Eagle Byzantium

"My child, I believe in the steadfastness of the Earl of Normandy. His ambition will not change until he sees the recovery of the Holy City and the Temple. When he participated in the expedition, wasn't the red cross robe on his body yours? Was his wife Adela also sewn for him by his sister? If he gave up halfway and returned to his hometown, and others asked, since you have returned, Count of Normandy, you must have Having already recovered the Holy City and visited the Holy Sepulchre, how should Robert reply at this time?" Ademar helped Count Stephen up tremblingly, but in his words, he was still unwavering about this punishment. Of course he knew that Stephen He is brother-in-law to Robert Curtis. "Robert's slackness may be caused by his own lack of firm faith in the Lord and his wavering."

"Please think about it again, respectful and loving Priest..." Earl Stephen was furious. He knew that if this punishment was handed down, his brother-in-law would really starve to death, and he would be in trouble in the future. How will he explain to his wife when he returns to his hometown?

Unexpectedly, his shoulder would be pinched tightly by Ademar. The old priest's tears continued to flow down in front of Stephen, "What can I do? What can I do? In front of me, what can I do?" Built with the power of the devil , With a city wall that cannot be destroyed by spears, spears and ballistas, who can do anything about it!" After saying that, Ademar lowered his head, burst into tears with despair, and knelt slumped in front of the count's arms, next to him. The young priest also hurriedly came to help.

The three of them were silent. In front of them was the huge and indestructible city of Antioch, the tumbling Orontes River, the mountains and dense towers supported by the city, looking down at the crowd of pilgrims below, as if watching Like a swarm of ants at a loss in the heavy rain and strong wind, Yaji Xiyang proudly held his long beard and continued to look at his slave. While vigorously whipping the Patriarch of Antioch who was hanging on the dark wall of the prison.

The three trebuchets facing the Dog Gate city wall were cast down sparse and lonely shadows in the setting sun of winter. They threw countless stone bullets, but they did not cause any actual damage to the Dog Gate towers and city gates at all. of harm. In the wilderness, the shivering pilgrims were weeping. He collected and buried the bodies of his companions killed by the Turkic Qingqi, and told everywhere, "The supplies from Port Saint Simon are all gone, and everyone will continue to starve."

In the evening, the siege camp of more than 100,000 pilgrims was filled with continuous cries of mourning and suspicion. There is no consensus. People's hearts sank to the bottom just like the winter rain a few days ago.

Stephen, who was helpless, returned to the camp with his cavalry escort and told the two neighboring Roberts, the Earl of Normandy and the Earl of Flanders, about Admare's decision to punish him.

The Earl of Normandy burst into tears immediately. Tears dripped down his messy beard that had not been taken care of for a long time and his thin and yellow cheeks, and then collected on his chin, dangling. The servants in the camp also started crying, followed by Robert of Flanders, including Stephen himself. The three of them came together on the pilgrimage expedition and had the closest relationship. Sometimes they faced big bosses like Bohemond. Despite the bullying, the three of them could only hug each other for warmth.

There was a burst of wailing in the camp. Robert Curtis finished crying, wiped his tears and left angrily, "I took all the remaining knights with me. I left the city of Antioch and went back along Cilicia. I don't believe that Baldwin and Gawain will not let them go. to me.”

"I agree with your departure. When you go to Seleucia, let me know. I will also take the opportunity to take my troops and leave here." Just when the more serious Robert of Flanders was about to persuade him, he asked him more The horrifying words actually came from the mouth of the "General Military Staff of the Cardinal Council".

"You are all crazy!" Robert Flanders was shocked, stood up and said to dissuade the two brothers-in-law.

"I am not crazy, on the contrary, I am very sober. When we were singing triumphantly in the city of Nicaea, Curtis and I received many gifts and supplies from the Greek emperor, and also robbed a lot of wealth from various Turkic fortresses on the plateau. But Now I see that even if the city of Antioch is taken and all my loyal men and treasures are consumed, it belongs to Godfrey, Raymond or Bohemond, and they are the ones who can share it. We are just poor bastards who are getting a piece of the pie." Stephen held his brother-in-law's shoulders and said sadly, "What the military general staff, I can still brag about myself in the letter to Adela, but in fact. But I'm a poor man caught in the cracks at the mercy of the Council of Cardinals. So while I still have some money, I go back to my hometown. I want to see Adela and the child, and I won't think about anything else. "

Then the brothers-in-law also persuaded the Count of Flanders to act with them, but Robert of Flanders severely reprimanded him, thinking that this was a betrayal and blasphemy to the sacred pilgrimage. Even if he could save his life and return home with some money in the future, But the shame on the family is eternal. Don’t forget that you are all descendants of the great William the Conqueror!

After these words, the two of them felt ashamed and hesitated again. Then the Earl of Flanders continued to cheer them up, imploring them to take the overall situation into consideration and stay for the time being, waiting for "after the spring, people from Denmark, Norway, Frankia, Lombardy" , the reinforcements of Constantinople, especially the army of Lord Gawain, and the army of the Greek Emperor."

Then, Count Flanders specifically reminded the two that their words and actions just now must not be spread outside the tent, because most of the knights and sergeants under their command are in debt and followed him here. The current situation is advancing and there is no retreat. They can only grit their teeth and bite the bullet to take Antioch and finally reach Jerusalem. Everything can still turn around. If our hesitation and hesitation are heard by the soldiers, it will have a great negative impact on morale and fighting spirit. We will become sinners of Christ and bring shame to the world.

"But it is said that the Turkic prince Kobha in Khorasan is leading an unprecedented large army towards Antioch." Stephen asked.

"We will immediately ask Tancred's Edessa to resist the pagan army at the cardinal meeting, and we will wait for the arrival of reinforcements from all directions." Count Flanders replied, and then he told the two that Robert Curtis's military rations were now deducted by the priest, and Stephen and I each took out some food to help Curtis overcome the difficulties and continue to persevere.

The three of them could only wipe away their tears and encourage each other, "If the Norman Edessa cannot resist the pagan army, Curtis and I are still determined to leave." Stephen finally insisted on this point of view.

The envoy of Cardinal Or arrived and asked the three to attend the crucial military meeting before the battle, about attacking Antioch. (To be continued ~^~)