Eagle Byzantium

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"Could it be another verbal message from Pope St. Peter?" Bohemond glanced at everyone, then opened the seal and took a look, "Tancred and Raul's partial divisions were almost completely wiped out. !”

"Yes, Raul gave his mount to your nephew before he died, but Tancred was also seriously injured and will not be able to recover for a long time." A count named Havery added, and he and others Everyone has learned about the battle situation on the front line. "Your Excellency, it is said that the situation is very tragic. Half of the people have lost their lives or been captured. All the servants' light-armed soldiers are finished."

"The looted goods are all gone..." Bohemond was obviously more concerned about this.

"It's not just that." Humphrey pointed, telling the duke to continue looking down.

"The shameless enemy also demanded ransom, but a knight actually got a weight of one hundred and fifty silver coins. My father was more generous and kind than this when he kidnapped nuns." Bohemond made an angry cry The voice said, "Sign it, sign it, let me take a good look, the name of the devil and the dog, written with ink as dirty as his soul, Stephen Gawain ——It seems a bit familiar..." Then, the Duke of Apulia turned his back to everyone, recalling the shame in his heart: that night, he was almost killed by a Varyag barbarian holding an unsheathed sword. He was attacked and killed; that night, he was captured by the Greek guards; that night, he was locked in the cabin with the smelly hermit Peter, and even his little hands were not free.

Now, Stephen Gawain's signature is accompanied by the signatures of two generals, Diognis and Titicius. These three bastards actually destroyed my subordinates like this - the Duke, who had been hurt many nights in the past, was so angry that he could hardly control himself.

However, a group of earls and barons continued to fight against him, demanding that he must pay ransom for the twenty-odd knights captured by Gawain. Bohemond turned back and begged everyone, saying that he was now focusing on capturing Amalfi. , no money will be an issue then.

"But the Greek enemy has set the ransom period to one month. I'm afraid that before the city falls, he will send over the heads of twenty-five knights. That will have a huge impact on morale and people's hearts. Mr. "Your Excellency!" Hafeli and others clearly expressed their annoyance and intolerance, "You must know that many of those captured and those who died are relatives, friends and loyal subordinates of the people present."

"You want money even if you die?" Bohemond couldn't close his mouth.

"Yes, if you want to redeem the body for burial, it is fifty sous per body. For soldiers without rank in Calabria, it is five sous per body."

Bohemond waved his hand, saying that the latter did not need to be considered, and it did not matter how Gawain disposed of the body. Then he lowered his head and looked at the grassland under the cliff that was blown down by the strong wind. He finally made up his mind and announced to the lords and knights, "I will raise this ransom from the people of Pisa as soon as possible, using my identity as a prince as a pledge." , to borrow money to redeem the captives.”

At this time, in the city of Lepanto, Gawain was clapping his hands. Muzafiad-din and two military servants led a silver violent stallion and circled him, "Good guy, look at him. His forehead, his mane and his eyes look like a lion. Sure enough, the Normans can breed excellent war horses."

This was one of the captures of Gawain's army after Tancred's defeat. Selected from the seventy trophies, it was a Lombard war horse. It was just saddled, bridleed, and shoed today. Gawain also named him "Quicksilver" and then claimed that he was the owner of "Quicksilver". Sabina was sitting next to her master with some sadness at this time, and kept sniffing his armor, expressing her jealousy towards Quicksilver, which made Gawain keep stroking her neck, "Quicksilver is the one who charges. You are my mistress every day."

The rest of the horses and captures, including Inglina's gift, were partly rewarded by Gawain to the soldiers, and partly kept in the public treasury. While the money was being distributed, the emperor came to Lepanto with the document of appointment stamped with his royal seal.

At that time, Gawain was on the high platform, lecturing a crossbowman from Benevento, "Are you sure it was you who shot the Norman commander named Raul in the previous battle?"

"Yes, although it was you, Commander Earl, who finally took his life, my three comrades can all verify that the crossbow arrow that shot into his abdomen was shot by me." The crossbowman wearing a helmet was half-kneeling. Said in front of Gawain, followed by his verification colleagues.

Gawain stood up and put the bag containing fifty silver coins of Seriqua into his hands, and then two wooden tubes, one thick and one thin, were tied to the other person's shoulders, "This is the Mesa of Corinth." The mistress of the Dini family sent it to warriors like you. The thick one contains six strands of silk. You know The Roman emperor's salary is only three or four silks. This is the finest linen produced in Greece, and a roll can fit into this cane-sized tube. In addition, I will promote you to the rank of captain, and your salary will be increased. Times. From now on, soldiers will treat their enemies with such rewards regardless of their rank."

Then, Gawain suddenly raised the phosphorescent sword with a faint blue edge, scaring the soldiers back a few steps. "Everyone, whether you are Tecopo soldiers from the imperial capital, private slaves of the imperial Caesar, or the remnants of George the stable master, our goal at this moment is Italy. It is a very rich place, with countless seaports, baths, markets, black-eyed and black-haired women, wheat, grapes, olives, marble, gold, silver, blue oceans, and beautiful lakes. Now it is torn apart and ravaged by heretics and pagans. I have just been appointed by His Majesty the Emperor as the new 'Governor of Bari', 'Grand Duke of Lucania and Calabria Military Region', and 'First Sword-bearing Noble'. I will lead all of you to recover the Empire's jurisdiction there and plant His Majesty's purple flag all over the Apennine Peninsula. Start a great adventure of a glorious life - You have all seen this sword of mine. Some people say it is a magic sword, but on the contrary, this sword was given to me when I was captured by the pagan Turks in Nicaea. When my hands and feet were shackled, Saint Michael (equivalent to Saint George in Western Europe) came to me and used this sword to cut the shackles, let me regain my freedom, and asked me to go to the land of Saint Nicholas to guide the great Christian revival. I have been inspired by God, because I have obtained a divine weapon, I have shown God's favor, and I will do God's will. This is Saint Michael's dragon-slaying sword, and this is Saint Nicholas's arrow of faith! "

All the soldiers present were shocked. They thought that this sword was indeed a holy object, and then they were full of morale and knelt at Gawain's feet, "May the godlike guide our way forward, and may our journey to Italy be blessed by all gods and angels. "