Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 880 - 104: Basileus’s Imperial Council

After capturing Cairo City, there were no more tough battles in Egypt.

Governor Buri of Fayoum was captured, and this province was already in Losa’s pocket. Turanshah in the Nile River Valley region, while supporting Cairo, suffered heavy losses and might have fled overseas upon hearing of Cairo City’s capture.

Next comes the slow process of sorting out the internal affairs and establishing governance in Egypt.

Now Losa plans to set out for Constantinople, which necessitates setting up a framework before he leaves to ensure his kingdom can progress orderly according to his will even in his absence.

That night, Losa convened a meeting in the palace of Saladin Castle.

The overseas kingdom currently lacks not wealth or resources but bureaucrats capable of governance.

The Imperial Knights can serve as local nobles, or so-called landed gentry, lower nobles, but they cannot collect taxes, govern cities, manage trade hubs, or develop industries like manufacturing and shipbuilding.

For now, he can only rely on them to recruit clergy members to serve as local tax collectors and clerks.

Even Anna cannot assist him in this regard since the Eastern Empire’s bureaucratic system has already collapsed, and Constantinople’s bureaucratic training system has been abandoned. Moreover, what suits the Eastern Empire might not suit Egypt.

No wonder throughout history, both East and West have favored tax farming, as it saves administrative costs and provides a convenient policy for tax collection.

Recently, alliances of city guilds have sent representatives to negotiate with Losa, hoping to trade a hefty annual tax for continued recognition of their autonomy.

Venice’s desire to establish commercial ports is of the same notion; feudal monarchs need not intervene in municipal management but can simply wait for their share each year.

How convenient!

Losa consistently refused, simply because he did not want to conform to the norms of the era.

At the moment, Losa was sitting alone on a temporarily moved golden throne, the splendid palace dazzled the eyes of the Crusaders; these bumpkins from Europe were clad in armor, moving through the ornate courtyards, arriving in the Throne Hall.

Servants had already hung the Double-headed Eagle shield emblem according to the Frankish customs, covering the mosaic arrangement of the Holy Fire.

The attendees were all mid-level officers under Losa, numbering approximately fifty, gathered together.

Losa slowly said, "Everyone, Cairo City has fallen, and Egypt will soon be illuminated by the Heavenly Lord’s glory, but I find no joy, for last night I heard a disheartening piece of news."

The smiles on the faces of the crowd froze slightly, revealing expressions of doubt.

"In Croatia, the King of Hungary, Bella III, who vowed to participate in the Crusade and even insisted we wait for his arrival despite potential delays, has betrayed the great cause of the Crusaders!"

"For his own interests, he has colluded with the Venetians, supporting a supposedly Eastern Empire Prince, urging the Crusaders who lingered in Venezia, Croatia, and Austria to advance towards Constantinople."

"Where does that leave the great Crusaders? Lacking honor, shamelessly hiring mercenaries to turn their swords against fellow believers for mere coins? Such villainy disgraces the blood we shed in foreign lands, our companions sleeping beneath the sands, even Jesus Christ!"

This wasn’t Losa exaggerating; even the Franks regarded the Fourth Crusade as quite ignoble. Historically, the Pope issued an Excommunication Decree, ultimately unable to stop the establishment of the Latin Empire.

Furthermore, compared to the historical Fourth Crusade, this iteration was undoubtedly more unscrupulous, as the Holy Land hadn’t fallen, rendering occupying "Constantinople" as a veiling excuse for launching a Crusade eastward frivolous.

Upon hearing this, the crowd became furious. They couldn’t empathize with those impoverished, stranded on the Adriatic Coast, or those opportunists intending to join the Crusade following successive victories to claim glory.

Their actions undermined the legitimate principles of the Crusade.

Losa waved to stop the indignant crowd, saying solemnly, "I have always enjoyed a good relationship with the Purple Robe Princess of the Eastern Empire. She hopes I can deploy troops to save Constantinople and stop this unjust war turning the Crusaders into robbers. For this, the Empress of the Empire is willing to recognize me as Vice Emperor of the East, a Basileus equal to her."

"Basileus, Vice Emperor of the Empire!"

Everyone looked at each other. Titles such as Vice Emperor of the Empire and Basileus were not just handed out to any barbarian mercenary. They were the most honorable titles in Christendom, symbolizing the integration of divine and royal authority.

"Your Majesty is the Holy Son incarnate, a divine monarch; no one is better suited to assume this sacred title!"

"The Greeks indeed had the foresight to recognize who can save them at this critical moment."

"Deploy troops, Your Majesty, show those scoundrels who disgrace the Crusader banner some true colors."

"Punish those scoundrels!"

The crowd before him became excited; they were a group of restless individuals. Losa had consistently led them to victory, equating war with merit and wealth in their hearts.

Losa raised his hand to hush them, and the bustling Golden Hall quickly quieted down.

"Everyone, please calm down. The war in Egypt is not yet concluded, and local rebellions are not entirely suppressed. Therefore, to assist Constantinople, I will only lead a small unit, light and mobile."

As he spoke, he didn’t provide the opportunity for subordinates to request battle assignments, saying, "Kurs, you will remain as the Kingdom’s Chief Treasurer, also the Kingdom Palace Minister, stationed in Cairo City, overseeing national financial affairs, and holding the Kingdom Seal."

"Additionally, I grant you the authority to select and promote bureaucratic talents independently, ensuring a swift stabilization of Cairo’s situation, and reopening universities here to nurture our own talents."

Kurs, standing inconspicuously amidst the crowd, showed a troubled expression but respectfully responded, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for this honor."

Losa promptly continued, "Hans, from today, you are the marshal of the Kingdom’s southern Crusaders, overseeing the military operations in Fayoum Province, Upper Egypt Province, and the southern oases."

Hans showed a dejected expression, replying, "I accept your command, Your Majesty, and will fulfill your trust."

Nearby, Venezia wore a mocking look, though this smile did not last long before Losa once again enlisted, "Venezia, you together with Duke Raymond are responsible for commanding the Western troops, to pacify Cyrenaica Province."

Duke Raymond was Raymond’s son, previously promised the Ducal position in Cyrenaica by Losa by the Sea of Galilee, in exchange for a thousand elite troops and substantial supplies.

Raymond also proved to be a remarkable talent. Together with Venezia, taking a thousand armored soldiers, three to five hundred light and heavy cavalry, and three thousand town militias and pilgrim warriors, should easily pacify Cyrenaica.

Venezia accepted reluctantly.

The two comrades-in-arms have long withdrawn from the main battle sequence. This time even more so, they would not be accompanying Losa.

As for the detailed arrangements regarding which units to take and which to leave behind, Losa had already made considerations; the orders would only be issued to unit commanders after the meeting to prevent any discontent.

In fact, staying in Egypt to mop up residual enemies offered more opportunities for gain and security, but most Crusader soldiers, if given the choice, still preferred to follow Losa.

"Alright everyone, dismiss, swiftly eliminate the remaining foes in Cairo City; I do not wish to see any disturbances during tomorrow’s entry ceremony."

This brief meeting soon dispersed. In his military, Losa has always been decisive. Though called a meeting, most decisions were predetermined, and holding court was merely an announcement.

After the meeting, Losa particularly dispatched a message to Turriados in Limassol, informing of his impending appointment as Vice Emperor of the Empire, and requested Cyprus to provide ships and all necessary military supplies.

His first stop after leaving Egypt was Cyprus; the Cyprus military district previously divided into Famagusta, Nicosia, and Limassol due to Isaac’s rebellion, each district housed about fifty thousand people, and he already controlled one-third of this population. Now possessing legitimacy and power, capturing Cyprus should be relatively easy.

Concerns about whether the message would leak?

It is likely it will.

Cyprus too has Latin merchants’ ports; being a seaside city without Venetian spies is improbable.

But Losa cared not.