Swabian Imperial Circle

Inside the Bregenz City Hall, representatives took their seats according to their status, while the Emperor sat on a temporary platform, observing the numerous attendees.

In fact, this Swabian Imperial Circle meeting, according to the imperial administrative division, should have been held in one of three cities: Constance, Ulm, or Augsburg.

However, to display the Emperor's majesty, Laszlo chose Bregenz, located at the border of the Austrian Administrative Region and the Swabian Administrative Region, to host the first Swabian Imperial Circle meeting.

The agenda for this meeting was extensive, covering everything from legal constraints and the construction of an administrative system to a series of topics like politics, economics, diplomacy, and military affairs, addressing every detail without exception.

It was precisely because this task was so complex that Laszlo assigned Eyczing to personally preside over and organize this transformative grand event.

Compared to Austria and Bohemia, which had sound and self-contained systems, other imperial regions remained in a state of continuous conflict and disorder.

The construction of the Swabian Imperial Circle was Laszlo's first step to end this state.

Unlike the Austrian Administrative Region, which was built on the foundation of the Archduchy of Austria, Swabia was now truly a scattered entity, with its degree of fragmentation being unique within the entire empire.

Moreover, Swabia was close to the core territories of the Habsburg Family, making it very convenient for Laszlo to control, and thus it became the first truly meaningful Imperial Circle pilot.

The Habsburg Family once regarded the Duchy of Swabia as their promised land, but fate eventually led them to Austria.

Now, Laszlo intended to return, fulfilling the last wishes of the Habsburg Family's ancestors, and bring this land under his control.

Almost all local magnates from various parts of Swabia were present, from Imperial Knights to Imperial Counts; everyone who could attend came in person.

There was no other reason than the Emperor's announcement that he intended to establish a Swabian Administrative Region government.

The Emperor would appoint a Governor, under whom four Stewards would manage four branch agencies, overseeing all affairs of the entire administrative region.

Whoever could gain the Emperor's favor, it was no exaggeration to say, would rise to prominence and achieve rapid advancement.

Once all representatives had arrived, Eyczing first presented the registered roster to Laszlo for inspection.

This roster was very clear, showing Imperial Knights, Barons, Counts, Imperial Abbeys, and Imperial Free Cities at a glance, even indicating whether they were participating as representatives or in person.

Many abbots and free city magistrates attended in person, not to mention the imperial nobles eager for advancement.

These people, totaling over seventy, filled the city hall to capacity, with many standing in the open space of the hall.

Even so, it was exceptionally crowded, and everyone desperately tried to push forward.

Only a dozen or so exceptionally distinguished individuals were qualified to sit in front of the Emperor.

For example, Ulrich V, Count of Württemberg-Stuttgart, and his nephew, Eberhard V, Count of Württemberg-Urach.

They sat in the first row, in order, behind a corpulent Bishop; Ulrich and this Bishop seemed to have some conflict, clearly disliking each other.

Laszlo looked at the list for a long time, found nothing conclusive, and then quietly pointed to the nobleman sitting at the head of the table below, asking Eyczing, "Who is that person?"

Eyczing glanced at the Bishop and replied in a low voice, "My Lord, that is Bishop George of Metz; he is attending the meeting on behalf of his brother, Margrave Karl I of Baden.

His own representative is the Coadjutor Bishop of Metz, among the crowd behind."

"Oh?" Laszlo frowned, "Is that the Bishop of Metz who quickly surrendered to the Elector Palatine and was released after paying a large sum of money?"

"It is he, Your Majesty," Eyczing glared at the ungracious Bishop of Metz and added, "The one sitting next to him is Ulrich V, Count of Stuttgart, whom you previously mentioned wanting to hold accountable…

"Ah, yes," Laszlo looked at the two men sitting in front of him, his gaze growing colder, "These two do not seem to be trustworthy or reliable choices.

I believe I already have a more ideal candidate for the Governor of the Swabian Administrative Region."

Eyczing smiled slightly and speculated, "Is Your Majesty perhaps intending to make the Margrave of Baden the Governor?"

Laszlo looked at Eyczing with some helplessness, unsure whether he had been too obvious or if Eyczing understood him too well.

"But we must first rescue him," Laszlo said, shaking his head, "The analysis sent by Marshal Adolf not long ago shows that the war is about to enter its fiercest phase.

Bohemia's troops have completed their mobilization, and the Independent Army's Second Legion, led by Gunter, has already arrived in Outer Austria.

Since Archbishop Adolf has worked so hard to take Mainz, I don't mind giving him greater assistance.

Alright, since everyone is here, this meeting should begin."

Laszlo stood up and took two steps forward, with Eyczing standing behind him, holding a thick legal code. The meeting hall immediately fell silent, and everyone looked uniformly at the young Emperor.

"Gentlemen, this is Swabia's first Imperial Circle meeting, and it is also an important milestone in my reform of the Empire," Laszlo raised both hands, his impassioned voice echoing through the hall, "For a long time, the Empire has been in a disordered and fragile state, with its princes hating each other, irreconcilable, eventually escalating into one bloody war after another.

This has led to a further decline in the Empire's national strength and a further collapse of imperial order.

Enemies from all directions covet the Empire's land; a weak and chaotic Empire is utterly powerless to resist enemy invasions, and I am determined to change all of this.

Today, I have summoned you here, not to listen to your arguments on parchment, nor to watch you fight over interests.

We are gathered here to build a strong, united, and stable imperial administrative region.

The administrative region must establish a standing army to protect the interests of its subjects; of course, this army must also fight to protect the interests of the Empire.

The administrative region also needs to establish unified laws, prohibit blood feuds, maintain good trade order, and pay sufficient taxes to the Imperial Diet to maintain the Empire's operation.

Listen, this is not a soft-spoken discussion; these are doctrines that must be implemented!

The entire Empire will surely return to prosperity under my leadership, and you should feel honored to witness and participate in all of this."

After Laszlo finished speaking, his gaze, like an eagle's, swept across the faces of the Swabian princes, observing their reactions.

Most people agreed with his words, as Swabia was one of the few regions within the Empire not significantly affected by the Electors.

The Habsburg Family regarded Swabia as their own territory, and Laszlo was now going to make this idea a reality.

As soon as the Emperor's voice fell, thunderous applause immediately erupted in the hall; whether they supported the Emperor's strong declaration or not, they would not show their true thoughts.

Subsequently, Laszlo returned to his seat, handing over the chairmanship of the meeting to Eyczing.

The first item on the agenda was the promulgation of administrative region laws, as legal constraints are the cornerstone of building a community: "Article 1, confirming the boundaries of the Swabian Administrative Region as…

"Article 2, prohibiting blood feuds…

"Article 3, concerning the Administrative Region's Supreme Court…

Eyczing read out the articles recorded in the legal code he held, one by one, officially declaring the start of this important meeting.

The first day's meeting did not see much debate; people mainly discussed laws and regulations suitable for Swabia.

Given the Habsburg Family's preeminent influence in Swabia, the nobles and free cities mostly tended to support the Emperor's laws, because they indeed needed a regional alliance to protect their own interests.

Yes, they didn't need an Imperial Circle, but a regional alliance; it was just that the Imperial Circle proposed by the Emperor provided stronger external impetus and constraints for this alliance.

In the history of the Empire, several powerful regional alliances had emerged, including the Rhineland League and the Swabian League. These alliances were initially composed of Imperial cities, with the purpose of resisting feudal nobles who sought to expand their power and annex cities.

A few years after the Swabian League and the Rhineland League merged, the entire alliance collapsed under the Strike of the Habsburg Family and other great nobles.

However, times are different now. The Swabian League of yesteryear was established to resist powerful feudal lords, while the Swabian Imperial Circle Laszlo intended to establish was for controlling the entire Swabia.

Achieving this goal still required long-term effort, but Laszlo was not worried about too fierce resistance in Swabia.

Currently, the most powerful Margrave of Baden and the two Counts of Württemberg in the entire region were eager to serve him, not to mention the other knights, barons, or bishops.

Speaking of the Margrave of Baden and the Count of Württemberg, after the banquet on the first day of the meeting, Laszlo specifically met with Bishop George of Metz and the Count of Württemberg-Stuttgart in a quiet room.

Beside the long table, the two men sitting opposite Laszlo looked apprehensive, as they found the Emperor's face as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

Laszlo's gaze swept over them like a sharp blade, and his voice was icy: "Hmph, it should have been the loyal Margrave of Baden sitting opposite me, not you two cowardly fellows."

Although in his opinion, the Margrave of Baden was just a reckless and useless fellow, he was more loyal than these two.

The Count of Württemberg lowered his head slightly and said with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, that war was too brutal, and my army also suffered heavy losses. There was really no choice—I could only temporarily retreat to preserve strength, so that I could serve Your Majesty again in the future."

"Hmph, excuses!" Laszlo slammed his palm heavily on the table. "A few days ago, Archbishop Adolf, with only five hundred men, broke through Mainz and captured Dieter alive.

Your troops were certainly more than five hundred, weren't they? You clearly promised the Archbishop to fight alongside him. I considered that your promise, yet you so easily broke it. How can I trust you again?"

"Your Majesty, this…", the Count of Württemberg could not fail to hear the Emperor's unspoken meaning, which was questioning his loyalty and ability.

But he could not find any reason to refute, and could only redden his face and accept the Emperor's sarcasm.

Laszlo's tone softened somewhat, and he continued: "However, I heard that you wounded the Elector Palatine in Seckenheim and organized an orderly retreat for your troops, covering Archbishop Adolf's escape from danger.

I will not overlook your merits. Now I give you a chance to wash away your shame. The decisive battle between Archbishop Adolf and the Elector Palatine is approaching. Will you choose to continue being a cowardly oath-breaker, or will you prove your… again?"

The Count of Württemberg looked serious and replied solemnly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will prove my loyalty."

Laszlo nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the trembling Bishop George of Metz.

"As for you, I think both of your brothers would be ashamed of you, and I have nothing more to say."

George hastily explained: "Your Majesty, I was threatened by the Elector Palatine at the time, and I thought that only by preserving my life could I have the opportunity to return and serve Your Majesty. I hope you can understand."

Upon hearing his sophistry, Laszlo laughed in extreme anger: "What a high-sounding reason!

Do you know that your brother, the Margrave of Baden, who was captured with you, chose to die rather than surrender, firmly supporting Archbishop Adolf and fighting against the rebels who disrupted the Empire to the end?

And you, so weak and cowardly, did such a thing that brought shame upon the Baden Family!"

George's face turned bitter, feeling somewhat helpless about the Emperor's accusations.

After all, traditionally speaking, it was quite normal for nobles to pay ransom for their freedom after being captured.

He had not gained any benefit from this war, but had only led his army to participate in support of his brother.

As for the Emperor's accusation of lack of loyalty, that was even more out of the question.

He had no old grievances with the Elector Palatine, and had also been beaten for no reason on the battlefield, almost losing his life.

In his opinion, his loyalty to the Emperor already exceeded that of ninety percent of the Imperial princes, and this was indeed the case.

After the golden bull was promulgated, the feudal relationship between the Emperor and the Imperial princes had long existed in name only.

The Emperor was in an awkward position of having no great power but quite a bit of minor power. If princes were willing to fight for the Emperor due to various factors, it was a testament to the Emperor's good governance.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Just as Laszlo was about to continue, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Eyczing entered the room, came to Laszlo's side, and whispered something in his ear.

Laszlo was slightly taken aback by the news, confirmed it with Eyczing, and then turned to the Count of Württemberg and Bishop George of Metz, saying: "Count Ulrich of Württemberg, I hope you will not forget the promise you made to me, and do not flee from battle again.

As for you, Bishop George of Metz, although you succumbed to the Empire's enemies, considering that you had hardships even if no merits, I will not be too harsh on you. I hope you can make the correct choice next time.

Alright, you may both leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The two, as if granted a great pardon, hastily left the room, fearing that if they stayed an extra second, the Emperor would change his mind and punish them.

After the two left, Laszlo asked Eyczing with a serious expression: "You mean, the Elector Palatine sent an envoy to see me, wanting to sue for peace?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Eyczing was not surprised by this, after all, Dieter was already a prisoner, and if the war continued, the Elector Palatine was bound to suffer losses.

It would be better to sign a less harsh peace treaty with the Emperor and the Archbishop of Mainz while the battle in Rhineland was still favorable to the Elector Palatine.

Laszlo pondered for a moment, stroking his chin, and said with a frown: "The Elector Palatine actually backed down at this time? Eyczing, what do you think?"