Paris, the French King's court.
Louis XI sat on the throne with a somber face. Most of the courtiers had been dismissed, leaving only a few close confidants to stand guard.
Standing before him was the nervous Duke of Bourbon, sweat pouring down his face. Even though it was already a sweltering May, the Duke still felt the empty palace was as cold as a winter snowfield.
"Duke of Bourbon, your performance is utterly disappointing!"
The King's voice carried an irrepressible irritation.
"I thought you would be the next Dunois, retaking Dijon and more French lands for me as easily as he did when he recaptured Paris. Unfortunately, your performance did not meet my expectations."
The Duke took a deep breath, enduring the humiliation of being rebuked by his monarch in public, and explained, "Your Majesty, the defenses of Dijon had been greatly strengthened before our army arrived. The Imperial Army now occupies it, we..."
"Enough, there's no need to make excuses for your failure."
Louis XI scolded with a deep frown.
The Duke of Bourbon, an old official who had served both Charles VII and Louis XI, could only lower his head in shame.
"I gave you command of France's most elite troops, yet you failed to bring me victory."
The Duke of Bourbon really wanted to retort. After all, Louis XI had kept several royal regiments and a significant portion of the Ordinance Knights in Paris. Regular troops accounted for only about half of the forces under his command, with the rest being a temporary patchwork of men.
However, talking back to the King at this time would be like adding fuel to the fire, so the Duke wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.
"By convention, I should strip you of your military power and give the army to someone more capable. However, I still choose to believe in your ability. You have a good opportunity to redeem yourself."
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. Please give the order; I will not disappoint you again this time."
Seeing the King's tone soften slightly, the Duke of Bourbon immediately seized the opportunity to show his loyalty.
Although the current situation for the Kingdom of France was extremely dire, his motherland had seen worse times.
His past experience leading troops with Dunois to expel the English from the continent made the Duke of Bourbon firmly believe that France would achieve final victory, and he did not want to give up the power he already held.
After being tempered by long wars and political struggles, he had become the only powerful official in the court who could stand on equal footing with the Duke of Anjou. One controlled the army, and the other controlled the court; both were Louis XI's right-hand men, holding very honorable positions.
To maintain this intoxicating power, he first had to ensure he didn't disappoint the King, but now he also had to ensure the King didn't lose his own power.
For this, he was prepared to directly confront the Empire and that world-renowned Emperor.
"Not long ago, spies I sent to the Empire brought bad news from Frankfurt—Emperor Laszlo has finally decided to launch an attack on France."
A silence enveloped the entire court, the atmosphere so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Not only the Duke of Bourbon, who thought he had made up his mind, but also the Duke of Anjou, Bishop Balue, and others standing nearby did not look very well.
Oppression, even despair, began to spread through the air.
No matter how Louis XI expressed his contempt for the Emperor's authority in front of his ministers, once things reached an irrevocable point, no one would harbor even a hint of slight towards the Emperor.
After all, the Ottoman Empire, once thought to be invincible, now looked incredibly miserable. Its Sultan was currently a "guest" in Innsbruck. Many Imperial nobles and clergy were even willing to pay a few Groschen for a ticket just to see for themselves how the legendary Sultan differed from ordinary people.
If not for their hostile relationship, even Louis XI would have been interested in taking a look.
However, if he were to meet the Ottoman Sultan, who was once his ally, as a fellow prisoner, things would not be so interesting.
"Alright, there's nothing to fear," Louis XI waved his hand, pulling the ministers' thoughts back and trying to dispel the gloom in their hearts. "The Emperor is on a long-distance expedition, while we are fighting on our home turf. This war will surely end in our victory. Before we invite that Emperor to Paris as a guest, we must first clean up the filth in our house."
"You mean those great feudal lords who have rebelled again?"
"Yes. To the south of Paris, Orléans is besieged by my foolish brother and traitors, and Rouen in the northwest is also besieged by the armies of Brittany and Burgundy. We'll deal with them first before we can free our hands to deal with the Emperor."
Louis XI's tone was quite cold; those he named were already on his hit list.
To maintain the unity and stability of France, even if it were his own brother, even if it meant violating the contract he made with his mother, he did not intend to show any more mercy.
"But will there be enough time?" The Duke of Bourbon was worried about this.
He did not yet have clear intelligence on when and from where the Emperor's army would attack. If it was as the enemies in Dijon said, that the Emperor would first attack Avignon in the south of the kingdom, then he was confident he could first defeat those rebellious forces that had taken the initiative to strike.
When they were huddled in their castles, the Duke would find it a bit tricky, but now these rebels had become exceptionally bold because of the Emperor's decision. This instead created an opportunity for him and the French army to crush the enemy in field battles.
"According to intelligence from Lorraine, the assembly point for the Imperial Army is Basel. Perhaps influenced by Rome, the Emperor's first target is likely to be Avignon."
Duke René of Anjou informed everyone of the intelligence he received from his grandson, the Duke of Lorraine.
His young and reckless grandson, Nicholas I, actually intended to resist the resolution of the Imperial Diet, planning neither to send troops nor to pay money.
To this end, the old duke scolded him severely and forced him to pay the war tax to the Imperial treasury.
Even if Nicholas I were to inherit all the lands of the House of Anjou in the future, the imperial obligations he had to undertake as the Duke of Lorraine were, in the eyes of the Duke of Anjou, inviolable.
In his early years, before inheriting the lands of the House of Anjou due to his brother's sudden death, René had obtained the rule of Lorraine solely through the status of his wife, Elizabeth, the last member of the House of Lorraine.
During that time, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, had engaged in battle with him many times. An important factor that supported him in continuing the fight was the support of Emperor Sigismund.
That's right, it was Laszlo's grandfather, Sigismund of Luxembourg. René was a close personal friend of that Emperor, and they formed an alliance to oppose the common enemy of Luxembourg and Lorraine, the Duke of Burgundy.
Unfortunately, Sigismund's successor, Albrecht II of Habsburg, chose to be friendly with the Duke of Burgundy, which led to Lorraine losing a lot of land in the subsequent wars.
And Albrecht II's son, Laszlo, chose to continue his father's strategy, making Lorraine's situation increasingly awkward.
On the other hand, the current Duke of Lorraine, Nicholas I, is René's only heir and the last remaining seed of the House of Anjou.
Therefore, Charles wanted to kill him to swallow Lorraine, the Emperor wanted to kill him to eliminate an internal ghost in the Empire, and perhaps Louis XI also wanted to kill him to annex the foundation of the House of Anjou. From the moment his father died of illness, this poor child's life had entered a countdown.
But he was still so young and impulsive, actually regarding himself as a follower of the French King and always trying to defy the Emperor, just like his father.
You should know that during the years René was the Duke of Lorraine, he hardly ever opposed the Emperor.
All René could do now, besides lamenting his family's misfortune and the failure of education, was to keep a close eye on the French King to prevent him from making a move.
On the other hand, René was also trying to teach his grandson to learn and follow the Empire's rules of operation, so as not to lose everything because of stupidity, but unfortunately, such efforts yielded little result.
No one paid attention to the Duke of Anjou's complex emotions; everyone's attention was still focused on the impending war.
"If that's the case, we should hurry and take action."
"Should we deal with the enemies in Orléans first, or the enemies in Normandy, or split our forces to deal with both at the same time?"
Louis XI sought advice from the Duke of Bourbon.
He knew that the French army's strength remained; at least it was stronger than both of these rebel forces, but he couldn't decide how to make the arrangements.
As for the Armagnac rebels further south and the Roussillon rebellion that had flared up again over a month ago, Louis XI had given up thinking about them.
In Roussillon, it was heard that the Aragonese army had begun to assemble in Barcelona. Rumor had it that Juan II was preparing to use military means to take back the territories previously ceded to France.
To this, Louis XI expressed a warm welcome. He had already suppressed the Roussillon rebellion four times, and he regretted it so much his intestines turned green.
If he could go back ten years and meet his greedy self from that time, he probably wouldn't be able to resist giving himself a few slaps.
Those who dare to swallow any land are destined to suffer long-term torment.
"Regarding Orléans, I have a suggestion," René said before the Duke of Bourbon could answer.
"Let's hear it."
"Duke Louis of Orléans has been under your guardianship for years, and the people of Orléans are looking forward to his return. If you can send an army to escort him back to his fief and assemble the armies of Orléans and Angoulême to launch a counterattack, the rebels in the south will no longer be a problem."
"The Duke of Orléans is only eight, and his cousin, the Count of Angoulême, is only eleven... but for the safety of the kingdom, we can't worry about so much now."
Louis XI had intended to give this task to René, but unfortunately, René had already decided to return to Provence to organize defenses against a possible attack by the Imperial Army.
So, this task fell to Count Charles IV of Maine. He was the son of Charles III, who had once set up Louis XI in the first War of the Public Weal. After his father died in depression, he inherited Maine and helped his uncle René manage Anjou. He was René's most trusted assistant and relative.
To concentrate as many troops as possible against the allied forces of Burgundy and Brittany, Louis XI assigned the Duke of Orléans less than three thousand troops. The rest of the army would need to be gathered by him after returning to his fief.
The remaining twenty thousand or so troops were assigned to the Duke of Bourbon. This army, led by the Duke, would head north to find an opportunity to engage the enemy in a decisive battle, hoping to settle the matter in one blow.
Laszlo was not yet aware of the French response; he had just arrived in Basel, travel-worn.
In the Imperial Army camp outside the city of Basel, Laszlo had just asked the Bishop of Basel and the Basel Free City government for a "voluntary donation" of supplies and money, and had finished a tour of the camp. He was now exhausted.
Entering his tent and washing his face with cold water, he barely managed to lift his spirits and look at the two boys sitting nearby reading books.
Those were military books he had specifically found for the two little ones, containing not only the deeds of famous generals from ancient times but also much useful military common sense.
Christopher and Maximilian were both reading with great interest, which was rare, making Laszlo feel both surprised and gratified.
He had thought Christopher, who was keen on religious books, and Maximilian, who simply didn't like reading, would both be disinterested. It seemed his teachings during this period had had some effect.
"You've been reading these books for a while now, do you have any thoughts?" Laszlo asked expectantly.
"It's important to use tactics skillfully in battle, and decisively seizing opportunities is the key to victory," Maximilian replied.
Christopher agreed with his brother's view, but he saw more: "I think the most important thing is logistics. Only with sufficient logistics can an army's combat effectiveness be fully realized. Additionally, dismantling the enemy's coalition through diplomatic means is much easier than directly confronting all enemies."
Good boy, he's inherited my true teachings.
Laszlo happily patted Christopher's head. Although the boy still found it difficult to adapt to military life, Laszlo believed he would be a capable commander.
"Both of you have a point, it's just that you're focusing on different aspects. In the future, you should communicate more and learn from each other."
"Hmph." Seeing his father clearly favoring his brother, Maximilian turned his head away in a huff.
He had only read the descriptions of the course of the war, skipping the other parts, so naturally, he couldn't understand where Christopher's viewpoint came from.
Laszlo smiled helplessly, wondering how to soothe Maximilian, when he heard Christopher ask, "Father, the place we are going this time is Gaul, as mentioned in the books, right?"
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"You've also experienced so many wars, why not write a book like Caesar to record your insights? Compared to these ancient books, I'm more curious about your experiences."
"Haha, silly child, when you grow up a bit more, you'll know how hard it is to rule such a vast territory. Maybe after I retire, I'll have time to write a book. Until then..."
"Alright." Christopher felt a bit regretful, and Maximilian, who was eavesdropping nearby, felt the same.
The father and sons were about to chat more when Laszlo's chief advisor, Archbishop Bernhard, rushed into the tent, clutching a letter tightly in his hand.
"What happened?" Laszlo had never seen Bernhard so agitated, so he set aside his annoyance and asked.
"Your Majesty, news has come from Rome that the Pope... returned to heaven a month ago."
That trembling voice—it was hard to tell if it was from sadness or excitement. Bernhard and Laszlo exchanged a look, realizing that the opportunity they had long awaited had finally arrived.
Bernhard left Basel overnight.
Laszlo didn't mind his impatience; after all, who wouldn't be eager when presented with such a golden opportunity to campaign for the Papacy?
To ensure this election would proceed without any unexpected mishaps, Laszlo had not only sent envoys early on to conduct lengthy negotiations with the Colonna family but had also dispatched someone to Constantinople to bring back Patriarch Bessarion, asking him to preside over the papal election ceremony once more.
After making these thorough preparations, Laszlo only needed to wait quietly for the results to be announced. Whether his advisor was elected or his ally, the Dean of the College of Cardinals Francesco, ascended to the throne, neither outcome would be a bad thing for him.
Judging by their past behavior, although both men appeared respectful and obedient in his presence, each was secretly ambitious.
If they began to swell with pride because of the Papacy's prestige, Laszlo would have to prepare to march his troops to Rome.
Those legendary, formidable rulers who left their mark on history—like Henry IV, who endured the humiliation at Canossa; Frederick II, who treated excommunication as nothing; and Philip IV, who annihilated the Knights Templar—which of them hadn't led armies to drive the Pope out of Rome, forcing those outwardly glorious but inwardly blackened and rotten figures to recognize their true place?
Of course, if possible, Laszlo still hoped to establish stable cooperation with the Papacy, as the internal reform of the Church was also of paramount importance.
In late June, with matters in Rome properly arranged, Laszlo led an army of nearly twenty thousand men gathered from across the Empire, departing from Basel and planning to proceed via Besançon directly to Dijon.
Despite Laszlo's utmost efforts to improve the Empire's efficiency, this massive, bloated, and malformed monstrosity was truly exasperating. A resolution proposed in February wasn't finalized until almost July when the Imperial Army was finally assembled. Yet, even this speed was considered remarkably fast in the Empire's history.
While Laszlo was busy handling the Empire's affairs, matters in Rome and Austria, and conducting training for the Imperial Army, the two armies that had set out from Dijon and Turin several months earlier had each achieved significant successes.
Since the French Army withdrew from Dijon to Paris at the end of March, the Milanese army swiftly crossed the formidable Alpine barrier, advancing into the Savoy region occupied by the rebels and soon laying siege to the city of Chambéry, which was backed by mountains.
On another front, the Imperial Army commanded by Matthias and Gunter was not to be outdone, rapidly capturing the weakly defended Fortress of Bresse.
The rebels in Geneva and the surrounding areas, lacking support from the bishop who held de facto control of the city, were swiftly suppressed. Before the main Imperial force arrived, the local bishop had already severed ties with Luigi, who had colluded with the French King and proclaimed himself Duke of Savoy, choosing instead to return to Burgundian rule.
After all, whether ruled by the Duke of Savoy or the King of Burgundy, control over Geneva had always remained in the hands of local powers like the bishop and the city council.
Although Luigi's uprising briefly attracted some followers, it quickly lost most of its support.
Once the French retreated, those shrewd opportunists realized the outcome of this farce. Only those who had been coerced and
the deluded mob, kept in the dark, still hoped that by following the remnants of the House of Savoy, they could escape the brutal rule of the Burgundians.
By the banks of the Rhône River, Matthias and Gunter strolled side by side across the chaotic battlefield.
Due to the reversal of the situation in Geneva, the two of them led over four thousand troops south from the Fortress of Bresse, only halting their advance upon reaching the Rhône River.
Coincidentally, they encountered a French military unit here that was rushing from Lyon to reinforce Chambéry. Their numbers were small, a mere three to four hundred men.
After a fierce engagement, the French suffered heavy casualties, retreating in disarray, with many taken prisoner.
"Who would have thought we'd get an unexpected bonus just while marching? The men really vented their frustrations today."
Gunter glanced at a nearby French soldier who was still clinging to life, then waved to a soldier cleaning up the battlefield. Understanding the gesture, the soldier walked over and viciously delivered two more finishing blows.
Having been trapped by the French Army in Dijon for several months, they had long been stewing with pent-up anger. This skirmish had somewhat boosted their morale and military spirit.
"According to intelligence just obtained from French prisoners, another unit set out earlier than them and has probably already reached Chambéry by now."
Matthias sighed softly, somewhat regretting that they hadn't arrived a few days earlier to intercept the French reinforcements.
The reason he had taken the risk to travel this route was precisely to try his luck. Otherwise, they could have taken a detour through the hills directly to Chambéry.
Now it seemed his luck was present, but not exceptionally good.
"Are the French really that concerned about their allies? At a time like this, they're still putting in so much effort to aid the Savoyard rebels?" Gunter scratched his smooth head, puzzled.
During the previous Second War of the Public Weal, Louis XI incited the citizens of Liège to revolt, which infuriated Charles on the spot, leading to his arrest.
Later, Louis XI decisively abandoned the Liège rebels he had stirred up, reaching a temporary peace with Charles.
Charles led his army back to the Low Countries, swiftly quelling the Liège rebellion and moving the stone monument symbolizing Liège's liberties to Bruges as an act of humiliation.
After this very brief yet brutal Third Liège War, Burgundy formally completed its annexation of Liège. Throughout this process, Louis XI did not provide the slightest assistance to the Liège citizens resisting Charles.
"Perhaps the French intend to use Chambéry to delay our advance," Matthias speculated.
The French certainly weren't that benevolent; in the eyes of that Spider King, these were merely pawns to be discarded at any time.
However, if Savoy wasn't fully recaptured, supplies from Northern Italy couldn't get through. Logistics problems could pose significant difficulties for the Imperial Army.
This time, Laszlo had Wilhelm and the Milanese Governorate spend a considerable sum to purchase military supplies, stockpiling them in Turin for transport north of the mountains to provision the Imperial Army.
If Chambéry couldn't be taken, this Northern Italian supply line would be strangled, inevitably losing its intended function.
The French might know this, or perhaps they just stumbled upon it by chance, thus deciding to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Savoyard rebels in Chambéry.
This way, the Imperial Army would be forced to divert more troops to besiege Chambéry, potentially paying a heavy price to capture that fortified city nestled among the mountains.
Consequently, nearby Lyon would become even more secure.
It must be said, the French were indeed playing a clever game.
"So, where do we go next? To Chambéry to join forces with our Milanese allies, or head west to take a look at Lyon?"
"That bustling metropolis is very close to us; we could reach it in two days."
Mentioning Lyon, Gunter couldn't help but feel excited. It was home to what was hailed as the largest market in all of France, even in all of Europe. Merchants from across the continent hoped to sell their goods at Lyon's market, its scale so vast it could be called a trade fair.
Among its trades, the silk textile industry was Lyon's most developed. Many wealthy Italian merchants were drawn to settle there, occupying a large district in the city where they built numerous luxurious mansions.
If they could capture this city, then from the Emperor down to the lowliest soldier, everyone could at the very least make a small fortune.
Although Gunter and his men had gradually shed the habits of mercenaries and become genuine elite troops fighting for the Empire, in this era, who went to war not to make money and then live the life they dreamed of?
"Lyon is the most important city in Southern France, its defenses are certainly quite formidable.
Even if the French king withdraws his elite field armies to Paris, the local garrison forces can by no means be considered weak.
Let's wait for His Majesty the Emperor's main army to arrive. For now, we should follow orders and head to Chambéry to see if there's an opportunity to capture that strategic fortress town."
Matthias glanced westward. If the Emperor gave him ten or twenty thousand troops, he might actually try his luck at Lyon.
But for now, with only this small force under his command, completing the mission assigned by the Emperor was the priority.
As for continuing to set up ambushes along the way to see if any Frenchmen would come, he didn't think the French would be foolish enough to stumble twice in the same place.
Though somewhat regretful, Gunter also knew that at present, they really only had this one option.
After a brief rest, this vanguard of the Imperial Army set off again, advancing rapidly towards Chambéry.
By the time the Emperor's army reached Dijon, Matthias and Piccinino the Younger had joined forces, totaling about ten thousand troops, and had completed the encirclement of Chambéry.
In Dijon, at the Residence of the Duke of Burgundy, now referred to as the Dijon Palace, Laszlo and his accompanying advisors, along with the Empire's dignitaries, had temporarily settled in.
After resting properly for two days, Laszlo experienced the joy of occupying another's nest.
It must be said, Philip and Charles, that father and son pair, really knew how to enjoy themselves.
Even after moving to Brussels, this Dijon estate still maintained its former grandeur, luxury, and was quite comfortable to live in.
One really couldn't blame him, an Emperor, for admiring another's palace like a country bumpkin. After all, in all of Europe, there were truly few families as wealthy and willing to spend money on architecture and art as the House of Burgundy.
Take the Hofburg Palace, for example. Even after several expansions and renovations, Laszlo still felt the palace had a kind of rustic beauty.
Walking on the way to the conference room, Laszlo patted Christopher on the shoulder again. The hidden expectation in his eyes left the latter puzzled.
In the future, these grand houses might all belong to his son. Thinking this, Laszlo's mood improved considerably.
When Laszlo entered the conference room with his two sons, the generals of the Imperial Army had already gathered there, waiting to discuss the next strategy with the Emperor.
A map was spread on the table, with two lines extending from Dijon, one to the south, one to the north.
The northern line thrust directly towards Paris. The southern line went via Lyon, following the Rhône Valley all the way south to Avignon.
In addition, directly attacking the lands of the Duke of Bourbon was also an alternative option, but compared to the other two lines of advance, it held little significant meaning.
Whether capturing Paris or capturing Avignon, both were objectives of this Imperial Army expedition. Therefore, Laszlo faced a difficult choice.
"Ester, brief everyone on the current situation."
Laszlo raised an eyebrow, staring at the two lines on the map, constantly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
"According to the latest compiled intelligence, to the south we still have a force of ten thousand, currently besieging Chambéry.
If our army attacks Lyon, they can provide support, easing the pressure on the main force.
To the north, we have two forces we can coordinate with: first, the Armagnac-Berry allied army, which is besieging Orléans; second, the Burgundy-Brittany allied army, which is currently roaming in Normandy.
If we advance directly from Dijon towards Paris, we can form a pincer movement with them, pressuring Paris from three directions.
However, the main force of the French Army is concentrated in this direction. The enemy's movements are currently unknown. Advancing along this route is likely to trigger a large-scale battle."
Ester, commander of the Imperial Guard, explained the situation point by point. The generals' expressions varied, but it seemed they quickly made their own choices.
"Elector Albrecht, please share your suggestion first." Laszlo did not intend to voice his opinion first, preferring to hear what the generals thought.
First, naturally, was Elector Albrecht of Brandenburg, Marshal of the Empire, who commanded the Imperial Army by order of the Emperor and the Imperial Diet. The other Imperial Marshal, the Duke of Saxony, served as his deputy.
"Your Majesty, my suggestion is... to attack Avignon first." The Elector observed the Emperor's expression and spoke cautiously.
Everyone knew the Emperor and the King of Burgundy were close allies, so many believed the Emperor would choose to go to Paris first to help Charles fight the French Army.
The Elector of Brandenburg, a veteran of many battlefields, did not think so. Based on his understanding of the Emperor, that bit of alliance friendship meant little; maximizing benefits was the Emperor's guiding principle.
Sure enough, the Emperor's expression did not change because of his suggestion.
"I, however, think we should head north as soon as possible, first crush the French Army, then capture Paris. Wouldn't the whole of France then be at our mercy?"
The Duke of Saxony immediately voiced his opposition. Needless to say, everyone knew he was eager for battle once again.
The remaining generals from Bohemia, Hungary, and Austria also expressed their views one by one. Most of them chose to attack Avignon first.
Compared to the obviously tough nuts of Paris and the French main army, Southern France was practically a paradise.
There were no powerful French field armies there, but many rich and prosperous cities. It would be a shame not to take this opportunity to plunder a round.
Of course, this was just everyone's wish. The final decision rested with the Emperor.
"Indeed, letting these groups of French rebels wear down the French Army's strength first, then reaping the spoils, is a good choice.
However, the Empire's greatest enemy is Louis XI. His methods are far more formidable than you imagine. Therefore, I do not intend to give him any breathing room, nor will I allow him to dispose of so many of our potential allies.
If, during our stay in Southern France, he crushes the rebels and regains control of the situation, we will have to pay a much higher price to deal with him.
So, this time we go directly to Paris."
After struggling with the decision, Laszlo still chose what he considered the safest approach.
Although advancing north to Paris seemed riskier, in reality, heading in the opposite direction to Avignon would only give Louis XI a chance to catch his breath and disappoint people like Charles.
If, by then, the French Army first dealt with several rebel groups and then regrouped, Laszlo would have to consider bringing more armies to fight in France.
If it turned into a protracted war of attrition, Laszlo would have nowhere to cry.
The generals were neither surprised nor disappointed by the Emperor's decision. They were accustomed to obedience and following, for he was, after all, the Emperor!
"What about the Papacy..."
"The Papacy is temporarily preoccupied with other matters. We need not worry about that."
If Paul II were still alive, Laszlo would have had to consider more whether to take the opportunity to plunder Southern France first before leading the army north.
But now that the Pope himself had passed away, Laszlo naturally no longer needed to consider Rome's attitude. Political pressure was greatly reduced, and military options naturally became more flexible.
No matter what, crushing that scum Louis XI first was definitely the right move.