman Catholic Church. At this point, the general situation of the Roman Catholic Church is over.

After learning about the betrayal of Milan and Venice, Gregory VII's face suddenly turned pale and his body trembled uncontrollably. If he hadn't insisted on his life, clenched his fists and stabbed his nails into the flesh in his palm, he might have fainted on the spot.

"War is really not a good thing." At that time, Gregory VII, who had recovered for a long time, muttered exhaustedly.

"What should we do? Do we want to go to Rome?" asked an archbishop nervously next to Gregory VII.

"Whoever is afraid of death will go back. I must stay here!" Gregory VII stood up suddenly and shouted, "I am the Pope, walking on the earth, the spokesperson of God! I don't believe what they can do to me!"

When the Pope's "hard" speech was heard, the bishops were speechless. Are there very few popes who have been killed by the Holy Roman Emperor these days? If you say this, ask yourself whether you believe it or not. Go really."...

"In fact, even if you want to return to Rome at this time, it is unlikely." Looking at the changing faces of the archbishops, next to Gregory VII, his most trusted general and the direct commander of the 50,000 army of the Pope, the middle-aged man from a mercenary said in a deep voice: "The other party has the most powerful light cavalry power in the world.

If we retreat at this time, we may be able to see the flaws and launch light cavalry to pursue us. In this case, we may not be able to go to Rome and will be destroyed by the enemy."

"What should we do?" An archbishop was a little anxious when he heard him say this: "Do you want us to surrender to him collectively? Or do you have a way to defeat that emperor?!"

"Surrender is naturally impossible. And even if we want to surrender now, the Norman Emperor, who has an absolute advantage, probably won't give us this opportunity." The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "As for defeat... although he is not very sure. But at least for now, this is the only way."

"How sure are you? It depends on defeating the other side when the battle is head-on?" Gregory VII, who had been listening quietly to the mercenary general's speech, asked.

"No less than 30%." The man answered very honestly.

"…, then what about defending the city?" the pope then asked, "Bologna is not very far from us. If we guard the city..."

"I'm sorry, the Holy See, if we choose to defend this city, we may not have a chance." The middle-aged man said: "I participated in the Crusades of the previous year. I knew that the other party had extraordinary siege methods. The number of enemies was enough to surround the entire Bologna to attack. At that time, the other party could just draw a side division to continue to move south and take Rome away. Then our situation would be very bad."

"In other words, there is only field battle." Gregory VII nodded after hearing his words. Then he said to him: "Then, I'll ask you everything."

"This is my responsibility, the Holy See." The middle-aged mercenary nodded. Then he told the bishops about his strategic deployment and plans, cheering them up, and patiently answering their stupid questions. After busy for more than a day, it was over. So the bishops returned to their tents to play with rabbits. Only the pope and the middle-aged mercenary were left in the tent.

"Harold." Gregory VII sighed: "Do you know how much I want to defeat that emperor? He has maintained his strong position since the first time I saw him. It was like a shadow covering me, leaving me unable to see a trace of light..., I have been awakened by nightmares many times, dreaming that the Rome I loved deeply was ravaged by his iron hooves, which made me unable to sleep at night and unable to rest..., Can you understand my mood?"

"Of course, the Holy See." The mercenaries called Harold turned against the Eastern Roman Empire, who were intimate with the Norman Empire, and led his mercenaries to be loyal to the Holy See. The leader of the northern mercenary nodded: "Because, when it comes to the mood of wanting to defeat him, I am the same as you." (To be continued)
Chapter completed!