Chapter 59

Unlike Britain and France, where military power was mainly controlled by various nobles and kings, the Italian peninsula was characterized by numerous city-states and duchies. None of the states had the capacity to maintain a strong army for long periods, and wars frequently broke out between territories. Therefore, mercenaries were in high demand there.

Among these mercenaries of varying quality, the most powerful mercenary legions are well-trained and formidable in combat, capable of deciding the outcome of a war. They are a formidable force that even the Pope cannot ignore, much like the White Mercenary Corps founded by Albert Stelz in the 14th century, which was renowned throughout Europe.

However, the exorbitant prices these mercenaries charge are prohibitive for most people.

If they can't afford to pay the mercenaries the gold coins, or if the opposing side offers more money, these unreliable mercenaries will immediately waver in their stance. It's better if they quit on the spot; some might even help their employer's enemies and rob their employer again.

So here's the question: Where will Her Majesty get the gold to recruit mercenaries?

As Queen Elizabeth II of Scotland calmly and peacefully bid farewell to Pius V and left the Vatican, her lady-in-waiting Seton, secretary David Lidjo, and a group of fifteen or sixteen capable attendants were all pondering this question.

Although the Scottish royal family's wealth has increased steadily in recent years due to the Queen of Scots's business and salt-selling policies, as well as the confiscation of other noble properties and lands, they are currently far away in Italy, carrying only a few thousand florins for daily expenses, which is far from enough to meet their immediate needs.

Is Her Majesty going to rely on installment payments and IOUs? Or will she first borrow money from a wealthy merchant family?

Albert had a vague suspicion in his mind.

In the winter of his first year living in Scotland, he witnessed the Queen of Scots secretly making a mercury mirror in Edinburgh, which astonished everyone present.

The secret of Venice was thus revealed. He had thought it would be a sensational news story, but the Queen of Scots issued a strict gag order to everyone present, forcing him and the glassmaker to completely forget about what happened that day and not to utter a single word.

Following that, in recent years, a wave of foreign merchants specializing in selling luxury goods emerged in Italy. Their business was booming, and their goods were even sold to the Ottoman Empire and entered the Sultan's harem. It is said that the most expensive goods they sold were mercury mirrors, which made the Venetians grit their teeth in hatred but helpless.

As the blond youth rode on horseback, protecting the Queen, he pondered how much money the Queen of Scots had made in Italy over the years.

Do you have 100,000 gold florins?

If not, then 60,000 or 70,000 would be barely enough.

"Are you familiar with Italian mercenaries?" Mary asked at that moment.

Albert snapped out of his reverie and said, “...I’m not very familiar with them, but I’ve heard about their methods. Your Majesty, they can be described as a pack of greedy jackals, omnipresent mosquitoes, with only the glint of gold in their eyes. Even if you hire them to fight for you, you must always be wary that they might turn against you on the battlefield and help Queen Elizabeth against you.”

Mary frowned, and after a few seconds she sighed in frustration, feeling that she could hardly suppress her negative emotions.

“…I know, but there’s no better way right now,” Mary said.

"Leading an army from Italy to England will take about three months. During this time, we can continuously train the soldiers' discipline and organization, punish disobedient mercenaries with military law, and reward mercenaries who are more loyal to their employers with large sums of gold coins. This way, they can fight against regular armies..." Albert's mind raced as he spoke clearly and methodically: "...Of course, soldiers trained in this way cannot compare to elite armies, such as the Scottish Guards I lead. But in actual battles, besides these armies, England relies heavily on peasants recruited from various regions as soldiers, and the soldiers of the English nobility are also of varying quality and will not fight together. We can use mercenaries to deal with such armies. In addition, when we pass through Switzerland, I suggest that you recruit Swiss mercenaries at all costs. In all of Europe, Swiss mercenaries are the only mercenaries who will fight to the death once they have received money from their employers."

"Who will train and command these soldiers?" Mary asked.

“I…” The blond youth calmly uttered an answer Mary had expected, looking up at the Queen of Scots from his horse, his brown eyes gleaming in the sunlight, “…I beg you to place your complete trust in me, not because I am now the only subject by your side who is good at managing an army, but because I am willing to die for you on the battlefield.”

Mary raised her eyebrows slightly, unsure how to politely decline the blond young man's advances, but Albert quickly changed the subject to money, skipping over this topic she didn't want to face.

In a sense, it can be said to be quite considerate.

“There’s no need to worry about gold coins. In recent years, I’ve been selling luxury goods all over Europe and the Far East. The florins I’ve accumulated here are enough to hire a large number of mercenaries,” Mary replied.

You can make money in a thousand days, but only spend it once.

In the past few years, during her tenure in Scotland, she improved the lives of ordinary people, quelled domestic rebellions, and provided aid to Ireland. The national treasury was flowing in and out at a rapid pace, and occasionally there were large deficits. She withstood the pressure and did not use the money from Italy, or even make much contact with them, all in preparation for this day.

The blond youth still seemed worried. The Queen of Scots didn't say much. After spending a few days leading her people to the Duchy of Milan, she found the distant cousin of the Wilson family and opened the cellar door where the gold coins were stored.

In an instant, the unique luster of gold shimmered in the dark cellar, illuminating almost everyone's eyes.

“A total of two hundred and one hundred thousand gold florins,” Mary said calmly.

Ignoring the stunned silence on everyone's faces, the Queen of Scots took a few steps outside and ordered her servants to come in and begin counting the accounts.

This action brought the others back to their senses, especially David Leejo, who almost staggered as he began counting the gold coins in the metal boxes. Seton steadied himself and went over to help.

Albert, a native Italian, was responsible for recruiting mercenaries.

As it turns out, the title of a queen who did not go into exile is quite useful.

The native Italians were unaware that the Queen of Scots had been usurped from the throne. With Mary's deliberate concealment, they only knew that this foreign queen was going to lead them to fight a war in England. Even if the war went badly and they were defeated, they could escape to the sea or Scotland. As a result, countless mercenaries came to join them.

Finally, upon receiving her uncle's reply and setting off north for the Duchy of Lorraine to join forces with the Duke of Guise's army, the Queen of Scots now commanded an army of eleven thousand soldiers. This included six thousand mercenaries recruited in Italy, three thousand mercenaries recruited in the Duchy of Savoy, and most importantly, two thousand mercenaries recruited in Switzerland.

With the help of Pius V's decree, the army traveled smoothly without being obstructed by local lords and dukes, and arrived in the Duchy of Lorraine without much trouble.

This time, the Duke of Guise looked worried and frowning, a far cry from the relaxed and casual attitude he had shown when they parted last time. Queen Elizabeth's sudden attempt to seize the throne had given her the upper hand.

Now they are fighting on British soil, and there is no chance of failure.

If the Queen of Scotland loses this war, she will have no chance to turn the tide and will most likely lose her head. Even if she manages to escape, the best outcome would be exile in a foreign court, living as a dependent guest.

Duke Giuseppe, who was on horseback greeting his niece in front of the makeshift military camp, looked westward and sighed silently.

When he received the letter from the Queen of Scots pleading for help, he hesitated about whether to send troops to his aid, but in the end he could not bear to abandon his powerful ally and was unwilling to give up the entire British Isles to Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter.

“Mary, the war has begun, and you must not lose,” Duke Guise said calmly.

The Queen of Scots did not speak, but looked up to the west, where the setting sun was as red as blood, and black ravens flew through the trees, soaring into the distant sky, heralding an unknown future.