A Guide to Becoming a God Starting from a Monastery

His extraordinary abilities, when applied to the sea, really make him almost invincible.

If the Wolf God still has weaknesses in terms of mental fragility, then Herzl has almost no weaknesses in the sea.

Even if his action failed, he could definitely escape.

But the current intelligence clearly shows that Herzl is dead.

And he was killed by the Knights not in a battle on land, but in a naval battle.

"Herzel is dead?" the follower was surprised.

"They're probably dead," Ferdinand smiled. "First the Wolf God, then Herzl... That Thomas must have another card in his hand. We have to figure out what it is."

"What if I don't understand?" the follower asked foolishly.

"If I don't understand..." Ferdinand thought seriously. "Then I will never fight Thomas one-on-one! Moreover, I will not send a strong man to fight Thomas one-on-one! I assume that he is invincible in a one-on-one fight!"

Chapter 272 Before the War 4

With the level of productivity of this era, it is difficult to start a war in winter.

Unless it's a sneak attack that's a gambling move.

However, the Sultanate of Rum is a big country after all and will not take such a gamble.

So throughout the winter, both sides were engaged in diplomatic efforts.

The results of the efforts of both sides turned into news that arrived one after another in early spring.

All the Star-Crescent states expressed support for the Seljuks.

This support is reflected in the provision of troops, food and money.

Especially the Buyid Dynasty.

In the final analysis, the fall of Smyrna was due to the Buyid Dynasty. After all, it was they who tied down the main force of the Sultan.

So they not only borrowed soldiers, but also borrowed food.

A posture full of sincerity.

In the afternoon, in the newly built city of Smyrna.

In preparation for the upcoming war, the Knights had already dispatched most of their personnel here. Almost all of the Knights' mid-level and high-level members had gathered here.

Today is the first meeting held here.

The topic of discussion was the news that had just been received.

The Buyid dynasty showed unprecedented support for the Sultan.

There was a long table in the middle of the conference room. Thomas sat at the head seat, and other officials of the Knights Templar sat at the table according to their status.

The secretary Demetrios stood here, reading out the latest information in a low voice.

The entire sphere of influence of the Crescent Moon Cult, at least within the range of contact with the Knights, showed clear support for the Sultan's military action.

For example, across North Africa, almost all of the Crescent-Israel states had allied themselves with the Sultan—this was completely understandable. The Knights' previous great expedition to North Africa had dealt a heavy blow to those Crescent-Israel states.

It's just to hurt, not to scare, and certainly not to make you submit!

So, seeing the opportunity, they naturally wanted to help. To avenge the last time!

Not only did he lend money to the Sultan, he also provided a fleet to help in the war.

Although each nation's fleet wasn't particularly formidable, when they were all assembled, they were still a formidable force. Even the Knights' navy wouldn't dare to rush into battle.

Who knows how many enemies there are?!

Now, Demetrios is reading the letter from the Knights Templar.

Thomas sent a letter to the Holy Land asking for help, and now they have responded.

There is a lot of content and the tone is very tactful, but it can actually be summed up in four words: I can’t help.

"...That means the Holy Land won't be able to provide us with any support at that time, right?" Thomas asked before he finished his belief.

Although Demetrios was reading it, Thomas already knew the details. He was just using this method to inform the entire middle-level Knights.

"Yes, the Mamluks of the Buyid and Fatimid dynasties have already mobilized their troops and may launch a war at any time. The Holy Land has already done its best to defend Jerusalem and has no spare energy to support us," Demetrios replied.

"What about Byzantium?" Thomas asked.

"The emperor has sent our envoy back." Demetrios lamented.

The two Christian countries that are closest to the Knights Templar and the only ones that can provide direct assistance to the Knights Templar, and even have a very interdependent relationship with the Knights Templar, have the same attitude: one is unwilling, and the other cannot!

Even if other countries that are farther away provide assistance, it is in the form of materials and money, not direct military assistance.

"Forget it, do you have any news?"

"The King of France sent us a letter," Dimitrios said. "He expressed his approval and support for our just cause, allowing us to recruit volunteers within France and offering to provide ships to transport the personnel. However, we will have to pay for the ships..."

Thomas looked around and saw that the middle-level managers all looked unhappy.

"Milan...Venice...Genoa...The Italian countries are willing to guarantee the safety of our sea routes..."

"The King of England is willing to provide an army of a thousand men, but it will take at least six months for them to arrive."

"The Holy Roman Empire has rejected our request. The Emperor stated that the Empire is currently experiencing civil unrest and is temporarily unable to provide support. However, if anyone wishes to use the Empire to support the Knights, the Empire will do its utmost to cooperate."

Thomas tapped the table lightly with his fingers, signaling Demetrios to stop talking.

At this point, everyone understood.

No one could offer them much help except the church.

The monarchs of various countries all have a bystander mentality.

They did not see it as a good opportunity to weaken the Star-Moon Cult, but rather as an opportunity to sit on the sidelines and watch the fight between the two tigers.

After all, it doesn't matter if you lose.

Even if the Knights were defeated at Smyrna, at least they still had Rhodes. Their navy could still control the sea. Their value remained unchanged.

On the other hand, if the Knights win...it may not necessarily be a good thing.

In this way, the Eastern Mediterranean gained another ambitious power. Who dares to say what the Knights will eventually become with the support of the Pope?

So their aid is all the kind that sounds good but is actually useless.

On the contrary, the aid given to Sudan by the Star-Moon Sect countries was real.

Whether it is borrowing money or borrowing troops, it is real stuff.

Even the Mamluks took the initiative to send troops, clearly intending to prevent the Holy Land from supporting the Knights.

The only source of aid to the Knights was the Church.

Thomas has written a letter to his teacher, hoping that he can prepare a mercenary force of a thousand people to support the Knights, and the mercenaries will be paid a year's salary in advance.

Thomas knew that this was pretty much the teacher's limit. Unfortunately, given the current situation, it was a drop in the bucket.

In the first round of diplomatic confrontation, the Knights were completely defeated.

But Thomas had anticipated this—after all, he had learned history in his previous life. Even if he didn't know the details, he at least knew the general idea.

Christian monarchs are generally all petty-minded and masters of exploiting their neighbors.

He was thinking of using a knife to kill someone else, using the Star-Moon Cult to deal with his fellow religious brothers. His main goal was to kill his comrades rather than the poor Taoist.

Unfortunately, playing this game too much would lead to serious consequences. As a result, capable monarchs and famous generals were killed one after another by the Ottomans when they were isolated and helpless.

Whether it was Hungary, Romania, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, or even Byzantium, as well as some other countries, there were actually talented and ambitious monarchs who put up very brave and tenacious resistance. Unfortunately, under such circumstances, they could only suffer in frustration and were conquered one by one by the Crescent Moon Cult.

It was not until Vienna was almost captured that Christianity finally gained some strength and organized a multinational coalition to preserve the last dignity of Christianity under the city of Vienna.

"I think everyone understands that the situation of the Knights is not optimistic." Thomas said.

"But, on the other hand. If we win, we can get everything we want. All the glory will be ours!"

Chapter 273 Bad News

I don’t know if the leader’s words are useful, but at least on the surface everyone seems to be deeply encouraged.

The meeting ended and everyone left, leaving only Thomas and Demetrios.

"Demetrios," Thomas said. "Tell me the bad news."

What was said at the meeting just now was actually good news.

The Christian monarchs, at least verbally supported it - after all, verbal support costs nothing.

It can only be said that this good news is not good enough, nor can it be said to be bad news. After all, they are going with the flow and providing support within their capabilities.

"The Portuguese are demanding an increase in the price of arms and supplies..." Dimitrios said cautiously.

Thomas gasped and felt a toothache.

Damn it! If I had known earlier, I would have sold Ceuta to the Venetians!

"The Venetians... well, they've increased the price of their warships... and the purchase price of new ships is up 30%!"

Well, I take that back! Sell it to the Spanish!

Unfortunately, Spain was still not entirely stable internally. Although the Age of Exploration had begun, it was still primarily focused on exploration, with no large-scale colonization yet to be achieved. Furthermore, it was said that the destruction of the Emirate of Granada hadn't occurred long ago, and the expulsion of infidels was still ongoing, meaning there was no immediate need for overseas expansion.

"The governor's sons are all in the Knights Templar... Haven't you contacted Governor Balbo?" Thomas asked.

"I contacted them, but the Doge said that this is a normal business practice. Even the Doge of Venice can't ask merchants to lower their prices!"

"That old fox!" Thomas cursed.

"In addition, Milan... Genoa... all the countries that have frequent trade relations with us are raising the prices of their arms!" Dimitrios continued.

Thomas spat in disgust, as if he were spitting out poison.

He has been the head of the group for three or four years, so he can naturally see through these things at a glance.

Everyone holds a butcher knife and treats the Knights as big fat pigs!

The Knights had indeed gained a lot from their previous expeditions.

The two or three million florins invested in the construction of the Smyrna Bastion were indeed real money. This cannot be concealed.

Regardless of whether one knows the inside story or not, everyone covets a piece of it.

So now that the Knights are facing difficulties, naturally there are people who want to take advantage of the situation.

Many crows are staring at this inevitable war. They don't care about winning or losing, they just hope to eat as much flesh and blood as possible from the remains of the loser!

"This feeling..." Thomas sighed softly. "It's really unpleasant!"

I am clearly trying to control my own destiny, but I always feel that destiny is like running water and quicksand, flowing through my fingers and I can't grasp it at all!

The situation is ever-changing and strange.

"Grandmaster...what should we do?"

"What should we do? Let it cool down!" Thomas said fiercely. "Let it cool down" was a Chinese word, and no one understood it. But it didn't matter; everyone understood that the Grand Commander was cursing.

The Knights currently have no shortage of major weaponry, such as cannons, armor, and firearms. After all, these are usually purchased to last for years. With their own repair shops and blacksmiths, maintaining and repairing the weapons is no problem.

In fact, the Knights could also manufacture gunpowder - if the raw materials were sufficient!

But things like arrows, gunpowder, and rations were different. The Knights had indeed been stockpiling them, but the demand for these things was unlimited.

Who knows how much a fierce battle will cost?

Thomas remembered very clearly that the Knights Hospitaller suffered this loss in their previous life.

Indeed, the Knights Hospitaller took this matter very seriously, with their Grand Master personally overseeing gunpowder production. However, during the actual fierce fighting, the rate of gunpowder consumption exceeded everyone's expectations. After just a few months of hard fighting, the gunpowder was completely depleted. Finally, forced to surrender, they fled!

Thomas didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

Therefore, it is necessary to use the last few months before the war to stockpile food, fodder and ammunition.

"Dimitrios, send a message. Have our logistics officers disguise themselves as merchants and try to purchase supplies from North Africa."

"But Grand Master... those are Star-Moon Cultists..."

"It doesn't matter where the things come from, as long as they are cheap. I only look at the price!" Thomas said viciously.

He has been preparing for this inevitable war, and the last few months are the final step, so he cannot relax.