As the last Crusaders arrived, the showdown with Saladin was counting down.

The army rested for three days in Montreal to restore physical strength.

On the morning of the fourth day, with another request for help arriving from Kaler Castle, Baldwin IV finally convened the "Royal Meeting," dividing the armed forces of each lord and knight into respective commands.

Every knight and noble, to some extent, would have their private forces, which needed to be organized into units according to profession.

Such as light infantry units, engineer units, cavalry units, and light cavalry units.

Nearly thirty thousand Crusaders, set off magnificently towards Kaler Castle.

Montreal is not far from Kaler Castle, roughly the same distance as from Jerusalem to Hebron.

But this journey, with more sparse oases, made obtaining supplies more difficult.

Baldwin IV was not a reckless person like Guy; he did not advance rashly but carried ample supplies, nearly emptying all of Montreal's granaries, water jars, and pack animals.

The subsequent supply convoys would continue to transport supplies to Montreal as a transit station, to be replenished to the frontline.

With thorough preparations, the historical Battle of Hattin was not destined to be reenacted.

However, no one knew whether the Crusader army, totaling thirty thousand after mobilizing all forces, was a match for Saladin's army, also limited to deploying thirty thousand soldiers due to poor supplies.

Losa rode on an Arabian warhorse.

He wrapped his nose and mouth with a scarf, as the ubiquitous wind and sand snuck into his body through his collar and sleeves.

Everyone looked disheartened and dirty.

Furinjira sat listlessly on the carriage, unwilling to move.

Prajna stayed by Losa's side, never leaving an inch. After overcoming the initial awkwardness, Losa had somewhat gotten used to it.

The sun blazed fiercely.

Now and then, soldiers would take a sip from their water bags. Their steps were heavy, and everyone hoped to jump into the clear lake water for a good swim.

He looked distantly at the imperial carriage escorted by the central army, sighing softly.

On that day, Baldwin IV made two plans for him. One was that if the army was defeated and Saladin's army was severely injured, Losa would be appointed as regent of Jerusalem, overseeing the city's defenses.

The second was that if the army triumphed, using the momentum of victory to declare the Leonards "fell in battle," then grant Losa all of Transjordan Earl's Domain except for Hebron.

There was a third plan Baldwin IV didn't mention.

But Losa knew well; the third was if the Crusaders suffered a disastrous defeat and Saladin's army remained unscathed, they could only return to Europe in disgrace.

Jerusalem did not, as in Losa's past life history, use the "reserve funds" sponsored by the former Albion King to reinforce city defenses. After losing most of its elite, it would be impossible to hold Jerusalem.

...

The march was dull and tedious.

Baldwin IV handed over all the armored cavalry, namely, the heavy cavalry units, command to Losa.

Though his credentials were insufficient to fully convince everyone, the Royal Knight Order and the Jerusalem Knight Order combined, totaling four hundred armored cavalry, made up half of the cavalry forces.

With Baron Goffrey's assistance, and after two days of friendly "sparring" with the knights, he managed to gain control of this cavalry force.

Strategies of this era were quite simple, mostly variations of the hammer and anvil tactics created by Alexander the Great.

With cavalry as the hammer and infantry as the anvil.

When two armies clashed, the key was which side's cavalry won first, providing support to their infantry, gradually expanding their advantage.

The army marched for two days.

The Crusader cavalry frequently spotted scout cavalry roaming far off by the army, and even the dispatched light cavalry couldn't catch up with them.

The hawks patrolling the sky also began to appear frequently.

With such scouting means, pulling off a surprise attack while the Saracens launched a fierce attack on Kaler Castle was simply impossible.

In the distance, greenery finally reappeared.

Soldiers cheered in excitement.

Baron Goffrey was all smiles: "We've been away from Montreal for so long, finally seeing an oasis again. I really want to swim in the lake water for a while."

Losa shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty won't allow us to camp here. The oasis is closer to Saladin's forces, and no one can be sure whether they've poisoned it or not."

"At our marching speed, we could engage with Saladin's army as early as tomorrow. Your Majesty would not take such a risk."

Sure enough, the order to continue marching soon spread.

The soldiers grumbled, but none dared to defy Baldwin IV's orders.

...

Kaler Castle.

Early the next morning.

Count Reynard opened his eyes wearily, his eyelids nearly glued shut by dried blood, a grim scar stretching across his cheek.

It was a scar left by a Turkic Ghazi warrior on his face.

He looked around; the once robust city defenses had been battered to ruin by the Saracen catapults.

Yet, after numerous repairs and reinforcements, the fortified walls had not let down the massive amounts of gold coins he spent; they still stood imposingly.

Of the three thousand elite defending Kaler Castle, less than a thousand remained.

This meat grinder-like siege had inflicted massive losses on both sides.

Reynard estimated that Saladin's forces had left at least five thousand corpses under the walls of Kaler Castle!

Reynard used his sword to support his wavering body; he loudly awakened the soldiers sleeping atop the city walls, saying: "Get up and eat something. It is time for the Saracens to pray. Once they finish, they will attack us."

The weary soldiers awoke in surprise.

Many injured soldiers, however, would not awaken again after a night.

The soldiers had become numb to this, even too indifferent to lift their comrades' corpses.

Lady Stephanie, wearing dashing Knight Armor, carried a food box up the city wall.

Though a political match, she and Count Reynard were also emotionally compatible.

Reynard had been famous for his good looks in his youth.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have, successively relying on his appearance, become the Duke of Antioch and the Earl of Transjordan.

She looked at Count Reynard with a trace of heartache and whispered, "Reynard... when will the kingdom's reinforcements arrive?"

"Perhaps the messengers were intercepted. They wouldn't sit idly by while Kaler Castle is taken by the Saracens. Trust me, maybe they will soon appear on that hillside."

Count Reynard pointed into the distance and forced a smile.

Kaler Castle had long been isolated.

Batch after batch of messengers had been sent out, yet none had returned successfully.

In truth, sending messengers played right into Saladin's hands, which is why he allowed them to leave.

Because the more urgently Count Reynard sent messengers, the more likely the Crusaders would expose a flaw, but things did not unfold as Saladin hoped.

At this moment, he noticed Lady Stephanie looking with surprise in the direction he was pointing. She grabbed Reynard's shoulder anxiously: "Look, that... that flag, could it be ours?"

"Black, single-headed eagle?"

Count Reynard's eyes widened.

A moment later, a familiar figure that he somewhat loathed, but now seemed as kind as a god descending from heaven, appeared on the hillside.

He raised the single-headed eagle banner in his hand, waving toward the castle's ramparts.

Behind him, one by one, tall knightly figures began to emerge.

Count Reynard almost leapt up: "Heavenly Father above! Heavenly Father above! Reinforcements have finally arrived. That is Baron Losa of Jorgelisburg. I know this guy; he's a formidable cavalry officer, and he's come just in time!"

Lady Stephanie, however, appeared worried: "Even Baron Losa is here, surely Hanfry is too. He is a devout, righteous knight who will certainly lead the first charge against the heretics."

Count Reynard curled his lips and remained silent.

He thought to himself, if your dear son is as you say, he should have led Montreal's troops here long ago.

The cavalry who arrived in succession wore various tabards, ascending the dunes, facing the vast encampment stretching for miles before Kaler Castle.

Seemingly aware of the arriving visitors, the Saracen encampment made no vigorous response, remaining like a giant dragon entrenched in the hills, patiently waiting for the Dragon Slayer Warriors, who would be incinerated to ashes by its fierce Dragon Breath.

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