CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 269: THE EXPEDITION

Early morning. Outside Jerusalem City.

Three clusters of houses, surrounding a church, sat by a small river.

Under the towering windmill, Father Edmond, wearing a worn vestment robe, carried a sack of rye into the mill.

"I need to borrow the mill."

He pointed to his bald head—this proved his identity as Catholic clergy.

The mill’s keeper glanced at him and squeezed out a "hm" from his nostrils, ignoring this poor man, as he couldn’t charge clergy for using the mill.

After a while.

Edmond carried the ground flour out of the mill.

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

His situation had not improved by joining the order, still very poor, which was why he joined the Saint Lazarus Order.

The order had received donations, but almost every donation didn’t stay long with them.

Jesus once said: Feed my lambs.

So Edmond and those clergy of the order believed they should distribute food to the hungry.

At this moment, he heard intense footsteps.

Soon, a Black Eagle Banner rose from the hillside, gradually revealing the brawny soldiers in full chain armor behind it.

The flagbearer, holding the flagpole, walked proudly at the front of the procession with a rhythmic pace.

Issuing an escort of commands, armored decree knights followed alongside the farmer soldiers they led.

The infantry phalanx, with varied weapons, marched in orderly formations, almost fully armed. Edmond caught eyes with a heavily armored infantryman carrying a two-handed axe and nearly staggered by the murderous look in the other’s eyes.

At the rear of the formation came the dense sound of horse hooves.

Teutonic Knights in White Cross Cloaks, surrounded by their attendants, accepted the onlookers’ gazes with pride.

Now each of them had a warhorse, armor complete; they awaited a war to prove their worth.

Then, Edmond recognized a familiar coat of arms—it was the Defender Knights of his Church.

The mill’s keeper stepped out softly sighing, "It’s Count Losa’s army, off to war again? Is it with Saladin? Or the Persians?"

"Lord Count!"

The mill’s keeper looked incredulously at Edmond, as this poor priest ran eagerly towards the procession, muttering, "God, could he be begging from the Count’s army?"

"Such a daring fellow."

Then.

He saw the young man seated in the midst of knights, appearing extraordinarily noble, whispering something in resignation before tossing a money bag to Edmond.

Joyously, Edmond clutched the money bag and headed back to the mill, waving his arms towards the convoy, greeting brothers of the order he might never have met before.

Within the procession.

Losa complained helplessly to a Defender Knight: "Can I know what Urding taught you? Seeing me and rushing to hug my horse’s neck for money?"

A trace of embarrassment flickered across the Defender Knight’s face.

"My lord, you know the order’s finances are tight, the poor are everywhere, and we cannot refuse help to them."

Hiberland’s face stiffened slightly at this.

It meant that their impoverished Teutonic Order would merge with another equally impoverished, even publicly begging Redemption Order of Saint Lazarus?

From the start of the order, Hiberland had worried about wealth, and a trace of sorrow appeared on his face.

...

In the royal palace of Jerusalem.

The attendant whispered in Raymond’s ear; although Raymond maintained a calm visage, his heart was troubled. Why would Losa, with territories deep inland, lead such a vast armored army to conquer Cyprus?

What use does he have for Mazotos?

Perhaps to levy trade taxes from docked merchant ships?

Ha, fool, with so many ports in Cyprus, who would go to Mazotos specifically to dock?

Clearing his mind, he focused sternly on the debating nobles present.

The crusader princes had unanimously endorsed the Cyprus expedition.

Isaac’s transgressions extended beyond the Orthodox Church.

For now, occupying the Cyprus ports and collaborating with Saladin, Isaac posed a great threat to all crusader merchant ships.

Isaac’s audacity in Cyprus, like killing clergy and robbing nuns, had aroused Christendom’s condemnation.

But how to handle Cyprus caused rifts among these men.

Many crusader nobles sought to seize Cyprus for themselves, an endeavor requiring the kingdom’s support.

Without it, even if they claimed some Cyprus territory, they couldn’t hold it with their weak strength.

"You’re too reckless; Cyprus is a kingdom ally, part of the Empire, and the Regent Empress has offered compensation, covering all military expenses. We shouldn’t ask for more. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins!"

"Hm, she throws a bone, and must we fight like mad dogs to snatch it?"

"Hear my words; since Saladin cut off support to Turkic tribes and relations with the Eastern Empire are improving, we shouldn’t push the Eastern Empire to the enemy’s side."

"Then we won’t send troops."

"Fine, no troops!"

In the hall, the arguments were fierce, the decorum of nobility absent.

Hans, also in the hall, listened to the argument, feeling slightly vexed.

The situation was obvious.

Again, it was those landless knights new to the Holy Land, eager to expand their domains, acquire fiefs.

This group was the source of Holy Land turmoil, yet they were an essential supporter of Losa’s faction, and the merge of the Empress Faction and King’s Faction meant getting caught in these disputes.

Just like Baron Goffrey, who didn’t attend the council at all.

"Enough."

A commanding male voice arose at the palace gate.

The young duke, wearing a Black Dragon Head Cloak, strode into the hall.

For a moment, the crusader nobles were reluctant to meet his gaze.

Recently, Losa had gained the allegiance of the Teutonic Order knights, often mocked as beggar knights by peers, but gaining nearly a hundred knights was critically significant.

In many nobles’ eyes, Losa’s stature nearly matched that of Raymond, with comparable actual strength closing in.

"His Majesty hasn’t forcibly conscripted any lord for this battle, so why argue when it’s purely voluntary?"

Losa’s tone was less loud.

But everyone present had to focus on listening.

"For this battle, I will dispatch a thousand armored soldiers, four hundred armored cavalry, to conquer the tyrant who proclaimed himself king on Cyprus Island."

After speaking.

Losa ignored everyone present, walking straight out of the hall.

Outside, an army uniformly clad in White-Black Eagle Cloaks and White Cross Cloaks was already poised for action.

His steps paused slightly, seemingly sensing a gaze, lifting his head instinctively.

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

Losa’s lips curved upward.

He waved upward.