The Crown of the Hundred Years' War

Chapter 33 King’s Chamber of Commerce

"Why are we still short of money even after winning the battle? Didn't we capture anything good?"

Charlie stood in the council chamber of Tours, holding the bill that Latre had just presented to him, his brow furrowed in worry.

Latre pulled out a few more pages of parchment and handed them over: "Your Majesty, while the victory at Orléans was indeed a great one, the English army did not lose much land. We have only captured a few fortresses and lifted the siege; we have not really seized any valuables." He tapped the armor of the attendant beside him, the metal producing a dull sound. "As for the captured armor, weapons, and even warhorses, although they can be considered a fortune, I still suggest that they be kept for future battles rather than sold—at least Marshal Attil said that the royal cavalry still has a large shortage of equipment."

Charlie looked down and flipped through a few pages, then asked, "What about the prisoners? The British have been selling prisoners for decades, making a fortune from each one. Can't we just follow their example and rip them off?"

Latre spoke first, before Juvenal could: "Your Majesty, selling prisoners is feasible, but the prisoners we have are not worth much. Moreover, if I may presume to presume, most prisoners are traditionally handled by officers, and only those of the commanding rank can be personally dealt with by Your Majesty."

Charlie brandished the pages of the book in his hand, his tone growing even more furious: "That's the strangest thing. Nearly three hundred prisoners, and not many of them are even knights, let alone proper lords."

Latre shook his head. Reno, seated in the middle, raised his hand, drawing everyone's attention to his black gloves: "Your Majesty, I have read the battle reports from the front. Most of the British commanders were killed in action, especially the officers of several fortresses; not a single one surrendered. Most of the prisoners are soldiers; even if their families can raise ransoms, it will take at least a month, and I'm afraid it won't be enough to cover the immediate needs."

Upon hearing this, Charlie sighed helplessly, his gaze sweeping across the long table before settling on Jacques, who sat at the end.

Jacques stood up and bowed deeply: "Gentlemen, there is no need to worry about military expenses. Given this great victory, the various merchant guilds will certainly be more willing to provide loans. However—"

Charlie gestured for him to sit down: "Speak freely. Without your busy coordination over the past few months, it would have been impossible to send thousands of people into Orleans. The gentlemen should also listen to your opinions."

Jacques bowed again to everyone at the long table before sitting back down: "Your Majesty, therein lies the problem. The transport of supplies relies on the merchant fleet on the Loire River, which was gathered by the Bourges Merchant Guild, but the land transport is being carried by the Royal Army itself. Now the generals at the front are requesting that we transport the supplies there, but the merchant fleet is incapable of doing so—they cannot bear the heavy responsibility of transporting the army."

Before Charles could speak, Latre nonchalantly continued, "Your Majesty, the generals at the front have no choice. In the past, the royal army's supplies were stockpiled in the fortresses and strongholds at the front, and civilians were conscripted to transport them during wartime. Now, the villages and towns near Orléans are empty, and the fortresses have all fallen, so they must rely on the rear for transport. I do have a plan—why don't we conscript some civilians from the south, and have the lords send people to organize them, to take on the responsibility of transporting supplies at the front?"

Upon hearing this, Charlie's anger flared. Pointing east, he raised his voice, "Rely on them? That allied force of several thousand men has been sitting idly in Jarjou since the Battle of Herring, spending the entire winter there, unwilling to even offer assistance! I haven't shortchanged them on supplies once, have I? Relying on their organization, when will we ever get around to it? Next year? The battle plan Atil sent over says we're starting to retake the Loire River banks early next month!"

Latre lowered his head, his tone softening slightly: "Your Majesty, I have misspoke. But Your Majesty, the merchants of the Bourges Merchant Guild already have reservations about heading north, and besides, the levying of supplies from the territories of various nobles is an ancestral system that is the most reliable. I suggest that the advance be postponed—we cannot allow the army to fight on an empty stomach."

Jacques nodded in agreement. Charlie then suppressed his anger and began tapping his fingers on the table. Everyone could only wait for him to finish thinking—after all, they were in the court of Tours, and even a madman like Albrecht was not present.

Charlie suddenly looked up, his gaze landing on Jacques: "Didn't you tell me about the Parisian waterway merchants' guilds before? They monopolize trade along the entire Seine. I understand that the Bourges merchants don't want to go north. So, could we establish a French General Chamber of Commerce—recruiting all the merchants willing to go north and directly employing them to transport supplies?"

Before Jacques could speak, Juvenal, who had been holding back for a long time, jumped up: "Your Majesty, you mustn't! This would be a disastrous act! A hundred years ago, it was the director of the waterway merchants' guild who led the rebellion—merchants can be used, but never trusted!"

Charles didn't look at him; his gaze remained fixed on Jacques' face. Jacques finally spoke with difficulty, under Juvenal's angry glare, carefully choosing his words: "Your Majesty, the Keeper of the Seals is right. A French General Chamber of Commerce is too large and too unrealistic. The Chamber needs a specific scope of business to recruit members and organize itself."

After thinking for a moment, Charles's tone became even more resolute: "How about calling it the 'Royal Chamber of Commerce'? They will pledge allegiance to me directly, and all orders will be paid for directly by the Royal Family."

This time, Juvenal rose abruptly from his seat, his voice almost shouting, "Your Majesty, you are deceiving yourself! You are the master of France, the merchants only obey your will, where is the law and the church? Where is truth and morality? These merchants will become cannibalistic monsters!"

Latre, unusually, also forgot his smile, slowly rising with his cane, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, merchants are only the third class in the Estates-General. Your actions may cause them to misjudge their own position. So many French nobles loyal to you will be dissatisfied, and the English will use this to attack you."

Charlie slammed his fist on the table in anger, making the parchment pages bounce. "Then you come up with a plan! We've lost for over a decade since Agincourt. Are you just going to let victory slip through our fingers?"

The group looked at each other, speechless.

Charlie took a deep breath, his voice turning somber: "Meeting adjourned. Everyone except Secretary Jacques may leave."

Juvenal was so anxious he couldn't speak, the veins on his forehead throbbing. Just then, the council chamber doors were flung open—Joan of Arc strode in with La Hire, her armor still dusty as if she had just jumped off a horse. Juvenal, as if grasping at a straw, cried out to Joan, "Lady Joan, please, you must persuade His Majesty not to be blinded by victory, and to act with caution!"

Charlie also looked at the girl in his armor, his brows furrowing slightly: "Didn't you suggest continuing the advance? Why are you back? Did Atil send you to persuade me?"

Joan of Arc looked around, knelt on one knee, and said in a clear and firm voice, "Your Majesty, I have come here because the generals at the front oppose my views, and I have come to seek your support."

Charlie suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with self-deprecation: "Looks like we're in similar situations. You're thinking of heading north?"

Joan of Arc raised her head proudly, her gaze intense: "I want you to come with me north—to Reims, to be anointed and crowned."

Latre roared incredulously, "What nonsense are you spouting? Reims is north of Paris, and to get there you have to pass through countless English fortresses!"

Amidst the stunned silence, Charlie clapped, his gaze sweeping over every astonished face on either side of the long table before finally settling on Joan of Arc: "The meeting continues! This time, please discuss Miss Joan's proposal—how should I be crowned?"

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My students have asked me why I dislike businessmen so much, and whether it's because of a political conflict with Jacques. To avoid any appearance of personal bias, I'll use an old example to illustrate this.

The Parisian guild of merchants, whose origins can be traced back to the Roman-era Parisian ship guild, consisted of ship merchants who controlled the Seine River's waterways. In 1141, Louis VII sold Paris's main port to the guild, and its ship-based coat of arms is the city's coat of arms you see every day in Paris today. The guild's influence didn't stop in Paris—for centuries, they controlled trade along the entire Seine. Members considered themselves the true "citizens" and "rulers" of Paris, exchanging annual taxes to the royal court for privileges, gradually seizing enormous judicial, administrative, and even military power.

A century ago, at the very beginning of our war with Britain, the unscrupulous Grand Master of the Chamber of Commerce, Étienne Marcel, briefly seized control of the Estates-General. Taking advantage of the chaos following John II's capture by the British, he incited a mob, stormed the palace, and, in front of the Dauphin, personally assassinated two of the Dauphin's marshals. Then, he colluded with ambitious foreign enemies, intending to extinct the Valois dynasty. Only when a brave and loyal individual led the enlightened citizens of Paris to kill him did the heart of France finally find peace.

A merchant guild that rules the Seine can breed such ambitious figures. What kind of monster will a merchant guild that actually connects all of France give birth to? I don't hate Jacques, but I hate the "French Merchant Guild" behind him. Failing to nip this monster in the bud is the biggest mistake of my life.

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Meditations by Jean-Jacques de Uyssen