People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Chapter 238 New Week

In the afternoon, the sun was just right.

Scattered light spots pass through the courtyard, and the fan-shaped leaves of the cultivated palm trees cast on the "new book" in Lothar's hand.

The beautiful illustrations in the new book depict the witcher Van Helsing fighting a naked vampire woman.

It's serious fighting!
This is the current hardcover version of the witcher novel. Many illiterate nobles are willing to pay for the illustrations in it.

life, back on track.

Temporarily far away from the war and the treacherous extraordinary world.

Lothar, nicknamed the "Czar" by Jeanne, is now lying on a soft bed covered with printed thin blankets and carved with lions, with wine chilled in the well in hand.

He lay in Ge You's paralyzed position, taking a sip from the wine glass from time to time.

He is really relaxed now!

Also have to relax.

Although Lothar now only occupies one-third of the Sinai Peninsula, some time ago, he still wrote a letter to Baldwin IV, clarifying his intention to establish the Sinai frontier jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In the final analysis, I still want the false name of a "vassal lord".

This needs to be recognized by the Kingdom of Jerusalem, otherwise it can only be called the Marquis of Brandenburg. In the empire, he is still called Earl Mark.

Not legally valid.

It is worth mentioning that Berlin, the capital of the famous Second German Empire and the Third German Reich, is still a wasteland.

The one who ruled Brandenburg was not the Hohenzollern family who were familiar to later generations and established the Second German Empire, but Count Albrecht of the Ascanian family.

He was originally the Duke of Saxony. Because of his defeat, the Welf family, where Henry the Lion belonged, seized the Duchy of Saxony and its title.

The Hohenzollern family now rules the Earl of Sauern in Swabia and the Earl of Nuremberg in Bavaria, and is regarded as the old neighbor of the Habsburg family.

Fame is useless to others, but not to Lothar.

Moreover, it is not only a false name, after the establishment of the border area, it actually gave Lothar a legal basis to declare war on the heretics alone and launch the Crusade.

When the Brandenburg Border Region was first established, the territory was not as large as it is now. It was only after repeated attacks on the Wends and other pagans that it expanded to its current territory.

pity.

Baldwin IV told him to be calm. His recent performance was too eye-catching. In the kingdom, many nobles believed that Lothar should be called back for questioning.

This is still won.

Princess Sibylla once said that Lothar should not stay away from the center of power in Jerusalem.

Because once you stay away, you will suffer all kinds of attacks from political opponents.

Now, Losar even has a tendency to become unstable as the Grand Master of the Royal Knights.

The Empress Dowager's party, whose vitality has gradually recovered, began to make troubles, wanting to compete with the Jue party for power, and the Royal Knights, which is temporarily unmanaged, is their goal.

But Lothar didn't care.

As a vassal, he is the king and emperor in his own territory, with soldiers and money in his hands, and most of his vassals support him.

No one can do anything to him.

It's just that the establishment of the Sinai frontier jurisdiction can only be postponed for the time being.

Jeanna came to sit next to Lothar with a plate of sliced ​​watermelon, and stretched comfortably: "This kind of sunshine is really suitable for a good night's sleep."

Click.

The voice of Fringila chewing a chocolate bar sounded: "My lord, you don't care about this woman, the dignified chief knight commander, how can you be lazy all day long?"

You have the nerve to say so.

Lothar complained silently in his heart.

"Don't talk nonsense, I have business."

Jeanna lay down in a comfortable position, picked up more than half of Lothar's remaining wine bottle, drank it all in one go, and then said:

"Here's a letter from Coors. He's doing well in Fir Orne."

"He estimates that when Phil Orn settles down completely, the annual tax revenue, excluding expenses, should reach [-] Suledes."

"Currently, Phil Orn has formed a standing city guard army of 200 people, which can provide up to [-] conscripted farmers and soldiers during wartime."

When Jeanne said this, she couldn't help but feel a little regretful: "It's a pity that you are famous, my lord. Before our army arrived, those local leaders in Fir Orn abandoned their land, manor and mansion, carrying gold Silver treasures have gone to relatives."

"It is indeed a pity."

Copying property is addictive.

Without the "selfless funding" of those local leaders, it would be impossible for Lothar to carry out such large-scale construction of water conservancy, public toilets, and open up wasteland.

He said: "We will go back to Hebron when Fil Orn is basically stabilized. In a short time, there should be no more wars."

Said there would be no war.

In fact, this is because Lothar doesn't like being a robber.

Otherwise, with the current weakened strength of his neighbor Rauf, even if Lothar is unwilling to occupy the new territory, sending a team of cavalry to burn, kill and loot his territory every once in a while is also a good source of property.

Frankly speaking, the rotten land in Transjordan and the Sinai Peninsula, if you count on farming and grazing, you will die of poverty.

Unless it is the bird manor in Hebron, which has natural fertilizers and manure, the income from farming is relatively high, comparable to the fertile soil in Gaul.

But income cannot be calculated that way.

Agriculture is the foundation. Only when agriculture develops smoothly, Lothar's rule will be more stable, and the common people at the bottom will be more inclined to make people, and the number of newborns who can survive will also increase greatly.

A larger population means more taxes and more soldiers.

It's like New Habsburg, which originally belonged to Lothar's negative equity, and it has just turned from loss to profit.

However, as the population continues to accumulate, a lonely castle or a village in the past is now tending to build a new city.

It is foreseeable that in the future, here will become a land commercial hub at least as good as Hebron and Ella Port, with even higher potential.

But these are all long-term plans, and it is difficult to make qualitative changes in the short term.

From this point of view, the short-sightedness of the nobles is not unreasonable.

If you cultivate deeply today and invest in the territory, maybe the territory will be taken away by someone one day, it is better to take it by chance, hold the money in your hands, and be ready to run away at any time.

...

Just when Lothar was planning to return to Hebron to "retire".

A new piece of news had to make him stop the salted fish mode.

His new neighbor, the governor of Egypt, Adil led an army to the border and claimed to have a meeting with him!
Lothar was actually a little surprised that Adil would interfere with his own expansion.

Regardless of the size of the territory of the Ayyubid and Sasanian dynasties, the actual rule of the local area is no different from the rule of the border areas in the East.

Most of the great empires of this era can be called "bulk".

Strictly speaking, even Saladin of the Ayyubid dynasty was actually a vassal of the Sassanian King of Kings, but could the Sasanian king control Saladin?

Obviously not.

"Adil only brought 2000 people, and it was still a big fanfare. He probably didn't mean to fight with me. I guess, he probably wanted to negotiate with my new neighbor, show his strength, and let me know that he is in charge. Egypt is not something I can afford to provoke."

Lothar quickly judged Adil's purpose, and ordered: "Jeanna, lead a group of hussars, let's go meet Adil."

"No problem, but only with hussars?"

Lothar said helplessly: "Otherwise, I'll go all out and have an armed parade? Our family is so poor that we can't afford such a waste."

Some of the Knights of the Order are in their respective fiefs, and some of them serve as officers in the Black Eagle Banner.

Moreover, their speed was relatively slow, and Lothar's trip was not for war, so he didn't mean to bring them.

It doesn't make much difference to carry.

The difference in hard power between the two sides is too large, and Egypt's current population is estimated to be several million.

The population of several big cities such as Alexander and Cairo alone is several times the sum of the entire territory of Lothar.

Compared with the background, the entire Kingdom of Jerusalem cannot be compared with Egypt.

The meeting place was set at the border between Baron Tich and Saracen Territory of Galat.

The loyal Baron Tih, Lothar's order knight - Bolvar wanted to lead his Petra knights to escort Lothar, but he refused.

As a commanding knight, there is no doubt about his loyalty, so there is no need to do some face-saving projects.

The time agreed upon by both parties arrived.

Lothar and the accompanying hussars lined up on the hillside, waiting silently.

After a while.

There was smoke and dust in the distance.

The black armored cavalry were so densely packed that the edges could not be seen, sweeping forward like a torrent that could swallow the world.

The khaki color of the desert is gradually covered by black.

Looking at this scene, the hussars couldn't help becoming nervous.

The war horse snorted, digging the soil uneasily.

Jeanna whistled: "It's really majestic. My lord doesn't know when you will be able to do it. You will be escorted by thousands of elite armored cavalry when you travel."

"I'm afraid it will have to wait until after I conquer Egypt. The position of the governor of Egypt is no less valuable than a king."

He lightly clamped the horse's belly with his legs, and ran forward first: "Let's go, let's meet this Savodin."

Come to the tent set up in front of the cavalry formation.

Lothar could clearly see the guards around Adil, and many of them were holding the weapons made by the magic gold.

"Count Lothar, long time no see."

Adil wore a golden cloth mask and a black cloak. This man, who was called Savudin by the Crusaders, greeted Lothar with his hands on his chest, and then handed him water.

"Thank you."

Lothar drew a cross in front of him, and without hesitation, drank the clear water. In the teachings of Zoroastrianism, there is a rule that you cannot hurt the person who drinks the same bowl of water with you.

Although this kind of gentleman's agreement has always been to guard against gentlemen rather than villains.

But even a villain has to value his reputation.

Lothar also smiled and said: "I heard that not long after you arrived in Egypt, you suppressed the rebellion of the Nubians in the south, and you stabilized the whole of Egypt by means of thunder.

I'm right, Zahir is really nothing compared to you. "

Adil coughed lightly, he remembered Lothar's provocation in front of Zahir last time.

"Lothar, before I met you, I didn't realize that among the Franks, there were people who could speak as eloquently as the Greeks."

"Get down to business, Governor Savodin, what are you going to talk to me about?"

Adil's face was slightly cold: "You have already expanded to my doorstep, now come and ask me what I want to talk to you about?"

Inside the tent, the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Does it mean that there is a large desert across from the door? Savudin, you are sitting in the whole of Egypt, are you still afraid that I will pose a threat to you?"

Lothar sat on a chair with a relaxed expression.

The expression on Adil's face became gentle again: "I will not look down on you, Count Lothar, after all, you once defeated me with your own hands."

"Is the peace treaty signed between my king and Saladin still valid?"

"of course."

Lothar smiled and said: "So, just maintain the status quo. You continue to stabilize your Egypt, and I continue to strengthen my strength. We all know that you and I will have a battle sooner or later."

Adil added: "But not now."

"However, you can no longer expand to the Sinai Peninsula, otherwise I will lead my cavalry and trample you into pieces first."

Lothar smiled and said: "I really don't intend to continue to expand, but for your threat, I just want to say, you can try."

Adil snorted coldly: "You treat me like a waste like Rauf?"

Lothar shook his head and said, "I've never underestimated you, but I naturally have my confidence—to be honest, it will cost a lot to take so many cavalry this trip, right?"

The great desert of the Sinai Peninsula is the barrier of Lothar.

The power projection in the Levant region is limited. There are deserts everywhere, and the army is dispatched in full force. The risks and losses are extremely high.

Adil smiled and said, "It's not much. Your place is just the terminal for this trip, and it's one of my plans to frighten everyone along the way."

"Okay, that's it. I won't hold back when you and I meet on the battlefield in the future."

Adil smiled and said, "Me too."

The two looked at each other and smiled, each running towards their own camp.

...

After returning to Port Ella.

Otto told Lothar that he had received a letter from Count Werner asking him to return to Europe to fulfill his marriage contract.

The next day, he set off unhappy.

Lothar sent them off in person.

Looking at the sullen Otto, he comforted him: "Think about it, haven't you always envied my majesty? Your father-in-law is already getting old, and the health of the few who are ahead of the line of succession is not very good. The crown of Duke Lin falls on your head."

The Duke of Lower Lorraine is much more prestigious than the Earl of Transjordan.

"Where did such a good thing come from?"

Most of the heirs in line can't wait for the time to inherit the title.

Otto shrugged: "But I also want to think about it, Lothar, you are indeed stronger than me, more courageous, and luckier. I can't compare with you."

"But revitalizing the Habsburg family is not your business alone. I should also pay something."

Lothar patted him on the shoulder: "Yes, it is our common wish to revitalize the Habsburgs. I once had a dream that our Habsburg family was elected as the king of the Germans (choose Emperors can only elect kings, and they must be crowned by the Pope to be called emperors), occupying Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, the Lowlands, Lombardy, Venice, Iberia, and the whole world has our territory .”

"Is this a revelation?"

"If only we accomplished this great feat."

"Ha, Lothar, let us work hard together."

He held out the palm of a chain-mail glove.

There was a snap.

The two palms touched and held again.

"Lothar, I will not forget what you said."

On his face, there was a gentle smile just like when he watched Lothar leave home to embark on the Eastern Expedition journey: "May Heavenly Father bless you, and your martial luck will prosper."

Lothar also became stern: "May God bless you as soon as possible, and I will invite you to watch the ceremony with my father on the day of my coronation as king. I hope I can see Habu at that time." The next generation of the Burger family."

boom.

Otto punched Lothar on the shoulder: "The crown is not so good. If my father listens to your light tone, he will definitely beat you hard."

Lothar said arrogantly: "He is an earl, and I am an earl, so why beat me?"

The smile on Otto's face gradually faded.

Recalling the experience of being beaten together and sleeping in the stables together when I made a mistake with Lothar, and seeing Lothar wearing gorgeous plate armor and dragon head cloak now, I can't help but feel a little sad.

He was a little bit reluctant to part with Lothar, and he was also worried that Lothar would throw himself into a new round of war sooner or later with such ambitions.

"Okay, it's getting late, if you don't go on the road, you won't be able to reach New Habsburg before dark. Don't you say that you still want to stay there for one night?"

Lothar urged.

"Okay, I'm leaving."

"Wait a moment."

Lothar threw out a heavy purse: "Take these - Aargau is a poor place, spend more money to support the place, don't let your father-in-law look down on you."

Otto hesitated, but put the money bag in the saddle bag.

"gone."

He drew the cross on his chest, and then, without looking back, he led the two guarding knights and galloped towards the north together.

Lothar watched his back disappear behind a sand dune before turning and leaving.

Tomorrow is a new week.

He was going to do Fringilla's ideological work tonight, and asked for Celinina's biscuit box.

(End of this chapter)