The war in Landshut progressed with astonishing speed; the two Imperial Army contingents that had set out first advanced like a broken bamboo, quickly approaching the city of Landshut from the north and east.
The Elector of Munich finally stopped dragging his feet at Wittelsbach Castle. After accepting the surrender of the city's defenders, he swiftly turned his attention towards Landshut.
Even the Margrave of Ansbach, the slowest to act, finally launched an attack on Landshut's northwestern territories.
Of course, before that, Ludwig IX, Count of Landshut, had already fled Landshut with an army of over two thousand men.
Along the way, they passed through the territories of several minor feudal lords, and no one dared to stop them, allowing them to approach Heidelberg, the capital of Palatinate.
Laszlo's envoy's negotiations with the Duke of Württemberg also broke down.
The Duke insisted that he would lead his army to assist the Emperor when the Empire suffered foreign invasion and fought against the Ottomans, but quelling internal unrest in the Empire was a different matter, requiring a different price.
In other words, if Laszlo did not grant him the territories around Augsburg, he would only allow his cousin to lead the standing army of the Swabian Imperial Circle to attack, and would not commit Württemberg's full military strength to intercept Ludwig IX for the Emperor.
After two reorganizations, this army finally reached a staggering 1,200 men, including over 300 cavalry.
During the Swabian War, the Swabian mobilized an army of over 10,000 men, and Laszlo was well aware that this was not their limit. Decades later, over 70% of German mercenaries came from Swabia; they punched France, kicked Switzerland, were full of martial virtue, and would fight for money.
However, if the Swabian lords were to organize a joint standing army to maintain order and enforce Imperial law, then a force of 1,200 men was already the limit of what they could achieve.
Moreover, the backbone of this army was a society formed by Swabian Imperial Knights and local Teutonic Order; many lower-ranking nobles came to the Swabian army to make a living, while also awaiting an opportunity to gain the Emperor's favor.
If there was profit to be made, they were certainly willing to follow a powerful Emperor into battle; France, Italy, and even the Ottoman Empire were all within reach.
However, faced with a large group of desperate individuals, most of whom were mercenaries from the Swabian region, no one who wasn't foolish would want to get involved.
Therefore, upon receiving Laszlo's order to suppress the rebellion, Eberhard, the Swabian military commander, slowly marched north along the Rhine River with over a thousand soldiers, finally arriving in Palatinate after Ludwig IX's army had already crossed the Rhine River.
After they rendezvoused with the Palatinate army, which had been trailing the Landshut forces, they pursued for a while longer, engaging in a few small-scale skirmishes, mainly when both sides accidentally met while plundering villages along the way and fought over it.
It wasn't until Ludwig was 'escorted out of the country' that the Swabian and Palatinate armies returned home.
Their explanations to the Emperor were strikingly similar: "It's not that we didn't try, but the enemy was too strong."
In short, the Count of Landshut escaped just like that, with only a few hundred men remaining who followed him through Lorraine and into France.
Many people quietly deserted the group heading for France after leaving Palatinate.
Although everyone was there for money, most people knew that France was an enemy of the Emperor and the Empire.
They didn't want to go to France and then one day become an enemy of the Emperor.
No matter where they went, the Empire was the root for these mercenaries. Exploiting loopholes in Imperial prohibitions to earn quick money was already their limit; betraying the holy and powerful Emperor to join the French was something most people found difficult to accept.
After all, their largest market was within the Empire, and if going to France meant losing the opportunity to return to the Empire, it would be a losing proposition for them.
Ludwig IX's exile was expected bad news, and Laszlo was not overly angry about it.
He was currently plagued by a series of vexing issues, causing him a headache.
First and foremost was the Empress. Laszlo still hadn't figured out what Leonor was hiding.
Every time they were alone, Leonor would adopt a sorrowful expression, her eyes darting away. They even had an argument over their eldest daughter Helena's marriage.
Leonor believed Laszlo should not let their daughter get engaged to a man more than ten years her senior.
Laszlo's explanation for this was for the benefit of the state and the family, and he promised that Helena's future life would not be too bad.
The two were temporarily in a cold war. At this critical juncture, an attendant reported the arrival of the French king's envoy for an audience.
In the great hall of Hofburg Palace, a multitude of Austrian ministers gathered, their gazes placing great pressure on Guillaume, the French king's special envoy, who stood in the center.
Especially Anthony de Burgundy, who stood not far from him, having just returned from Burgundy. This refined and amiable Austrian diplomat was struggling to suppress the urge to rush over and strangle the Frenchman.
And on the dais, Emperor Laszlo sat on the throne, scrutinizing the Frenchman before him with a vigilant gaze.
Empress Leonor sat beside Laszlo, seemingly lost in thought, somewhat distracted.
Laszlo heard that this envoy had brought many gifts, which immediately raised his guard.
As the saying goes, "unsolicited attention means ill intent." If Louis XI, that old fox, was sending him gifts, he had to suspect whether that born scoundrel had poisoned the gifts.
As an old schemer suspected of poisoning his father to ascend to power, and who had been rebelling and plotting against others since adulthood, Laszlo's suspicions of Louis XI would never change.
Whenever compared to such a worm, Laszlo felt his own moral standards were terrifyingly high.
However, Louis XI's power had expanded at a visible rate since his ascension, and he was on the verge of becoming an opponent even Laszlo deeply feared.
This made Laszlo begin to wonder if there was something wrong with his methods of governing the country.
He decided to find someone to enlighten him later. Before that, he wanted to see what evil intentions Louis XI truly harbored.
"You come on behalf of the French king. Are you perhaps here to apologize for inciting the rebellion in Styria?"
Facing the Emperor's direct questioning, Envoy Guillaume showed a fawning smile and immediately explained, "Your esteemed Roman Emperor, this matter is entirely a misunderstanding. It was ill-intentioned individuals who deliberately sowed discord between our two nations. However, to appease your displeasure, our King has commanded me to bring you some gifts, which I hope you will like."
"Hmph, your spies have confessed everything. Even so, you still want to defend your King?"
Chief Minister Eyczing glared resentfully at the meddling envoy. Under Laszlo's influence, there wasn't a single person in the entire Austrian court who didn't detest France.
Even the few French advisors in the court were the same.
"Your Majesty, we have reason to suspect that this is a trick employed by the Venetian to sow discord," Guillaume argued, following the rhetoric taught by Minister La Balue. "You see, isn't Andreas, the leader of the rebels, a Venetian?
Moreover, His Majesty Louis XI asked me to convey his regards to you and a message: Austria and France do not have direct conflicts of interest, do they?"
"What do you mean?"
Anthony, standing nearby, frowned and demanded sharply.
Guillaume, completely unfazed by the Duke of Burgundy's illegitimate son's hostile gaze, candidly explained his purpose to the thoughtful Emperor: "The marriage alliance between Austria and Burgundy has ended. Our King believes you should reconsider this alliance.
Although our country and Austria have had some minor disputes and conflicts regarding Italian affairs, generally speaking, our two countries do not have many direct conflicts of interest.
However, Burgundy has repeatedly annexed and encroached upon Imperial territory. Even Luxembourg—let me think—your cousin, was forcibly occupied by Philip the Good, Duke, and she ended her life in bitter exile.
You have always stood by and done nothing about this, which must have caused dissatisfaction and criticism among the numerous lords within the Empire, hasn't it?"
"It's useless to try and provoke me with such rhetoric. The matter of Luxembourg has its own reasons, and I will not have a conflict with the Duke of Burgundy because of it.
My time is limited; you'd better get to the point."
Laszlo shook his head, expressing disdain for the French's crude attempt at sowing discord.
If this were said to the Empress Dowager, she might quickly be provoked and continue to resent the Duke of Burgundy.
But Laszlo didn't care at all; what he coveted was never just a single territory of Burgundy. The French King might only realize this in a few years.
"Oh, Your Majesty is truly magnanimous," Guillaume subtly mocked Laszlo for his apparent lack of concern for the territories and claims brought by his maternal family. "Our King believes that Austria and France should now join hands to face a common enemy—the Duke of Burgundy. To that end, he hopes to marry his eldest daughter, Princess Anne, to your second son, Prince Maximilian.
If we can form a new alliance, this continent will soon experience lasting peace.
If Your Majesty agrees to this marriage and alliance, His Majesty the King is willing to recognize your suzerainty over the Low Countries, including Luxembourg, and the Free County of Franche-Comté."
Before he could finish, Laszlo let out a disdainful laugh.
"Oh, please, Mr. Envoy, I suppose the King of France must have mentioned similar nonsense in his alliance with the Ottoman Sultan, like the Empire belonging to the King of France, and the Balkans and Hungary to the Sultan.
The fact that you can speak such words with a serious tone proves you are an excellent diplomat, but my court does not welcome Frenchmen who are full of lies and fond of intrigues.
Take the things sent by the King of France and get out."
Laszlo rose directly and left the hall, leaving Guillaume looking bewildered, and the Austrian ministers equally disgusted with him.
Guillaume swore that if possible in the future, he would never come to Vienna a second time; the people here made him feel a deep malice.
This envoy of the King of France was quickly thrown out by the court's Swiss guards, and the so-called Franco-Austrian marriage became an empty promise.
In the Hofburg Palace garden, Laszlo summoned Anthony alone, who brought back the Duke of Burgundy's reply.
They had properly buried Anne and expressed deep sorrow for her passing, with the letter emphasizing that the marriage between Christopher and Marie was an absolutely inviolable vow.
Now it was not Austria that needed Burgundy, but Burgundy that needed Austria, so their reaction was much more intense than Laszlo had expected.
"It seems your father and brother had long anticipated Louis XI would pull such a stunt."
Laszlo strolled on the lawn, with Anthony walking behind him, conversing.
"Yes, Your Majesty, fortunately you easily saw through the Frenchmen's scheme, otherwise I would have been out of a job."
Anthony replied with a smile; just a moment ago in the court, he truly felt his heart being squeezed, until the Emperor gave such a domineering reply.
"Uniting with Burgundy is my established national policy," Laszlo looked back at Anthony, "but you must also remember to remind your father and brother to rein it in a bit; I already know about the Gelre matter.
Even through means like inheritance, the princes of the Empire will become wary and dissatisfied, and a considerable portion of that pressure will be transferred to me.
Last time you mentioned Lorraine and Bern, but not Gelre, was it because Philip wanted to obscure my vision?"
"Your Majesty, I was not aware of this matter at the time, please forgive my father's actions."
"Even the French can see my displeasure, can you not?"
Laszlo stopped, somewhat displeased, and turned to stare at the evasive Anthony.
Even though Anthony was his diplomat, he still couldn't consider things from Austria's standpoint, which made him quite dissatisfied.
"Then Your Majesty means…
"The Duke of Gelre's territory is not small," Laszlo pondered, stroking his chin, "the King of Denmark paid me five florins to take the title of Duke of Holstein.
Your father went against my will and insisted on expanding within the Empire; I cannot turn a blind eye to this.
If the old Duke of Gelre passes away, and the Duke of Burgundy is to inherit Gelre, he must either pay me a sum sufficient to redeem the title of an Imperial Duke, or be prepared to be an enemy of the Empire."
Anthony's expression gradually became serious; looking at the earnest Emperor, he wanted to offer a few words of defense, but the words stuck in his throat.
Finally, he nodded and said, "I will convey Your Majesty's decree to the Duke of Burgundy, and I hope this matter will not affect the relationship between our two nations."
"If the Duke of Burgundy does not act recklessly, our alliance will, of course, be incredibly solid.
But even if we are allies, within the Empire, I am still the one who calls the shots; if I, the Emperor, am not respected, the future of the Duchy of Burgundy will likely…"
Laszlo did not finish his sentence, but Anthony had already begun to recall the idea proposed by the King of France's envoy earlier.
Perhaps, he really should persuade his father to stop testing the Emperor's bottom line.
"Alright, just remember to convey my words to your father and brother.
More than that, I now have a more interesting topic: what kind of king is Louis XI, exactly?
You've been in Burgundy for many years, so you should know quite a bit about the situation in France, right? Tell me everything you know."
"Yes, Your Majesty," upon mentioning Louis XI, Anthony's face immediately showed a look of disgust, "First of all, he is a dishonest, cunning, and scheming villain, an intriguer.
Just recently, he even sent someone with a large sum of money to bribe me, hoping to win me over to his service, but I flatly refused.
I imagine many people in the Burgundian court have been subjected to such temptation, and perhaps some have already defected.
He uses the same tactics in the cities of the Low Countries, causing significant rebellions to break out every few years, which my brother has always suppressed with bloody means, and now the Low Countries are relatively stable."
Laszlo raised an eyebrow in surprise: "He actually sent people to bribe you? If you ask me, you should have taken his money and then done nothing.
Otherwise, he'll just take the money to find someone else."
"No, Your Majesty, my loyalty to you will never change!"
Anthony eagerly expressed his loyalty, and Laszlo nodded gently: "If you were no longer loyal to me, you'd be in prison right now.
Alright, I'm well aware of his petty tricks; the situation in Styria is no different, and he might even be instigating rebellions in Hungary. Tell me about France; I don't believe all Frenchmen are satisfied with Louis XI's rule."
"In fact, most people are dissatisfied with him; many peasants directly call him a tyrant."
Anthony understood what the Emperor wanted to hear and immediately told him everything he knew.
"You may only see Louis XI expanding the number of ordonnance companies to over thirty in his first few years, and his effective governance of the country through a large number of low-born civilian bureaucrats, but all of this is built upon high taxes.
The tax burden on French peasants today is already more than double what it was when Charles VII died.
In reality, Louis XI has barely expanded his territory; instead, he ceded Maine and Picardy, only confiscating the Duke of Armagnac's territory, and even that he couldn't rule well.
The Duke of Bourbon and a large group of members of the League of Public Weal were not punished afterwards; only the Duke of Alençon, who did not join the league, suffered, which has led to a growing fear and hatred of him among many.
His long-term tyrannical rule led to strong resistance from the Estates-General last year, for which he had to reduce the ordonnance companies to 22 and promised never to expand them again.
It is for this reason, coupled with the recall of Swiss mercenaries, that he cannot immediately declare war on the Duke of Brittany and the Duke of Berry."
Anthony paused here, a cold smile playing on his lips as he continued, almost mockingly.
"Another policy of his that is widely criticized by the French is the reception of Roussillon and Cerdagne from the Kingdom of Aragon.
These two territories are a disaster for France; the brave and warlike Catalonians there have launched four rebellions in just three years.
The most recent one was a few months ago, and the army Louis XI sent to quell the rebellion has probably not yet managed to wipe out the endless Catalan rebels.
This is great news for us; it seems Louis XI has achieved extraordinary feats in just a few years since his ascension, but in reality, everything he has done is far inferior to his father.
He is merely enjoying the substantial family fortune his father left him, squandering it recklessly like a prodigal child, trying to prove himself greater than his father who restored the nation."
"Alright, I understand," Laszlo said thoughtfully, "Nevertheless, the strength of France is a fact; it cannot be denied that Charles VII led this nation into a new stage.
As for Louis XI, it seems he is trying to reasonably utilize the inheritance Charles VII left him, and what the Duke of Burgundy needs to do is stop him."
"Exactly, as my brother Charles says, if he is given just one more year, he is confident he can build an army capable of defeating the King of France."
Anthony had absolute faith in his brother's military talent, as Charles had never suffered a defeat since his debut.
Even in the Battle of Montlhéry last year, it was only said that the two sides fought to a draw, or that the allied forces had the upper hand.
As for the series of consequences brought about by the Treaty of Conflans, that could only be attributed to their overestimation of Louis XI's moral standards.
Charles was now constantly talking about beheading Louis XI to vent his anger, and Anthony could somewhat understand his feelings.
"Alright, give my blessings to Charles, and I hope he achieves his wish soon."
Laszlo's confusion and mental exhaustion instantly cleared by more than half, and he said with a relaxed mood.
"I will, Your Majesty."
Anthony also smiled again; at least when it came to confronting France, Austria and Burgundy shared the same resolve.