Chapter 74: Paternal Benevolence

The knights returned to Lancaster in a grand procession, accompanied by their prisoners, drawing the curious gazes of local farmers along the way. The summer in England was mild, contrasting with the heat of East Asia, allowing the knights to parade in their armor as if displaying their wealth and prowess.

Meanwhile, John had just risen from bed. Margaret, savoring the comfort of her warm sheets, remained asleep, oblivious to John's early awakening. He dressed himself in simple attire before adding a luxurious robe and departed from his chambers. He made his way to the study in Lancaster, expecting the arrival of Guillaume, knowing there must be urgent matters to discuss upon his return.

Not long after, John heard footsteps outside the study, and the door swung open.

"Your Highness."

The moment Guillaume entered, John set aside the book he was reading.

"What brings you back this time?" he asked.

"I've acquired crucial intelligence from the frontlines, Your Highness," Guillaume said, approaching John and relaying all the information he obtained from Baron Ralphburg.

Listening intently, John's face lit up with interest. When Guillaume finished, a surprised John asked, "Are you certain the information he provided is true?"

"I believe so. Sebastian tends to embellish, but what he said is undoubtedly true," Guillaume replied, giving his assessment.

John grew even more curious. "You know this Baron Ralphburg?"

"Well, yes, we've met," Guillaume's expression suddenly turned awkward. "I never managed to best him in the tournaments."

"Ah, I see. Let's leave it at that then," John quickly diverted the conversation, sparing Guillaume further discomfort.

Standing up from his chair, John began pacing the room.

The imprisonment of the Earl of Derby indicated discord among the rebels. John wasn't sure about Robert's capabilities, but this incident revealed Robert's weakness in consolidating allies. Unlike John's camp, where hierarchical relationships existed, Derby and others seemed more like partners to Robert.

As for Baron Ralphburg, despite his relatively modest title, he operated as an independent partner, albeit on a smaller scale. From this, John could discern the superficial unity among these rebels. They were simply not capable of fighting tough battles; even a small town like Rochdale managed to hold them off. It was no exaggeration to say that King Roderick was more skilled in warfare than Robert.

John refrained from acting because the rebels included English nobles, making it inconvenient to take action. If he acted too forcefully, other nobles would surely be displeased, potentially leading to internal discord. These individuals formed a crucial foundation for John's future rule; he could eliminate some troublemakers but not all. If he wiped them all out, who would John rely on to govern England in the future—his own band of heavy-handed soldiers?

Hence, John left this matter for Henry II to worry about.

"We should stick to our previous strategy and avoid making too many changes," John turned to Guillaume.

Guillaume looked somewhat bewildered. "Your Highness, this is a golden opportunity. Are we really going to let it slip?"

"What do you mean 'let it slip,' Guillaume? You must understand our current situation. If we act too aggressively, it will certainly arouse suspicion from King Henry," John invoked the specter of Henry II.

But his words were not baseless. John had already displayed considerable prowess; if he revealed more ambition, Henry II might find it difficult to swallow. John was grooming a successor, not nurturing someone who would oust him.

John continued, "Right now, as long as we hold Lancaster County or even aim a little lower, as long as I remain alive, there will be no issues, and His Majesty will be satisfied."

This cunning was something Guillaume had never experienced before. He carefully savored the implications behind John's words, simultaneously marveling at John's meticulous thinking.

"So, we'll stick to our original strategy and just hold Lancaster," John shrugged.

He had decided to play it safe.

In fact, playing it safe in Lancaster wasn't a bad idea at all. Guillaume saw that John's mind was made up and lowered his head. "Yes, Your Highness," he replied.

Having said that, he left the study. As he opened the door, he suddenly bumped into Sister Margaret, their eyes locking in a moment of frozen air.

"Don't speak of this to anyone, Guillaume," John's voice came from behind him, sending a chill down his spine.

Afterward, Guillaume somehow left the room. As the door closed behind him, he felt like he was returning to the real world, devoid of that icy chill.

His master was indeed adept at manipulation.

---

Henry II arrived with his army at the majestic Chinon Castle, built in the mid-10th century and now one of his key strongholds in Anjou.

In the future, this place would witness many captivating tales, but for now, it served as a center of Henry II's power.

Chinon Castle stood proudly on the banks of the Loire River, opposite to which lay Fontevraud, home to a famous abbey where Henry II's sons were raised.

However, once they reached a certain age, Henry's sons would be sent to different places. For instance, John was sent to Oxford in England.

His army had just repelled an Aquitaine force attempting to invade Fontevraud, with both sides avoiding a major clash.

But the situation was far from ideal.

Henry II faced another direction, where he had to contend with the young and vigorous King Philip of France. Gathering his armies, Philip directly threatened Normandy.

Their forces pressed towards Rouen, where only a small contingent of knights remained to protect this central city of Normandy.

"Your Majesty, if we send the English army to deal with the rebellion, we may very well lose Normandy," Old Roches analyzed. "We have only two armies at our disposal now, but we're facing threats from three directions."

Such decisions left Henry II incredibly vexed.

If John were the sole heir to the kingdom, Henry II wouldn't hesitate. He would rather sacrifice Normandy to ensure the stability of the kingdom's succession.

However, John was not the only heir now; there were two others just like him.

With more options came more worries for Henry II.

Though his desire for control bordered on obsession to outsiders, Henry II was no fool. If he didn't send troops to protect John, how would he explain himself to his sons after the war?

If even his younger sons harbored resentment, Henry II would truly become isolated.

At this point, Henry II could only rely on his instincts to make a decision.

"Go, let Geoffrey lead the army to Rouen and drive away the King of France," Henry II gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Old Roches looked somewhat surprised. "Your Majesty, are you sure about this?"

Henry II nodded firmly. "Losing Normandy means losing control over England... I would rather lose John than lose England."