A.E.I.O.U

The August sun bathed the land, and Laszlo's procession, grand and leisurely, traveled through mountains and rivers, finally arriving in the Low Countries a few days before the Pheasant Feast was to be held.

A gentle breeze rustled the banners, as if heralding the grand event about to unfold.

In recent years, the Burgundy had expanded like a mighty lion, its power unstoppable.

Luxembourg had long been incorporated into its territory, and even Nevers, Verdun, and Bar were gradually encroached upon by the Burgundy.

Currently, they were very interested in the Liège Bishopric in the Low Countries, and in other directions, Lorraine, Switzerland, and Savoy were their strategic targets.

These four countries, by coincidence, were all states of the Holy Roman Empire, and to safely expand within the Empire, the Duke of Burgundy racked his brains, determined to foster a good relationship with the Emperor.

The Duke of Burgundy, who was dancing on three eggs—England, France, and Austria—urgently needed to find a way to break the deadlock.

Hard work paid off; years of diplomatic efforts finally bore fruit—the esteemed Emperor Laszlo personally came to Burgundy to attend the feast hosted by the Duke, which would bring Philip the Good immense prestige and respect, a moment he had long dreamed of.

Philip knew that this opportunity could not be missed, and to bind himself closely with Laszlo, he had also secretly prepared a "small" gift, waiting to surprise everyone at the feast.

Behind this Pheasant Feast and the Crusade lay Philip's soaring ambition; he urgently needed to use this to elevate his reputation and accumulate prestige to achieve his grand aspiration of breaking away from France.

Delving deeper, it also stemmed from the ancient and profound tradition of French nobility; in the Middle Ages, nobles eagerly participated in Crusades to gain immense fame, vast wealth, and extensive lands.

The Duke of Burgundy's family itself was a branch of the French royal family, and they had always been very enthusiastic about the Crusades.

In 1396, Laszlo's maternal grandfather, Sigismund, led a Crusade against the Ottoman Empire.

At that time, Philip's father, John, was one of the commanders of the army; they were utterly defeated by the Ottomans at Nicopolis, and John tragically became a prisoner until he was released and returned home after Burgundy paid a huge ransom the following year.

This painful past was deeply etched in the family's memory, an unbreakable vendetta between Burgundy and the Ottoman.

Philip was a truly great ruler; he undoubtedly surpassed his father in all aspects.

In territorial expansion, he opened up new lands, continuously extending the Duchy's territory; in economic development, he encouraged industry and commerce, making the Duchy's wealth flourish; in uniting vassal states, he used both benevolence and power, bringing the Netherlands states under his rule; in improving diplomacy, he skillfully maneuvered, making countless allies.

Under his diligent governance, the Burgundy was striding towards an unprecedented peak of prosperity.

Now, he was full of anticipation, eager to write his own great chapter in the holy cause of the Crusade.

Currently, the situation seemed very optimistic; the young Emperor eagerly joined in, like a shot in the arm, greatly boosting Philip's confidence.

How strong were the Ottomans? Philip had no concrete idea, as he had never personally witnessed their vast army, which was like a tide.

But Philip knew that the Ottomans had suffered several defeats that year, and an ordinary country would not recover from a devastating defeat like the Battle of Belgrade for several years.

This perception led Philip and those gathered around him to blindly and optimistically believe that this Crusade would smoothly end the rule of infidels in Europe and drive them back to the deserts of Asia Minor.

Amidst this fervent and relaxed atmosphere, the world-renowned Pheasant Feast grandly opened in Lille.

Hundreds of nobles from across Western Europe gathered there, ready to use this public stage to display their personal charm.

Especially at this moment, the esteemed Emperor Laszlo personally attended the feast, and everyone knew that if they could gain the Emperor's favor, their family's future prosperity and rapid advancement would no longer be an unattainable dream.

Holding the rich territories of Burgundy and Flanders, Philip was as wealthy as a nation, with ample financial resources to support such a luxurious assembly.

He also specifically ordered that the feast must be unparalleled, to earn an excellent reputation among all European nobles.

Lannoy, the Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece, and Archbishop Nicolas were appointed as the main organizers; working together, they painstakingly arranged the Pheasant Feast to be exceedingly lavish and dazzling.

Three long tables were set up in the banquet hall, each covered with silk brocade and velvet, as well as various mechanical toys meticulously crafted by artisans.

There was also a model of a castle on the table, with sweet orange juice flowing in its moat.

Attendees used gold and silver tableware, which shimmered even more brightly in the candlelight.

Expensive Flanders tapestries hung on the walls of the hall, embroidered with scenes of the ancient Greek hero Hercules and his quest for the Golden Fleece.

In the spacious kitchen, servants frequently moved in and out, constantly bringing out delicacies.

The dishes were arranged in various exaggerated and highly ornamental shapes.

During the feast, guests wearing masks moved among the 48 courses.

As everyone indulged, jugglers performed amusing acts nearby.

Professional actors performed plays, including the ancient Greek myth of Jason in Colchis and his expedition leading the Argonauts.

Anyone could see that Philip was likening himself to Jason, the hero who captured the Golden Fleece, as it was Philip who had founded this so-called "Order of the Golden Fleece" in imitation of the English king's Order of the Garter.

Finally, the entire Pheasant Feast reached its climax with the grand finale.

A burly man dressed in Turkish attire entered the scene, leading an elephant behind him.

In a tower on the elephant sat Oliver, a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece, dressed as a nun.

Then, a herald solemnly appeared with a pheasant, a necklace hanging from its neck, adorned with dazzling gold and jewels.

Under careful arrangement, Philip and Laszlo stood tall, stepping forward first, solemnly declaring their commitment to the Crusade in the name of God, the Virgin Mary, and the pheasant.

Seeing this, the guests followed suit, queuing up to gently place their hands on the pheasant, murmuring the Crusade vows.

For a moment, vows rose one after another, echoing throughout the hall.

After the ceremony, the revelry did not stop; a post-dinner ball followed, providing an excellent platform for guests to socialize, interact, and fully display themselves.

Laszlo patiently dealt with the Holy Roman Empire nobles who popped out from every corner to talk to him, whether they were the eldest or second sons of noble families, or some renowned knights; they eagerly promoted themselves to the Emperor, hoping to serve him.

Laszlo observed these individuals' stats with a calm expression, and he did indeed find a few capable ones, but what of it?

The Empire was the Empire, and Habsburg was Habsburg.

Laszlo was clear on this point; there were countless people who wanted a position from him, and he didn't need that many.

Just as Laszlo was about to be overwhelmed, the melodious music abruptly stopped.

Philip clapped his hands at the opportune moment, and the crisp sound instantly drew the attention of the entire banquet hall.

He wore a gold-embroidered robe, with soft, luxurious mink fur on the collar and cuffs; with every step, the gold embroidery on the hem of his robe shimmered, as if he were draped in stars.

With a smile, he elegantly extended an invitation to Laszlo, respectfully saying, "Your Majesty, please come to my side; I have prepared a small gift for you."

Laszlo was slightly taken aback; clearly, Philip had not informed him of this part beforehand. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, unsure of what the other party was planning.

But seeing Philip's earnest invitation, how could he refuse the host of the feast? So he steadily stepped forward and slowly walked to Philip's side.

At this moment, all eyes were like spotlights, focused on the two central figures of the feast.

Everyone secretly speculated about how the two of them would decide on the leadership of the Crusade.

Some nobles firmly believed that Duke Philip, having assisted the Pope in preparing and mobilizing this Crusade, should undoubtedly become its leader.

However, the vast majority of other nobles held different opinions, believing that Laszlo, as the sole Emperor in all of Europe, should naturally be the leader of the Crusade.

Moreover, his army would be the backbone of the Crusade, the core force against the Ottomans, making Laszlo undoubtedly the most suitable leader.

Just when everyone expected Laszlo and Philip to dispute the leadership, they did not know that Philip had already privately settled the matter with Laszlo.

Laszlo would be the supreme leader of the Crusade, and Philip would be the commander second only to him, just as Philip's father, John, led his army to assist Laszlo's maternal grandfather, Sigismund, in launching the Crusade fifty years ago.

The bond between the two families had a long history, and now it was becoming even stronger.

The scene returned to the center of the banquet hall. Philip clapped his hands, and Lannoy, the Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece, swiftly approached, carrying a tray covered with deep purple velvet, mysterious and solemn.

Lannoy bowed slightly and lifted the velvet, and instantly, a gleaming golden medallion caught everyone's eyes.

Laszlo looked closely; the medallion was shaped like an adorable little lamb, meticulously crafted from pure gold, with delicate and lifelike curly textures, as if one could feel the softness of the wool, and a soft, noble luster, like pure sunlight, symbolizing purity, preciousness, and resilience.

The medallion was attached to an exquisitely beautiful gold chain, with dense links, each engraved with intricate patterns and mysterious religious symbols, telling ancient stories.

At the corners of the medallion, dazzling gems were inlaid—red like blood, blue like the sea, green like a forest—adding a touch of luxury and majesty to the medallion.

This was the most precious chivalric order medallion extolled by later generations—the Order of the Golden Fleece medallion!

Laszlo recognized this medallion and naturally knew its purpose. He hadn't expected that the small gift Philip had mentioned preparing for him would be this.

Philip had truly mastered medallion diplomacy... Even though the Order of the Golden Fleece medallion was not purely an honorary medallion at this stage, members of the Order of the Golden Fleece had military obligations and powers.

Beside her, Leonor, accompanying her aunt Isabelle, widened her beautiful eyes, filled with surprise, and softly said in disbelief, "Aunt, isn't that what uncle founded to commemorate your wedding—"

Isabelle showed a loving expression, gently caressing Leonor's cheek, and smiled, saying, "Yes, that is the Order of the Golden Fleece medallion. Philip and I discussed it for a long time and decided to bestow this medallion upon Laszlo to show our respect for him. Furthermore, it also contains our blessings for your marriage, after all—I introduced this marriage to you. Seeing you happy in Austria, I have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you, dear aunt." Leonor's eyes were slightly red, and she gave her aunt a hug, somewhat moved.

Laszlo readily expressed his willingness to accept this honor.

Seeing this, Philip's face showed a relieved smile. His hands trembled slightly, with a mix of excitement and reverence, as he gently placed the medallion and chain around Laszlo's neck.

Following this, the Duke of Burgundy cleared his throat, his voice echoing among the hall's pillars: "By the loyalty of knights, in the name of God, let this Order of the Golden Fleece medallion be the bond, connecting our passion and grand aspirations... Having entered the Teutonic Order, one must possess a fearless heart and wield the sword of justice..."

Every word was resounding, striking the heartstrings of every guest present.

With the vows made, the feast slowly drew to a close amidst cheers and blessings.

This feast was destined to leave a magnificent mark in the long river of history, becoming a classic praised by future generations, and between the Emperor and the Duke of Burgundy, an unbreakable alliance was thus formed, to face the coming challenges hand in hand.