Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 546 - 324: Rewards
Your primary title "Outer Jordan Vassal Prince (Border Count)" is no longer your highest title, your primary title will be replaced by "Duke of Lower Egypt."
Your rank is promoted to Duke Level.
You have received the exclusive Duke reward—Duke’s New Spear.
Description: This is a Divine Artifact representing the lands you govern and the various peoples living there. The more vast the lands you govern, the larger the population, the more stable the rule, and the higher the living standards of the people,
When you have a Kingdom Level main title, your exclusive treasure "Duke’s New Spear" will advance to "King’s New Spear."
National Legitimacy: Extremely Low. (Please recover the lawful territory belonging to the Duke of Lower Egypt as soon as possible. If over a year passes without recapturing more than fifty percent of the lawful territory, your main title will be destroyed.)
National Loyalty: Underlying Turbulence. (The newly conquered lands have brought a large number of rebels who, intimidated by your military might, have had to submit to you, but secretly, their plotting continues.)
People’s Living Standard: Struggling. (The people under your rule must put all their efforts just to survive, but at least they are still alive.)
Duke’s New Spear Overall Ability: Useless. (The lost territory and poor governance greatly limit the combat power of this weapon. Forcing it onto the battlefield, I assure you, is no better than carrying a wooden stick.)
Your recruitment limit for all special troop types increases to 150 (300 for a king).
Your Epic Milestone completion progress "King of the Crusaders" has increased, please complete it as soon as possible to unlock milestone rewards.
You have obtained a special item: Blank Battle Record.
Valentine’s Special Recruitment Coupon.
Using this recruitment coupon will enter the exclusive battle record of legendary level retainer, Valentino Saluzzo, form a special bond and, with his permission, take him out of the battle record world.
Valentine...seems we had a brief encounter last time.
Losa did not delve further into the details here, and continued wrapping up today’s coronation ceremony.
The whole Saint Mark’s Cathedral was filled with cheers and shouts, the Coptic Priests looked at each other, it was their first time seeing a monarch so embraced by the army under their command.
As if this "duke" who occupied but one city and did not even hold Damietta Province, impatiently coronated, was indeed seen by those Franks as rightfully entitled and destined.
Losa spread his hands, the sacred golden glow dazzlingly bright, making the Holy Images behind him vivid and lifelike, as if they might break free from the walls and descend to the world at any moment.
"Holy Spear!"
"It’s the Holy Spear!"
The Coptic Priests widened their eyes, at this moment, whether devout or not, seeing the legendary Holy Object appear before them, and reveal such a miracle, their hearts were filled with awe and shock.
Losa waved his hand to dissipate the sacred glow, and loudly said: "Bring up the aggrieved party."
Outside the church, someone immediately led an elderly woman with white hair inside.
"Sancho of Lugo, please step forward."
"After entering the city yesterday, did you break into this elderly woman’s home, assault her daughter, and steal all of their saved money?"
Sancho quickly said: "No, I don’t even know this lowly peasant woman!"
This was a Knight from Iberia, rare in the Holy Land, said to have committed an offense to the King of Castile by assaulting a noblewoman during a hunting trip, hence fleeing to the Eastern.
"Sancho, do you dare swear on the Cross?"
Sancho was about to speak when a golden sacred glow fell into Losa’s hand, pointing obliquely at Sancho: "If you dare utter lies here, God will surely bring down punishment."
Being pointed at by the "Holy Spear," Sancho dared not lie any further, loudly saying:
"The Apostolic Majesty once said, killing heretics is not considered murder, all Crusader Knights, soldiers, and even prisoners can be absolved of all sins in life and death. Duke, even if I did this, I am innocent!"
"But she is not a heretic, she is a Christian like you."
Losa said coldly: "Furthermore, do not forget my military order: once an enemy lays down their weapon and no longer resists, you must not harm them arbitrarily. Are you trying to say that this elderly woman’s daughter was a Warrior?"
Sancho, with a Chain Armor Hood on his head, dripped beads of sweat visibly flowing down.
He cast a pleading glance at Cardinal Sebastian, who showed a trace of anger, ready to step out to rebut Losa, but was stopped by his own Knight.
The Knight quietly advised: "Not yet, sire."
In matters of many details in war, Losa often turned a blind eye, feudal armies were inevitable, but Sancho was chosen by Losa as the target to make an example of.
Wanting to rule Egypt, comprising over half Coptic people (including those converted to Fire Worship and adopting Saracen customs), relying solely on Franks makes it difficult, Egypt is not Jerusalem.
The populations of the two countries differ by nearly tenfold!
"Since the matter is confirmed, someone!"
The Count’s Guard (now Duke’s Guard) wielding Danish War Axes with their heavy armored burly figures immediately entered the church, flanked Sancho the Knight on both sides.
"Take him down, immediately hang him along with the prisoners!"
The atmosphere gradually cooled.
Many Crusader nobles had drooping eyelids. The military discipline Losa set was considerably strict compared to most armies of the era, no one could guarantee they were not in violation.
Especially many rogue knights, in Europe were still committing crimes, there was no reason to assume a journey to Jerusalem would lead to the reformation into honest knights following chivalric virtues.
But Losa apparently had no intention to pursue further, instead saying: "Gentlemen, the conquest of Damietta is merely a beginning. From now on, the supplies we need will continuously land here."
"Crusader soldiers supporting us will also be continuously filled in the ranks."
"Recovering Alexandria District, the great task of returning Egypt to Christian control seems to be only a small step, but its actual significance is far greater than that!"
As the topic turned to this matter, the atmosphere gradually eased.
In the battles against Damietta, several major battles had Losa’s main force leading, fighting like cutting food, making Crusader soldiers previously apprehensive, now fully confident in the potential to recover the whole of Egypt.
People shouted one after another: "It’s the will of God!"
"Indeed, it is the will of God."
Losa paused slightly, then said: "Damietta City is the core of Damietta Province, also the wealthiest city, I know many are dissatisfied with me incorporating it into my rule without even convening a meeting. But ask yourself, who among you could claim greater merit in this battle than mine?"
Upon hearing this, those truly dissatisfied remained silent.
Instead, Losa’s loyal supporters shouted: "The Duke captured this city, rightfully, anyone dissatisfied should step forward!"
"Who besides the Marquis should be the Lord of Damietta?"
"Remember, when we charged forward, some were still sleeping across the shore!"
Losa had anticipated the reaction of the people, yet did not show satisfaction because of it. Even when something is deserved, seeing others profit greatly while oneself gains nothing can cause dissatisfaction.
That is human nature!
After all, within this army, only less than a fifth were truly unconditional loyalists to him, and belonged to his own force.
"There’s no need to rush, gentlemen, Damietta’s villages, towns are countless. Now, with the main force of Saracens defeated, Damietta’s Governor Iben exiled to sea, next, this fertile land will belong to each one of you."
Losa smiled as he spoke.
This time, the Crusader nobles’ minds became active again.
Even though Losa claimed the largest piece of the pie from this battle, there were still many delicacies awaiting them to seize in the Damietta Province!
