Several of the sailors, astonished at Gawain's words, explained that while they had been carrying grain to the barge the previous day according to the news from Antioch, Kobha's cavalry had crossed the entire heath around the city of Atta, rushed to the port of San Simon, shot all the sailors who were loading their goods on land at the mouth of the sea, threw torches and burned all the Venetian barges, and the men on the large galleys were so frightened that they pulled anchor and fled towards the Gulf of Issus or the port of Latakia further south.

"What about the other city-states?" Gawain asked hurriedly.

"Amalfi and Reladuck have been in the same fate as us, and the survivors have fled to the fort of the Gemagis, and several of us have come to report to the Grand Duke."

After hearing this, Gawain's head buzzed, and then he understood something, and he was furious, and immediately walked out of the camp, stepped on horseback, and galloped with the guards to the city of Antioch.

At the gates of the city walls, which had been smashed down by the pilgrims, many of the mobilized people had already begun to repair them, which had been the enemy's barriers, but now they were theirs, so they had to do their best.

At this time, when Gawain slowed down his horse's hooves at the bridgehead on the bank of the Falfa River, the crowd of people carrying all kinds of supplies on the bridge deck, including the craftsmen on the city wall, burst into cheers - Gawain looked fixedly, and sure enough, in the Falfa River, two or three barges were carrying grain, passing through the stone bridge holes, heading towards the target wharf and the field.

The sailors on deck, all dressed in gowns with iron nails against arrows, rowed with their oars, and the flag on the bow of the ship, Gawain, saw it kindly, and shouted even louder, and struck Sabina with his horsewhip, and entered the gates.

At the edge of the arena block, in front of the mansion of Bohemond, the "chief of the army", several Norman knights held the hilts of their swords, surrounded the courtyard with malicious intentions, and forced Gao Wen to enter with the Saxon guard warriors from the door, trying to prevent Gao Wen from going further, and Gao Wen was not polite at all, he waved his arms, and the samurai behind him also raised their bright battle axes, and suddenly the two sides were tense.

At this moment, Bohemond walked out of the mansion step by step, leisurely holding a goblet set with diamonds and pure gold plates, with a slightly drunk expression, crooked his mouth, looking at Gawain who was looking at him angrily.

But when Gawain saw him, he was even more angry, so he simply went straight to the point, "The port of San Simeon was raided by Kobuha's cavalry, and the losses were heavy, do you know? ”

"Is your news accurate? I mean, the second half of your sentence. Bohemond asked with a sneer, as if he had been prepared for this sight.

"Of course!" There was a commotion, and Gawain stepped directly on the steps, so frightened that Bohemond took two steps back, leaning on the potted plant, several Norman knights had already drawn their swords, and the cold light of the axe blades of Gawain's guards was intertwined, "Now as far as I know, the fleets of the three city-states of Venice, Amalfi and Relaya, the grain and barges that were ready to be transported, were all burned and destroyed. ”

"What!" With a bang, Bohemond was so depressed that the wine glass actually fell at his feet, and he leaned on the huge palm leaf potted plant, making the leaves rattle and move, and when he heard Gawain's words, it was like a dream, no, he was so frightened that the wine and the dream woke up together.

Gawain chopped his hand down, "But when I came, on the Falfa River around the city, I saw several barges in the rear, full of grain, and the flag you should know - it belongs to the Pisa. ”

These words made Bohemond's eyes almost dark, and he quickly understood the reason why there was such a situation, and then Bohemond felt that his eyes were dark-Gawain ignored the pushing and guarding of many of his entourage, and rushed up and grabbed his collar, "You are doing this nonsense, how many bribes the Pisan people have given you, will make you willing to betray more than 100,000 pilgrims, and the entire city of Antioch." ”

Gawain's strength was so great that Bohemond pushed away with his hand in anger, but Gawain rushed forward and pressed his knee against the hand of the Duke of Apulia, Bohemond writhed, his neck was clamped by Gawain's iron arm, and his body writhed, but he couldn't exert any strength, and his fingers couldn't even touch the hilt or blade of the sword, so he blushed and shouted in a different voice, "Presumptuous, I am the chief of the army, and I don't know anything about what you said!" ”

As a result, Gawain's elbow pushed forward, Bohemond's neck was pinched fiercely, his breathing was very difficult, he made a continuous retching sound, and his waist was pushed to the sharp edge of the potted clay pot, "Now only one city-state of Pisa has brought in grain, and the other three have been destroyed by the Turks, and the city will surely fall into famine soon, say!" Is it that you and the consul of Pisa are colluding to earn the pilgrims' money! ”

Bohemond was crushed in a cloud of emerald green, palm fronds swaying on his cheeks and face, he vomited and coughed, his hands clapping weakly against Gawain's arm—and soon the Duke was still struggling to regain his breath with his hands on the floor, and the veins on his neck were stretched and retracted, and his eyes were almost bursting.

"I really don't know it, but I have seen Consul Monnicki a few days ago, and I have instructed him to inform all the city-state ships throughout the port of Saint-Simon, and to bring the grain, forage, and other supplies that have been hoarded in the port down the river to the city by small barges, so that we may hold out for a long time. I can swear this before the Lord and the Patriarchs at the same time. ”

Listening to the Duke of Apulia's explanation, Gawain felt that he should not be lying, so he slammed his fist down the pillar, "You were deceived by the Pisa, he used your information and intelligence to rush in the grain, avoiding Kobuha's attack, and deliberately left the competitor in the port to make all his supplies finished. ”

"What's in it for them?"

"The benefits are obvious, the Pisa's new tricks are hoarded and the enemy's bargaining chips are used to destroy their competitors, and only they can bring food into Antioch to do the unique business of more than 100,000 pilgrims, and they can bid whatever price they want." Gawain's explanation made Bohemond, who stood up, feel chills and was shocked.

Finally, Bohemond advised, "You and I should go with the guards to the consul's mansion of the Pisan people, and ask them for food, and distribute it according to the head." ”

Gawain turned around and looked at him with great distrust, "As far as I know, you owe tens of thousands of gold coins to the other party. ”

Who wants Bohemond to punch his fist in the chest, "I understand, but if Monnikeni is allowed to act recklessly, won't my prestige as a deacon plummet?" In any case, give it a try. (To be continued.) )