Eagle Byzantium

On the high hill that was swept by the volley of muskets, the dead bodies overlapped and the blood was blurred. After the smoke and dust of the burning gunpowder floated up, the shooting musketeers standing on all sides put the long muskets they were holding on their shoulders after the officers waved flags and shouted. They held the curved wooden supports and stood side by side under the sea-blue smocks. Then they turned around neatly, kicked strange steps, shouted slogans one after another, lined up in a fan-shaped route, and skillfully formed a long column with several teams. The sound of flutes sounded rhythmically. They began to walk towards the sandbar in the southwest in the sight of the guards of Arsu City, where the victor's camp had been set up and the bodies of Egyptian soldiers were being buried in a concentrated manner.

The three princes who came to rescue, as well as the Count of Normandy Robert Curtis and Count of Blois Stephen, Duke of Aquitaine Guillaume, Henry IV's court marshal Conrad, Robert of Flanders, and the knights and lords who were originally under Godfrey's umbrella, laughed and hugged each other under the flags raised to congratulate each other on such a great victory.

"After the city of Arsus is removed, the coast on the west side of the Holy City will be uniformly recovered in the hands of the Christian people!" Robert of Flanders said happily, pointing to the castle standing alone on the coastal plateau - it is indeed too close to the Holy City, like a dagger against the throat. It only takes about an hour to ride from Ramla to this Arsus. When Godfrey was still alive, he used troops against it, hoping to remove this "thorn in the eye", but failed.

If we capture the city in front of us, the port of Arsu, we can connect it with the port of Jaffa, so that the sea traffic of the holy city can be unimpeded. For it, there are only two threats on the sea: Ashkelon, the Egyptian port on the southern coast, and Haifa and Acre, two foreign ports between the northern coast and Mount Gami.

"I am willing to give Galilee and Arsu to Lord Bohemond!" Just as everyone was discussing the future with great joy, Baldwin, who was standing in the middle of the crowd, suddenly spoke up, and then all eyes were focused on the young man, "In addition, if Everdre's surrender letter arrives, I can accept it and make wise and prudent decisions to restore the original border line and the trade of the Levant Sea and the Red Sea. Next, we will capture Haifa and Acre."

Baldwin's words are very clear: I am now the new leader of this holy city kingdom, and my sword will protect the oath code in Solomon's Temple from now on.

The calm did not last long. First, Godfrey's old knights cheered and knelt down, and then everyone expressed their acceptance - not only the order, but also the person who issued the order, Baldwin Eustace.

Three days later, the envoys of Everdre arrived. They admitted the disastrous defeat in the previous battle and promised that the Kingdom of Jerusalem had the right to occupy Arsu, Haifa and Acre, and they would never send any troops to obstruct; Everdre also recognized Gawain's right to take over the entire island of Cyprus, and they would never interfere; from then on, the two sides would live in peace and friendship, each retreating to their original borders, adhering to perseverance and justice, and would never easily resort to force if there was a dispute.

Bohemond, Gawain and Baldwin also approved of the peace treaty. They stepped forward one by one to take out their seals and stamped the document with the seal of power.

After the Egyptian envoys left, the hopeless city of Arsu surrendered with the 5,000 residents inside. According to the agreement, it and the entire Galilee coast land became Bohemond's temporary fiefdom, and he had the right to obtain tariffs and land taxes here to support his army.

The weather was getting hot, and the date palms and olive trees on the open ground outside the holy city cast thin shadows. The residents who regained peace elected 300 representatives, enthusiastically holding wreaths and standing outside the gate of Bethlehem to welcome the triumphant return of the new owner of the holy city, Baldwin.

Amid cheers, the tall and handsome Baldwin rode on a white warhorse, and Gawain and Bohemond, wearing light robes made of Indian cotton, followed him on horseback and came to the city gate.

There, the two bishops Sambel and Maurice had sweat and joy on their faces, and they had been waiting there for a long time.

"Your Excellency the Patriarch, I remember that this city gate is a church property. We need to pay a toll to pass through here, right?" Baldwin on horseback saw the two, spoke sarcastically and pretended to take the purse from his waist.

Gawain, on the other hand, had already picked up a small purse and was ready to hand it to Baldwin.

Two clergymen ran to the horse quickly, and Sambel flatteringly pulled the reins of the horse, "Yes, all mortals passing through here must pay fees, but the king does not have to, because he is not a mortal, and he is also the sole owner of everything here."

Sure enough, in order to protect himself temporarily, Sambel used his best trick. He wanted to use his special identity to perform a sacred anointing ceremony on Baldwin, "support" him to ascend the throne of the king to replace his deceased brother's title of archon, and thus form an alliance of interests with Baldwin.

"It's really hard work, Your Excellency the Patriarch." Gawain took back the purse, picked up the reins with a mocking look, blinked his blue eyes, and slowly walked past Sambel, whose face was uncertain.

On that day in Solomon's Temple, Baldwin, side by side with his wife Goldhilde, bowed his head humbly, wearing a crown of glory made of gold and gems, walked through the colonnaded hall filled with incense, and majestically sat on the throne of David amid the praises of the crowd.

After sitting down, the first thing Baldwin looked at was his wife beside him, and the second thing he looked at was Gawain, who was standing at the foot of the steps and giving him a thumbs up.

Even though it was not shown in the corners of his eyes or mouth, Baldwin still smiled happily in his heart, because Gawain did not deceive him and really supported him to sit here.

The coveted throne of King David.

Patriarch Sambell, who was wearing a cassock, and the Holy See's envoy Maurice also approached cautiously through the road among the people to perform the anointing and coronation consecration ceremony.

"Let me do it." Just when they were only a few steps away from the first king of Jerusalem, the tall Gawain turned around to stop them, and said unceremoniously with his hand in a gesture of asking.

"But, but I am the Patriarch of Jerusalem..." Sambel's face was distorted.

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"I am the patron saint of the entire Eastern Ecumenical Church and a canonized saint. You can preside over this ceremony, so why can't I?"

Sambel could only choose to bow to this warrior, warlord, saint and amateur drama tyrant.

The final anointing ceremony was really performed by Gawain.

But the Baldwins did not have any objections or displeasure. They did not want to be threatened by Sam Bell, a shameless person, for their coronation and consecration.