The Crown of the Hundred Years' War

Chapter 45 The Unreachable Reinforcements

Richard straightened his collar, stepped forward, and bowed deeply.

"Lady Joan of Arc," Richard's voice was low, "I have come secretly with an important matter to ask of you. Are you currently serving as His Majesty's bodyguard? I need your help to deliver some messages."

Joan of Arc nodded, signaling him to continue.

Richard leaned forward half a step: "In Troyes, everyone heard of your victory, and some in Parliament had already proposed opening the city to welcome His Majesty. But the Burgundian garrison is also in the city, and they've spread the word that the city only needs to hold out for six weeks at most before reinforcements arrive. You know, many members of Parliament and merchants have had dealings with the British in recent years, and some are even Burgundians themselves. Fearing retribution, they betrayed Parliament and cooperated with the garrison to blockade the entire city. I secretly came here from outside the city to let His Majesty know—Troyes is loyal to His Majesty."

Just as Joan of Arc was about to reply, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the tent. Metz lifted the tent flap and poked his head in, his face changing drastically: "My lady, cavalry! Enemy cavalry!"

Richard's face turned deathly pale: "Damn it, my whereabouts must have been exposed! Those are the pursuers!"

Joan of Arc grabbed her helmet and strode out, shouting to Metz, "Bring me my banner!"

But as soon as she stepped out of the tent, she saw Old John already leading dozens of men in formation. He ordered the crossbowmen to line up in two rows, with spearmen crouching behind them. Several cavalrymen peeked out from the edge of the woods, surprised to find French troops there, and hesitated, reining in their horses. John shouted, and the front rank of crossbowmen fired a volley, startling the cavalrymen so much that they turned their horses around and fled without looking back.

John turned around and grinned at Joan: "They're just a few petty thieves, we don't need you."

Joan of Arc paused for a moment, then turned to Richard, who was still trembling, and said, "Let's go, I'll personally escort you to the Emperor."

Richard nodded gratefully.

-----------------

Inside the royal tent, after listening to Richard's account, Charles tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

"You mean the Burgundians dissolved the council and forcibly closed the market? How many of them are there?" Charlie asked.

"Your Majesty, the garrison numbers at most eight hundred," Richard said, bowing. "It has remained this number for the past few years. You can ask any Troyes; they will all know."

Joan of Arc, standing to the side, immediately chimed in, "Your Majesty, if the Burgundians forcibly subdued the city by force, then Saint-Germain alone could have conquered Troyes. Please allow me—"

Charlie raised his hand, stopping her. He shook his head and said, "The Troyes will be my people in the future. I hope to avoid bloodshed in Champagne, even if it wastes some time; it will be worth it."

The next day, the French army arrived at the gates of Troyes.

The city gates were tightly shut, the drawbridge was raised high, and figures were seen moving about on the city walls. It seemed that the Burgundians, as Richard had said, were indeed determined to hold out to the end.

Charles sent a personally signed letter requesting that the city receive the Emperor. The messenger went and returned empty-handed.

“Your Majesty,” the messenger knelt on one knee, his face somewhat embarrassed, “the city gates were not opened, but they did not attack me either. They left a message saying—” he paused, “that they had sworn an oath to Philip, Duke of Burgundy, that they could not receive the king without his permission. They also said that no matter how good the citizens’ wishes may be, they must take into account the soldiers in the city who are far more powerful than them.”

Joan of Arc turned pale with rage: "This is a shameless threat! Your Majesty, let me prepare to attack the city—"

Charlie chuckled, "Miss Joan, don't worry. Their willingness to negotiate is far better than the British, isn't it? Anyway, Attil and the others still have a few days' journey ahead, so we can just wait for them."

Joan of Arc gritted her teeth and said nothing more.

Later that day, Charles ordered his clerk to copy his letter of surrender to Troyes and a copy of Troyes' reply, and send them together to Reims, Chardonnay, and other places. In the following days, the representatives frequently traveled between towns and French troops, negotiating back and forth, but without any result.

The army was running out of food and supplies. Joan of Arc paced anxiously back and forth in her tent, wanting to lead her troops in a direct assault several times, but Charles stopped her each time.

Just then, Richard somehow managed to contact the owners of several nearby farms. These farms voluntarily sent large quantities of beans, filling the camp's granaries. With food, the soldiers' anxiety finally subsided somewhat.

However, negotiations have made no progress.

Atil and his men finally arrived at the city walls, and Charles took the opportunity to convene a military council. La Hire spoke first, saying, "Your Majesty, I understand you are reluctant to fight your own people, but there's no need to waste time here. Why don't we bypass Troyes and go directly to Reims? Bishop Chartres is also on his way to Reims, and he says the gates of Reims will certainly be open to Your Majesty."

Attire immediately retorted: "Trois is the capital of Champagne. It cannot be ignored, neither militarily nor politically. The British are currently making no move; I suggest we wait a few more days."

Seeing that neither of them could convince the other, Alençon stood up, bowed to Charles, and said, "Your Majesty, why not ask Miss Joan of Arc for her opinion? She was the first to contact the councilors in the city, so she should know the situation best."

Charles then realized that Joan of Arc was not in the tent and asked curiously, "Where has Miss Joan of Arc gone? I remember she was the one who proposed the military council."

Renault was about to answer when he noticed Joan of Arc had walked to the door and shut her mouth again.

Joan of Arc said wearily, "Your Majesty, it is my incompetence. I just led the troops, carrying the banner, to try to boost the morale of the citizens in the city, but the Burgundians are too strict in their control, and they still dare not open the city gates."

She then knelt on one knee and declared firmly, "Your Majesty, I believe there is no point in continuing this discussion. To capture this city, we must first defeat the Burgundians. Please allow me to besiege Troyes directly. In the name of God, within three days, I will bring you into this city—whether by love or by courage. At that time, those cunning Burgundians will naturally tremble with fear."

There was a moment of silence inside the tent.

Charles looked into Joan of Arc's eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "I'll give you three days. But the time for the final assault will be at my command; we must give those citizens one last chance."

Joan of Arc lowered her head: "Yes, sir."

-----------------

Joan of Arc began formal preparations for the siege. The Saint-Germain quickly surrounded the northwest corner of Troyes, and the soldiers received orders to gather bundles of firewood and pile them beside the moat in preparation for filling it in. She brought in all the cannons in the army, and the muzzles were all pointed at the city walls.

On the walls of Troyes, the defenders stared at the dark muzzles of cannons and the mountains of firewood piled up along the moat, their faces growing increasingly grim. Yet, not a single messenger was sent from within the city. Joan of Arc spent the entire night counting the doubled torches atop the walls.

The next morning, Joan of Arc stood on the battlefield, raised her sword, and shouted, "The Burgundians have kidnapped the citizens of Troyes as their hostages, and we will make them feel our wrath! Prepare to fill the trenches!"

The soldiers of the Holy Song Company carried bundles of firewood with trembling hands, ready to charge into the trench at the order of command.

But at that moment, the city gates suddenly opened.

It wasn't cavalry raiding the trench-filling troops, but citizens holding high crosses and white flags. Leading the way were bishops in their robes, followed by several richly dressed merchants, who appeared to be councilors, each holding a large, somewhat intimidating key.

Looking at the poised and ready chorus, they shouted nervously, "We surrender! Troyes surrenders!"

Joan of Arc looked with some surprise at the rows of guards standing atop the city walls, then at the unarmed men. Finally, she sheathed her sword and waved to the messenger behind her: "Have the soldiers stop and wait. Take them to see His Majesty."

Charles received them warmly: "I have been waiting for you. Troyes has always been the most loyal city to the royal family, and you have proven that! I will, like my father, preserve all your privileges and abolish all taxes except for the salt tax!"

The bishop and his representatives exchanged glances, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty is magnanimous. Troyes... is willing to submit."

Charlie turned to the clerk beside him and said, "Send this message to the other cities as well."

---

The next day, Charles VII held a grand entry ceremony into the city. The streets were packed with citizens, some waving flags, others scattering flower petals, the atmosphere as lively as a festival. Joan of Arc rode her horse beside Charles, looking at the city that had been silent yesterday but was now filled with smiles and cheers, and she couldn't describe the feelings in her heart.

Just then, Metz rode up from behind and whispered, "Miss, the Burgundians are running away! They're over there at the east gate!"

Joan of Arc frowned: "Why are they running? Didn't we agree that they could retreat to Burgundy and wouldn't be considered prisoners of war?"

"I heard that the city used to hold some prisoners of war from the previous battles. The Burgundians wanted their ransom and wanted to secretly take them with them!"

Without a word, Joan of Arc turned her horse around and led the hymn team toward the east gate.

Outside the east gate, a troop of Burgundian soldiers was escorting dozens of ragged men on their way. Joan of Arc rode up to block the road and shouted, "Halt! Leave our men behind!"

The Burgundian officer paused for a moment, then straightened his back: "According to the laws of war, these are our prisoners of war, our spoils of war. Even if you are some young girl, you have no right to stop them!"

As the Burgundian soldiers began shoving her men, Joan of Arc placed her hand on the hilt of her sword: "They are French warriors, not your merchandise! If you want to return to Burgundy, you'd better release them!"

But no sooner had she finished speaking than someone behind the commander drew his sword and shouted curses. Metz quickly ordered the soldiers behind Joan of Arc to raise their weapons and drag those people back.

Several men dressed as crossbowmen, brandishing daggers, herded the prisoners toward the city gate. Seeing that the prisoners were unwilling to leave, they raised their daggers.

At this moment, John also brought the rest of the hymn company. Upon seeing the scene, he ordered a squad of infantry to block the gate, laughing loudly, "The Burgundians want a fight? Count me in!"

Joan of Arc drew her sword and confronted the commander, but he was clearly unwilling to back down, and many soldiers in the Holy Song Company began to swallow hard.

Just then, a cavalryman galloped up, carrying a bag aloft, shouting, "Don't move! His Majesty has just heard about this and has declared that each prisoner can be redeemed for one mark of silver!"

He dismounted, panting, and rushed to the Burgundian officer, handing him a heavy money bag. The officer emptied the bag of silver coins, counted out some, and returned the rest, saying, "Your Majesty is so generous; we are completely convinced. Release the prisoners!"

The Burgundian soldiers cheered as they untied the prisoners. Joan of Arc, on horseback, watched John make way for them, and gazed silently at the departing Burgundian soldiers.

Charles pardoned the citizens of Troyes and the next day ordered all soldiers entering the city not to harass the residents, under penalty of severe punishment. The French army was disciplined, and the citizens gradually overcame their fears, and food supplies returned to normal. Bakeries reopened, and fresh vegetables and meat appeared in the markets. Soldiers bought them with silver coins; the transactions were fair, and everyone was happy.

Joan of Arc stood on the city wall, looking at the bustling streets, at the citizens whose faces had regained their smiles, and at her hymn soldiers squatting by the roadside eating freshly baked bread—all of this was the result she wanted, yet she felt like a failure.

She turned to Maze and asked, "Did I...do something wrong?"

Metz scratched his head, thought for a long time, and said, "Miss, you haven't done anything wrong, have you? Those citizens, even those Burgundians... they haven't done anything wrong either."

Joan of Arc picked up a piece of pebbles from the city wall and casually tossed it away.

Metz watched the stone streak across the sky and land in the trench, then suddenly said, "I guess that's how wars are."