1621 Winter(Late February)

“Wha, what did you say?”

“T...the grand viceroy of Bosnia, who was captured as a prisoner by the 2nd division of the Franks(10th Crusade), was executed!”

“A...at this rate, we’ll not only lose the Balkan area, but also the entire empire!”

“Allahu Akbar! Order all troops to march to Thessaloniki!

We shall first drive the 3rd division of the Franks out of the Greek region!”

“Y...yes, Sultan!”

Running out of patience, 160,000 soldiers led by Osman II – the current Sultan of the Ottoman Empire – left Alexandroupoli and marched to Thessaloniki, where 140,000 soldiers of the 3rd division of the 10th Crusade is currently stationed.

And at the same time, the 1st division of the 10th Crusade led by Louis XIII, which was shaking me and the Ottoman’s tree till now, landed at Lebanon coastline and marched southward.

“Louis XIII...you brat! You first told me you shall reclaim Egypt, following the Saint Louis’s footsteps, but Lebanon?”

It was too absurd. Considering the current era’s supplying skills, Lebanon is far north of Egypt. If you start marching southward from Lebanon, Sinai Peninsula will be your best shot.

‘Wait a minute. From Lebanon to the Sinai Peninsula, isn’t the realm of the Kingdom of Jerusalem?’

“This is definitely not Louis XIII’s work! Cardinal Richelieu, you cunning fox! You dare deceive the 1st Imperator of the New West Roman Empire!”

Indeed, reclaiming Jerusalem will also be a huge honor, which will be comparable – or perhaps much greater honor – to recapturing Constantinople.

If France successfully reclaims the holy land, which was long lost after the defeat of the 3rd Crusade, not a single nation in Europe can ignore France. Even the Imperator of the New West Roman Empire can disregard the king of France no longer.

The title ‘Protector of the Holy land, Jerusalem’ isn’t a paper tiger, you know.

Besides, France will also try to reclaim Egypt, though it’s not the 1st division, but the Mamluk that will do the job. Since France had been on good terms with the Ottoman to contain Spain and Holy Roman Empire till the Napoleon era in the original history, it’s no surprise that Richelieu tries to do the same thing as Napoleon did.

That is, after France reclaims the ‘De Jure’ of the Jerusalem Kingdom, it’ll negotiate with the Mamluk – the real ruler of Egypt – and initiate them to declare independence from the Ottoman Empire

“...The Red Eminence will be a tough rival for Richard.”

That’s it. That bread and butter relationship of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu is an archenemy for my son and my heir – the next Imperator of the New West Roman Empire – Richard. If I don’t do something, the Red Eminence will have his way with Richard and the New West Roman Empire.

‘Should I assassinate Cardinal Richelieu? No, killing isn’t always an option. There’s a better idea.’

“Let’s play a little game, shall we?”

A week later

“Send these messages secretly to London.”

“Yes, Imperator.”

I’ve ordered the City of London and the Bank of England, East India, and the West India Company to shake the Huguenots, using their financial and commercial network.

I don’t wish another French Civil war or a coup-de-tat. All I need is a political disturbance that forces either Louis XIII or Cardinal Richelieu to return to Paris, leaving the other to be left alone in Jerusalem.

Of course, it’s most likely that Cardinal Richelieu will be the one to return to Paris and Louis XIII will be the one to stay in Jerusalem. Since Louis XIII is the commander of the 1st division of the 10th Crusade, his return to Paris will lead to a drop in the army’s morale, the Red Eminence has no choice but to return to France. And they will play right into my hands.

Just like Ivan the terrible or the Peter the Great did, Louis XIII’s childhood was not that happy, thanks to his late mother – and my late daughter – Elizabeth the Lioness.

His memory of his closest person tried to have her way, using him as a figurehead, must have been a trauma for him, even though he’s now an adult.

In short, Louis XIII can’t believe anyone fully and suspects everyone - especially those who have power equivalent to him in France – endlessly.

“Well, it may not be enough, but considering the original history...”

The original Louis XIII, who was abused and neglected during childhood thanks to the quarrel between his parents - Marie de Médicis and Henry IV - endlessly suspected his closest aid, Cardinal Richelieu, too, you know.

“Let’s hope that this will be a cornerstone in Louis XIII’s mind of treating Cardinal Richelieu as squeezed orange.”

That is, Louis XIII’s suspicion towards the Red Eminence will grow as time goes by, seeing his outstanding performance - even tricking the 2nd Imperator of the New West Roman Empire, Richard – worrying that Cardinal Richelieu might secretly deceive him as well.

Anyway, I’ve done enough. It’s up to Richard to tackle France. I need to do my job – defeating the Ottoman – now!