I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 120

The Eagle of Broken Oaths (5)

* * *

“He fought the Saracens on horseback himself and saved Constantinople!”

Pierre of Paris.

He attracted the attention of the English shortly after arriving in Dover.

“Everyone, pray! The sacred True Cross is coming!”

London and Windsor.

Following Ely and Ipswich, even Lincoln and Nottingham.

Numerous priests and farmers gathered.

The same went for peddlers selling relics and goods.

“This isn’t ordinary mud, but the soil God used to create Adam!”

“A piece of the True Cross that will cure your illnesses! This is the last one left!”

They flocked to the ports of Portsmouth, Rye, and Dover in southern England.

Pierre’s donkey cried pitifully every time people plucked its buttock hair.

“So, which way is Count Baldwin coming from?”

“We’ll know soon enough. They’ll contact us here before the ship sets sail.”

The citizens engaged in heated discussions about when Baldwin would arrive.

The atmosphere heated up not only in the southern cities.

London.

Henry II sighed as soon as he heard the report.

“So, that priest is blathering on as if he were a saint?”

“Sometimes, the word ‘hermit’ holds more power than ‘saint’.”

A bishop replied.

“Already, a crowd of hundreds is following that priest. Believers are returning to their villages and spreading the sermon again.”

“I can’t stop that fellow Baldwin from coming.”

“He also has the justification of being a representative of Rome.”

“I know, I know.”

Henry II waved his hand.

“It’s better for me to generously invite him here, rather than sitting and pretending I don’t know.”

“Jerusalem shares the same blood as the English royal family. No matter who Baldwin is, he won’t ignore tradition. He won’t do anything rude to Your Majesty.”

“Well, I’ll have to see that for myself.”

Henry II tapped the throne.

“Jerusalem needs support now. And I’m the only one who can give it. Isn’t that so?”

The vassals nodded in agreement.

“If I give him enough gifts, he’ll stay quiet and leave. The same goes for my sons.”

“That is the right thing to do, Your Majesty.”

“First, bring that priest, Pierre or whatever, to the palace. I need to tie him up so he can’t wander around anymore.”

Henry II waved his hand.

“I shall follow Your Majesty’s command.”

“And from now on, we must prepare the meat. Richard and Henry are coming together. Even bringing an entire farm won’t be enough.”

Henry II leaned back on the throne.

As he turned fifty, handling state affairs became increasingly tiresome.

“Richard and Henry have joined forces. Soon, I’ll see the fox and the lion reconcile.”

* * *

“It’s harder to make than I thought.”

Kang said.

He stared at the paper with the ink on it.

“The ink isn’t evenly printed either.”

“It’s only temporary anyway, so it doesn’t matter much. Later, the artisans of the Order can make it more elaborate.”

I said.

I looked at the printing press.

Hmm, it’s hard to call this a printing press.

It’s just a wine press with a wooden plate attached.

Still, it’s a makeshift printing press.

I did several tests with Kang.

First, engrave pictures or letters on a wooden plate.

Then, apply ink, place the paper on top, and press it with the press.

The ink was printed, but it wasn’t elaborate.

I need to make special ink separately.

There were many areas to improve.

“Still, it’s much better than I expected.”

I looked at the paper.

It was much larger and wider than 21st-century currency.

Roman numerals representing the value and the Jerusalem emblem were printed on the long, horizontal paper.

Kang scratched his head.

“If we spend a little more time, we can add elaborate patterns. And…….”

Silence fell.

I noticed Kang hesitating.

“Is there something you want to say to me? If it’s not rude…….”

“Speak comfortably.”

“I have a question for you, sir. If it’s not impolite…….”

“What kind of place is Jerusalem?”

“What kind of place?”

“I know that going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem forgives sins.”

He looked at me.

“But is that really true? Can you be forgiven for your sins if you go to Jerusalem?”

“To be honest, I don’t know either.”

I shrugged.

Being forgiven for sins through a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

How many people believed that and left for the East?

Going to Jerusalem in this era is truly a life-threatening journey.

‘The Crusades were just as complicated.’

The expedition was not simply started for economic gain.

Faith and salvation.

The protection of the Holy City.

And all sorts of sordid desires.

Is the Crusade a holy war?

Or an imperialistic invasion?

“Have you guys come to a conclusion?”

“Everyone except those who are sick or old have decided to follow you, sir.”

Kang said.

“We’ll know when we get to Jerusalem, whether or not we can be forgiven for our sins.”

He watched my reaction.

“Of course, if you haven’t changed your mind…….”

“My offer is still valid. You don’t have to worry.”

I nodded.

Kang’s carving skills were top-notch.

If I put him with Gernal, he’d be able to make a printing press in no time.

At that moment, Aigre approached us.

“Sir, the ships are ready. We can set sail tomorrow.”

“It’s over sooner than I thought.”

Nodding, I looked at Kang.

“When I return from England, I’ll prepare ships for you first.”

“There’s something I’d like to say regarding that.”

Kang said.

He raised a finger and pointed to his bow.

“Wouldn’t it be okay for me and my brothers to follow you, sir? All we know how to do is shoot a bow, but…….”

He said.

“Still, we’ll be able to help you, sir.”

“I have no reason to refuse.”

I looked at Kang and the men around him.

A strange feeling arose.

Is this gratitude?

“No one has ever cared about us until now. There were always only those who took something away or threatened us. Not to mention taxes.”

Kang said, holding his bow.

“But didn’t you promise to take care of us, sir? We can’t let anything happen to you in England.”

“Then I’ll officially hire you on the spot.”

I reached out my hand to Kang.

He stared at my hand for a moment before grabbing it.

I said with a smile.

“And your salary can be printed with that printing press.”

“Just that one sheet you just printed is enough, sir.”

Kang also burst into laughter.

I nodded.

The first Jerusalem banknote ever printed.

That’s enough compensation.

“You don’t know how much value that one sheet will have later.”

* * *

The next day.

I stood on the deck and felt the sea breeze.

Every time the waves crashed, droplets of water splashed onto the deck.

The sensation of cold water.

I looked at the sea.

‘Is this the famous English Channel?’

The place where the German Luftwaffe [German Air Force during World War II] and the British Royal Air Force fought fiercely.

The ships with their sails spread filled the surroundings.

The sun had set long ago.

The moonlight illuminated the sails in silver.

Young Henry and Richard.

And even the army I lead.

I stared blankly at the scene before me.

Anyone would think we’re going to invade.

I wasn’t the only one on the deck.

A middle-aged man in silk clothes.

I approached him.

“Bertrand of Born. It’s been a while. I didn’t see you on deck during the day?”

“S, Sir!”

Bertrand stammered.

I felt a familiar fear.

“I wasn’t feeling well and stayed below. I would never avoid you…….”

“That’s a relief then. I had something important to discuss with you.”

I replied with a smile.

I patted him on the shoulder.

“Did you clear out all the dirty money?”

“Dirty money? Young Henry has forgiven my little ‘mistakes’. So…….”

“And in return, you betrayed Geoffrey. I’m not trying to fight you. Quite the opposite.”

I patted him on the shoulder.

I can’t let him go yet.

“I have a favor to ask of you. Your troubadours [Medieval poet-musicians of Southern France]. Would you send some of them to Jerusalem?”

“Jerusalem, you say…….”

“Of course, the expenses and salary will be paid by Jerusalem. You won’t lose anything.”

I said.

Troubadours were a culture of southern France.

Mainly popular in the Aquitaine region.

The creators of courtly love and chivalric romance.

They led the trend with beautiful music and poetry.

‘If I use them well, I can create a Jerusalem Kingdom craze.’

There was already a good example called the Song of Roland [an Old French epic poem].

The heroic tales of the Jerusalem knights.

The more the trend spreads, the more knightly supporters and sponsors will increase.

It could be beneficial to Jerusalem in the long run.

‘Propaganda, I guess.’

I didn’t even have to lie.

From the beginning, the Levant [historical geographical area roughly equivalent to the modern Middle East] is a land where war continues.

It would be enough to just talk about what actually happened.

Bertrand nodded repeatedly after hearing my explanation.

“How can I refuse your request? So please, to young Henry…….”

“I understand. I’ll only say good things about you. You don’t have to worry too much.”

I gestured for him to leave.

Bertrand hurriedly ran down the deck as if fleeing.

A man brushed past him and came up.

“We’ll arrive around tomorrow morning, sir.”

Luak said.

“Get some sleep. Or are you still not used to the sea?”

“You seem more comfortable when you’re on the sea, sir.”

“Blood is thicker than water.”

Luak replied with a smile.

He stood next to me.

We looked at the sea in silence for a while.

Luak opened his mouth.

“By the way, it seems that the French king hasn’t made any significant moves yet.”

“He won’t stay still forever. Once he understands the situation, he’ll try to step in.”

I said.

King Philip the August.

He was as good at sowing discord as Geoffrey.

Philip must have instigated the civil war between young Henry and Richard to some extent.

In the original history, Philip went on a crusade with Richard.

But he ran away halfway on his own.

He returned to France and attacked the empty England.

‘So Richard rushed back to Europe.’

The Third Crusade eventually fails to recapture Jerusalem.

“But if we do well, we can drag France into the Crusade as well.”

I said.

Young Henry and Richard.

Since the Holy Roman Empire is out, we have to bring at least France.

“Let’s think about the method a little more.”

“How about sending that donkey-riding priest to France? He’s already being treated like a saint in England.”

Luak burst into laughter.

“That’s why Henry II had no choice but to invite you, sir.”

“Let’s think about it a little more. There are still many steps to climb.”

I also replied with a smile.

There was still a lot to do.

First, I have to get Henry II to step down from the throne.

That’s the only way to drag young Henry and Richard into the Crusade.

Luak opened his mouth.

“The English and Normans say that Henry II is the King of the North Wind.”

“King of the North Wind?”

“It’s a prophecy that a wizard named Merlin made in the past. I’ve only heard it roughly.”

Luak shrugged.

“The Eagle of Broken Oaths will find joy in the third nest. In this prophecy, the eagle is…….”

“It must be Queen Eleanor. She divorced Louis.”

I nodded.

If a broken oath is a divorce, then the third nest is…….

“It means the third son, Richard. The King of the North Wind is a tyrant who tries to stop the eagle.”

Luak nodded.

“There is no one who doesn’t know the story of King Arthur.”

“King Arthur…….”

I looked at the night sea.

When the moon was covered by clouds, the waves turned into pitch-black darkness.

Darkness where nothing exists.

But the waves were still there.

“If we do well, we can use that.”

“Use it how?”

“What could be better than the legend of King Arthur to unite the English?”

I shrugged and replied.

The remains of King Arthur.

A comet and an earthquake.

These things mixed together in my head to create a story.

A story that could only come out of legends.

I struggled to hold back the laughter that was bursting out.

‘It would be better to call him a con artist than a royal.”

* * *

Additional explanation: ‘Henry and Eleanor seem to have been greatly fascinated by the legend of King Arthur, or the ‘British Narrative’. Henry had learned these stories since he was a child, while Eleanor had long known the legend of Tristan and Isolde. Later, Henry and Eleanor named one of their grandsons Arthur.

Due to this interest of the royal family, by the 1170s, the legend of King Arthur became enormously popular not only in the court but throughout England, and even in the entire Christian world.

Knights and noblewomen imitated the characters in the legend of King Arthur, and the chivalric ethics in the story became the main values of the nobles in the 12th century.’

― Eleanor of Aquitaine (Alison Weir)