On the second day after occupying Ashkeen, Roger stood on the wall of Ashkeen, beside him was the sentry tower he served as a temporary station.

In the city's central square, a huge supply pile is still burning.

The thick black smoke made the city lord's mansion next to it charred, and there was no way to live in it.

Danny reported to Roger: "Sir, we have completely controlled the city defense of Ashkillen.

"The city gates, the mail towers and the main streets are all controlled by our troops.

"After our weapons were confiscated, their troops were ordered to stay in the barracks.

"They are quite cooperative and there is no sign of unrest at the moment.

"In addition, since you prohibit robbery, we have not collected much property at present."

Roger said: "I forbid you from robbing the people, but I didn't say that you would not take over Ashkeen's treasure house and armory? How could there be no gain?"

Danny spread his hands and said, "The Treasure House and Armory are both in the basement of the Lord's Mansion.

"We can't go until the flames go out."

Roger turned his head and asked Zarro: "I asked you to take someone to put out the fire. When can you put out the fire?"

Zarro looked embarrassed and said, "We demolished the houses near the central square and created a huge isolation belt.

“Now I can only guarantee that the fire in the center of the city will not spread out.

“But the fire was so hot that our people couldn’t get close to it.

"I can only wait for it to go out on its own. I guess it will take a long time unless there is heavy rain in the short term.

"But I asked the people here, they said it won't rain here this season."

Roger said helplessly: "Okay, at least the property and weapons won't run away from their own legs, let's just wait."

Odin on the side reported excitedly: "There is a huge harvest in the port.

"We have captured half of the Egyptian fleet, as well as a large number of pirate ships."

Roger was a little surprised and asked, "You can actually capture the enemy's fleet with your cavalry? How did you do it?"

Odin said: "They were in trouble and got me a bargain.

"The bravery of those sailors was scared and they didn't dare to fight us at all. As soon as the Norman heavy cavalry I led arrived at the dock, they surrendered."

Roger didn't understand, and he said, "Although the boats have no feet, they can move.

"Why don't they drive the boat to the sea?"

Odin grinned and said, "The burning ships blocked most of the port, and the remaining channel was fleeing by several panic and anxiously, but ended up blocking the ships that collided with each other."

Roger said happily: "So, I have a fleet."

Danny reminded next to him: "Sir, those sailors are Egyptians and are not trustworthy.

"They are scared and dare not resist now, but when they recover, they will definitely escape in the boat.

“We have to separate them from the ship.”

"I've done that," Odin said.

Roger nodded and said, “That is, I have ships now, but there are not enough sailors to manipulate them.

“But this is not a big problem.

"Danny, you send someone to the Genoese in Jaffa, hire a clutch, and send the news back to Palermo, and tell my Navy Marshal Christo Dulles.

"I guess after he gets the news, he will be so happy that he will bring people over to receive these ships like a flying fish."

At this time, Shana's oriental dragon hot air balloon slowly floated through the air outside the city.

Roger said angrily: "What is Shana doing?

"I told her to fly around every day to act as a deterrent, as long as it can be seen by people.

"Isn't you asking her to attack anything? Why did she get so close?"

Roger turned his head and ordered Danny: "Send someone to tell Shana in flag language that the fire is still big here, the air convection is very turbulent, and there is danger when the hot air balloon is approaching."

Danny's eyes were confused: "Air? Convection? Is there such a flag?"

Roger knew that he was too anxious and said something his subordinates couldn't understand, so he changed his words:

"Order Shana, it is strictly forbidden to approach Ashkillen City."

Danny immediately took the order and left.

Henk came over to report: "Sir, Lawrence is asking for a visit outside the city."

Roger said: "Let him come up alone."

After a while, Henk brought Lawrence over.

Roger speculated that the other party was likely to represent King Baldwin to discuss the issue of Ashkillen City.

He thought that before he conquered the city of Tyr, although the main force was Sicilian soldiers, he was nominally the Jerusalem army.

So I finally handed over the ownership of the city of Tyre to the Queen of Jerusalem, that is, my mother.

I didn't think there was anything wrong at that time.

As a result, after the king of Jerusalem, Baldwin, seized control of the city of Tyre.

He thought, this kind of loss would be enough for one time. Does Baldwin think that he would be so naive this time that he would hand over Ashkillen City?

Roger sneered and watched Lawrence salute him.

"Lawrence, I cherish the friendship we fight side by side, don't let me lose it," he said.

Lawrence was a little confused, and he said, "Where did this start?"

Roger said bluntly: “I won’t hand over Ashkelen.

“I need this city, and the port here.

"This is very important to me, to Sicily."

Roger did not express his reason. In fact, in his plan, this city with the best ports in the Near East is an important node connecting the Maritime Silk Road.

The goods of Eastern merchants can be transported by sea and landed on Aqaba on the edge of the Moon Valley where Roger once commanded the battle.

Then the cart was transported through the Negev desert.

There is a territory controlled by the Bedouin people who have maintained good relations with themselves.

Then the cargo was concentrated in Ashkeen, loaded it out of the sea, and under the protection of his own fleet, crossed the Eastern Mediterranean and arrived in Sicily.

In turn, Sicily goods can also be transported to the East through this line.

Once this Maritime Silk Road is opened, wealth can continue to flow.

So Roger has made up his mind that if Lawrence came to ask Ashkiron on behalf of Baldwin, he would break up with him.

However, Lawrence did not make such a request.

He said humbly: "My Excellency Roger, I am here to ask for your advice."

Roger frowned and listened.

Lawrence broke a big news: "Your Majesty insisted on attacking Egypt despite the persuasion of everyone."

Roger interrupted in surprise: "What? What kidding? Is he crazy?"

Lawrence said with a bitter face: "Now the Jerusalem aristocratic group is in chaos, and everyone doesn't know what to do.

“Realistically speaking, since Your Majesty is going to attack Egypt, we should act according to our orders.

"But, this situation is really not a good time for a long-distance expedition."

Roger thought, he felt that there should be hidden information in it.

He held back everyone, leaving only Henk's guard.

He said: "Lawrence, tell me what you know."

Lawrence changed his side face and said angrily: "Baldwin is crazy. He does this to destroy the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

"We died in this battle and our vitality was severely damaged.

"There are not enough Christians to suppress the Sarasen and Turkic tribes that we control are all ready to move.

"How can you make an expedition at this time?!

“As long as our remaining troops leave, there will be an immediate rebellion in the country.

“Our territory, the home business we have accumulated through hard work, will be gone.

"All the nobles were unanimously opposed to Baldwin, but we dared not speak out.

"Badwin counted all the contributions of defeating the Egyptian jihad army this time, and Patriarch Anurf advocated it for him.

"He is now extremely prestige. He said that the people at the bottom will probably overthrow us, so no one of us nobles dares to confront him in person."

Roger raised his face and said, "Then what do you mean is to ask me to contradict him?"
To be continued...