Eagle Byzantium

Under the bell tower of the Guanyi District Square, two groups of people gathered together. When Gawain walked to Anna, the widow naturally got rid of his arm and was supported by the maid beside her. Then General Orson, who was standing next to the reliquary vehicle holding a ceremonial sword, immediately turned around and saluted the Grand Duke, "Let's start, Your Excellency the Patriarch, Your Excellency the General." Gawain, wearing a solemn military uniform, walked "shoulder to shoulder" with Anna, and stretched out his hand to Orson and said.

Then, amidst solemn hymns, Patriarch Anselm solemnly unloaded from the carriage a reliquary wrapped in silk containing the middle finger bone of the Saint Apostle Paul, followed by several clergymen, and then the semi-lay monks of the Reformed Order in black robes. Gottschalk walked in the middle, and this team represented the religious power of Seleucia; then General Orson led the way with his sword raised, and behind him were the Genat soldiers in full armor, equipped with bows and sabers, and General Polybius and his wife walked at the end - this team represented the old military and noble power of Seleucia. Of course, they all swore allegiance to Gawain now, and those who did not do so had their bones and corpses buried in the sand of the battlefield. The third team, Gawain and Anna walked in front, followed by soldiers from the "Farov Guards" and "Milutin Guards", as well as two female imperial ink officers, Hertomia and Agnes, Melo and his wife, Chiser, the blonde widow, and many servants holding banners and utensils. This group of people represented the real hosts of this land. The last to leave was Parni, a small nobleman from Ani who defected from Castabala City, followed by a team of "Armenian logistics soldiers" in military uniforms, blowing military trumpets and marching in neat steps. They represented the humble submission of the entire northern Cilician mountains to the Grand Duke.

The next ramp led directly to the hospital. Gawain looked up and saw the main entrance tower of the hospital (about 55 feet high) was magnificent. On top was a Cordoba-style roof with slightly curled edges, like a flat ship. Below were three asymmetrical arches. Two large ones led directly to the hospital's atrium with open steps, while the small arch led to the second floor of the gate tower with reciprocating side steps. Going up there, there was a corridor with rooms by the windows on both sides, which were the resting areas for the dean and doctors. The arches were surrounded by broken leaf-style carved patterns, extending from both sides of the bottom of the door to the top of the arches, and all the patterns were piled up with brown-red cut stones. From a distance, the three arches looked like three blooming petals, very beautiful.

There was a dignified belt-style stone tower next to the gate tower. There was a lighting fire on the upper floor for security personnel to guard and lookout, and the lower floor was a warehouse for storing supplies.

Walking to the center of the atrium, there is a dome-shaped sunshade tent on the corner arch, and there is a reservoir on each side, which is filled with clean water. There are pipes underneath that connect to the mountain spring next to the big hospital. However, there is no corridor, because this is also the principle of the engineers, adhering to the spirit of "as practical and simple as possible".

The three sides of the atrium are double-layered "Basilica" wall buildings, and the horseshoe-shaped arches inside divide the rooms with different functions-doctor's room, isolation room, medicine room, grinding room, restaurant, and patient rooms, etc.

Looking around, Gawain and Anna were very satisfied. Then they stood in the center of the atrium. All the people applauded and surrounded them. Then Gawain took out a letter written in Greek from Gerard, the host of the John the Baptist Hospital in Jerusalem, which was full of enthusiastic content, and read it aloud:

"Dear Grand Duke of Anatolia, the most courageous servant of the Emperor of Constantinople, the most loyal friend of all believers and pilgrims.

God can testify that at every stage of your life and mine, we are sincere. Carrying the cross sincerely, I trudged towards the unknown end of suffering. Yes, I maintained a hospital in Jerusalem, hoping that it could relieve some suffering for the Christian brothers and sisters who came and went, but the ocean was too far away. Whenever I saw the frail old people and children, enduring the whips and sabers of the pagans, trudged thousands of miles to the holy city, and sat in front of me in tattered clothes, I felt guilty and painful for my own insignificance. I avoided all inappropriate honors imposed on me, because I firmly believed in the words of the saints. Words, that is, 'people must seek truth in constant avoidance'. So when you said that you would build a large hospital with the same functions as here on the coastline of Cilicia and that can accommodate 600 patients, I was delighted and enthusiastic. I did not hesitate to give you the glorious name of 'John the Baptist'. I hope that you can engage in such a righteous act with full passion in your future life. I believe that you are absolutely qualified for such a mission.

So, Your Highness, the only thing I don't want in this letter is to make you complacent. You must know that in front of the omnipotent Lord and Jesus who bears all the sins of the world, we have not done enough.

You know everything that makes me grateful and moved.

Peace, the servant of the Lord. "

After reading it, everyone present cheered, and only Patriarch Anselm had a bitter face and stayed in the crowd without expressing his opinion, but he knew very clearly that the qualifications of this large hospital in Seleucia were equivalent to being recognized by His Excellency Gerard and it could be opened for business.

Then a group of doctors stood in front of Gawain and the purple princess, accepting their consolation. Gawain frowned, holding a trembling thin doctor, feeling something was wrong, and whispered, "My child, please tell me, what medical experience did you have before?"

"I worked near the city of Konya, mainly castrating..." The thin doctor stammered.

"Castrate slaves?"

"No, I castrate chickens and pigs for the Roman survivors in Konya." The doctor was sweating.

Gawain strode into the hospital restaurant and saw the linen bird-beak mask hanging on the wall. It was inlaid with two transparent glass pieces made in Cairo. The eyes looked like a gas mask in later times. "Sixteen doctors and a dean, only five of them have medical experience, and they are veterinarians!" Gawain was furious. He took off the doctor's mask and threw it on the table. He said to Anna and the dean, whose face was pale with fear, "A hospital is not just about having a brand and a reputation - you (pointing at the dean), from now on I will give you money, you go to Antioch, Latakia or Konya, no matter if they are Romans, Saracens or Latins, and find a qualified doctor for me, otherwise I will use you for the first dissection experiment!" (To be continued ~^~)