Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 661 - 432: The Grand Military Council

"Once the election results are produced, even I have to obey..."

Richard couldn't help but sneer: "Does the little fox truly think he has victory in hand?"

Originally, the situation was still uncertain, Philip had a slight advantage, but Richard was not far behind. Philip relied on prestige, interests, while Richard relied on personal valor, commanding ability, with him, one could gain victory after victory.

Wealth can be acquired through spoils.

Honors can be obtained through merits, through prestige. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Both can be taken from the battlefield, with these, Richard naturally has a group of loyal followers.

The Count's Guard Captain Fuller said quietly: "But His Majesty Philip indeed holds an advantage now."

"But the most advantageous might be my uncle, the King of Jerusalem has been regarded as the Commander-in-Chief of all the Frankish in the Eastern region. We can choose not to bow to him, but doing so would indeed cause the Crusaders to be divided."

"So, it seems His Majesty Philip still harbors some public spirit?"

"Pah, how is that possible."

Richard looked disdainfully. Although Philip had not done anything against him overtly, it was actually Richard who first broke promises, insulted Philip's sister by associating her with his father Henry II, refusing to fulfill the marriage contract.

But after he rebelled against his father and seized the crown of Albion, he suddenly thought of one thing.

The father, although fond of the younger son, always wanted to strip him of his inheritance rights, leaving all territories to John—a deed Philip II conveyed to him through an unspoken hint.

If one were to compare the series of struggles around the Albion crown to vivid paintings, then in the shadows at the corners of these paintings, Philip's lean figure and the faint smile at the corner of his mouth are hidden.

"Philip is a schemer, a venomous snake lurking in the corner, its poisonous tongue hissing, Sir Fuller, if it weren't for the timelines not matching, I would have suspected he was a child born from Louis the old King's affair with a Greek mistress during the Eastern Expedition."

Richard sneered.

Louis the old King's first wife was his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Now, Philip is born from the old King's third wife, Adelle of Champagne. The timelines are far from when the old King joined the Eastern Expedition.

It is worth mentioning that the three most powerful women in today's Europe are Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom Richard appointed as regent after setting off for the Holy Land, managing all territories on the continent.

The second is Richard's wife, who was appointed to govern the entire Albion Kingdom.

The third is Philip's mother, the Empress Dowager of Gaul, also appointed as regent by Philip. Among these three, two are wives of Louis the old King, demonstrating that although this old King's reproductive ability was poor (Eleanor could not bear any son while with him, but bore four sons in five years after remarrying Henry II), his choice of wives was nonetheless commendable.

Dong—

The melodious bell sound from the church bell tower was heard.

This is the signal that the military council is about to commence.

Richard opened the window, seeing numerous Crusaders nobles dressed in captured silk, parading on horseback, mockingly jeering at those unqualified to attend the council, and those people were not to be outdone, retorting loudly.

Their commotion was significant, disrupting the populace to the fullest, yet no household dared express any dissatisfaction, instead shutting their doors tightly, not daring to make a sound.

"Your Majesty, I suddenly wonder if His Majesty Philip might manipulate who is qualified to attend the military council?"

The Count's Guard Captain looked worried: "If among all the councils, more than half are supporters of His Majesty Philip, how could we win then?"

Richard chuckled: "Alright, Fuller, whenever you start to think, it makes me want to laugh. If Philip truly dares to do such a thing, he would only be asking for trouble, turning this entire council and himself into a laughing stock."

After he spoke, Richard donned his characteristic bright red war robe, shouted to his guards, and led them out of the manor gates on horseback.

At this time, the sky had not yet fully lit.

Along the way, countless torches could be seen, even those not qualified to attend couldn't miss watching the spectacle; nearly half of the Crusaders came to partake in the meeting that would dictate the focus of military strategy henceforth.

The ceremony was tedious, and by the time everything was ready, the sky had already brightened.

It could be seen that the council seats were distinctly divided into three parts, the factions of Losa, Richard, and Philip each occupying three directions in the meeting hall.

Losa's faction was placed opposite Richard, he did not need to stand up, and could see the plate-armored Knights surrounding Baldwin IV seated opposite. This trivial trick made Richard sneer.

Even though he had seen such things often, Richard was still a bit moved seeing Losa's well-equipped forces with their bright coasts and armors. The Crusaders under Losa's faction have forging techniques in plate armor that have long surpassed those Milanese blacksmiths who boast of having the best forging skills in the world.

"Brothers in Christ, though we may come from all corners of the world, perhaps never having met, or even harboring private grievances, under God's will, we have gathered today for a common ideal, a great cause—to rescue enslaved Christians and reclaim the Alexandria Bishopric lost to the hands of heretics for countless years..."