Eagle Byzantium

"Father, the insider must have been among the patrol when the crossbow was fired." Sansadonias deduced.

Yaji nodded, "But there is no point in excluding torture one by one now. On the contrary, it will cause panic in the team. It is better to use the trick. Ask your most trusted subordinates to prepare for battle according to the date agreed on the cloth."

"Yes, father!" Sansadonias agreed, stroking his chest, and then retreated.

Just as the acropolis of Antioch was secretly preparing, opposite the fortifications of the camps of Gawain's Red Hand Brigade and Gemage's Brigade outside the city, Cobuha's cavalry lined up in the wilderness, galloping back and forth to their heart's content. Smoke and dust were stirred into the sky. On the high hills on both sides, their infantry were standing, holding all kinds of bright war flags. They were moving fiercely, and the shocking sound of chanting was heard. It seemed as if the waves of the Orontes were trembling.

The pilgrims and brigade soldiers behind the fence looked a little frightened, crouching down outside the range of the enemy's bows and arrows. Looking at the opponent's huge formation, they couldn't help but worry about their Grand Duke and the other brave warriors. Lords, will you continue to lead them to victory in the face of the new enemy's sword?

Now, the hermit Peter takes on the responsibility of boosting morale. He still carries a heavy and rough cross and rides a black dwarf donkey from one camp to another, confessing and praying for the soldiers, and the wounded and sick. Sitting or lying around him, begging the Lord for salvation, hoping that this great trial can be passed safely, but there are also many people who are not determined, with confusion and uneasiness, constantly asking the hermit such questions. ,

"Dear hermit, for your steadfastness and poverty, you have won the favor of the Lord and Jesus, and inspired our love. But we are all mortals, and now the devil is constantly bewitching us, and that is this trip What is the meaning of it? Some people say that it is Christ shed by mankind. The blood of Christ has inspired the courage to fight in our hearts; but some people say that Christ has never actually spoken, and the moment of judgment and redemption has not yet come. All this is just Pope St. Peter and those Frank lords, because of the brain. It was frivolity and impulsiveness that started this disastrous journey.”

"Why do you see it? Tell us what you think!" Monk Peter stood up kindly, holding a crutch in one hand and holding a rosary and a cross in the other, and said to the people who kept coming.

"If not for this, why were we ambushed and intercepted by the Hungarians when we just set out? Why did we die of hunger and plague in large numbers in the Anatolian wasteland? And why did we end up in this country? The city of Antioch has lost all its strength and is being surrounded by other pagan enemies?" Several old men with rich age and experience fell on the sandy soil in front of Peter's knees, their gray hair swaying in the wind. Then he asked the hermit a question.

The hermit immediately raised his crutch, facing the sky and all those who longed for answers, "You must believe that this battle and journey are of course arranged by the omnipotent Lord, but through the noble Holy See Show it in front of your eyes and ears, no matter what Anyone who embarks on this journey, anyone who has given up greed, injustice, fornication and theft, and whose heart has been made pure by the love of the Lord, will be counted and written on the judgment list controlled by the Lord, no matter what. Both the dead and the living will enter the garden of God’s glory. In the garden, forever." Then he helped a few doubtful old men up with his hands, "Before this journey, I visited almost all the places with churches, including St. Nicholas and St. Michael. , St. Ambrose, etc., countless miracles I encountered told me , don’t be afraid of martyrdom and sacrifice. Even if someone falls, their souls will only ascend to heaven and be blessed earlier than those who survive. And the holy apostle told me that the surviving believers will eventually occupy the holy city. , Destroy the yoke and tyranny of the heathen!”

"May the fire of war wash away our sins." The hermit's words inspired people's hearts. All the people present knelt down, crossed themselves on their chests, and shouted in unison.

After the people on the outer perimeter calmed down, inside the city, on the night of Pentecost, it was also the day agreed upon by Doakum and several traitors in the acropolis. Some of them were afraid of death after the city fell, and some were generously rewarded. Tempted by money, they concentrated on the same patrol, preparing to betray the tower directly in front of them after receiving the signal, allowing the Christians to enter the impenetrable castle.

That night, there was a strong storm, and the entire mountain range where the Acropolis was located, the forests, shrubs, and grasses emitted a shrill and boundless howl. There were no stars, no moon, and even the bonfire could hardly keep the light, and the flames struggled hard in the wind. At the entrance to the path leading to the gable of the Acropolis, Bohemond, Tancred, Godfrey, Robert of Flanders, and the seven hundred warrior knights and sergeants gathered by the three of them quietly Hidden in the dark valley. Bohemond lay down behind a rock, looking at the highest peak that slowly extended upwards and finally covered with torches, where the Acropolis of Achish was located. His eyes were about to burn. Then he turned around and wiped his forehead. Khan, sitting on the ground, stretched out his right hand to Godfrey and Robert, as all the leaders After the Lord's hands were held together, "Immediately my military servant, New Bohemond will lead the way for everyone. All warriors who are dedicated to God, we will enter the battle immediately. I declare that any noise and noise are strictly prohibited." Run around randomly, or my sword will chop off the head of anyone who disobeys the order."

Amid the crackling sound of armor, almost all the warriors covered their chests, felt their violent heartbeats, and nodded to Bohemond, whose face could not be seen clearly.

Then Bohemond waved his hand over that side, supported himself with his arm and climbed up. His newly conquered "New Bohemond" carried a scimitar, bent his back, and followed the rugged and fragmented mountain road. There were no torches. One after another, the people behind pulled the scabbards of the people in front and advanced towards the front "Sansadoni Astra". Almost everyone was gambled everything. Their footsteps kept kicking off small stones, making a sieve-like sound. Then many people nearby would half-squat nervously, holding their sword handles tightly, and when they realized it was a false alarm, they would bite the bullet and continue to move forward...

And on the slope under the "Roselent Tower" on the southwest side, a hundred experienced warriors The Italian veterans also gathered behind a sheltered forest. The Grand Duke of the Empire, Gawain, with a dark cloak tied on his shoulders, stood in front of everyone. "According to the original military deployment, we need to resist and monitor Kobha on the outside. But..." After saying that, the Grand Duke held the two pieces of cloth in his hands, fearing that they would be blown away by the storm. "Earlier, at the same time and place, we received arrows shot by that person named Pragit. Everything was agreed. Now the enemy has been lured to the front tower by my strategy. We can't lose this opportunity. Follow me immediately to seize the Roselun Tower, and then kill Yagi Siyan and rescue His Excellency the Patriarch of Antioch." (To be continued ~^~)