Ambition

In the open-air camp, bonfires blazed.

Kurdish cavalrymen sat relaxed on the ground, replenishing their fluids and food. Occasionally, someone would laugh and boast about how many enemies they had killed that day.

This time, each of them had reaped a considerable harvest.

In a feudal state, each of them could have bought a manor in their hometown and become a lord.

But unfortunately, the Kurds were a nomadic tribe.

An individual, even with wealth, could not survive on their own.

They had to stick together for warmth.

Lothar sat on the sandy ground carpeted with wool, holding a clay pot of stew in his hands, sipping it slowly.

"I wonder if the news of Kawkab's death has spread yet? And if we'll be ambushed by Savotding and his Mamluks if we return the way we came."

Mamluks referred to slave soldiers, similar to the "ghilman" that had been prevalent for hundreds of years, but even more elite.

Kings had their Mamluks, and governors had their Mamluks.

Saladin's Kasaghji Guard was the cream of the Mamluk crop, and a rare elite force within the forces of Zoroastrianism capable of fighting Crusader knights.

Crusader knights, in equal numbers, were absolutely among the best of this era.

Anna Komnene, a princess of the Eastern Empire, had once described in her writings: "The knights among the Crusaders could pierce a hole in the walls of Babylon."

This was enough to show how formidable Saladin's Kasaghji Guard was.

"The news of Kawkab's death won't reach Ayyub that quickly, unless they can rely on eagles in the sky to carry messages."

Abdullah gripped a large, silver-patterned Damascus scimitar, sliced a roasted lamb chop from the grill over the bonfire, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing.

Grease dripped onto his thick beard as he mumbled, "But the other lords loyal to King Nur ad-Din will definitely react immediately. They'll be more vigilant and harder to deal with."

Lothar took a roasted lamb chop, chewed it, and nodded slightly, "I know. I don't plan to go after any other targets. Our harvest is already abundant enough."

Kawkab, a feudal lord active on the borders of Sasanian and Ayyubid territories, was, in terms of status, not much inferior to Savotding, the governor of Syria.

If one looked at a map, in terms of sheer size, Kawkab's territory was even larger than Savotding's.

Although much of the former's territory was a pile of meaningless sand, and his vassals were tribal confederations that moved with the seasons, this did not prevent Kawkab's death from causing a huge stir throughout the border region.

Especially since the killer claimed to be Saladin, under the banner of the king who had seized the fertile lands of Egypt, once known as the granary of the empire.

Abdullah glanced sideways, "I was worried you might get hot-headed and be blinded by this easily won victory."

Lothar said helplessly, "I thought my performance these past few days had earned your approval."

"Of course, but that's precisely why I worry you're too young and impetuous."

Abdullah chuckled, "Among the young, you are the most outstanding I have ever seen, bar none."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Lothar chewed the roasted lamb chop, his peripheral vision sweeping over Fringilla, who was sitting on a blanket beside him, chattering incessantly in Banya's ear.

She had been bored to death on this journey.

Banya, holding a worn book with yellowed pages, flipped through it silently, completely ignoring Fringilla's chatter.

"Oh, and also..."

Abdullah hesitated.

Lothar said helplessly, "If you have something to ask, just say it. Ever since we left Kawkab's wooden fort, everyone looks at me like I'm a monster."

"They all say you signed a contract with the devil and sacrificed the wealth that the soldiers couldn't carry away to the demons of hell."

Lothar retorted, "Do you believe it?"

Abdullah shook his head, "I don't. Devils never lack wealth; on the contrary, they like to use wealth to tempt people into sin."

"You are a benevolent person, Lothar. You respect our beliefs and generously gave us the right to choose our spoils first. It is our honor to fight for you."

"Ha, no need to flatter me so much, Abdullah."

Lothar's lips curled slightly, "But I don't believe Baron Godfrey didn't tell you the truth."

Abdullah paused slightly and admitted, "Yes, that's right."

"You have the allegiance of two witches, who possess mysterious powers. But are their powers derived from the Heavenly Father you believe in? If so, why have your clergy not been granted such might by God?"

Lothar was silent for a moment. He knew, of course, that the witches' powers were not from God, but he couldn't say that.

"The Heavenly Father bestowed extraordinary powers upon the witches, and they also bear sacred missions. Some fulfill this mission by supporting wise rulers, while others live in comfort, indulging in sensual pleasures."

Lothar paused slightly and continued, "Just as among the clergy, there are Archbishops who are content with poverty and donate all their wealth to the Knightly Order, and there are greedy individuals who wear a gem ring on each of their ten fingers and are so stingy they'd squeeze the blood and sweat out of every serf."

Recalling the clergy in his homeland, Abdullah agreed deeply, "You have the allegiance of two witches, so you mean to say you are your Heavenly Father's favorite?"

"Perhaps. I cannot fathom the will of God."

Lothar frowned, "But I feel I really should do something, something different from other Crusader nobles. This is my mission."

"Do something? Become the lord of Jerusalem, a baron, a count, or even a grand duke, a king?"

Lothar shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "That's just the process. What I truly wish to accomplish is to end the frequent wars in this land, allowing people of different languages, faiths, and even skin colors to coexist equally here."

Lothar's tone grew heavier. "Establish a powerful empire that unifies the Levant, bringing peace to this land that is perpetually shrouded in conflict."

"That's impossible!"

Abdullah shook his head vehemently. "That's absolutely impossible!"

Lothar knew, of course, that it was difficult.

In later generations, multi-ethnic societies without a dominant group either fractured or were on the verge of fracturing.

Not to mention the sharp religious issues that existed.

This wasn't some game where you could just enact a religion and culture policy and have rebellion drop to zero.

But precisely because of its difficulty, it could be called an ambition.

With the System, he had never doubted that he would, step by step, attain higher titles, even becoming a monarch with royal power.

Moreover, the concept of ethnicity was extremely weak in this era, making "cultural assimilation" not impossible.

"Why is it impossible? The Eastern Empire achieved it once, so why can't I?"

Lothar retorted.

Abdullah fell silent for a moment.

He instinctively wanted to say that the Eastern Empire had already failed, but in the end, he simply said:

"Lothar, perhaps those favored by the gods like yourself should possess ambitions unimaginable to ordinary people. May the sacred fire protect you and grant your wish."

"Thank you."

"Once we enter Kaimont, we'll be within Crusader territory. We'll part ways there."

Lothar looked surprised. "You're no longer serving Baron Godfrey?"

"Not for now."

Abdullah hesitated before continuing, "King Nur ad-Din's son is gathering his old subordinates. We plan to assist him in Aleppo, to regroup forces against Saladin."

"After we deal with Kawkab, the border will fall into chaos. This is our opportunity."

Lothar was silent.

"You know how slim your chances of success are. No matter how benevolent Saladin is, he won't forgive rebels like you."

Abdullah said gravely, "When our former lord calls, we answer without hesitation."

Lothar didn't try to dissuade them further.

Although this Kurdish cavalry unit was something he coveted greatly, they possessed a firm conviction that he couldn't sway with just a few words.

Lothar glanced at Hans.

This "squire" of his was setting up tents, sweating profusely from exhaustion.

He was the only "cavalryman" under Lothar's command.

In this era ruled by cavalry, organizing an elite cavalry force like the Kurdish unit before him was prohibitively expensive.

"Perhaps I should join, or establish a Knightly Order."

"Anyway, I don't plan to get married anytime soon. Once I become powerful, I can withdraw from the Knightly Order or secularize it."

In this day and age, there were those who feigned conversion only to repent later.

Naturally, there were also those who feigned lifelong vows only to marry later.