I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 198

< Egypt Expedition (3) >

“I’m getting more exhausted from constantly retreating without a proper fight. I didn’t expect Takiyuddin to be this passive.”

Ayyub sighed, taking off his helmet. He brought the water bottle I handed him to his lips.

“How long do we have to keep doing this?”

“Until they come over.”

I looked at the sand ridges ahead. It had been a week of repeating attack and retreat.

As expected, it wasn’t Takiyuddin’s main force that blocked us, but the Damascus support troops.

A pawn thrown to stop us.

But we deliberately pretended to engage them, steadily retreating.

Feigned retreat wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Retreating as soon as we met was useless.

We had to fight and barely lose, then run. It was a typical Mongol-style lure tactic.

‘It’s fortunate that the damage isn’t too great, though.’

I placed the mercenaries hired locally at the front. The Knights and cavalry, which could be considered our main force, were largely unharmed.

“The problem is, as you said, Takiyuddin isn’t coming out as much as I thought. He’s cautious, just like Saladin.”

He was still holed up in Cairo. Did he notice my plan?

‘Since Damietta was taken, he might be acting defensively.’

If Takiyuddin’s main force didn’t come over, the trap would fail.

“It might be better to return to Damietta, Your Majesty. Even if it takes longer, we could prepare a proper offensive, couldn’t we?”

Ayyub said.

“No matter how strong Cairo is, it won’t be able to hold out for long without support. Their food supplies must be running low.”

“Then the plan will be delayed, but…”

If the Cairo main force didn’t come out, that would be the only option.

Just then, Garnier came riding up on his horse, filled with mixed emotions.

“Your Majesty! It seems you must return to Damietta immediately!”

“What’s going on?”

“A fight has broken out between the Romans and the Royal Army. A brawl in the middle of Damietta’s streets…”

“What?”

I frowned without realizing it.

* * *

Alexios kept sighing.

“It’s all my fault. I just had to protect Damietta, but this…”

He lowered his voice as if ashamed.

“I, as the Basileus [Byzantine Emperor], failed to properly control the nobles. And the nobles failed to properly control the soldiers.”

He began to explain the situation in detail.

The situation was simpler than I thought.

I pretended to advance towards Cairo with Richard and Lalibela.

In the meantime, Alexios was in charge of defending Damietta.

It was a natural choice to leave the Roman army, who had never fought with the Crusaders.

‘You need experience to skillfully use lure tactics.’

For a few days after we left, nothing much happened.

The problem arose after capturing a Muslim caravan [merchant group] near Damietta.

“So, they fought over the spoils after all.”

“…Some of the English soldiers were caught stealing the spoils. A commotion broke out while they were being apprehended.”

Alexios nodded.

His gaze turned to Richard, who was standing beside me.

Richard looked at me and replied.

“I took them over and interrogated them myself. They confessed willingly.”

He said.

“I intend to cut off their hands according to military law.”

“I see.”

I fell into thought.

The distribution of spoils in this era is quite strict.

The principle was to gather all the spoils in one place and distribute them according to rank and contribution.

Richard said.

“Perhaps it was the Saracens who did it. Why would a caravan be loitering near occupied Damietta?”

“We can’t rule out that possibility. If you suddenly get a large amount of spoils, a fight is bound to break out.”

Takiyuddin might have deliberately thrown the caravan as bait. If so, we were played according to his plan.

I probably would have aimed for the division of the Crusaders too.

Then Richard said to Alexios.

“England and I will take responsibility for compensating the Empire for the damage caused by this incident.”

“That will reduce the commotion, but the animosity will still remain.”

Saying that, I fiddled with the sword at my waist.

A dispute over the distribution of spoils.

If this is Takiyuddin’s scheme… maybe we can use it.

“What do you mean?”

“Takiyuddin didn’t fall for our lure. Simply pretending to retreat wasn’t enough.”

I said.

“The commotion in Damietta has already reached Takiyuddin’s ears.”

There must be a few spies hiding in Damietta.

Since there were actual injuries, they wouldn’t suspect it was a play.

‘Because it actually happened in the first place.’

Takiyuddin would think his plan was successful.

This could be a good bait.

A big bait that would force the Cairo main force to come out.

“Your Grace doesn’t need to punish them. On the contrary, it would be better to support those involved.”

I looked at Richard.

Alexios frowned and interjected.

“If the Duke doesn’t apologize, the Romans will be even more angry. Even as the Emperor, I can’t quell that level of discontent.”

“That’s exactly what I want. Your Majesty doesn’t have to quell the discontent.”

I smiled and nodded.

Knowing that his plan was successful, Takiyuddin would ease his suspicion.

If we use that, I could make a plan too.

But this isn’t without risks.

Can I trust Alexios?

I read a strong will in his eyes.

Yes, a few years ago, maybe not, but now it’s definitely possible.

“I would like to ask one thing of Your Majesty as well.”

I said.

“How about acting in a play with me?”

* * *

Unlike the smooth initial occupation, the atmosphere in Damietta was not good.

The expeditionary force, which had set out for Cairo, returned to the city after only retreating without any gains.

And the conflict between the Crusaders, which started with the distribution of spoils, intensified day by day.

“Why doesn’t Duke Richard of Aquitaine apologize?! It was his soldiers who hid the spoils!”

“To not impose any punishment when they deserve to be hanged?! Are you in your right mind?! Are you ignoring the Roman Empire?!”

“Weren’t the Romans the ones who tried to steal the spoils first! What did you guys do while we were advancing to Cairo!”

“You couldn’t even win against the Saracens and only ran away, yet you dare to raise your voice!”

As Duke Richard blatantly refused to apologize and punish, the atmosphere became increasingly hostile.

It became common to see brawls between English and Roman soldiers in the streets.

Meanwhile, rumors spread that disputes continued even in the command tents.

“Baudouin, you treated us like watchdogs guarding the house and advanced alone! Isn’t that different from what we initially agreed upon?”

“Your Majesty is being led around by the nobles! Just like in Constantinople… !”

Jerusalem, England, Zagwe, Eastern Rome.

The conflict among the Crusaders spread beyond the soldiers to the nobles and lords.

The slightly cracked gap widened in an instant.

“We Zagwe were at the forefront of this Cairo expedition! Reallocate the spoils! Otherwise…”

“Or else what?!”

“The Zagwe Kingdom captured the most prisoners!”

“But Duke Richard killed the most infidels!”

The maritime city-states were caught in the middle, unable to figure out what to do.

And on the seventh day, shocking news was announced.

“All Roman soldiers prepare to board! As soon as the Basileus [Emperor] gives the order, we will leave Damietta immediately!”

The news that the Romans were withdrawing from the Crusader expedition shook Damietta.

“As expected, the Romans always pull out at the most crucial time! Traitors!”

“Those who haven’t done anything are trying to run away like this!”

Amid the commotion, the Roman fleet hurried to prepare to leave Damietta.

The soldiers moved the unloaded supplies back onto the deck.

“Let the Roman cowards leave if they want to! The Crusaders can win without them!”

Meanwhile, Baudouin regained his composure and left Damietta again to advance towards Cairo.

Only a small number of defense forces remained in Damietta.

“Deus Vult! [God wills it!]”

The shouts of the Crusader soldiers no longer carried any strength.

* * *

Cairo

“Your Excellency has made the right decision.”

At one general’s words, the others nodded.

“By staying put in Cairo, those Frankish bastards scattered on their own, didn’t they?”

“To start such a fight over just one caravan.”

“As expected, the Franks are invading Egypt not for a holy war, but for gold and silver!”

“It has been confirmed that the Rum [Roman] fleet left Damietta three days ago. Now there is not even a handful of defense forces left in the city.”

At his subordinates’ words, Takiyuddin nodded.

“So, Baudouin has started advancing again. Now the only option left is to attack.”

He looked at the map.

No matter how much they call themselves Crusaders, it was clear that the leaders all had different intentions.

Just like the Islamic Jihad, they would naturally scatter if they didn’t have anything to gain.

That’s why he deliberately led the caravan groups towards Damietta.

And the Crusaders bit each other as he expected.

‘The commotion in Damietta is too big to be something Baudouin made up.’

The fact that the Rum fleet left Damietta is also undeniable.

“So, what are you going to do now, Your Excellency?”

“What do you mean, what am I going to do?”

“The support troops from Damascus are still around Damietta. If we move them to the flank of Baudouin’s army and put pressure on them…”

“Is there any need to take such a risky move now?”

Takiyuddin smiled.

He couldn’t leave capturing Baudouin or receiving his surrender to someone else.

‘Especially not to my uncle’s (Al-Adil’s) subordinates.’

There was a more certain way than that. A way for him to safely monopolize the achievement.

“Have them move between Damietta and the Frankish army to cut off their supply lines.”

He said.

“If the supplies coming from Damietta are cut off, the Franks will have no choice but to stop. And when they are completely exhausted…”

“Your Excellency will personally cut off their breath!”

As if reading Takiyuddin’s thoughts, the young officers nodded and shouted.

“Please grant me the glorious opportunity to be at the vanguard… !”

“I will capture all the cross-worshipping infidels in the name of the Sultan!”

The conference room was filled with shouts in an instant. When Takiyuddin stood up, everyone fell silent.

“Then it’s decided. First, send a letter to the Damascus army. Tell them not to engage in reckless battles and only block the supply lines.”

After all, if he captured Baudouin, the Crusader expedition would be over.

If he dragged out the ransom negotiations, the Franks who came from across the sea would have no choice but to return.

“We must properly block the path so that they cannot return to Damietta.”

“I will deliver the order right away.”

“Good, and you guys, summon the troops.”

Takiyuddin said with a smile.

“Capturing the king of kings of the Franks, the self-proclaimed King of Al-Quds [Jerusalem], is something you guys should do, isn’t it?”

* * *

“Your Majesty, the enemies have blocked the path to Damietta.”

Garnier said, getting off his horse. I nodded briefly.

“So, they’re moving as we expected.”

Now the supply lines were cut off.

Takiyuddin’s main force in front. And the Damascus army behind.

A complete death trap.

So far, things are going according to plan.

Garnier said in a worried tone.

“It’s like being in the lion’s mouth.”

“What’s there to worry about? If we’re eaten by a lion…”

Saying that, I shrugged.

“We just have to cut open its belly and come out.”