After several days of sailing, Egil's fleet was once again docked.

Because the voyage was not very long, I didn't feel very tired physically.

Of course, it can't be said to be very good.

"It's hot. Egil wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked up at the sky—a dazzling blue, cloudless sky.

"It's a good time period right now. After a few more hours, it will be even hotter by noon. Beside Egil, the Venetian governor Witte said that after casting that crucial vote, he was considered a member of the Norman faction, whether he wanted it or not. It was as if Henry of Bavaria would have been seen as a figure on Albert's side, whether he wanted it or not. However, this was not unacceptable for the governor, after all, he had relied on the Norman Empire to obtain the title of governor of Venice. And he has been a junior brother under Egil for a long time......

"That's right. Egil nodded. It seems that the Doge of Venice had been here before or had been here - as a merchant.

Speaking of which, the Principality of Antioch is not at peace at this moment. To the north of Antioch is Adana, the capital of Ottoman Turkey. Large numbers of Sassanid cavalry, Sipahi cavalry, and Turkish nomadic cavalry were concentrated here, ready to cross the Assi River and wipe out the small principality.

In addition, to the east of Antioch is Aleppo, the military center of Egypt, another powerful pagan state. Also gathered here were large numbers of Mamluk cavalry, Ghulam cavalry and Arab cavalry. These cavalry were also ready to cross the Assi River and recapture Antioch.

The survival of the weak Antioch Gonggu to this day is mostly due to the fact that these two countries have their own opponents, and Antioch's position in this region is relatively secondary. Nasaladin fought with his life and specifically attacked Jeruchelom. And every time Suleiman mobilized the Turkish army, it was to attack the Greeks. The Principality of Antioch has survived inconspicuously in this region to this day, continuing the national dispersion.

Now, however, this situation has been shattered with the fall of Jerujung. At this moment, Prince Antiochus (in order to maintain his independence, successive Antioch monarchs called themselves princes) Bō Xi Méng de I was extremely terrified. In Syria, the loss of this only reinforcement would make the fate of the Principality of Antioch like a candle in a storm, ready to be extinguished at any moment by the terrifying and powerful pagan state of Houliu.

However, although he was unusually worried about his fate, he was worried that the infidels would destroy him. However, the prince was not afraid of the crusaders who came to war with the pagans for the first time. But it's not entirely welcoming. Especially in Egilska de la Grímsson. The Norman emperor, who had never dealt with him, took the whole of Cyprus into his pocket.

"You can take advantage of these guys, but you can't trust them completely. Outwardly they are dressed as believers and knights, but deep down they are a combination of an invader and a beast of prey. They came here ostensibly to retake the Holy Land, but in reality they were there to expand their territory and sphere of influence, and to gain enough advantage in the war...... ，... They don't care whether the territory they plunder is Catholic or pagan. ”

Perhaps because they were of the same kind, the Prince of Antioch, Bōshi Méng, who also relied on the Crusaders to get started, was wary of this group of Crusaders. There are even times when I ask myself, this group of beastly crusaders must be more terrible than the infidels—but what can he do? The crusaders had a large number of warships, tens of thousands of warriors, and the most warlike nobles, kings, and emperors in all of Europe. And what did Antioch have? A fairly prosperous city, a standing army of about 10,000, and nearly 30,000 peasant soldiers that could be called up when desperate. I'm afraid this kind of power is not enough for people to stuff their teeth.

As a result, Prince Antioch's attitude towards the Crusaders was ambiguous. While satisfying the demands of these masters as much as possible, and even desperately collecting food and grass for the army regardless of the lives of his own people, he also made a special effort to appease the kings and dukes from the European continent, who were a bunch of hillbillies in the eyes of the richer countries of the Middle East, but they were also satisfied with the clothes of this fat man with a bloated figure and a kind laugh. ...,

Except for Egil.

Part of the reason for this may be that the beautiful women sent by Bō Xi Méng made Maria and Sonia next to Egil very unhappy, and then made Egil be left out in the cold for a few nights, which made Egil also unhappy, and the most important thing is that those beauties are actually not very good-looking, or in other words, these Caucasian women with large pores do not meet Egil's aesthetics.

So he was decisively shot off - but, more importantly, the more important reason was that Egil had his eye on the land of Antioch.

"There is no special reason and significance.

You see, here it is not as good as Damascus in terms of economic status, and it is not as good as Jerusalem in terms of political significance. In terms of strategic significance, it is not as good as Seppetus.

Why am I interested here?" said Egil as he spoke into the corner of the tent, in the empty area, and smiled, "Because this is the land, do you understand what I mean? I'm not interested in Antioch, but in "the land." ”

"Well, Your Majesty, what are you doing?" asked Talelan, who had been secretly entertained several times, because Egil had made him a baron some time ago.

"No, nothing. Egil quickly turned around and looked at Talleyrand calmly. The look of "if you don't have anything to bother me, I'll kill you" made Talleyrand feel a lot of pressure for a moment.

"That's right, Your Majesty. "Unlike the others, who liked to call Egil as the king, the unfaithful scribe preferred to address Egil as His Majesty. Sounds like a lot more than anyone else.

"What banquet do those idiot kings want me to attend, or what gift does the fat pig prince give? or which ruffians are making trouble again. "Beep, Antiochus woman?" or do you dare to tell me that Saladin's brain show is funny. Rushing towards Antioch with all the heretics of the world?!" Egir interrupted Talleyrand without waiting for him to speak.

"In fact, everything else happened except for the last one. This is exactly what the subordinates want to report to His Majesty. ”

"It's terrible. A bunch of uninformed idiots - just an Antioch. Before he reached Jeruchel, he was blinded. Egil grumbled as he kneaded his sun.

"However, it has to be said that the closer you get to the East, the higher the standard of living. Spices, silks, porcelain, treasures from the Orient are always fascinating. Also, I recently discovered that something called tea is produced in the East, and it tastes very good. Although people always like to soak various seasonings with tea leaves and drink them, or stir them with milk. But I think the taste of tea is the best.

It's a bit bitter though. The hot climate contributes to some desert terrain, but if there is enough water, it can become a difficult area for food production. It's like-,

"--Okay, okay. I don't have time to hear you talk about this stuff right now. A little bit from the east, the leaves that have dried for an unknown amount of time can pour you down, and you are really useless. Sixteen-year-old Egil, who had drunk too many concocted canned beverages in his previous life, complained, "What time is the party?" And the dead fat man's gift was accepted. "Beep, the guy from the fù girl gave him twenty lashes. Claiming that the woman is a prostitute, if something similar happens in the future, you don't have to tell me, and you will be dealt with accordingly.

"However, if this causes dissatisfaction among the citizens—"

"--How can they still riot?" Egir snorted, "The riot is according to the mob custom, hanging, beheading, crossing... I see that the more you learn, the more you go back. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. "I heard my own emperor say so undisciplined. Talleyrand was speechless for a moment, and finally said that the banquet had begun at four o'clock in the afternoon, and heard Egil complain: "A bunch of foodies." After that, he left.

In fact, it is indeed a little too much for Egil to call this group of monarchs foodies. The kings from the bitter cold land of the European continent, although they were more or less míhuò by the scenery of the Holy Land that prospered because of the trade between the East and the West. But it's not like you're just forgetting the serious. Now, although these people are huddled in Antioch, there is little action. But there's a reason for that.

The army was not fully transported, and the troops transported to Antioch needed some time to recuperate and adapt to the hot weather - despite this, hundreds of small troops were also marching south as scouts and advance troops. Their targets were small pagan towns and villages. Capture those areas that are not well guarded, so as to facilitate the long-distance advance of the follow-up large army.

In addition, Emperor Albert, who did not want to obey Egil's orders at all, also did something unexpected - after landing with the help of Norman ships, the emperor couldn't wait to sail south... It was as if he thought he could save the Holy Land with the tens of thousands of horses under his command.

"It's naïve, I hope Saladin will teach him a profound lesson, and make him understand how ignorant and stupid he really is. When Egil got the news, he had no intention of stopping it, and he was delighted to see the idiot being beaten all over the head by Saladin, and it would have been nice if he had died because of it (to be continued). ！。