Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 443 - 125: The Supreme Marquis Losa

Returning to the tent once more

"My Lord, your face looks so pale."

Andreas waved his hand weakly: "I’m fine."

In the shadows, his low murmuring voice came clearly: "I now feel an unprecedented comfort."

Fatigue had left him far behind.

...

From a distance, Losa could already see Hebron standing with its tall towers atop the city walls.

Furinjira stretched lazily, somewhat impatient to return to her room covered over windows, impenetrably dark.

"Finally home."

"Yes, finally home."

Losa felt a bit sentimental; Hebron naturally couldn’t be considered his hometown, but it belonged to him more than Algo’s Habsburg ever felt like home.

Jeanne came alongside Losa, chuckling lightly: "Too bad it’s not yet time to relax, we’re about to fight a major battle."

"There should be a few days to rest."

Losa mused.

Our enemies are strong, we are weak, the Holy Land is sandwiched on three sides by Heretics, Saladin could attack from any direction, so during this period, they should stay put, ready to aid all areas at any time.

We have to see which place Saladin will choose as the focus of his attack.

Furinjira was somewhat surprised: "Since it’s not immediate warfare, why not wait until Saladin attacks before summoning the Lords to war at the border, that would save on some supplies too."

"Logistics issues must be sorted out in advance."

Losa explained: "Moreover, gathering troops in advance also helps to confirm hierarchies and stipulate combat timelines."

Many small-scale wars among the Lords in Europe are fought with each Lord bringing their own vassals, each vassal brings their own Knights, and old farmers delightedly charge, often interdependent and unrelated.

They would arrive like visiting a market, taking even months to rush under a Lord’s banner, and by then, some of the Lords who arrived early had even completed their feudal obligations (serving the senior Lord for a certain time each year), and turned away to take their troops and leave.

Thus, advance troop assembly is an indispensable element for Jerusalem’s feudal manor system.

In the distance, light scouts were already peering far toward the arriving Crusaders from Jaffa.

They were a team of riders mounted on single-humped camels.

...

Derum took down the water bag hanging from the saddle, drank it down with huge gulps, finally feeling somewhat better from the parched throat.

The scout’s job is tough.

Like a flock of fledglings forcibly driven from the nest, they had to roam all day under the blazing sun in the dangerous desert, hence some people called them "wanderers."

After a few days, the companions who were originally full of morale and ambition wilted, far different from the imagined life of glorious fighting, achieving feats, knighted as Lord Knights.

Derum also honestly took off the armor he got from the old Clan Leader, sometimes only wearing a helmet, or not even that, just wrapping an airy and sun-protective head scarf.

He looked at his companions, playfully teasing: "If the Clan Leader were here, he would certainly harp on about leading the clan across the Hul Desert."

He mimicked old Hassan, puffing his cheeks, trying to assume a dignified position, speaking in a slow, deep voice: "Young people these days can’t tolerate hardships, unlike our time..."

Teasing the old Clan Leader was Derum’s traditional activity, this kind of anti-authoritarian manner also seemed to be how Derum established his authority within his small group, and each time after teasing, he would feel a bit guilty.

The companions laughed.

But even their laughter seemed much weaker.

"Boss, being a scout is too hard, harder than herding, though we fill our bellies daily, there’s simply no chance to earn merits."

"Exactly, Boss, I saw the Ulm Knight at the nearby military camp this morning, can you talk to him, get us into the battle sequence?"

Derum answered with a grin: "Alright, once I’ve completed the task tonight I’ll look for the Ulm Knight."

"The Boss always has ways!"

"We’ll be waiting for your good news!"

Looking at the high-spirited faces, Derum sighed lightly in his heart, having been outside Hebron City’s military camp for so many days, he’d inquired, and found in the Transjordan combat sequence, all light cavalry riders belong to the scout squad.

Their duty was to explore paths, find water sources, navigate for the army, calibrate marching routes!

No unarmored light cavalry was ever included in the direct combat sequence, those in combat sequences had some armors so extravagantly beautiful, silver-white ones akin to Ulm Knights’ plate armors, or mountain-like army equipment, layered Scale Armor and Zha Armor.

So, it was pointless to approach Ulm Knights.

Hebron was a person who adhered to rules, though he sometimes recognized human connections, but didn’t think his relations were that valuable, they were recipients of Ulm’s favors, not people who had favored Ulm.

Hence, he planned to take a stroll himself at night.

"Someone’s coming!"

"It’s the Crusader emblem, our people."

Derum called out to everyone: "Let’s go, let’s greet them, Zaha, you go notify the logistics officer in the camp to liaise with them."

In the distance.

A vast army of Crusaders gradually revealed its whole picture.

Apart from the Lord Knights riding robust, healthy horses at the forefront, along with their attendants.

Behind, were large numbers of infantrymen, and a convoy of wagons drawn by horses, based on knowledge learned at the new barracks, Derum immediately judged that this army likely numbered over two thousand.

"There’s quite a number of these people, where did they come from?"

"From the west... maybe Mongisa?"

"But Mongisa isn’t the fief of our Lord-Master, right?"

Nobody thought of Jaffa because east of Jaffa is Jerusalem, reasonably, they should have headed directly to Jerusalem instead of gathering outside Hebron City, which was Losa Territory’s westernmost edge.

"Who cares, as long as these men are Crusaders, they’re certainly genuine."

Derum’s heart flashed with a trace of envy as it always did when glimpsing these Lord Knights, always envisioning himself dressed imposingly, riding tall, robust horses, walking among their ranks.

Instead of now riding something really practical but not at all majestic like a single-humped camel.

Being an attendant is also a path, but Derum was unwilling to do so. He was after all captain of a small Ranger squad, serving someone as an attendant meant being a cowboy or horse for them, uncertain when the Lord would graciously cut off the tail for him.

Serving the Ulm Knight was different.

That was widely acknowledged among the tribes, a fair, generous, compassionate, kind-hearted good man.

Getting closer now.

Derum immediately spotted in the ranks, the most eye-catching rider.

This knight... was likely some sort of noble marquis, dressed not too snugly with armor, outside draped a silk luxurious shirt, supposedly this material clothing was thin and breathable, and sweat-absorbent, every roll of silk could trade for a quality Zha Armor.

What a waste!

"Such a tall horse!"

Derum’s companions yelled in surprise.

Only then did Derum realize that the noble lord’s steed was so tall and robust, even taller than the single-humped camel he sat upon.

The esteemed Marquis today returns to his loyal Hebron.