The always resourceful Elector of Saxony instinctively felt that something was wrong when he saw this situation-
"Can you bet that the Second and Third Legions of the Beihai Kingdom were brought back by the Little Caesar of the Beihai Kingdom?"
It was not unreasonable for him to think this way, because no matter how you look at the current situation in Beihai Kingdom, you should not fight the opponent. Therefore, Frederick III believed that there was a fraud. However, he did not understand the problem for a moment.
However, before Frederick III could figure it out, unexpected situations occurred in the venue—
The new Archbishop Trier Richard stood up and said to Johnny with a smile:
"Sign up, believe in the combat effectiveness of the Beihai Army!"
Johnny looked confused and nodded in confusion:
"Um!"
Then, on behalf of Beihai Kingdom, he signed the duel letter.
Brunswick-Wolfenbitel Duke Henry looked at the duel bookmark with joy, then looked around:
"So, who wants to be a witness?"
Duels need witnesses to show fairness. After all, duels are also afraid that their opponents will cheat in violation of regulations. Therefore, witnesses are needed.
Of course, the "duel" between countries actually does not require witnesses. The winner takes all, and the loser loses everything. But out of personal duel habits, Duke Henry still asked who would be a witness.
"I'll do it!"
It was Archbishop Trier Richard again, who was the first to sign notarization on behalf of Archbishop Trier. After signing, Archbishop Trier gently said in his ear to Henry, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbitel:
"Congratulations to Duke Henry."
"Haha!" Duke Henry laughed smugly.
It seems that Archbishop Trier is helping the 8-Nation Alliance to seize the land of the North Sea.
Archbishop Trier's behavior interrupted Frederick III's thinking. Seeing that there seemed to be no big problem, other princes who were disgusted with Marin also signed and notarized.
However, Maximilian I, who had always been in the Beihai Kingdom, was hesitant and seemed to refuse to sign. Of course, this also fits his personality. If he showed a refreshing look, others would doubt it.
After recalling the "script" provided by Marin, Maximilian I took a deep breath and said:
"Everyone, we are all nobles from noble families. I think we are all people who follow the rules, right?"
Duke Henry turned his head and stared at Maximilian I, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, what do you mean? Do you want to declare this duel invalid? Duel is a sacred thing. Even if you are the emperor, you cannot interfere at will!" Obviously, Duke Henry misunderstood and thought that Maximilian I wanted to forcibly declare the duel invalid.
Maximilian I waved his hand quickly and said:
"I am not interfering in the duel. I just feel that there is no tradition of killing nobles in Europe, nor the tradition of deposing noble titles. In this way, I will not interfere in your duel, but I hope that after one side wins, the life of the other side can be guaranteed. Also, the title is retained. Land can be deprived, but the identity should be retained."
It seems that Maximilian I was completely worried that Caesar would be killed or abolished after the defeat of the North Sea Kingdom. Therefore, his suggestion seemed to leave a way out for Caesar. This was also in line with the emperor's character. After all, Caesar was also considered his "son of an old friend".
"Okay, no problem! If we win, we will never harm Little Caesar!" Duke Henry smiled happily.
The emperor's statement made him more convinced that he would definitely win this duel war. Didn't he see the emperor looking for a way out for his "child of an old friend" after failure?
Then, Maximilian I turned his head and patted Johnny on the shoulder, comforting:
"Don't worry, although I can't divide the troops to help. However, I can still contact you with Italian mercenaries. So, you may not lose."
Speaking of this, many princes laughed - Italian mercenaries? Don't tease them? Can Italian mercenaries be compared with German mercenaries?
Moreover, the princes did not think that the emperor could help find many Italian mercenaries. After all, the Habsburg family was also famous for their "poverty". Not to mention that they were not as good as German mercenaries, the commission price was almost the same, which was not cost-effective at all...
Duke Henry laughed as if he had already won the opponent.
It seemed that nothing was wrong, Frederick III temporarily put down his guard and went to sign and notarize it. He also added the clause "No killing the other monarch" to the duel letter.
Seeing that the leader had signed the signatures, the princes of various countries also came forward to sign and notarize. Everyone's faces were full of joy, as if the lackeys of the Beihai Kingdom, the emperor's lackey country, was sure to be finished...
Only the new Archbishop of Trier Richard shook his head with a wry smile on his face, not optimistic about the "Eight-Nation Alliance". Of course, he smiled and shook his head for a short time, and he withdrew his expression in an instant, so no one paid attention.
In fact, Archbishop Richard has guessed one thing-the North Sea Kingdom seems to be digging pits for eight hostile vassal states, and the pits are definitely not small...
He was actually doing the Beihai Kingdom a favor. His actions interrupted Frederick III's thinking and doubts and played a leading role.
However, he was not voluntarily, but was forced...
That's right, the new Archbishop of Trier Richard was coerced!
The person who coerced him was nothing but the most famous Pope in Europe...
How could Julius II threaten Archbishop Trier? Because although Richard was elected as Archbishop Trier, he had to go through another process - the Pope approved it...
It was Julius II who stuck the other party in this closure and forced the other party to cooperate. In the past, the Pope would make things difficult for the new archbishop. However, it would be done with just a bribe.
But this time, Julius II did not want Archbishop Richard's bribe. As long as he helped him do something. If he did it, he would approve and register and formally recognize his position. If he couldn't do it well... he would not approve you, so that you would not become a formal archbishop...
(This is indeed true in history. Richard was elected Archbishop of Trier in May 1511, but Julius II was officially signed and approved as the official Archbishop in April 1512. The plot in this book was delayed for several months.)
Even through the investigation of spies from Beihai Kingdom, the Holy See also obtained some of the black materials of Archbishop Richard. If the Holy See really attacked these black materials, it might have been possible to get rid of Archbishop Richard's position...
In desperation, the new Archbishop Trier, who had not yet been "reincarnated", had to surrender and help inquire about the news, and secretly promoted the signing of the duel...
...
So, although he didn't know what trump card the North Sea had, the new Archbishop of Trier Richard could be sure that the North Sea would not lose. Therefore, he knew that the princes were too happy.
However, Archbishop Richard did not intend to remind the princes. Because if he did not do so, he might be removed from his identity as an archbishop by the Holy See. In order to be elected Archbishop Trier, he had invested a lot of money and did not want to lose all his money. Therefore, he chose to remain silent...
Besides, what does it have to do with those princes being fooled? Becoming the official Archbishop of Trier and then making money while in power is the main business...
Chapter completed!