I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 169

< Interlude (4) >

Ascalon

“Lady Sybilla, everyone is waiting for you inside.”

“I understand.”

As Sybilla approached, a soldier swung the door open. Armored knights stood inside the meeting room.

All eyes turned to her.

“Lady Sybilla.”

They bowed, showing her respect.

“What is the situation?”

“The vanguard of the Egyptian army, led by Taki al-Din, has been spotted outside the city walls. Although their numbers aren’t large yet, we’ve evacuated the merchants and citizens to the citadel.”

“Messengers have been sent, so reinforcements from Jerusalem will arrive soon.”

Other knights nodded in agreement.

Sybilla said,

“There’s a possibility the reinforcements won’t arrive in time. Baldwin is currently fighting Saladin.”

She sighed.

“In the worst-case scenario, we’ll have to face the Egyptian army alone.”

“We have been preparing for this situation for a long time. Even if reinforcements don’t come…”

“You all have fought alongside my husband. I know you’re dissatisfied with him leaving to find Prester John [a legendary Christian patriarch and king].”

Sybilla said. She looked at each of the knights, one by one.

“…”

“But no matter what, Ascalon must not be taken by the Saracens [a historical term for Muslims].”

“Of course, Lady Sybilla.”

“Good. Then, summon the apprentice knights to the central hall. I will knight them in Baldwin’s stead.”

Sybilla said. The last words she had spoken to Guy suddenly flashed through her mind.

‘I am already the king’s sister. And soon, I will be the king’s mother. That is enough. That cursed position is enough.’

The curse was still ongoing.

* * *

“Push in!”

“Charge!”

The sound of hooves echoed.

I stared at the battlefield, taking a deep breath.

It was the first time since the coronation that I had heightened my senses to the maximum. The drain was still there, but the pain wasn’t as severe.

Closing my eyes, I could feel our cavalry breaking through the enemy infantry.

“The enemy soldiers number about 3,000 to 4,000, with about 1,000 cavalry.”

Considering we had two hundred knights and five hundred horse archers, the numerical difference was significant.

However, the heavily armored knights were like tanks in themselves.

The moment close combat began, our victory was assured.

Luark approached, flapping his white wings.

“Your Majesty’s abilities never cease to amaze me.”

He chuckled.

“We always win when we attack the areas you point out.”

“It’s best not to rely on it too much. It’s not always accurate.”

I said with a smile. Attacking where morale is wavering is the easiest way, after all.

Once the formation was breached, the soldiers in front and behind were bound to panic.

What followed was less of a battle and more of a mop-up operation.

Then, amidst the noise, I sensed something. Cavalry fleeing from the formation.

“Commander Luark, it seems their emir [a high-ranking military commander or governor] is trying to escape.”

I pointed in the direction where I felt the presence.

“Leave the capture to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. If possible, capture him alive.”

I said. The unit we were fighting was from Masoud’s forces from Aleppo.

If we took him prisoner, he might be useful somewhere.

“We will tie him behind a horse and drag him before Your Majesty.”

Luark laughed heartily and shouted.

As he waved his hand, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre swarmed around.

The battle was nearing its end. The enemy horse archers, who had been resisting with arrows, turned their horses and fled.

The plains were littered with shields and swords abandoned by the soldiers.

“We’re leaving before their reinforcements arrive! Burn all supplies and food that can’t be taken!”

As the sun began to set, we gathered the prisoners and spoils and moved back towards Amman.

* * *

“Saladin has gathered all of his remaining forces, Your Majesty.”

Balian said as he entered the room. I rubbed my eyelids, which kept drooping.

After marching all night to Amman, my body wouldn’t listen to me.

The morning sun stung my eyes.

“So, he intends to continue the campaign to the end.”

I stretched, and the drowsiness subsided a little.

Even after suffering a major defeat with thousands of casualties from the continuous attacks, he was still pushing forward with the campaign.

“The emirs’ resistance must have been considerable.”

“He must be trying to swing his sword somehow since he drew it. If he cancels the campaign now, the emirs won’t stand still.”

Balian nodded.

“He’s already been played by Your Majesty, so he’s trying to achieve something, no matter what.”

“Then we need to redistribute defensive forces to each castle. No matter which castle they attack…”

At that moment, the door burst open.

Count Raymond.

He strode in and shouted,

“Your Majesty!”

“What is it, Count?”

I felt shock and bewilderment.

Something was amiss. Raymond glared at Balian with angry eyes.

“Saracen forces led by Taki al-Din have set out from Egypt. Ascalon has sent a request for aid.”

“…”

I paused for a moment.

Taki al-Din had brought the Egyptian army?

Raymond looked at Balian and said,

“Wasn’t intelligence from Egypt your responsibility, Balian? Why didn’t you notice their departure until now?”

“The intelligence network in Egypt has weakened since the last prisoner rescue. It’s my fault I didn’t find out in advance, but…”

Balian muttered. He looked quite embarrassed as well.

“I expected them to still be dealing with the rebellion. I didn’t expect them to bring an army like this…”

“Now is not the time to argue about who is at fault.”

I interjected between them. The rusty gears in my head started turning again.

Saladin’s nephew, Taki al-Din, must have seized power in Egypt faster than expected.

‘Attacking Ascalon means…’

Ascalon was a city connecting Egypt and the Levant [a historical geographical area roughly equivalent to the modern Middle East]. If it was taken, the land route to Egypt and Ailat would be cut off.

And Ascalon was ruled by Count Guy.

‘Sybilla must be besieged as well.’

Balian sighed.

“If we lose Ascalon or Ailat, our connection with Abyssinia (Ethiopia) could be severed.”

“And it will become impossible to pressure Mecca.”

I nodded. We couldn’t afford to lose such an important card.

Now I understood why Taki al-Din had stepped forward.

“Saladin has forced me to choose. Send the main force to Ascalon, or face him.”

I looked out the window at the soldiers and knights. They were all preparing to march.

“We must protect Ascalon no matter what, Your Majesty.”

Balian said.

“Isn’t Lady Sybilla in Ascalon? And if we lose Ascalon, an Egyptian campaign will become impossible.”

“But we can’t just leave Saladin’s main force alone.”

Raymond interjected. He looked at me and added,

“Your Majesty, Ascalon will be able to hold out. We must deal with Saladin’s army first. There’s no need to attack the enemy in the rear when there’s an enemy right in front of us.”

The two men engaged in a war of nerves, interrupting each other.

“I understand what both of you are trying to say.”

I said.

In the end, I had to choose. I couldn’t send the limited forces to both places.

Should I disperse the troops to the eastern cities to stop Saladin, or should I rescue Ascalon?

‘Both are just playing into Saladin’s hands.’

I couldn’t let him take the initiative.

Having made up my mind, I slowly opened my mouth.

“You will lead the main force to Ascalon. I will face Saladin.”

I said.

“But, Your Majesty!”

Raymond frowned and shouted.

“If we send the main force to Ascalon, how will you face Saladin’s great army?”

“Count Raymond is right. We don’t know where Saladin will attack…”

“What if we make it so that Saladin has no choice but to attack? Then we can defend without dispersing our forces.”

A bait to lure Saladin.

That was me.

“There’s no lord in Kerak [a major Crusader castle] right now. It’s like a flock of sheep without a guard dog.”

I said. At the same time, Kerak was the only Crusader city east of the Dead Sea.

A strategic point that could pressure Damascus and Mecca.

Moreover, its terrain made it overwhelmingly advantageous for defense. With Kerak, even a small number of troops could hold out.

“If I, the king, go to Kerak, Saladin will have no choice but to attack it. Even if Saladin doesn’t want to, his emirs will insist.”

“No matter how impregnable Kerak is, we don’t know what will happen. If the castle falls…”

“You can rescue Ascalon and return before that happens.”

I said with a smile. For a siege, only infantry was needed.

Knights were needed for command, but far fewer than when fighting in the field.

“If it takes a long time to rescue Ascalon…”

Balian muttered.

“We may not be able to return to Kerak in time, Your Majesty.”

“Then we’ll have to wait for other reinforcements.”

“Other reinforcements…”

“Aren’t there those who are crossing the sea now?”

Henry II and William Marshal, who could be called the vanguard of the Third Crusade. They were my last resort, my wild card.

‘Will they be able to arrive in time?’

The last news I heard was that they were coming to Cyprus.

A few weeks. I only had to hold out for a month or two at most.

“No matter how I think about it, it’s too dangerous a plan. It would be better for Your Majesty to lead the main force to Ascalon.”

Balian said.

“I will take charge of Kerak.”

“No, it is I who must remain in Kerak.”

I shook my head. I, with my heightened senses, had to stay in Kerak. That way, I could defend more easily.

And I was the only one who could lure Saladin.

As expected, Balian was brave in many ways. He volunteered to stay in the most dangerous place without hesitation.

“Then quickly inform the troops to depart.”

I said as I started walking again. Bulte was waiting for me below.

“To protect both Ascalon and Kerak, we must move immediately. And…”

I said.

“Send a messenger to Ailat as well. Perhaps Abyssinia will come first.”

* * *

“What about the rest of the troops?”

“The unit led by Suleiman has just arrived. All units except for Abul-Heija’s…”

“So the news that Abul-Heija was attacked is true.”

Saladin sighed. He looked at the emirs standing around him. They all had anxious expressions.

“It was the Sultan who told us to continue the march no matter what.”

“We were just…”

“I have no intention of blaming you. It was I who gave such an order in the first place.”

Saladin said.

“Although Baldwin played a trick, our damage is not that great. The main forces are still intact, and the morale of the soldiers is gradually recovering.”

He added.

“The jihad [a holy war or struggle] has only just begun.”

“Now that a great army has gathered, how about marching north and besieging Baldwin?”

One emir said. The others nodded in agreement.

“Since they fought against Abul-Heija’s army, they must have suffered great damage as well.”

“If we capture the king, won’t the Frankish dogs have no choice but to surrender? According to intelligence, the main force of the Franks has left for Ascalon. Only Baldwin remains in Kerak.”

“…”

Saladin listened to the emirs’ conversation with his mouth shut.

Why did Baldwin leave the main force and remain there alone?

‘He’s telling me to come and fight him.’

The emirs were already excited at the thought of capturing Baldwin. If he didn’t attack Kerak in this situation, they would think he was terrified.

Baldwin was probably aiming for this situation.

“But there is no castle that cannot be broken.”

Baldwin had entered the trap himself, telling him to capture him. But no matter how great Baldwin was, he couldn’t predict every situation.

The scale of the jihad was greater and more powerful than ever before. Everything pointed to him being at an advantage.

“Then, what is the Sultan’s will…”

Saladin pointed to the map on the table. The emirs who looked at the map all gasped.

“Kerak.”