At this time, Anna, who walked to the annex of the hall at the same time as Hertomia, and listened to the contents of the negotiations through the curtains, faced Gawain's words with a calm face - Anna was already sixteen years old, and she had matured, at least she regarded herself as a female monarch of a kingdom, and the idea that "politics is a transaction, a game" had been deeply ingrained in her blood, and if she had been in the Brachna Palace three years ago, she would have regarded Gawain's willingness to cooperate with the infidels. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Just when the envoy Hajib was overjoyed, Gawain's next words made him cool down a little, "However, it is impossible for us to provide direct military assistance to you, not troops, war horses, and weapons. ”

"What about the money!" Hajib was so anxious that he had already put forward a plan for correction without regard for any decency.

Unexpectedly, Gawain didn't shy away from anything, he nodded and said of course he could, "I can give you the full amount of about 20,000 Byzantit gold coins in materials or money, so that you can at least hire 2,000 cavalry from Danishmund or Armenia to fight for you for at least half a year." However, the money is not gratuitous. ”

"Konya has been burned to the ground, and our Sultan really doesn't have any valuable materials to exchange with you, the Grand Duke!"

Gawain smiled slowly, raised his hand to block it, and said, "You don't need anything of value, you can increase the number of trade openings in the Milios Sefalon Field, and give us two large things at a low price, that is, Turkic war horses and iron ingots." ”

At this time, Hajib continued to be blindfolded, to be honest, Gawain is too shrewd and ruthless, not to mention Sudan, these two things do not talk about Sudan, even he understands that they are very important strategic materials for any country. At this moment, Hetomia had already turned out from behind the curtain and handed the draft scroll of paper to the Grand Duke, "How to look at it, Hajib, this is the characteristic of my court, you don't have to stare at it with big eyes, you can use a careful and considerate noble woman as the royal ink officer, and there is nothing wrong with writing on this dense, smooth and white paper." Sooner or later, Konya will need this kind of paper. As he spoke, Gawain brought the scroll of paper to Hajib again, telling him to keep an eye on the number.

How many qualified war horses must be sold within half a year (Gawain's brotherhood subordinates will carefully identify them, and the Sultan is not allowed to be shoddy), and how many weights of iron ingots are recorded in detail in the secret documents, "As long as the respected Sultan is willing to accept it, I will provide you with a batch of wheat free of charge after half a year, and the right is a flower head." ”

In the end, Hajib agreed to Gawain's request with difficulty but "overjoyed", after all, now he is willing to help the Roma country, and only this exclusive business has come and gone.

"By the way, please tell the Sultan that the contempt has a strategy that will allow him to hold out longer under the emperor's attack." Gawain folded his hands and turned to the envoy who was about to leave, "Please stop coveting a big city like Konya, but wander among the mountains of Ferna, constantly attacking the flanks and backs of the emperor's camp, and even climbing out of the mountains to attack the imperial cities of Panphyria, and completely use the horseman's skills." ”

"Thank you, Grand Duke, for your excellent strategy, and the contemptible man will definitely return to the Sultan." Hajib took Gawain's advice to heart and left the small palace.

Then, Gawain held on to the pillar with his hand and looked at the sea in his eyes.

Anna obediently tiptoed to his side, "Next, are you finally going to do something to Prince Reuben?" ”

"That's exactly what I think, but there's something missing."

"The banner and strength of the war?"

"No, Anna, I don't lack any of these. Reuben's hyena was already a wrath, and besides, my Sith City and Syria Gate, and Baldwin's Adanab State, happened to form a pincer posture for his territory, and now I have a siege weapon invented by a little sunfish, which is enough to sweep away his castle on the plains of East Cilicia. I'm waiting for three things. Gawain patted the pillar and turned to sit on the couch, and Anna sat down next to him, waiting for the big man's analysis and answer.

"The first is the war horse and the iron, which I have solved through the secret agreement with Gilliki. My cavalry will be indispensable in future wars. ”

Anna raised her head and listened quietly, "The second is the situation in South Cappadocia, it seems that there is no big civil problem under the operation of Ryanstein, and in terms of military affairs, I am going to send Walter's mounted cavalry regiment back again, stick to the city of Karon and the surrounding salt fields and farmland, and monitor and guard against Danishmund, what do you think, Anna?" ”

"Of course, you can, and if necessary, you can draw the mounted cavalry back to you and act as a reserve." Anna's voice was crisp.

"The third thing that needs to wait the most, but it is also coming to fruition, is to deal with Prince Reuben's allies."

"You're talking about Baldwin, Godfrey, them? I believe that this is not a big problem, but the physician who treated Duke Godfrey has also returned by boat, and she said in her previous letter that the Duke's injuries are close to healing, as long as they are properly maintained. ”

But Gawain's following words surprised Anna very much, "My allies are not only these two, the biggest ally I need is Bohemond." ”

"Bohemond?"

"Yes, it's him, Bohemond the Redbeard." Gawain didn't look like a joke at all.

"But when his nephew Tancred was marching in Cilicia and Marash, and even now, he is a close ally with many Armenian lords, including Prince Ruben!" Anna questioned strongly.

Gawain let out a long sigh, "Now that Bohemond occupies Antioch, it seems that around him, a Norman is forming in the East. The Armenian Empire, but this state of affairs is not stable when I look closely—there are too few Normans, and Bohemond has no brilliant and innovative ideas in controlling the hearts and minds of men, and his relationship with Raymond is very poor, and there will inevitably be a disaster in the future, and this trouble, I expected, must be at the hands of the Pisas and Armenians, for Ruben is not honest with Bohemond. ”

"It seems that my father's diplomacy will also be involved." Anna raised her beautiful little chin at this time, and listened to the undulating waves, "My brother John has been expelled, replaced by that Brenus, and my stupid and stubborn sister is now listening to her advice to storm the remnants of Konya, this is on a military level, and on a political level, it is impossible for my father not to take action against Bohemond of Antioch. ”

"Yes, clever Anna, our previous diplomatic conspiracy has succeeded in misleading your father into believing that this Bohemond was behind the 'tragic death of Hugh', 'The Monopoly of Antioch' and 'The Fall of Alalmanburg', and it just so happened that the Archbishop of the Pisans, Suffobel, was coming, and according to intelligence from the city of Bari, he was also coming with many Pisan merchants, so a series of violent reactions were coming." Gawain laughed and leaned against the balustrade of the colonnade by the sea, "All we have to do is to receive Suffobel well, and he is said to be accompanied by a patriarch appointed to me by the Holy See...... Who will it be? (To be continued.) )