I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 186

< 186. The Third Crusade (1) >

“We managed to cram everyone in somehow.”

I stared at the scene before me.

Men were busily carrying wooden planks and stone blocks.

The emotions I sensed from them as they built their homes were a mix of joy and resignation.

“These people won’t adapt immediately,” Theodora said.

“But as long as they’re alive, they’ll have another chance. It’s better than living as slaves to the Saracens [Muslims], isn’t it?”

“…Perhaps. It’s a good thing for the kingdom too.”

In truth, the Muslims’ treatment of slaves was similar to that of ancient Rome.

‘Even slaves could rise to high positions if they proved their abilities.’

Baybars, the Sultan who succeeded Saladin and defeated the Crusaders and Mongol armies, was also of Mamluk [slave] origin.

If all those refugees had become slaves, many would have converted to Islam.

Preventing that alone was a worthwhile achievement. Theodora turned to me and smiled.

“Why don’t you look a bit happier? You, Baldwin, and the Knights of Jerusalem saved these people.”

I responded with a faint smile instead of an answer. In the Middle Ages, massacres that killed thousands, even tens of thousands, were common.

They would take up a line, or at most a page, in history books.

But records and reality were different.

Fathers and mothers. Daughters and sons.

What would have happened if they had remained in Damascus?

Then Theodora spoke.

“Now that Saladin has done such a thing, Christians in other cities must be terrified.”

She said.

“They’ll probably pack up their belongings and try to move to the nearest Crusader city. Saladin shot himself in the foot.”

“But it’s the same for us. If the same thing happens in Jerusalem….”

Hate and animosity endlessly create a vicious cycle.

By now, anti-Islamic sentiment would be bubbling in other Crusader cities.

It could explode with just a small trigger. We need to increase street patrols and ensure punishments are certain.

Just then, Eig came up the hill with a few people.

“Your Majesty, the representatives of the refugees request an audience.”

A middle-aged man bowed and approached.

“Representatives of the refugees, you say. What is it?”

“To be able to meet the noble and sacred King of Jerusalem like this….”

At his gesture, the other men behind him brought forward silks and fruits.

“If Your Majesty had not come all the way to Damascus, we would all have been trapped there to die. And you have provided us with places to live and food….”

He said.

“We wish to repay your kindness, however small. It is nothing compared to what Your Majesty has done for us, but please accept it.”

“I gratefully accept your gifts.”

I took his hand.

Silk and fruit. It seems they squeezed out what little they had.

But there is another gift I can receive from them.

“There is something I would like to ask of you as well….”

I could feel the man flinch at the word ‘ask.’

“Do not worry. I am not asking you for money or goods. Rather, I am thinking of exempting you from taxes for the time being.”

I cleared my throat.

“Soon, priests from the Order will be coming to this village. I want you to tell them about what you experienced in Damascus.”

“You want us to tell them about what we experienced in Damascus?”

“Yes, that is all I ask of you.”

“We can certainly talk about what we experienced, but just that is….”

“That is enough. It would be even better if you could be as detailed as possible.”

I shook my head.

The European branches of the Knight Orders were printing news from the Holy Land every month.

How many Europeans would be outraged if they heard the story of what happened in Damascus?

News is like a story.

Nothing captivates people like a story.

“The citizens of Constantinople won’t stand still if they hear this news either,” Theodora said.

“Most of the refugees are followers of the Church of Constantinople [Eastern Orthodox Church]. If their donations are less than those from Europe….”

“That would be a blow to their pride.”

I replied with a smile.

Direct competition had disappeared after the Council, but indirect competition had increased.

Donations and armed pilgrimages for the Holy City of Jerusalem. The benefits to be gained from this were considerable.

I looked at the man again.

“Send a messenger anytime if there is a problem. I and the royal family will directly manage your settlement.”

Eig took away the man, who kept thanking me.

I came down the hill with Theodora. It was now obvious to everyone that she was pregnant.

“How are you feeling?”

“Apart from people making a fuss every time I go somewhere, there aren’t any major problems.”

Theodora burst into laughter.

“Now that I think about it, my morning sickness has gotten a bit worse than before.”

“You don’t need to overdo it taking care of my affairs, Theodora.”

Theodora always volunteered to be an invisible helper.

‘This time, she prepared supplies and even handled the administrative procedures for the Damascus refugees.’

It wasn’t the ordinary and relaxed married life I had imagined. Of course, that was to be expected for 12th-century royalty.

Suddenly, the crow’s offer on the day of my coronation came to mind.

It had said it would send not only me but also Theodora back to our original timeline.

“What if things were different?”

“Pardon?”

“If we weren’t royalty, but commoners… would we still be together?”

“….”

Theodora stopped without a word.

“I chose you, Baldwin. There’s no ‘what if’ in history, but….”

She said with a smile.

“Even if we weren’t of sacred blood, I would have chosen you.”

“…I see.”

I took a deep breath.

Being a king wasn’t so bad after all.

* * *

That afternoon,

Hospitaller Headquarters

“To be honest….”

Jernal said, rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

“When I first heard the news, I thought it was a lie. How could I believe that suddenly hundreds of camels appeared?”

He asked.

“Did Damascus give you camels or something?”

“The Lord willed it. Isn’t it simple if you think of it that way?”

I replied with a smile.

The stables near the headquarters were full of camels.

The camels’ unique, saliva-filled cries could be heard everywhere.

“Oh, and a few hundred more are scheduled to arrive in the future. I’m planning to receive ransom in camels from some captured Bedouin chieftains.”

“…I think it’s time for me to retire. My arms and legs are aching, and I can’t even hold a hammer properly.”

“Then I guess we can leave it to the blacksmiths of the Knights Templar. They’ve been grumbling that the Hospitallers keep meddling.”

“What can those incompetent guys do?”

Jernal puffed up his face and fumed.

“Bring me a thousand, even ten thousand camels! I’ll finish the job right away without those guys!”

He hurriedly shut his mouth as if he had made a mistake.

“Ten thousand might be a bit difficult. Now that I think about it, even a thousand is a bit….”

“Don’t worry. Even I can’t conjure camels out of thin air.”

I shrugged.

“I heard that the prototype I asked for last time is ready.”

“We’ve set up a separate testing ground outside the castle walls.”

As we went out through the castle gate, a sparse plain unfolded. Several camels were standing with something strapped to their backs.

“We shortened and attached the tendons and leather used in catapults. It’s crude, but the performance is certain.”

Jernal said, pulling on the rope attached to the camel’s back.

It looked like a giant slingshot.

“We can’t launch heavy objects to reduce the weight, but something the size of a palm is no problem. The range is much longer than a bow.”

As he let go, the rope snapped out with a twang.

“As Your Majesty said, making the jars as round as possible made them fly further.”

“It’s also more efficient to make stones as spherical as possible when throwing them.”

A sphere is more advantageous for air resistance than a bumpy shape.

I pointed to the other camels next to them.

“By the way, what are those? They seem to be a bit bigger.”

They were carrying objects that looked like parts.

“It’s a catapult that is installed using several camels. Mobility is a bit low, but it can launch heavier objects further.”

“We’ve secured enough camels, so we can use both.”

I said.

A version with weak power but high mobility, and a version with strong power but heavy.

“The problem is the personnel to operate these….”

Jernal scratched his head.

“Even if it’s not complicated, it will still take a long time to train. You have to be able to install it skillfully and quickly to shoot even one more shot.”

“And if you don’t hit the enemy accurately, you’ll be wasting Greek fire [ancient incendiary weapon].”

I nodded.

I couldn’t just let them shoot roughly in the direction of the enemy.

‘No matter how plentiful Greek fire is, it’s not enough to waste it like that.’

Unlike fixed fortresses, armies were constantly moving. To shoot and hit the enemy on the battlefield required specialized training and knowledge.

Fortunately, I had all the necessary tools and knowledge. I would need to quantify the angle and tension of the catapults first.

“If we systematize these things, we can change the direction all at once according to the command.”

I said.

“On the other hand, you can use a telescope to check the falling impact point.”

“Then we can keep giving commands according to this ‘impact point.’”

Jernal nodded repeatedly.

“Using something like a flag.”

“That’s right.”

Or I could use my intuition. Considering what I fought at Kerak Castle, it was definitely possible.

Pouring firebombs where I wanted. Training was necessary for that, but….

It didn’t seem easy to gather artillery separately. Most of the people operating the catapults now were artisans from maritime cities.

But they were too few in number.

Then should I pick from archers or crossbowmen….

Ah, there were suitable people after all.

“Come to think of it, isn’t Kang working at the Hospitallers now?”

“Ah, you mean that woodblock carving guy. I heard he’s good at archery too….”

Jernal nodded.

“Are you thinking of entrusting it to that guy?”

“Let’s just do a simple test once before we start recruiting in earnest.”

I replied with a smile.

A Robin Hood shooting a catapult attached to a camel.

I wonder what it would feel like to make a movie with this.

* * *

One month later

Henry II and King Lalibela passed through the bushes on horseback. William Marshal and other knights followed behind them.

“Riding a horse all day makes my whole body ache,” Henry II asked, twisting his body.

“Yeah, what is Baldwin hiding from us anyway?”

“You’ll know when you come and see it yourself.”

“I’m already tired of training every day, but you and Baldwin are so diligent.”

Henry II shrugged.

After the battle with the Bedouin tribes, the knights of Jerusalem, England, and Zagwe continued to conduct joint training.

There were no more people complaining that the Jerusalemites were arrogant.

Retreat, lure, trap, and ambush.

They steadily learned the tactics of the Saracens and the Knights.

“What do you think that is?”

King Lalibela stopped and said. Below the hill they stood on, a plain unfolded.

On one side of the plain, dozens of camels were sitting, and on the other side, red circles were drawn.

Men in green clothes were busily moving behind the camels.

“Those are the guys who came with me from England. I heard they fight as archers under Baldwin….”

Then, with a twang, something cut through the air. Several black objects flew from the camel side.

The objects hit the ground and shattered with a loud noise.

“Is it a jar?”

Henry II muttered.

“That doesn’t seem particularly impressive. Isn’t that just a small catapult attached to the camel’s back?”

“That’s not the important thing.”

The men standing behind the camels exchanged shouts and shot the jars again.

Flags fluttered everywhere.

The jars fell closer to the red circle than the ones they had shot before.

After a few minutes, they hit the center of the red circle exactly.

Henry II, Lalibela, and Marshal stared blankly at the scene.

Henry II muttered.

“That’s definitely amazing.”