Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

The sky was clear.

The sun was blazing.

Camels' bells jingled.

Losa and his party were traveling with a group of Kurdish merchants.

The leader of the caravan was conversing with Losa in Kurdish. His Kurdish was so well-practiced that their communication was fluent and unobstructed.

Strong spiritual power leads to strong learning ability.

"Old Hassan, how did a dignified chief like you become the leader of a caravan?"

Old Hassan's dark face showed a hint of helplessness: "Rauf wants us to deliver fifty pack horses, fifty camels this year, and we also need to supply thirty young men equipped with bows and arrows."

"Our tribe is too small to bear such heavy taxes, so we can only hope to earn enough from this trip to buy slaves and pack animals."

Losa frowned and said, "Why not think of moving away?"

Nomadic tribes, if they cannot bear the heavy taxes, might as well move their whole community. Why continue to work for Rauf like a dog?

"We want to leave, but where would we go?"

Old Hassan's face was gloomy: "To the north is the Hul Desert, a land of death; to the west, there are the Crusader demons... I don't mean you, some Franks are good, but that butcher Losa is undoubtedly a villain."

"Butcher Losa?"

Losa's expression slightly changed.

Jeanne almost couldn't hold back her laughter.

Losa explained: "Where did you hear about Butcher Losa? As far as I know, Count Losa is a kind lord to the lower-class commoners. Even heretics receive better treatment there than you do now."

Old Hassan showed a dubious expression: "I heard it from the imam, he certainly wouldn't deceive us."

"Alright."

Losa didn't say anything more. He just said, "Old Hassan, since you are leading the caravan into the Crusaders' territories to do business, you might as well see it with your own eyes. See whether I'm lying, or if your imam has deceived you."

Old Hassan was silent for a moment, then said, "I will have a look."

But when he looked at Losa, it was clear there was a hint of caution in his eyes.

Losa knew that it was no longer convenient for the two parties to travel together, so after saying goodbye to Old Hassan, they parted ways at the fork in the road.

…

Old Hassan watched as Losa's silhouette faded into the distance, and then suddenly said, "Let's take the small road."

He wasn't lying. The salt, cheese, and cured meat transported by the caravan were the most important goods of their tribe.

If they couldn't sell at a good price, and couldn't gather enough slaves and pack animals, they would have to send more young men from the tribe to serve under that tyrannical lord, Rauf.

For the sake of the tribe.

He had to be cautious.

…

Losa and his party continued on their way.

Chelina took out a chocolate bar and handed it to Losa.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing... My lord, do you need me to deal with the enemy's leader for you?"

Chelina hesitated but still spoke.

Losa was slightly taken aback, then shook his head.

"No need."

"If Rauf dies, his territory will instantly fall into chaos and become leaderless. At that time, it would only be divided and devoured by the surrounding neighbors."

Riding her Akhal-Teke horse, Jeanne frowned and said, "Keeping him is like keeping a piece of fat meat close to the mouth, right?"

"Correct."

Seeing Jeanne's face not looking so good.

Losa knew she was recalling the border people who had been impaled to death in the past.

Even though she usually seemed unhinged, deep down, she was still someone who loathed evil.

"Don't worry, I won't let him go."

"Zane may be forgiven."

"But Rauf must die. Just not now."

Through Vodich, Tebuk, in just two days.

Losa could already see in the distance the Crusader banner flying over Ma'an Castle, and Baron Isaac's black-gold lion crest.

Furinjira let out a long breath: "Finally going home."

"Chelina, if you were to lead troops against the enemy, what would you do?"

"Me?"

Chelina seemed perplexed.

"Having come this far, you should have a certain understanding of the terrain and climate here."

"Faced with drought, thirst, blazing sun, highly poisonous scorpions and snakes, poor logistics, and the enemy having geographical advantages, what would you do?"

Chelina was silent for a moment, feeling that becoming a commander of troops was too challenging for her at the moment.

Especially with Jeanne being such a paragon.

She tentatively spoke: "I would try to assassinate the enemy's leader, use swords to coerce them to provide supplies, hostages, and warriors for my troops."

"Rauf's rule is far less stable than it appears. Take Old Hassan, for example; many of the tribal chiefs in the chiefdoms may not necessarily want to submit to him."

"I think using this method to divide and conquer them might work."

After she finished speaking, she nervously looked at Losa.

"Very good."

Losa restrained his amusement and looked at Jeanne: "Tell us your thoughts."

Jeanne said, "Miss Chelina's approach is quite reasonable but overlooks one crucial point: the reputation of the lord."

"Rauf is smart in this regard; he stands with the clergy of the Fire Worship, diverting attention from the issue, and easily tarnishes the lord's reputation."

"Perhaps, Rauf's rule hasn't collapsed yet, partly thanks to the lord's assistance."

Losa said helplessly, "Chelina, do you understand what's the issue? As a military officer, you need to consider more comprehensively."

Chelina pondered, "I understand."

"Speaking of which, I thought my reputation wasn't that bad. At least among the lower-class Saracen commoners, it should be quite good."

Losa said self-mockingly.

But how much voice do the commoners he had bought really have?

The Crusaders' repeated massacres of heretics in the Holy Land had already established the image of the demon bearing the cross in people's hearts.

Even if someone knew the truth, who would they prefer to believe, him or the imam of the Fire Worship's Holy Hall?

"My lord, do you regret it?"

"Regret what?"

Losa was a bit puzzled, then realized: "You mean abolishing the entrenched tax farming system?"

"Of course not."

"The local chiefs of those heretics hold the power to speak, but if we don't take from them, should we take money from the peasant slaves and freemen who already have so little money?"

Losa snorted coldly: "And those clergy, you know how much land and money a temple holds. I've even thought of suppressing the churches of the Public Church, let alone them."

Jeanne's face was filled with a smile: "My lord, you have chosen a more difficult path."

Losa smiled: "I am stubborn. If not, I would already be the Regent King of Jerusalem or a general of the barbarian tribe in the Eastern Empire, trying to get close to the Empress and ascend in one step."