Imperial Diet

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel, returning from the front, walks into the Diet and sits. He listens to the debate for a while and then rises to speak:

My Lords, I am heartened by this talk of striking at our new enemies the Milanese. Sigismund has brought their surprise attack to nought, and we now hold the initiative. We can strike where we wish!

Many have called for an attack on the city of Milan. It would be a glorious accomplishment to bring this city back into the domain of the Reich, yet we have failed to consider the consequences of a march into Milanese territory.

I almost certain that the Pope would frown on two Catholic nations fighting each other. I would not be surprised if he has already sent a messenger to Milan ordering them, under pain of Interdiction, to cease their actions against us. If we attack into Milanese territory, I would be even less surprised if the Pope gave us the same warning. Unless our strike against the city of Milan is incredibly swift, we will have to choose between excommunication or lifting the siege on the city. Our standing with Rome is not high enough where we can ignore Papal requests without dire consequences.

Does this Diet wish to pursue this war with Milan at any cost? Are we willing to suffer excommunication? If we are, we will be a pariah in Europe. Those Hungarians gazing across the Danube will see it as God's will if they march on Vienna. The Venetians, never trustworthy to begin with, will receive a request from the Pope to cancel their alliance with us, as we have received the same request concerning Sicily. What will stop them from turning on us then? The same will happen with the Poles as well.

I was surprised to see the Prinz himself call for an immediate assault on the city of Milan, this from the wise man who proposed edict 1.1. It has not accomplished its task yet, Mein Prinz. We are not high enough in the Papacy's favor to move unchecked against our neighbors, even if they attacked us. The Prinz made several convincing arguments as to how we were to use the Papacy to our advantage, are we throwing that strategy away now?

Let no one doubt I wish to crush the Milanese! But first we must isolate them from Rome and the rest of Europe. Let us, in the beginning, fight a defensive war. Let them send armies into our territories to be slaughtered. We have terrain and shorter supply lines on our side. Let them waste their strength on attacks, while their aggressive actions anger the Pope. We should continue the work of edict 1.1 at this time, to improve our standing while worsening Milan's.

Once they have fallen out of favor with the Pope, or better yet been excommunicated, we can move with a free hand against them. Then we will assault and sack their cities! Then we shall drive them into the sea! The same goals we all seek, without the mess of excommunication.

If, however, the Diet still seeks an immediate attack on the city of Milan, we should bear in mind the likely consequences of our actions and start making plans to deal with them.

My lords.

Otto sits.