Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 627 - 400: Coptic Recruits

Time flies.

The Crusaders of Damietta, entered Semanud City gradually in batches.

Merchants transported massive supply convoys, loaded with food, military supplies, and onboard Crusader Knights, nobles, pilgrims, docking at the front debels port of Semanud.

Centered on Semanud City, the territory originally belonged to Governor Mahri was rapidly encroached.

Bules Port, several important castles along the shore of Burullus Lake, all fell within Losa's control.

As for the subordinate villages, Losa no longer sent people to collect taxes and grains. These have already been thoroughly plundered by Governor Mahri in the name of "resisting the Frankish barbarians," extracting nothing further.

To avoid forcing these farmers who have nothing left to lose into desperate acts, Losa did not rob them; instead, he forced local chiefs to open up their granaries, leaving without taking a single bag of grain, only seizing weapons and armor from the local chiefs' armory, taking away more than half of the iron ingots from the blacksmith shop.

Inside the Crusader camp in the city.

Hans commented with emotion: "You simply wouldn't believe the look in the eyes of those half-starved farmers when they see the chiefs, who usually claim with confidence that all taxes are handed over to Governor Mahri, opening their grain-filled granaries."

Venezia said sagely: "The master is dividing the relationship between the local chiefs and the lower-level farmers. Perhaps, once the Crusaders leave, the grain they handed out will be reclaimed by the chiefs. Later, when the local chiefs wish to rally them to fight for the 'sacred fire', these guys will definitely ponder if the chiefs are deceiving them into dying."

Hans shook his head: "The master also confiscated the armories of those local chiefs. Honestly, I don't think they'll dare 'wave their arms'; they're hard-pressed to protect their granaries from being looted by farmers."

While chatting, the two cast their eyes on the training grounds within the camp.

Over fifty Coptic recruits, holding long spears and shields, were training in two groups. The spears in their hands lacked spearheads, but even without them, being jabbed by wooden sticks still hurt fiercely.

Hence, the training battle was quite intense.

These days, monks from the Lazarus Order and clergy from the Coptic Church preached in the streets daily, distributing herbs for free, treating civilians' ailments.

This approach earned a batch of Coptics' trust. Recently, Coptics have been coming to the Crusaders' recruitment office to enlist.

"Stop for a moment."

"Venezia, go grab one of their spears, let's spar a bit and demonstrate for these young fellows!"

Venezia looked constipated: "Training new recruits is your job; why must I join in?"

Hans smiled: "I can't exactly pick a civilian to spar with, can I?"

As soon as they stepped onto the field, the Coptic recruits cheered enthusiastically.

Hans, even though elevated to a high position and having acquired the bloodline of the Wolf Race, had never shown arrogance before ordinary soldiers and lower-class civilians.

Despite the short time, he received unanimous support from the recruits.

The sparring between the two dazzled the recruits, who exclaimed repeatedly.

After stopping, they still felt lingering admiration and marveled.

Venezia put down the spear, moved aside, and frowned: "There's not much time left until the showdown with Adil; no matter how much they train, it's unlikely they'll be of much use."

Hans shook his head: "You don't understand."

Though the Coptic recruits have average combat skills, even after some training, they will likely serve as 'fillers' on the battlefield, mere bottom-tier expendables.

The profession of recruits is a system military type, but it offers very little combat experience.

Yet their significance lies in enticing others by offering incentives.

"How don't I understand? It's the same old divide and entice strategy."

Venezia said disdainfully.

"Since learning about our arrival, many farmers have fled for survival—this is the explanation given by some big merchants in the city. In reality, it's well past the harvest season, the escape shouldn't lead to a surge in grain prices, the granaries in Semanud City are long filled with grain."

"These people can't survive, so they chose to enlist—though anyone with some sense should know, to"

What is meant by troublesome people?

When a person can no longer survive, moral and legal restraints hold no meaning for them, and they turn into vandals—thus this matter is of great concern to Losa.

He already started stabilizing grain prices.

The method surely isn't tender negotiation with local merchants, that would be too degrading; after all, we are Crusaders, Frankish barbarians, without employing some crude means, then

Anyway, before the Crusaders and Adil settle the score, they don't have the guts to raise the flag of rebellion.

During wartime, colluding with the enemy, secretly conspiring, even without this incident they would likely still do it.

"Gallio, after the training ends, take twenty people, and come with me for a trip."

There's a method to taking them,

By using their voice to expose the misconduct of the upper citizen class is evidently more convincing than doing it yourself; this is also a way of dividing them.

The lower-class people are always easily incited; their distrust towards the upper-class is equally innate, Hans knows the deeper significance of what he is planning.

...

"Do they think trifles like these can buy off the people of Semanud?"

The representative of the citizen class, a merchant who rose from a tailor, thriving in the fabric business—Mr. Saman, was comfortably seated in his understated yet luxurious residence, listening to his subordinates' report about the Lazarus Order.

"At most, it's only those insignificant poor people; the most sly, annoying, vulgar, dishonorable of all—they might join those heretics' ranks but won't add a bit of power, merely consuming the heretics' resources."

Mr. Saman actually belongs to the city nobility of Semanud City, having donated large amounts of military supplies and grain, he was appointed 'Sheikh' (chieftain, also used as a low-tier noble title) by Governor Mahri, becoming a dominant figure in Semanud City's business world.

The elder 'Hussein' in the street area where Gallio lives is nothing but a leader of one of his subordinate caravan teams.

"Sheikh, the Frankish's combat strength is formidable, if they incite a slaughter,"

"Ha, if you have investigated that Demon Duke's background, you'd know he's actually intelligent, and a steadfast maintainer of order; he won't do that."

Mr. Saman raised a pudgy finger: "A third of the city's population works for me, another third indirectly for me, leaving only one third under the Governor's control. If I die..."

He brought two fingers together.

"The whole city will become paralyzed; he won't do that."

He spoke with ease: "I reckon, soon this Demon Duke will personally pay a visit. I wonder how much wealth it would take to satisfy his appetite."