Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 506 - 285: Monarch and Ministers

German Sword Saint...

Losa smiled, completing this milestone wasn't actually difficult, wasn't it just about establishing an order, founding a Sword Corps?

But doing such a thing was like a provincial governor neglecting his duties to run a taekwondo training class, completely ignoring his responsibilities.

Forget it, leave it for now, milestones generally just reward you with some small tools or card draws. What he really lacked, strictly speaking, were not personnel, but people who didn't consume resources and could stand on their own.

Like Marles, who, ever since being promoted to level thirty, hadn't been touched since.

But was Marles' role significant?

As the chief Master Craftsman of the Transjordan Border Territory.

In both armament and finance and taxation, Losa relied heavily on Marles. His exclusive Blacksmith Workshop had now not only expanded its scale but also increased its garrison to several hundred elite soldiers.

And Captain Hog — a model subordinate who could fully sustain himself while also supporting Losa, his boss. In Losa's eyes, even ordinary six-stars were no more important than Captain Hog.

As for Steward of the Holy Vault Kurs, it's needless to say. Without Kurs, he absolutely wouldn't be so relaxed every day, let alone leave his territory and go on an expedition to Cyprus or wander off to Constantinople.

As for enhancing combat power, it would be better to spend money wisely. Prajna already possessed an Anomaly stance, and promoting her was undoubtedly the best choice.

After Losa washed up, he casually tossed a dried coffee bean into his mouth, chewing as he said, "Prajna, help me get armored."

"Still wearing the Holy Cross Gothic Plate Armor?"

"Mm."

Losa prepared himself, stood before Prajna with open arms: "How about it, do I look handsome?"

"Uh, not bad."

She held her chin with her finger, unusually not using a simple "mm" as a perfunctory reply.

Losa pointed at his cheek with a smile: "Give me a kiss."

And he got his wish.

...

The sword ceremony was also very formal. In Losa's military camp, another grand banquet was held, no smaller in scale than the previous day's.

Kurs felt pained by the expense, but he knew that good steel had to be used where it counted. Plus, the internal recovery of spoils from the camp these days, exchanged for many gold coins with Losa's portrait from the system mall, meant this expenditure wouldn't negatively impact Losa, who was about to receive loans from the Knight Order.

Never underestimate the cost of a banquet.

Many noble lords, to host a decent wedding banquet, even sold their properties, titles, to wealthy citizens in exchange for money. Many Free Cities in Europe gained their autonomy this way.

Losa watched as the knights, whether handsome or ugly, young or older than his father Werner with bushy beards, received swords that had been soaked in Holy Water.

They then swore on the Cross to fulfill their duties as subjects and uphold the virtues of a knight, not failing both Heavenly Lord and honor.

Losa patted each of them on the shoulder, tirelessly saying a few words of encouragement or making a harmless joke to each.

Thanks to his extraordinary memory, he could call out each knight's name: Joseph, Franz, Martin, Jean…

"Derum, you were an excellent scout. Next, I hope you can become an excellent knight as well. Don't disappoint your Clan Leader — that old dog with sharp fangs."

As he approached Derum, Losa said this.

Derum was full of emotion, tears welling up, unable to utter a complete sentence: "I... didn't expect you to... to remember my name."

"Of course, since we once traveled together."

Losa blinked, jokingly referring to the time they traveled back from hunting the Tyrannical Dragon with a Shayue Tribe caravan, leaving quite an impression of this witty young man.

All who pledged allegiance to Losa were categorized as Imperial Knights or Winged Cavalry and would formally join their respective units after being re-equipped.

After the sword ceremony, there was a rare acknowledgment of contributions.

Losa enfeoffed many soldiers who had made contributions, though not enough to be knighted, to be Attendants — in reality, each received a quota of one thousand five hundred Recruited Peasants under the "Large-scale Recruitment".

Losa always believed that soldiers who had career changes through the system and maintained constant loyalty to him were his greatest wealth in this era.

If these one thousand five hundred Recruited Peasants could all be granted land in Egypt in the future, it would mean Losa would have one thousand five hundred knights or barons pledging loyalty to him.

Even if it meant "jointly" establishing a new Kingdom in Egypt, he definitely wouldn't be like the King of Jerusalem, merely a nominal monarch whose actual authority sometimes fell short of the Mayor of Jerusalem.

Because many churches within the city belonged to the Church, and as King, he had no jurisdiction.

He would have a dynasty seemingly like those of Ayyubid, Sassan, and the Empire — fragmented on the surface but actually firmly controlled by him, with great potential for warfare.

It also wouldn't be like the Eastern Dynasty, appearing autocratic but effectively powerless in rural areas during disasters, with appropriation seeing even less than one-tenth reaching those in need.

In comparison, the coveted position of King longed for by the Jerusalem nobles seemed to Losa like carrion fought over by the catfish in a pond.

"Set a small goal, wear a crown by Christmas."

His gaze swept over the faces, wild with fervor, excitement, longing.

He saw Reynard the Baron, rarely attending but excluded from Losa's vassal circle in Transjordan.

Saw Baron Godfrey smiling, raising a glass in toast to him.

Eventually, his gaze met with Baldwin IV.

Little king's eyes remained gentle, just like when he bid him farewell to Cyprus.

Losa showed a slight smile, drew a Cross on his chest— Baldwin IV was his guide in this world. Without him, he might still reach high positions but could become cunning and unscrupulous.

He raised a wine glass, walking to His Majesty the King: "May you live long, Your Majesty."

The little king helplessly raised his glass: "May your expedition go smoothly, Losa."

They smiled at each other.

"Do you have any leisure today?"

"Of course."

"Come to my place for a game of chess."

"Alright."

Losa responded with a smile.

Powerful ministers and enlightened kings seemed always opposed, but Losa always felt that even if he hadn't chosen to march into Egypt to establish his rule, choosing instead to remain within the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV would still support him.