Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The Crisis Breaks Out

People are surprised to see in the far south, Through the clouds suddenly bursts of light, Everyone was terrified by the noise. Thomson (Note) "Summer" (Note) Thomson (1700︱1784): British poet, whose main works include the blank poem "Four Seasons" praising nature, etc. "Four Seasons" created a precedent for romantic poetry in the 19th century. Judging by the title, the previous chapter is intended to serve as a review, so that the reader can fully understand the relationship between King Louis and the Duke after his arrival in Burgundy.Perhaps it was because the superstition of astrology that King Louis believed in was said to have made a favorable prediction for the outcome of his trip, and he believed that he was obviously superior to Charles in terms of intelligence, which made him believe in this prediction even more, so he Taking an extraordinary, and by all accounts utterly inconceivable, decision to trust the credit of a fierce enemy, risking his own safety.This decision was all the more imprudent and incomprehensible, since it had been so well established in that troubled time that solemn promises of safety did not guarantee the safety of those involved.In fact, the Duke's grandfather had been brutally murdered in front of Louis' father when he went to attend the solemnly agreed meeting by issuing a pardon to establish peace.As long as the Duke wants to attack Louis, this history undoubtedly provides the Duke with a terrible precedent.

Charles was rough, reckless, and stubborn, but he was not unkind except in a fit of rage.Unkindness and injustice usually belong to people with a cold personality.It is true that he did not intend to give the king a courtesy that went beyond hospitality, but on the other hand he did not want to cross the sacred boundaries of hospitality. On the morning of the second day of the king's arrival, the army of the duke of Burgundy made a general review.The duke was proud to see the opportunity of displaying his large army and its fine equipment to his formidable enemy.When he claimed, with the civility due a vassal to his suzerain, that these armies belonged to the king and not to himself, he pursed his upper lip, and the proud gleam in his eyes showed that he himself realized that these words were all empty. And his elite soldiers are completely under his control, ready to march east and west, and march into Paris at any time.Louis saw that many French nobles, not only from Normandy and Brittany, but even from the provinces directly under his control, joined the duke of Burgundy for various reasons that displeased them, and became part of this army under the banner of Part of the army, naturally felt humiliated.

Louis, however, kept his countenance and feigned contempt for the rebels, while in fact he was thinking of all kinds of tricks to get them out of Burgundy and back to France, and decided that Oliver and his other advisers were the most important to him. Some of the characters to find out. He won over the duke's principal ministers and counselors with painstaking care and delicacy, using nothing more than the usual means, such as constant affectionate attention.Artful flattery and generous gifts.Of course, as he said, the purpose was not to alienate these faithful servants from their noble masters, but to hope that they would help to maintain peace between France and Burgundy.This purpose is naturally very good; it is obviously beneficial to both countries, and to their sovereigns.The concern of such a great and wise king for them was in itself an effective bribe.Promises are useful, but direct gifts, which the custom of the time allowed Burgundian courtiers to receive without scruple, are even more effective.One day they were hunting wild boar in the forest.When the duke, who was so preoccupied with the object before him in both his business and his amusement, was wholly devoted to hunting, Louis, seeing that he was not at his side, took full advantage of opportunities for private conversations with some of the ministers who were said to have most influenced Charles, including Dan Bocourt and Gong Ming.When he expressed his friendliness to these two prominent figures, he did not forget to praise the bravery and martial arts of the former, and the wisdom and literary genius of the latter as a contemporary official.

Opportunity to win over individually, and even, if the reader does not take it too far, to corrupt Charles' ministers, was perhaps one of the main objects Louis set for his trip in case his own maneuvers failed to deceive the duke himself.The relationship between France and Burgundy is so close that some nobles in Burgundy want to gain a foothold in France, while others have already gained vested interests.Whether this interest will be enhanced or destroyed depends on the personal grievances of King Louis.Since King Louis was born to be a manipulator, and to pay bribes when necessary for the execution of his plans, and to embellish his wishes and gifts, he at last managed to make the nobles accept his favors.Against those true and false patriots, he resorted to tricks that focused on the interests of France and Burgundy.The personal interests of these people are also the same as the hidden gears of the machine. Although no one sees them, they are equally important.He casts a proper bait, and a proper way of offering, to each different person.For those who are self-proclaimed and unwilling to reach out, his method is to stuff the rewards into their sleeves.He believed that although these rewards fell on their heads silently like dew, at a certain time, even if they could not contribute to the rewarders, at least they could get their friendship as a harvest.In short, although King Louis, through his courtiers, had been trying to establish an influence at the Burgundian court in favor of France, Louis's own efforts, evidently based on his previous intelligence, were less effective in a few hours than his own. The effect received by the agent in several years of negotiation is even more significant.

The king left out only one person, and that was Count Krevig, whom he had always wanted to win over.The firmness he showed when he was sent to Plessy Palace not only did not arouse Louis' dissatisfaction, but became a reason for Louis to fight for him as his own.When he heard that the count had led a hundred spearmen to the border of Brabant, he would assist the bishop against William.He was somewhat disappointed when he met Delamark and the rebellious townspeople, but he consoled himself with the fact that this army of the count, together with instructions sent by his trusty courier, would prevent premature riots in Liège, which he estimated , the outbreak of riots at this time will put him in a very dangerous situation.

According to the habit of large-scale hunting meetings, the court also held a lunch in the forest this time.Such an arrangement particularly pleased the duke, who was eager to dispense with the solemnity with which he received King Louis on other occasions.During this unusual meeting, the king discovered that his insufficient understanding of human nature had led him to misunderstand a particular point.He had expected the Duke to be flattered by this condescending display of confidence from his suzerain, forgetting that the Duchy of Burgundy must be subject to the King of France, which made Charles such a powerful, wealthy man bent on establishing an independent duchy. And the proud prince was very annoyed by the question.King Louis came to the duke's court, and the duke was obliged to appear in the subordinate position of a vassal, and observe all the feudal rites of respect and obedience.For a man of his haughty character, this would belittle the sovereign status which he strives to maintain on all occasions.

But while a luncheon on the meadow avoids much of the decorum in favor of horns, casks, and the uninhibited joy of a picnic in the woods, it is precisely for this reason that dinners need to be more formal than usual. grand. The duke had given orders in advance to prepare the dinner.When they returned to Peron, what awaited King Louis was already a dazzling banquet, the richness and elegance of which was naturally in full proportion to the wealth of this powerful vassal occupying the most fertile lowland plains in Europe.At the head of the long table, covered with silver and gold dishes of all kinds, sat the duke, and on a higher seat to his right sat King Louis.And behind him stood on the one hand the son of the Duke of Godreth, presiding over the serving of food, and on the other the jester Le Glorier.He was uncomfortable without the jester, for Charles, like most irascible characters, carried to extremes the general taste for court jesters of that time, and from their eccentricities and mental inclinations Have fun with flaws.His shrewd but not lenient opponent prefers to observe the human shortcomings of the nobles, and find the subject of ridicule in the timidity of the brave and the ignorance of the wise.Brantome once told an anecdote about a court jester who overheard King Louis's painful confession in a prayer of confession that he had participated in the poisoning of his brother, the Comte de Guyenne-Henri, and was there at lunch next day in front of the court. Wenwu leaked the secret.If this story is true, it is conceivable that the monarch's jokes on professional jesters would give him a lifetime of headaches.

On the present occasion, however, Louis did not neglect to pay close attention to the duke's favorite jester, and to admire his brilliant witticisms, especially since he saw that Le Glorier's foolishness, though sometimes indecent, But it's sharp and poignant beyond what a man of his stature usually achieves. In fact, Teal.Weizweiler (aka Le Glorier) is no ordinary jester.He is tall, handsome and good at many sports.Motor skills require patience and attention, which naturally contradicts so-called mental deficits.He often followed the Duke to hunt and fight.Once the Duke was fighting at Montleury, and was stabbed in the neck, and the horse he was riding had been seized by a French knight, and he was about to be captured.At this very dangerous juncture, Till.Weizweiler galloped valiantly at the assailant, knocked him to the ground, and rescued his master.Perhaps he feared that a lowly man like him would be thought to be doing too much service to his master, and would arouse suspicion among knights and nobles who used to abandon their masters to the safety of jesters. Anyway, he would rather be for him. This feat was ridiculed rather than praised for it.So he deliberately bragged about his performance in battle, so that most people thought that his rescue of Charles and so on were as absurd as his other boast.It was because of this that he got the name of Le Glorier (the cowhide king), and he was also famous for it later.

Le Glorier was richly dressed, but not much to indicate his jester profession, and what little was there was more for show than for real.He had not shaved his head, but instead had long, thick, curly hair.The well-trimmed beard and the curls that fell from under the hat framed a face that might have been handsome if the eyes had not been too pale.The hat he wears is topped with a horizontal strip of crimson velvet, which symbolizes rather than strictly mimics the cockscomb of the jester's profession.His ebony staff was also customarily crowned with a jester's head with silver donkey's ears, but so small and finely carved that it seemed a scepter of divine character.These were the only signs of his profession that could be seen in his attire.In other respects, his attire rivaled that of any eminent court aristocrat.He also wore a gold medal on his hat and a gold necklace around his neck.His splendid clothes were less outlandish than those of the smartly dressed dandies.

At banquets, Charles and Louis, who imitated him as host, often chatted with this figure.They laughed aloud at his answer, expressing their great pleasure. Whose are those empty seats?Charles asked the Fool. Charles, at least one deserves my seat.LeGlorier said. Slave, why is that?asked Charles. Because these two seats are Dan Bogu and De.Lord Gongming's.They had gone all the way to free their hawks, and forgot about the feast.Whoever fixes his eyes on the eagle flying in the sky and not on the pheasant on the table is no different from a fool.Smart people have reason to take over their seats as part of their real estate.

It's a trite joke, my friend Till, said the duke, but fools and wise men alike, the absentees have come. While he was speaking, Gong Ming and Dan Bogu had already entered the hall; after bowing to the two monarchs, they came to sit silently in the seats vacated for them. Hey, gentlemen, cried the Duke to them, you must have had a good hunt, or a bad one, when you have come so far and come back so late.Philip.De.Mr. Gong Ming, look at you, is it because Dan Bogu won a big bet on you?You are a philosopher.It's bad luck, and you shouldn't be sad.St. George up!Dan Bogu looks as worried as you.Gentlemen, what's the matter?Did not find prey?Lost the Eagles?Or is a witch blocking your way?Or met a savage hunter in the woods.Seriously, it's like you're at a funeral instead of a banquet. When the Duke said this, all the eyes of the people present were fixed on Dan Bogou and De.Gong Ming.The expression of embarrassment and despondency on their faces, which is not common to people accustomed to anxious faces, stands out.By this time, the laughter that accompanied the swift delivery of the wine was fading away.Since people could not find any reason for the change of mood of the two people, they whispered to each other, as if waiting for some special and important news. Gentlemen, why don't you speak?The Duke raised his voice and said in his natural rough voice, if you come to the banquet with this strange face and more incomprehensible silence, then I would like you to stay in the swamp and catch herons, or woodcocks and little owl. Your Majesty, De.Gongming said, when we were returning from the forest, we met Earl Krevig. how!said the duke, have returned from Brabant?Surely he saw that everything was normal there? The count will report to you in a moment himself what he has brought, said Dan Bercourt, we have not heard enough. Hell.Where is the count?asked the duke. He is changing clothes so that he can see the adults.Dan Bogu replied. Are you changing?My goodness!said the impatient Duke, what do I want him to change for?I think you guys are ganging up with him in a plot to drive me crazy! Tell the truth, de.Gong Ming said, he wishes to tell you the news in private. You see, my lord, said Charles, this is how my counselors serve me.When they heard news that they thought was important to me, they put on a serious face like donkeys seeing they have a new saddle, proud of the news they had in their heads.Call me Krevig at once!He was from the border of Liege, and at least I (he used the pronoun heavily) had no secrets in that area that I should not reveal to all of you here. It was well known to all present that the duke drank a great deal, and his natural obstinacy had become more pronounced.Although many people wanted to remind him that now was not the time to listen to news or discuss matters, but everyone also knew that he was irritable and did not dare to intervene. He just anxiously waited for the news that the Earl would announce. There was a moment of silence.The Duke was still looking eagerly at the door, as if impatiently waiting.The guests were all looking down at the table, as if trying to hide their curiosity and uneasiness.Only Louis remained absolutely calm, continuing his conversation now with the minister and now with the jester. Finally, Krevig finally entered the hall.Seeing him, the duke immediately asked: Monsieur Count, what's the news from Liege and Brabant?I heard that you rushed back early, and the joyous atmosphere of the banquet was dispelled.May your arrival bring back the joyous atmosphere. Your Highness, said the Earl in a firm and sad tone, I bring you news that is more suitable for hearing at a conference table than at a banquet table. Even if it is anti-Christ news, you just tell it!said the duke, but I can guess what citizens of Liege are rebelling again. That's right, my lord.Craig said very seriously. You see, man, said the Duke, I hit the news you were so afraid to tell me.Sure enough, these reckless citizens are at war again.It came at just the right time.I can ask my suzerain now, and then I bowed to King Louis, with suppressed great anger in my eyes, how to deal with these rebels, what news do you have in your bag?Give it all to me.Then explain why you didn't go to help the bishop. My lord, the news which follows pains me to tell, and sounds to you too.Neither my aid nor the aid of the knights was of any use to the good Bishop.William.Delamach, allied with the rebellious citizens of Liege, had captured the castle of Thornwald and murdered the bishop in his own hall. Killed the bishop?The Duke said softly in a deep voice, but the words still spread from one end of the banquet hall to the other, Krevig, you must be deceived by baseless rumors?it's out of the question! O my lord!Said the count, this was told to me by an eyewitness, a shooter in the Scotch Guard of the King of France.William.He was sitting in the hall when Delamarch killed the bishop. Then he must be the instigator of this blasphemous and horrible crime!exclaimed the duke, rising to his feet, stamping his foot on the ground in fury, breaking a step-stool set before him, gentlemen, shut the doors and the windows, and no visitor shall leave his seat, or Immediate execution!Gentlemen of the royal family, draw your knives.After saying that, he turned to face Louis, and slowly and calmly moved his hand to the handle of the knife.Louis neither flinched nor defended himself, but said: Good cousin, you let the news go to your head. wrong!said the duke in a terrible voice, that it only aroused a righteous indignation long suppressed by unnecessary consideration of place and occasion.You murderer of brothers!Rebellion against father!A tyrant who rules over his subjects!Treacherous ally!False king!Shameless gentleman!You fell into my hands, and I have to thank God very much. You'd better thank me for my folly, said the king, and I think how you wished you were further from me than you are now when we last met at Montléry. The duke still held the hilt of the knife, but he did not pull it out to strike the enemy. Since the enemy did not resist, he could not do it either. At this moment there was chaos in the hall.All the doors were locked and guarded by the duke's order.A handful of French nobles jumped from their seats to defend their sovereign.Louis had not spoken a word to either of Orléans and Dunois since their release (if there was such a thing as release) from Chateau Roche.Apparently they were objects of suspicion, not respect.But it was Dunois' voice that was first heard in the commotion.He said to the Duke of Burgundy: Mr. Duke, you have forgotten that you are a vassal of France, and our guests are also French.As long as you dare to lay hands on our lord, you will bear the full consequences of our desperate struggle.You can be sure we'll drink Burgundian blood like Burgundy wine Take courage, Duke of Orléans French gentlemen, stand around Dunois and join him! It was at such a juncture that the king saw what kind of people could be his faithful reliance.Louis was protected by a few independent nobles and knights. Most of them had only received his frowning treatment in the past. The upper seat where the monarch was sitting rushed over. On the contrary, those tools and accomplices who were forced to promote by Louis to an important position not suitable for them from a social position that was only suitable for them showed cowardice and indifference at this time. No matter what, I don't want to intervene, so as not to cause a murderous disaster. Among the more loyal people, the first to stand up was the Duke of Crawford.He overcame the obstruction with a quickness not commensurate with his age (since many Burgundians, considering the matter of honor, wanted to secretly prevent Louis from being killed, so hastened to let him pass, thereby reducing the resistance) and rushed forward, throwing his body Inserted between king and duke.His hat, covered with strands of unruly white hair, was worn on one side.His pale cheeks and wrinkled brow were flushed, and in his mature eyes were the fury of a brave man ready to take a risk.He threw the cloak over his shoulders, intending to wrap his left hand in it and draw the knife with his right. I fought for his father and his grandfather, and he said, St. Andrew, I will never abandon him at this juncture, whatever the outcome. Everything that happened is a long story, but it is actually just a flash.In other words, as soon as the duke made that threatening gesture, Crawford had already inserted himself between him and the object of his revenge; and the few French nobles had gathered together as quickly as possible, and rushed to the urgent place . The Duke of Burgundy still held his sword hilt, as if wishing to signal an immediate general attack, which would inevitably lead to a massacre on the weaker side.At this moment Krevig rushed forward and shouted with a voice like a trumpet: My lord Duke of Burgundy!Be careful what you do!This is your hall and you are the king's vassal Do not spill your guest's blood on your own house, your sovereign's blood on the throne you have set for him.He is entitled to your protection.For the honor of your family, do not avenge a horrible murder with a more heinous murder! Go away, Krevig, replied the duke, and let me have my vengeance!go away!I tell you that the wrath of a prince frightens you like the wrath of a god. Unless it is as justified as the wrath of the gods.Krevig resolutely replied, My lord, no matter how justified your anger may be, I beg you to curb your violent character.I likewise advise the princes and lords of France to refrain from doing anything that would lead to bloodshed where resistance is futile. He was right.Louis said.He kept his head still in this terrible hour, and foresaw that, when the fighting started and the eyes were red, men would be more brutal than they would be in peace of mind.Orleans du Noir and you, faithful Crawford, don't be so quick to lose blood and disaster.My duke's cousin was outraged by the sad news of a dear and loving friend, the Bishop of Liege.For the bishop's tragic death, I share his grief in fact.It was past suspicions, combined with recent unfortunate estrangement, that made him suspect that I had instigated a crime that I myself hated as much.If my host, on the mere false impression that I had taken part in this unfortunate affair, killed me outright, who was both his king and his kinsman, your wretchedness would not be lessened, but only aggravated, by force of arms. misfortune.So, Crawford, I want you to stand down. Even if this is the last word I speak, it is the king's words to a minister, asking you to obey.back off.If they ask, you might as well hand over the knife.I order you to do this, and you are bound to do so by your oath. Yes, yes, my lord, said Crawford, returning the half-drawn knife to its sheath and drawing back, you are quite right.But, frankly, if I had seventy brave guards at my head, instead of reaching the old age of seventy and over, I'd see if I could call these gold-chained, crowned, and ornately decorated dandies with little heads. Sober and sober. The Duke bowed his head and pondered for a long moment, then said with sharp sarcasm: Krevig, you are quite right.I could not be too rash to change my obligations to this great king and honored and beloved guest, as I thought in a fit of rage, for my honor was at stake.I will take another course, so that all of Europe will recognize my actions as just.Gentlemen of France, you must surrender your arms to my officers!Your master has broken the truce, and is no longer entitled to its benefits.However, in consideration of your sense of honour, I will not ask my cousin Louis to hand over his arms, in view of his lofty position and noble blood, though he defiles the former and the latter. "We will not hand over our weapons or exit this hall unless we have assurances of the king's life and personal safety," Dunois said. None of the Scottish guards would surrender their arms unless ordered by the King of France or his governor, cried Crawford. Courageous Dunois, said Louis, and you, my faithful Crawford, with all your zeal that does me harm, not good.I trust more in my innocence, he added solemnly, than in a futile resistance which would cost the lives of my best and bravest men.Surrender your weapons.With this guarantee of honor, the noble Burgundians will be more effective in keeping me and you safe.Surrender your weapons.I command you to do so. In this dreadful crisis Louie showed that quickness of decision and clarity of judgment which alone could have saved his life.He realized that as long as neither side resorted to violence, he would have the help of most of the nobles present to assuage the Duke's anger.But once the fight started, he and his few followers would die instantly.At the same time, even his arch-nemesis had to admit that his attitude was neither mean nor timid.He just avoided heating up the Duke's rage.He neither condemned it nor seemed to fear it, but continued to look at his adversary with the calm composure of a warrior against a flailing madman.At the same time, he believed that his firmness and composure were unconsciously powerful checks against irrational rage. Crawford obeyed the king's order, threw the sword to Crevig and said: Take it!May the devil bring you happiness.There is no disgrace in surrendering the sword to those who deserve it, because we have been treated unfairly. Wait, gentlemen, the Duke was so excited that he could hardly speak, so he had to say in a murmured voice, you still keep your swords.Just promise not to.As for you, Vanova.Louis, you must accept your guardianship until you are cleared of your blasphemy and abetment of the bishop's murder.I command: Take him at once to the castle and to Earl Herbert's tower.Let him choose six gentlemen to serve as his retinue.Lord Crawford, your guard must leave the castle.I'll find you another decent place to live.Lift up all the drawbridges, put down all the iron gates, send twice as many guards to guard the city gates, and drag the floating bridges to the right bank of the river.Siege the castle with the black wron troops and triple the number of sentries on each sentry post!Dan Bogu, you have to arrange for infantry to patrol the city every half hour tonight.Things can develop suddenly.If necessary after dawn, patrol every hour again tomorrow.Take good care of Louis as you cherish your life! He rose violently from the table, cast a vengeful look on the king, and rushed out of the hall. Gentlemen, said the king, looking solemnly about him, your duke is almost mad with grief at the death of his ally.I trust that you, aware of your duty as knights and nobles, will not incite him to commit acts of rebellious violence against the personal safety of your sovereign. At this moment the sound of drums and trumpets calling soldiers from all over the streets was heard. We are all vassals of Burgundy, said Krevig, who is the duke's steward, and we have to fulfill our responsibilities as vassals.However, we sincerely wish and will work to bring about reconciliation and unity between Your Majesty and our Sovereign.Until then we have to obey orders.Several other knights and nobles will have the honor to serve at the convenience of the illustrious Duke of Orleans, the brave Dunois, and the faithful Grand Duke Crawford.And I will act as your majesty's interim steward of the court.I am sorry to recall the hospitality you gave me at the Palais Plessy, and I am now obliged to take you to your residence in this attire.You can choose your follower within the six places limited by the duke. Well, the king looked around, thought for a moment and said, I want Oliver.Dan and a guard named Le Balafrey, who can be unarmed plus TristonLermitre, with two of his men, and my faithful philosopher MatthiasGaliotti. His Majesty's wishes can be fully satisfied.Count Krevig said. Gagliotti, he added after some inquiries, is, as far as I understand, having dinner with some women at the moment, but I will send for him right away.The others will soon be ordered to serve His Majesty. Take me then to the new house which my hospitable cousin has prepared for me, said the King, I know the place is secure, and I hope it will be as safe. Have you heard what kind of followers King Louis chose?Le Glorier whispered to Count Crevig as he followed Louis out of the hall. Of course I do, my merry fellow, replied the Count, "Have they anything to displease you?" Nothing, nothing But such a fantastic selection is rare!A flattering barber, a hired Scottish thug, a chief hangman and his two assistants, and a deceitful dog-headed military strategist, Krevig, I really want to go with you and see how you escort them , to understand the performance of the villains in different degrees.Presumably it is impossible for the Demon King to gather such a group of people, and he may not be more qualified to lead them. The fool, who had no restraint, took the count's arm affectionately and walked with him.Continuing his outward respect, Krevig escorted the king to his new residence under the protection of a strong bodyguard.