Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

[You sincerely apologized to the Duke of Burgundy, expressing the wisdom of "brothers who quarrel within their walls but withstand humiliation from outsiders," and further declared that after the war, you would support the Duke Philip in acquiring the titles of Flanders Walloon, Holland, and Brabant.]

[However, when the letter was sent, it seemed to fall into a bottomless pit, without any response.]

"It shouldn't be like this."

Losa was very dissatisfied with this result.

Philip should know, unless he's a fool, how terrifying it is for a giant to rise beside him, holding the thrones of both England and France simultaneously.

Then, new options appeared.

[In your territory of Champagne, an enemy raid was conducted by Baron Betner and his five hundred soldiers.]

You decide: A. Dispatch an army to assist the territory of Champagne.

B. Stand by and do nothing.

C. Send soldiers to help rebuild the plundered villages and spread the word about the brutality of the English.]

"If it's only five hundred men, it's not a problem at all!"

Losa originally intended to choose option A, but immediately realized that his direct territory, with only a small area in Bourges, could field only a standing army of five hundred men.

This was his entire wealth.

After pondering for a moment, he chose the second option.

It's the first simulation, better to play it safe.

[The Duke of Bedford led a large army to attack Orleans, and the Duke of Orleans, Charles I, sent you a letter for assistance]

You decide: A. Do nothing.

B. Convene the Estates-General and try to borrow money to recruit an army.

C. Borrow money from your mother-in-law, Lady Yolanda of Aragon, to recruit an army.]

Doing nothing? That's ridiculous.

If I had troops, I could do nothing!

Losa gritted his teeth inwardly.

If the start of the simulation had been when Charles VII was just crowned the Crown Prince, it wouldn't be so destitute now.

I choose C.

For the same reason, Losa, being just the Crown Prince, had no authority to convene the Estates-General, and France, ravaged by war for over half a century, had turned even the most generous into misers.

[Your mother-in-law Yolanda generously provided you with a large sum of money, but recruiting soldiers takes time, and the city of Orleans isn't easy to break into either.]

[Meanwhile, a prophecy was circulating in France—about two women who would respectively destroy and save France.]

[The former had already been validated, as the Empress Dowager Isabella married her daughter to King Henry V of England, allowing his son Henry VI to legally surpass you, the rightful Crown Prince.]

At this moment, your subjects present you with a woman each.

You choose to meet:

A. The woman sent by Duke Charles II of Lorraine.

B. The woman sent by Duke Jean I of Bourbon.

C. The woman sent by the garrison commander Robert of Vaucouleurs.]

"Is it Jeanne?"

Losa recalled carefully.

Jeanne's hometown is Domrémy, a village located on the border of Champagne and Lorraine.

So, was she sent by the Duke of Lorraine?

No, that's not right!

Losa keenly sensed a hint of something strange because, after all, he wasn't truly Charles VII, so he'd never heard of a place called Vaucouleurs.

If this so-called simulation battle really held any difficulty.

"I choose C!"

[In the castle of Chinon, you met the woman from Domrémy, Jeanne, who claims divine enlightenment from the Heavenly Father. However, before she could thoroughly explain her revelations, you excitedly informed her that you too received such divine insight and would unconditionally trust her.]

As expected! Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵

Losa let out a long breath.

[You handed your newly recruited army over to her and appointed your attendant, Rahel, to assist her in commanding the army.]

[In the battle to rescue Orleans, Jeanne led the charge, breaking through the English defenses before their proud longbowmen could plant their stakes, as French Knight cavalry crushed them underfoot.]

[You achieved a brilliant victory.]

[Jeanne promptly led her army to break through Reims, inviting you to this city where successive kings of France were crowned, to demonstrate legitimacy.]

[You held the coronation ceremony in Reims, accompanied by Jeanne, who bore a flag emblazoned with the Statue of the Virgin.]

[The Archbishop of Reims anointed you with the Holy Anointing Oil and lifted the king's crown.]

At this point, you choose:

A. Calmly accept the coronation ceremony.

B. Snatch the crown from the Reims archbishop and place it on your own head, thanking the Archbishop for keeping it safe for you.

C. Take the crown from the Reims archbishop and place it in Jeanne's hands, asking her to crown you.]

"Stop with the nonsense. Although you're King of France, Charles VII, you're not Napoleon. You should check if you're up to it before trying to add flair, shouldn't you?"

Losa decisively chose the first option.

[After your coronation, Jeanne led the army to multiple victories. However, during the attack on Paris, her army suffered a setback. At this point, you decide]

A. Persist in reclaiming Paris through force, even if it means exhausting all resources to support Jeanne's continued assault on Paris

B. Attempt to negotiate with Burgundy and England to diplomatically reclaim Paris and the remaining lost territory

C. Temporarily avoid confronting the enemy

Losa pondered for a moment and felt that at this point, the best choice was definitely the second one. Even in the late Middle Ages, besieging a city wasn't that easy.

Moreover, his financial problems were already quite severe; it was better to quit while he was ahead.