Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 538 - 317: The Damietta Campaign

Egypt, Kamun Village.

Outside the window, the urgent hoofbeats awakened this Coptic village from its slumber.

Menes approached the window, peeking through the crack to observe the passing army’s attire: "It’s the Governor Iben’s Imperial Guard, why aren’t they even lighting a torch?"

"It looks like they were probably defeated, otherwise they wouldn’t be fleeing so miserably."

"I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly!"

In the evening, this army had just passed through the town, and before long, they fled in defeat. The Crusaders’ combat power was indeed as strong as legends say!

Menes felt a flame ignited in his chest.

A burst of shouting and killing sounds came through.

The defeated troops of Governor Iben seemed to leave behind some soldiers as a rearguard. After a good while of shouting and killing, Crusaders dressed differently from the Saracens arrived at Kamun Village.

Menes carefully observed this Crusader troop he had never seen before—they were dressed differently from the Saracens, not wearing veils or turbans, like iron-clad beasts.

Fiery red warhorses, like a red ghost in the dark night.

The Crusaders surrounded the Knight riding the fiery red warhorse, slowly passing through the village corridor, with crosses and eagle badges emblazoned on their surcoats, causing the Coptics to whisper quietly.

"God, they are Crusaders, warriors of Christ!"

"Governor Iben’s army is simply no match for them. Does this mean that from now on, Damietta’s ownership will shift to the Crusaders?"

"These Franks, will they forcibly enlist us? My son and husband are still serving in Governor Iben’s army."

The village buzzed with murmurs.

Many Coptic people had eyes filled with both expectation and fear.

The Crusaders could drive away the Saracens, could return Egypt to Christ’s embrace, which was a good thing.

But who knows, having driven away the wolves, what if the incoming are tigers?

Even if they are Christians, who can ensure that heretics would be kinder than pagans?

The Fire Worship texts, while advocating the destruction of pagans, also preach tolerance when pagans show submission, and for centuries, the Saracens’ rule has indeed been considered tolerant.

Conversely, the Damietta Province once served as a frontline in Crusader wars, suffering from terrifying devastation, with Franks and Saracens nearly setting the whole of Damietta ablaze on this land not belonging to them.

At this moment, Menes pushed open the door, shouting clumsily in Gaulish: "Who is the esteemed King of the Dead Sea? Holy Spear Guardian?"

King of the Dead Sea?

Jeanne, riding the fiery red warhorse, quickly realized the King of the Dead Sea should be an honorific term used by Coptics for the Transjordan Lord.

Jeanne waved away the cavalry guards in front of her, urging her horse forward to him: "The Marquis is in the back; what do you want with the lord?"

A woman?

Menes was completely unprepared for the Crusaders letting a woman serve as an officer, even a general. He was momentarily at a loss.

"I am personally appointed by the Marquis as the Holy Spear Guardian, and also the Supreme Commander of this cavalry troop. Whatever you need, feel free to tell me."

Jeanne’s voice was calm, without any of the urgency one would expect of a pursuing soldier.

Chelina had already delivered Losa’s orders, acknowledging that the enemy had suffered heavy losses this time, attaining the primary goal of eliminating the enemy’s effective strength. As for annihilating the escaping elite, it was just an additional achievement.

"It’s a trap, esteemed lady."

Menes realized it, cursing his own ignorance, and quickly said: "Ahead is a dangerous marshland; it appears no different from flat ground, but if one ends up there for long, the river water will flood over the feet—if a cavalry passes through, they will definitely get stuck in the mud!"

Jeanne frowned.

What the other side said very likely could become a reality.

Additionally, Losa ordered her not to take too many risks, she thought about it for a while, and still issued the order: "Cease pursuit, collect fallen comrades’ corpses; after picking up spoils, we return to camp immediately."

Giving the order, Jeanne looked at this Coptic in front of her, asking: "Interested in joining the Crusaders?"

Menes’ face showed a delighted expression, and he quickly said: "Of course, esteemed lady!"

...

In the distance, watching the departing Crusaders.

Senmut felt a blockage in his chest, almost spitting out blood. This battle cost him nearly sixty percent of Damietta Province’s forces; Governor Iben’s elite Mamluks lost almost half, and the final strategy to remedy the failure also came to nothing. Now, no matter how much Governor Iben trusts him, his outcome upon returning wouldn’t be much better.

...

As the cavalry unit led by Jeanne returned to camp, Losa felt relieved.

Upon dawn, noting piles of armor, weapons, and loot within the camp, Losa was somewhat shocked. Last night, how many Pagan troops did Jeanne and her men actually defeat and kill?

These materials, military gear, Losa would not touch lightly.

If those Coptic people are willing to cooperate with me and join my ranks, these armaments can immediately arm an army of tens of thousands.

But the wealth scavenged from enemy corpses, he definitely wants to collect and exchange into gold coins, with part of it to reward his meritorious ministers and another part to upgrade his entourage, even if there are no materials for elite upgrades, at least he should raise everyone to the maximum level first.

Noon.

The second army, belonging to Baron Argon and the vassals of Transjordan, successfully crossed the pontoon bridge to the opposite bank.

By evening, the number of Crusaders on this riverbank had reached nearly twenty thousand, all squeezed into the narrow temporary encampment. After the last batch of Crusaders crosses the river tomorrow, he will continue his march.

Next, Losa’s primary goal is to first capture a strong fortress as the pivot for his conquest of Egypt.

This pivot Losa had already considered, it is the base camp of Governor Iben, the capital of Damietta Province—Damietta Port.

That city has more than a hundred thousand permanent residents, busy maritime traffic, and is one of the most important cities in the Delta Region (Lower Egypt).

Capturing just this city and securing his footing, Losa’s Crusade southward wouldn’t be considered a fruitless endeavor.

In the future, supplies for the Crusaders could continuously arrive from Europe and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, landing in this place without needing a long land route.

But to seize Damietta Port, he must first take over a dozen fortresses and castles along the way, not to mention the small wooden castles found in many villages, if he truly charges through all the way, it would not only take too long but also inevitably result in heavy losses.

Evening.

The guards came to report: "My lord, led by the chief of Tinis ’Mahmoud’, several Coptic chiefs from nearby villages present you with gifts and hope to be granted an audience."

Upon receiving Losa’s approval, some robed and turbaned Coptics lifted heavy gifts into the tent.

Among them, a particularly thick and soft wool carpet was most memorable.

Losa did not hastily approach the exquisite woolen carpet—he had heard in his past life that Europeans would gift blankets infected with smallpox to Native Americans, an early form of biological weapon, although he was not afraid, it didn’t mean his soldiers would be immune.

"Let me unwrap this gift."

Prajna naturally crouched down and untied the exquisite tapestry.

Inside, a bright and beautiful woman’s face was revealed—her black hair, wrapped within the blanket, was soaked with sweat and clung to her milky white skin, her eyelashes trembled slightly at this moment, looking timidly at Prajna like a deer.

Losa paused, thinking that this gift was indeed creative, but unfortunately, he had neither luck nor interest to enjoy it.

Meeting Jeanne’s teasing gaze, Losa instructed, "Take her away then, let Jeanne make her your maid, you need someone to wash your clothes and equip your armor anyway."

Jeanne’s eyes swept subtly over Prajna, nodding in agreement, "Indeed lacking such a person."

"Let those chiefs come see me."

Losa returned to his throne, contemplating, "Mahmoud, this is a typical heretic name, apparently coming to visit me is a convert who has already joined the Fire Worship."

"To pay homage to the great King of the Dead Sea, Holy Spear Guardian, Protector of Hebron, His Excellency Losa."

Upon entering, these Coptic chiefs spoke awkward Gaulish, paying homage to Losa.

"May God bless you. May I ask if your visit is to contribute to the great cause of Christians prevailing in Egypt?"

Losa’s face remained solemn, Coptics remained in the status of second-class citizens for a long time, but the Saracens have conquered Egypt for nearly half a century after all.

Perhaps because of the relatively tolerant policy Saracens implemented in the aspect of religion, many Coptics still retained their Christian faith, but at the same time, it also meant that they had no substantial psychological resistance to the rule of heretics.

Losa was well aware of this point, the slogan he repeatedly declared—saving Egyptian Christians, recuperating the Alexandria District’s slogan was only for the Crusaders; in reality, Coptics most likely did not need his salvation.

A group of Coptic chiefs all looked at Mahmoud, awaiting his translation.

After Mahmoud translated, he said to Losa, "We are willing to supply the Crusaders with enough wheat for three thousand warriors to fight for a month, and dispatch a thousand soldiers to join the Crusaders."

A glimmer of smile flashed in Losa’s eyes. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Yes, Coptics indeed don’t need his salvation, but he had defeated Governor Iben, and Damietta Province was about to fall into his hands, these Coptic chiefs had no choice but to place their bets on him.

Losa made a cross symbol in front of himself, displaying a devout expression: "Thank you all for your sagacity, I grant you exemption from this year’s tax."

With Mahmoud’s translation, the Coptic chiefs showed joyous expressions, respectfully thanked him.

Losa added, "You don’t need to worry about my rule being too harsh, I’m even willing for the Saracens in Egypt to continue adhering to their old beliefs. On this point, I swear in the name of God."

Receiving the promise, Mahmoud was overjoyed, hurriedly bowed down and respectfully saluted: "All Coptics will be grateful for Your benevolence and generosity."

Coptic Christians occupy the majority in Egypt, but there are also many Catholics and Orthodox Christians, conflicting deeply with each other, the Saracens during their rule of Egypt, leveraged the conflict among Egyptian Christians, making it impossible for them to unite.

Represented by Mahmoud, converted Coptics who joined Fire Worship worried that Losa would prohibit Fire Worship in Egypt.

Egyptians who still believe in Coptic Christianity, meanwhile, worried that Losa would forcibly impose Catholicism in Egypt.

But Losa wasn’t foolish, religion for him has always been just a tool.

He intended to rob the clergy of the Saracens, yet it didn’t mean he’d prohibit Fire Worship in Egypt.

Compromising mutually, reaping Egypt at the least cost, then securely grasping this land through thousands of loyal vassals he enfeoffs, like a Tree of Life rooted in the ground, is the optimal solution for now.