"Knight Losa, do you want to join the Templar Order or the Hospital Knight Order?"
The monk finished his sermon and enthusiastically said to Losa, "Listen to me, a pious and brave knight like you is perfectly suited to join the Templar Order."
"The Templar Knights are fierce and battle-ready, never compromising with heretics. Compared with the conservative Hospital Knights, they are more suitable for you to achieve great deeds!"
"Sorry, Father Beckett, I don't plan to take lifelong vows. My father served His Majesty Baldwin and participated in the famous Battle of Mongisa, defeating the king of the Ayyubids. I also wish to continue this tradition, serving the king as a Feudal Lord."
"No wonder the cloak you wear is reminiscent of the old cloak of a Jerusalem Royal Knight, it turns out your father received such remarkable honor, my apologies."
Beckett said thoughtfully.
"But Knight Losa, please forgive my frankness. You don't understand the situation in the Holy Land. In my personal opinion, choosing to directly swear allegiance to His Majesty is not a wise choice."
"His Majesty may not even have the mind to see you, let alone grant you a fief."
"The Knight Order is indeed a good place, especially the Templar Order. Joining the Knight Order does not prevent you from being loyal to His Majesty the King."
Beckett began to introduce the prominence of the Knight Orders in this era and their terrifying influence in the Holy Land.
Although the Templar Order is nominally just a military monastery, they have thousands of estates and castles in the Public Teaching world, with territories scattered in various places.
Besides, they often receive huge donations from various sources.
Moreover, the territories of the Templar Order enjoy tax-exempt policies; they themselves represent divine authority, and there is no need to worry about anyone collecting tithes.
The wealth allowed them to establish the earliest "bank" of this era. Many pilgrims on this ship borrowed money from the Knight Order to afford luggage and to purchase tickets.
This is a leviathan entrenched in the Holy Land, nominally a Knight Order, but actually a nation.
Not only is it rich enough to rival nations, its military strength is not inferior to any great monarchs in Europe.
Though the Hospital Knight Order is inferior in strength, it is still on the same tier.
Just with a conservative style, not as radical as the Templar Order.
The existence of the two Knight Orders greatly curtailed the authority of the King of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, even briefly overpowering the royal power.
But due to external threats, the king not only cannot expel or suppress them, but must also win over the two Knight Orders.
There is a street slang in Jerusalem: Although the king wears a sacred crown, Gerard (the Grand Master of the Templar Order) is truly the uncrowned king.
Losa and Father Beckett chatted at the bow. Father Beckett had traveled several times across the Mediterranean, dedicated to raising funds in the Western World and calling for Crusaders.
To bring them to the Holy Land as soldiers for the military monastery or as vassals under Feudal Lords to obtain funding.
It is very much like the nature of brokers, but people all believe this is a holy act.
Beckett had lived in the Holy Land for two years and knew a lot about things there.
"Sassan and Ayyubid have united, while the kingdom internally continues to struggle. Each Knight Order has its own supporters, trying to marry His Majesty the King's sister Sibilla to become the next Crown Prince."
Beckett rarely showed a hint of pessimism, "I don't know whether 'calling' so many Christians to the Holy Land is right or wrong? The iron hooves of those heretics might destroy everything."
Isn't that deception?
Losa secretly ridiculed but said aloud, "I never expected the situation in the kingdom has become so severe, but according to my father, His Majesty Baldwin is indeed an outstanding monarch. How could he allow the situation to develop like this?"
"Indeed, His Majesty the King is an excellent monarch with extraordinary military prowess and charisma, but leprosy has made his rule increasingly feeble."
Beckett's eyes reddened, "We all know that the youthful king who once defeated tens of thousands of heretic armies at Mongisa is long gone. Now, the only thing remaining is a frail leper enduring constant agony."
Losa remained somewhat silent.
Count Werner's idea was to let him turn to Baldwin III and even brought a letter for him.
But now it seems, the king's great ship is far less sturdy than he imagined.
There are pros and cons, precisely because the ship is not strong enough, he found it easier to stand out and gain His Majesty's trust and importance.
Even if Baldwin is still the only legitimate king of Jerusalem, a dying camel is bigger than a horse.
'Orthodoxy,' sometimes, is more important in the Middle Ages than in the Eastern World.
As for the leprosy... drawing a healing attendant might possibly cure him.
After pondering for a while, he decided to follow the original plan, loyal to King Baldwin, even if temporarily unable to grant fiefs, it was more reliable than joining the talent-laden Knight Orders.
Knowing many high-ranking nobles would rather donate their entire property to join the Templar Order, there may be elements of piety, but it also reflects the depth of the Knight Order's unknown.
Adding flowers to brocade can never compare to providing help in times of need.
Furthermore, as a military monastery, to join the Knight Order unless donating substantial properties for exceptions, one must vow lifelong commitment, renouncing territorial inheritance and marital rights.
This fundamentally divides them completely from the Feudal Lords.
"I will carefully consider what you've said, Father Beckett. Thank you for discussing these matters about the Holy Land's situation. It helped me greatly, may the Heavenly Father bless you."
"Amen."
Farewell to Beckett.
Losa was preparing to return to the cabin.
Just then, he saw a fat man dressed in luxurious attire, waving a whip, angrily reprimanding the crew listening to the monk preach, "I spent ten large silver coins to hire you, not to idly stand here, get moving, polish the deck, dry the clothes, and sew the spare sails!"
"Whatever you do, don't let me see you standing here chatting!"
The fat man is the owner of this ship, that dishonorable Venetian merchant.
Laine's harsh scolding yesterday proved accurate.
This Venetian merchant is truly a Jewish man.
Jewish merchants who valued wealth above all else seem quite fitting for Venice, a republic with commerce as its foundation.
But in reality, even Venetians look down upon Jews, isolating them in designated districts named "Ghetto."
They cannot engage in regular business activities, only being moneylenders or undertaking ambiguous passenger tasks like the captain of this Kirk ship.
In fact, apart from a few commercial city-states on the Apennine Peninsula, most regions strictly prohibit Jews from hiring Christians.
Discrimination caused deeper rifts between Jews and Christians.
And the rift made Jews disregard these heretics' survival, raising grain prices, increasing interest rates... worsening their reputation.
This creates a vicious cycle.
It is worth mentioning that during that time in Europe, Jews only received relatively fair treatment under the rule of Fire Worshippers in Iberia.
"They are not chatting idly, you irreverent Jewish merchant, they are listening to my sermon, and you, clearly, have no qualification to listen!"
Monk Beckett loudly retorted.
The man sneered, his fat face full of disdain, but after looking at Losa, he didn't argue with Beckett.
"Lord Losa, are you satisfied with the cabin? I specially allocated the most spacious room for you, ideal for a noble knight like you to reside with lady companions."
Losa passed by the Jewish merchant, deeply glancing at the small eyes between the fat cheeks of the other.
He nodded perfunctorily and entered the cabin with his attendant and subjects.
The Jewish merchant's face showed no anger from being snubbed; he watched Losa's party's backs gradually vanish, his mouth curled into a subtle curve.