I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 196

< 196 - The Egyptian Expedition (1) >

“The Saracens are coming! Everyone to battle stations!”

The first thing we encountered after leaving Cyprus was the Egyptian fleet: Islamic ships sailing from Alexandria.

There were also ships that looked like pirates mixed in here and there.

However, the difference in numbers compared to the Crusader Allied Fleet was clear.

Rome and the maritime city, Tripoli, boasted approximately three hundred ships.

In comparison, the Egyptian fleet had less than fifty ships.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Moreover, most of the Muslim ships’ rowers were slaves – non-combat personnel.

Conversely, most of the maritime city ships’ rowers were ordinary sailors.

They came up on deck and joined the battle.

“Prepare the Greek fire!” The Eastern Roman warships were at the forefront. Catapults and pumps moved, spewing out fiercely burning flames [a highly flammable liquid that ignites on contact with water].

“Piss! Prepare piss buckets and vinegar in advance! We can’t let the fire spread to our side by mistake!” [Ammonia in urine and acetic acid in vinegar could help extinguish or control the spread of Greek fire].

As the ships caught fire, Muslim sailors jumped into the sea. However, the flames spread across the water’s surface, covering the surrounding sea.

The sight of flames flickering on the water was grotesque yet beautiful.

“I, I can’t breathe!”

Those who jumped into the sea drowned without being able to surface.

The slaves who were bound by chains also shared the fate of the ships.

“Retreat! Turn around quickly!”

“Don’t retreat! Maintain formation!”

As more than half of the ships sank, the Egyptian ships left the area without hesitation.

Only the ships whose rowers had died or lost their ability to navigate remained.

Corpses and pieces of wood floated around them.

“Quickly rescue the injured! Pull up the surviving enemies too! We’ll take those guys to Cyprus and get ransom!”

After reorganizing for several tens of minutes, the Crusader fleet set sail again.

The destination was Damietta.

Now, there was nothing blocking the way.

Just like when they rescued the prisoners, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre took the lead and occupied the pier.

“Anyone want to pick a fight, come on! I’ll get revenge for last time!”

The remaining garrison was too busy fleeing to the city after seeing the large fleet.

The pier quickly filled with Crusader ships.

“We need to move as quickly as possible! Surround the city!”

The soldiers advanced straight to the city of Damietta.

However, Damietta’s gates were firmly closed.

To completely surround the city, they had to enter the Nile River on the flanks.

The problem arose at that moment.

Inside the Nile River, a tall tower was erected, and thick iron cables blocked the river, preventing any ships from passing.

To release the cables, they first had to capture the tower in the center of the river.

“Slow down! We’ll hit the cables if we keep going like this! Back away before we get blocked!”

The ships entering the Nile River stopped one by one. And a full-scale war council began.

“It seems that Taki al-Din has reinforced the defenses. They’ve wrapped the cables several times over.”

Richard said, turning his head to look at me.

“Moreover, they’ve eliminated the road leading to the tower from the land. It will be difficult to cut the cables and enter as planned.”

He said.

“If you give me some knights and Holy Sepulchre members, I will land and capture the tower myself.”

“The Saracens would have anticipated that level of attack.”

I said.

The tower in question was built on a small island in the center of the Nile River.

There was no road connecting it from the land.

They were probably using ships to supply it.

To capture it, they had to land troops or build a dike like Alexander the Great did when he attacked Tyre [an ancient Phoenician city that Alexander the Great besieged by building a causeway to reach the island fortress].

I tapped the table and said.

“And even if we’re lucky enough to land on the island, there’s no way to get in if the door to the tower is blocked.”

“What about cutting the cables? There’s a similar fortress blocking the path to Constantinople.”

Alexios said.

I shook my head.

“It would take at least a few weeks to cut that many cables.”

“Then what are we going to do? The defense is more solid than we thought…”

Richard tapped the table hard.

“If we stay still like this, we’ll lose the initiative to the Saracens. Shouldn’t we complete the siege as soon as possible?”

“The Duke is right. From what we’ve gathered so far, Taki al-Din’s main force is below the city.”

I said.

“He’s probably planning to attack while we’re struggling like this.”

If we can’t control the Nile River, we can’t complete the siege. Taki al-Din knows that very well.

But I had a card in my hand that he hadn’t anticipated.

“But what if there was a way to capture the tower in a day, or even half a day?”

“What way could there possibly be… Ah! So that’s what you were preparing!”

Alexios exclaimed, raising his eyebrows. Richard and King Lalibela looked back and forth between us.

“Capture that tower in half a day? What are you talking about?”

Instead of answering, I went outside the tent. Everyone in the tent followed me.

A ship slowly entered the Nile River.

Its size was that of two ships joined together, and in the center was a huge tower.

A decisive weapon I had been preparing for months.

“It’s time to deploy that.”

* * *

“What the hell is that?!”

Crusaders and defenders on the walls of Damietta all looked at the Nile River.

A ship with a siege tower in the middle of the deck.

It slowly cut through the Nile River, approaching the tower in the center of the river.

“So that’s what it was made to be used for here!”

Even when Baldwin first requested such a ship, no one understood.

‘What on earth is he going to use a tower built on a ship for?’

‘I don’t know, it doesn’t seem particularly useful at sea.’

But at this moment, even a newborn baby could understand the purpose for which that ship was made.

Watching the ship cutting through the Nile River, the Crusader soldiers burst into cheers.

“The height is perfect! Approach the tower as it is!”

The siege tower built in the center of the ship was taller than the tower on the Nile River. And there was even a rotating ladder on top.

“Put the ladder on the tower!”

“Capture the tower before the sun goes down!”

The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the knights of the Zagwe Kingdom were at the forefront.

Both sides had wings on their backs, and from a distance, it looked like angels and fallen angels fighting.

“Stop them from approaching! Shoot arrows!”

The panicked Egyptian soldiers shot arrows at the siege tower, but it had little effect.

No one thought that a large siege tower would cross the river.

The battle continued amidst shouts and groans.

“Keep going up! The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre will take the first victory of the Third Crusade!”

“For His Majesty King Lalibela! Charge!”

* * *

“Quickly concentrate your attacks on that ship!”

Taki al-Din shouted, pointing at the Nile River.

Not only that, but all the surrounding officers were staring at the tower with dumbfounded expressions.

“Shoot the catapults! Sink that ship right now!”

“B, but we might hit the tower by mistake. And it will take time to redeploy the catapults…”

Taki al-Din clicked his tongue.

The Franks would take at least a few days to capture the tower on the Nile River.

But in less than half a day, the tower was under attack.

It was as if Baldwin had predicted how he would respond.

“Return to Damietta right now! We must stop them inside the city.”

He hurriedly got on his horse.

The other officers followed him.

“We must get to the city before they establish a siege!”

At that moment, a group of cavalry approached between Damietta and them.

A golden lion on a red background.

And yellow crosses on a white background.

The Duke of Aquitaine and the King of Jerusalem, whom the Aleppo people called Shaytan (devil) [Arabic for “demon” or “Satan”].

Taki al-Din bit his lip and swung his sword.

“Everyone, prepare to charge! Break through before they form a line!”

* * *

“It looks like it will be over soon.”

I said, looking at the Nile River.

The Egyptian soldiers in the tower were being thrown into the river one by one.

Only the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre could have such monstrous strength.

Berserkers who had only fought their whole lives.

Vikings who participated in the conquest of Egypt.

The Eastern Roman ships filling the Nile River were a spectacle in themselves.

Alexios must be commanding somewhere there.

Richard chuckled beside me, looking at the Nile River.

“When did you start preparing that?”

“From the very beginning when I planned the Egyptian expedition.”

I answered with a smile.

I wonder how dumbfounded Taki al-Din must be.

He even eliminated the road to prevent attacks on the tower from land.

But I brought a ship with a siege tower as if I knew.

From Taki al-Din’s point of view, there’s no way such a thing could happen.

‘But I don’t need to worry about his feelings.’

Bult snorted and moved his hooves. He seemed happy to be able to run after a long time.

I could feel that the surrounding knights were also very excited.

“Baldwin, I thought you would avoid such a head-on battle?”

“Have you forgotten when I fought Geoffrey?”

I held a spear in my arm.

It’s been a while since I charged into battle with the knights on the battlefield.

Of course, not at the very front.

I could feel the weight of the spear.

Even if my stamina is better than before, it’s difficult to swing an axe like Richard.

But I couldn’t just stand still while all the knights were charging.

A king is always one who sets an example.

“Then shall we bet on who captures more prisoners?”

“A bet, that sounds fun. What will you bet?”

King Lalibela interjected at Richard’s words.

“How about ten dinars [a gold coin] per prisoner captured?”

I said, receiving the helmet that Aig handed me.

The golden-winged helmet that Theodora gave me as a gift.

On the other side, Egyptian cavalry were approaching.

The reason why they suddenly launched an attack was simple.

Taki al-Din was probably waiting on the outskirts of Damietta to ambush us.

‘Now that the tower is about to be captured, he’s trying to return to the city somehow.’

If we block this attack, he would have no choice but to sit back and watch our siege being completed.

I would try to stop it somehow if I were him.

“Ten dinars per prisoner. So if you catch a hundred people, that’s a thousand dinars.”

“Are you afraid of losing?”

“…”

Richard looked at me with his mouth shut, then burst into laughter.

“I was just worried about you. You won’t be able to take any spoils even if you conquer Damietta.”

“You don’t have to worry. Even if you lose, Duke, I’ll give you some consolation money.”

In the meantime, knights and officers ran around, reorganizing the ranks. Familiar trumpet sounds echoed from everywhere.

The sound announcing the preparation for the charge.

“Everyone forward! The infantry advances on signal!”

“A true warrior always proves it with action.”

King Lalibela said in a rather serious tone.

“My warriors will be at the forefront.”

Instead of answering, I nodded.

The sound of hooves gradually grew louder, vibrating my eardrums.

“Charge! Everyone charge!”

When I came to my senses, hundreds of cavalry were already running forward.

The Zagwe knights at the forefront clashed with the enemy, making the sound of steel.