"Look at my terrible bones, a little thing can crush him half to death. ”

Metternich's bitter shrunk shoulders—the act of shrugging was already extremely exhausting for him.

"It's ironic that the plan we painstakingly devised was as fragile as my body, and that a small rumor almost caused it to be aborted. ”

looked at the sudden increase in the gray hair on his old friend's temples, and the haggard in his expression could not be concealed. The Foreign Secretary smiled bitterly.

As a result of his own illness, all the recent stress and criticism have been directed at Richelieu. The prime minister of the kingdom who bears this qiē alone will only have a harder time than his sick life. From Richelieu's gloomy expression, it appears that the engagement programme that continues to be imposed has hit a reef beneath the undercurrent and has suffered a heavy setback.

"Say it, Plessy. I'm about to see Mother Goddess, so there's no need to hide anything from me. ”

The cardinal, who could not refuse, nodded his head and said with a gloomy face:

"The men sent to contact Albion and Castile have returned. ”

"It's back...... That is, both countries refuse to provide assistance to our country?"

Metternich let out a long sigh.

It is indeed not easy to ease relations with two land and sea neighbors at the same time.

The suspicious Albion, the opinionated Castile – it would be too hasty and difficult to convince them that Charlemagne intended to lift the current state of imminent imminence, in a political environment where there is no mutual trust. Preparation is far from sufficient. Before they can sympathize with Charlemagne's tragic situation, they may have to think about whether there is some kind of trap behind the aid application, and then decide to formulate an aid policy based on their research.

"It's a little hard to say, but it looks like Imir has to be cheeky and ask for help, if it's the Pope's royal will. How many ......"

And they agreed. ”

Shaking his head, Richelieu dismissed Metternich's hypothesis.

“...... What?"

As if it weren't his own voice, a stunned hiss squeezed out of Metternich's throat. Stunned as he stared at Richelieu's iron mask-like motionless face, Metternich noticed bloodshot around the blue pupils of the pale sapphire embedded in the iron mask.

It is obvious that the Prime Minister of Charlemagne's Kingdom has just lost his temper, and he is still angry. What did the guys from those two countries say or do, and what could make Richelieu, who had always remained calm, so angry?

"Albion and Castilla have agreed to provide food aid to our country. But with one condition attached. ”

In fact, this is quite normal, and those two countries have not yet been so unloved that they must provide unconditional and wholehearted support to their neighbors whenever they are in trouble. The use of paid aid against the opposition in their respective countries can also be regarded as a contest.

It's just that...... That exchange was the source of Richelieu's anger. The nails pierced deep into the palms, and beads of blood oozed from the cracks of the trembling fists.

"They demanded the signing of a peace agreement that would put an end to the state of war in an official document with the force of law, recognizing Flanders, Brittany, and Calais as [an integral part of Albion that has been sacred since time immemorial]. The food aid agreement and the peace treaty were then signed at the Compiègne Forest, where the Palaznipotentiary was appointed. ”

A metal-tearing voice descended on the bedroom, and Metternich's face turned dangerously bloody. The wizened claws scratched at the sheets for a while, and then let go in frustration.

"The plan is completely over!"

With reluctance and despair, sobs erupted from the depths of the hearts of the terminally ill, and Richelieu's face was covered with gloom.

After a long period of breath, the [continental system] officially entered the grave at this moment. The two planners painfully confirmed the results. Then the death certificate was issued by hand.

They had thought that Albion would pass the buck, or simply refuse, and encourage Castile to do the same. Therefore, he is ready to ask for help from Emile, who does not want to see Charlemagne collapse and affect the stability of the human camp. As long as the Pope gave orders for aid in religious terms, no matter how reluctant, the two countries could only agree to provide food aid to Charlemagne. But they never imagined that Albion would come up with such a despicable trick.

The last major war was a truce at the Thermos Castle in the Compiègne Forest. The war ended after failing to bring Albiong back to the island, and after spending a lot of lives and money, the war did not make any progress. In the minds of many Charlemagne, the Compiègne Forest is a symbol of the humiliation that Albion and Emile have imposed on the country.

In a land with unpleasant memories, the Duke of Normandy, who had been most active in encroaching on Charlemagne's territory, signed an agreement to cede the territory in perpetuity in exchange for a temporary handout? No government in its right mind could afford to do so, whether it was a nobleman or a commoner, they would get rid of it. Then consider using your fist with Albion to discuss the ownership of those places.

"It is impossible for anyone to accept such a humiliating thing, and the anti-Albiang sentiment in the country will enter a white-hot state, and any voice that détentes relations with Albiang will become a target. His Majesty also reprimanded me for this matter. ”

Richelieu's prosaic way of telling the story would lead one to mistakenly think that the king remembered his hard work, but only reprimanded him painlessly. Metternich, who knew the court insiders well, knew that Charles IV was not an unconditionally generous old man, and when Albion's arrogant reply touched the ambition of the supreme one, the usually favored cardinal church was hit by a very difficult storm.

As for their plan, who would mention it? Who wants to put on the hat of a traitor and live a life every day on guard against assassinations or angry people shouting "Heaven Punish the National Thief" and "Qingjun Side"?

Without the king's support, the common people and nobles refused to accept it. The Continental System Project is tantamount to being stripped of the backbone. It's impossible to even stand up and walk, let alone have any possibility of development.

"Ahem...... Be...... Ahem...... Is it Walsingham's claim?"

Metternich asked, his anger burning and boiling in his sick body, and he stared at the ceiling.

Competent, cold, resembling Richelieu's Walsingham.

The only person who could come up with such a vicious idea in a short time and encourage the debaucherous King Edward to act in concert with Castile was the only one in the court of Albion. (To be continued.) )

PS: Guess the small theater