Chapter 221: Setting a Trap (2/2)
Hearing the old count's speech, many other noblemen nodded their heads in agreement; Berengar was a threat to their power. If Conrad was genuinely dead, and the man was making a ploy to become Duke, it was better to fight against him now before he indeed secured his reign.
Liutbert played the part of a puppet perfectly and began to stoke the ire of noblemen and divert attention away from his loyalties.
”Berengar has seized my rightful position as Count of Tyrol; in doing so, he has enacted many reforms throughout the region which have consistently eaten away at the powers and rights of the nobility. If left unchecked, who is to say when there is nothing to distinguish our noble bloodlines from the filthy commoners!
I have been given authority over the forces here in Innsbruck; Berengar has foolishly placed his trust in me, believing myself to be a whipped dog at his command. We will use these forces to march on Kufstein, and in doing so, force his armies that occupy your lands to withdraw, allowing us to raise our forces in rebellion further! The question is, who here will pledge their loyalty to me and take up arms against Berengar the Usurper?”
With this said, the hall immediately resounded in uproar as the rebellious nobleman stumbled over one another to proclaim their loyalty to the man they considered the rightful Duke of Austria. The old fat man was the loudest of the noblemen who were gathered.
”I, Count Berhtolf von Trieste, hereby declare my support and loyalty to the one true Duke of Austria, Liutbert von Habsburg!”
What followed were the cries of several other essential noblemen.
”I Count Edelstein von Klagenfurt hereby pledge my life and loyalty to Liutbert von Habsburg, the Duke of Austria!”
”I Count Fridebraht von Laibach hereby offer my support to the Duke of Austria, Liutbert von Habsburg!”
With the three Counts of the south declaring their open support for Liutbert, the other Lords who had gathered quickly pledged their loyalty to Liutbert and his rebellion. In doing so, they had sealed their fates, for they never expected that this gathering was nothing more than a ruse set up by Berengar and his lover to gather his political rivals into one location.
After the Lords gathered in Innsbruck declared their loyalty to Liutbert and their intent to rebel against Berengar and his regency. Liutbert made a proclomation.
”I accept all of your loyalty, and upon my honor, I promise to lead a force together with the rest of you onto Kufstein! We will strike while Berengar the Usurper is unprepared and quickly put an end to his illegitimate reign!”'
With this said, cheers began to erupt in the crowd. The nobles who had gathered swore that they would follow Liutbert into battle, with the forces stationed in Innsbruck, they felt that they would be fully capable of deposing Berengar and his tyranny, utterly unaware that they were walking into a trap.
As such, the following days were spent preparing for war, with Innsbruck's industrial output focused to a small degree on creating arms and armor for the nobles who had gathered, considering they were unable to bring their equipment with them.
Of course, they were delighted with the advanced designs of the full plate armor that Innsbruck's factories were capable of producing, and while equipped with such fierce armor, felt as if they were invincible in their quest to overthrow a tyrant.
Thus all of the plans were in place for a decisive showdown that would eliminate Berengar's enemies and make it appear as if the transfer of power was legitimate. Soon enough, the two armies would clash in the fields outside Kufstein, the result of which was yet to be seen.