A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

"But before that, Robert, tell me your thoughts. There are some things I would rather hear from your own mouth.

Though arrogant nobles may see faith as a tool, to be picked up and discarded at will, their past oaths can become worth less than filth in an instant when profit is at stake.

The nauseating stench of filth can at least make one dizzy for a moment, but a broken oath is as cheap as air, gone in a flash.

For these nobles to still proclaim their Devotion... what an absurd world.

But if even a verbal contract cannot be honored, then things will only become more absurd, and there will be no need for us to continue this discussion."

Lanfranc slowly walked toward Robert.

Then, he shifted his gaze to Eric.

"No matter how eloquent your representative is, or how skilled he is at scheming."

"Everything is as Eric said. He speaks for me."

Robert glanced at Eric and said slowly to Lanfranc.

"Archbishop, believe me, I will be a greater man than my father. I loathe my father’s actions.

To degenerate into what he has become would be the cruelest punishment I could possibly imagine in this world.

I promise you, Archbishop Lanfranc. I will listen devoutly to the sacred voice, wield my Sword for the Lord of Heaven, and I will not harm the innocent or slaughter the weak."

......

After persuading Lanfranc, a simple coronation was held at Westminster Abbey the very next day; it was a matter of great urgency.

Unfortunately, news also arrived the next day: Count Moretan had been defeated at Winchester by the combined forces of Baron Langwell Walter and Baron Sari Velen.

Count Moretan was forced to retreat into his core territory of Dorset, as the forces of Baron Langwell Walter and Baron Sari Velen vastly outnumbered his own.

Thus, if Robert and Eric did not rescue him in time, Count Moretan would very likely surrender.

Count Moretan had been reluctant to join Robert’s side in the first place; he bore no great resentment or prejudice against his maternal half-brother, William.

Count Moretan, Robert Conteville, was militarily mediocre compared to his two older half-brothers, Conqueror William and Odo of Bayeux.

Although he participated in the Battle of Hastings and was given considerable command authority by William, he had no notable achievements. He received his bountiful rewards solely because he had provided William with a vast fleet of ships.

He was typically absent from William’s military campaigns.

He was, however, rather skilled at managing his estates and could always provide William with ample funds—a much better situation than that of his brother Odo, who was perpetually short on cash.

His reason for joining Robert’s side this time was almost entirely due to Odo’s persuasion; Odo had used a mix of cajoling and trickery to get him on board.

Eric did not consider him reliable in the slightest, but his resources and army were indispensable. Besides, there was almost no one else who could contend for the task of besieging Winchester.

At Eric’s persuasion, Robert had agreed that Count Moretan would besiege Winchester using only his own forces.

Eric had no faith that Count Moretan was capable of, or even truly willing to, capture Winchester for Robert. What Eric really wanted was for the Count’s army to tie down Conqueror William’s forces.

Odo was furious about this. He suspected that Eric was targeting the Conteville family. But faced with Eric’s barrage of questions, he was left speechless and had no choice but to agree to the plan.

Now, with Count Moretan having been soundly defeated by the King’s Army, Eric had Robert and Odo remain to defend London City, while he himself would lead a detachment of troops to relieve the Count.

Initially, they had hired three thousand five hundred Flemish Spear Soldiers and two thousand five hundred Genoese Crossbowmen, in addition to one thousand five hundred Norman Knights, three hundred Tenant Cavalry, and fewer than two hundred Knights from Essex.

Now, due to William’s attacks, the Flemish Spear Soldiers and Genoese Crossbowmen had suffered one-third casualties from the dead and wounded.

In the process, five hundred Knights and five hundred Genoese Crossbowmen had been left to defend Luton City, a stronghold meant to pin down the Lord of Leister.

Therefore, Eric only requested from Robert two hundred Knights (mainly Knights under Belem), three hundred Tenant Cavalry, three hundred Genoese Crossbowmen, three hundred Flemish Spear Soldiers, and his own Warband. In total, a force of just over one thousand men, to go and relieve Count Moretan.

Of course, Eric planned to travel by water, not by land. Although his previous experiences with sea travel were far from pleasant, it was undoubtedly the fastest and safest means of transport available.

「Aboard the ship.」

Besides Eric, Robert had also sent another, less familiar noble to relieve Count Moretan—Ansebel.

"Duke Robert trusts you so much; even if you had refused, you would have had an easy way to back out.

Taking so few men is suicide. Can’t you see this is Odo’s trap?

Both Baron Langwell Walter and Baron Sari Velen are excellent commanders."

Ansebel, still wearing his commoner’s hat, sat at the foot of the bunk, watching Eric study a map.

"You should address Robert as His Majesty the King now. He is a formally anointed King, and the Lord of Heaven will protect him."

Eric ignored the question, correcting Ansebel’s form of address instead.

"England has had many kings. Few of the Kings of England crowned this century have lasted.

Almost no one believes legitimate succession matters to the England Kingdom anymore.

You shouldn’t be thinking about serving this so-called King loyally. You should be thinking about how to gain more for yourself.

This whole performance of loyalty is long out of fashion.

That way, even if Robert loses, you’ll still be valuable enough for Conqueror William to recruit, just like King Canute and Earl Godwin. Or, for instance..."

"Or, for instance, you."

Eric looked at Ansebel.

Ansebel was instantly at a loss for words, a flicker of awkwardness on his face.

"I am merely stating a fact. You are Odo’s enemy. Now you’re leading a meager force into a battle you cannot possibly win, regardless of the outcome.

As long as Odo remains by Robert’s side, he can destroy everything you accomplish with his tongue alone.

No matter how much Robert trusts you."

"Trust is the cheapest of commodities. For a King, it is an unnecessary luxury.

No matter how pleasant a person’s words are, their intentions will gradually change with time and experience.

Robert might be a good man, but a good man is still a man, and no one likes someone too clever constantly giving them pointers. Even if the advice is perfectly reasonable.

I am not attacking Robert’s character; humans are simply repulsive creatures in that way.

The thing that sustains friendship and trust over the long term is not good character, but a sense of distance and mystery.

Becoming too familiar with someone can very well lead to the shattering of a bond."

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