I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 146

< 146 – Courage in Chaos (1) >

Hattin Plain

“I apologize for being late, Count. There were so many soldiers crowding around that it took longer than expected.”

“It takes that long to bring a single water skin because of the soldiers?”

Gi accepted the leather pouch filled with water.

The chamberlain lowered his head.

“There are only a few puddles of water left. And the competition for them is fierce…”

“I don’t want to hear excuses.”

Gi took a swig of water.

The knights and lords inside the tent all watched him.

“Sir Roger, are they still on the rocky hill?”

“They’re coming down to the plain as well. It seems they intend to fight head-on.”

The white-bearded knight said.

“We’ve also confirmed the banners of Count Raymond and Lord Baldwin.”

“The knights have already completed their preparations for the charge. If you give the order, we’ll charge right away and throw those bastards into the lake!”

The captain of the knights shouted.

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

Gi put down the leather pouch and said,

“Raymond is different from usual. For that timid fellow to come out so willingly.”

“He must have been dragged out against his will because of Lord Baldwin.”

“Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin.”

Gi growled.

“I wish I wouldn’t have to hear that guy’s name anymore. After all, his achievements are just an illusion created by the King and Rome.”

“But there are quite a few soldiers who support the Lord. I’m worried about whether any problems will arise during the battle…”

“The soldiers of Ascalon will fight where I tell them to fight, and they will die where I tell them to die. That is the duty of my people.”

Gi said.

He pressed down hard on the map with his finger.

“Either way, once the knights charge, the soldiers will have to fight.”

“But quite a few soldiers are exhausted.”

The white-bearded knight, Roger, said.

“We’ve already run out of the water we brought… and more than a dozen soldiers have deserted under cover of darkness.”

He added.

“Engaging in battle right away might not be a wise choice, Count.”

“Then what do you suggest?! They’re blocking all the paths to the Sea of Galilee right now…”

The captain of the knights waved his hand and shouted.

“Are you suggesting we surrender to them?! We must launch an attack before the soldiers get even more exhausted!”

“That’s right! They’ll just try to stall for time until we collapse from dehydration!”

The knights murmured as if they had agreed in advance.

Gi raised his hand, and they all fell silent.

“First, identify the deserters and write down their names. Once this is over, I will personally hold them accountable.”

He said.

“And send a messenger to them to ask for water. If it’s for a fair duel, we should both be prepared, shouldn’t we?”

“I’ll go, Count!”

“How can someone as clumsy as you take on such an important task! Leave it to me!”

The knights stood up one by one.

In the heat, the tent was slowly roasting.

* * *

‘He’s practically in a state of panic.’

I looked at the delegation from Gi’s camp.

No, it’s a bit much to call them a delegation.

Knights clad in chainmail.

It was clear at a glance that they were utterly exhausted.

‘Looks like even the higher-ups are having trouble finding water.’

‘He probably didn’t expect me to eliminate the water sources so thoroughly.’

I had blocked all the wells on the roads to Tiberias and Hattin and set fire to the bushes everywhere.

The fires, started using ‘Greek fire,’ [an incendiary weapon that continues to burn even in water] were still burning, emitting smoke.

With the sunlight pouring down from the sky and the black smoke closing in from all sides.

It would be strange if they weren’t exhausted.

Gi must have been planning to arrive at Hattin within a day and settle the score.

But that plan had already failed due to my sabotage.

By now, everyone in Gi’s camp must be searching for water.

“We would like to request a supply of water before the duel. This is the rightful privilege of a duelist.”

The leader of the delegation said to Raymond.

Raymond scoffed.

“You came all the way here without bringing water. And now you’re asking me for water? Do you think I’ll give it to you so easily?”

“We brought our army to the agreed-upon location. If it’s a duel, shouldn’t we fight under the same conditions?”

“In that case, how about we start by matching the number of troops? If the conditions are the same, we should fight with the same number of soldiers.”

“…”

“You all look exhausted. Have some water first.”

Raymond gestured, and servants came with cups.

The delegation snatched the cups as if they were stealing them.

Raymond and I watched them gulp down the water ravenously.

‘They’ll choke if they keep that up.’

‘But to come to the enemy camp and ask for water before the battle. What a brazen bunch.’

Did they really think we would just give them water?

At that moment, an interesting idea flashed through my mind.

Raymond spoke again.

“We have no reason to provide you with water. So, if you want it…”

“Please wait a moment, Count.”

“Why are you doing this, Lord?”

Raymond frowned and asked.

I smiled at him.

“I think we can supply them with water.”

“No, what on earth…”

Raymond muttered, raising his eyebrows.

I could feel the bewilderment pouring out of him.

He whispered in my ear.

“Wasn’t the whole point of luring them here to make them collapse from the heat? Why are you saying we should give them water now?”

“I’m not an idiot either, Count.”

I said.

It was certainly foolish to quench the enemy’s thirst before a battle.

But what if it was just a little?

Just enough water for a few dozen people to barely quench their thirst.

“What if only a very small amount of water is given when everyone is thirsty?”

“…”

Raymond closed his mouth and looked at the delegation.

They were still drinking water like crazy.

“Perhaps only the high-ranking lords will be able to drink.”

“And the lower-ranking knights and common soldiers will be watching.”

I nodded.

What would the soldiers think when they saw that?

‘They must be exhausted from walking under the scorching sun for two days.’

They came all this way, only to find no water and enemies in front of them.

They would surely be enraged to see only the lords and high-ranking knights drinking water.

‘Even if their statuses are different, can they accept that?’

The soldiers would not look kindly on a commander who indulged himself alone.

Morale and loyalty weren’t simply born from rank.

Even if the commander and soldiers weren’t actually equal, it was important to create the perception that they were sharing the hardship together.

‘There’s a reason why Napoleon and Caesar are revered as great commanders.’

Both of them communicated with their soldiers and shared their hardships during the most difficult moments, maintaining unity.

Those two wouldn’t have drunk water by themselves.

But would Gi make that choice?

That guy who tried to kidnap Queen Eleanor to get a ransom?

“And we can also stall for time under the pretext of giving them water. The more time passes, the more exhausted the soldiers and horses will become.”

Raymond nodded.

He looked at the delegation and said.

“I will grant your request. But it will take some time…”

I quietly stood up and went out of the tent.

‘The beginning, finally.’

* * *

“You found King Arthur’s tomb there?”

“Actually, we only found a corpse. But the Lord… it’s better not to go into detail.”

Aigue smiled and said.

“Anyway, it’s true that the Lord found King Arthur’s tomb.”

“I should have gone with you. I missed all the fun, just like with Constantinople.”

Ganier said.

The spearhead he held sparkled in the sunlight.

The surroundings were packed with knights and horse archers.

I could feel the horses’ breath.

The members of the Holy Sepulchre Guard and the Knights.

Royal knights and knights under Raymond.

They were looking at the enemies standing far away on the opposite side.

Some of the enemies were wearing the same uniforms as them.

Members of the same Knights Templar.

Ganier looked at the archers at the front.

Green attire that didn’t suit the Levant [historical geographical area roughly equivalent to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Turkey and Egypt].

“You said those archers came from England. Is that kind of clothing in fashion there?”

“Actually, those clothes were made by Queen Eleanor herself for Caen…”

At that moment, a trumpet sounded.

The horses moved in formation.

A horse stood at the front.

A pure white cloak and a helmet with golden wings.

It was Lord Baldwin.

“Let’s talk more later.”

Ganier said with a smile.

He and Aigue approached Baldwin together.

“It seems the Lord has something to say.”

* * *

‘I’ve done everything I can.’

As I patted the saddle, Bulte shook his head as if he understood and moved forward.

The delegation left with a small amount of water.

‘It’s probably all gone by now.’

The time for battle had come.

Gi and my army stood on the plain, facing each other.

A clean head-on battle like something out of a textbook.

I looked at our knights and soldiers.

Excitement, anticipation.

Amidst that, I could feel confusion and hesitation.

‘If we were fighting Muslims, they wouldn’t hesitate like this.’

I looked at the thousands of knights and soldiers in front of me.

They were about to fight against those who were once comrades and colleagues.

Even among the hardliners, they were still members of the same Knights Templar.

And the soldiers would also have relatives and acquaintances in the southern cities.

Why did they have to fight today?

I was the only one who could give them that answer.

I ran forward and shouted with all my might.

“Why are you fighting?! Why must you fight?!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me.

“Count Gi is trying to ascend to the throne through my mother! All he cares about is the throne, not the well-being of the kingdom!”

I was out of breath.

I tucked my helmet under my left arm and continued to run.

I could feel Sybil and Theodora watching me from the distant mountain.

If I lost, what would happen to their fates?

I had to win today.

To do that, I would have to risk my life again.

That was the only way to save me and Jerusalem.

Risking my life to fight.

“He gathered an army and drew the lords to his side to usurp the throne! But what has he done for Jerusalem?!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

As Bulte ran at full speed, my body bounced up and down.

“I have fought to protect the kingdom until now! I protected His Holiness the Pope against Emperor Frederick, and I stopped the civil wars in England and Europe! I stood with you and fought for Jerusalem! You know best what I have been fighting for!”

Bulte ran with all his might, causing my body to heave up and down.

“What are you fighting to protect?!”

“Jerusalem!”

The shout echoed like a raging wave.

The knights waved their spears in the air.

“Why are you fighting?!”

“For Jerusalem!”

“Today, we fight for Jerusalem!”

I stopped in front of Ganier.

Sweat streamed down my body.

“Your speech skills have improved a lot, Lord.”

Ganier said with a smile.

I smiled and replied.

“I’ve had many opportunities to practice in the meantime.”

The sound of a horn shook the plains.

Following that, the shouts of the knights engulfed everything.

Once again, the curtain rose on the play.

* * *

Jerusalem Royal Palace

“The battle in front of Tiberias must have begun by now.”

“Now, we have no choice but to leave it in the Lord’s hands. Even if Baldwin loses, we won’t be able to go and save him.”

Baldwin IV said.

Servants lifted his body onto the saddle.

Balian approached him.

“Your Majesty does not need to go out in person. It is enough for me and the other lords to stop Saladin.”

“Only a king can stand against a king. You know that well, Balian, don’t you?”

Baldwin IV said, coughing.

“I am the only one who can stop Saladin. Now, tie me up.”

Balian sighed and approached him.

He tied the king’s body to the saddle with the rope he received.

The white cloak the king was wearing fluttered in the wind.

“It is unlikely that Saladin will attack Kerak. He will be too busy going to Egypt to suppress the rebellion.”

Balian said.

“But how can he attack Kerak?”

“The kingdom is in chaos right now. And that idiot Reynald didn’t send his knights to Gi, did he?”

Baldwin IV said.

He continued, squeezing out the words.

“If Saladin’s great army surrounds it, it won’t last even a week. If Saladin attacks it before going to Egypt…”

He took a breath.

“Kerak must be protected no matter what.”

“It would be better if Reynald was in Saladin’s hands…”

“I’m not going to save Reynald. I’m going to save Kerak.”

Baldwin IV said.

He groped for the reins and grabbed them.

“And Jerusalem.”