Jacques followed John to the most mysterious part of the camp. This was no ordinary tent, but a specially constructed one, with a sturdier frame to support thick linen cloth. The area around the tent was devoid of any other tents, and it was surrounded by rows of fences, as if it were a forbidden zone.
After leading John and Jacques there, young Robert was held back by the royal guards, unable to take another step forward. John personally drew back the curtain and entered the tent.
Inside the long-sealed tent, the stench of rotten food and fermented waste was overwhelming. It was clear that the Earl of Derby had not been well cared for here. Shackled in the middle of the tent, Earl William looked haggard and initially did not react upon seeing John.
"So smelly," John said, pinching his nose and waving his hand.
It wasn't until John spoke that Earl William reacted, crawling towards John's feet, seemingly trying to hug his leg.
"You've finally come, Your Highness," Earl William's hoarse voice was tinged with tears.
John's face showed undisguised disdain and disgust, but this did not deter Earl William from seeing John as his lifeline. He continued to plead, "You arrived just in time. I was almost driven mad by them... This place is full of Robert's men who don't treat me like a human. They beat me every day and don't give me food... Your Highness, I shouldn't have joined them. I know I'm guilty. I beg your forgiveness..."
Earl William's face twisted with his sobs, which only made John more irritated. There was not a hint of pity in John's heart, as this path had been chosen by the Earl himself.
"Did you ever think that if you hadn't joined the rebellion, none of this would have happened?" John kicked him away.
At this moment, the Earl of Derby had completely abandoned his dignity, showing no signs of his noble status. He knelt beside John like a lapdog. "Your Highness, I beg you, take me away from here. I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life, Your Highness..."
John glanced back at Jacques, whose face remained expressionless. The dramatic scene earlier with Robert and his nobles had been so engrossing that nothing seemed to surprise him now.
"Your Highness, I beg you, please forgive me," the Earl of Derby continued to plead.
Ignoring these pleas, John spoke to Jacques, "See? This is what some nobles are like."
Indeed, Jacques now felt that some nobles were even more despicable than street beggars. The awe he once felt for nobility had almost entirely dissipated.
The Earl of Derby continued to kowtow, as if this act would earn John's forgiveness.
In John's heart, an exceedingly ruthless plan began to take shape. He looked at Jacques' face, pondered for a moment, and decided to trust him—a young man who would use any means to climb higher. With just a slight gesture, Jacques leaned in close to John, ready to hear his plan.
"Help me kill the Earl of Derby and frame young Robert for it," John said without any expression.
Jacques' face showed shock. "Your Highness, although the Earl of Derby participated in the rebellion, is it really necessary to treat him this way?"
In Europe, except for Byzantium, most regions handled rebellions with leniency. Using such brutal methods to deal with traitors was rare, with perhaps only William the Conqueror employing such severe tactics across Western Europe.
John's face showed displeasure. "Just do it. Don't ask so many questions."
Seeing John's expression, Jacques knew he couldn't ask further questions. He nodded reluctantly. It wasn't that he was unwilling to do it; he just found John's plan somewhat unreasonable.
The underlying reasons for John's plan couldn't be directly stated. First, framing young Robert was essential. Murder is a severe crime worldwide, both in ancient and modern times. Moreover, the Earl of Derby was a significant noble in the kingdom, and even the king couldn't arbitrarily take his life. Henry II's autocratic rule in England had been significantly challenged by the Thomas Becket case.
The Earl of Derby had four sons. If he was believed to have died at young Robert's hands, his sons would certainly seek revenge. With these noble families pressuring the king, executing young Robert would become inevitable.
Furthermore, for John to gain the support of major feudal lords in central England, he needed to create bonds of gratitude with the local lords.
When the Earl of Derby dies, his son will surely pursue young Robert. By then, John's strong support for them will definitely earn their friendship.
At the very least, he can establish some connection with them, rather than remain a stranger as he is now. Once he gains the Earl of Derby's support, John can use it as a foundation to expand his control over the central-northern part of England. This area is a weak spot in the English royal authority, perfect for John to penetrate with his influence.
With so many benefits, all John needs is to borrow the Earl of Derby's influence temporarily, and he feels like he's hit the jackpot.
John glanced at the Earl of Derby again, now a sorry sight, unlikely to be of much use in the future.
After exchanging a meaningful glance with Jacques, John finally left the stuffy tent. Outside, the air felt sweet.
Soon after, John found young Robert and said to him, "Robert, go inside. The Earl of Derby has something to say to you."
At this moment, young Robert was completely unable to think for himself, obediently following John's instructions step by step. As John watched him walk inside, he couldn't quite discern his own feelings.
Perhaps he had never anticipated from the beginning that John would have such a malicious plan.
A piercing scream from inside the tent drew everyone's attention. Then, Jacques ran out in panic, "He's killed the Earl of Derby!"
Guillaume hesitated for a moment, then rushed in. As soon as he entered, he saw the Earl of Derby lying in a pool of blood, his body twitching slightly. Young Robert looked at the dagger on the ground, his expression almost vacant.
"Guillaume!" Jacques grabbed Guillaume, "The Earl of Derby said he had something to tell me, and then he took the opportunity to kill him!"
With this action, Jacques successfully diverted Guillaume's attention.
"No, no, no, it was you who killed him, you liar!" young Robert, only just realizing, began to roar, but it was too late.
The royal guards rushed in, witnessing the Earl of Derby in such dire circumstances. Coupled with Jacques' preemptive accusation, almost all evidence pointed towards young Robert. It seemed like a case of silencing someone permanently.
Even though they didn't know what secrets young Robert might be hiding, his actions spoke volumes.
"Seize him!" John entered at this opportune moment. "Arrest this murderer and traitor, and bring him before the king for trial!"
Yes, bring him before the king for trial.
That was the only thought in the knights' minds. They acted swiftly, without much hesitation, and subdued young Robert.
John glanced briefly, noticing Jacques' composed exterior, but the sweat on his forehead betrayed his inner tension. Nevertheless, this guy's ability to handle things was indeed exceptional.
Once the knights took young Robert away, Jacques finally breathed a sigh of relief. John, without further observation, turned and left the scene.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!"
As soon as John left the tent, he saw someone jogging towards him.
Breathing heavily, Drogon appeared before John, oblivious to his overstep. Yet, with his experience, he wasn't entirely sure what constituted overstepping.
"Who are you?" John scratched his head, puzzled by the sudden approach of this mercenary squad leader.
"I-I am Drogon, captain of a squadron under General Brouthong," Drogon replied. "Your Highness, I've completed the investigation into the supply theft incident earlier. It was done by the townspeople of Rochdale. Should we pursue it?"
Such a trivial matter brought to him?
John scratched his head again. "There's no need to pursue this matter any further."
In this civil war, John had already secured victory. Why bother pursuing this further? It might as well serve as a gesture of goodwill to the townspeople of Rochdale.
But Drogon didn't understand. "Why not, Your Highness?"
"Our immediate priority is to head to Derby to resolve the issue of the Earl of Derby's succession," John explained. "If we stir up a riot in Rochdale by dealing with this now, it will only delay us and work against us."
Unspoken was John's unwillingness to gamble on the outcome.
With this explanation, Drogon ceased his inquiries.
"Why are you here, Drogon?" Brouthong arrived late, his tone admonishing.
Drogon slunk away, and Brouthong turned to John apologetically. "Your Highness, I failed to keep him in line, allowing him to cause disturbance here."
"It's fine," John waved it off.
However, he noted Drogon's demeanor. He was impulsive but meticulous in his actions.
There were many more headaches ahead for John. For now, the time was relatively calm.
News of the Earl of Derby's death would spread quickly. He had four sons, but he hadn't anticipated an untimely demise.
This raised the question of who would inherit the Earl's estate.
His eldest son, William, was undoubtedly the rightful heir by law, but his other sons, Valcalin and Pernel, had their own claims. As for the youngest, Robert, at just thirteen, his future wasn't yet considered.
Originally, these matters would be managed by Henry II, the highest lord in all of England. But now, Henry II was trapped on the continent, leaving his regent, Lucy, by John's side. Without doubt, John was now the sole decision-maker in how these matters would unfold.
But seizing power would inevitably come with its own troubles.
When John arrived in Derbyshire, he had no idea what unexpected challenges lay ahead.
He looked at Brouthong standing beside him and said, "Gather the troops, Brouthong. We're heading to Derbyshire. We depart tomorrow."
Brouthong nodded, taking the command and leaving.
John surveyed his army. Upon receiving the order, they swiftly regrouped and began setting up a new camp adjacent to the main one. Their astonishing speed in construction left the nobles gaping in disbelief.
This was John's decree, and part of the soldiers' training regimen. Originally, these skills weren't necessary for them, but while building Dublin, John consulted with Stephen, a clergyman skilled in construction, and integrated these techniques into their training.
Amidst the soldiers' grumbling, they had no choice but to learn.
Now, John's troops were not only disciplined but also adept in civil engineering. The fortified camp not only provided excellent defense but also mitigated non-combat losses due to diseases, much like the newly built Dublin, with its emphasis on sanitation systems.
Throughout history, many strong armies had faltered due to epidemics. Frederick Barbarossa, for instance, formidable as he was, had to withdraw during his fourth invasion of Italy due to plague.
John was determined not to let such issues jeopardize his war efforts. Losing a war due to these reasons would be too humiliating.
Thus, the nobles witnessed scenes they never imagined. Lips of some elderly nobles who had seen the grandeur of the Eastern Roman Empire quivered.
They seemed to sense John's ambition, almost beyond their imagination.
...
When news of the Earl of Derby's death reached Derbyshire, the entire county was shaken.
Everyone knew the Earl of Derby wasn't ambitious, but as a lord, he was at least competent. Under his rule, Derbyshire had experienced stability and modest prosperity. The people lived in peace, and noble families coexisted harmoniously.
His involvement in the rebellion was beyond anyone's imagination locally. It was hard to fathom such a mild-mannered lord taking such rebellious actions. And even more unexpected was the Earl of Derby losing his life over it.
This incident quickly became a major event affecting the entire county of Derbyshire. Almost everyone was discussing it, especially who the next Earl of Derby would be.
After the death of the Earl of Gloucester, Henry II had intervened in the inheritance of his estates, forcibly changing the heir. All the nobles were watching to see if the king would interfere in noble inheritances again.
Feelings toward Henry II among the English were complex. He was a great king who led England to military victories, yet he was also feared for his attempts to control the vast English kingdom. Would Henry II's tyrannical tendencies extend to his son?
This question concerned not only the nobles of Derbyshire but nearly all nobles across England. Now, Derbyshire seemed to have become the most scrutinized stage in all of England.
Under this scrutiny, John and his army proudly carried the Royal Banner of the Plantagenets as they arrived in Derbyshire.
With no pretense or secrecy, John approached Derby.
"William," John removed his hat and greeted William, the eldest son of the Earl of Derby. "I am pleased to meet you."
"Thank you, Your Highness," William replied with utmost respect, stepping forward to lead John's horse.
The gesture of leading a horse was an ancient ritual passed down in Europe. The Pope had once demanded that the Holy Roman Emperor perform this ritual as a sign of submission, but it had been refused. Such gestures symbolized allegiance, and William's act was a way of showing loyalty to John.
John found it difficult to refuse, so he followed William into Derby Castle.