I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 99

The Fifth Column (4)

* * *

“Children of Christ!”

Pierre waved his staff and stepped forward.

A multitude of people flocked around him.

“I have come here, passing through Paris, Crema, Treviso, Ferrara, Bergamo, and Milan! To show you the truth!”

His cry echoed through the square.

“You who reek of evil in the midst of wickedness, drinking harmful waters! Repent!”

He shouted.

“I have come to show you the spring overflowing with the water of life! The path of truth!”

The donkey he rode had lost all the hair on its rear.

It was because citizens kept pulling it out, hoping to take some of the donkey’s hair as a relic.

The donkey cried pitifully each time its hair was plucked.

It wasn’t just Pierre and the donkey that surprised the citizens.

The Holy Cross.

The knights followed him, carrying the Holy Cross.

“The moment I faced the Holy Cross, Christ spoke to me directly! Help Duke Baldwin! Defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem!”

As he waved his hand, the people behind him surged forward.

All of them were missing eyes, hands, or feet.

Those without legs dragged themselves on wheeled wooden boards.

“Behold these people! They are the ones the Emperor gouged the eyes out of and banished from the city! Can you still say the Emperor came to Italy with good intentions?!”

The citizens buzzed at the sight.

Children stood beside their parents, staring at them.

“Does it matter which city these people are from? Does it matter who is from Vicenza, Verona, or Milan?!”

The men in charge of translation stammered as they conveyed the words.

But there was no need to fully understand his speech.

The Holy Cross.

And the disabled people.

That alone was enough to deliver the message.

“Look at this child! Look at the Emperor who gouged out the eyes of such a young and weak child!”

Pierre shouted, lifting a young boy.

Unlike the others, the boy had only one empty eye socket.

“Emperor Frederick said he would only leave one eye for one person while gouging out the eyes of the Vicenzans!”

Pierre said.

“The Vicenzans chose this youngest child. So, while others had both eyes gouged out, this child was able to keep one eye!”

All the citizens listened to his speech in silence.

Only the sounds of livestock and birds echoed.

“The Emperor has given you only these two choices! To have all your eyes gouged out, or just one!”

Pierre continued to shout.

“And now! Venice and Genoa are taking the Emperor’s side. They are supplying food to the Imperial army that is cutting off the noses and gouging out the eyes of Italians!”

Upon hearing those words, the citizens shouted and waved their hands.

Many also cursed.

“Go to them right now and ask! Why are you taking the side of the Emperor who is cutting off the noses and gouging out the eyes of Italians!”

Pierre cried out.

As he staggered, others came to support him.

“Stand on the Lord’s side! That is the only way to save your souls!”

“Deus Vult! [God wills it!]”

The shouts echoed.

Shortly after, Pierre left the city with even more followers than before.

The Holy Cross followed behind.

It was time to go to another city.

* * *

Venice

San Marco Basilica [St. Mark’s Basilica]

“Start the meeting quickly!”

Hundreds of men shouted.

Five massive domes and countless mosaics.

This place was the history of the Republic of Venice itself.

From the moment they were guaranteed autonomy by the Roman Empire to the moment they decided to wage war against that Roman Empire.

Everything started right here, in San Marco Basilica.

The men waved their hands and shouted.

“Where is the Doge! [Chief magistrate of Venice]”

The old Doge (leader of the republic) stepped onto the platform.

He spoke with a weary expression.

“Silence, everyone! Be quiet! I promise everyone will be given a chance to speak!”

Those who continued to cause a disturbance were beaten by guards and dragged away.

The Doge coughed and shouted.

“Today’s emergency meeting has been convened solely to discuss the Italian issue. Please keep that in mind!”

He pointed to a man.

“Marco. Explain the situation in Italy.”

“The backlash from the Italians has far exceeded our expectations. Just yesterday, merchant guilds from Milan and Cremona were attacked by protesters….”

Marco shouted.

Because of the still noisy atmosphere, he had to yell at the top of his lungs.

“They are swarming to the port, so we are in a position where we have to hire mercenaries to protect the ships immediately!”

“That wandering priest Pierre is the problem! He is going around the Italian communes (cities) stirring up trouble!”

“Let’s get rid of him! Ambush him on a secluded road and eliminate him!”

A fat man waved his fist in the air.

“Wouldn’t that end everything simply?! And bring the Holy Cross to San Marco Basilica here!”

“Nonsense! If it were a few weeks ago, maybe, but if we do that now, the Italians will take up arms and rush to Venice.”

“Are we going to go bankrupt together just to get one Holy Cross?!”

“Please, offer reasonable suggestions! Reasonable suggestions!”

Shouts went back and forth.

“Aren’t we the ones supplying grain to Italy right now?! Let’s cut off all supplies to the Italian communes (cities)!”

“That’s right!”

“If we do that, His Holiness the Pope will immediately excommunicate the entire Venice! If an interdict [prohibition] is issued, how will the dead be buried?! Baptisms? How will marriages take place?”

Marco shouted.

The men around him nodded and cheered.

Even in the chaotic cathedral, there were firm rules.

First, those with the right to speak were the heads of large merchant guilds.

And the merchants belonging to the guilds acted as supporters.

Marco continued to shout.

“And what will we do when the Lombard League [alliance of northern Italian cities] brings its army to Venice? Will we even ask the young Emperor of Constantinople for support?!”

At his words, everyone gasped.

Since the battle against the Eastern Roman fleet decades ago, Venice had maintained an awkward relationship with Eastern Rome.

Asking for help now was hard to imagine.

“We can’t choose both Emperor Frederick and the Lombard League! It’s time to choose which one is more beneficial to Venice!”

“Everyone in Venice knows that you, Marco, are Duke Baldwin’s dog!”

The fat man stood up again and shouted.

His silk clothes fluttered in the air.

“Me, Duke Baldwin’s dog? Then Pippin, aren’t you a flea on the cloak that Emperor Frederick wears?!”

Marco shouted.

“I have shared all the profits and business opportunities I have earned with other merchants until now! But what have you done?! Didn’t you take all the money you received from the Emperor for yourself?!”

“I just seized the opportunity first.”

The man mumbled.

Then jeers poured out towards him.

The man blushed and lowered his posture.

Marco shouted to the crowd.

“How many contracts have I brought to Venice so far? How much spice has come in through Aila, and how much profit have we made from the elixir monopoly?”

“That’s right!”

“We must focus on long-term benefits. And the choice for Venice now is to help the Lombard League. The Holy Roman Emperor cannot invade us. How can he maintain the empire without Venice’s money and support?”

“Keep talking, Marco, son of Arvis.”

The Doge said.

Marco nodded.

“To protect the republic’s assets and interests in Italy, we must terminate the contract with the empire!”

He continued.

“If Genoa acts first, we will lose our advantage!”

The moment the word Genoa came out, the men all waved their hands and cursed.

“Silence! Everyone be quiet!”

The Doge shouted.

Only after several tens of seconds did the cathedral finally become quiet.

The Doge sighed and said.

“Having heard everyone’s opinions, I will now put this matter to a vote. Those who think we should terminate the contract with the Holy Roman Empire….”

Arms rose, and the sound of silk rustling echoed.

Venice’s will was firm.

* * *

Italy

Verona, Allied Forces Command Tent

“Venice has promised to reduce the supply of goods to Frederick Emperor. Genoa has also canceled the dispatch of crossbow mercenaries.”

“They responded faster than I thought.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

I’m glad we could stop it this quickly.

“You have accomplished what even His Holiness the Pope could not, Duke Baldwin.”

Guido said with a smile.

“You have united these Italian communes (cities) into one.”

“I didn’t do much. I just showed the Italians the truth.”

I said.

My plan was simple.

Use Pierre and the victims to stir up the Italians’ anger towards Emperor Frederick.

And shift that anger to the maritime cities that supply goods to the Imperial army.

“It wouldn’t have worked no matter how much we talked. What better evidence is there than people with gouged eyes and severed limbs?”

There were still many cities in Italy that were friendly to the Emperor.

To persuade them, we had to appeal to emotions, not reason.

The disabled people became living witnesses, showing the Emperor’s evil deeds.

And even the Holy Cross.

The Emperor opposing the Holy Cross.

What clearer frame could there be than this.

“You really have no intention of receiving the Iron Crown of Italy? [Crown of the Kingdom of Italy]”

“Jerusalem is enough for me. If I take on Italy as well, I won’t live long.”

I answered with a smile.

And this atmosphere won’t last long.

It was easier now because there was an external enemy called the Holy Roman Empire.

The moment I try to seize power, they will all join hands and try to drive me out.

That was Italy.

Easily divided, but stronger than anyone when they unite.

“The Podestà [high official] knows that well, doesn’t he?”

I looked at Guido.

“That I am welcomed like this only because I am an outsider. Or are you trying to drive me out and become a new hero?”

“You are indeed sharp, Duke Baldwin. But I had no such thoughts.”

Guido burst into laughter.

I could feel that he was enjoying it.

“You are quite….”

“Someone is coming.”

I said, raising my hand.

A sense of urgency was felt from outside the tent.

Is it Hugo?

My prediction was correct.

Hugo came into the tent.

Guido sighed.

“How do you know these things, Duke Baldwin? Didn’t you command with your eyes closed during the last battle? The rumors have already spread widely among the Italians.”

“Let’s just say it’s easier to command with my eyes closed.”

I answered with a smile.

I looked at Hugo.

“What’s going on?”

“The Emperor has lifted the siege of Vicenza.”

Hugo spread the map on the table and said.

I nodded.

It was expected that the Imperial army would lift the siege.

With insufficient supplies, they wouldn’t be able to maintain the siege.

“Supplies must be running low. Which direction are they advancing?”

“It’s not Verona here first. They say it’s south. We haven’t yet figured out exactly where they are aiming.”

“South?”

Guido and I looked at each other.

What on earth are they planning to go?

South.

Which city is in the south?

Cremona, Treviso, Ferrara, Bergamo, Piacenza, Parma?

No.

The Emperor was short on time now.

He wouldn’t have the luxury to dwell on these small cities.

There was only one city that the Emperor would aim for.

The place that was once the heart of the world.

“He’s going to Rome.”

I said.

I think I know what he’s up to.

“There’s no other place to go but Rome.”

“Going to Rome? What reason would Emperor Frederick have for doing that?”

At that moment, someone else was felt coming into the tent.

A familiar voice echoed.

“The Duke is right.”

“Your Holiness.”

Everyone in the tent knelt.

It was the first time the Pope had come like this.

He looked at me and said.

“The Emperor is going to Rome.”

* * *

Q: Was Frederick Emperor really such a cruel person?

A: Emperor Frederick often imposed extreme penalties on enemy prisoners and criminals even in previous Italian expeditions. This included cutting off noses, blinding, etc. It’s hard to imagine now, but it was actually quite a common punishment at the time.