Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 593 - 367: King Meets King

Damietta Suburbs.

Since various Crusaders dispersed for attacks, the previously crowded camp outside the city appeared much more spacious.

The Apennine Mercenary Corps had initially occupied a Saracen Castle, intending to use it as a base, but the enemy's resistance was too strong. After suffering heavy losses, they massacred the castle along with all the heretical peasants, leaving corpses scattered everywhere.

A castle left only with ruins and debris, even if intended to serve as a mercenary camp, would require a fortune for reconstruction.

They had to return to the suburb camps with the meager wealth they plundered, selling the spoils to city merchants in exchange for military supplies.

At this moment, under a sky-high blue light veil, two knights in full armor emerged from the veil first, one of them raised a flag embroidered with a red badge bearing three golden lions, and shouted to those mercenaries who came to watch the spectacle.

"Back off!"

"Get out of here!"

"Anyone who steps closer will die!"

The knights proceeded in sequence, holding long halberds to block each side. Following them were formidable guards wielding Danish axes, surrounding a man radiating an aura of nobility, who walked out of the teleportation array's halo.

The man wore a crown helmet and a red cloak printed with three golden lions, riding on a strong steed draped in a red horse cloth.

Even though he only brought a handful of attendants and knights, his gaze was like that of a lion inspecting his territory. Just a cold glance made those mercenaries who earlier had complaints about the knights' arrogance lower their heads.

Sebastian tidied his attire and stepped forward: "Honorable Albion King, welcome to your arrival."

The man nodded slightly, his face carrying a smile as warm as spring sunlight: "Lord Sebastian, this is the wonder of magic. Just a moment ago, I was in a manor in Aquitaine, and now I have traversed the Mediterranean to arrive in Egypt."

Sebastian frowned, dissatisfied with the man's words: "It is all arranged by the Heavenly Father!"

"Ha, yes indeed, magic is but a small grace bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Father."

Sebastian breathed a sigh of relief; this handsome king, when putting aside his majesty, was easier to get along with than imagined.

"Your Majesty, you only brought these people?"

Sebastian glanced over the Lionheart's followers, knowing at a glance that these fierce knights were mighty warriors, but their numbers were indeed too few.

Richard smiled helplessly: "You killed too few heretics. If the scale were grand enough and plenty of heretic blood sacrifices collected, I could have at least brought my entire royal guard."

As the two were conversing, a dust cloud stirred from afar.

The Lionheart's expression slightly changed, revealing a hint of joy, in contrast to his guards who showed an alert stance as if facing a formidable opponent.

"Enemy cavalry coming?"

"Prepare to fight!"

Richard turned to Sebastian, speaking decisively: "My knights need to use your steeds; quickly prepare the warhorses for them, for I cannot wait to contest with these heretics."

Sebastian smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, the cavalry coming should not be the enemy's but Marquis Losa's horses."

Despite having grievances with Losa, he dared not incite the Lionheart to clash with Losa, for a glance at the flag and emblem would clear the truth.

"That Holy Land Guardian?"

The Lionheart paused with interest: "Interesting, come with me, let us see the renowned winged cavalry under the protection of the Holy Spear Guardian!"

They all clustered around the Lionheart, reaching the camp entrance.

From afar, dust clouds swirled, as hundreds of cavalrymen in bright armor gleamed under the sunlight, galloping forth with flagbearers raising flags high, with a double-headed eagle and the Jerusalem Cross (composed of a central cross with four T-shaped crosses, and between the arms, four small Greek crosses) spreading wide under the blazing sun.

The Lionheart admired enthusiastically: "What a magnificent force!"

In mere moments, the winged cavalry halted at the camp entrance, their coordinated reining of the steeds showing their exquisite skill and harmony.

Losa immediately recognized the Lionheart's identity.

The Anjou Family's three-lion badge is quite famous even in later generations.

According to legend, he was not favored by his father Henry II and was incited by Cunning Fox Philip and his mother Eleanor to launch several rebellions against his father.

On one occasion, after defeat, Richard was thrown by his father Henry II into a cage with a lion, where he fought the lion bravely and killed it with his bare hands, tearing out its heart, earning the name Lionheart. (Note: Not historical fact)

He was not only the King of Albion but also the Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, ruling half of Gaul's land, the latter being more significant than the isolated Albion Island.

Therefore, people sometimes call him King of Anjou. (Note: This name is similar to the Habsburg composite monarchy, referring to the union of territories under the king's rule, without any legal basis)

Additionally, Richard the Lionheart also married a powerful witch as his queen and Minister of Finance, managing the entirety of Albion on his behalf. For this, he even broke off his engagement with King Philip's sister.

In both the secular and extraordinary world, he wielded influence far beyond common imagination.

However, although the Lionheart had already shown exceptional military talent during the rebellion against his father and the suppression of local uprisings, what truly made him legendary was his arrival in the Holy Land, where he led the Crusaders in a contest against Saladin.

Thus, in terms of personal prestige, Losa was almost on par with this legendary monarch, and even slightly superior.

Losa sat astride a massive horse, staring unflinchingly back at the king opposite him.

He recalled a saying he had seen in a previous life, that if the monarchs of medieval Europe could be divided into three types: one being the domestic policy monarch, who during times of war, stayed in the palace to provide the front-line commander-in-chief with military supplies and soldiers.

Another type was the commander-in-chief monarch, who stayed at the main camp overseeing the entire situation and issuing orders, as exemplified by Saladin.

The last type was the general monarch, who led the charge in every battle.

Both Losa and the Lionheart were undoubtedly models of the latter type.

In the Middle Ages, a king could be tyrannical, greedy, or lustful, but as long as he could fight well and battle for the Lord, he could earn everyone's admiration—Richard the Lionheart was clearly an exemplar of this.

It is said that he scarcely set foot in Albion throughout his life, instead extorting heavy taxes from the people, but after he fell into misfortune and was captured, the people of Albion enthusiastically raised the ransom for him.

A bronze statue of this king, who could hardly be considered wise, still stands before Westminster Palace to this day.

Losa was scrutinizing him, and Richard the Lionheart was likewise seriously assessing this renowned young monarch who had already laid a foundation in the Holy Land at such a young age.

"Are you Marquis Losa?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Losa nodded slightly in greeting, as etiquette of the time was not standardized. As a great lord from another land, whether he should bow to Richard was ambiguous, especially since Losa was in full armor, allowing him the excuse of being hindered from movement if criticized.

Richard stepped closer to Losa, his gaze immediately fixated on the ornate Holy Cross Plate Armor Losa wore. As a war enthusiast with a keen sense for battles, not inferior to Jeanne, he understood that this seemingly showy armor was practically an impenetrable iron fortress on the battlefield.

"Isn't it always said that the East is the source of wealth?"

He remarked with some emotion.

To assemble a crusade to the East, he had imposed severe taxes, sold royal estates, and traded titles, only then gathering over ten thousand elite Crusaders and funding their journey from Gascony to the Holy Land.

Now, his coffers were empty.

The city-states of the Apennines were also wealthy, but in Richard's view, even they were merely exploiting the East.

"If Your Majesty is interested, after the welcoming banquet, I will have someone tailor a set of new plate armor for you,"

Sebastian quietly observed, sensing no urgency between these seemingly amicable monarchs.

In terms of military leadership, Sebastian was certain that Richard the Lionheart was far superior to Losa. Even if Losa were sidelined, the Crusaders led by Richard the Lionheart could easily defeat the Egyptian Saracen forces.

Moreover, knowing the Lionheart, this king would never regard a self-styled Germanic barbarian Duke with any respect.

As for Losa, he saw him as someone who, once seized of power, was reluctant to relinquish it—a headstrong and arrogant man. If paired with another equally headstrong man, it seemed impossible for them to coexist peacefully.

All it would take was a little incitement… no, even if he did nothing, these two would certainly end up clashing.

"I must thank you, Losa; all Christians should thank you for thwarting the heretic's plan to seize the Holy Land, for defeating the wicked heretic ruler, and for seizing Damietta as a foothold for the Crusaders' entry into Egypt."

The monarch, adorned in a crown helmet, looked on with admiration and praise.

Losa replied with neither arrogance nor subservience, "Your Majesty, this is what every devout Christian ought to do."

He disliked Richard's tone, as if he were the true master of this place and Losa were merely a vanguard general answering to him.

He inquired earnestly, "If I may be frank, Your Majesty, where is your army?"

"My army has already boarded from Gascony and will soon ride the wind and waves to meet us."

Losa couldn't help but laugh, "Your Majesty, you mean your army will travel along the Iberian west coast, pass through the Gibraltar Strait under heretic control, and cross the entire Mediterranean to reach Egypt, correct?"

Richard's face showed no hint of embarrassment, only a reserved nod: "That's right."

"But I have also hired a fleet from Pisa. Within half a month, they will dispatch a fleet loaded with grain, ale, and armaments, and every subsequent month, they will deliver supplies to Damietta, until we reclaim all of Egypt."

Losa remained silent, awed that Richard the Lionheart dared to travel to the Holy Land escorted only by a few dozen personal guards, leaving his army behind. Undoubtedly, Richard the Lionheart was indeed a bold man.