I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 151

< The King of Jerusalem (1) >

Egypt, Cairo

“Just how far has the fire spread?!”

Al-Adil shouted, yanking on the reins.

He stared at Cairo.

From the Mamudiya and Juweila districts to the gardens of Faraj and Kapur, black smoke billowed everywhere.

The fire that started last night raged on after sunrise.

His aide wiped the black soot from his face.

“Considering the scale, it doesn’t seem like an accidental fire.”

“Even a blind man could see that.”

Al-Adil retorted.

“It’s definitely the work of the Assassins [a Nizari Ismaili Shia Islamic sect]. They attacked the warehouses and set them ablaze. They even breached the fortress’s siege lines.”

He continued, “How many warehouses were attacked in total?”

“It’s difficult to ascertain the exact number as the fire hasn’t been contained yet, but it’s at least more than five. All the managers have been either assassinated or bribed…”

“Damn it!”

Al-Adil frowned and waved his hand. Startled, his horse reared up.

“Nothing’s working properly. Nothing at all,” he muttered.

“Just when I thought things were settling down, this happens again.”

The sudden fire in Cairo forced him to divert some of the troops besieging the fortress.

The Frankish [Western European] prisoners and black soldiers in the fortress took advantage of the night to escape.

A search operation to find them was underway along with the firefighting efforts.

“How’s the search going? Surely you haven’t lost hundreds of Franks?”

“The search parties are combing through Cairo, but the fire is making it difficult,” one of the generals said with a weary expression.

“They won’t be able to cross the desert anyway. It’s better that they came out of the fortress on their own. They have nowhere to escape to in Egypt.”

“Better, you say? Did you say it’s better?!” Al-Adil muttered, pointing to Cairo.

“Does that look like a good thing to you?! I don’t know what to report to the Sultan.”

He sighed.

“The rebels have disappeared without a trace, and the gold and silver treasures in Cairo have vanished. The Sultan will certainly not take this lightly. Not only me, but you all will be held accountable.”

“…”

Silence fell. All the officers lowered their heads, exchanging worried glances.

Then Al-Adil shouted, “Damietta!”

“Yes?”

“They went up the Nile! They escaped from the fortress and boarded a ship on the Nile!”

“But how could they find a ship in this chaos…”

“The ones who started the fire must have prepared it in advance!”

Al-Adil waved his arms, his face flushed.

“Send a signal tower message to Damietta immediately! We must prevent them from escaping!”

“I-I will immediately order the port to be blockaded!” the aide said, shaking the reins.

Al-Adil stopped him.

“The Sultan must have passed El Arish by now! Send a message there too!” he shouted.

“If the Sultan marches to Damietta, he should arrive in a day or two!”

* * *

Damietta Sea

Eastern Roman-Tripoli Allied Fleet

“The last time I was here, it was with Lord Hugh. Even then…” Luak said, standing next to Garnier, picking up an axe that had fallen on the deck.

“It was a joint fleet of Eastern Roman [Byzantine] and Tripoli warships like this.”

“But that time it was just a show of force. Now we have to enter the port,” Garnier said, putting on his helmet.

The sea breeze swept up the ship’s side, wrapping around the two men – the cool, yet sticky scent unique to the sea.

More than fifty ships cut through the water, maintaining their formation, their destination the port city of Damietta in northern Egypt.

Egyptian ships and merchant vessels that encountered the fleet scattered in all directions.

“This is a very risky operation. We don’t have enough troops to fight a battle,” Garnier said, turning around. There were more than fifty warships, but the number of personnel was far less.

Most of the ships didn’t even have half their complement. Moreover, there were no supplies needed for a long-term operation.

Winning a battle with such a hastily assembled fleet was nearly impossible.

“Nothing was prepared because we set sail in such a hurry, was it?”

“But the enemy will be just as surprised to see us. Usually, when a fleet of this size prepares to set sail, information leaks out somehow,” Luak said.

“But we brought a large fleet at a time when the enemy least expected it,” he burst into laughter.

“If I were a Saracen [a term for Muslims during the Crusades], I would have been so surprised that I would have soiled myself. Isn’t that why they’re all running away like that?”

His feathered wings fluttered in the sea breeze.

“All we have to do is take the passengers and run away before they notice. Most of the soldiers in Egypt must have been deployed to suppress the rebellion in Cairo,” Luak continued.

“There probably aren’t many defenders in Damietta.”

“…”

“If it had been someone else’s request other than Prince Baldwin, it would have taken months.”

Luak’s gaze turned to the Roman ships.

The captains in their distinctive golden helmets ran around the deck, shouting orders.

“In Constantinople [Istanbul], it takes an enormous amount of time for a single document to be processed. It’s no coincidence that Admiral Cyprus accepted the Prince’s request to set sail immediately.”

“What do you mean?”

“He probably received autonomy from Constantinople in advance. It’s rare for Basilius [the Emperor] to give that much authority to an admiral,” Luak added.

“Especially considering that the fleet admiral revolted only a few years ago.”

“But he didn’t seem very welcoming. It was only thanks to Theodora…” Garnier said.

The story that Constantinople was accommodating Baldwin was already well known.

“Basilius (the Emperor) also cherishes the Prince. But Constantinople is a city where public sentiment drives everything,” Luak said.

“That means the Prince is very popular in Constantinople.”

“That atmosphere could change if this fails,” Garnier said with a thoughtful expression.

“There are many who praise the victor, but even the greatest victor, the moment they suffer a defeat…”

“People turn their backs. It’s a common occurrence even in chariot races.”

“What if the prisoners don’t arrive in time?”

“Everything is up to the Lord’s will. Then we’ll have no choice but to turn the ship around. We can’t lose a valuable fleet here,” Luak said.

“But let’s focus on the enemy in front of us for now. There’s no harm in worrying later.”

In the meantime, the fleet approached the port.

Egyptian ships that remained in the harbor hurriedly set sail, fleeing from them.

The chains to prevent ships from entering slowly rose.

Luak shouted, raising his axe.

“Don’t chase the fleeing ones! Just prevent them from getting close! Our goal is the pier! Secure the pier!”

The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre rushed to the front of the deck, laughing as they checked each other’s axes, armor, and equipment.

“Remember! We’re not occupying Damietta! We only need to secure the pier until our prisoners arrive!”

Luak looked at Garnier.

“Do you really think we couldn’t prepare anything because we left in such a hurry?”

He raised his hand, and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre roared. Small wooden boats for landing were lowered from the deck.

“Waaaaa!”

Cheers echoed from all over the fleet in response. Luak grinned.

“We Northerners are always prepared.”

* * *

Jerusalem Royal Palace

“So, there really was an earthquake?”

“The cathedral under construction in Lincoln collapsed completely. That can be considered the will of the Lord,” I said with a smile. Baldwin IV laughed, lying in bed.

After returning from Hattin [site of a major Crusader defeat], I often visited his room.

Egypt was far away from here. Once things started, all we could do was wait.

I asked him about the Egyptian problem and discussed solutions.

‘It’s comforting to chat, though.’

Before being a king, Baldwin IV was an ordinary man – a young man not even thirty years old.

The more I talked to him, the more complex and subtle my emotions became: a mixture of pity and respect.

Emotions that couldn’t be easily expressed in words.

“Henry II’s expression must have been quite a sight. Such a disgrace in front of all the people and Europeans,” he said.

“A crusade to make up for that. That was probably the best choice Henry II could make.”

“I think so too,” I replied.

“But it’s a good thing for us. If Henry II brings his army himself, the King of France will have to be conscious of it.”

“I wish I could have seen those two in person.”

“You will be able to see them in person.”

Even as I said that, I knew it was a lie.

No matter how quickly the Third Crusade comes, Baldwin IV won’t be able to hold out until then.

He wouldn’t be able to see the Third Crusade.

“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped,” Baldwin IV coughed.

“I have been preparing my sword by fighting the Saracens until now, but you will be the one to wield this sword, Baldwin.”

“…”

I looked at him. If it hadn’t been for Baldwin IV, the kingdom would have collapsed long ago.

It was thanks to him that I was able to organize the Third Crusade and that there was still hope.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, Baldwin, I can close my eyes in peace.”

He took my hand.

“I did my best. The Lord will know that. You just need to do your best.”

“Of course.”

Then someone entered the room, full of excitement.

It was Aygu.

I turned my head and looked at him. For him to burst into the room like this meant it was important news.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s a signal message from Lord Balian.”

Aygu said, “Saladin is not stopping and is continuing to advance into Egypt. It seems he has formed a separate force to deal with Lord Balian.”

Aygu muttered, “If Saladin finds out that the prisoners are being moved to Damietta…”

“He’ll probably head straight to Damietta himself,” I said. Then the situation would turn into a mess.

‘If the timing is right, there won’t be a problem…’

By now, the Eastern Roman-Tripoli Allied Fleet should have arrived in Damietta.

If the prisoners succeeded in escaping, they would surely arrive in Damietta tomorrow or the day after.

With the Egyptian forces concentrated in Cairo, temporarily occupying the port of Damietta wouldn’t be a problem.

‘But if Saladin goes, it’s a different story.’

If Saladin arrived in Damietta with a large army, everything would go wrong.

That’s why I sent Balian.

“Saladin is not an opponent to be easily overcome,” Baldwin IV said. He coughed and continued.

“Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to throw another bait.”

“Another bait…”

“Isn’t it already decided? If a small bait doesn’t work, you have to throw a bigger one.”

Baldwin IV said, “Now we have to negotiate, not fight. Saladin will accept any offer if it benefits him.”

“…”

Negotiation. As Baldwin IV said, I had to give something to Saladin – a bigger bait.

In this situation, there was only one thing.

“You’re talking about the Assassins.”

“Yes, you said the Assassins stole the gold and silver treasures from Cairo. I think you would have figured out the route they’re taking.”

“They’re probably passing through Eilat and heading east by now,” I said. I was tracking the caravans’ locations in real time.

“You’re saying to throw them to Saladin.”

“Yes, but before that, I want to ask you,” Baldwin IV coughed.

I lifted him up so he could speak comfortably.

“The prisoners, or the gold and silver treasures of Cairo – which is more important to you? The choice is yours, Baldwin.”

“…”

My head was spinning.

The choice I wanted to make, and the best choice for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

“We can always take Saladin’s money later,” I said.

What’s more important now is…

“I want to show the people the Kingdom of Jerusalem and my will.”