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

Early in the morning. Outside Jerusalem.

Several connected houses, surrounded by a church, extend along the west bank of the river.

The intertwined fields are full of greenery.

Under the towering windmill, Father Edmund, who was carrying a bag of rye and wearing a shabby cassock, walked into the mill.

I need to borrow the mill.

He pointed to the bald head of his head—a testament to his status as a Catholic clergyman.

The caretaker of the mill glanced at him, squeezed out a hmm from his nose, and ignored this poor guy. He couldn't pay the mill usage fee to a priest.

As for whether this person is a liar?

The most indispensable thing in Jerusalem is this kind of ascetic monk, and the guards are already used to it.

A long while.

Edmund walked out of the mill carrying the ground flour.

He was once an ascetic from Saxony and now a member of the Order of Saint Lazarus.

His situation has not improved by joining the Order and is still very poor, which is why he is willing to join the Order of Saint Lazarus.

It is not that the Order has never received donations, but almost every donation will not last long in the hands of the Order.

Jesus said: Feed my lambs.

So Edmund, as well as the priests of the order, believed that they should distribute food to those who were hungry.

Taking into account the cost of treating pilgrims for free, the entire sect is living a very poor life.

At this time, he heard the sound of dense footsteps.

Immediately afterwards, a Black Eagle military flag slowly rose from the hillside, and gradually revealed a burly sergeant wearing a full set of chainmail behind it.

The flag-bearing attendants holding the flagpole in their hands walked at the front of the team with a proud look and regular steps.

A group of knights of the order, including men and horses, all wearing bright plate armor, followed the peasants and soldiers led by them.

The infantry formations were neatly lined up with different weapons and were almost fully armed. Edmund looked at each other with a heavy armored infantryman carrying a two-handed ax on his shoulders, and was almost staggered by the murderous look in his eyes.

Behind the team, there was the sound of horse hooves.

The Teutonic knights, wearing robes with black crosses on a white background, were surrounded by their attendants and proudly accepted the inspections of passers-by along the way.

They now each have a war horse and armor, and are looking forward to a battle to prove their worth.

Immediately afterwards, Edmund saw the familiar coat of arms again - it was the protective knight of his church.

The mill guard walked out of the mill and shouted: This is Count Lothar's army. They are going to fight again? Who will it be with this time, Saladin? Or the Persians?

My Lord Count!

The miller looked at Edmund in astonishment. This poor priest ran towards the team with expectation, and couldn't help muttering: Oh my God, does he want to beg for alms from the Earl's army?

What a bold guy.

Subsequently.

He saw a young man on horseback, surrounded by knights in the center, who looked extremely noble. He muttered something helplessly, and then took out his wallet to Edmund.

Edmund happily walked towards the mill with his money bag in his hands, waving his arms to the team and saying hello to the brothers of the cult who he might have never met before.

among the team.

Lothar complained helplessly to a guardian knight: Do I know what Uldin has taught you? When you see me here, you will run up and hug my horse's neck to beg for money?

There was a hint of embarrassment on the face of the guardian knight.

Sir, you know that the financial problems of the Order have always been very tight. Poor people are everywhere, and we cannot refuse to help them.

Hearing this, Hebland's face stiffened slightly.

In other words, their impoverished Teutonic Knights will merge with another equally impoverished Order of the Redemption of Saint Lazarus in the future, who even have to beg for money from their own lord on the street?

Hebland, who had been worrying about money since the establishment of the Knights, couldn't help but show a trace of sadness on his face.

…

At the palace meeting in Jerusalem.

The attendant whispered in Raymond's ear for a while. Although Raymond's expression remained calm, there was still murmuring in his heart.

This Lothar, whose territory is far inland, could lead such a huge armored army to conquer Cyprus?

What does he get Mazotos for?

Instead, collect commercial taxes from those moored merchant ships?

Ha, this idiot, there are so many ports in Cyprus, who would go all the way to Mazotos to anchor.

He eliminated the distracting thoughts in his mind and stared at the debate among the nobles on the court with a serious face.

The conquest of Cyprus has been unanimously approved by the Crusader princes.

Regardless, Isaac, who occupied the port of Cyprus and reached a cooperation agreement with Saladin, posed a huge threat to all Crusader merchant ships.

Isaac's misdeeds on the island of Cyprus alone, including killing priests and robbing nuns, were enough for the Christian world to criticize them verbally.

You know, Isaac is not just targeting the Orthodox Church.

However, these people disagreed again on how to deal with the island of Cyprus.

Many Crusader nobles planned to take advantage of this opportunity to occupy the magpie's nest and take the island of Cyprus as their own - this must have the support of the kingdom.

Otherwise, even if they capture some land on the island of Cyprus, they will not be able to hold it if they are weak.

You are too wanton and reckless. The island of Cyprus is a friend of the kingdom and an important territory of the empire. The Queen Regent has already paid and promised to advance military supplies for this trip, so she should not ask for more. Greed, but One of the Seven Deadly Sins!

Hmph, she throws a bone, do you want us to fight for it like mad dogs?

Everyone, listen to me. Since Saladin stopped supporting the Turkic tribes, his relationship with the Eastern Empire has been easing. We cannot push the Eastern Empire to the enemy's side.

Then we won't send troops.

If you don't get out, you won't get out!

There were quarrels and quarrels in the palace, and a group of people were arguing with each other. There was no sign of the so-called aristocratic manners.

Hans was also in the hall, listening to everyone's arguments and couldn't help but feel a little bored.

Things are clear.

There are those new landless knights who have arrived in the Holy Land, and they can't wait to expand their territory and acquire fiefdoms.

This group of people is the source of turmoil in the Holy Land, but they are now considered important supporters of Lothar's faction. The merger of the Queen Mother's Party and the Royal Party also means that they will be involved in these disputes.

For example, Baron Godfrey did not attend the court meeting at all.

enough.

A majestic male voice sounded at the palace gate.

The young prince, wearing a black dragon-head cloak, strode into the palace.

All the Crusader nobles felt afraid to look directly at him for a moment.

During this period, Lothar gained the support of the Teutonic Knights. Although this group of knights was often ridiculed by their peers as the Beggar Knights, Lothar gained the support of nearly a hundred more knights, which was a huge event.

In the minds of many nobles, Lothar was not only equal to Raymond in status, but also had to catch up with him in terms of hard power.

Your Majesty did not force any lord to participate in this battle. Since it is all voluntary, why bother to argue?

Lothar's tone was not high.

But everyone present had to listen attentively.

In this battle, I will send a thousand armored sergeants and four hundred armored cavalry to conquer the tyrant who proclaimed himself king on the island of Cyprus.

Finished.

Lothar ignored anyone present and walked out of the palace.

The nobles were left whispering for a while.

Did Count Lothar have another relationship with the empire? How long has he been in the Holy Land?

Someone said dissatisfiedly: Count Lothar is so majestic. It is said that he has the allegiance of those poor knights. Even Lord Raymond does not look down on him.

Raymond sneered: He hasn't gone far yet. Do you have the ability to catch up and tell him in front of him?

The man was suddenly speechless and did not dare to speak anymore.

Outside, an army uniformly equipped with white-based black eagle robes and white-based black cross robes was ready.

This visit to the city was both a demonstration and a show of support for the king.

His steps paused slightly, as if he noticed a certain line of sight, and subconsciously raised his head.

Baldwin IV was standing by the window, smiling gently at him.

Lothar's lips curled up.

He waved his hand upward.

It's not that he didn't know that with his move, he was standing on the opposite side of those radicals.

But he doesn't care.