Chapter 34: The Lion and the Fox
This was the first time John had crossed over to the European continent since his time travel. Henry II, in order to manage the vast affairs of his kingdom, often moved around and couldn't stay in England all year round. Currently, Henry II was in Rouen, Normandy, handling state affairs.
The North Sea was always known for its ferocity, with storms and giant waves frequently occurring. The downfall of the Norman dynasty was rooted in the roaring waves of the North Sea, which swallowed up the only male heir of the Norman family at the time, ultimately forcing the king to pass the throne to his nephew, Stephen. Henry II became the king of England by defeating Stephen.
As John crossed the Channel, he was actually scared, knowing that the giant waves of the North Sea were no joke.
When John arrived in Rouen, he met Henry II. Instead of a father's embrace, John was greeted with a harsh scolding from Henry II.
"You really don't know the danger you're in. I barely escaped a storm a few days ago when I arrived here. Who knows if there will be another storm in a few days? You little brat!" Henry II's face was red with anger, and his large hands were visibly shaking.
"Have you ever considered what might happen if you encountered trouble at sea? Do you want our family to perish like the previous dynasty because of a shipwreck? John, look at me!"
John, who had been staring at the ground, raised his head under Henry II's roar. He felt that his father was much scarier than the church.
But in reality, besides the yelling, Henry II didn't take any further action. John was his most beloved youngest son, and Henry II usually indulged him. This time, he was angry because John's rebellion was truly reckless. However, it wasn't to the extent that he would physically punish him.
After watching his father rage for a while, John waited until Henry II had calmed down a bit before he spoke about the recent events he had encountered.
"Father, there's something I want to discuss with you," John began cautiously. "It's about something I encountered in Ireland. I didn't know how to handle it, so I thought I should come to you in person..."
Henry II snorted, "Why didn't you just send a message with a servant for this kind of thing?"
John, who had already prepared his excuse, said, "Because it's really not convenient to speak of it through a letter. I needed to tell you face-to-face."
Hearing John's justification, Henry II, with his keen intuition, immediately realized the importance of the matter. He quickly composed himself and dismissed the knights from the room.
"Tell me, what is it?" Henry II asked, switching to Latin, a language very few people knew.
John took a deep breath and began to explain the situation.
John responded in Latin as well, "I encountered people in Ireland who claimed to be from the Roman Curia, but I discovered they were actually a group of Aquitanians. I suspect they were sent by Richard."
After listening to John's analysis, Henry II sighed. Whether they were sent by Richard or truly from the church, it was a major headache for Henry II, albeit for different reasons.
Henry II's relationship with the church had always been unstable. The assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket had severely strained his relationship with the church and the entire ecclesiastical establishment. Now, a group of church representatives was causing trouble for his son. Even if the church itself had no direct hand in this, the situation was certainly in line with its interests.
Pope Lucius III was exceptionally firm in his stance against secular rulers. He had fierce confrontations with Frederick "Barbarossa," the Holy Roman Emperor, in Italy. Even the distant kingdom of England was not beyond his reach.
"I have detained them in Dublin for now. I don't know how to handle this situation," John said, his head lowered. "I wanted to ask for your advice on how to deal with this matter."
John's move effectively passed the problem to Henry II. As his father, Henry II was bound to address it. Cleaning up after his son's mess was a tiring responsibility.
Henry II paced the room, stroking his beard as his mind raced, contemplating the best way to resolve this issue.
"First of all, your approach was a bit too forceful..." Henry II spoke slowly. "But when dealing with church representatives, a bit of force is indeed necessary, or they will just keep arguing."
Henry II's observation was accurate. Nearly all secular rulers who tried to engage in theological debates with churchmen ended up losing. The best solution was often a physical one. After all, the sword was the most potent weapon for rulers, while theological arguments were the clergy's strength.
"The crucial point is whether they were sent by the Curia or by Richard. If they were Richard's men, the matter will be much easier to resolve."
"So how can we determine if they were sent by the Curia?" John raised the most critical question.
Henry II showed a subtle smile. "We won't have to wait long to find out."
What did he mean by that? John's face was filled with confusion as he stared at Henry II. Could his father have some hidden card up his sleeve?
"I've already sent emissaries to the Papal Curia," Henry II said with a smile. "Their mission is to petition the Pope to crown you as the King of Ireland."
John was instantly shocked by this revelation. He was touched by Henry II's consideration for him but also astonished by the feasibility of such an action. The royal family's relationship with the Papal Curia wasn't exactly good, and petitioning the Pope to crown him as the King of Ireland seemed like an almost impossible task.
But soon, John realized that, much like his own strategy of sending Jacques to Simms, Henry II's goal probably wasn't the title of King of Ireland itself.
"Father, I'm curious as to why you've sent emissaries to Rome. I know your goal isn't to get me crowned as King of Ireland, so what is your actual objective?" John boldly asked, showing his keen insight.
Henry II was pleasantly surprised by John's question and accurate analysis. In his memory, his youngest son had never been particularly diligent or brave, which had been a source of disappointment for him. But now, it seemed he had discovered his son's true talents.
Henry II patted John's head appreciatively. "It seems you've grown quite a bit in Ireland. As a ruler, if you cannot be as strong and brave as a lion, you must be as cunning as a fox, always waiting for the right moment to act."
"Indeed, I don't have high hopes for a positive response from Pope Lucius III. He's a stubborn old man, and it's unlikely he'll grant our request," Henry II explained. "But through this action, we can demonstrate our ambition for Ireland. This move is meant to show our vassals in Ireland that you are the rightful lord of the land... just as Richard is the master of Aquitaine."
Ah, so that's the strategy.
John nodded, savoring Henry II's analysis. From all angles, this mission was bound to yield some benefits, making it a profitable endeavor. However, a cold glint flickered in John's eyes. Henry II's reasoning was indeed sound, but it seemed he hadn't laid all his cards on the table.
Granting John the kingship would undoubtedly put pressure on his elder brother Richard. Henry II's move was like saying: "I'm considering leaving the throne of England to John; what are you going to do about it?"
If Richard silently accepted this, it would indicate that he had no ambition, at least for the time being. In such a scenario, Henry II could confidently pass the throne to his most beloved son. However, John doubted Richard would take this lying down. He could envision Richard flying into a rage and mustering the armies of Aquitaine to challenge their father.
Admittedly, this matter didn't directly touch upon John's core interests, but Henry II's concealment signified one thing: he hadn't yet made up his mind about the heir to the throne.
In Henry II's mind, deciding whether to hand over the kingdom to a lion or a fox was a matter requiring deep contemplation.
Amidst these suspicions and doubts, John slowly exited Henry II's chamber. Regardless, Henry II would have to clean up this mess for him. As for Ireland... John glanced around at the lavish decor and the beautiful maidens wandering the corridors. He shrugged.
Enjoy some leisure before heading back.
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