Eagle Byzantium

"Are you going to fight again soon?" Anna raised her chin and asked Gawain in the early autumn wind, still carrying the heat and humidity of summer.

"Baldwin has taken control of the Little Alexander Gate (the Syrian Gate, named after Alexander the Great's entry into the Persian Empire from here during his eastern expedition, very close to the city of Antioch). The road to Antioch has been opened, but the pilgrimage The next round of major disagreements between the two will soon come like a violent storm. ——Because the Norman Tancred, that young boy, did not lose his strength after the Battle of the Philamis River as I expected. Instead, he gained Biruben at Marash and Tubosaina. The prince also wanted a huge reputation, and many local Armenian, Saracen and even Turkic lords turned to him. "

Anna thought about the sophisticated territory knowledge in her mind for a while, "You are saying that the Normans will not be willing to go with us, but will go through the mountains of Caesarea and Maras and take a detour to Antioch. ?" Gawain exhaled and lay down in the cave. On the window sill, he nodded, "I'm afraid that many great lords will be tricked by Bohemond into taking this route, including Raymond, the two Roberts, and Stephen of Blois. This group of people I am also full of praise for Baldwin and my achievements. They are full of jealousy, but let them go. If we go to the plains of Cilicia, with the support of developed water transportation and grain, we will be in a much better situation than their march - Braxilon and Paphlagonia The march in the mountains is dead With so many war horses, the team's combat effectiveness has been so greatly weakened. This is why I refrained from confronting Theodore and Danish Mond Turks head-on. This expedition to Antioch City must be avoided. This situation happened again.”

"All the support of the army is given to you...I will also go out with you and stop at Zephyrim. The Gospel Sanctuary Farm in Sicily needs me as the director to supervise and take care of it. I will give it to you here." By the way, I will help you supervise the logistics." Anna stood on tiptoes and hugged Gawain's waist. request said.

She must have heard the news that Cabeamia will lead four hundred Pauline believers to join the army and serve as lightly-armed archers! (After Aspar was killed, the Paulist faction also died down a lot. The female consul immediately sent a lot of saffron seeds and skilled flower farmers, expressing her willingness to let the military government monopolize this kind of material.) This Xiaoni Zi said he was supervising the farm, but in fact he was using his official position to do personal things. He came to supervise himself - but Gawain couldn't refuse. After all, Anna was one of the few people under his command who had the ability to supervise large-scale projects. Even though she was a teenage girl, she was after all a top student in the palace. , proficient in language and writing, and can also read ancient agricultural books. She also helped her father manage orphanages and relief homes in the imperial capital, and she also had a strong interest in politics. It would be better to channel her vigorous energy into this aspect, so she was "appointed" to be the supervisor of farmers. The director of the department also has this consideration in mind.

"Okay...but don't disturb my military operations!" After Gawain agreed, his tone became stern. After being spanked hard for a while that night. Gawain regained the advantage, and Anna became more submissive. She immediately moved closer to him sweetly, saying of course not. "But if we go through the Adana road, we must invite Sister Gotthild to come to Zephyrim to keep me company."

At this moment, Gawain seemed to have remembered something, "By the way, there is still a big project that needs your attention and supervision - I am planning to build a project in the valley between Seleucia Port and Akum Market. A large hospital.”

"Are you doing pilgrim business?"

"Yes, I was talking to Francesco earlier. He persuaded me to implement such a wish. A large hospital, with a boarding and lodging area for pilgrims and warriors. I will write a letter and request The Holy See in Rome approved this matter and has asked Francesco to get in touch with His Excellency Gerald Thom, the 'Blessed One' in the Holy City and the director of John the Baptist Hospital - Jay Rudd expressed that he was very happy to work in Asia Minor A hospital that can serve pilgrims has also appeared in Seleucia, the capital of Asia, which will ease his work in the Holy City. Pantaleoni, the consul of Amalfi City, also fully expressed his support for this project. After all, the hospital in the Holy City was built with donations from businessmen in his city. So Anna, just let me know what you say in the future about 'doing pilgrim business', and don't mention it too much in front of others." Gawain said cautiously. reminder said.

In fact, pilgrimage has been very popular in Europe as early as the time of Charlemagne. At that time, many kings were eager to get monks from Jerusalem to perform penitential work before they died, so they donated a lot of money to help the monks in the Holy Land. The city built churches and hospitals, was responsible for rescuing pilgrims from afar, and burying dead Christians, but most of them were later destroyed by the Seljuk Turks. The "John the Baptist Hospital" donated by the city of Amalfi and managed by the Benedictine monk Gerard is one of the few lucky ones - because Gerard endured the humiliation and paid heavy taxes to Crescent officials every year. In exchange for operational security, another problem arises. The hospital is financially strapped. Originally, the Benedictines valued physical practice and did not accept a luxurious life of rights. But now they have to bear the heavy taxes imposed by the pagans. Economically, it is Adding insult to injury.

Now that Gawain was willing to pay for the establishment of a hospital and posthouse in Seleucia, Dean Gerard was naturally overjoyed. Seleucia happened to be located in the middle of southern Asia Minor, and was a good transit point for pilgrims. If pilgrims could enjoy care and services here, it would be the best thing. He quickly issued the license of the "Hospital of John the Baptist" to Gawain, and Urban II's permission was also a matter of course.

"Big barbarian, it doesn't matter if I don't say such things, but don't we have any benefits at all, just build this hospital, not charge any fees for passing people, and still have to pay for the venue, personnel and medicines, won't that cause a huge burden on the finances?" Anna asked curiously.

"I built a hospital in Bari before, and in fact the benefits were much greater than the cost, and this investment is even more so." But then, Gawain's answer came to an abrupt end, leaving Anna room for thought.

But Anna now knew that the cost of building a hospital was not a big problem: Gawain had previously joined forces with Baldwin to conquer Adana, Issus, Mamistra and other places, and looted no less than 100,000 Byzantine gold coins, of which Gawain received 40%, which was actually equivalent to moving the wealth of Eastern Cilicia to Seleucia with great fanfare. In addition to the rewards for the soldiers of the division, there were nearly 20,000 Byzantine gold coins for working capital.

At that time, building or redeeming a castle only cost 3,000 to 10,000 gold coins, so it was more than enough to build a hospital with this money. (For example, during the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus of Byzantium. Later, he had no way to govern it, so he sold it for 100,000 Byzantine gold coins, of which 40,000 had to be paid in cash, and one Cyprus was worth this price) (To be continued ~^~)