CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 72: THE SOUTHERN ADVANCE

"May the Heavenly Father forgive them for their sins in this life, cleanse their shame, and grant them ascension to Heaven."

Losa drew a cross in front of himself.

He was not a cruel person. To armed enemies, he could be ruthless, as showing mercy to the enemy was irresponsible to his own life and those of his subordinates.

To murderers of the weak and robbers of civilians, he could just as unblinkingly sentence them to death.

But these people, in all fairness, had not committed unforgivable sins.

In his past life as a corporate slave, Losa also couldn’t guarantee he never slacked off during work hours.

Yet harsh laws and strict enforcement have always been key in controlling an army.

If Losa had no people, no soldiers, and not the unconditional trust of Baldwin IV, daring to do such things might have led to him being despised and deserted by all.

Because those executed Knights and Attendants all had their comrades and brothers in the Knight Order.

They would hate him for it, even seek opportunities to assassinate him, blaming it on the Assassins in retaliation.

Yet he had his Personal Soldiers; unless the entire Royal Knight Order united to openly rebel, there was nothing they could do to Losa.

After strict enforcement must come mollification.

Knights, after all, are like a quasi-noble class, equivalent to the officers of an army; they cannot be oppressed constantly; one must balance authority with benevolence.

This approach is much more effective than simply exerting pressure, or handing out favors like Count Philip.

Small favors alone can never win a military’s gratitude, let alone their unwavering loyalty and willing obedience.

Even in the past, if an aloof goddess suddenly smiled at you, it’s much more surprising than when she always greets you with a smile.

Losa’s combination of authority and benevolence was actually quite simple: money.

No matter how high one’s morals, they must bow to wealth.

The Knights ceaselessly crossing the sea from the West, what were they truly after but wealth and fiefs?

Losa witnessed the execution’s end and turned to leave.

Count Philip squeezed out from the crowd, gritting his teeth: "Baron Losa, they never expected someone would attack the Crown Prince, yet you took their lives!"

Losa looked down at him coldly and said,

"Count Philip, you have been acquitted, but do know, this was a compromise without the Grand Council’s judgment, an unjust process. I have the right to arrest you again at any time."

Count Philip laughed bitterly: "Ha, even with a judgment, my outcome wouldn’t be worse than this."

"Oh, really?"

Losa chuckled softly: "Sir Philip, how many men do you have left now?"

"Of those in the Noble Faction or the Queen’s Faction who once allied with you, how much value do you still hold for them? Is it truly enough for them to leverage their influence to preserve your rank and life?"

Philip was momentarily stunned; nobles are practical people. In the Holy Land, without many relatives or brothers, who would speak for him without profit?

Losa respectfully said, "My Lord Count, do you know where you went wrong?"

Philip looked bewildered.

"The Royal Knight Order only allows for the existence of the King’s Faction."

Watching Losa’s departing figure, Count Philip’s expression turned ashen. He told his servant, "Let’s go, we’re returning to our fief in Saxony."

"My Lord, are we just leaving like this? We can’t take anything back, and the money His Majesty the King rewarded you with has long been squandered away."

"Indeed, we’re going back full of humiliation and penniless!"

He gritted his teeth: "But someday, I will return, as the uncle of the Duke of Saxony. The Welf Family shall build an unbreakable nation here, like Godfrey of Bouillon and Bohemond of Taranto!"

He whipped his horse, shouting, "Giddy up!"

He reluctantly admitted the evil thought that just crossed his mind, that Jerusalem was lost in the hands of these people, and he would return with his nephew, known as ’The Lion’, to reclaim the city and become the savior of the entire Christendom!

...

In the council chamber.

Count Reynard’s powerful voice echoed through the chamber: "This is a despicable murder, damn Saracens, they’ve finally torn off their disguise and revealed their hideous true selves!"

This former Duke of Antioch, with a deep-seated hatred for heretics, clenched his fists: "War, we need war. The feeble Greeks have colluded with Saladin, Western kings are still vying for power in the Apennines; no one will come to our aid, and no one is a truly reliable ally!"

"For the honor of Knights and the will of God, we shall take the initiative to wage war against the Saracens; our army will be like a holy spear, piercing the enemy’s heart!"

Count Reynard’s passionate speech was met with thunderous applause.

Saracens were also a collective term for the Fire Worshippers, regardless of them being Persians, Kurds, or Egyptians.

Just as Franks was a collective term for the Gauls, Germanics, Angles, and other Western European peoples.

Declaring the evil of heretics and extolling knightly honor and courage was politically correct in this era.

Although Losa thought, anyone would know it was unwise to venture out under the scorching sun to fight the massive heretic army from the Crusaders’ expertly built fortresses.

But that did not stop them from saying so.

And branding anyone who suggested holding the fortress and letting Saladin’s army plunder the villages a coward and a heretic-collaborating traitor.

Thus, Losa swallowed back the "scorched earth defense" plan he originally intended to propose.

Considering it, one would know these foolish, short-sighted nobles could never have the resolve to make such a decision.

So Losa became a silent, wooden figure in this Grand Council.

He merely contemplated that Safudin leading his army south seemed to favor King Salah and Abdullah stirring up trouble in the North.

At this moment, someone rushed into the chamber, dust-covered, shouting: "Lord Tiberias, the Syrian Governor Safudin, with tens of thousands of troops, has already broken through Akas and Rogge Castle, and is marching toward Tripoli."

Count Raymond’s complexion slightly changed.

The whole chamber buzzed with noise.

In the northern Kingdom of Jerusalem, almost all were the territories of Count Raymond and the vassals under his command.

Without the Regent King’s position, he remained Lord of the County of Tripoli, but losing Tripoli’s land might mean losing the regency.

Not everyone was as lucky as Count Reynard, losing the title of Duke of Antioch yet managing to become Count of Transjordan through marriage.

Many in the Empress Faction secretly hoped the Count of Tripoli would take his followers northward to resist the enemy invasion.

Thus, Jerusalem would belong solely to them.

"That is merely a diversion."

"The Saracens’ navy is no match for the Knight Orders and Tripoli’s fleet; even if they besiege Tripoli, they cannot breach this stronghold in the short term."

Regent King Raymond spoke with calmness: "Saladin’s true target is ever Jerusalem; only two routes stand to annex the Holy Land."

"Egypt and Transjordan, not southward."

For the former, Baron Godfrey’s territory would be the first line; for the latter, Count Reynard’s lands would be the first barrier.

The Holy Land’s climate dictates the time an army can venture far afield.

For Saladin to attack from the north, he would encounter too many strong fortress fortresses to unseat; it is clearly illogical.

Nonetheless, Losa felt a tinge of admiration, acknowledging this Count Raymond was no fool, staying composed even when attacks threatened his life’s foundation and isn’t something anyone can achieve.

Count Reynard shouted, "Then all the more reason to seize this opportunity to annihilate this enemy force; in the north, near Hospital Knights’ Acre City and the Templar Order’s Knight Castle, we can quickly assemble an elite force of five hundred heavy cavalry, ensuring these heretics never return!"

"Yes, to war!"

The cries rose among the people.

Even among Raymond’s Noble Faction, many believed they should engage.

Particularly the Lords of Akas and Rogge Castle clamored to reclaim their fiefdoms immediately.

Count Raymond was silent for a moment. He then said, "I must seek His Majesty’s counsel; if he permits us to march north to counter the enemy, we shall mobilize our forces."

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