Wolves

It was another cold winter, with heavy snow blanketing vast stretches of land and valleys, forcing Archbishop Adolf II of Mainz to postpone his planned advance.

A legion of over three thousand men from the Independent Army had already relocated from Graz to Linz, accepting the Archbishop's employment and deployment.

They were just waiting for the weather to improve before venturing deeper into the Empire's heartland from there to attack the Empire's enemies.

And the people of Austria were all relieved that they could celebrate a peaceful New Year this year—a luxury that had become almost impossible since Emperor Laszlo ascended the throne.

Although the Mainz civil war, secretly orchestrated by the Emperor, had broken out not long ago, for the Austrians, it was merely a minor incident occurring in the distant central Empire.

This war would not affect the Austrians; it merely provided them with more topics for after-dinner conversation.

Those truly affected by this war, which had not yet begun, were probably the merchants on the Vienna-Frankfurt trade route.

They feared that the Mainz civil war might erupt one day and cut off their source of income.

But worrying was useless; the war was bound to affect Frankfurt and a large area around Mainz. They could only pray for the war to end soon.

Winter enveloped the land like a cold veil of ice, with heavy, dark clouds pressing down on the horizon, fragmenting the daylight.

The cold wind, laden with snowflakes, swept across the land like sharp blades, cutting through everything in its path.

In this icy world, a beautifully decorated carriage, pulled by four sturdy horses, struggled forward through the biting wind and swirling snow.

Inside the carriage, Archbishop Adolf II and Clemens, the special envoy dispatched by the Emperor, sat facing each other.

Adolf II, with fervent eyes and a radiant complexion, wore a purple robe and a tall crown, holding a scepter, looking extremely dignified.

Clemens, on the other hand, appeared calm and much more composed.

As an assistant to Chief Minister Eyczing, he was fortunate enough to be personally appointed as a special envoy by the Emperor this time.

This made him very excited, but also brought immense pressure.

Fortunately, things were progressing very smoothly; the Count of Württemberg-Stuttgart had already agreed to send troops to assist Adolf II under the stipulated conditions.

They were currently on their way from Stuttgart to Baden, and next, they would visit Margrave Karl I of Baden and request his assistance.

Karl I and Adolf were old acquaintances; Adolf, as the Bishop of Speyer, had a very close relationship with the Margrave of Baden's family, so he was full of confidence in this lobbying trip.

The carriage swayed in the wind and snow, its wheels rumbling with a dull sound. Adolf pulled back the curtain, looked at the heavy snow outside the window, and frowned, saying, "This dreadful weather is unbearable! I really hope Margrave Karl will remember our past friendship and not make me come all this way for nothing."

Clemens nodded slightly, saying hopefully, "Archbishop, the Margrave of Baden has a long-standing connection with you, and this time, with His Majesty's guarantee, I believe he will not stand idly by."

Adolf affirmed this, already envisioning the glory that the Archbishop of Mainz's throne would bring him.

He would step over the bodies of all his opponents to ascend that throne and establish a new authority.

Hours later, the carriage slowly entered the Margrave of Baden's territory.

The towering castle, set against the white snow, stood like a majestic beast in the wind and snow, its flags on the walls fluttering fiercely in the cold wind, showcasing the Margrave's might.

The carriage drove into the castle, and Adolf and Clemens, led by a servant, arrived at the Margrave's reception hall.

The warm fireplace dispelled some of the chill, and the walls were adorned with exquisite tapestries depicting ancient war scenes and biblical stories.

Margrave Karl I of Baden, from the Baden-Baden branch, was robust with profound eyes. He had ruled most of the Margraviate of Baden's territory since 1453, with only the Baden-Sausenberg branch remaining independent.

He sat on a high-backed chair in the hall, dressed in a magnificent sable fur coat, with several stern-faced knights standing beside him.

"Archbishop, and the Emperor's envoy, welcome from afar."

Seeing the guests enter the room, the Margrave of Baden immediately rose and bowed slightly.

Adolf II quickly stepped forward and shook the Margrave's hand: "Lord Karl, it has been a long time, and I have missed you greatly."

Clemens also returned a bow to the Margrave. In this negotiation, his role was to serve as a banner, reminding the Margrave of Baden of the Emperor's stance and providing Adolf with some authoritative assistance.

Once the three were seated, Adolf immediately said earnestly, "Lord Karl, I believe you must have heard about my war with the rebels of Mainz. I urgently need your assistance now."

The Margrave glanced at Clemens, his gaze deep, and replied pointedly, "Archbishop, as I see it, the current situation is quite favorable to you. I'm afraid you won't need my help, will you?"

Good personal relations were one thing, but state diplomacy did not rely on personal ties. Karl I would not do thankless work.

Adolf shook his head and sighed, "Indeed, the Emperor's strong support has resolved many of my troubles, but there is only one person who worries me.

If he joins this war and stands with the rebels, the situation will be dire."

The Margrave's eyes narrowed, and though it was a question, he spoke with an almost certain tone: "Are you worried about the Elector Palatine joining the war?"

"Yes," Adolf showed a worried expression, "Although the Emperor has agreed to provide some assistance, if the Elector Palatine stubbornly insists on helping the rebels, my current strength is still a bit insufficient.

The Count of Württemberg has already promised to provide assistance if the Palatinate participates in the war. I am now also requesting your assistance, and of course, I will offer appropriate compensation in return."

2

The Margrave of Baden nodded gently, stood up, and paced back and forth in the hall, weighing the pros and cons of the matter in his mind.

He thought of Baden's current predicament, which made him somewhat tempted by Adolf's proposal.

In the late Middle Ages, the various branches of the House of Baden gradually died out, and their lands were absorbed by the Baden-Baden branch. By now, Karl I had almost unified the fragmented Margraviate of Baden.

However, Baden's further expansion encountered a major bottleneck. To the south, Baden's territory of Breisgau was closely connected to Outer Austria, meaning Baden was, strictly speaking, a neighbor of Austria.

To the west were the free cities of Mulhouse and the Archbishopric of Strasbourg. With the Emperor's suppression, he wasn't bold enough to act against these two areas.

The Swabia region to the east was considered forbidden by the Emperor; daring to extend his hand there would be tantamount to seeking death.

And in the only remaining direction for expansion, Baden's northern neighbor was the powerful Elector Palatine.

Normally, even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to go to war with the Palatinate.

But now was an excellent opportunity: supporting Adolf was not only helping an old friend, which would be beneficial for gaining more advantages from the Archbishop of Mainz in the future, but also pleasing the Emperor and enhancing Baden's power in the Empire.

Most importantly, he could annex the Palatinate's lands and expand Baden's territory with the Emperor's permission.

However, he also saw the risks involved. From Adolf's words, it was not difficult to deduce that the assistance provided by the Emperor was not substantial.

The Emperor essentially wanted to fight a proxy war, so Adolf had to personally engage in diplomacy and rally allies.

If they ultimately failed to defeat the rebels, perhaps the Emperor would intervene personally, but by then, it would have nothing to do with them.

At that time, they might not only suffer losses in troops and generals but also have to cede territory and pay reparations.

He hesitated for only a moment, and temptation overcame reason.

The Margrave of Baden stopped, his gaze firm, and replied, "Archbishop, I have decided to support you. If the Elector Palatine participates in this war, I will personally lead Baden's army to assist you in reclaiming the Archbishop of Mainz's throne!"

Adolf's face lit up with joy. He clasped the Margrave's hand tightly again, saying gratefully, "Your Lordship, true friendship is shown in adversity. I will never forget your assistance!"

Outside the window, the wind and snow continued, but the flame of hope in Adolf's heart burned even more fiercely.

He already foresaw that he would soon enter Mainz as a victor, defeating all those who stood in his way.