Eagle Byzantium

As a result, Excello High Ditch became a slaughterhouse again. More than a thousand Roma Turkic soldiers were tied to the edge of the ditch below, and were sawed with swords and axes by Frank soldiers. They soon turned into countless corpses, with their heads cut off and their bodies They were pushed to the bottom of the ditch together and stacked up with the previous corpses again. , the pilgrims and military servants wearing face coverings began to pour down the soil produced by preparing the new road. After working all night, they finally covered all the corpses in the ditch with soil, but Excellent High The ditch also became a lot higher and almost turned into flat ground.

Between the new soil, stains of blood are clearly visible.

But this was not the end. The surviving pilgrims from Camp Chivit and Camp Forcher walked out collectively and collected the corpses of their colleagues who died tragically in the wilderness outside the city of Nicaea. Soon there were thousands of new ones piled up in the field. There is a simple cross tied with wood on the tomb.

Of the 70,000 pilgrims, 40,000 died, were captured, or disappeared, and less than 30,000 remained. But if Gawain and Godfrey had not come to the rescue in time, I believe that none of the 70,000 people would have survived. Even if they survived, they would have been robbed as slaves by the Roma Turks. The two lords who led the team, Reinold's life and death were unknown, and Forcher was hiding in the camp and was killed by a stray arrow shot by the Turks through the curtain. However, Walter Sansaval, who had always been running and actively resisting, was fine. The ground lived until the moment of rescue.

On the water of the strait, on the deck of the ships that came after him, Gottschalk held up a cross, with a strange and inciting tone, pointing to the miserable scene on the other side, and said to the believers who followed him one by one, " If God has a sentence of excommunication, it is for the ungodly. I have understood through this period of experience, and I believe most of the people in our team can also understand that if Gawain tells us to live, we will definitely live; if we do not obey Gawain's instructions, we will definitely live. , he will die. Gawain is the holy apostle sent to the world by God!" Finally. The fanatical Gottschalk determined the Archduke of Bari.

Most of the believers on the deck were convinced, but there were also voices of doubt, "But His Excellency the Grand Duke's identity as a holy apostle has not been confirmed yet, right?"

"What confirmation is needed? The power of confirmation lies in the hearts of our ordinary believers, not in the hands of any agent. Now the death and blood of the ungodly have told us everything!" Gottschalk clenched his fists , roared. And it won a round of applause.

"But we are going to the Holy Sepulchre..."

"Yes, Grand Council Gawain took us to the Holy Tomb, but what happens after we go to the Holy Tomb? We just want to return to our hometown. No, I don't think so. I think there is a small heaven between this world and heaven. Existence, also called the Utopia, is based on beautiful ideals and practices. It guides us not only to regain the flow of The holy land of milk and honey must rely on your own hands to make the same milk and honey flow everywhere you pass. It can pass through your and my hands just like Solomon's Temple and the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom. What is really built appears to my eyes and glorifies my heart." Under Gottschalk's serious instigation. The eyes of many ragged pilgrims began to shine. They left their hometowns in groups. They did not have the same firm and pious beliefs as the lords, knights, and monks (not to mention that this group of people may not be that firm). Most of them Just with the idea of ​​“Go and see the legendary Holy Tomb” , "Looking for a better life", "The Holy Land is full of good things, and you can get opportunities to make money by leaning over it". Naturally, there are also thoughts such as "So many lords and knights also go to the Holy Land, so what will happen to the Holy Land in the future?" There is no place for us as a group of people.” Now that Gottschalk suddenly throws out this theory of "little heaven" (aside from the Holy Sepulcher and the Holy City, there are other places in the world that can be called heaven), it is naturally particularly attractive.

at the same time. At the same time that the rear army of the Kingdom of Rom was completely wiped out, in front of Bohemond's camp. In the camp, after receiving many treasures and treasures presented by the Giliki envoy, the Duke of Apulia suddenly drew his sword and chopped down the unlucky envoy. When the guards dragged away the envoy's body in a pool of blood, Bo Ximond came out and looked at the rapidly changing battle situation below, especially when he saw the cavalry assault led by the red hand flag, killing many Roman soldiers. After the soldier was defeated, he couldn't hold back his excitement and excitement, "Gawain's bastard flag appeared, but I was waiting for him. Tancred, quickly hold your flag, go down and make a surprise attack, and kill Konya Sultan's flag." The army is cut into pieces, but the most important thing is that we want to occupy the front of the city of Nicaea, and we will be the first to enter the city's gate in the future!"

"Here's a ready reward." After shouting, the prince secretly slapped his thigh and muttered this sentence involuntarily, feeling extremely happy and satisfied in his heart. "Gawain, this idiot, is just a pioneer for me, Bohemond." That’s all.”

The Normans acted very quickly at this moment. Their cavalry quickly occupied the passage of the Nicaea Gorge and captured a group of backward Roma soldiers. And that night, Bohemond's barracks moved to the front of Nicaea.

In addition, Bohemond sent hundreds of Roman prisoners of war to the camp over the pasture overnight, and handed them over to Godfrey, Gawain and Baldwin. He also wrote a handwritten document, which roughly said, "Fight hard." It's better to play smart. Now my army has occupied the passages inside and outside Nicaea. Come over quickly and assist the Grand Duke of Anatolia. The commander-in-chief of Asia, especially Stephen Gawain, who was my deputy, besieged the city of Nicaea and won the first great victory against the pagans. Ahahahaha, ahahahaha..." Anyway. Even if there was just a piece of parchment in front of them, everyone could see that Bohemond's despicable and arrogant villain's smile appeared on it.

"Damn it," the outspoken Baldwin cursed.

But Godfrey and Gawain were very calm, "Just do as the Duke of Apulia said." Then they handed the document to Andodat and other confidential officials, and after copying several copies, The whole camp was informed, and then Gawain said goodbye, carrying a document under his arm, and returned to his own tent in the Scarlet Grand Duke's camp.

Because Anna was waiting for him there. After the curtain was lifted, Anna and Agnes both stood up and saluted Gawain who returned with his skirt in hand, but the latter obviously had an expression of reluctance. But Gawain ignored it and handed Bohemond's documents to Anna.

"Bohemond is just a little cunning that cannot be used. So what if he wins the city of Nicaea for the first time? This city will definitely be handed over to my father." Anna showed no fuss as she handed over the paper. Put the roll down.

"It should be said that the destination of the Duke of Apulia is not Nicaea, the capital of Bithynia. Everyone knows that his ambition is in the land of Anatolia..." Gawain Turning his back to face Anna, he pondered for a moment, twisted the curtain with his hands, and without holding back, asked Anna this very important question, "Guardian, as you see it, Red Hand Dalian and I Do you want to follow your father's will and develop along the lines of Paphlagonia and Trebizond?"

Sure enough, Anna fell silent as soon as the topic was brought up. Gawain also knew that she was in a dilemma. After all, she had to make a choice between her own interests and that of her father, so he added, "No, of course, if it's Anna, you feel embarrassed." , we can discuss this later.”

In front of the candlelight, Anna's expression became determined. She looked at the big barbarian and said, "Why do you say this? I have been with you for a long time. The Red Hand Dalian Team is also my foundation. I am no longer the daughter of Komnenos." , I believe that my father must have cut off this reputation of mine..." After speaking, Anna compared it with her fingers on the map sand table, "Since Paphlagonia, although there are Heraclia, Tin Nope The land of port cities like Trebizond and Trebizond is also quite fertile, but it is isolated from the power of the pilgrims. What's more, because it faces the black Uxen Sea from the north, once winter comes, it will directly suffer from the Russians. The north wind blows from the grassland, and there is no shelter for ships. The coastline is also extremely rough. To the south of this place is the Pontic Mountains, which is not conducive to southward development and can only be cut into a long and narrow piece. "

"Occupying the Ukxing Sea, can the trade routes facing Varangia and Rus be used?" Gawain also came to the sand table and asked.

Anna shook her head, "This trade route was still prosperous two hundred years ago and could bring in a lot of tax revenue. But now I have checked the documents and classics and found that the trade volume is declining year by year. What's more... the same process "Yu Ke Xinghai, then why did the Ross caravan come to you instead of going directly to my father's imperial capital to trade? The imperial capital obviously has more goods and more money."

Hearing the words of the eldest princess, Gawain could only sigh, "That is indeed true, and there are many strong enemies faced on this road, including the Paulists and the former general Xi Jinping who separatized Trebizondism. Odoro Gabuas, if the Dalian team and Godfrey and others part ways, they may not be able to clear out this group of enemies alone. "

"What's more, there is my father, who is behind me (Anna, can you say this about your father)?"

After these words, Gawain and Anna looked at each other, and then the eldest princess shook her head, which was equivalent to rejecting the march route that her father had previously given to Gawain, which meant, "That is just a trick of Emperor Comnenus. Once cunning, The death of the rabbit is the end of the lackey."

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The atmosphere in the camp froze for a moment, and then Gawain said, "But after we capture the city of Nicaea, we still have to follow this route for the time being, and we must first deceive your father."

"Yes, act according to the opportunity." Anna thought of the Seven Ridges in her dream. Although she could not confirm it yet, she could be sure that it was definitely not Trebizond.

"That's it, rest early, my patron." Just when Anna's face was filled with scarlet clouds and she was proud of being able to analyze the strategy of the barbarian, Gawain patted his knees, stood up from the chair, touched his chest and bowed , then leave. Then, while Agnes was still enjoying herself beside her, she was grabbed by Gawain's collar and dragged out with an angry protest.

"What's the problem?" Anna was furious as she stood there. She didn't know whether it was her problem or Gawain's problem. It was obvious that from the moment she left Brachna Palace and refused the marriage, Gao Wen Wen can marry her, why are you pretending to be stupid! (To be continued ~^~)