The knights looked at each other.
Especially those confidants of Earl Philip, their faces were pale, and big beads of sweat were dripping down their temples.
They don't know what happened to the crown prince.
To them, it no longer matters.
Because whether Little Baldwin is dead or not, they are guilty of dereliction of duty and possible involvement in the murder of the crown prince.
On the contrary, it was Count Philip. Because he was a vassal of the German emperor, as long as little Baldwin was alive, the most he could do was remove him from his official position and expel him from Jerusalem.
Lothar picked up the list and slowly said: "Rodel of Aachen, please come out. You were supposed to lead people to patrol the Midsummer Corridor tonight, but you only left one sergeant..."
"Mimir of Florence."
"Charol of Artois."
He announced the charges one by one, and then said: "Come forward on your own initiative. If you still have a shred of knightly honor, don't let my soldiers pull you out from the crowd."
There were six knights whose names were read.
Some people tried to argue, but no one wanted to resist.
Count Philip walked on the road with a face full of despair. His weapons were confiscated and his hands were put in heavy shackles.
When he passed by Lothar, he begged in a low voice: "Grand Commander, I am willing to swear on the holy cross that I did not participate in the conspiracy against the crown prince. If you still think that you are an upright knight, please return the I am innocent and I promise that I will never cause trouble to you again."
Lothar shook his head: "The oath is sacred, but the oath of a person who does not regard the oath as sacred is worthless."
Lothar pointed at Earl Philip: "One of the oaths you took to join the Royal Knights requires you to obey justice and be virtuous, and you have violated this."
It is unlikely that Count Philip is related to the assassination, but among the people who instigated him to go against Lothar, there are definitely people from the assassin's side.
The remaining knights present watched their companions being captured, and some were so sad that they remained silent. No one even took the initiative to salute Lothar.
Many people were in awe of this new grand leader.
As soon as he arrived, he moved Earl Philip down. What kind of method was this?
"Everyone, when you meet the Grand Commander, have you forgotten how to salute?"
The knights and their attendants saluted Lothar one after another.
Lothar could see the fear on their faces, and he said solemnly: "Tonight, many of you are not at work, and they are not on rotation. I am willing to forgive this matter, but Only this one time."
After that, he ran out on horseback without looking back.
The heavily armored Varangian Guards escorted the "prisoners" into the prison cars and got on the traveling horses assigned to them by Lothar.
By using "mounted infantry", the pressure on their march can be greatly reduced.
Put all the prisoners in jail.
Lothar walked straight to the palace.
Under the guidance of the king's personal servant, Lothar entered the quiet room.
Inside the house, incense was still burning.
But he still keenly smelled the faint smell of decay in the air. It seemed that every time Lothar saw Baldwin IV, his condition became worse.
"Your Majesty, I have put all those who have neglected their duties in prison."
"What are you going to do with them?"
Lothar said calmly: "Except for Earl Philip, who only had his official title removed and was expelled from the Royal Knights, the others were all sentenced to hanging."
This is the cruelty of political struggle.
If Lothar gets a chance, he will not forgive him so as to give Count Philip a chance to make a comeback.
After this incident, he not only rectified military discipline, but also eliminated another small hill within the Knights, which will greatly speed up his progress in controlling the Royal Knights.
Baldwin IV nodded noncommittally, and then asked: "Who do you think is the mastermind behind this?"
"It depends on who is the biggest beneficiary after His Majesty the Crown Prince's death."
Baldwin IV was a little confused: "You mean, Earl Raymond?"
Earl Raymond is the regent. Once the king or the crown prince dies one after another, as the most powerful and prestigious person in the Holy Land, he has the greatest possibility of succeeding to the throne and becoming the king.
"I know him well. He would never do such a thing. Compared to an empty king, he is already the King of North Jerusalem and will not do anything unnecessary."
Lothar nodded and said: "I don't think it's Earl Raymond, or even a Crusader noble."
"Saladin would not do such a thing. I signed an armistice treaty with him. He was a generous and kind king, no less than the most upright knight in the West."
Baldwin IV's tone was gentle: "Actually, I have some guesses."
Lothar asked tentatively: "Anjou?"
Baldwin IV nodded, but said: "No, it is a Zoroastrian, it can only be a Zoroastrian. Maybe people know that Saladin would not do such a thing, but his nephew, Savoddin, the governor of Syria, , but he is a ruthless character who uses whatever means necessary. He once sent people to massacre the wooden castle of Lord Cockab who slandered Saladin."
At this point, the two looked at each other and smiled.
This is politics. Even if they all know that this matter cannot be done by people from the Ayub Kingdom who have a deep hatred for the old man in the mountain, they still have to speak the same tone.
As for the so-called "Anjou", it is because if the crown prince is killed, there is a high probability that the successor of Baldwin IV will be appointed by the patriarch of the Anjou family, King Richard the Lionheart.
And King Richard the Lionheart will probably lead Albion's Crusaders to the East in a year's time.
...
Early the next morning.
In the Bishop's Square in Jerusalem.
Hans held high the royal flag given by His Majesty the King. He had been appointed by Lothar as the flag bearer of the Royal Knights. This was an honorary official position and not nepotism by Lothar.
On the second floor of the tall fortress, wooden steps were pushed out one by one, and the sergeants and servants who were stripped of their robes and coats were pushed out.
With a bell ringing.
The censor stood aside and began to loudly read out their sins to the onlookers.
This includes but is not limited to the six knights that Lothar captured last night, as well as their attendants, some of whom took bribes and provided convenience to the assassins.
Someone nervously whispered confessions and prayed.
Some people's legs are trembling, and they can't help but beg and cry that they just made an unintentional mistake.
Some people said goodbye to their wives and children who were standing in the crowd, crying bitterly.
Some people also shouted for help to Count Philip, who was standing in the crowd.
There are all kinds of things before death.
As Lane and others put white bags over their heads, they then pulled off the wooden boards.
The prisoners who were hung on the rope kicked their legs wildly, and then they stopped breathing.
ps: There is another chapter, a little later.
