Chapter 924 - 147: The Situation on the Syrian Front
Losa doesn’t think Rudolf lacks courage.
After all, someone who fears not even death can hardly be called cowardly.
Honestly, Losa doubts if he has the ability to pull a person suffering from severe depression out of despair. Even with advanced medicine in later generations, there aren’t many good methods for treating depression.
If he were present himself, it might be straightforward, dealing with things forcefully, but now he can only rely on his words.
"Prince Rudolf, I do not intend to influence your choice to end your life, but I must remind you that life is a gift from God. As the Crown Prince of Austria and Germany, favored by God, even if you don’t consider repaying this grace, and prefer to bear the sin of falling into the Fire Prison to end your life, why drag Lady Mary with you?"
Rudolf’s expression was conflicted: "I..."
"This is the path I’ve chosen, I won’t regret it!"
Baroness Mary stated firmly: "I don’t know who you are, whether you’re His Majesty the Emperor’s envoy or a guardian of the gardens, but I ask you to respect our choice and leave this place."
Losa sighed lightly: "You may call me Losa, captain of Yesterday’s Giant Ship. I have no intention to separate you two, and am here merely to offer you an alternative choice—if you seek to lay down all burdens and escape the suffering before you, I have a much better place awaiting you."
"Yesterday’s Giant Ship? Such an unfamiliar name."
The large eyes of Baroness Mary were filled with confusion. Although she came from a wealthy noble family, compared to the Imperial Family, she was essentially just a country bumpkin, never having heard of any "Tower of Babel" legend.
"Tower of Babel!"
Rudolf seemed to have thought of something and emphasized his inquiry: "Will you take us away from this world?"
"To be precise, it’s recruiting you two as travelers of time."
Losa’s tone was serene: "You may refuse, and I won’t interfere with your choice, but as far as I know, Hell and Heaven do exist in this world. My... first mate was once a gatekeeper in Hell."
Rudolf’s expression shifted slightly, and he nodded decisively: "I agree with you... Captain."
...
Losa couldn’t enjoy a few leisurely days in Alexandria before deciding to set off with the Crusaders towards Jerusalem.
The reason was simple, King Baldwin was urging Losa to meet with him again.
There was a palpable sense of "this damn kingship is something I don’t want any longer."
The throne of Jerusalem indeed offers little appeal; the local vassals are strong, while the central authority is weak. The output from directly controlled royal estates and lands, supporting the armed Royal Knight Order, does not even compare to the private soldiers and attendants under Duke Raymond’s command.
However, the Kingdom of Jerusalem remains Losa’s current "legal territory." Controlling this place gives him the foundation to bring Jerusalem, and in the future, Aleppo, and the fallen Antioch, and Damascus under his rule.
At this moment, hundreds of miles away at Knight Castle.
The castle has now become a giant military camp.
In the banquet hall of the castle’s reception hall, the hall was brightly lit. The massive chandelier hanging overhead illuminated the entire room as if it were daylight.
The original Egyptian Crusaders, apart from those who have defected to Losa’s command, the rest under Richard the Lionheart and King Philip of Gaul, have all gathered here.
Along their march, they were joined by not a few feudal lords and their knights, private soldiers, and many cities voluntarily dispatched militias to join their ranks, counting in the army summoned here by Raymond and his vassals, totaling a staggering thirty thousand strong.
Facing them was the frontier fortress heavily guarded by the Saracens.
Days of siege had left both sides with heavy casualties, but the loss of the Egyptian granary, Alexandria’s money bags, and the trusted Saladin’s army have been totally put at a disadvantage.
In the reception hall, the lords and nobles of notable status among the Crusaders gathered here, drinks, and delicacies were carried by attendants in a continuous flow into the hall.
Richard the Lionheart wrapped roasted meat, flavored with caraway and other spices, into flatbread and stuffed it into his mouth, dining heartily.
Beside him, Philip couldn’t help but mock: "Eating like that is too inelegant."
He said, raising a knife and fork, gracefully slicing the food on his plate: "It should be done like this..."
Richard sneered: "Haha, you must have learned that from Losa’s court, superficial and useless. I wish he would manage the foundries on his estates better and provide more arms for my troops."
Duke Raymond cleared his throat: "Since almost everyone is here, let’s begin."
"Gentlemen, Saladin’s minions are increasingly demoralized, victory is close at hand, but I noticed recently, many of our devout knights and nobles are no longer focusing their minds on the battlefield."
"They are privately forming alliances, making pacts, even riding warhorses to shuttle around the outskirts of the city, partitioning lands, estates, and castles, speaking solely of themselves, with a certainty of ownership."
Raymond paused slightly, as a member of the Toulouse Family.
"There’s also another matter, the Jewish community in the city has extended an olive branch to us, claiming that if we accept their requests,"
"We cannot agree to them!" "The Jewish people have betrayed Jesus Christ, acting as minions of heretics,"
"We should emulate His Majesty Losa’s actions in Egypt. They can provide us with military funds, arms, even militia; we have no reason to reject such support."
"Gentlemen, before launching the attack on Saladin’s minions, we need to consider another major issue."
Raymond’s expression was very serious, having served as Regent King of Jerusalem for many years,
Raymond paused slightly, as a member of the Toulouse Family.
"There’s also another matter, the Jewish community in the city has extended an olive branch to us, claiming that if we accept their requests,"
"We cannot agree to them!" "The Jewish people have betrayed Jesus Christ, acting as minions of heretics,"
"We should emulate His Majesty Losa’s actions in Egypt. They can provide us with military funds, arms, even militia; we have no reason to reject such support."
"Gentlemen, before launching the attack on Saladin’s minions, we need to consider another major issue."
Raymond’s expression was very serious, having served as Regent King of Jerusalem for many years,
Raymond paused slightly, as a member of the Toulouse Family.
"There’s also another matter, the Jewish community in the city has extended an olive branch to us, claiming that if we accept their requests,"
"We cannot agree to them!" "The Jewish people have betrayed Jesus Christ, acting as minions of heretics,"
"We should emulate His Majesty Losa’s actions in Egypt. They can provide us with military funds, arms, even militia; we have no reason to reject such support."
"Gentlemen, before launching the attack on Saladin’s minions, we need to consider another major issue."
Raymond’s expression was very serious, having served as Regent King of Jerusalem for many years,