Eagle Byzantium
Chapter 63 War Preparation
Thank you readers for your tips. Please forgive Sulla for not listing the names one by one to express his gratitude.
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Just as Urban stepped down from the throne and was about to comfort the poor lady from Varyag with Matilda, Bohemond suddenly walked out sideways and knelt in front of Urban. , caressing his sash, kissing his fingers and rings, holding the Pope's hand and asking He stroked his head and said, "My great father, the helmsman of my ship, the agent of the Holy and High Lord on earth, I must tell you that the Greek emperor went back on his word. He not only sent an army to sack the entire southern Italy, Also occupied the parish of Bari City.”
"Calm down my child, I think I have sent envoys to your military camp many times beforehand, and I thought you didn't have time to come to this small town. Isn't this all caused by your wanton attack on the fellow Christians in Amalfi and Corinth? ?" Urban was not fooled by Bohemond's rhetoric at all.
Bohemond laughed shamelessly, still kneeling on the floor, "It's my fault, it's my greed, but now Bohemond has even mortgaged his title as Duke and Marquis to the city of Pisa in exchange for three thousand silver coins. "Dear and great father, you can't really ask me to paddle on the Eastern Expedition to pay off my debts? What's more, Bishop Anselm of Bari and the Grand Count of Sicily can testify to my accusations."
Urban shrugged his gray eyebrows. At this moment, Anselm also came forward full of resentment and reported to the Holy See Gawain's invasion and expulsion of the Catholic Church of Bari. After Urban heard about it, he pondered for a while and then said: He started to say, "We are negotiating with the Emperor of Constantinople regarding the Eastern Expedition to recover the Holy Tomb. The emperor discussed closely, and the other party said that he would send an important envoy to negotiate in the near future, so it is better to make peace now. Bohemond, out of compensation for your father's achievements and my personal sympathy for you, I have decided to entrust you with the authority to appoint the patriarch to raise funds for the Eastern Expedition."
"Yes, I am very grateful." Bohemond laughed happily, "But. I will first take this money to advance the military expenses of the knights and soldiers, and then go to the east of Apulia, for The Holy See drives out the power of Constantinople." Then he raised his head and took the Pope in his hands. hand, and said obediently, "I hope the Holy See will understand what I mean, and I beg to personally escort Bishop Anselm back to Bari. Bohemond promised - and then I sailed in Bari until Constantinople, no Christian life or property will be harmed along the way.”
The Pope touched Bohemond's cheek and asked him to kiss the rosary in his hand, "This is considered the best. Then you go ahead and do it. In the spring of next year, I will go to the city of Le Mans under the rule of the King of France. , convening a larger meeting than this one is to mobilize all the knights and lords to gather under the glorious banner of the Lord and move towards the Holy Tomb to fulfill the Lord's wishes. Therefore, in Constantinople. Before the special envoy arrives, you can do it more quickly."
Bohemond naturally understood the implication of these words. When he walked out of the gate of Placentia Monastery, he could not contain his excitement, he said to Roger. "Uncle, I have put all my money on the line, even if it is the money I immediately obtained from the investiture. I will not repay the merchants of Pisa. Losing the title of Duke is nothing, or even losing the whole of Apulia is nothing. I am destined to be Patron of Anatolia to Antioch and even the Holy Land.”
"I will support you with the Sicilian fleet, and you can also quickly summon Zahas's pirates to help blockade the city of Bari. I believe that before the Greek emperor negotiates peace, you will be able to recover the city and add a bright star to the Holy See. "This time, Roger showed rare generosity. Then the uncle and nephew hugged each other and swore. Roger said sadly, "Uncle, my body is not as good as it used to be. I don't know how much life I have left. getting older , I will lose my enterprising spirit, be afraid of the sea waves, sand and dust, the scorching sunshine, and the endless cold winter, and I will no longer be able to insist on walking to the Holy Sepulcher, even if the Holy See wants me to send troops to attack Kairouan in North Africa. It will be difficult for me to become a Crescent Cultist in my lifetime, so I married my lovely daughter Alisa as compensation. Hey, the old people have to go back to their homes surrounded by their children, and leave it to the young like you. People do it.”
"I will do better than you, and I will try my best!"
In fact, Bohemond certainly understood that his cunning uncle, who openly married off his daughter and worked for the Pope, had actually secretly signed a business agreement with the pagan prince of Kairouan. He was well aware of the situation and was ready to take advantage of it at any time. .
Be careful with everyone!
In the following years, Bohemond, who had obtained the right to appoint deans and priests, had a lot of money in his pocket again. In the cold wind and snow, the Norman knights wearing cloaks and leather coats came together. Following a continuous line of troops, followed by Calabrian light soldiers leading hounds, they searched and killed the remnants of the Greek rebellion in various places throughout the mountains and valleys.
Many people walked the mountain road with no clothes on and came to the city of Bari to seek Gawain's blessing. As long as they could see the red cross sword flag flying on the top of the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in the city, they would feel happy in their hearts. Hope was ignited.
After careful screening, Gawain generously placed them in the camp under the city, mixed with the Bari militia, provided them with clothes, armor and food, but did not allow them to enter the city, as he was afraid that Norman spies would sneak in. In the gloomy weather, Gawain held a torch and stood on the boiling tower on the top of the city, watching the craftsmen and workers going up and down to repair the city walls. On the sea over there, ships from Venice and Ragusa were rapidly transporting heavy defensive weapons according to the contract. The women in the city were organized and sat under the shed in the square, rubbing ropes and weaving willow branches. Many military servants were pushing vehicles and slowly sending the disassembled weapon parts along the stairs to the two new horn-shaped towers - this was where Gawain ordered engineers to build a new tower with bricks and stones from the demolished Casa family tower. From it, archers could have a bird's eye view of the passages, bridges and swamp bushes under the city, forming a simple but effective cross-ray network.
Below the city, along the mountain passes, hills and bridges, the breast walls and fences were built as the outer defense line of the city. Simple military camps and stables were built in between, which supported the city walls. Granaries were also added to facilitate long-term garrison defense.
The river channel passing through the port also built a camp for sailors and crews. The arrival of the three Venetian warships gave the entire city great courage - as long as this fleet was there, grain from Ragusa and Moria would continue to flow into Bari.
Looking at all this, Gawain inserted the torch on the platform on the wall, rubbed his hands, and felt proud in his heart, "Bohemond, you guy, come and add the fuel of the dead soul to my phosphorous sword. I, Gawain, will defeat you here to truly become famous." (To be continued ~^~)
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