Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 426 - 111: New Sea Route

Limassol.

As Losa’s territory in Cyprus, the administration, military affairs, and security here have been returned to the Turriados agent of the Wheel Family, and most of the Black Eagle Banner Team and Monastic Knights stationed here have also returned to the Holy Land.

Only one castle and one monastery have been allocated to the Teutonic Knight Order, which had merged with the Saint Lazarus Order.

The Knight Order established a branch here, with former Grand Master Hiberland in charge.

Limassol City is also a node on the pilgrimage pathway, where not only Greek Orthodox Christians reside, but many Public Church followers stop by on their pilgrimage or stay upon returning, thus the Knight Order branch is also developing quite well, having recruited many new apprentices.

The destruction brought to Limassol by the war has already disappeared.

It has once again become the prosperous port city it once was, with endless caravans and pilgrims stopping, anchoring, and resupplying here; even when it is getting late, nearly curfew time, the taverns are still bustling.

Especially the currently most popular Gwent card game, a game more complex than simple dice, which is highly favored by the Greeks. Many Greek sailors often play through the night in the taverns, sometimes losing everything or striking it rich only to spend their earnings on women and wine, before heading to sea the next day, battling waves and pirates.

The Greeks resent the Franks, or rather the Latins as they call them, viewing them as a group of barbarians and bandits. The complexity of Gwent, which makes it hard to quickly grasp, becomes a point of superiority for the Greeks.

They often watch the foolish and crude Frankish sailors play ugly and ridiculous card games, shaking their heads and mocking, "Look, these muscle-headed Franks can’t even understand this high-class game."

Or they would jeer at the Frankish sailors playing dice games passionately, "What era are we in now? Even kids can play such games."

This could be described as a medieval gaming disdain chain.

A set of exquisite Imperial cards with gold edges and complete illustrations can sell for hundreds of Gold Coins in Limassol City—a price comparable to a fine warhorse.

In later times, this is equivalent to a set of cards exchanging for an entire car!

Though this refers to a complete set of usable cards rather than a single card pack, the profit is enough to make many great nobles envious.

The lack of piracy is purely due to the fact that pirated cards, not only having poor paper quality but also lacking printing technology, have very limited production, and using pirated cards is looked down upon.

Multiple factors combined make piracy extremely inefficient and minimally profitable.

"Is there a new Gwent card set out?"

"What are Tatars? A group of impoverished nomadic bandits?"

The sailor speaking had a look of disdain in his eyes.

The nomadic cavalry of this era indeed had somewhat mediocre battle strength, with backward iron-making technology and a complete lack of combat discipline. Some poor nomads were still using bone arrowheads, unable to break through the defense of fully armed knights.

"How could it be? Look at these exquisite drawings; each of their warriors is dressed in fine Zha Armor and Scale Armor. It is said they have conquered the Eastern Golden Country, much stronger than those destitute Kuman and Turkic people."

As these sailors noted, the new card set had already been produced and released by the Jerusalem print workshop managed by Kurs. The theme was set as Song versus Tatars, after some consideration.

The original Dark Camp card set, though completed, was withheld by Losa after much deliberation; although he wasn’t afraid to offend the Public Church, he deemed stirring trouble over such a small matter unnecessary.

Additionally, people of this era held a natural allure for Eastern Dynasty’s affluence, adding an innate filter to all products from the East, making such a theme far more engaging than the Great Germania versus Gaul.

Losa also hoped to take advantage of the situation to hype up the Tartar threat theory.

The threat of the Tatars is beyond doubt. Although according to the original historical path, they not only stopped at Syria but also once formed a temporary alliance with the local Crusaders to fight against the Mamluk Dynasty (after Saladin’s Ayyubid Dynasty collapsed, the Mamluk military group took power).

But the history of this world has long since been altered.

Perhaps it was him, or it could have started with Emperor Henry establishing the first Wizard Tower, as the extraordinary power became involved in worldly affairs in an unprecedented way, utterly different from the previously clear-cut separation.

Even the migrating Turkic people had several shaman wizards, devout followers of Longevity Heaven; Losa had even dealt with a Turkic ’Prince.’ The Tatars naturally wouldn’t be without their own.

Without extraordinary power, the Tatars might not even be able to stand against the Jin Kingdom.

In his vision, the Tatars followed Saladin as the major Boss. Bringing them to the attention of Europeans in advance was a hope that when the Tatars indeed arrived, Christendom could treat it with more significance.

...

Losa sat in the mansion of the Aglastos (Wheel) Family in Limassol City.

Turriados respectfully handed over a report, "My lord, the development in the territory this month is going well. The manors, iron ore mines, quarries, and lumberyards in the territory have all resumed normal operations. The restoration work on Limassol City is also complete. Using stones from our own quarry has greatly reduced the expenses."