Chapter 63: Combat Readiness

Thank you for your tipping, and please forgive Sulla for not listing her name one by one.

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Just as Urban was stepping down from the Holy Seat to join Matilda in comforting the poor lady from the Varyag, Bohemond suddenly came out diagonally, knelt down in front of Urban, stroked his drape, kissed his finger and ring, and took the Pope's hand to stroke it on his head, "My great father, the helmsman of my ship, the earthly agent of the Most Holy and High Lord, I must tell you that the Emperor of Greece has rebelled, and he has not only sent his army to sack the whole of southern Italy, It also occupies the parish of the city of Bari. ”

"Calm down, my child, I think you have sent envoys to your barracks many times beforehand, and I thought you didn't have time to come to this little city, but was it not your wanton attack on your fellow Christians in Amalfi and Corinth?" Urban was not at all fooled by Bohemond's rhetoric.

Bohemond laughed shamelessly, still kneeling on the floor, "It's my fault, it's my lust, but now Bohemond has even mortgaged the Duke and Marquis title to the city of Pisa for three thousand silver coins, dear and great father, you can't really tell me to go to the ship of the Crusade to pay off the debt, right?" Moreover, both the Bishop of Bari, Anselm, and the Archcount of Sicily can testify to my accusations. ”

Urban shrugged his gray eyebrows, and at this time Anselm also stepped forward with resentment, and reported to the Holy See about Gawain's invasion and expulsion of the Catholic Church of Bari. The other party said that an important envoy of the official rank would be sent to discuss in the near future, so it is better to value peace now. Bohemond, out of compensity for your father's deeds, and my personal sympathy for you, I have decided to entrust you with the power of appointment of Imam, in order to finance the Crusade. ”

"Yes. Thank you very much. Bohemond laughed happily, "However, I will take this money with me to pay for the knights and soldiers, and then go east of Apulia to expel the power of Constantinople for the Holy See." Then he threw up his head, took the Pope's hand with both hands, and said obediently, "I hope that the Holy See will perceive what I mean." And I begged to personally escort Bishop Anselm back to the city of Bari, and Bohemond promised that I would sail from the city of Bari to Constantinople, without harming the life or property of any Christian. ”

The Pope touched Bohemond's cheek and asked him to kiss the rosary in his hand, "That's the best, then you can do it." In the spring of the coming year, I will go to Le Mans, under the rule of the King of France. To convene a larger meeting than this one is to mobilize all the knights and lords. Gather under the glorious banner of the Lord and march towards the Holy Sepulchre to fulfill the Lord's will. So, before the arrival of the envoy of the Emperor of Constantinople, you can do it freely and be sharp. ”

The implication of these words. Bohemond knew that when he walked out of the gate of the Placentia Monastery, his excitement could not be contained, and he said to Roger, "Uncle, I have taken all my chances. I will not repay the Pisan merchants, even if they are immediately taken from the right of appointment, and what is the point of losing the ducal title, or even the whole of Apulia. I was destined to be the patron of Anatolia and Antioch, and even of the Holy Land. ”

"I will support you with the Sicilian fleet, and you can quickly summon the pirates of Zahaas to help blockade the city of Bari, and I am sure that you will be able to recover the city and add a shining jewel to the Holy See before the Greek Emperor negotiates peace." This time, Roger showed rare generosity, and then the uncle and nephew hugged each other and swore an oath, Roger said sadly, "Uncle, my body is not as good as it was back then, and I don't know how much life I have left, and when people are old, they will lose their enterprising spirit, and they will no longer be able to insist on walking to the Holy Sepulchre." Even if the Holy See wanted me to send an army to attack the Crescentists in Kairouan, North Africa, it would be difficult for me to do so in my lifetime, so I married my lovely daughter Elisa as compensation. Hey, the old people have to go back to their homes surrounded by their children, and leave it to young people like you to do it. ”

"I'll do better than you, I'll do my best!"

In fact, Bohemond certainly understood that his treacherous and cunning uncle, who married his daughter and saddled up for the Pope, had already secretly signed a treaty with the pagan princes of Kairouan, and was ready to profit from the situation at any time.

Be careful with everyone!

In the years that followed, Bohemond, who had been appointed as a patriarch and priest, had his money back in his pocket, and in the cold wind and snow, Norman knights in cloaks and leather coats, lined up in a continuous procession, followed by Calabrian light soldiers with hounds, and searched the mountains and valleys to kill the remnants of the Greek rebellion.

Many people had walked miserably on the mountain roads to the city of Bari to seek the protection of Gawain, and as long as they could see the banner of the red hand sword fluttering above the cathedral of St. Nicholas in the city, their hearts were filled with hope.

After careful screening, Gawain generously placed them in a camp under the city, mixed with the Barry militia, and provided clothing and food, but was not allowed to enter the city, for fear that Norman's spies would infiltrate. In the gloomy weather, Gawain stood on top of the boiling towers of the city with torches, and watched the craftsmen and workers go up and down, adding to the city walls, and the ships from Venice and Ragusa on the sea were rapidly transporting heavy guarding weapons according to the contract, and the women of the city were all organized, sitting under the sheds in the square, rubbing ropes and weaving wicker quickly, and many military servants were pushing the vehicles, slowly down the stairway to the two new towers in the shape of horns. It was built by Gawain and the engineers from the masonry of the demolished Casa Tower, where the archers could get a bird's-eye view of the passages, bridges, and swamp shrubs beneath the city, and to form a simple but effective network of cross-rays.

Under the city, along the mountain passes, hills and bridges, the breastwork and fence erected are the outer defense line of the city, and simple military camps and stables are built in the middle, and the city wall is the horn of each other, and the granary is also added, which is conducive to long-term garrison defense.

The river that runs through the harbor also built the camp of the sailors' crew, and the arrival of three Venetian ships has given the whole city great courage, and as long as this fleet is present, the grain from the Ragusa and Moria side will flow into the city of Bari.

Seeing all this, Gawain stuck the torch on the platform on the wall, rubbed his hands together, and was full of pride in his heart, "Bohemond, you guy, come and add the fuel of the soul to my sword of phosphorus fire, I, Gawain, want to defeat you here, to really make a name for myself." (To be continued......)