People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Chapter 71 Execution
Fair trial?
The knights looked at each other, what could be the fairest trial for committing such a heinous crime?Hanging with a whole body?Or abolish the honor and demote him to slavery?

Several of Earl Philip's confidantes, thinking of their possible end, turned pale and trembled, and beads of sweat dripped down their temples.

They don't know what happened to the crown prince.

It doesn't matter to them either.

Because whether Baldwin Jr. is dead or not, they are guilty of malfeasance and possible involvement in the murder of the crown prince, which is enough to send them to the gallows.

On the contrary, Earl Philip, because he was a vassal of the Germanic emperor, as long as Baldwin Jr. did not die, at most he could only be removed from his official title and expelled from Jerusalem.

Lothar picked up the list, and slowly said: "Rodel of Aachen, please come out, you were supposed to lead someone to patrol the Midsummer Corridor tonight, but you only left one sergeant there."

"Mimir of Florence, you were supposed to be stationed on Godfrey's tower tonight"

"Charlotte of Artois"

He announced the charges one after another, and then said: "Come forward, if you still have a sliver of knightly honor, don't let my soldiers pick you out of the crowd, it will make you lose your dignity , I promise, my axe guards are definitely not opponents that you can fight on foot."

There were six knights who read their names, and all of them looked like they were mourning.

Someone tried to argue.

Some people begged bitterly, telling about their achievements in the past.

Some people look around, hoping that their colleagues around them can speak for themselves.

But no one intends to resist.

Lothar didn't show mercy, and waved: "Take it away, if you have anything to say, stay in the prison and talk to the inspector."

Earl Philip walked on the road with a face full of despair. His weapons were confiscated, and his hands were put in heavy shackles.

When passing in front of Lothar, he begged in a low voice: "Grand Commander, I am willing to swear to the holy cross that I did not participate in the treason against the crown prince. If you still think of yourself as an upright knight, please return it to me." I am innocent, I promise, I will never trouble you again in the future."

Lothar shook his head: "The oath is sacred, but the oath of a person who does not regard the oath as sacred is worthless."

Lothar pointed to the cross coat of arms on Earl Philip's chest: "One of your oaths to join the Royal Knights requires you to obey justice and have a heart of benevolence, but you are narrow-minded and disregarding the dangerous situation in the Holy Land The regiment has been involved in the crisis of division, which has violated this point."

Earl Philip opened his mouth and said a little dissatisfied: "Who would be willing to give up his position to others? Baron Lothar, if it were you, what would you do?"

Lothar ignored him, waved his hand, and signaled Ryan to escort the man away.

It is unlikely that Earl Philip had anything to do with the assassination, but among the people who instigated him to fight against Lothar, there were definitely people from the side of the assassin.

The rest of the knights present, watching their companions being taken away, felt a little sad, so they remained silent, and no one even took the initiative to salute Lothar.

Many people are full of fear for this new group leader.

As soon as they came, they moved the beloved Earl Philip down. This method was too terrible. Although they didn't want to obey, they never dared to resist.

Lothar glanced at the unfamiliar faces: "Everyone, have you forgotten how to salute when you meet the Grand Leader?"

The knights and their attendants saluted Lothar one after another.

Lothar could see the fear on their faces, and he said solemnly: "Tonight, many of you are also not on duty, and are not in the rotation period. I am willing to forgive you for this incident. , but only this once."

Immediately, a layer of cold sweat broke out on someone's back: "Thank you for your forgiveness."

Lothar nodded slightly, and then left without looking back.

There was only a whisper behind him.

The Varangian guards in heavy armor escorted the "prisoners" into the prison cart, and they all got on the traveling horses assigned to them by Lothar, and a group of them galloped towards the palace.

Through the method of "mounted infantry", the pressure on them to march can be greatly reduced.

Put all the prisoners in prison and order them to be strictly guarded.

Lothar walked straight to the palace.

Led by the king's personal servant, Lothar walked into the quiet room.

Inside the house, incense is still burning.

But he still keenly smelled the faint smell of decay in the air. It seemed that every time Lothar saw Baldwin IV, his condition got worse.

"Your Majesty, I have imprisoned all those who dereliction of duty."

Under the candlelight, Baldwin IV's expression remained calm, as if he was not furious because the crown prince was almost assassinated.

"What are you going to do with them?"

Lothar said in a flat tone: "Except for Earl Philip who just removed his official title and expelled from the Royal Knights, the rest were all sentenced to hang."

This is the cruelty of political struggle.

Let Lothar catch the opportunity, he will not forgive the other party, so as to give Earl Philip a chance to make a comeback.

After this incident, he not only rectified military discipline, but also eliminated another small hill within the Knights, which would greatly speed up his progress in controlling the Royal Knights.

Baldwin IV nodded noncommittally, and asked, "Who do you think is behind the scenes?"

"It depends on who is the biggest beneficiary after the death of His Majesty the Crown Prince."

Baldwin IV was a little puzzled: "You mean, Earl Raymond?"

Earl Raymond is the regent. Once the king and the crown prince die one after another, as the most powerful and prestigious person in the Holy Land, he has the greatest possibility of becoming king.

"I know him well. He would not do such a thing. Compared with a hollow king, he is already the king of North Jerusalem, so he would not do anything extra."

Lothar nodded and said, "I don't think it's Earl Raymond, or even a Crusader nobleman."

"Saladin would not do such a thing. I signed an armistice treaty with him. He is a generous and benevolent king, no less than the most upright western knight."

Baldwin IV's tone was gentle: "Actually, I already have some guesses."

Lothar asked tentatively, "Anjou?"

Baldwin IV nodded, but said on his mouth: "No, he is a Zoroastrian, and he can only be a Zoroastrian. Perhaps people know that Saladin would not do such a thing, but his nephew, the Governor of Syria Savudin , but he is an unscrupulous and cruel character who once sent someone to slaughter the wooden castle of Lord Cockbu who slandered Saladin."

Having said that, the two looked at each other and smiled.

This is politics. Even if they all know that this matter cannot be done by people from the Ayub kingdom who have a deep hatred with the old man in the mountain, they still have to speak with one voice.

As for the so-called "Anjou" word, it is because if the crown prince is killed, there is a high probability that the heir of Baldwin IV will be appointed by Richard the Lionheart, the patriarch of the Anjou family.

And Richard the Lionheart is likely to lead Albion's crusade to the east in a year.

According to the established rules, the King of Jerusalem will be the commander of the Crusaders, but this king is obviously not willing to submit to the command of others.

As for who it was from the Anjou family, and whether Richard the Lionheart was in charge of this matter, it is not known.

Early the next morning.

Bishop's Square in Jerusalem.

Hans held high the royal banner bestowed by His Majesty the King. He had been appointed by Lothar as the banner officer of the Royal Knights. This was an honorary official position, not Lothar's nepotism.

The property belonging to the Royal Knights, the second floor of a small fortress, wooden steps were pushed out one by one, the burqa was stripped, the sergeants and servants in their coats were pushed out.

They stood on the trembling wooden steps, their bodies trembling involuntarily.

With a bell.

The censors stood aside and began to read their crimes aloud to the onlookers.

This includes but is not limited to the six knights captured by Lothar last night, as well as their attendants, some servants who accepted bribes and provided convenience for the assassins.

"Father above, forgive me my sins"

Someone whispered nervously a confession, a prayer.

Some people's legs were trembling, and they kept pleading and crying that they were just inadvertent mistakes.

Someone bid farewell to the weeping wives and children standing in the crowd.

Someone also shouted for help from Earl Philip, who had been declared resigned and released, who was standing in the crowd.

There are various states before death.

As Ryan and the others put the white cloth bag over their heads, they drew back the wooden board immediately after.

Some of the prisoners who were hung on the ropes kicked their legs frantically, but most of them had their necks broken in an instant, hanging in mid-air like soundless rotten sacks.

There was a chill behind the surrounding knights and sergeants. They secretly looked at Lothar standing on the high platform in the distance, watching this scene indifferently, full of fear in their hearts.

Compared with the benevolent Baron Godfrey of the past, this cruel, cold-blooded monster is simply far worse.

(End of this chapter)