Baldwin sighed and said, "It seems that I really don't deserve a good son like you.

“Then just get it straight.

"Roger, after I sent your mother to Carac Castle, I gave a command to Renault, the guard of Carac Castle: 'Adelaide must be buried for me.'"

Baldwin looked at Roger calmly and said:

“So now, I won’t change my orders.

"If you want your mother to die, just kill me.

"I am the king, and the news of the king's death cannot be concealed.

"When the news reaches Karak Castle, it is your mother's death."

Roger said angrily: "You actually took my mother as a hostage?!"

Baldwin's gaze passed over Roger and looked into the infinite distance, and he seemed to be trapped in memories.

He said: "Hostage, what an appropriate word.

"Roger, you know, I've been a hostage, too.

“When my brother Goldfrey led the Eastern Expedition Crusade and passed through the Duke of Bulgaria under Eastern Rome, we fought a fierce battle with the Duke who ruled the local area.

"In the end we captured the duke, but in order to successfully pass the Eastern Roman territory, Goldfrey chose to reach a settlement with the duke.

"To show sincerity, my brother asked me to go to the Duke's place to be a hostage until the army arrived in Constantinople safely.

"Do you know, I'm not ashamed of being a hostage at all, and I'm actually very proud.

"Because hostages, not everyone is qualified to do it. They must be someone who is extremely important to both parties to serve.

"Like your mother Adelaide, I know she is important to you."

Roger's chest was swelling rapidly, and he was panting heavily.

He was very angry and wished he could pierce the man in front of him with a sword.

However, Roger couldn't do it after all.

He cares about his mother.

Roger's hand holding the sword was stiff.

At this moment, he felt that the hand holding the sword did not seem to belong to him, but to Baldwin on the opposite side.

Baldwin smiled like victory on his face.

He said in a kind tone: "I know you are a smart person, and I like to deal with smart people.

“I suggest you put your sword down and have breakfast with me.

"The chef brought by your mother is very skilled and it will not taste good when it is cold.

"Of course, before you eat, it's better to call a doctor in for me. If I die of bleeding too much, your mother will..."

Roger lowered his sword-holding hand dejectedly, and turned around and went out to call the doctor.

Roger had to admit that Baldwin was more cruel than him.

That guy didn't care about his life at all, but he couldn't refuse his mother's life.

After breakfast, Baldwin enthusiastically took Roger's arm and walked him to the hall downstairs.

Before entering the door, Baldwin said to Roger:

"Don't be discouraged, my son, even though you have raised your sword to me, I have forgiven you, so you don't need to be upset.

"Come on, show your smile and let the nobles and officers see that we are united."

So Roger could only put a false smile on his face.

He followed Baldwin into the hall.

The hall was already filled with nobles, officers and priests.

Baldwin stood in front of the main seat and he asked Roger to stand on his left hand.

Then he shouted to the crowd: "For the glory of the Lord, we will defeat the evil pagans."

Baldwin then invited Patriarch Anurf, who was on his left, to step forward.

He held Anurf's hand in one hand and Roger's hand in the other, and announced:

“When I was not in Jerusalem, something unpleasant happened.

“But now I want to say, it’s all over.

"We are all the children of the Lord, we are brothers, and there is no indelible hatred among brothers."

At Baldwin's gesture, Roger had to wear a hypocritical smile and hug Anurf.

The "misunderstanding" between the two was "reconciled" like this.

Everyone present cheered, praised ******* Devin to take advantage of the situation and lead everyone to sworn together.

All, including Roger, swear that they will abandon all hatred and differences among Christians and work together to fight the invasion of the pagans.

Immediately afterwards, Baldwin began military deployment according to his wishes.

In this "unity" meeting, Roger fully appreciated how Baldwin placed himself on the moral high ground and then brought the king's power and charm to the extreme.

The emotions of everyone in the venue were firmly controlled by Baldwin, and no one could disobey the king's will under such circumstances.

Even if Roger was not convinced, he could not object on the spot.

Finally, Roger had to make a statement on the spot that he would lead his men to ensure the safety of the supply line of the Christian army.

Careful Roger noticed that many people in the venue were also unconvinced, but in this atmosphere, they had to accept Baldwin's arrangement and made a vow on the spot.

Roger thought, putting aside, Baldwin was really a great king.

He was able to integrate all kinds of small thoughts and let everyone move in one direction.

As far as leaders are concerned, Baldwin is very successful.

After the meeting, Roger left Alish with his men.

He lost command of the noble cavalry and could not take away the knights of Jerusalem.

Even the Jerusalem Court General Guard was kept by Baldwin.

Roger could only take away 50 of his own personal guards, 520 Norman cavalry, 520 horsemen, and 400 Bedouin camel cavalry he hired.

Roger did not choose to go to Ashkiron immediately to join the Norman Legion led by Rollo and the Sicilian infantry led by Danny.

With the help of Faisal, Roger and his party crossed the Negev Desert and headed straight for Karak Castle.

Roger didn't completely believe Baldwin's words, he wanted to see if the situation was really that bad.

On the top of the lonely mountain where Carac Castle is located, Roger faces the closed gate and Sir Renault with a stern face on the tower.

He knew there was nothing to talk to with this guy.

Roger chose to be directly.

He ordered his men to take down bags of gold coins on the horse's back, and open the hole and pile it at the city gate.

Roger remembers that the crisis in Carac Castle was caused by Sir Renault's greed for the Bedouin livestock and attacking without authorization.

He knew that Renault's nature must be greedy, and he did not believe that the other party would not be moved when he saw so many gold coins.

Sure enough, he saw that Sir Renault's eyes were red under the golden light.

Roger shouted: "Let Adelaide go, all this money is yours."

He could clearly feel that Sir Renault was moved.

However, another nobleman flashed out on the side, and the shield on the nobleman's arms was red at the top and white at the bottom.

Roger remembers it was the mark of Ed Saber.

He then noticed that there were more guards in Karak Castle.

On the side of every guard of Jerusalem, there is a soldier from the Kingdom of Edsaber.

Under the gaze of the Edessa noble, Sir Renault, whose eyes were twitching, swallowed dryly and replied:

“My honor is loyalty.”

Roger sneered, and he said loudly: "This friend from Edessa, I am very familiar with your Earl Baldwin.

"Give face, as long as you agree to let Adelaide go, the money is not a problem."

Roger saw Sir Renault looking at the Edessa nobleman.

However, the man refused.

He said: "I am loyal to the first Earl of Edsar, Baldwin, the king of Jerusalem.

"Your Majesty takes good care of my family, and my children are all here with you."

Although the man didn't continue to say anything, Roger already understood what the other party meant.
To be continued...