After lengthy discussions in the council, the Dauphin and his generals decided to assemble their army at Gien and march on Reims.
The distance from Gien to Reims was approximately 230 kilometers, nearly twice the distance from Orlรฉans to Paris.
“Big news! Dauphin Charles is going to hold his coronation in Reims!”
“We can’t just sit around after hearing news like that! I won first place in my village’s stone-throwing competition. I’ll join that glorious expedition!”
“Should we go watch, too? It’s our chance to see them in person!”
The people of France flocked to join the expedition, thrilled by the news that their recent victory would be followed by a traditional coronation.
Thousands of militiamen gathered, some joining simply for the thrill of an adventure.
With militia groups arriving from all over the country, the number of assembled troops grew rapidly.
“It’s good that our forces are growing, but… I’m worried things could spiral out of control.
Burgundy certainly won’t surrender Reims, which lies within its territory, without a fight. We also can’t rule out the possibility that the English forces stationed in Paris might attack us along the way.”
Regardless of its political significance, the march on Reims was a considerable military gamble.
“Let’s assign officers to oversee the militia in groups of fifty.”
Ultimately, it all came down to manpower. Fortunately, the militiamen were enthusiastic about the army and proved fairly willing to follow orders. Frenchmen obediently following instructions? That was about as likely as a German telling a genuinely funny joke.
The public bidding process for merchants also began.
“A business opportunity backed by the Crown? We can’t afford to miss this!”
“There’s no better way to expand a business than securing a military supply contract.”
An army filled with vigorous young men required enormous quantities of just about everything. Merchants swarmed toward the contracts offered by the Crown like moths to a flame.
Maxime issued them a warning.
“All goods will be subject to mandatory quality inspections before delivery. These contracts are a sensitive matter upon which the very survival of the kingdom depends. Failure to fulfill your obligations may result in the confiscation of your property.”
Despite the threat of severe penalties, the merchants were too dazzled by the guaranteed payments for deliveries that Maxime offered to be deterred.
While meeting with the merchants, Maxime encountered one of the most renowned merchants of the era.
“My name is Jacques Cลur. It’s an honor to meet the Saint I’ve heard so much about.”
He was a bourgeois merchant whose family business dated back to his father’s generation. Through exceptional business acumen and an extensive network of connections, he had amassed an enormous fortune.
Unfortunately, his social status worked against him. No matter how diligently he earned his money, the Crown and nobility repeatedly found ways to squeeze it out of him.
“I’ve heard about your plans to introduce military supply stores and vouchers. Whoever devised this scheme has a remarkable head for business. I believe I can help bring this innovative idea to fruition!”
He negotiated with confidence.
“Let’s expand the use of military vouchers to marketplaces throughout the cities! With my connections, I can establish direct relationships with numerous merchant guilds. This would revolutionize commerce!”
His plan was to leverage the creditworthiness of the Crown’s guarantee to simplify transactions, reduce the fees involved, and maximize profits.
“I trust you. I’ll leave it in your hands.”
Maxime accepted the proposal immediately.
The merchant had prepared several arguments to persuade the Saint, but when Maxime accepted without even hearing them, he was caught off guard.
“…Are you sure you should trust me so readily?”
“People often call merchants lowly and greedy, but I see things differently. A parent selling everyday necessities in the marketplace to put food on the table for their children is also a merchant. Commerce is part of the social order, another form of service that sustains the world. Don’t look down on yourself. God does not despise those who earn their living through honest labor.”
“……Hearing you say that makes me ashamed of myself.”
Maxime was simply telling him what he wanted to hear. His declaration of trust in Jacques Cลur wasn’t sincere. After all, he intended to establish a system that would detect and prosecute embezzlement without exception, regardless of who committed it.
Jacques Cลur is a major player. If I’m going to do business with him anyway, I might as well make him feel good about it.
Maxime then made a proposal of his own.
“There’s one thing I’d like to suggest. I intend to establish standardized specifications for military supplies to prevent spoilage and pest infestations. Merchants who comply with the standards I set will receive additional benefits.”
Maxime shared a warehouse design with Jacques Cลur that incorporated proper ventilation. It was a basic but effective storage technique.
“Hmm… I can’t make much sense of it just by looking, but if you designed it, I’ll gladly adopt it.”
The negotiations were a success.
Maxime had forged a connection between the military and the commercial sector. What had once been a primitive system was rapidly developing into a wartime economy.
France had embarked on a path entirely different from that of England, which relied on plunder to supply its armies.
***
Before departing for Reims, Maxime held a medal award ceremony. A considerable crowd gathered in the square, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Even the square itself couldn’t accommodate everyone, and the streets stretching far beyond it were packed shoulder to shoulder.
It might dampen the excitement somewhat, but because so many people shared similar names, the recipients had been notified in advance and gathered separately to avoid confusion.
“We will now begin the awards ceremony.”
To reinforce the symbolic significance of the ceremony, Maxime brought Jeanne d’Arc along with him. The Duke of Alenรงon also attended under the pretext that it was a military event.
“First, I will announce the new members of our special unit.”
Maxime called out the names of the seventy newly selected soldiers one by one. Anticipating a lengthy ceremony, he had prepared a separate list of names, allowing the proceedings to run more smoothly than last time.
As the soldiers filed forward, he presented each of them with an insignia.
“…We will defend our homeland and shed our blood and sweat for it. We will fight together, endure together, and survive together.”
Some soldiers were moved to tears as they received their awards. Yet no one looked down on them for being unmanly.
This was nothing like the twenty-first century, when certificates and awards were handed out for just about everything. An honor personally bestowed by both the Saint and Saintess carried extraordinary significance.
“The Medal of Distinguished Service will be awarded to the courageous commander who aided the Saintess at the Battle of Patay and stopped the English at a decisive moment.
…รtienne de Vignolles, known as La Hire, please step forward.”
Though he was normally brave enough to charge at the very front of any battlefield, the award ceremony turned him into a bashful child. His face flushed bright red as though he were drunk, and he shuffled forward, drawing laughter from the soldiers watching.
“This medal commemorates your heroic deeds.”
“I… I hardly know how to accept such an honor…”
“Simply continue leading your soldiers as you always have. I’ll also forge a weapon for you to wield.”
“.โฆโฆ”
Watching a burly, hairy middle-aged man sob wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight.
“I’ve served for well over ten years, but this is the first time I’ve ever received recognition from so many people… I don’t know what ultimate goal the two of you are pursuing, but I swear I’ll stand by your side until my dying breath.”
La Hire made his solemn vow. Then, lowering his voice, he asked a discreet question.
“…What kind of lives do you two intend to lead once the war is over?”
“I’ll return to my hometown and live an ordinary life.”
Jeanne d’Arc answered first.
She wanted to marry the person she loved in a church and have as many children as possible.
Her detachment from worldly power was also why she had made no effort to build a political faction during the war.
“.โฆโฆ”
Maxime couldn’t answer immediately. Jeanne d’Arc’s response had left his thoughts in turmoil.
That’s an impossible dream.
The moment we became symbols of royal authority, the lives we could choose for ourselves became severely limited.
Thinking of modern civilization, Maxime finally spoke.
“…I’ll make it possible for more people to live ordinary lives.”
It was an answer no one but Maxime could understand.
***
The march on Reims began. Even as the army advanced, militia groups from across the country continued to join its ranks.
“Make way! The King of France approaches!”
“La Pucelle! The Saint of the Forge!”
“We march with God’s will on our side!”
Dauphin Charles marveled at the people’s enthusiastic reception.
“Is all this praise not directed at me? My glorious destiny is finally approaching.”
A broad smile spread across his face. He even regarded the cheers for Maxime and Jeanne d’Arc as praise for himself.
Public enthusiasm for the march on Reims spread in every direction like a plague. Before long, it brought about something almost miraculous.
“…We surrender.”
“We, too, pledge our support to the Armagnacs.”
Bonny-sur-Loire, Saint-Fargeau, and other territories under English and Burgundian control surrendered without resistance. Intimidated by the approaching army and the overwhelming tide of public opinion, they simply opened their gates.
“So those are the Knights of Steel…”
The French cavalry equipped by Maxime had become a symbol of terror. Their mere presence on the march was enough to intimidate the rulers of occupied territories.
The Dauphin was thoroughly pleased by this display of power.
“They’re finally beginning to recognize my worth.”
With every passing day of the march, the Dauphin grew more arrogant.
“Auxerre will remain neutral.”
For the first time, a city stood in the army’s path.
“…Are you saying you refuse to open your gates?”
“Yes. However, we will not prevent your forces from camping outside our walls.”
The garrison of Auxerre kept its gates firmly shut, but turned a blind eye as the French army rested and replenished its supplies outside the city.
The Dauphin frowned.
“I don’t like it, but… there’s no need to provoke an unnecessary confrontation.”
Suppressing his displeasure, the Dauphin made a calculated decision to avoid conflict. With his objective so close at hand, emotions could not take priority.
He had no desire to become like his mad father. Acting according to his own interests had always been the Dauphin’s guiding principle.
Afterward, the army once again passed through territories without bloodshed.
The soldiers rose at five in the morning, fed their horses, and ate breakfast. They then broke camp and began their morning march. Once the morning march was complete, they halted to rest. After approximately two hours, they resumed marching and continued until around sunset.
“Troyes is not far now.”
One of the attendants accompanying the Dauphin spoke.
“Indeed. The very place that arbitrarily stripped me of my right to the throne.”
***
The moment the French banners came into view, Troyes was thrown into chaos.
“Thanks to our incompetent allies, the French have made it all the way here without shedding a single drop of blood!”
Troyes was the very city where the infamous Treaty of Troyes had been signed. Its attitude toward the Armagnacs was more hostile than that of other territories. The Burgundian garrison stationed there refused to open the gates.
“Let’s fight. That false heir has no intention of sparing us anyway.”
“Exactly! Let’s show them our resolve!”
The citizens of Troyes prepared to fight the French army. Jeanne d’Arc was the first to notice the ominous signs.
“…Troyes intends to fight. Maxime, I’ll need you to help me with another letter.”
“Leave it to me.”
The enemy had no chance of victory. Choosing to fight meant they were prepared to die. Out of mercy, Jeanne d’Arc wrote a letter and dispatched an envoy.
In response, the citizens of Troyes sent Priest Richard.
“I heard you wished to speak…”
“Go to hell, you wicked witch!”
Priest Richard splashed holy water at Jeanne d’Arc.
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