Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 304 - 267: Preparing for Battle

In the residence at Hebron.

Dust-covered, Jeanne returned to the courtyard, intending to rest for a while. She couldn’t help but frown: "So, the number of troops for this expedition has increased from one thousand to fourteen hundred?"

"That’s right. The additional four hundred include three hundred members of the Knight Brotherhood and one hundred Defender Knights from the Saint Lazarus Redemption Order."

Now Losa’s territory has entered the right track, with town militias maintaining order in each city.

Including the forces Losa left behind, for the Transjordan Border Territory to defend its original territory without external wars is still quite easy.

Even if enemies come to attack, one can summon the armies of subordinate lords.

Therefore, there’s no need to worry that taking so much force away would leave the territory vulnerable.

Jeanne expressed some dissatisfaction: "With these additional four hundred knights, should I prepare at least four hundred attendants to serve their daily needs?"

Losa comforted: "Don’t worry, there are only about a hundred official knights in the Knight Brotherhood; the rest are attendants who will handle logistics themselves."

Jeanne rubbed her temples: "Send Miss Chelina to assist me, usually I can’t be bothered with such trivial tasks."

It’s said that war isn’t about the grandeur of horse riding and slashing.

War is about waiting, about endless marching, and waiting for the next meal to be rationed into one’s hands.

So, even though the summoning decree hasn’t been delivered to Losa, he is already busy preparing the army and logistics.

"Alright."

"Sir, I must remind you, our financial situation is already severe, unless you’re willing to collect taxes in advance for next year, or impose an additional shield tax, otherwise we have to borrow from the Templar Order’s bank."

"No worries, Anna has promised to reimburse the military expenses for this campaign. The Eastern Empire, despite its decay, is still a magnificent behemoth, and they are quite wealthy."

Losa spoke lightly.

With so many new residents settling in, levying taxes in advance or additionally would severely damage his reputation and prestige. He would rather take a loan from the Templar Order than consider raising taxes.

"In any case, don’t worry about financial issues; maybe tonight, Captain Hog will dock at Eira Port with a ship full of treasures."

...

In the evening.

Northwest of Hebron City in the outskirts.

Outside a church freshly painted.

Knights and monks dressed in white cross cloaks hurriedly set up camp.

This church is unlike the one outside Alandler; it’s seemingly a fortress-sized monastery that can accommodate an entire army station.

Hiberland gazed at the distant oak forest and softly said: "It’s said these oaks were planted by Abraham himself."

Beside him, several knights exclaimed: "Hebron, a city of miracles, an exquisite city, if only there weren’t so many heretics here."

"Indeed, I also think the Grand Master is too kind to those despicable Jews and Saracens."

Hiberland frowned: "It’s none of our business; know your place, my comrades."

The knights fell silent momentarily before someone said, "Hiberland, Bruno is quite angry about merging with the Saint Lazarus Order."

"If united, both sides benefit. The Knight Order will head to decline if this continues. He merely thinks we should merge with the Hospital Knight Order."

Hiberland’s face showed a cold smile: "But merging with the Hospital Knight Order would mean we’re still marginalized. Bruno thinks those Gaul knights would treat us equally?"

There’s another thought Hiberland didn’t express, yet everyone understood.

Merging with the Hospital Knight Order, those with exceptional status would be cast into the dust.

Suddenly someone shouted: "Look over there!"

In the distance, smoke rose in billows.

A large convoy moved slowly toward them.

At the front of the convoy, the high-hanging Black Eagle Banner immediately signified the identity of the approaching party to Hiberland and others.

"Is it the Grand Master’s men?"

"Has he prepared supplies for us so quickly?"

The Teutonic Order numbers in the thousands, not counting guards stationed in fiefdoms like Acre, though more than half are monks who don’t require equipment and warhorses.

Feeding and maintaining so many people isn’t easily accomplished.

Soon, the convoy entered the camp.

The Teutonic Order members looked at the fully armed soldiers escorting the convoy with envy.

Knight Andreas riding a tall and robust warhorse greeted Hiberland.

Then, calling the soldiers, he laid ten sets of plate armor of varying sizes before the crowd.

"My lord has said that as members of the Great Knights Council, you should differentiate your identity from the other knights through your armor, which is exclusively yours."

The great knights transformed into Imperial Knights found their breaths involuntarily growing heavy.

Someone even reached out to touch the smooth plate armor that could reflect a face, as if caressing a lover in a dream.

A good armor on the battlefield is life-saving.

In this era, many knights have had the experience of being shot by dozens of arrows yet still fighting on the front lines, but none of such knights were poor.

Hiberland forcibly suppressed the throbbing in his heart and asked, "Knight Andreas, what about the equipment for the others?"

Andreas explained: "It is still being prepared. The armory in Hebron has long been emptied, but the armories in Eira Port and Philorn still have quite a bit of confiscated armor, which only needs slight modification and can be transported over."

"I understand."

Andreas smiled and said, "Do not worry, my lord, as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, assures you that before setting out, each Monastic Knight will receive a chain armor shirt and a barrel helmet, each attendant will receive a scale, Zha Armor. Besides, fifty warhorses and two hundred pack horses will be allocated to you."

"Thank the Grand Master for his generosity."

Hiberland hurriedly said.

The Teutonic Order is not without any weapons and equipment, but severely lacks armor and warhorses.

Once these equipments are in place, the combat capability of the Teutonic Order could at least double.

Andreas smiled and said: "Commander Hiberland, have your people check the quantity of supplies for errors, and if confirmed correct, come over and sign."

So straightforward?

Hiberland couldn’t help but gain a new understanding of Losa’s subordinates’ working attitude.

...

Evening.

Candlelight flickered in Losa’s room.

He held a quill, dipped it in ink, recording the knowledge Anna explained on a stack of white papers.

Soon, one spell model after another was computed by him through the magic knowledge, comparing them with the spell models in the magic book, there was not much difference.

Anna said with satisfaction: "Not bad, after all, as someone who once stood at the mountain peak, this learning speed is vastly different from those foolish wizard apprentices."

"After the lesson, you can start trying to cast the Fireball Technique. Although the systems are different, with your foundation, one day should be enough for you to master this Fireball Technique."

"Tomorrow evening, I’ll check your progress."

Losa nodded and said: "No problem."

"Then good night, Losa."

"Good night, Lady Anna."

After hanging up the communication.

Losa snapped his fingers.

A cluster of flame immediately sprang from his fingertip. After completing the King of Volcanoes milestone, his affinity with fire elements was astonishing. Knowing the principle of the Fireball Technique made casting this spell effortlessly.

However, being able to cast it is different from unleashing the Fireball Technique’s maximum power.

The same spell model has various optimal solutions. Every anomaly in the magic power’s operation could cause various mutations in the Fireball Technique.

Some would lower its temperature, some would decrease its speed of flight.

The Fireball Technique recorded in the magic book is the usual optimal solution, and Losa is still far from fully mastering this "optimal solution".

"Ha, it’s like solving equations, no wonder if you master math, physics, and chemistry, you can travel the world without fear."

Losa chuckled, waving his hand to extinguish the flame.

He intended to find a spacious place to test the spell. Although he could immunize against fire damage, it did not mean his mansion could do the same.

If, by any chance, he burned down the mansion, he wouldn’t have the money to rebuild it.

...

On the third day.

A summoning decree reached Losa’s hand.

Baldwin IV declared: Isaac, the usurper of Cyprus, repeatedly plundered Crusader ships, this pirate behavior is absolutely unforgivable.

Ordered Losa to summon fourteen hundred soldiers for the expedition.

This number was exactly the same as the number of soldiers Losa had originally prepared to deploy.