Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

The relationship between Losa and Reynard as monarch and minister is quite subtle.

The latter neither comes to pay homage nor sends vassal taxes, merely acknowledging Losa's position as superior lord in words, and Losa seems not to fuss about it.

Both tacitly accept the current situation, neither willing to change it.

But Losa is determined to rescue Reynard's fiancée.

Because this is a great opportunity for Losa to enhance his prestige, gain political repute, and reclaim de jure territory.

How can a monarch win the support of vassals?

Merely being powerful isn't enough; one also has to be capable of resolving matters for the little brothers.

In the eyes of many vassals, although Losa possesses talent in commanding troops, his power as a feudal lord is weak, far inferior to the elder Count Reynard.

Speaking strictly of the Earl's Domain in Transjordan, Count Losa's strength even ranks below Argon Baron of Petra, taking the third place.

Even though the vassals superficially pledge allegiance to Losa, having a certain fondness for him, it is far from being true loyalty.

Otherwise, Zain Aladdin wouldn't dare to first levy heavy taxes on the merchant fleet passing through the New Habsburg trade route, severing the route, then send troops deep into Transjordan to abduct Reynard's fiancée.

This is an act of provocation, disregarding Losa.

He is confident that the fragmented Earl's Domain of Transjordan cannot be consolidated by Losa to counter him.

Jeanne's face was flushed, yet her gaze was very clear; such level of alcohol could not intoxicate her.

She turned the bottle upside down, drained the last sip, and spoke: "My lord, I know you have always wanted to reclaim Eira Port. But I must remind you, there are no Crusader fleets in the Red Sea, and the heretics can launch attacks on Eira Port at any time aboard their warships."

Losa frowned: "Indeed, facing a Red Sea entirely controlled by Fire Worshippers, taking Eira Port is easy, holding it is not."

He paused slightly: "However, one cannot avoid eating because of the fear of choking."

"Eira Port is the trade hub connecting the Red Sea to the Kingdom of Jerusalem; occupying this port can provide me with substantial trade tax, and it is also one of the key nodes maintaining the New Habsburg trade route."

"Even if daily harassed by Saracen pirates, I must hold it."

Jeanne sighed lightly: "And after capturing there, how to govern is also a problem."

"Leave it to Kurs."

Jeanne was slightly stunned, sighed: "That indeed is a talent adept at enchanting people."

"The navy certainly needs to be established, but the remaining funds in the treasury are ample for forming a merchant fleet, yet fall far short of building a galley fleet for coastal warfare."

Ayyubid is precisely due to its navy's weakness compared to the Crusader fleet, failing to make progress in several sieges of Tripoli.

Once, Norwegian raiders even attacked and plundered the coastal areas of Fatimid Egypt aboard warships, leaving them helpless.

"Talking about capturing Eira Port now is indeed premature; in any case, this opportunity must not be missed, at least recapturing Alandler City."

Losa stood up, solemnly addressed Jeanne:

"Jeanne, I do not doubt you will bring me victory, but victory must be grand, resounding, to showcase my strength."

Jeanne untypically assumed a serious demeanor: "I will."

"Just like we did before?"

Jeanne raised her head, a trace of reminiscence surfacing in her light green eyes.

After a long while, her lips curled slightly: "Indeed, just like we did before, My lord, we, your subjects, will surely bring you victory."

...

The entire Hebron entered a fervent phase of war preparation.

The City Guard Army loaded siege equipment onto carts, recruiting mules, Bactrian camels, carts and the like as means of transport—Dromedaries are more suitable for riding and are actually inferior to Bactrian camels as pack animals.

The news of rekindled warfare spread like wildfire, engulfing the whole of Transjordan.

During these ten days, Losa merely conferred six Imperial Cavalries.

The remaining four positions were saved by Losa for future bestowing upon meritorious individuals.

After experiencing losses in previous battles, the Winged Cavalry is now gathered at thirty-six members, while the Varangian Guard, due to minimal losses, is gathered at fifty members.

Yet twenty or so members of the Varangian Guard are required respectively to guard the blacksmith shop and the printing workshop.

Originally, only the blacksmith shop had this treatment.

But the popularity of Gwent Cards allowed the printing workshop to successfully become one of the most lucrative industries under Losa's command.

Moreover, woodcut printing can not only be used for printing books but also applied to dyeing on cloth fabrics, and if leaked, the loss is tremendous.

So for this battle, counting the one hundred veteran soldiers retained, Losa could bring along only one hundred and fifty elite standing troops.

In field battles, Losa is confident of easily defeating ten times the enemy, but for a frontal attack on a castle, this is far from sufficient.

Therefore, for this battle, Losa still intends to employ surprise tactics.

Yet, he still needed to appear as if planning a grand assault.

Besides the one hundred and fifty elite standing troops, the streamlined city defense army also numbers two hundred, considered armored elite soldiers of this era.

Losa planned to leave only a hundred of the two hundred men to garrison Hebron, while the remaining hundred would all join the military expedition.

In addition, there were the farmer soldiers summoned by the Imperial Cavalry. Although they had undergone only a brief queue training, Losa brought them along, merely intending to make a show of it.

He could not afford the losses of a strong assault on a city at this moment.

...

In the afternoon.

Losa was in the Lord's Hall, discussing strategy for breaching the city with Jeanne.

"Sir!"

Hans, along with more than ten soldiers wearing red and white cloaks, strode into the Lord's Hall.

He had issued the summoning decree, and Hans, who was serving in Jerusalem, naturally had to rush back.

Losa stood up and patted Hans on the shoulder: "Who are these?"

"Sir, you have seen them before; they are the warriors who once fought the Demon with me, members of the Royal Knight Order, who fought alongside you in bloody battles against the Heretics."

Losa certainly recognized them. He had even deliberately brought Furinjira to give them an "enchantment", but it now appeared he had judged them with suspicion.

Because of a mere "enchantment," at most, it made the knights appreciate Hans's kindness and refrain from reporting him to the Church, rather than becoming Hans's close friends.

However, Losa did not regret it.

Better to be safe than sorry. If Hans's werewolf identity were exposed in the power-dominated Middle Ages, his only way out would be to feign death and escape.

Along with this, Losa's reputation would suffer a heavy blow.

Because werewolves in this world, as they grow older, will inevitably be completely consumed by their animal instincts someday.

Could someone who had personally slain a werewolf and a giant dragon not recognize Hans's identity?

At that point, some nobles who had long disliked Losa might stir up such conspiracy theories.

"I certainly know who you are, Alexandres, Adrian, Adolf, and Joseph... I can call out each of your names," Losa said with a radiant smile on his face. "Don't forget, I am the Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order."

The knights and soldiers who had been named immediately displayed expressions of pleasant surprise.

"Sir, it's amazing that you still remember our names."

"Of course, you are all excellent warriors. What I want to know is your purpose for coming here?"

They spoke up one after another: "Sir, we wish to swear loyalty to you and fight together against the Heretics."

"We long to continue fighting under your leadership, achieving merits, rather than remaining idle all day in Jerusalem."

Losa nodded and said, "To gain your loyalty is my honor."

He drew the longsword from its sheath.

The knights knelt to the ground, performing the ritual of swearing allegiance.

Losa had no intention to promote them for now; he needed to see their performance in this battle first.

The Imperial Knights required the plate armor produced by the Blacksmith Workshop and the lands Losa would grant them to manage, which weren't given lightly.

"You should know me well; as long as you make merits in battle, I would not hesitate to bestow a knight's title and fief."

The enfeoffment ceremony was completed.

A knight showed a hesitant expression on his face.

Losa spoke, "Alexandres, do you have a request?"

"Sir, if we make achievements in this battle, could you reward me with one of your Gwent cards?"

Alexandres showed an embarrassed look: "Sorry, sir, I know it's very abrupt."

Losa said with interest: "It's okay, if you achieve enough merits, I naturally won't hesitate with such a small request."

Everyone immediately showed expressions of delight.

After seeing them off,

Hans said somewhat apologetically: "Sir, you probably don't know how popular Gwent has become in Jerusalem during this time."

Losa couldn't help but laugh: "Indeed, seeing the account book presented by Kurs, it's hard to imagine a knight making such a request while swearing allegiance to me."

By the evening, the army was already prepared.

Kurs also returned from Jerusalem.

"Kurs, you and Andreas, during this time, stay behind in the castle of Hebron. It's highly likely that the remnants of the local powerful families will seize the opportunity to cause trouble."

"This is also their last chance."

"Model, you take people to guard the food and supplies. We will set out for New Habsburg tomorrow morning."

Losa commanded.