The Lord sowed wisdom and civilization on us, but it is clear that Muhammad and his followers gave it up. "Not only have they betrayed the Gospel, but they have even waved their butcher's knives against their own people for the sake of a land of vain!" ”

  The knights of Rhodes also heard of the series of dooms that befell the Empire after the end of the Balkan War. If there is a real chance of recovering the holy city of Jerusalem or even opening up more land in the Near East for God, the Ottomans will always be the number one opponent. Without compromising the core interests of the Order, Lastic supported all actions against the Ottoman Empire.

  "Lord Rastik, this time...... This is not simply a warning against the Ottoman Empire's endless and malicious expansion, and if the Ottomans insist on going their own way, we will not ultimately rule out the possibility of military punishment. Agrippa retracted a smile. For a man like Muhammad, with his endless ambitions, a verbal warning is meaningless.

  Unless they possessed the military might that the Ottomans feared, the mutual defense pact would be a null and void.

  However, the eagerness in Rastik's eyes did not diminish a bit. He shook his wine cup slightly, and his smile became brighter: "Of course...... It is always the duty of our great knights to discipline the infidels, and we live together under the gospel of God, and for whatever reason, we cannot tolerate the infidels in their misdeeds. ”

  The rest of the knights whispered to each other at this time. Brushing the beards of the Ottomans was not an easy task. Perhaps in the early days of the war, the knights of Rhodes could take some towns on the southern coast of Asia Minor with a preemptive strike, but it would be foolish to give their rear to others after an exchange of fire with the Ottomans. Nominally, it is a common defense alliance, and everyone knows who has their own ghosts. After all, interests are the only driving force for the army.

  Agrippa also feigned enthusiasm and raised his glass to Rastik. The so-called aging is still a little worse than that of rosé wine, but it is more intense. After three rounds of drinking, Agrippa's exhaled breath was also three points drunk.

  Whether the Grand Master was an upright man, Agrippa did not know, but the true devout was probably not in league with the infidels. In this way, Lastic is more like a careerist assigned by the French de Valois on the other side of the continent. Their purpose was exactly the same as that of the Ottomans, which was to expand.

  The Grand Master was also watching Agrippa's every move at the wine table. As a result, the conversation between the two became more and more unnutritious, and the other knights, who had been discussing how to invade Asia Minor, smelled that the wind was not in the right direction, and gradually quieted down.

  "Don't blame me for asking more, my honorable Grand Master. What kind of combat effectiveness does the Knights have now? Or how many troops are you willing to commit in such a war? ”

  This is actually a rather sensitive issue, which cuts directly to the question of a country's most important military strength. However, Rastik doesn't seem to be that sensitive, or rather, when the Empire established a fortress in Cyprus, the Order has few secrets under the Empire's nose. As a temporary ally in the relationship of interests, this is not a particularly confidential issue.

  "Since the last attack on Cyprus, I have become aware of a very important matter at the sight of the majesty of your Imperial Navy. Both now and in the future, artillery and muskets will eventually replace knights' swords and cavalry spears. Times are changing, and the Order is not stuck in stereotypes. As a result, we also revamped our ships and rearmed some of our knights at Rhode Island Shipping. Although these things come from different countries, they will all be used as a weapon against the infidels! In addition, thanks to the wealth of the Lusignans, and the assistance of His Majesty Charles, the noble King of Victory, our knights have also obtained freshly forged plate armor, which allows even the lowest-ranking servants to have a set of chain mail and a fleur-de-lis shield sufficient to protect their feet. These are the capitals of our rivalry against the Ottomans. ”

  Although Rastik did not mention the number of people that Agrippa was most concerned about, the confidence in his words somewhat showed that the Order had made great progress during the year. The conquest of Cyprus inevitably spurred a group of young nobles on the European continent, or dreamy swallow-tailed knights who did not inherit the family, to Rhodes. Even if it were a rough estimate, the number of knights in Rhode Island would be enough to make up a fully formed legion. A complete army of equipped knights, a luxury that the Empire has never had.

  "Oh yes...... Mr. Agrippa, I also have a question for you. ”

  "Your Excellency, just say."

  "The Roman Empire was eager to seek allies to curb the expansion of the Ottomans, and even extended another olive branch to the Mamluk Bulgi dynasty...... And what do you want out of it? The old knight seemed to have finally lost interest in the remaining liquor in the glass, and asked bluntly.

  "The old homeland."

  Agrippa calmly replied: "Our purpose is always so pure and secondary. ”

  The two half-drunk people suddenly laughed wildly as if they had lost their minds. Christo, on the other hand, desperately drew a cross on his chest, and kept muttering something in his mouth.

  ……

  Great Sultan Zahir's face was like the glazed tiles on the walls of the Burjinikin Palace, a little more haggard and gloomy than it had been a year ago.

  But anyone with a brain knows that once the Two Sheep Dynasty falls, the Mamluks will be the next target of the Ottomans. The big Circassians can't say that they will give the Ottomans what they want, and I'm afraid it won't be worth two or three rounds. Decline is a problem that is already in place, and even if the last experience was painful, Sultan Zahir wants to seize every opportunity.

  "We agree."

  John had just opened his mouth to say about the establishment of a common defense alliance against the Ottomans, and before he could mention the details, the long story that followed was pushed back by Zahir Sultan in one sentence.

  "They are all allies of the big Circassian since ancient times! And the people of Allah. Boulgi did not have the habit of turning his back on his brothers! ”

  A righteous speech caught John off guard.