Unexpected Road

The long siege was torment for both sides, but Laszlo successfully found something that interested him—the silver mine in Kuttenberg.

Near Kuttenberg, the famous Kutna Hora Mountain has the richest silver mine reserves in all of Europe at this time, and people have been mining here for more than a hundred years.

Now, only a portion of the silver mine, which has been destroyed many times, has been rebuilt. After the German and Italian miners were expelled, the production of the silver mine has dropped sharply, but it is clear that it still has enough mining potential.

This is a treasure more valuable than the Tyrol silver mine. Once production is restored and fully mined, a steady stream of wealth will flow into the Emperor's pockets.

After completing the on-the-spot investigation, Laszlo returned to the siege camp contentedly. Two weeks had passed since the siege began.

The wheat outside the city began to ripen, but the people inside the castle could only watch helplessly as the Imperial Army soldiers seized the grain they had worked so hard to cultivate. Around the castle, more Imperial Army soldiers were heavily guarded, guarding against a surprise attack by the rebels inside the city.

This move greatly eased the logistics pressure on the Imperial Army and at the same time made the morale of the defenders in the castle even lower.

At this moment, Rosenberg's troops finally returned, bringing Laszlo a big surprise.

"Your Majesty, please look, this is Iri's daughter, Catherine. We captured her in Podebrady Castle, but unfortunately, we were unable to find Iri's two sons. They are both adults and should be in the rebel ranks. I ordered the destruction of Iri's castle as you requested, leaving only this one survivor."

Rosenberg rudely pinched the girl's chin, introducing her to Laszlo like a slave trader introducing merchandise.

The girl was wearing a snow-white, simple long dress, without too many fancy decorations. It is very likely that what she originally had on her body had already been looted once.

Her skin was fair, with a faint luster, her face was beautiful, her face was round, and her bright and clear eyes showed fear and sadness.

Laszlo looked at the timid girl in front of him with some surprise. Her body trembled slightly with fear.

However, judging from her clean clothes and relatively healthy mental state, Rosenberg did not allow his subordinates to do anything rude to her.

"You did a good job, Rosenberg."

"It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."

"I don't think she can have any impact on Iri. What do you think we should do with her?"

Laszlo looked at Iri's daughter with interest. This poor girl may not have done anything wrong, but she is Iri's daughter, which almost destined her to a tragic end.

Rosenberg suddenly showed a mysterious smile and leaned over and said: "Her fate is completely in your hands, Your Majesty. I think you may need a night to think carefully."

Laszlo's face darkened, and he said a little angrily: "Rosenberg, she is Iri's daughter, do you think I might do something to her? Find her a clean room and lock her up, guard her strictly, and don't let her escape."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Although slightly surprised, Rosenberg strictly carried out Laszlo's order.

Marching and fighting easily accumulates pressure, and it is common to find a woman to vent one's anger, and this is also the case for the Emperor.

It is common to vent desires with prisoners or plunder a few beauties near the garrison.

Rosenberg did not expect that Laszlo, who was at the height of his youth, could suppress his desires, which made him admire the Emperor.

He led Catherine out of the church and glanced back at the girl who was secretly rejoicing, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

She is still happy that she has temporarily preserved her chastity, but Rosenberg has already guessed her ending.

If Laszlo really attacked her, she might be able to survive as a mistress—although this possibility is unlikely, but Laszlo didn't do this, which can only mean that in his eyes this woman is going to be killed.

On the other side, Laszlo sighed, recalling Leonor, who was about to give birth to another child for him.

In fact, just for a moment, he really had some crooked thoughts, but what he was thinking was, if he humiliated Iri's daughter, would it directly enrage Iri?

Venting desires in this process is secondary. The main thing is to see what Iri's expression would be.

However, he gave up this dangerous idea. He was afraid that if he really went there, he would soften his heart and be unable to do it, which would be a mistake.

Iri, he must kill, so Iri's daughter will naturally become a hidden danger, and it is best to kill her together.

Late at night, lying on the soft bed, Laszlo began to think about a new possibility.

"If Iri is willing to convert, can I use him?"

Laszlo continued to think along these lines.

Iri was known in the original timeline as one of the most talented Kings in Bohemia's history. It was he who led Bohemia out of the shadow of the Hussite Wars.

In addition, he was also an active promoter of the "European Union" and the "Christian League".

Yes, although he was a Hussite believer, after he imprisoned Laszlo until he mysteriously died at the age of 17 and usurped the Bohemian throne, he began to actively build a "Christian Anti-Ottoman Alliance" through diplomatic means, and also sent troops to participate in the war against the Ottomans, in order to increase his prestige.

However, his efforts did not work. People believed that he had murdered Laszlo, the King of Bohemia-Hungary.

The Pope was ashamed and angry that a Hussites heretic had ascended the Bohemian throne, and in the absence of resolving the Ottoman threat, he still launched a Crusade against Bohemia, dragging Bohemia into endless war once again.

Iri is indeed a talented and visionary person, but his vision transcends this era, and his ideal "European Union" was not realized until more than 500 years later.

He actively spread the teachings of the Hussites Cup faction and firmly guarded the spark of the Reformation. For the Bohemian people, he is undoubtedly a hero.

For Laszlo, it would be best if Iri died.

If Iri is persuaded to surrender first, and then some "accidents" are created to kill Iri after Bohemia is captured, or he is imprisoned in Vienna and allowed to live peacefully as a retired official, that is not impossible.

Machiavelli said: "A wise prince cannot and should not keep his word when such observance is to his injury, and the reasons that made him pledge it are removed."

If Iri really surrenders, then the heretics in Bohemia will completely lose their fighting spirit and can be easily wiped out.

However, it is impossible for Iri to agree to surrender to Laszlo unconditionally. To take a step back, even if he agrees, the rebel soldiers under him will not agree, because this is tantamount to putting them to death.

Laszlo didn't have much hope for the surrender, only treating it as an insult to Iri, who was about to be defeated, as a victor.

Anyway, there is no cost to trying. If Iri refuses, then continue the siege, and the day the city is broken will be the death of Iri and his daughter.

No sooner said than done, Laszlo jumped up from the bed, sat down at the desk, picked up his pen and began to write his letter of surrender.