People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

To the north of El-Arish is a vast ocean with rippling blue waves and warm sea breeze.

In the south, there is a vast expanse of yellow sand and vast Gobi desert, with no end as far as the eye can see.

This is a town established by settled Bedouins and pilgrims. Several Bedouin tribes living around the city are the main guardian force of the city and the source of trade goods.

To the Saracens, it is what Gaza City is to Jerusalem, the gateway to Egypt and the largest settlement on the Sinai Peninsula.

Saracen pilgrims traveling back and forth, whether on their way to Jerusalem or Hashem's two holy sites, would resupply here.

If you want to detour from the south of El-Arish, you need to climb up to the rising plateau. The road is difficult to travel, sparsely populated, and difficult to supply. You have to go to the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula, which is mostly occupied by Lothar. The situation will get better.

In the palace of the city lord of Alish, there was a fierce quarrel early in the morning.

"No, absolutely not!"

Adlam took action.

He is the Sheikh of the largest Bedouin tribe nearby. He was summoned by the lord Yassar here today, but he never thought that he would ask them to destroy all water sources and oases. For the herdsmen, it is even worse than killing them.

"Are you crazy, Yasar? In a normal year of drought, do you know how many people we would die trying to grab water? Now you actually want us to destroy those precious water sources?"

The god-like lord said expressionlessly: "This is an order from Lord Adil, King Saladin's younger brother, and I am not asking for the opinion of a little Sheikh like you.

Of course, I was not asked for it. If we don't obey the order, we will have to face the Franks' army ourselves. "

"I don't care whose order it is, it's killing us!"

"Calm down, Adlam, if you weren't a friend who drank from the same bowl of water with me, you wouldn't even have the chance to sit here and get angry at me now. My soldiers, together with Lord Adil's guards, You, your tribe, and those oases will all be burned down."

Yasar's tone also became angry.

"You can try!"

Adram roared angrily: "The men of Sodria will never be threatened!"

"Then let's try it!"

Yasar stood up, holding the table with his hands, his face livid.

The two looked at each other for a long time, both like angry bulls, with hot breath blowing out of their nostrils, and their faces were almost touching.

In the end, it was Yasar who gave in first and sat back on the chair.

He said helplessly: "Okay, old friend, if I really wanted to do that, I wouldn't invite you over."

"Not only the settlements of your tribe, the oases that you often visit, and the hidden water sources nearby that only you know about, but also the beautiful city of Arish and the mansion in front of you and me will be destroyed. Burn it all down.”

The anger on Adlam's face gradually faded, replaced by shock and confusion: "Are you willing?"

"Have you forgotten how we developed Arish from a small town that only provided supplies for pilgrims to what it is now? This is not a matter of one or two people, but all the surrounding tribes, and you This lord made it possible by working together.”

Yasar let out a long sigh: "Otherwise, what if we leave this city to Frank's pagan army?"

"My old friend, I know you are not willing to give in, so why should I? But you have to think about whether staying in the desert and being a small sheikh for you and your tribe is worth your efforts. Something about?"

He paused slightly and said in a deep voice: "Take your tribe to join my command. They are all young men who are brave and good at fighting. They are skilled in bow and horse. I will take you to a richer territory and allocate you with fatter territory." pasture."

"Oh, you are talking about what the so-called Governor of Egypt promised you, right?"

"Yes."

"You trust him that much?"

Yasar said seriously: "Many people will die in this battle. As long as I can prove my loyalty, the territories of those dead people will definitely fall on my head."

This is a crisis, but also an opportunity.

As the lord of North Sinai, most of the people under his rule were Bedouin nomads with fierce folk customs. The territory was barren and it was difficult to collect taxes. If he missed this opportunity, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Adlam fell into silence for a long time.

"There's no time to think about it, man. The enemy has almost arrived at Gaza City. This isn't a multiple-choice question. We alone can't defend El-Arish. It's a flat area with no natural dangers."

Yassar said in a hurried tone: "What we can do is give up Arish and even Wadala, and turn this desert into a desert. Only then can we have a chance to stop the Franks in Feraimay."

Adlam sneered: "What if we choose to cooperate with the Franks?"

Yassar nodded lightly: "Of course, but if you really want to do that, you won't say it in front of me - be honest, my old friend, that Marquis Lothar has no interest in ordinary strange people." Believers can indeed be tolerant, but for a leader like us, he will definitely uproot us! Otherwise, how can he use it as military expenditure to reward the wolf-like and jackal-like soldiers under his command?"

Yassar sneered: "Don't forget what the Transjordanian tribesmen who came from his territory said some time ago."

Adram's expression changed for a long time, and he sighed: "I understand."

"I will help you convince the other leaders, but I need you to swear to the Holy Fire that if they do not agree to your request, you will not use weapons without permission."

Yasar looked at Adlam and nodded with a complex expression: "I swear that I will not be the first to use force to resolve conflicts, but if there is really no way to convince them, I will not give up."

...

Jerusalem.There has been a lot of news that the Marquis of Lothar, with his great victory over Saladin, has called for a new group of Crusades.

Because it is an immigrant city with many pilgrims, there are a large number of young people here. These people may have been craftsmen or just idle vagrants. At this moment, they are also selling their property in exchange for weapons and preparing to go there. Join Lothar's command and go to rich Egypt to make a fortune.

The whole city fell into inexplicable agitation.

Some people who simply came for pilgrimage, following this trend, could not help but have the idea that this was God's will, asking them to take up arms and participate in the Crusades.

The pagan residents in the city were surprisingly honest. As the king went south with the Crusaders and led the city guards back to the city, their only chance to cause rebellion disappeared.

Although they most likely had no such intention in the first place.

Because most of the young people left, the pub became empty.

Leonard sat in the corner, drinking silently, his eyes seemed to be burning with fire.

Reluctance, anger, doubt, resentment...

Why did God choose him?
Am I not recognized as the most devout and brave warrior after decades of fighting on the Crusade front?
Why was it that Lothar, who had stolen his cherished Hebron and repeatedly opposed him, was the one who received God's favor?
He raised his head and his eyes met the blond man sitting opposite him.

He glared fiercely, and the man sitting opposite him also looked at him calmly.

The two looked at each other like this, one full of resentment, the other calm and calm.

"What are you looking at?"

Leonard, whose face was full of alcohol, put one hand on his sword and rushed in front of the man.

The man did not appear panicked, but took his time and said: "I am looking at the famous King of the Dead Sea in the past, the butcher who killed pagans in fear - and at the same time, I am also looking at a loser."

The man in a black cloak smiled: "The name of Leonard of Chatillon, Count of Transjordan, now resounds throughout the Christian world. In every king's court, there are bards praising his deeds. ,what about you?"

"No one will remember that this glorious title belongs to you."

Leonard is not an idiot. Of course he knows that the other party will never just wait here to humiliate him: "That's enough! Bastard, you'd better tell me who your master is and why you're here before I get angry." .”

"Reynard, you must show some respect to me, because I serve the most noble Caesar, the King of the Gauls, the great King Philip."

The man said with a smile.

"Ah."

Leonard sneered: "Special envoys, there are special envoys everywhere. I saw the special envoy of the King of Hungary earlier and got a nasty beating, and now there is another person who claims to be the special envoy of King Philip."

"There are letters to prove it."

The man took out a well-sealed letter and placed it on the table: "Please read it."

Leonard carefully observed the wax seal on the envelope with suspicion. The coat of arms on it was indeed the golden fleur-de-lis of the Gallic royal family. There was no extra decoration on it, which meant that this was not the coat of arms of other members of the Capetian royal family, but It is the emblem that belongs exclusively to the king of Gaul.

(The rest of the royal family must add their own personal marks on the golden iris to distinguish them, such as ribbons and pendants. This is a characteristic of many noble family branches in the Middle Ages)
He opened the envelope and the first words that caught his eye were:
To my friend Leonard.

I heard that you suffered unfair treatment. Your title was taken away by the monarch of the Angevin royal family and given to others. This is not what a qualified monarch should do. I also never think that you have any right to kill heretics. A place that deserves to be condemned and punished.

Therefore, Leonard, if you are still willing to continue to be loyal to me, when I come to the Holy Land, it will be the time when your injustice is avenged.

Leonard raised his head in surprise, looked at the messenger opposite, and swallowed: "What are you going to do?"

...

outside Jerusalem.

The Crusaders were setting up camp, and many new Crusaders who came from the city gathered at the registration place, waiting for the quartermaster to record their names on the roster, and assign their duties according to their abilities and the equipment they carried.

Lothar frowned deeply as he looked at the information sent back by "Shadow of Darkness".

"Wells were poisoned or filled with dead bodies of humans and animals, water sources in the desert were buried, oases were burned, and tens of thousands of residents were driven away from El-Arish. I didn't expect Adil to be so critical of Egypt. The control is so strong.”

In the desert, precious water sources cannot be destroyed and regenerated.

People who have never suffered from thirst in the desert will find it difficult to understand the importance that the residents of the Holy Land attach to water. Even the tanners here are strictly prohibited from polluting the water for tanning leather.

Coors smiled and said:

"So, there are also a group of Bedouins who want to join us. They claim that they will guide us to find hidden water sources deep in the desert. The price is only that we allow them to continue to live here without intrusion."

"Do you think they are reliable?"

Coors shook his head: "Not necessarily. If I were Adil, I would not miss such a good opportunity to provide us with false news. As long as we listen to their news and fail to find the water source, for us For the army, it is a devastating price."

"But the vast majority of them are definitely reliable."

In any case, one cannot stop eating for fear of choking to death. The Bedouin nomads left behind will be of great use to Lothar who wants to pass through the North Sinai Corridor.

"But their information cannot be accepted without screening. Coors, I will ask Cellinina to go there in person, and then send Hans to lead two hundred light cavalry. If a water source is found, guard it on the spot. .”