On the vast Gobi Desert, Knights in blue robes and red and white robes formed a winding long line.

They crossed steep slopes and passed through intersecting dry river valleys.

Behind them were large groups of soldiers.

The long and arduous trek caused the soldiers to complain endlessly.

A war that should have lasted a long time turned into a grand military parade.

But aside from those farmer soldiers forced from the fields, the vast majority didn't see this as a matter to be celebrated.

They simply found the consecutive long marches to be quite tormenting.

When crossing the Jordan River.

The large troop of nearly thirty thousand had already shrunk by one-third.

Knights and soldiers from various vassals' commands had already followed their lords back to their respective territories.

Serving the liege was a duty to be fulfilled, calculated by time and varying from month to month depending on the contract's stringency.

Moreover, there was often a special contract typical of Jerusalem, which required an unconditional response to the King's summons when the Kingdom faced foreign invasion.

This was also the reason many lower-class lords and soldiers were dissatisfied with not having a battle.

Because only when fighting could they obtain spoils of war, whether prisoners, warhorses, or damaged weapons and equipment, anything that could be exchanged for money was good.

Otherwise, a grand military parade merely meant one-sided expenditure, and at most, a compensation from the Royal family which wouldn't even cover military expenses, equivalent to working for nothing, yielding no profit.

Before returning, Baldwin IV knighted a large batch of cavalry who performed excellently in battle, allowing them to enjoy "public fiefs" as King's Domain Knights.

King's Domain Knights, simply put, were landless knights supported by royal territory and earning a salary.

Additionally, the fiefs of knights who died in battle would be inherited by their offspring, and only the small portion of extinct lineages would have their lands taken back and redistributed to knights with distinguished service.

In this war, the most outstanding contributions, of course, belonged to Losa.

Additionally, Guy and his men burned Saracen supplies, which was considered a great accomplishment; otherwise, the Saracens might not have retreated so easily.

Furthermore, Baldwin IV's confiscation of Count Reynard's title of Count of Transjordan caused an imbalance in power between the Empress Faction and the Noble Faction led by Regent King Raymond.

Thus, in private negotiations, Baldwin IV also hinted at his intention to enfeoff Guy of Lusignan as Lord of Mongisa.

Mongisa was a town established by Baldwin IV to commemorate his victory over Saladin in the Battle of Mongisa, with a population and territory similar to pre-renovation Jorgelisburg.

Losa and Baron Goffrey rode side by side on warhorses, leading at the front of the troop.

After crossing the Jordan River, in front, there was no longer boundless desert, but vast greenery, with river water joyfully flowing into the fields through the canals.

Some manors and villages were scattered orderly along the roadside.

The population also grew denser.

People observed this army, with Christians eagerly stepping forward to converse with the Crusaders, asking about the war's news, while heretics generally avoided them.

"Do you see that vineyard? It suggests we are close to Hebron, and if nothing goes wrong, this will be your future territory."

Baron Goffrey pointed to a large stretch of vines on trellises not far away, his tone laced with envy.

He was the lord of Beirut, Asuf, and Ibelin, the first two being affluent towns, but having three baron titles didn't mean they could merge into a single countship.

In this era, titles didn't have promotion paths.

The Baron of Ibelin, unless accidents occurred, would forever remain the Baron of Ibelin.

Unless, like Border Count Leopold of Austria, he negotiated with the Emperor to seek independence from the Duchy of Bavaria to "elevate" to the Austrian Grand Duchy.

Losa detected the bitterness in the other's tone.

In fact, if he were enfeoffed as Count of Transjordan, he would immediately transform into one of Jerusalem's topmost real power lords.

This transformation was genuinely significant, comparable to "a step to heaven."

Even if Losa, as Count of Transjordan, had fewer territories and domains compared to vassals like "Baron" Reynard of Kaler Castle.

He smiled and said, "If Belian can marry Princess Sibilla, the lands of Ashkelon and Jaffa under the Princess's name would fall to the Ibelin family. Then, have Belian let you manage the lands, and you'd become the illustrious Count of Jaffa."

Ashkelon, Ibelin, Jaffa, and Asuf formed a contiguous strip, encompassing Jerusalem's southern coastline.

This was much more comfortable than managing scattered enclaves.

If meticulously developed, it could be like the County of Tripoli, a country within a country, and calling him a king of a nation would not be too far-fetched.

"Heh, it's just a title, with or without, it doesn't change anything."

Baron Goffrey said, contrary to his heart: "But you, you need to be wary of Count Reynard, he won't give up easily, and before you two decide the outcome, the lords of Transjordan won't easily take sides."

"He's no longer a count."

Losa did not take Reynard to heart.

This Count is indeed powerful, but it's because he's got some advantages.

As expected, getting the title of "Count" counts as achieving another milestone.

At that time, he will surely receive a heap of rewards.

Next, all that's needed is some time to "develop strategically," and the mere Reynard really doesn't count as an enemy worthy of Losa's serious attention.

Hebron is only forty kilometers away from Jerusalem City, and the soldiers are eager to return, so they have not suggested resting here. Judging by the marching speed, they should be back in Jerusalem before evening.

Losa is quite happy to appreciate the view of what could be his own territory.

Outside this ancient Holy City of the two faiths, besides the vast plantations, the most unique sight is the endless stream of heretics coming to make pilgrimage.

Losa saw some Jewish people tearing at their shirts while walking, their clothes covered in patches — meaning once they rip them, they will sew them back together.

Such a strange custom left Losa completely baffled.

Patching clothes proves that clothes are precious.

Yet they still have to tear them to show reverence to the gods. Isn't that just idle behavior?

Hebron, a town on the West Bank of the Jordan River, has a permanent population of nearly ten thousand, not inferior to the much-envied Montreal, and it is even more affluent.

Because it has more affiliated villages and fiefs.

Baron Goffrey explained, "Hebron is a major route for many pilgrims going to Jerusalem. Besides, one can charge high entry taxes to the heretics. Reynard, for a third of the year, used to spend his time here."

"Becoming a Count means you'll have your own court, a residence with fountains and gardens, marble-paved bathrooms, and lots of beautiful female slaves. It's a lifestyle utterly different from that of the Lords in Europe. But indulgence, for a Lord, is only secondary. You must remember, sweet ambrosia always contains deadly poison."

Losa couldn't help but be a little enchanted by his description.

He laughed and said, "The way you describe it makes me impatient to taste this 'poison'."

The allure of power and wealth, is it not precisely because of these?

Baron Goffrey angrily said, "Do you know how many heroes and warriors have fallen to becoming a bunch of hedonists in the palaces of the East?

Amalric, our Palace Minister, was once personally appointed by Your Majesty as Minister of Military and Political Affairs. He even personally led charges in the Battle of Mongisa and was a renowned warrior.

Who would have thought he would turn into someone only interested in embezzling military pay and hiding behind his brothers?"

Losa restrained his smile, knowing that this old friend of his father's was giving him a serious warning.

So, he nodded earnestly and said, "I assure you, I will never become that kind of person."

Wine and women are indeed like a knife to the bone, one must be cautious.

Behind him, within the ranks of the knights.

Amalric suddenly sneezed.

"Who's talking about me behind my back?"

He rubbed his nose and continued boasting to the knights around him, "Do you know how many Saracens I killed that night?"

These days, he brags to everyone about how he and his brothers burned the Saracen's granaries, thinking that this achievement could fully offset his crime of embezzling military pay.

Baldwin IV never intended to deal with him, which also reassured him greatly.

...

Just around dusk, the army finally arrived in Jerusalem.

On the modified Fire Worship style minaret by the Crusaders, bells rang out — a unique feature of the localized Christianity in Jerusalem.

The soldiers of the Knight Order and City Defense Army, covered in dust and fatigue, entered the city. Nobles and citizens who came to welcome them offered drinks and food, and wealthy noblewomen, riding in carriages, tossed handfuls of silver coins and copper coins outside.

The news had already been sent ahead, and the "ceasefire" was glorified as a victory.

The soldiers immediately began to scramble for it.

Losa, riding on his warhorse, watched somewhat bored as Baldwin IV performed a series of rituals.

He just wanted to take a hot bath and have a good sleep in a room with a roof and a bed.

Standing on the second-floor of a small building along the road, a noblewoman closely watched the Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order, who seemed mighty following next to the royal carriage.

She licked her soft red lips and sighed, "Such an alluring presence, I just love these brave knights."

Her companion, a woman shrouded in a black robe, sneered, "Stop being seduced. If we don't deal with this guy, that crazy woman will definitely expose our identities to everyone."

The noblewoman, with a tone of implied sarcasm, said, "Heh, it's not that simple. Didn't you see that witch following closely beside him? She's not easy to deal with."

Her tone paused slightly, then she said, "If you ask me, instead of being threatened by that mad woman, we should take care of her instead — if everyone in Kaler Castle is killed, then no one will be left to spread the news, right?"

The woman snorted coldly, "Don't talk nonsense, the Demon-Blocking Gold in Kaler Castle is plentiful; there's no way we could kill them all, just us two."

The noblewoman's face turned a bit grim, "Since when did our noble blood race need to be threatened by these lowly humans? If you ask me, worst comes to worst, we can just return to the castles in Wallachia."

Her companion sneered, "Don't tell me after living in spacious palaces, you would still want to return to those stinking swamps. If you're scared, you're free to leave, but I'm telling you, I will never give up my noble status in the human world."

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