Jerusalem is not a trading hub like Aleppo and Antioch, it is located between the southeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

The nearest coastline is also nearly fifty kilometres away, far from the trade routes, high among cliffs, gorges and mountain gravel, and subjected to the scorching heat and cold of winter.

In terms of military and commercial value, Jerusalem is not a strategic location.

But religion has given it an extra sacred meaning.

Saladin sought to reclaim Jerusalem and recast the crown of the Patriarch in order to gain supreme prestige, subdue the resistance at home, and even dominate the Zoroastrian world.

The Crusader nations fought to defend it, not only because it was the source of their faith, but also the source of all the legitimacy of their rule.

After enjoying the luxurious life of the Oriental aristocracy, they could no longer adapt to the cold and humid Western Europe.

What's more, a turnip and a pit, their ancestors, after leaving Western Europe, have long since renounced all claims and inheritances to their territories there.

In Jaffa, Knight Kevin introduced Lothar to Baron Gofrey, who had come to pick up his son.

This is a middle-aged man who is accustomed to the heat of the East, has neat short hair, and wears a silk robe over a chain armor shirt.

He is a good friend of the Count of Werner.

When he learned of Lothar's identity, his attitude was even more fervent than that of his own son, who had been reunited after a long absence.

By the time he heard that Lothar was planning to follow his father's orders and join the royal party.

He was immediately pleasantly surprised: "I knew that old fellow of Werner would not bear to let his old friend fight alone, and lo and behold, he sent his most courageous and warlike son to me!" ”

Baron Gofrey smiled from ear to ear and patted Lothar on the shoulder: "I promise, His Majesty will be happy to learn of your arrival." ”

Lothar smiled shyly, "I am also honored to serve Your Majesty with my father's robes. ”

He could feel the sincerity of Baron Goldfrey, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of great achievements Werner, the country earl, had made to win the favor of so many people.

It should be Count Werner who got the protagonist template, right?

In the evening, they finally crossed the vast Gobi Desert and arrived at the holy city of Jerusalem.

The city looks very different from the cities of Western Europe.

It was cramped and cramped in places, but the huge fortress that towered in the middle of the city was like a majestic fortress that had only been seen in Lothar's life.

It is full of mud houses, domes, spires, Frankish and Arabic buildings, all scattered throughout the city.

After the capture of Jerusalem, the original Crusaders carried out a terrible massacre, Arabs, Jews... All the heretics were slaughtered.

Their wealth was looted, and the buildings that remained, including Zoroastrian temples and altars, were seized by the Crusaders and even converted into domed churches.

Later, even after more than 100 years, Jerusalem still retains a distinctly Arab identity.

Pilgrims from all over the world come together in different languages.

It is a holy place of three religions, including almost all the faiths of Eastern and Western Europe, plus Central Asia and North Africa.

Endless streams of caravans and pilgrims, Jews, Persians, AKSMs, Tianzhu, Turks ... There were even Song people from the far east.

The sounds of conversation in all faiths and languages made Lothar's head feel like a cow.

If it were in the later generations when nationalism was on the rise, it would definitely be a source of chaos and not a good place for development at all.

On the streets, vendors selling spices, silks, vegetables and fruits are shouting loudly, and most of them are expensive, even if the goods are transported here from the sea, the price will rise sharply.

The serfs who drove cattle, sheep and livestock followed their masters with low eyebrows and pleasing eyes.

The knights of Jerusalem in blue burqas, the Templars with a red cross on a white background, and the Hospitaller with a white cross on a black background, led the sergeants and patrolled the city.

There were also knights from Tripoli, Antioch, North Germania, Anglo-Saxon, Aragon, the Two Sicilies...

Their coats of arms are varied.

Gather in groups of three or five to talk.

It is clear that war is looming.

The bustling, inclusive and peaceful scene in front of us is about to be gone forever.

Baron Gofrey pointed to the hill in the distance, where a domed building could be faintly seen, and a cross stood at the top: "This is the place where Jesus was crucified, and I will take you and Berriand to worship later, but for now we must go to the palace first." ”

"Today is the time of the Great Council, and most of the powerful nobles will attend, so I will take you to identify people first."

Lothar nodded, "It's up to you." ”

The group stopped in the outer part of the castle.

"Lord Goldfrey, you came just in time, you are deliberating, so I sent you."

The guards were dressed similarly to Baron Goffrey, and were clearly members of the Royal Order.

This is a Praetorian Guard subordinate to the royal family, and compared with the Knights of Jerusalem, the word "royal family" is added, and the nature is completely different.

"I'll take two people inside."

Gofrey gestured to the two behind him, and strode into the palace.

Prajna frowned slightly, she was used to following Lothar, and subconsciously wanted to go in with him, but as soon as she took a step, she realized that it was inconvenient.

Lothar smiled back at her.

The royal palace in Jerusalem was not a tiger's den, he had come to pay allegiance to His Majesty, not to assassinate him, and there would be no danger at all.

The walls of the royal palace are full of exquisite reliefs.

In the cracks of the hollowed-out windows, a bright brilliance is cast.

Gofrey led the two of them to sit down at a long table, and whispered to them: The one in the red cloak was George Lin of Edessa, a count with only a title, and his current fief was near Acre.

The tall, thin man with unkempt red hair was Count Renard, who had been the Duke of Antioch, but he had been robbed of his territory by the Arabs along with the father of the Count of Edessa.

So he is now "Count of Otre Jordan", which means "Count by the Jordan River".

He was one of the most powerful men in all of Jerusalem, he was brave and skillful, and he was one of the most important commanders at the Battle of Mongiza, outside of His Majesty. ”

Gao Frey lowered his voice: "This person is also a key role in the Queen Mother's Party headed by the Empress Dowager Agnes. Guy, who was bent on marrying Lusignan, married Princess Sibylla. ”

"The one in the red burqa is Raymond of Chatillon, Count of Tripoli, Prince Tiberias, regent of Jerusalem, who single-handedly brokered Princess Sibylla's first marriage."

"He formed a small alliance with many nobles.

Roger of Morin of the Knights Hospitaller was its strongest supporter. Let's call it the Jue Party.

Grand Master Gerald of the Knights Templar was once firmly on our side.

But you know, Your Majesty's condition is getting worse and worse, and Captain Gerald has recently been very close to Renard of the Queen Mother's party.

Renard, in particular, was more aggressive in his treatment of heretics, and was in tune with the Templar style. ”

Lothar frowned, and in a few words, Gofrey thoroughly analyzed the three forces in this hall, and none of the three parties was sure of the other.

The three-legged stand is the most stable and the most difficult situation to talk about.

"Which party are you, Lord Baron?"

Without hesitation, Gofrey said, "The Iberin family is only loyal to His Majesty. ”

Lothar asked, "What if Your Majesty dies?" ”

Baron Ibelin's face showed a hint of heaviness: "Lothar, I must remind you that it is a great encroachment and offense to talk about this subject to a courtier. ”

Lothar smiled, "But if I don't make it clear, how can I go with you?" ”

Gao Frey was silent for a moment, and in a very low voice, he said quickly: "Then support the next king." After the death of the king, the throne will definitely be inherited by the son born to Princess Sibylla and her ex-husband. ”

Lothar asked, "What kind of party is Princess Sibylla?" ”

"The Queen Mother."

Lothar pondered: "So we are actually on the same front with Count Renard?" ”

"No, the Iberin family never makes decisions in advance."

Gao Frey's tone paused slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "We are only loyal to Your Majesty and never do superfluous things. ”

Lothar was stunned.

And voila!

This is true wisdom.

It's different from wallgrass.

If the Iberin family was loyal only to the king, they would not be subjected to partisanship and would have better preserved their strength.

In addition, the power of the Iberin family in the Holy Land can be said to be deep-rooted.

Baron Iberin, who was prominent and loyal to the king, was the object of any new monarch's co-optation and trust.

As for who is Xinjun?

Fight for it.

At this time, in the main hall, King Baldwin's heraldic officer strode up and shouted, "His Majesty is still resting, and this time the Lord Regent is temporarily presiding over the matter." ”

Raymond bowed slightly to the heraldic officer, stood up and said, "Today's issue is whether to open the Holy Treasury of Jerusalem and repair the walls of Jerusalem!" ”

The hall suddenly became a pot of porridge.

Lothar was a little puzzled: "Now Your Majesty, even the construction of a city wall has to be discussed with your subordinates?" ”

"The keys to the Great Treasury are in the hands of His Majesty the King, the Knights Templar, and the two Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller," Gofrey explained. ”

"And the money did not belong to His Majesty. It was pre-deposited by King Henry II of England to support his military expenses for his next crusade. ”

Lothar Stopper.

"Ahh

Sure enough, the topic was met with resolute opposition from the outset.

"Henry II did not fulfill his obligation to support the holy war until his death, and we deserved this money! The aim is the noble mission of protecting the Holy Land! ”

"Yes, Henry II is dead. But his son, Richard, known as the Lionheart, is not dead, and we still expect him to lead an army to support the Holy Land, how can we embezzle this money? ”

The aristocrats were clamoring.

The Jue Party, the Queen Mother's Party, and the Wang Party are only roughly divided, in fact, they will advance and retreat together when they involve fundamental interests, and they will usually express their own opinions.

For example, now, Gerald agrees to build the wall, but the Count of Renard disagrees, saying that the money should be used to arm the pilgrims and recreate the original Battle of Mongisa in the field and defeat Saladin.

Roger, the head of the Knights Hospitaller, thought that the money should be kept to urge Henry II's son, Richard the Lionheart, to leave for the Holy Land as soon as possible.

There were also a few minor nobles who thought that they should use the money to hire mercenary groups in the Apennines and Germania, which was enough to get five or six large mercenary groups of thousands of men to continue fighting for a year.

Some people even whimsically proposed to use the money to hire Hawthorne's killers to assassinate Saladin.

"That's enough, now vote by show of hands!"

Raymond of Shatilon slapped the table and said in a loud voice: "Raise your hand to agree to repair the walls of Jerusalem and strengthen the city defenses, and everyone else will put it down!" ”