Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 489 - 269: After the Battle
The Saracens have retreated.
Rather than simply retreating, it was hardly different from a rout.
The vast majority of Saracen infantry and recruited peasants were captured, either to pay ransom or be sold as slaves, if lucky—those less fortunate were directly beheaded by the "barbaric Franks."
Countless corpses, stripped of clothing and valuables, were left exposed, with the skies filled with vultures and wolves in the desert almost bursting with fullness.
The entire enemy camp’s supplies were joyfully carried back by the Crusader Soldiers; the accompanying merchants each grinned broadly, exchanging wine and meat of little value for highly valuable spoils.
The whole camp was engulfed in a sea of celebration.
On this day, even the most miserly Lords and nobles would offer wine and feasts to reward the Warriors.
Yet many people occasionally glanced at a distant solitary military forte or the feathered cavalry stationed at the camp entrance.
Some showed complex expressions, while others were filled with admiration.
Emotions varied greatly.
Holy Spear Guardians, Holy Son, executors of God’s will...
... 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
Losa, brought back to the camp, briefly conversed with the visiting King and then rested; he was somewhat recovered now, leaning against a soft velvet pillow, sitting there listening to Kurs’s report.
The loot his soldiers secured also included his share, which calculated to be quite substantial, though nowhere enough to offset the costs of this battle.
"How are the casualties?"
Kurs shook his head and said, "Casualties are not severe, merely the dragon beast’s initial charge into the camp, resulting in a few hundred losses, many of whom were elite."
Losa nodded.
He had anticipated this.
On the toughest battleground, only the elite can withstand, pushing recently trained recruited peasants onto the harshest battlefield by a commander would not only fail to reduce losses, but may likely cause allies to crumble.
This was why Taqidin was furious with Zahir for assigning Nubian Light Cavalry to cover the rear.
Kurs frowned and suggested, "Perhaps in this battle, we should demand more loot; after all, you’ve already given excellent treatment."
Kurs wanted to raise Losa’s share of the loot split among his soldiers.
"No need, what counts is that loot? It’s not like robbing palaces in Damascus or Aleppo; trying to get rich by stripping armor and clothes off dead bodies won’t sustain this army."
A loss, surely a loss.
But not considering systemic rewards.
The kingdom-level battle declared an end.
Opposing forces: Ayyubid Kingdom, Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Key Battles: Battle of Galilee, Defense of Gaza, Defense of Eira Port.
Your allegiance belongs to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Important commanders: King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, Marquis Losa I of Transjordan, Raymond III of Tripoli, Grand Master Gerard of the Templar Order, Grand Master Roger of the Hospital Knights.
You made the majority of contributions to this battle’s victory.
You’ve achieved a milestone: [A Pillar of the Kingdom] Without you, a kingdom would have been ruined, saving a faltering nation, making a ninety percent immense contribution in the campaign.
Reward: Holy Cross Gothic Plate Armor.
Description: This is a full body plate armor dedicated to the Holy Church, reportedly once belonging to Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire, abandoned after being dragged down from his warhorse during an outing due to the weight restricting his movements.
Characteristics: Abandoned: Under the cover of holy light, its soul and heart house endless anger and hate. When you find yourself in lone combat situations, the anger within the armor awakens to fight alongside you.
Unbreakable: Even a wooden stick, after hundreds of years of dedication to the Holy Church, becomes a holy object; the armor has been dedicated for three hundred years as a resting place for the souls of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral of the Habsburg Family, hence it possesses unbreakable characteristics.
Campaign Rewards:
Reward One: Mass Mobilization.
As your territories expand, you require more numerous and elite standing forces to safeguard your realms.
The upper limit for all standing forces increases by one hundred.
Reward Two: Fertility God Statue.
The lands under your governance experience a slight increase in grain production and a reduced frequency of natural disasters.
Reward Three: Mass Recruitment.
In contrast to elite standing forces, basic auxiliary units on the battlefield are equally indispensable; they are brave warriors hidden among the populace, excelling as non-mobile troops in homeland defenses.
You gain an additional one thousand recruited peasants.
The rewards are quite generous.
With a higher limit for standing forces, if Losa can fill all standing force slots, he would possess standing military power no less than the King, and the thousand recruited peasants would further enhance his control over local matters.
Coupled with the "Seated Angel Statue," his newly claimed territories gain a degree of stability, avoiding prolonged internal unrest; such rewards can be perceived as encouragement to expand further.
Losa recalled his newly acquired ability, Dragon Descendant Followers; should each follower possess Torle’s combat strength, his ranks could instantly increase by three powerful Five-Star Attendants.
"What a pity, Andreas joined too early."
Vampire and Dragon Bloodline are evidently irreconcilable; based on Andreas’s merits, Dragon Descendant Followers’ three slots would include him. Sans Andreas, Losa contemplated Mueller might contest for a slot.
Yet Mueller is non-combat personnel, evidently unable to capitalize.
No need to hurry.
The follower slots can wait; whoever merits them will receive them later.
"Kurs, how long do you think we need to recuperate after returning to Transjordan before launching an attack on Egypt?"
Instantly, Kurs showed a grimace: "This... it might take quite some time."
Losa frowned, "That won’t do, I haven’t savored the victory’s gains yet."
He tightened his belt for this battle, indeed.
Aware both sides should recuperate, yet Saladin will be doing the same. Not utilizing Saladin’s recent defeat, with instability in his ranks needing consolidation, will increase difficulties Losa faces for any Egyptian offensive.
"If lacking funds, then borrow!"
Losa emphasized, "Borrow from the Knight Order, Venetian and Genoese merchants, not just borrow but solicit donations—this is the sacred Crusade endeavor, they rightfully ought to support, correct!"
"Moreover, rally Crusaders within the kingdom; they may not necessarily require funds."
Losa believed, given his current prestige, he could easily persuade a batch of Crusaders to volunteer without pay or provisions, just promising them land post-battle would suffice.
At present, his various standing forces are understaffed, with a thousand slots from mass recruitment after conquering Egypt, implementing an "advanced" feudal system wouldn’t affect internal centralization.
"And Kurs, keep an eye on the Wounded Soldier Camp these coming days. Dismiss those who only practice trepanation, bleeding, and enemas. This is an excellent time for the Lazarus Order’s expansion; ensure the Monastic Knights participate."
Kurs nodded solemnly.
Watching Kurs leave, Losa reclined back onto the bed.
