novelraw Chapter 337: Arrangements During the Expedition
Chapter 337: Arrangements During the Expedition
On the morning following the conclusion of the meeting, the Cabinet dispatched mobilization orders across the land. Great nobles and sheriffs were instructed to act in accordance with the decree, with strict orders to arrive in Londinium by the stipulated time.
Catching wind of the developments, the Crown Prince delegated his duties in Luton to others and rushed back to the Royal Palace as swiftly as possible.
In years past, he had participated in the Irish War as a company clerk, experiencing firsthand the training, marching, camping, and combat of the grassroots forces.
Later, the Crown Prince had followed his father on the expedition to Denmark. Serving as an aide-de-camp, he had meticulously observed his father's command process. After two large-scale wars and his studies at the Army Academy, he believed he now possessed ample experience and capability.
'Luton is deploying two hundred militiamen this time. Counting the surrounding towns, we can muster over a thousand men. I hope Father lets me command this infantry regiment.'
At six o'clock in the evening, Fridleif managed to make it just in time for dinner. He casually ruffled the hair of his two younger brothers, taking his seat before asking about the upcoming battle plan.
Wigg took a small sip of fish soup from his spoon. "You will remain in the country to serve as regent. The workload will be immense, so prepare yourself mentally."
"Why?" Fridleif asked.
Wigg set down his silver spoon, calmly meeting his eldest son's gaze.
"Continental Europe has three major powers: the Eastern Roman Empire, Francia, and Britain."The Eastern Roman Empire boasts abundant wealth and a population of ten million. Their technology is vastly superior to that of the surrounding factions, giving them the strongest overall power.
"Francia's total population also exceeds ten million. With Charles the Bald as the nominal emperor, the West Francia he rules is the finest agricultural region in Europe. With its favorable climate and flat terrain, he can conscript a massive force of shock cavalry.
"Finally, there is Britain. Our population is merely 2.7 million, leaving us with the weakest foundation. The risks of this war are exceptionally high, and I am not certain of victory. Should I fall in battle in West Francia, you will inherit the throne and rule the entire Kingdom of Britain."
Growing up, Fridleif had grown accustomed to his father's constant string of victories. Hearing these words, a trace of confusion and fear flickered in his eyes.
Silence returned to the dining room. Wigg picked up his spoon, continuing to sip his warm fish soup before eventually moving on to some dessert.
After dinner concluded, Wigg rose and walked out to the garden. He meticulously rinsed his mouth and brushed his teeth with light saltwater and a boar-bristle toothbrush. In an era devoid of anesthetics and dentists, he had absolutely no desire to suffer the agony of a tooth extraction.
Once he finished cleaning his teeth, Wigg handed his cup and toothbrush to a servant and headed to his office to handle some documents. Before long, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," he called out.
Fridleif entered the room and, at his father's gesture, took a seat across the desk. Wigg produced a thick stack of documents—Britain's future development plans.
"Compared to the Eastern Roman Empire and Francia, our greatest advantage lies in our navy. The Royal Fleet holds naval supremacy from the Baltic Sea all the way to the coast of North Africa. Even if the expeditionary force is wiped out, as long as you have the fleet blockade the Channel, the Frankish army won't be able to step foot on our shores no matter what they try.
"Furthermore, you need not worry about the domestic situation in Britain. I have spent vast sums of money establishing post offices, temples, and hospitals within the earldoms. Beyond providing public services, these facilities help the Crown monitor the daily activities within those territories. Should any signs of an armed rebellion arise somewhere, you will detect it immediately.
"As for Northern Europe, the climate there is brutally cold and the population is sparse, so they pose no significant threat."
Wigg pointed at the map on the wall, explaining his perspective on the various factions across Continental Europe. Aside from the Eastern Roman Empire, Francia, and Britain, the remaining nations were far too weak, serving merely as background dressing on the grand stage. Take the Kingdom of Norway, for example. Erik Jr. had exhausted his efforts trying to develop his territory, yet Norway's rugged and complex terrain left settlements scattered across isolated patches of land. Communication between different regions of the kingdom was severely restricted, crippling their administrative efficiency. Moreover, the harsh local climate meant that crops had a notoriously short growing season and were highly susceptible to frost.
To this day, Erik Jr.'s power had only seen a meager increase. His annual income sat at roughly 2,800 pounds, which was still less than what Wigg collected directly from Londinium County.
Halfdan's strength was even weaker. Despite years of frantic effort, he had yet to earn the genuine recognition of the Swedish nobility. Meanwhile, Rurik exhausted himself running around Eastern Europe; rather than a king, he resembled the boss of a massive trading company.
Having gone through the list, Wigg shifted his gaze to the Iberian Peninsula. Years ago, the Caliphate of Córdoba could mobilize a field army of over twenty thousand men and boasted formidable strength. However, this only invited a devastating surprise attack from Gunnar, which inflicted catastrophic losses on their field troops. Ever since, the Caliphate of Córdoba had lost vast swaths of its northern territory, degenerating into a secondary power.
In the foreseeable future, the northern and southern factions of the peninsula would remain locked in a grueling tug-of-war. They had neither the time nor the resources to develop a navy, completely neutralizing any threat they might pose to Britain's maritime supremacy.
Fridleif raised a question. "Assuming the unlikely happens and the balance of power between them is broken, would we need to deploy troops to intervene?"
Wigg smiled and shook his head. "There is no need for that. The Visigoths have the backing of Francia, and the Moors similarly receive support from North Africa. Let them slowly bleed each other dry."
Having delegated all necessary matters, Wigg returned to his bedroom to rest. Even if he were to suffer defeat this time, he believed his eldest son possessed the capability to defend Britain. Fridleif placed a heavier emphasis on sea power and would likely focus his efforts on managing their overseas territories, ensuring the family's lineage would endure for generations to come.
The following day, Wigg convened a Cabinet meeting. He issued a royal edict formally announcing that the Crown Prince would serve as regent during the expedition, while also heavily reiterating the law of primogeniture.
"In the event of any unforeseen tragedy, the Crown Prince shall inherit the primary title and the twelve counties. The division of the directly administered territories on the British mainland is strictly forbidden!"
None of the ministers in the Cabinet voiced any objections to the King's decision.
As time had passed, the fatal flaws of partible inheritance had become glaringly obvious. Charlemagne (742–814 AD) had forged a massive and mighty empire, only for it to completely fracture and collapse in less than thirty years.
In 843 AD, Charles the Bald, Lothair, and Louis the German had signed a peace treaty, carving up their respective realms of rule.
Later, after Lothair died of illness, his Middle Francia was carved up among his three sons. The exact same fate befell East Francia under Louis the German.
As this cycle continued, the territories were split into increasingly smaller pieces. Worse still, every succession inevitably triggered a war, leaving the vast population of commoners to suffer the devastating consequences.
From the perspective of the civilian officials, primogeniture facilitated a smooth transition of royal power. Although it severely undermined the interests of the remaining princes, the overall benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.
Mustering the militia and organizing concentrated training would take a minimum of two months. Anxious that news of their movements might leak, Wigg decided to set out immediately with a smaller force, aiming to seize Breizh before Charles the Bald could even react.
On June 7th, a fleet of fifty ships assembled in Londinium—more than enough to transport three thousand soldiers. With his forces ready, Wigg launched the expedition.
This time, he brought his recently graduated second son, Frede, along with him. The young man showed no signs of anxiety whatsoever. Instead, brimming with the unique recklessness and optimism of youth, he cheerfully bid a loud and breezy farewell to his mother and two brothers.
Departing from Londinium, the fleet sailed along the British coastline until they reached Plymouth in the southwest. Wigg halted there to rest and resupply for two days, waiting until a fierce northeasterly wind finally began to sweep across the sea.