Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Syria, Holmes Front, Crusader Camp.

The three leaders of the military council gathered once more for a meeting.

This time, their main focus was on how to deal with the Germanic Crusaders who had recently landed in Tripoli, along with their leader, Leopold Duke of Austria.

"Babenberg’s Leopold? How many men did he bring? Forgive me for being blunt, but three voices in the military council are already too many; I’d prefer not to add another."

Richard sneered slightly, never having considered the combat strength of the Germanic people.

Raymond felt the same way, but wouldn’t display it outwardly. Without much emphasis, he said, "Leopold Duke is here as Emperor Henry’s representative, and the German nobles in the army will naturally lean towards him. I’m afraid he won’t agree unless given sufficient speaking rights."

Richard sneered contemptuously, "Let him leave if he doesn’t agree. We don’t need them here at all."

In his view, the Ayyubid Dynasty was hardly even half crippled, almost on the brink of burial, and there wasn’t any need for more people to divide up the spoils.

"Ha, the Teutons were the last to set out, yet they arrived faster than your kingdom’s army, which has always been the most eager for the Crusades," Philip taunted.

Now, the Crusaders from Gaul, and Provence, namely lower Burgundy, had already arrived many days ago, leaving only Richard’s army still adrift at sea.

Unable to resist, Richard retorted sarcastically, "My valiant warriors have already defeated the Moors in Portugal before coming here, proving their strength, while your army has yet to accomplish anything."

Raymond coughed softly, "Your Majesties, now is not the time for arguing, we..."

He actually wanted to reach an internal consensus, jointly ostracize Leopold, and preferably drive away these Germanic Crusaders.

At this moment, a messenger barged in hastily.

This strangely familiar scene left the three momentarily frozen.

"Lords, Your Majesties, we’ve just received news from Jerusalem that His Majesty Baldwin has prematurely abdicated, and His Majesty Losa of Egypt has been crowned as the new King of Jerusalem."

"How could he!"

Raymond was shocked and angry, "This is completely illegal!"

Richard’s face stiffened slightly. He originally had aspirations to claim the throne of Jerusalem, thus uniting it with the newly conquered Syrian territories to divide the Ayyubid with Losa.

With the prosperity of Syria and Jerusalem, he could completely raise a stronger army, launch an unending holy war at the frontline against the heretics, and even harbored an ambition to bring the entire Crescent Fertile Land under his rule.

Now, with the throne of Jerusalem gone, should he remain in the Holy Land as a Marquis of Holmes or a Duke of Damascus?

Philip raised his eyelids, his expression somewhat grim.

While he never intended to abandon the throne of Gaul to stay in the Holy Land, he had considered taking one or two strategic cities like Damascus as overseas territories, installing relatives to mimic the Saracens by assuming governorships.

With Losa’s example set, he even planned to establish a caravan in the future, transporting eastern treasures from the Holy Land to Gaul, selling them to local lords and clergy.

"His actions are quick indeed, Lord Raymond, didn’t you mention earlier that His Majesty Baldwin authorized the regency council to discuss the heir? Now it seems that the so-called discussion was nothing but a notification?"

Raymond’s expression grew extraordinarily grave. As the regent of Jerusalem for these years, he considered himself quite familiar with Baldwin, given their years of cooperative opposition.

Yet he never anticipated Baldwin would decisively choose to abdicate, leaving all governance of Jerusalem wholly to Losa.

If he truly wasn’t at all attached to power, why had he contested with Raymond for so many years?

The so-called Empress Faction, without Baldwin’s bias, what could they use to battle Raymond’s Noble Faction representing Jerusalem’s vast local lords? Relying on Reynard the madman of Chatillon?

"Apparently, our common adversary now is not merely Leopold."

Raymond said coldly, "Your Majesties, we must set aside differences and unite."

...

Damascus, Imperial Palace.

The Black Eunuch cautiously awakened the sleeping Saladin, handing him two unfortunate messages.

"Your Majesty, your brother Turanshah has abandoned his territory and fled across the sea to Hijaz. Also, the governor Suleim of Cyrenaica reports he is under heavy assault by the Franks and requests naval support from us."

Saladin had lately acquired more wrinkles on his face, he waved his hand, signifying he understood.

He hadn’t expected the remnants of Egypt’s forces to hold out long after Adil’s defeat, nor should he feel disappointed without such expectations.

Though the Slav slave had defected and embezzled treasures originally meant to bribe Sassanid Dynasty governors and officials, his initial plan had essentially half succeeded.

Now, the call for jihad within the Sassanid territories, supporting fellow Muslim brethren, reclaiming Jerusalem, was gaining ground.

Every day, Ghazi warriors from various regions entered Ayyubid’s borders.

However, hoping to rely on sheer numbers to resist the crusaders’ military prowess was clearly a delusion.

The Crusaders were currently assaulting Holmes, a crucial juncture in Ayyubid Dynasty’s present territory. If the Crusaders broke through here, they could advance north to Aleppo, south to Damascus.

Both locations were Saladin’s heartlands. Losing Egypt had already grieved him deeply, losing either of these two would mean the complete downfall of the Ayyubid Dynasty he had established.

"Fortunately, Losa the greedy jackal became too stuffed by swallowing Egypt. Now, the enemy consists only of two Frankish kings and that old dog Raymond."

Saladin sought to muster his spirits and inquired, "What does Prince Ruben of Cilicia say?"

Cilicia belongs to the Armenians who’ve always aspired to restore Greater Armenia, liberating brethren enslaved by the Turkic people. Though they are Christian, encircled by heretics, they’ve maintained good relations with Ayyubid since Antioch fell.

After all, their former suzerain, the Eastern Empire, was barely holding its own in Asia Minor, leaving Ruben Dynasty trapped by enemies: Turkic people to the north, Ayyubid holdings in Antioch, Aleppo to the east.

As a small country, Ruben Dynasty could only align with Saladin, offering tributes.

"Prince Ruben claims good relations with His Holiness the Pope of the Franks, hence reluctant to bear the guilt of attacking fellow Christians. Furthermore...as you know, the crusaders besieging Constantinople have begun hostilities with the Roman Turkic people."

Exhaling softly, Saladin realized that the Franks who’d once encircled the Holy City became isolated instead.

Just then, a servant dashed over, presenting a sealed letter.

"Your Majesty, news from the Holy City, King Baldwin has abdicated, and the despicably greedy Losa has become the new king."

In an instant, Saladin felt a wave of dizziness, nearly collapsing onto his bed.