I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 166

< Interlude (1) >

“Wow, Your Majesty the Queen.”

The maids and servants quickly bowed their heads. Knights passing through the corridor also stepped aside, paying their respects to Theodora.

Theodora simply nodded slightly and passed them. Finally, she stood before a door.

Aig and another guard knight approached her.

“Your Majesty, if I had my way, I would open the door for you right now, but…”

“How many days has His Majesty been inside that room, Sir Aig?”

“…Today is the third day.”

“Sir Aig, you are one of the people His Majesty trusts the most. He even knighted you himself. So, please be honest for His Majesty’s sake.”

Theodora said, crossing her arms.

“Does His Majesty have a new lover in there or something?”

“N-No way!”

Aig shouted, waving his arms.

Other guards nearby glanced at him before turning their heads again.

“Your Majesty knows very well that His Majesty would never do such a thing.”

“So, if he’s not secretly having an affair with a lover, it’s okay to go inside.”

“His Majesty said he doesn’t want to be disturbed by anyone. Unless it’s an emergency, even if it’s Your Majesty…”

“The Queen is always an exception to the King’s orders, Sir Aig. I thought a formal knight would know that much.”

“That’s…”

“And I have urgent news to deliver to His Majesty. Open the door quickly.”

“…Understood.”

Aig sighed and opened the door. Watching Theodora enter, he asked a fellow knight.

“By the way, is it really true that the Queen is an exception to the King’s orders?”

“I’m not sure either.”

The knight shrugged and replied.

Aig and he looked at each other, scratching their heads.

* * *

“Okay, so there are three thousand soldiers known to be under Al-Harawi. Assuming that more than a thousand of them are cavalry…”

I looked at each of the papers that filled the floor. Lines, charts, and arrows were so dense that they were unidentifiable.

“It will take Saladin at least a week to assemble his army. That’s the only opportunity.”

Just then, I felt someone entering the room. I was unknowingly furious.

I was finally seeing a breakthrough, but now an interruption.

Frowning, I raised my head and flinched. Theodora was standing there with an even angrier expression.

“Theodora?”

“Every action of the King affects the entire kingdom, Baldwin. If the King gets sick, the people are terrified. It’s the same with secluding yourself in a room.”

She asked, crossing her arms.

“What on earth have you been doing locked up in your office for three days? Sir Aig said you’ve barely touched your food.”

“I didn’t realize it’s been three days already.”

I scratched my head and replied. My mind had been hazy since after the first night.

A feeling like fog in my head.

“I just had some things to think about.”

I pointed to the papers around me. The room was filled with piles of documents and reports.

There was barely any room to step.

Theodora sighed and carefully approached me.

“My father also used to get lost in thought like you. But he never suffered alone like this.”

She asked.

“What are you worried about?”

“Saladin is already gathering his forces. Mecca was attacked, so he’ll have to retaliate somehow.”

I looked at the map in the center of the table. The arrows were wriggling in front of my eyes.

“Before mobilizing a large army, they need to gather food first. Islamic cities are already preparing.”

I said.

“I know Saladin is going on the offensive. And Saladin knows that I know.”

“So, Saladin knows that you know that Saladin is going on the offensive. Then doesn’t Saladin also know that you know he knows?”

“Huh?”

When I looked up, I saw Theodora’s smiling face. She put her hand on my shoulder.

“You’re thinking too deeply, Baldwin. What you need now is rest and food.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

I smiled and replied. My whole body ached, and my head was spinning. But strangely, I felt good.

‘I felt like this when playing chess with Baldwin IV.’

This was ultimately a large-scale chess game. The king I had to protect was Jerusalem.

Would Saladin aim for the king at once, or would he gradually eliminate the pawns and aim for the king at the end?

We were engaged in a fierce battle of wits with Jerusalem in the center.

I had been one step ahead of Saladin through various new technologies and new tactical concepts.

But Saladin had always been chasing right behind.

‘He can’t be compared to guys like Guy de Lusignan.’

If those two were neighborhood thugs, Saladin was a heavyweight champion.

Even with the execution of Reynald, he released minstrels and scribes to quell public opinion.

“We’ve planted spies in Saladin’s signal towers.”

I told Theodora.

“Using them, we can find out where the armies of each city are moving.”

“You’re blindfolding Saladin, and you’re fighting with both eyes open.”

“That’s an apt analogy.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was the same as the United States during World War II. At the time, the U.S. military deciphered the Japanese military’s code system and could virtually see everything.

‘Based on this, they won the Battle of Midway and even shot down the transport plane carrying Admiral Yamamoto.’

No matter how great Saladin was, he couldn’t have known the weaknesses of the newly created signal tower system.

I had to exploit that empty hole as much as possible.

“Now that we’re on the subject, I should call a meeting of the nobles right away.”

I got up. My limbs creaked as if I had stayed up all night.

“The kingdom won’t perish if you take a nap, Baldwin. Rest here.”

Theodora sighed, grabbing my arm.

“I’ll announce the meeting. Everyone will be gathered by the time you wake up.”

She said.

“Or do you want to fall asleep during the meeting?”

“I don’t have time to sleep. I need to hire more Turcopole [Turkish-Mongol mixed descent] horse archers, and I haven’t checked the stock of Greek fire [Byzantine incendiary weapon] yet…”

“Baldwin.”

“The knights should also form smaller strike teams to make it easier to ambush…”

“Baldwin.”

Theodora stood in front of me and said. Only then did I notice her emotions.

Burden? Joy? And even hesitation. Positive and negative emotions were mixed together.

This was the first time Theodora had reacted like this in front of me.

“Theodora?”

“…”

I scratched my head, looking at her silent face.

Well, it would be strange if she wasn’t worried when her husband hadn’t left his office for days.

“I’m sorry for making you worry. Then let’s have dinner together…”

“I don’t think I can right now.”

Theodora hesitated and then gave a faint smile.

“I think morning sickness has started.”

“Then there’s no choice…”

I stared at Theodora with a blank look. Morning sickness?

It took a few seconds to understand what I had just heard. My head was spinning again.

I had to say something cool here as a husband. Something cool and supportive.

But all that came out of my mouth was a weak exclamation.

“Ah…”

* * *

Damascus

“A powerful monarchy and power originate from religions based on prophecy or evangelism.”

Usama with the white beard said. Everyone else in the room remained seated, listening to his words.

Saladin and his son, Ali, were the same.

“This is because royal authority comes from dominance. And dominance comes from solidarity.”

Usama’s words continued.

“Without a common goal that citizens follow, a sense of solidarity, that society will naturally perish.”

“You always speak the truth, Usama.”

Saladin nodded.

“I will inform my poets and scribes so that your words can spread to every city in the Levant [historical geographical area]. Praise be to Allah, the wise and omniscient.”

“Praise be to the wise and omniscient.”

The people in the room answered in low voices. After a while, Usama left, and the full-fledged meeting began.

“The mobilization in Baalbek is already complete. I’m worried about the Crusader forces in Hama and Homs, but…”

“Count Joscelin’s army won’t be able to occupy Baalbek anyway.”

Saladin said.

“Besides, Masud Atabeg is in Aleppo, isn’t he? If Hama and Homs are empty, Atabeg’s army will attack immediately.”

“We have also finished preparing the military provisions necessary for the expedition. We have enough arrows, bows, and spears to arm the entire army.”

The officers’ reports continued. Saladin listened to the reports with his eyes closed.

Next to him, Ali sat, looking around at his father and the officers.

“All the Muslims in the Levant are crying out for jihad [holy war]. If the Sultan, the commander of the great warriors, steps forward, everyone will advance to Al-Quds (Jerusalem).”

“I understand. Inform each city to thoroughly prepare and be vigilant before the expedition.”

Saladin said, opening his eyes.

“The Franks have already noticed that we are going on an expedition. It wouldn’t be strange if they played some tricks. Strengthen the crackdown so that no rumors or papers circulate.”

“We will follow the Sultan’s orders.”

The officers bowed their heads. Al-Adil approached his brother Saladin.

“Brother, our finances have become too precarious since we greatly increased the number of beneficiaries.”

He whispered.

“We need more military funds to maintain the expedition for a long time. We need to somehow increase taxes more…”

“No, raising taxes is not a wise method. Even if we collect that much, all the money will only go into my vault.”

Saladin shook his head.

“The more taxes we collect, the more people will try not to work. Business will naturally fall into recession, and merchants’ profits will also decrease.”

He said.

“If that happens, I, the Sultan, will ultimately suffer the most. Maintain the current level of taxes.”

“But if we don’t have money, we can’t maintain the army. If the soldiers don’t get paid, they will all try to desert.”

“There’s no need to worry. This jihad is just the beginning. I can sell more of my farms.”

Saladin said, looking at his son, Ali. He reached out and stroked his son’s hair.

“Does that mean…”

“This war will not last more than three months. It would be good if the Franks fell into a trap, but even if they don’t, we can seize the initiative.”

Saladin said.

“Once the atmosphere is created, more donations and volunteers will flock in. It’s not too late to start the real jihad then.”

“I spoke foolishly.”

Al-Adil bowed his head deeply.

“I didn’t even understand my brother’s intentions…”

“No, Al-Adil. Didn’t you capture Reynald this time? You are already a hero to the Muslim believers.”

Saladin said, standing up. He exchanged glances with the officers one by one.

“And you will play a big role in this jihad as well.”

* * *

Jerusalem

Headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller [Catholic military order]

“Making brooms out of horsetails (horse’s tail). I never thought I’d be doing something like this.”

Jernal said with a sigh.

He put down the sugarcane stalks and looked at Aig, who was standing opposite him.

“I don’t know what His Majesty wants. Is he going to clean the streets with horses or something?”

“Maybe he is.”

Aig shrugged.

“But that would cover Jerusalem in dust.”

“Then I don’t know what he wants. I’m busy making weapons and armor, and…”

He waved his hand.

“Making brooms! I never thought I’d be trimming sugarcane stalks while working as a blacksmith.”

“Oh, and I was wondering if I could get a small wing decoration on my helmet…”

“What kind of wing decoration is that for a knight! Wing decoration!”

Jernal threw down the sugarcane stalks. Aig laughed and dodged the stalks.

“Then I’ll ask for a small cross.”

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.”

Jernal sighed again. There was still a mountain of sugarcane stalks piled up in front of him.