Chapter 433: Henry V

The seventh day after Toledo was taken.

Morning sunlight streamed over the eastern ridge, dyeing the whole mountain city a dark crimson.

The dawn mist had not yet cleared, and the vapor in the Tagus Valley mingled with the city's lime‑water scent, finally masking the lingering stench.

Zhu Yong stood on the palace tower, clutching a military report just sent from Lisbon.

The letter was written by Zhu Gang; his handwriting was as messy as a demon's scribble, but the content was fairly clear.

"Second Prince, Porto is stable, most of the city's waste has been cleared, the prisoners bathe daily, and the stench has finally lessened.

King João I of Portugal is still in England and hasn't returned; scouts say he is seeking aid, and England seems inclined to act. Henry V has agreed to send troops, but no date has been set.

Second Prince, if England really sends forces, you must hurry back."

Zhu Yong finished reading, folded the report neatly, and slipped it into his sleeve.

England, Henry V.

That English king made France bow its head during the Hundred Years' War; he is a capable commander.

But England's forces are limited; crossing the sea to aid Portugal can only muster at most ten thousand men.

Ten thousand versus fifty thousand is not enough to matter.

"Prince, someone has arrived outside the palace, sent by the Crown Prince," Wang Gui said as he walked up from the stairwell, a smile on his face.

Zhu Yong turned and descended the tower.

Two people stood at the palace entrance.

One was Li Wenzhong, wearing a half‑worn iron armor, his complexion much better than in previous years, though still thin.

The Nine-Turn Resurrection Pill saved his life, sustained him for many years, and now he can finally ride a horse.

The other was Feng Sheng, a sixty‑something old general, his hair silver, yet spry, standing with a straight back, his eyes flashing with brilliance.

"Prince!" the two bowed their fists in unison.

Zhu Yong hurried over and grasped Li Wenzhong with one hand.

"Cousin, why have you come? Your health is still not fully recovered; did you endure the bumpy journey?"

Li Wenzhong grinned, "Prince, I am fine, recovered long ago. I was idle at Yingtian Prefecture, and when I heard you were fighting here in Europe, I volunteered to come."

Zhu Yong looked toward Feng Sheng.

The old general bowed his fist, "Prince, the old minister, by order of the Crown Prince, leads fifty thousand new troops to assist, along with eighty warships, countless Grain and Fodder supplies, all being unloaded at Lisbon's port."

Zhu Yong nodded.

Fifty thousand new troops, plus the sixty thousand he already had, total one hundred ten thousand.

Against Portugal, Castile and Aragon are sufficient; against France also enough. But to fight England or the Holy Roman Empire, more troops are needed.

But that is a matter for later.

"Cousin, General Feng, the journey has been hard; go inside first to speak."

The three entered the palace and sat in the hall.

Zhu Yong gave a brief account of the recent battles.

Portugal was taken, Castile was taken, Aragon is being wrapped up, Alfonso V has been captured and is held in a camp outside the city.

Li Wenzhong, after listening, said with eyes shining like a blade edge, "Prince, you fought this war splendidly."

Feng Sheng also nodded, "Prince, the old minister has fought a lifetime; this is not war, it is a legend, such expansion..."

Zhu Yong waved his hand, "It is not a legend; it is the Flintlock Gun and plate armor. Europeans still rely on matchlock guns; their swords and steel blades are ineffective. Our Flintlock can kill at two hundred steps, while their matchlock cannot even hit at eighty steps."

Plate armor needs no further mention; their arrows cannot pierce, their swords cannot cut, and even standing still they cannot be killed by them.

Li Wenzhong and Feng Sheng exchanged a glance and both laughed.

"Prince, how shall we proceed?" Li Wenzhong asked.

Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the map hanging on the wall.

"Aragon is taken; the Iberian Peninsula is now wholly in Great Ming's hands. Next, cross the Pyrenees Mountains and strike France."

His finger moved northward on the map, crossing the continuous mountain range, and stopped on a vast plain.

"France, one of the largest nations on the European continent, populous and strong in troops, not as easy to defeat as Portugal or Castile, but even if harder, it must be fought."

Feng Sheng stood, walked to the map, and after a moment said, "Prince, the Pyrenees are high and the routes treacherous; moving a large army over the mountains is difficult, and supply lines cannot keep up. Better to go by sea, bypass the mountains, and land on France's southern coast."

Zhu Yong nodded, "General Feng is right; go by sea, round the Pyrenees, land on France's southern coast, and head straight for Bordeaux."

His finger drew a line on the map, departing from Lisbon, following the coastline northward, rounding Spain's northwestern tip, entering the Bay of Biscay, and then landing at Bordeaux.

"Bordeaux is the largest port city in southwestern France and the heart of its wine region; capturing Bordeaux gives us a foothold, then we move northward to take Toulouse, Lyon, and Paris."

Li Wenzhong, looking at the map, frowned, "Prince, France is so vast; are our one hundred ten thousand men sufficient?"

Zhu Yong replied calmly, "If one hundred ten thousand is insufficient, we will capture and then redeploy. My elder brother still has troops, Australia still has troops, Tie Mu Er's forces also have troops; if not enough, we add more until it is enough."

Li Wenzhong asked no further questions.

Feng Sheng laughed, "Prince, that attitude is exactly like His Majesty's back then. When His Majesty fought Chen Youliang, he said the same: if not enough, add more until sufficient."

Zhu Yong also laughed.

He turned, looked at Wang Gui and said, "Send messengers to Porto to deliver a message, have fourth brother ready. The main army will depart Lisbon in three days, go by sea, round Spain, and land on France's southern coast."

"Also, send someone to Zaragoza to inform fifth brother to gather the Aragon prisoners, assign those to auxiliary troops, send those needed for mining to the mines, then lead the troops back to Toledo."

Wang Gui responded with a nod and turned away.

Zhu Yong looked again at Li Wenzhong and Feng Sheng, "Cousin, General Feng, rest in Lisbon for two days; when the main army is ready, we will set out together."

Li Wenzhong shook his head, "Prince, I am not tired; I wish to accompany you to see those prisoners. I heard you captured the kings of Castile and Aragon?"

Zhu Yong smiled, "The king of Castile fled to Aragon; the king of Aragon was captured by fifth brother and is held in a camp outside the city."

"What about the Castile king?"

"He is still in Aragon; fifth brother is searching for him; he cannot escape."

Li Wenzhong's eyes lit up and said, "Prince, shall I go help Prince Yan Wang?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Fine, cousin, go, bring five thousand Longxiang Army, and bring the person back within five days."

Li Wenzhong clasped his fists and said, "Yes!"

He turned and strode out.

Feng Sheng stood before the map, looked for a long time, then suddenly spoke, "Prince, the old minister has an idea, not sure whether I should mention it."

"General Feng, please speak."

Feng Sheng pointed at a sea area in the northwest of France and said, "Prince, the northwest of France borders the English Channel; beyond the channel lies England, and King Henry V of England has already agreed to send troops to support Portugal. Though they haven't arrived yet, they will eventually."

"Rather than waiting for them to come and we being forced into battle, we should take the initiative, cross the sea from northwest France, and strike England directly."

Zhu Yong looked at the map and was silent for a moment.

"Take the initiative, strike England."

He had had this idea before, but not now.

England is across the sea; a seaborne campaign requires massive ships and Grain and Fodder. Currently most of their ships are in Lisbon and Porto, and the Grain and Fodder are insufficient to support a two‑front war.

"General Feng, attacking England is inevitable, but not now. First we must take France, secure our foothold, then cross the sea to attack England."

Feng Sheng nodded and said nothing more.

At dusk, Zhu Yong stood on the palace tower, gazing at the eastern sky.

The setting sun painted the whole mountain city a golden hue.

In the distance, a cavalry unit rode swiftly from the east, led by Zhu Di.