Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 878 - 102: Call for Aid

In the afternoon, Saladin Castle had already been completely occupied by the Crusaders.

The green, red, and yellow Holy Fire banners were cut down by the Crusader soldiers who ascended to the city walls, thrown down from the ramparts, and replaced by flags adorned with a cross and a double-headed eagle.

Saladin Castle was already a strategic high point, and with the change of banners here, most of Cairo City could be clearly seen. Despite the large number of defenders in the city, their morale was shaken and it was an unimaginable shock.

Historically, sieges were protracted battles, lasting years, what with this siege being taken in just half a day?

Moreover, with the Demon Dragon airborne, Cairo’s defenders had no means of counterattack. Those Demon-blocking golden crossbows, which once posed a threat prior to Ladon’s advancement, now couldn’t hit their target even if they could cause harm.

If the besieging army belonged to a more lenient Crusader Monarch, Cairo City might have already been preparing to open its gates and surrender.

But Losa would not budge; when establishing a nation, if he didn’t clean out some of the existing rentier classes, it could no longer be clear whether he conquered Egypt or Egypt conquered him as time went on.

While pondering, Kurs approached him and whispered, "Sir, the Knight Order’s Holy Radiance Seed requests to join the siege battle."

The Holy Radiance Seed refers to those Holy Hall knights from the Holy Hall, Hospital, and Teutonic Order who have mastered some of the Holy Light Power. They now number over a hundred, and their combat strength is formidable.

Losa snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head, "Tell them to be patient; tonight there’ll be an opportunity for them to be utilized."

He planned to repeat his tactic with a night raid.

Elite forces confronting rabble have always found this trick effective. With Cairo being the juicy meat in his mouth, he could break the city overnight if he didn’t care about losses; but he’s here to train his troops, not send his men to die.

As the night grew near, the Crusaders, who had been fighting all day, gradually retreated to the safety of the fortress, towers, and city areas amidst the sound of horns, picked up lavish dinners sent by the logistics team, and restored their energy.

Just as he was planning to go out on a camp inspection, he felt the Empire Badge worn close to his chest suddenly grow warm.

He answered the communication, and a slightly fatigued voice from Anna was heard.

"Good evening, distinguished King of Aegyptus, destined Holy Monarch, the nightmare of Saracens, slayer of legends."

Losa couldn’t help but laugh, "Enough with the flattery, Anna."

"You should be close to capturing Cairo City now."

"You’ve got good intel."

"Of course, the Levant Wizard Association certainly has some people, and there are exchanges from time to time."

Losa smiled, not suspecting that Anna had also placed informers around him.

"How goes your battle in Sicily?"

"Not well, the pretender king Tancred of Sicily has reached an agreement with the Venetians. Ever since the Empress ascended the throne and abolished many commercial privileges for Venetians, relations between the two countries have been poor."

She paused briefly before continuing, "And the Empire lost a large number of ships in the Cyprus naval battles. Currently, the Empire Fleet cannot rival the Venetians; they’ve blockaded the sea, cutting off our supplies, and the situation that was originally in our favor has become increasingly uncertain."

Losa frowned, "Didn’t Henry VI just subdue the Northern Italian City-States? If they can assemble a fleet and persuade Venice’s rival, the Genoese, to help, plus you have that Sea Dragon you’ve nurtured, shouldn’t you be able to resolve this predicament?"

Anna sighed powerlessly.

"A new series of Crusades is gathering in Pannonia. They’ve been bought by Alexios of the Anglos family, intending to join his expedition to claim the throne. Losa, our situation is very bad now, and we don’t know when they’ll ride the Venetian fleet and attack the Empire’s heart like an evil wolf."

Isn’t this the historically notorious Fourth Crusade?

Unexpected that even though he captured Egypt, winning the Third Crusade, the Fourth Crusade still happened.

Losa frowned, "Anna, you’re asking me to help?"

There was a moment of silence on the other side, then a somewhat weak voice, "That’s right, I know you’re at a critical phase in conquering Aegyptus, and it’s hard to spare troops. I shouldn’t have asked, but you’re the only one I know who might be able to help."

Times are different now, as Losa has been crowned King of Aegyptus, occupying Alexandria and Cairo, two Mediterranean World cities second only to Constantinople. Power and wealth have placed him among the ranks of top monarchs.

She really can’t imagine what kind of terms the Empire could offer to persuade Losa to turn against his Frankish compatriots.

"Tell me the specifics."

"Alexios has been exiled overseas for many years. He now has the support of Bella III of Hungary, bought crusaders stranded in Croatia, Austria, Venetia, and made an alliance with the Venetians, offering a large sum, which I see as checks he can’t cash, collecting a force no less than"

"A new series of Crusades is gathering in Pannonia. They’ve been bought by Alexios of the Anglos family, intending to join his expedition to claim the throne. Losa, our situation is very bad now, and we don’t know when they’ll ride the Venetian fleet and attack the Empire’s heart like an evil wolf."

Isn’t this the historically notorious Fourth Crusade?

Unexpected that even though he captured Egypt, winning the Third Crusade, the Fourth Crusade still happened.

Losa frowned, "Anna, you’re asking me to help?"

There was a moment of silence on the other side, then a somewhat weak voice, "That’s right, I know you’re at a critical phase in conquering Aegyptus, and it’s hard to spare troops. I shouldn’t have asked, but you’re the only one I know who might be able to help."

Times are different now, as Losa has been crowned King of Aegyptus, occupying Alexandria and Cairo, two Mediterranean World cities second only to Constantinople. Power and wealth have placed him among the ranks of top monarchs.

She really can’t imagine what kind of terms the Empire could offer to persuade Losa to turn against his Frankish compatriots.

"Tell me the specifics."

"Alexios has been exiled overseas for many years. He now has the support of Bella III of Hungary, bought crusaders stranded in Croatia, Austria, Venetia, and made an alliance with the Venetians, offering a large sum, which I see as checks he can’t cash, collecting a force no less than"

"Alexios has been exiled overseas for many years. He now has the support of Bella III of Hungary, bought crusaders stranded in Croatia, Austria, Venetia, and made an alliance with the Venetians, offering a large sum, which I see as checks he can’t cash, collecting a force no less than"