In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

A fair trial?

The knights looked at each other. For such a heinous crime, what could be the most just trial? Hanging with a whole body? Or dethrone his title and demote him to a slave?

Several of Earl Philip's confidants turned pale and trembled when thinking of their possible fate, and large beads of sweat dripped down their temples.

They don't know what happened to the crown prince.

It doesn't matter to them either.

Because whether Little Baldwin died or not, they were all guilty of dereliction of duty and possible involvement in the murder of the crown prince, which was enough to send them to the gallows.

On the contrary, it was Count Philip. Because he was a vassal of the German emperor, as long as little Baldwin was alive, the most he could do was remove his official title and expel him from Jerusalem.

Lothar picked up the list and spoke slowly: "Rodel of Aachen, please come out. You were supposed to lead people to inspect the Midsummer Corridor tonight, but you only left one sergeant there."

"Mimir of Florence, you were supposed to be stationed at Godfrey's Tower tonight."

"Charolle of Artois"

He announced the charges one by one, and then said: "Come forward on your own initiative. If you still have a shred of knightly honor, don't let my soldiers pull you out from the crowd. It will make you lose your dignity." , I guarantee that my Guards Axemen will never be an opponent that you can compete with when fighting on foot."

There were six knights whose names were read, and all of them looked as if they were mourning for their heirs.

Someone tried to argue.

Some people begged and told about their past achievements.

Others looked around, hoping that their colleagues around them could speak for themselves.

But no one planned to resist.

Lothar showed no mercy and waved his hand: "Take him away. If you have any questions, stay in the prison and tell the inspector."

Count Philip walked on the road with a face full of despair. His weapons were confiscated and his hands were put in heavy shackles.

When passing by Lothar, he begged in a low voice: "Grand Commander, I am willing to swear on the holy cross that I did not participate in the conspiracy against the crown prince. If you still think that you are an upright knight, please return the I am innocent and I promise that I will never cause trouble to you again."

Lothar shook his head: "The oath is sacred, but the oath of a person who does not regard the oath as sacred is worthless."

Lothar pointed to the cross coat of arms on Earl Philip's chest: "One of the oaths you took to join the Royal Knights requires you to obey justice and be benevolent. However, you are narrow-minded and ignore the dangerous situation in the Holy Land. The group's involvement in the crisis of secession has violated this point."

Earl Philip opened his mouth and said with some dissatisfaction: "Who would be willing to give up his power to others? Baron Lothar, what would you do if it were you?"

Lothar ignored him and waved his hand, signaling Ryan to escort the man away.

It is unlikely that Count Philip is related to the assassination, but among the people who instigated him to go against Lothar, there are definitely people from the assassin's side.

The remaining knights present watched their companions being captured, and some were so sad that they remained silent. No one even took the initiative to salute Lothar.

Many people are full of fear of this new grand leader.

As soon as they arrived, they moved the beloved Earl Philip down. This method was so terrible that although they didn't want to obey, they never dared to resist.

Lothar glanced at the unfamiliar faces: "Everyone, when you meet the Grand Leader, have you forgotten how to salute?"

The knights and their attendants saluted Lothar one after another.

Lothar could see the fear on their faces, and he said solemnly: "Tonight, many of you are not at work, and they are not on vacation. I am willing to forgive you for this matter. , but only this once.”

Immediately someone broke out in a cold sweat behind his back: "Thank you for your forgiveness."

Lothar nodded slightly, and then left without looking back.

Only a few whispers were left behind.

The heavily armored Varangian guards escorted the "prisoners" into the prison carts, then got on the traveling horses assigned to them by Lothar, and the group galloped towards the palace.

By using "mounted infantry", the pressure on their march can be greatly reduced.

Put all the prisoners into prison and order them to be under strict guard.

Lothar walked straight to the palace.

Under the guidance of the king's personal servant, Lothar entered the quiet room.

Inside the house, incense was still burning.

But he still keenly smelled the faint smell of decay in the air. It seemed that every time Lothar saw Baldwin IV, his condition became worse.

"Your Majesty, I have put all those who have neglected their duties in prison."

Under the candlelight, Baldwin IV's expression remained calm, and he did not seem to be furious about the crown prince's almost assassination.

"What are you going to do with them?"

Lothar said calmly: "Except for Earl Philip, who only had his official title removed and was expelled from the Royal Knights, the others were all sentenced to hanging."

This is the cruelty of political struggle.

If Lothar gets a chance, he will not forgive him so as to give Count Philip a chance to make a comeback.

After this incident, he not only rectified military discipline, but also eliminated another small hill within the Knights, which will greatly speed up his progress in controlling the Royal Knights.

Baldwin IV nodded noncommittally, and then asked, "Who do you think is the mastermind behind this?"

"It depends on who is the biggest beneficiary after His Majesty the Crown Prince's death."

Baldwin IV was a little confused: "You mean, Earl Raymond?"

Earl Raymond is the regent. Once the king or the crown prince dies one after another, as the most powerful and prestigious person in the Holy Land, he has the greatest possibility of succeeding to the throne and becoming the king.

"I know him well. He would never do such a thing. Compared to an empty king, he is already the King of North Jerusalem and will not do anything unnecessary."

Lothar nodded and said: "I don't think it's Earl Raymond, or even a Crusader noble."

"Saladin would not do such a thing. I signed an armistice treaty with him. He was a generous and kind king, no less than the most upright knight in the West."

Baldwin IV's tone was gentle: "Actually, I have some guesses."

Lothar asked tentatively: "Anjou?"

Baldwin IV nodded, but said: "No, it is a Zoroastrian, it can only be a Zoroastrian. Maybe people know that Saladin would not do such a thing, but his nephew, Savoddin, the governor of Syria, , but he is a ruthless character who uses whatever means necessary. He once sent people to massacre the wooden castle of Lord Cockab who slandered Saladin."

At this point, the two looked at each other and smiled.

This is politics. Even if they all know that this matter cannot be done by people from the Ayub Kingdom who have a deep hatred for the old man in the mountain, they still have to speak the same tone.

As for the so-called "Anjou", it is because if the crown prince is killed, there is a high probability that the successor of Baldwin IV will be appointed by the patriarch of the Anjou family, King Richard the Lionheart.

And King Richard the Lionheart will probably lead Albion's Crusaders to the East in a year's time.

According to established rules, the King of Jerusalem would be the commander-in-chief of the Crusaders, but this king was obviously not willing to submit to the command of others.

As for who it was from the Anjou family, and whether the matter was instigated by King Richard the Lion-Hearted, it is unknown.

Early the next morning.

In the Bishop's Square in Jerusalem.

Hans held high the royal flag given by His Majesty the King. He had been appointed by Lothar as the flag bearer of the Royal Knights. This was an honorary official position and not nepotism by Lothar.

On the second floor of a small fortress belonging to the property of the Royal Knights, wooden steps were pushed out one by one, and the sergeants and servants who were stripped of their robes and coats were pushed out.

They stood on the trembling wooden pedals, their bodies shaking involuntarily.

With a bell ringing.

The censor stood aside and began to loudly read out their sins to the onlookers.

This includes but is not limited to the six knights that Lothar captured last night, as well as their attendants, some of whom took bribes and provided convenience for the assassins.

“Father in Heaven, please forgive my sins.”

Someone nervously whispered confessions and prayed.

Some people's legs are trembling, and they can't help but beg and cry that they just made an unintentional mistake.

Some people said goodbye to their wives and children who were standing in the crowd, crying bitterly.

Some people also shouted for help to Earl Philip, who was standing in the crowd and had been dismissed and released.

There are all kinds of things before death.

As Ryan and others put white cloth bags over their heads, they then pulled back the wooden board.

Some of the prisoners hanging on the rope were kicking their legs wildly, but most of them had their necks broken in an instant, hanging in the air like a soundless sack.

There was a chill behind the knights and sergeants who were watching. They secretly looked at Lothar, who was standing on a high platform in the distance, looking at this scene indifferently, with fear in their hearts.

This cruel, cold-blooded monster is far different from the benevolent Baron Godfrey of the past.