I'm not quite sure why the Caesar is talking about my rear end. Maybe he has something about himself he wishes to share with us...

But I had to recruit mercenaries because the Levant was left so woefully neglected last term. Not just woefully neglected. But criminally neglected. Without decent recruiting centers, and with only a barebones army that was criminally delayed, we have had to play catch up.

And our armies have suffered horrendous attrition since we keep fighting off Fatimid Jihad armies. Unlike the Caesar, we have done our part to protect the capital.

So yes, when the Templars attacked with almost 2000 men, I had to do something. I only had 600 or so men inside and outside the city. So, I recruited mercs. After the battle, I then disbanded them all.

If 2000 men marched on any of your cities, and there was inadequate defenses, I would do the same for you.

So, yes it was incompetence that left Antioch defenseless. But the incompetence was not ours...