In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

early morning.

In the garden of Hebron House.

The spring gurgled.

Lothar wore loose clothes made of linen and held a shining cross sword. Opposite him, Cellinina held two blades in her hands and looked solemn.

His steps moved slightly, as fast as thunder.

The flickering silver light seemed to split the air and struck Chelinina fiercely.

Blades clashed.

There was a crisp metal collision sound.

Chelinina only defended but did not retreat an inch. Even though Lothar's attack was as fast as a storm, it could not overcome her defense at all.

for a long time.

Lothar gasped, took two steps back, turned the shining cross sword into a necklace again, and tied it up.

He stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat and gasped: No fighting, Chelinina, are you sure you have suppressed the speed to the same level as me?

Chelinina said respectfully: Yes, sir.

That was really frustrating.

Lothar said helplessly.

Although the swordsmanship expertise that comes with the Shining Cross Sword is quite extraordinary, enough for Lothar to rely on it to become a sword master, it is still not as good as Cellinina's swordsmanship.

At this time, the maid with wheat-colored skin handed over the towel and said respectfully:

Sir, there is a group of knights who call themselves the 'Knights of the German Hospitaller of Saint Mary of Jerusalem' and want to be summoned by you.

Lothar was stunned for a moment before he realized that this was probably the Teutonic Knights, which had just been officially established.

Previously, they had been part of a loose hospital organization and were not considered a formal religious order.

Why do the Teutonic Knights come to me?

Lothar was a little surprised, because he had not had much contact with these German knights before. In fact, he had almost never met these people in Jerusalem.

Compared with the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller, the Teutonic Knights started too young, their power is much weaker, and they are concentrated in the northern part of the kingdom.

You're not here to ask me for alms, are you?

Lothar was a little wary.

The Germans were poor. Compared with Gaul, which seemed to be a chosen land with thousands of miles of fertile land, Germania was definitely a bad place - of course, bad was also a relative term.

If we only talk about the area of ​​arable land, the land under his tsar's hands is the real bad land.

But if trade is included, Lothar's territory would be far greater than the former.

This is why Emperor Henry attached so much importance to this era, because of the prosperity of Mediterranean trade, the North Apennine city-states were very prosperous.

He needed the Apennine purse.

Otherwise, as an emperor, he would not be as wealthy as the kings of Albion and Gaul.

Lothar simply wiped away the sweat and ordered:

Let them in.

Previously, when the Teutonic Knights did not have a grand master, he had the idea of ​​​​supporting Hans to be the grand master of the knights.

Not so anymore.

He has the Order of Saint Lazarus, and the people he has trained with his own hands will definitely be more obedient and easier to manage than the Teutonic Knights.

The Order of Saint Lazarus has now been fully integrated into the administrative system of Lothar. There are doctors from the Order of Saint Lazarus in every territory of Lothar.

Lothar changed her clothes and came to the living room.

Since the castle had been attacked, the dragon head stored there was also moved here and placed above his seat, with the Jerusalem Cross coat of arms and the double-headed eagle coat of arms hanging on both sides.

The Teutonic knights, wearing white robes with black crosses, looked with awe at Lothar, a lord who had become famous in the Holy Land in recent times.

My Lord Count.

Seeing Lothar's appearance, they all saluted and greeted him.

Lothar waved her hands and frowned: Hello, who should I talk to?

A knight saluted Lothar respectfully: Good day, distinguished Earl, I am Heberlander from Bremen, and I have been temporarily elected as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.

At this time, there were no winged helmets or horned helmets like the ones Hans wore, and barrel helmets were the mainstream.

So from the outside, the Grand Commander of Heberland wore an extra white cloak than his companions.

Good day, Grand Commander Heberland, what do you want to talk to me about?

Heberland looked bitter: Sir, you must also know that our German knights are not having an easy time in the Holy Land. Not only is the territory barren, but we are also deeply marginalized by the knights of Gaul and Albion.

Haven't His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Pope reconciled?

Lothar didn't take any chances.

In the Holy Land, it was obvious that the Gallic faction was stronger, including Leonard of Chatillon, Baldwin IV of Anjou, and Count Raymond of Toulouse.

These were all nobles from Gaul or Albion.

Strictly speaking, Albion also belongs to the Gallic family.

Although Richard the Lion-Hearted of the Anjou family settled in London, he always believed that Gaul was his most important territory. In his court, French was the mainstream language.

The Teutonic Knights, as latecomers, would be ostracized, partly because they still openly declared their allegiance to Emperor Henry and were granted several fiefdoms in the North Apennines.

Partly because, as latecomers, if they wanted to rise, they would inevitably touch the status of the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar.

Although the former supports the little brother of the Teutonic Knights and wants them to help fight against the increasingly powerful Knights Templar, he has no intention of being on an equal footing with them.

Heberland looked gloomy: Sir, you should know very well that although His Majesty originally reconciled with His Majesty the Pope, after he punished those rebellious Apennine city-states, the relationship between them became tense again. Even Some people have spread rumors that His Majesty the Pope wants to excommunicate His Majesty.

Lothar frowned: Grand Commander of Heberland, I don't care about the current situation in Europe. It's better to tell you your purpose.

Hebland did not hesitate anymore and said bluntly: Your Majesty, we hope to fight for you, as long as you are willing to agree to us and give us a place to live after the war.

Lothar felt a headache.

Before he even laid hands on Rauf's territory, he had already booked several territories.

It's okay for the second sons of those big nobles to be canonized as knights of the order. Once they are sealed, they will be sealed away. If the meat rots in the pot, he will not lose.

But the Teutonic Knights, as the leader of a force, Lothar would definitely not be able to canonize its grand leader as his Order Knight.

Seeing Lothar frowning and remaining silent.

Heberland said quickly: Sir, you have to believe that although our German brothers are not as equipped as those of the Gauls, they are definitely the bravest and most devout Christian warriors. We will become the sharpest spears and swords in your hands. The sword is for you to use to open up new territories and punish heretics.”

Lothar said casually: In terms of bravery, my hussars are the most brave and fearless knights in the Holy Land, with brilliant records. Neither the Temple nor the Hospital Knights can match them.

At this time, the Germans were not yet known for their bravery and prowess in warfare.

It is generally believed that the martial virtues of the Gallic knights were far superior to those of the ignorant and poor Germans, and the milk law joke of later generations was considered worthy of its name during World War II.

Hebland opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but he couldn't.

Because before, they also participated in the Northern Crusade led by Raymond, but they had no impressive results at all.

Compared with the two knights in the same industry, there is no advantage at all.

There was a hint of pleading on Hebland's face: Our territory in Acre is both barren and small, and cannot accommodate the increasing number of our Germanic brothers.

My Lord Count, please take the sake of us as Germanic brothers. We have had enough of being ostracized in the battle. Even the flags were thrown to the ground by the Gauls and trampled on. The wounds of the injured brothers were infested with maggots. There will be no more days of treatment.”

Lothar was silent for a long time, and finally said: It is true that I don't mind accepting you, but Grand Commander Heberland, you have to tell me, in what capacity do you stay in my territory?

If you are just a mercenary, you will have to pay me a fief as a price.

I'm sorry, I can't accept that.

Hebland was startled for a moment, then realized that Lothar's question went straight to the core of everything.

The Teutonic Knights are still nominally loyal to Emperor Henry.

Moreover, they are also seeking to obtain the status of the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller, which belong directly to His Majesty the Pope and are tax-free and can be called a country within a country.

In other words, after they obtain the territory, they will not become Lothar's vassals and do not need to fulfill any feudal obligations.

This is the crux of the problem, Grand Commander Heberland, I don't need a mercenary group for the time being, because my enemy has been weakened to the point where I can easily eliminate it at any time if I want.

Unless you are willing to join me in attacking Egypt in the future, it will definitely be an arduous war with a huge disparity between us and the enemy.

Lothar paused slightly: Can you wait any longer?

Hebland was silent for a moment, shook his head and said, I'm sorry, sir, if we wait until then, the monastery may have been forced to disband due to poverty.

So, neither of us can accept such conditions, Grand Master Heberland.

The Teutonic knights who gathered around Heberland were a little unhappy.

Your Majesty, this is for Heavenly Father's sacred cause. You were also a vassal of His Majesty. Shouldn't you contribute your own strength for His Majesty and the German brothers?

Lothar sneered: I have fought many more heretics than you, and I am now a vassal of His Majesty Baldwin.

Someone couldn't restrain the anger in his heart and said: Count Lothar, I heard that you have a reputation as a generous person, but I didn't expect you to be so stingy. Maybe you have been in this city for a long time and have it in your blood. The stinginess of the Jews?”

When Heberland heard this, his expression changed drastically: Shut up, you bastard.

Lothar chuckled softly: Knight, before speaking, I hope you can consider the consequences and the price of offending a frontier earl.

He put away his smile, and the majesty in his eyes made the knight seem to see a giant dragon. He took several steps back and sat down on the ground.

Otherwise, I don't mind ordering my guard to throw her gloves at you.

behind the curtain.

Cellinina's figure appeared like a ghost, her swords were unsheathed with a clang and pressed against the throat of the person who made the rude remarks.

Hebland glanced at this rude idiot angrily and said respectfully: Please forgive our offense.

Lothar waved his hand, showing no interest.

Grand Master of Heberland, my bottom line is that I will serve as the supreme commander of the Teutonic Knights, that is, the position of Grand Master, and you will become the commander and swear allegiance to me. Otherwise, I cannot accept it. Your request.

Grand Leader Hebland was silent for a while and replied: We need time to think about it.

Lothar stretched out an arm and said solemnly: Please, I'm waiting for your arrival at any time.

“May your Heavenly Father bless you, great protector of the Holy Land.”

And may the Father bless you, Knights of the Holy Order.

Lothar looked at Heberland's back with a sneer on his face.

The Hungarians brought in the help of the Teutonic Knights to fight against the Cumans. The cooperation between the two parties soon broke down when the Teutonic Knights wanted to establish a state within a state in Hungary.

The Poles introduced the Teutonic Knights in order to deal with the pagans, but they also lured wolves into the house. This was how the Teutonic Knights Kingdom and later the Kingdom of Prussia came into being.

The phrase no troubles comes from the three countries that divided Poland: Prussia, Austria, and Russia.

Although the current size and military strength of the Teutonic Knights are higher than those of the Order of Saint Lazarus, that is because the latter was established too late.

Give it time.

Lothar believed that the Redemption Order of Saint Lazarus would be no worse than the Teutonic Knights.