I was a knight in the Middle Ages

Chapter 534 Riding the Waves (Page 12)

“Lord Hashim, this is something we have to do, you see…” Alpha pushed the information he had obtained from the Barbarossa family to Hashim.

According to Alpha's intelligence, there are at least 10,000 elite pirates stationed on Crete, along with dozens of heavily armed warships.

Once the war begins, reinforcements from the pirate alliance will pour in from all directions.

Alpha's 10,000 civilian knights are barely enough to hold the beachhead, let alone expand to 30,000? How will they feed them? What equipment will they provide?

"Lord Hashim, you've seen the intelligence as well. The pirates are powerful, and our ten thousand men are simply not enough to fill their teeth." Alfa's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "Therefore, we must expand our army."

"Impossible!" Hashim refused outright. "The Empire will never allow you to conscript soldiers on its own soil; that would be considered treason!"

Alpha smiled; he knew Hashim had misunderstood him.

“I’m not talking about recruiting soldiers on the mainland. I mean, expanding the army to 30,000, but… it will all be for logistics.”

"Commoners?" Hashim was stunned.

“Yes, civilians.” Alpha’s eyes deepened.

"The Empire isn't providing supplies, is it? Then we'll grow our own food and manufacture our own weapons. What I need isn't 30,000 fully armed knights, but 30,000 warriors who can fight, farm, and repair ships. As long as you can help me transport the people there and don't interfere with me sending civilians from my homeland to reclaim the land, I'll handle the rest myself." Hashim fell into deep thought.

If it's just about transporting civilians under the guise of land reclamation and trade, the empire will indeed find it difficult to stop them.

Moreover, sending Alpha to fight the pirates would increase their chances of survival with more manpower.

“Fine!” Hashim gritted his teeth. “I can use my family’s connections to help you transport the first batch of 10,000 elite troops. As for the subsequent civilian transport, I guarantee it will be unimpeded, free trade, and no one will check. But Lei, I can only provide rations for these 10,000 men. As for the rest of the troops, whether you live or die is really up to you.”

“That’s enough.” Alpha reached out and shook hands firmly with Hashim. “Ten thousand knights are enough for me to gain a foothold on Crete.”

Alpha looked out the window at the shimmering sea and a cold smile crept onto his lips.

Pirate alliance? Crete?

Isn't this the perfect starting point for Alfa to establish maritime hegemony and achieve military-commercial integration?

The empire wanted him to die, but he was determined to build his own independent kingdom in that death zone.

The empire's urging was like a death warrant, giving them only three days to leave the holy city.

The tight deadline left Alpha with no time to breathe; he had to act immediately.

The appointment decree was issued swiftly the next day, and a series of dazzling titles were bestowed upon him: Governor of the Aegean Sea, Grand Master of the Holy See's Crimson Flame Knights, Holy Knight Lei...

Looking at the scroll stamped with the imperial seal, Alpha couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.

This pomp and circumstance is reminiscent of a rising star in the empire.

But everyone knew perfectly well that this was a cast-off suicide squad, a discarded pawn that the Empire had thrown to the pirate alliance.

However, this is exactly what Alpha wanted.

What Alpha wants is the legitimacy of this "official certification" and the huge attention that comes with it.

Alpha decided to do the opposite, not to carry out a secret evacuation, but to leave in a high-profile manner.

He wanted the whole continent to know how a knight of commoner origin rose to become a powerful regional official with a large army.

Alpha intends to portray this case as a beacon of hope for the common people, thereby stimulating the already fragile nerves of the imperial commoners and nobles.

The western continent is sparsely populated, especially outside the core territory of the empire, where it is so remote that not a rooster crows for miles.

Only the territories directly under the empire still had some inhabitants, but most of those people were serfs struggling to survive and barely able to feed themselves.

Alpha wanted these people; he wanted to organize them and make them understand that only by resisting could they survive, and only by joining him could they have a future.

The journey back was unusually peaceful.

The terrifying feat of the Crimson Flame Knights in "killing" the Templar Knights had already spread among the nobility.

Those usually arrogant noblemen were now so frightened by the sight of Alfa's black flag that they kept their distance.

They were eager to get rid of this "savage" group, and even felt that breathing any more air left behind by them was an insult.

Alpha did not want to leave the heart of the continent so hastily, as many plans had not yet been implemented, but the empire's military orders were absolute and could not be disobeyed.

Therefore, Alpha urgently contacted Aslan of the Barbarossa family, a pirate dynasty.

After secret talks, both sides reached an agreement: Alpha's legion would temporarily enter Cyprus as a transit point for rest and reorganization under the guise of "imperial inspection".

Although the application is still in process, the Empire is eager for them to leave as soon as possible. Once they leave the core area, the Empire will not bother with the subsequent specific operations.

Through the Hashim family's clandestine efforts, this path to survival at sea was finally opened.

The warship cut through the waves, but the salty sea breeze on the deck could not dispel the solemnity in Alpha's heart.

Through this series of changes and observations, Alpha became increasingly aware that the vast Ottoman Empire was already terminally ill.

The empire's elites indulged in extravagant pleasures inland, turning a blind eye to the boundless wealth and future hegemony contained in the vast ocean.

They indulge in singing and dancing, living a life of pleasure and decadence, having long since lost the ambition and aspirations of their ancestors to expand their territory.

Looking at the Imperial fleet's dilapidated hulls and lax discipline, Alpha sneered inwardly: This seemingly sturdy imperial edifice is actually built on a foundation that has rotted away.

However, Alpha's vision pierced through the fog of history.

Alpha knows that the 17th and 18th centuries are the peak of the Age of Exploration sweeping the globe.

Whoever controls the ocean controls the lifeline of the world.

This is a huge gap in the times, and he, Alpha, is determined to build an unprecedented maritime empire that surpasses all land-based empires within this gap.

Perhaps it was fate's arrangement that the huge warship "Victory" carrying them to the unknown was actually steered by their old acquaintances, Carson and Hassan.

Because of their old friendship with Alpha and their own excellent seafaring skills, the two men have managed to become the captain and first mate in the Barbarossa family navy.

Thanks to this strong connection, Alpha and his group had a smooth journey and even enjoyed VIP treatment.

At this moment, Alpha was not gazing towards Crete from the deck, but instead devoted all his energy to the investigation of Cyprus.

Alpha knew that Crete was the target, but at this moment it was a den of wolves and tigers, and to go there rashly would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

"Lord Lei, here is the information you requested about Cyprus." Su Wanqing gently placed a thick stack of parchment and yellowed files on the long table in the cabin.

She had shed her initial shyness and was now dressed in a neat, simple outfit, looking every bit the competent secretary.

"Okay, put it down. You all go and rest, get some fresh air. I'll call you if I need anything." Alpha waved his hand, but his eyes never left the map in his hand.

The cabin fell silent instantly, with only the sound of waves crashing against the ship's walls remaining.

Su Wanqing did not leave immediately, but stood to the side somewhat awkwardly.

Looking at Alpha's angular face, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Lord Lei, the imperial edict clearly ordered you to be stationed on Crete and take over the defense of the Aegean Sea. Why are you so concerned about Cyprus? You haven't even looked at the information about Crete."

Alpha put down his quill, raised his head, and looked intently at the intelligent woman.

"Crete is now a fortified position of the Pirate Alliance," Alfa said calmly, yet with a chilling undertone. "If I were to land on the island now with these ten thousand rabble, it would be like snatching food from a tiger's mouth. That's not only what the Empire wants—they'd love for me to be torn to pieces by the pirates—but also suicide. With our current strength, we'd be sunk by the Pirate Alliance's fleet before we even get close to the shore, becoming shark food."

"But... how could they know our exact marching route?" Su Wanqing asked, puzzled.

"It's not a possibility, it's a certainty." Alpha sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

“I have thoroughly offended the imperial noble class, and they wish they could tear me to pieces. Why do you think our fleet was able to leave so smoothly? Because our every move was under their watchful eyes. As soon as we left the imperial port, our whereabouts were immediately transmitted to the pirates' lair by carrier pigeon.”

Alpha stood up, walked to Su Wanqing, and pointed to the map on the table: "Therefore, I can't play by the rules. Cyprus is my springboard. I will use it as cover to slowly infiltrate and approach my Aegean region unnoticed."

Su Wanqing suddenly realized, then said worriedly, "But Cyprus is also within the Empire's sphere of influence. What if the Empire retaliates against us here..."

“That depends on luck,” Alpha interrupted her, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

"The empire's rule here is not monolithic. Find me records of Cypriot nobles, I need to know how deep the oppression is here; find me records of popular uprisings, I need to know how fierce the flames of resistance are here; and I need the local geography, I need to know where is suitable to be my secret base."

Alpha looked at Su Wanqing, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Go, my secretary. Find all of these for me. I'm going to plant the first nail to overthrow the empire on this 'unsinkable aircraft carrier'."

"Lord Lei, what 'unsinkable aircraft carrier'?" Su Wanqing blinked her clear eyes, her face full of confusion.

This strange combination of words left her completely baffled.

Alpha, engrossed in his grand strategic vision, casually explained, "It's a colossal warship, a steel behemoth that can float on the sea forever and never sink."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Alpha suddenly froze.

Yes, where is this?

This is a different world filled with magic, fighting spirit, and even mysterious internal energy!

Why should I cling to the mindset of later industrial civilization?

Alpha has always been bound by its past understanding.

Subconsciously, Alpha believed that the pirate alliance had dominated the seas by virtue of its first-mover advantage, and that if he wanted to counter it, he would have to wait until the steam engine was invented and the ironclad warships were launched.

But since there is magic and supernatural power here, why insist on following the old path?

Since magic exists, why can't we build a huge floating or sea fortress powered by magic?

"Wanqing, don't just stand there, quickly go and invite the elf siblings Tiksin and his sister over, I have something important to discuss with them." Alpha's eyes flashed with a sharp light at this moment.

It was the fervor of a hunter discovering a priceless treasure, as if they were seeing a future more alluring than a stunning beauty.

Seeing the burning intensity in his eyes, Su Wanqing blushed slightly and instinctively took a half-step back, her voice barely audible: "Lord Lei, although you have boundless energy, you should still exercise restraint... Tiksin and his sister are elves after all. Isn't it a bit too... too hasty of you to summon them so directly? Your health is the foundation of everything..."