Eagle Byzantium

In fact, as Wright said, Gawain kept walking and kept walking. He only took one of his confidants, Muzafi Adin, a few brotherhood members and a capable guard, and first crossed the bridge and crossed the edge of Adana city. Sanus River, when Gottschild was still preparing to sue He told his guide that he should be allowed to dine in the city, but was rejected by Gawain. He quickly took Wenguan, then rode horseback all the way to Malroth Port, then transferred to a pre-reserved boat and began to cross Iraq. The waves in Seuss Bay, when the entire bay began to fall It rained heavily. Gawain sat on the deck and covered himself with a cloak. The Turkic servants around him covered the flames with coarse cloths and felts, lighting fires and drinking water for everyone. Soon after, they arrived at the city of Issus, which was still Baldwin's territory. , the knights and soldiers guarding the city warmly welcomed After picking him up, Gawain tied the tired Sabina there and told her to take good care of her. Then he changed to a young pony and continued walking for several hours to reach Maidensburg in the valley by the Syrian Gate, where He was received by the Supreme Dugelius Bramson.

In the hall of the fortress, Gawain walked in a little tiredly. The wind and rain continued outside. He didn't even have time to shave his beard in the candlelight, so he said bluntly to Bramson, "I need your allegiance."

"Please give your order directly." Bramson hurriedly knelt down.

"I still need Decius, Mero, and Branas. Before the secret meeting begins, I need the allegiance of all of you. Now I only need a sword and a plan. Here." Gawain said.

Soon, the other three senior officers came from two other castles in the dark night and heavy rain. They were all soaked. Gawain wiped the wall with the fire sickle at his waist, and the flames seemed to come from his arms. Like coming out, mixed with shooting holes outside The whistling wind lit the candlesticks in front of everyone one by one. In the bright light, what Bramson, Decius, Branas and Merlot saw were the paintings painted on Gawain Sahara. Take out the dense and accurate map of Cilicia on that piece of paper.

Then, Gawain pulled out the dagger and struck it with a "bang" sound on the map in the central area surrounded by the East Cilicia Plains, the Taurus Mountains, and the Anomos Mountains. Everyone's eyes focused on it, and it was in Mamis. Castabala Castle at the confluence of the Tra and Feramis rivers.

This is the territory of the Reuben dynasty, and it is the largest fortress of the Armenians on the plains. Previously, Reuben and his men came down to attack Gawain's Sith City area, which was used as the center.

The four of them looked at each other, "Are you going to attack here? Let's go get the two brigades to prepare."

"I have said before that I would take action against Ruben. I have never been a person who keeps his word." Gawain released the dagger and stood in front of the three of them with his arms crossed. "I need five months to seven months." Months of time, destroy this hyena Reuben.”

Bramson and Decius were both silent, knowing that the only one who could speak at this time was Mello.

But Gawain did not ask Mello this time, but directly asked General Branas of Temach of the Guardian Brigade, "I need your opinion."

"Yes, we must do our best, but in such a short time, I personally think it is very difficult to destroy Ruben, who has been in Cilicia for so many years." Branas has always been an upright person, and the other three Secretly sweating.

"You are right, but Branas, you only saw the data on paper. Our ingenious girl Little Sunfish has used a particularly powerful new rock-shooting cannon in the Alamein attack. I We must use it as leverage to shake the originally unbalanced situation and attack Castabala Fort. What's more, Samuelfa has also produced a batch of defensive fire projectiles in the Ordnance Department, and Castabala Castle will be crumbling in the rain of stone bullets and sea of ​​fire in a short time. "This time, the Grand Duke actually had the patience to explain the entire situation to them, and his hands kept moving. Marking and pressing on the drawing, "In terms of diplomatic situation, Ruben had secretly sent a confidant named Taprunz to lobby the Armenians and Greeks in Marash and Edessa, encouraging them to resist the Norman taxes. This has angered Bohemond and Tancred. Bohemond has already dealt with Rude. Ben's wish, because only by completely expelling Reuben's power from Samosata, Edessa and other places can he be safe. Reuben also provided assistance to the pilgrims during the previous siege of Antioch. The pleas fell on deaf ears, so he was already isolated and now was the perfect time for us to take action.”

Everyone looked at each other and asked the Grand Duke to continue explaining his plan.

"How is the attack on the Azaze area?" Gawain asked this topic in turn.

Melo replied: After the disastrous defeat of Antioch, the escaped Cobuha lost most of his power and retreated to Mosul to protect himself; while Budakis, the youngest son of Achish, ran to seek refuge with his brother-in-law, Aleppo. Prince Ridwan Toutushi was seized by Ridwan as a hostage flag, forcing him to take over the Azaze region as promised. However, at this moment, Kobuha went back on his word and sent his subordinate Atabog Mamai. General Huth refused to defend, and the two The army fought fiercely in Azaze - when Lord Godfrey issued a declaration of war and demanded Aleppo and Azaze, Ridwan immediately expressed his surrender to the pilgrims and surrendered to Bohemond and Godfrey. , handed over five hundred cavalry as servants, and sent his youngest son to Lord Godfrey as a hostage. He also donated 20,000 gold coins to the pilgrims as military supplies, promising to donate them again in the tax month next year. Twenty thousand gold coins.

"That's it. Lord Godfrey, who received the money and hostages, did not really attack Azaze. Everyone is resting in place." This is Melo's summary.

Gawain nodded with satisfaction. It seems that the intelligence is almost the same as what the female doctor Granaai said. "This is complete. When the time comes, Bohemond will divert the attack from the Marash Mountains. Our three brigades will join Baldwin's army to launch a pincer attack on Castabala from the Adana River and Issus City. As long as this place is attacked, Reuben will definitely mobilize troops and horses to rescue. At that time, I will fight on the battlefield outside the city, completely strip off his dog skin, and give it to Anna to make leather boots-as long as Reuben is finished. , his mountain kingdom will also collapse. I only need the city of Vanka. I will give Castabala to Baldwin as a thank you gift. "

"What if Reuben hides in the mountains and refuses to rescue Castabala? What if he complains to the Holy See in Rome? Also, Lord Baldwin is of course convenient, but Bohemond has always hated us, and I am afraid that even if he agrees to send troops, he will be perfunctory." Branas asked several questions in succession, and the other three secretly sweated.

In the flickering candlelight, Gawain seemed to have already planned it, "Bohemond will definitely send troops, because I will reach an agreement with him - that is, as long as the Kingdom of Reuben is destroyed and I can occupy the city of Vanka, as a reward, I will give him the thirty towns and all the military forts of the entire Syrian Gate." "(To be continued ~^~)