Chapter 261: One wave after another
Saladin’s behavior in Jerusalem provided a model.
At least everyone was clearly priced, and they quickly reached a consensus on the issue of using money to redeem themselves.
With such a reference case, things will be easier to handle.
In the subsequent process, Ilias and Kanata completed the surrender ceremony together.
The vast majority of Saracen soldiers or officers were freed after paying their ransom.
In the view of both parties, this kind of behavior is very effective and can be carried out in the long term.
But not everyone is free.
Some soldiers or officers do not have enough wealth to pay their ransom, while others have blood on their hands.
It is one thing to fight each other on the battlefield. It is another thing to kill innocent prisoners, massacre civilians, and abuse women and children outside the battlefield...
"In the past three days, [the Prophet] has received a total of sixty-four reports from the citizens of Acre. There are quite a few scum in your army, and they violate the teachings of the scriptures."
"Among the total of 64 reports, 8 soldiers committed murder, 20 committed rape, and others Some of them involve the killing of prisoners of war, personal injury, robbery and extortion, etc. "
"I need you to make corresponding compensation, and many of them need to serve prison sentences."
Ilyas said so formally. Kanata Emir said, so that it was quite difficult for the other party to understand what was going on.
The Quran does contain many verses about the conduct of war and humanitarian principles, prohibiting the killing of prisoners of war, the massacre of civilians, and the abuse of women and children.
These verses reflect the Islamic emphasis on morality and ethics in warfare.
But, this is almost the 13th century, and a few people really take those "out of date" words in the Quran seriously.
Even Saladin actually implemented it selectively and would not copy it directly.
For example, Saladin also organized Sufi scholars to conduct head-cutting competitions on knights of religious knights.
However, Elias memorized the scriptures really seriously.
He has no other special skills except memorizing sutras.
"You must not violate the limits, indeed God does not like those who violate the limits."
"From now on, you can either release them or collect ransoms until the burden of war is relieved."
< br>“Whoever kills without reason is like killing all mankind.”
“Do not kill women, children and the elderly.”
"Don't..."
Kanata's mouth opened. How could this bearded scholar actually come to recite sutras in front of him?
I felt that if I tried to politely refuse, the bearded guy might not be sure and would have to explain the scriptures on the spot.
Kanata has a big head. What should he do if he encounters such a stubborn guy?
Of course, what Kanata doesn’t know is that Garris and the others are not actually trying to make a fuss out of a molehill.
In terms of pure proportion, these troops under the command of the Emir of Kanata included thousands of people. In a few days, they only found so little evidence of crime. In the end, there were so few murderers, so the proportion was already quite low.
He wanted to thank Saladin for his strict military management when he was in the city, so compared to those lawless villages, Acre did not suffer much torture.
It is precisely because their hands are relatively clean and not stained with too much blood debt that Garris can accept the surrender of the defenders in the castle and then redeem himself.
"Then what are your opinions on how to deal with it?"
The Emir of Kanata nodded. His safety has been guaranteed, so the rest is actually easy to talk about. When he ordered his soldiers to surrender on moral grounds, he also needed to make his troops abide by morality.
When Kanata realized the current affairs, the bearded scholar Ilyas shook his head kindly, expressed his approval of Kanata, and then gave his request.
“Those who commit murder need to pay life for life; those who commit rape need to compensate the victim for losses and serve several years of hard labor; and those who cause personal injury must either pay an eye for an eye or give adequate compensation. "As for those who rob and extort property, they need to pay five times the compensation, otherwise they will have to serve hard labor."
Kanata nodded. If the punishment was limited to the person involved in the crime, he would be completely able to accept it.
Even, in order to show his morality, he took the initiative to take out a sum of money as compensation for the victims in Acre City, thereby obtaining a reduced sentence or a reduced sentence for some of his valued subordinates. Immediate release treatment.
It can be said that the Second Kingdom and Saladin were going back and forth with each other, and gradually reached a consensus on the moral issues of war.
Of course, this is also related to the situation of the Crusader countries in the Middle East.
The Crusader countries in the Levant are actually far from being called public enemies.
In the chaotic Middle East, there are also profound conflicts among various Muslim warlords. After the completion of the First Crusade, the territories of the Crusader countries have been roughly established, and there has been no further expansion. The scale has been expanded.
In the process of getting along with various Muslim warlords, the relationship between them became more and more complicated, and they were no longer simply friends and foes.
Especially the nobles born and raised in the Holy Land, their income often depends on trade with Muslims.
Even Saladin's younger brother Adil would hunt with the nobles of Jerusalem when there was no war.
Even when Richard the "Lion-Hearted" tried to marry him, he married his sister to Adil, thus achieving the effect of establishing a multi-faith country.
Although this matter was not implemented because neither the man nor the woman involved was happy.
But after Adil subsequently usurped the position of Sultan Saladin, he did not kill the Franks. Instead, he used the defeated soldiers of the Kingdom of Jerusalem to trade with Europe to gain more benefits.
……
【My God! Handsome ancestor! He is truly one of your descendants]
[He opened his mouth and swallowed a pig's knuckle]
[Drank a gallon of wine in two gulps]
[Who did he use force against? Lives are at risk! 】
——Medieval Poetry·Anonymous
The taverns in Tire were extremely noisy and lively, and the atmosphere was like a festival. The poets, drinkers, and dancers in the taverns were all trying to sing about the heroic deeds of various people.
Of course, this is indeed the festival of Tire.
Since October 1187, the decline in the past two years has finally been successfully reversed after two counterattacks against Acre.
At least since the past two days, the city of Tire is finally no longer at the forefront of the battle line, so there is no need to be frightened.
For the Franks in the city, this is a huge difference.
Although they say they died in the Holy Land or during the Crusades, everyone thinks this is a merit that will lead to heaven.
But in the end, it is better to die than to live. If there is not really no way to survive, why are you thinking about dying?
However, although some people are happy, there are also many people who are sad.
Among them, not only the high-level nobles, but also many middle-level nobles or businessmen are quite embarrassed.
The reasons are not listed for now.
Of course, Giannis does not belong to them. After half a year of hard work, it can be said that his pocket is already quite rich.
In the past few months, Giannis started working as a squad leader. Due to his serious study, the progress of his team was gratifying. Not only did his salary increase by two levels, he was also mixed from temporary workers to contract workers.
Now that I have a three-year contract with the company in my hand, I am not worried about being kicked out after the project is completed.
Although, the salary has not actually doubled compared to when I was carrying bags at the dock.
But there is no difference between off-season and peak season, and the cost of living has also plummeted, so you can save a lot of money in your pocket.
Even without Garris, you can now afford "alcoholic honey", that is, rum, with your own pocket.
However, just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you will actually drink it.
After all, Nissa is pregnant.
Of course, in the Middle Ages, the main focus of raising children was to keep them at home, and to win by quantity.
No matter how many children there are in a family, they are all taken care of by the Virgin Mary.
But now Giannis has finally read a book, and after working in the company for half a year, he has some expectations for the future.
I really want to think about how to live my life in the future.
This is Nisa’s first time giving birth, so she must be inexperienced. If she goes to a midwife on the street, she might lose both mother and child.
Although the company recommended a clinic that can not only perform examinations but also deliver babies, even if it is discounted, it is still an expense.
The issue of nutritional supplements during pregnancy and lactation costs a lot of money.
Not to mention, he also wants to build a bigger house, which will cost even more money...
Squatting in the tavern, sipping the watery and bad wine, Giannis can be said to be one after another. Sighing out in one breath, he couldn't help but think of what he had said to Garris.
【Home? Why do you need a family? Women are the source of trouble! What else can I do besides spend my money? 】
【As for that kind of thing, would it be more special to have one that belongs only to you? 】
【I mean, the money spent on buying a house, finding a wife and raising children is enough for me to live happily here for many years! 】
After all, I accidentally stepped into the pit!
Giannis laughed at himself in a strange state of mind.
Of course, this kind of self-deprecation does not mean that he really hates his current life, nor does it mean that he wants to go back to the past.
If you look at Giannis’ expectations when he first joined the company, it can be said that this kind of life has already exceeded it.
With his current financial resources and the bonds, he can buy a one-story house with one bedroom, one living room and one kitchen in the new city.
But what was his situation back then? An illiterate unemployed worker who had just been laid off from the dock.
What’s going on now? Reading, literacy, stable job...
This house with one bedroom, one living room and one kitchen cannot satisfy me!
Not to mention that Nisa is pregnant. If she gives birth to five or six children later, and she gets a promotion and a salary increase, why not get it right in one step and build a really good house?
The houses that have been repaired now are actually the remnants of military camps. Most of them are made of wood and stone, which can be used to protect them from wind and rain.
It certainly can’t be compared to the masonry house currently being prepared for renovation.
A brick and stone house starts with three floors. It is estimated to be more than 200 square meters in total. There is also a small yard in front of and behind the house. It not only has a master bedroom, but also a second bedroom, a guest room, and Living room, study room, kitchen, toilet... Having a house like this is what we call living.
Of course, the price of such a house is naturally quite high, even based on Giannis' salary, it is unaffordable.
Such a house is actually prepared for those "knights".
But Giannis just feels that he can not only think about it, but even actually implement it.
Because in the past few days, he made quite a fortune on bonds.
"Ahem..."
While Giannis was drinking the watery wine, someone approached him enthusiastically.
"John..." the other party called him enthusiastically with an accent.
John and Giannis actually have the same etymology. The former is often pronounced in Latin, and the latter is pronounced in Greek.
In fact, in the three Abrahamic religious systems, many names are like this. The meaning and etymology of the name are the same, but the pronunciation is the same as the dialect. The more outrageous ones can be completely different.
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“Well, brother, I was confused a few days ago...”
“That is literally worth 20 gold Why were the dinar bonds sold for only 5 gold dinars..."
"After calculating the interest, after one year, there will be 5 gold dinars..."
The other party was complaining both inside and outside the words, saying that he was confused and how miserable his life was. Is there any other reason why I can't stand up to Lord Balian and Her Highness Isabella, or lacks trust in the kingdom?
In short, it was a misfortune, but Giannis ignored him.
After all, even if this guy sold a lot of bonds at a low price and lost a lot of money, it can be said that the other party's financial situation is definitely not to the point where he can't survive.
At the very least, the other party is still drinking good wine without water. It is true that he cannot handle the misfortune.
And Giannis also knows the purpose of the other party's misfortune.
Because Barbarossa died accidentally some time ago, the Crusaders failed and retreated to Tire.
Many of Saladin's nomadic cavalry were showing off their power outside the city of Tire, and even went to the construction site to sabotage, delaying the progress of the new city.
At this time of crisis for the kingdom, coupled with the slow progress of the new city project, many businessmen and small nobles who had originally bought bonds suddenly became suspicious.
In addition, bonds can be traded in the black market. Anyway, the bonds themselves are both anonymous and transferable.
Quite a few people sold their bonds at extremely low prices.
Giannis didn’t sell, he was the one who bought.
After all, as the squad leader of the new city, Giannis knows how hard the Second Kingdom's army has gone through, and its morale and piety are unimaginably high.
In addition, by chance, Giannis also noticed that [Prophet] Gallis himself was purchasing bonds on a large scale in a slightly covert manner.
At this time, based on his trust in the army and his recognition of Garris, Giannis began to "gamble".
The bet is that Saladin will not be arrogant for a few days, the bet is that the city of Acre will be recaptured soon, the bet is that Tire will no longer be a frontline in the future, and the bet is that the new city development plan will be a great success.
Then...
One day of marching, one day of repairs, and half a day of siege.
With a total of two and a half days of effort, it can be said that Aka was easily taken down as fast as a rabbit.
After passing by before and after, and the Venetian sailing ship from Acre arriving in Tire, the news spread throughout the black market
In an instant, the price of the bond suddenly rose back up.
And because of the high interest rate of 18% per year, after a few days of skyrocketing prices, some people are still asking for prices that are higher than the paper price of the bonds!
Someone was willing to pay 13 gold dinars to buy the original 10 gold dinar bond.
Of course Giannis didn't borrow the money. He just "invested" Nessa's money and his saved salary.
It can be said that if Giannis sells the bonds in his hands now, the change will be a full four and a half times.
As a result, Giannis has become a favorite in some small circles.
It’s just that the reason why the guy next to Giannis sold so badly was not because he was thinking about recouping it at a high price, but because he was trying to regret it...
The business that was done before is now After Garris regained Akka, he turned the opponent into a complete clown.
The loss of dozens of gold dinars, even in the eyes of the other party, is equivalent to cutting off flesh.
Of course he was unwilling to do so willingly, so he cursed Saladin in private countless times for why he lost so quickly!
Then he kept complaining about Garris and Balian, thinking that the other party was deliberately setting up a trap, so he specially sucked their blood and cut their flesh.
After such operations, it is estimated that the interest that the company really needs to pay has been reduced by less than half in an instant, and the financial pressure has been alleviated.
Giannis said after he couldn't bear the other party's nagging.
“No, if you feel you have suffered a loss, why not buy it again?”
“Anyway, the second batch of bonds of this company is about to be released. If we don’t continue now, when will we have to wait? ?”
As soon as he said this, the guy on the other side, who was not too badly dressed, shut up.
After the man was silent for a long time, his eyes were particularly complicated, and he said: "This second batch is only 12% annual interest..."
Giannis smacked his mouth. , okay, he actually understood it.
This guy is even more fickle than Giannis.
Giannis, at best, has some ideas about the future and wants to change to a better house.
But after this guy saw the first batch of bonds with an annual interest rate of 18%, he despised the second batch. When he missed the second batch, he saw that the interest rate of the third batch of bonds was less than 10%. , I wonder if I will regret it?
In other words, even if such a guy buys a bond, he may not be able to hold it. Who knows when, at the slightest sign of trouble, he will be frightened like a rabbit and sell it at a low price.
Giannis clicked his tongue again, thinking of what Garris said: "Investment is risky, so be careful."
After a few glasses of wine, Giannis' mouth also changed. I couldn't control myself and expressed my opinion directly.
The other party also drank a lot and felt that Giannis was humiliating him. After hearing these words, his face turned red with anger.
Then he punched Giannis.
He kept shouting: "Pay back the money! Pay back the money!"
Giannis, who was unprepared and got punched, was naturally not easy to mess with.
He built up his strength by carrying bags at the pier. After working as a duster in civil engineering projects, he developed a strong body.
After receiving a punch, he knocked the opponent down without saying a word.
The two of them started wrestling on the ground.
I have never heard any new news in the tavern. I don’t know when.
It is said that Richard the Lion-Hearted has led the British and French Crusaders to conquer Sicily.
……
【I love the bright Easter season. It brings green leaves and flowers; I love the cheerful songs of birds that echo in the air through the jungle. 】
[But I love the large and small tents dotted on the grassland even more; the knights and horses ready to go in the wilderness make me ecstatic. 】
【Seeing the vanguard disperse the crowds and livestock along the road, I feel elated! The fence was destroyed and flattened, the warriors stood by the trench, and the large interlocking wooden piles...]
——Medieval poems praising war·Anonymous
War, war for businessmen For farmers, it means danger, it means unrest, and it means that the jobs and livelihoods they usually get in peace may be unsustainable.
But not everyone hates war. At least the nobles, knights and mercenaries are eager for war.
What they have been engaged in throughout their lives is war, whether it is plundering or collecting stipends and salaries from the lords. If there is no war, then they will be impoverished.
For them, the news of the fall of Jerusalem was not a completely bad thing, but another opportunity.
In 1187, when the news reached Europe, Richard the "Lion-Hearted" accepted the status of a Crusader as the Count of Poitou.
However, at that time, Britain and France were still in love and fighting each other. The kings of both sides accepted the status of Crusaders and just found a reason to cease the war, so as to find ways to make more money and fill the emptiness of the treasury.
Due to some influences, the attitudes of Britain and France towards the Crusaders were also different from those in history.
This time, neither Richard's father Henry II nor King Philip II of France declared themselves to be crusaders.
They are both worried about being attacked by each other while they are away on expedition.
So each of them gathered some of the second-son nobles in the country, plus some volunteers, as their own representatives, and handed them over to the command of Richard the "Lion-Hearted".
So that this troublesome guy can organize a troublesome crusade and send the troubles in the country out of the country quickly.
France and England in this era can be said to be at odds with each other. There is me in you and you in me.
Henry II, who ruled England, was the original Duke of Normandy, and several of his children, except John, also served the King of France one after another.
These various networks of relationships built by feudal legal principles and aristocratic blood constrain the form of war in Western Europe. Compared to the wars fought in the Holy Land, the wars in Western Europe may be more similar to the state of the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China.
Mainly composed of nobles, both sides follow some traditions. It is not so much a battle as a competition bound by certain rules.
They use these short, fast, small-scale battles to decide the ownership of some things, such as castles, cities, inheritance rights to the throne, and their freedom.
When Richard "Lionheart" left Western Europe, he had English volunteers, vassal knights who were loyal to him, and the second son of a nobleman from France who lacked inheritance rights under his command.
These people may have met on the battlefield a few years ago, but now they have come together under the call of "God".
Different from Barbarossa's most elite legion of the HRE, Lion Mental Investigation's troops felt a bit crooked.
But no matter what, this is also a "crusade".
Moreover, many people in the Holy Land have been thinking about their arrival for a long time.
After all, most of the so-called foreign noble factions in the Kingdom of Jerusalem are actually from France.
Compared to the German Crusaders, the British and French Crusaders were the real ones from home!
(End of this chapter)