The Crusades were born out of a "peasant army" of civilians recruited by the Church to resist the Arabs of Asia Minor and to counterbalance the increasingly uncontrolled Holy Roman aristocracy.

They did not have the title of knighthood, nor did they have the vices of laziness and inefficiency of the nobility, but in fashionable parlance, they were a group of poor people with desires, who took up arms in the name of the Holy See to fight for a future.

During this period, it can be said that military reforms were being carried out in human settlements all over the world.

The Han people in the Central Plains turned government soldiers into recruits, while West Asia and North Africa vigorously developed slave armies, and this theocratic army in Europe did give the Holy See a sweet taste.

For more than 100 years, the "great" crusaders not only resisted the invasion of the Arab world, but also helped Europe retake Asia Minor and even snatch the holy city back from the Arab world.

After a hundred years of Crusades, it plundered wealth and civilization for the whole of Europe, which can be said to have laid the foundation for the rise of modern Europe.

This is a military group that conquers civilization with barbarism and creates hell with faith.

It's a pity that they have met Tang Yi now, and whether there will be the name "Crusader" in the future may be a question.

......

"His Royal Highness the Mad King!" Edward was extremely displeased at this time, and his face was gloomy.

He didn't know the truth of the matter until yesterday, it turned out that the imperial doctor next to him was actually a spy, and this madman was even kept in the dark in order to deceive the crusaders.

This made King Edward very unpleasant, and even felt insulted.

"How long are we going to wait!"

The bad mood and the harsh environment in the wilderness had already made Edward and the others a little impatient.

"Maybe your plan is too complicated, and that damn crusader wasn't fooled at all."

Tang Yi could only spread his hands in response to Edward's questioning, "I didn't expect their response to be so slow. ”

In fact, Tang Yi didn't know the bottom in his heart, he played so "profoundly", can they get around?

"Wait!"

should be in the ensemble, after all, here in Thomas, Tang Yi's role has already been done.

Next to him, Edward pouted and choked, "We should sit in the shade of the trees in the city of Rome and wait for the Crusaders to send themselves under the gun, why bother?" ”

"Besides, those fanatical poor ghosts only have their gods in their eyes, and it is impossible for them to be subdued by you!"

How Cheng thought, Tang Yi hadn't spoken yet, but Cao Lao Er on the side had his eyes standing up, "Unconvinced?" It's easy to do if you don't accept it, Lao Tzu has collapsed them! ”

Edward was speechless for a while, this master was too angry to communicate.

Looking at Tang Yi, he said in his heart, if it was as simple as collapsing, he wouldn't have to work so hard.

At this moment, the Great Song army, which had pretended to leave, re-landed a hundred miles south of the city of Rome and chose a desperate place to set up an ambush.

There is a road in the middle here, with the vast sea on the left and the cliff on the right, if the crusaders enter this complete set, not only will the way out on both sides be blocked by the Song army, but they will also have to face the Vulcan cannon on the hillside.

Indeed, as Cao Jue said, if you don't surrender, you can only die!!

But the question is......

"Give up, Your Highness the Mad King! Those poor ghosts are loyal to their Holy See, and they will not give in to stay alive, let alone surrender to you! ”

In this regard, Tang Yi smiled playfully.

"Your Majesty, there is a famous saying in our Great Song Dynasty."

"What quote?"

"There is nothing that cannot be subdued except desire."

......

Edward didn't understand for a while, so he lowered his head and smashed it, while Song Kai and Cao Jue ...... The two looked at each other.

"Nothing but desire cannot be subdued?" Why haven't they heard such a famous saying?

"Then tell me, how are you going to subdue?" The irritable Edward didn't bother to think about it, and asked directly.

"Of course, I use what I do best."

“......”

“......”

Again!!

Even Cao Jue couldn't listen to it anymore, especially because he had been fooled by Tang Yi's words several times.

glared at Tang Yi hatefully, "Lao Tzu, let's see, what are you good at!?" ”

As he spoke, he carried a knife and prepared to patrol the ambush position.

Edward didn't want to stay with this madman, so he left with Cao Jue by starting his way.

Looking at the backs of the two, Song Kai couldn't help but lean over.

"Who said that?"

Tang Yiyi frowned, "Who said that?" ”

"That famous saying, who said it."

"I, I said it!"

“......”

Song Kai had an expression that I knew, his face was flushed, and he held back one word for a long time:

"Cheap !!"

......

————————

After a while, Cao Lao Er and Edward hurriedly turned back.

"There is a situation."

Tang Yi perked up, "Coming?" ”

Cao Jue said: "It should be." ”

"There are still ten miles into the urn!"

"Steady!!" This time, Tang Yi's face was flushed and he rubbed his hands excitedly.

"Wait until the siege is dead before you start, don't let them run!"

Cao Lao Er smiled, "Look at you!" ”

As he spoke, he turned around and went back to the front of the formation to set up.

This time Edward followed again, and he was very curious.

Sixty thousand!

You know, with the population of Europe, 60,000 troops is not a small number.

The whole of West Sasacks was no more than an army of 10,000 men, and the whole of Europe together had less than 200,000 soldiers.

The former Fatima and now the Great Song Egypt are known as 100,000 troops, which is also because of the dense population of the Nile Valley and a large number of slave armies.

Sixty thousand crusaders, no matter where they are placed, is not a small number.

However, the Song army only has 30,000, even if there is a Vulcan cannon, then you won't be excited like this, right?

Looking at the maniac's expression, it didn't look like a big war was about to happen at all, but like a hungry wolf finally seeing meat, and General Cao didn't think of it.

Edward really wanted to see how the Song army fought, after all, the last time in Rome, the Great Song just scattered a bunch of shells and won.

......

————————

As a result, Edward was disappointed......

Why don't you fight Rome!!

The anxious crusaders never dreamed that they would encounter an ambush by the Great Song Dynasty here, and they plunged headlong into the encirclement.

Then it was simpler, as soon as the Vulcan cannon sounded, people were panicked, the Great Song Dynasty blocked the passage to and fro, the steel crossbow opened the way, and a round of salvo fell down.

By the time the crusader commander in chief, that is, Donald Levy reacted, it was impossible to rush out, so he had to take a defensive position, and the army of 60,000 was tightly embraced.

Edward looked on the hillside and wanted to scold his mother, stupid! The tighter you hug it, the more you save shells.....

However, he never expected that the madman would stop beating and escort Thomas, who was tied up like a twist, down the hill.

“Request to negotiate!!!”

“......”

Edward almost didn't plant on the ground, and he still came!?

Although he knew that this madman was going to subdue the Crusaders, negotiation was inevitable. However, when he heard this phrase "West Sasax dialect...", how did Edward feel a little mad?

......

Even Cao Lao Er and Song Kai next to him pricked up their ears, what this product is good at......

Good at negotiating?

Let's see how he's fooling these mud legs.

....

——————————

At this point, Donald and Olaire were already stunned.

When Tang Yi held Thomas and shouted for negotiations, the father and son hadn't figured out where these people came from, what was that kind of "big guy" with a ring accompanied by a pit?

Also, how can the "little bow" they hold in their hands be so powerful!? The head is so accurate.

This is not a war at all, this is a special massacre!

"Father, what should I do!?"

Oriel's eyes were full of horror, and when he saw his brother Thomas tied up in front of the battle, he knew that he had been struck, and it was unlikely that the three of them would escape from this place alive today.

Donald was much calmer than his son, negotiating, that was what he couldn't ask for. Even if the other side does not propose to negotiate, he will find a way to negotiate with the other side, which is their only chance of survival.

Slowly removed the shield wall and walked out.

Seeing this, Olel hurried to follow.

"Do you speak West Sacs?"

Facing the eastern face that was clearly the leader a few dozen paces away, Donald was full of curiosity.

It is not difficult to see from the other party's demeanor that he did not regard the crusaders as opponents at all.

But why did he negotiate?

"Not only do I speak the West Saacic language, but I also know..."

"Your name is Donald Levy, and you are Thomas Levy's father. Next to you is Thomas's brother, from a county called the Shire in West Sax. ”

"Ten years ago, Thomas and Olaire's mother was hanged for breaking the lord's cherished porcelain plate, and you avenged your wife by killing the lord of Shire and leading your two sons out of the Isle of Britain."

"That experience made you deeply hate the nobles of the West Saks, and you are extremely eager to become nobles and not be oppressed."

"So, you joined the crusade of the Holy See, inspired to fight with your life for a future."

"Dear Commander Donald, am I right?"

Tang Yi spoke eloquently, always with a confident smile on his face, which made Donald feel furious in his heart, and he ...... How could he have known so clearly?

At this time, Ole pointed at Thomas angrily and scolded: "Thomas, you coward!" ”

In his opinion, only Thomas betrayed them.

"I.... I didn't! Thomas glared in defense. I have never betrayed my father and brother. ”

Thomas even thought to hell, this Oriental madman knew more than God.

"You don't have to point fingers at each other." Tang Yi kindly opened his mouth to relieve Thomas.

"Before I set foot on Europa, every prince and nobleman in this land, including you......"

"Everyone's materials have been sent to Cairo and placed in front of me."

"Don't say it's your little past, even if the bishop has a few mistresses and how many illegitimate children he has, I know all about it."

"What? Oriel, are you interested in knowing? ”

Speaking of this, Tang Yi looked at Donald playfully, "Know that you know your opponent, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles." ”

"This is an old saying of our Han people, which means: if you know all the details of friend and foe, you will never fail."

"Without this certainty, how dare I set foot on European soil?"

“......”

Donald couldn't say a word, and it was only at this moment that he understood a little bit of what kind of opponent he was facing, and a little bit of what kind of opponent Europe was facing.

......

In fact, he is not wronged at all in today's situation, at least in the 11th century, the entire Eurasia and Africa in terms of strategy and tactics, the military power that can confront the Eastern Empire almost non-existent.

Probably, Mamluk is half, and the rest ...... Don't even think about it!

For example:

Sixty years later, the Great Liao, which was at the level of the Great Song Dynasty, was corrupted and degenerated to the point that it was wiped out by the small Jin State. However, even so, the little remaining strength of the Liao Dynasty fled far away to the Western Regions and established a Western Liao in Western Asia.

As a result, the sweep is almost invincible in West Asia and Northeast Europe.

......

"Say it!" Donald is also a bachelor. "How are you going to let Thomas go, and us?"

Tang Yi smiled, "Don't be in a hurry to talk about this, I'll ask you a few questions first." ”

"Please."

"How much does the Holy See pay you every month?"

“......”

Donald didn't understand for a moment, he asked what was this for?

And behind Tang Yi, Edward was also a little confused, "Why is he asking this?" ”

Only Cao Jue and Song Kai, Tang Yi opened their mouths, and these two goods understood, with constipation on their faces.

"Grandma's, it turns out that she is such a good !!"

......

"It's okay, just say it!" Tang Yi saw that Donald hesitated and couldn't help but continue.

"Actually, if you don't say it, I know that 70,000 deniers a year. On average, each soldier gets one and a half denieres. ”

"I'm just curious, you are in such a hurry to capture Rome, what benefits did the Holy See promise you?"

The denier is a silver coin minted by the nobility of Western Europe, the weight of which is converted into a song tael, barely half a tael, and the official 'finney' of the Holy Rome, as well as the mark, circulated in Europe at the same time.

Finney is much lighter than Denier, but is worth more because it is minted in gold.

As for the mark, the common people have only heard of it but have not seen it, because the value of 1 mark is equivalent to 160 pfennig......

A lot of money.

......

Anyway, according to Donald, if you don't count the officers, each soldier can get less than half a tael of Song silver a year.

amount, which is equivalent to the usual Song money, is not enough to pay for ten days and half a month of ordinary Song labor.

It is equivalent to one-seventy-second of the salary of the Yazhou army......

Of course, this is in Europe, a lot!!

"Ten thousand!!"

Now that this Oriental man knows everything, Donald no longer hides it, "Take back Rome and reward an additional 10,000 deniers." ”

"It's only 10,000??" Tang Yi looked disdainful.

Is Rome worth 10,000?

......

"It's coming!!" Cao Jue blurted out in the back.

"What's coming?" Edward looked confused.

Song Kai smiled and said to King Edward: "The Tang madman is the best at here." ”

"What are you good at?"

Song Kai smiled bitterly, "Take, money, smash!" ”

In addition to being rich, this soil is still rich. I didn't expect that what he was best at was spending money, and he had been hanging for so many days.

Sure enough, Tang Yi's next sentence confirmed Song Kai's guess, and it almost surprised Donald.

"I'll give you 20,000, you follow me!"

Donald said in his heart, "You're sick in the head, aren't you?" 20,000 want me to surrender? The Holy See is still slamming the door, I still have 70,000 military salaries, who are I looking for!?

......