I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 190

< 190. The Third Crusade (5) >

Jerusalem Royal Palace

King’s Bedroom

“So, what are you going to do?”

Theodora asked, tossing and turning in bed.

“If the Assassins get involved, the balance of the Levant will collapse. We have to prevent that situation at all costs, but…”

She sat up.

“But we don’t have time to subjugate them right now. I heard Masyaf is an impregnable fortress?”

“It’s not impregnable, but it won’t be easy to capture.”

I said.

I remembered when I first saw Masyaf.

A natural fortress built on a high mountain.

Back then, I received help from the Assassins to supply Aleppo.

‘Saladin also besieged Masyaf Fortress around the 1170s, but eventually gave up.’

The story that Saladin woke up to find a dagger stuck in his pillow was widely known.

Though the Assassins spread the rumor themselves.

In any case, it was a fortress that was difficult to capture even with tens of thousands of troops. Theodora asked.

“Count Joscelin is to the east of Masyaf. Count Raymond is to the west. Shouldn’t we besiege them from both sides?”

“The Assassins must have stockpiled as many supplies as possible. Since they don’t have many troops, they can hold out for several years.”

I said.

With the Third Crusade in full swing, we couldn’t besiege a small fortress for years.

“We can’t divide our forces again. Mecca, Egypt, Damascus, and Masyaf—dividing them will only benefit Saladin.”

The Assassins probably know that much, but I feel uneasy leaving them alone.

‘They might target me or other kings and lords.’

From the Assassins’ point of view, the failure of the Third Crusade is more beneficial.

“They’re like hedgehogs.”

Theodora sighed.

“The thorns bother you if you ignore them, but you can’t get rid of them directly.”

“Hedgehogs. That’s right.”

I said with a smile.

But it’s not like there’s no way to deal with them.

“What’s the best way to catch a hedgehog?”

“Burn it with fire?”

“Greek fire isn’t bad either, but we don’t have to do that.”

I added.

“We just need to make the hedgehogs fight each other.”

“Hedgehogs fighting each other.”

Theodora muttered with a thoughtful expression.

“Does the Jerusalem royal family have an assassination organization that I don’t know about?”

She asked.

“Actually, the Constantinople Imperial Palace has people they use like that, but…”

“Unfortunately, there’s no such organization.”

I shrugged.

We have monster-like knights, so we don’t need a separate assassination organization.

“But we do have Saracens [Muslims] similar to the Assassins.”

Using barbarians to catch barbarians.

There’s no method as sure as using poison to fight poison.

* * *

One week later

Jerusalem Royal Palace

Fahr glanced around.

The guards all glared at him and his party with wary eyes.

“This is definitely a trap, Captain. It’s better to turn back now…”

“The Imam [Islamic religious leader] ordered us to find out the Franks’ [Europeans, particularly the French] true intentions. Are you scared of just this much?”

“The Frankish bastards are just trying to use us Assassins.”

“And we’re just trying to use the Franks as well. There’s no need to think too complicatedly.”

Fahr’s subordinate shut his mouth at his words. He and the four other Fidais [devoted warriors] entered deep into the royal palace.

‘The King of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) personally requested a meeting.’

No Sultan had ever brought Assassin members into the royal palace like this.

Is Baldwin underestimating them?

Or is he just stupid?

As the huge door opened, the audience chamber appeared. King Baldwin was sitting on the throne in the center.

Surrounded by dozens of knights and lords.

“Welcome to Jerusalem.”

The interpreter conveyed the king’s words.

Fahr bowed in accordance with Frankish etiquette.

“I bring greetings in the name of the sacred Muhammad Imam in Alamut.”

He raised his head and looked at the King of Jerusalem. A face that looked younger than he thought.

The rumors that he possessed unknown abilities and precognition were well known even in the Persian region.

‘I could kill him right now if I wanted to.’

Although he didn’t have any weapons, he could easily break his neck with his bare hands. Surpassing the knights and guards….

“So, you want to kill me?”

Fahr flinched at Baldwin’s words. He could see the surrounding guards approaching.

Did the King of Jerusalem read his mind?

Fahr replied in as calm a tone as possible.

“How could that be? Muhammad Imam wants a friendly relationship with Jerusalem.”

“Of course, he would. Tell him I think the same.”

“…”

Fahr watched the young king carefully. It was well known that he had joined hands with Sinan of Masyaf.

So why did he contact them?

“The Nizari, from the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam. That’s you Assassins.”

Baldwin said.

“But how many people know that the Assassins operating here in Syria are just a branch?”

“…!”

Fahr gasped without realizing it.

“And Sinan in Masyaf is just the leader of the Syrian branch. At least he was until he betrayed you. Am I wrong?”

“…If Your Majesty knows everything, why do you ask?”

“I wanted to tell you that you and I are on the same side.”

Fahr glanced at the throne.

Baldwin was just smiling with a calm expression.

“Sinan betrayed you and declared independence, and you’ve already sent Fidais [assassins] several times to assassinate him, but failed.”

Baldwin said.

“There’s no information in the Levant and Syria that I don’t know.”

“But that doesn’t mean that Your Majesty and we are on the same side.”

Fahr said.

“Didn’t Your Majesty join hands with Sinan?”

“I did until now, but the situation has changed.”

Baldwin leaned forward on the throne.

“New situations require new alliances. I want to deal with Sinan, and that’s the same for you.”

He asked.

“So, will you accept my offer, or will you continue to pretend you don’t know?”

“…”

Fahr fell into thought with his mouth shut. Everything Baldwin said was true.

The Assassins’ headquarters was Alamut Fortress (قلعه الموت) in Persia.

Masyaf Fortress, where Sinan was, was just a Syrian branch.

But when the Imam of Alamut changed, Sinan took the opportunity to declare independence.

Alamut sent assassins several times to eliminate him, but Sinan repeatedly eliminated or seduced them.

“You know the weaknesses and structure of Masyaf Fortress well. Maybe there are a few spies inside.”

King Baldwin said.

“We will provide the soldiers needed to suppress the fortress. We will hand over the occupied fortress to you. I don’t care as long as I can eliminate Sinan.”

Only his voice echoed in the audience chamber.

“Will you accept my offer?”

* * *

Jerusalem

“This is really interesting.”

Richard said, looking at the paper. All sorts of numbers and letters were densely written.

It wasn’t just paper.

The situation room was bustling with all sorts of noises.

“Reconnaissance report from number 14! About twenty camels are heading south!”

“It must be a caravan! It departed from Damascus today!”

“Just in case, let’s pass it on to the next signal tower!”

The priests exchanged conversations with each other. On the huge map in the center, the priests moved the pieces like playing chess.

Richard approached them and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“We are rearranging the pieces according to the reports from the signal towers. If the reflection is delayed, the judgment will be delayed as well.”

“So each of these pieces means troops or caravans.”

Richard muttered, fiddling with a knight-shaped piece. Information was constantly coming in from all directions.

And a huge map that reflects it in real time.

It was a sight he had never seen anywhere before.

His father, Henry II, sighed and said.

“Yes. Other people only focus on Baldwin’s heroic tales, but the real amazing thing is this.”

He pointed to the priests in front.

“Signal tower. I heard that it takes less than a day to send a letter from Tripoli to Ailat down there.”

“It’s much faster than using pigeons.”

Richard muttered.

More and faster information than a messenger could ever provide.

“What if we install it in England? It would be difficult to get to Normandy or Ireland across the sea…”

“Even if we could only install it in England, it would have a tremendous effect. I’ve already asked Baldwin to dispatch technicians.”

Henry II said.

“And King Lalibela made the same request as me.”

“…”

Richard watched the scene in the situation room with his mouth shut. Now he seemed to understand Baldwin’s actions.

‘The fact that I and my brother stopped fighting in France…’

He must have grasped all the information in advance. The troops of each of the two camps and the reason for fighting.

If you know all the information, you have no choice but to win any battle.

“Of course, some lords will resist and step forward.”

Henry II continued in an excited tone.

“The more information that goes to the royal palace, the greater the royal authority will be. Imagine hundreds of signal towers being laid out.”

He waved his arm.

“Maybe even without the lords, officials alone would be enough to govern.”

“Of course, that’s right, Father.”

Richard answered vaguely and looked at the papers he had received from the priest.

A ledger listing military supplies.

From swords and spears, armor

To water, sugar, and bread.

Almost all items were recorded in detail.

‘Baldwin knew that the Third Crusade would be formed.’

Otherwise, there was no way he could have gathered this much supplies in advance.

Was it really fate that he, Henry II, and Philip came to the Levant?

Or was Baldwin running a gamble against the whole of Europe?

Richard fiddled with his beard.

“The more I think about it, the more mysterious he is.”

From the eyes of an angel that can see far away to the signal tower and the elixir. And now there was even a catapult using camels.

Then the map in the center of the situation room caught his eye. A few camel-shaped pieces were placed in Jerusalem.

“What is this?”

“That is…”

The priest stammered.

“It’s still confidential, Duke. Baldwin didn’t explain it separately.”

“He didn’t explain it separately… I see, I won’t ask any more questions.”

Richard muttered.

He had a feeling that something interesting was about to happen.

He turned away from his father, who was pouring out words, and headed for the royal palace.

“I’ll have to ask Baldwin directly.”