I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 206

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 206 (206/215)

The War to End All (1)

Jerusalem

The Walls

“Patriarch, I thought the prayer service wasn’t over yet.”

“We decided to sing the remaining hymns on the walls. It’ll be better for the soldiers’ morale that way.”

“….”

Balian nodded, keeping his mouth shut.

The walls were crowded with soldiers.

From soldiers with crossbows and bows to knights in chainmail. Everyone was waiting in their positions for the enemy to come.

Saladin.

The endless Saracen army was besieging Jerusalem.

Heraclius, the Patriarch, looked at Balian and asked,

“When do you think the infidels will start their attack?”

“Saladin isn’t a fool. No matter how urgent it is, he won’t launch an offensive with just soldiers alone.”

As he said that, Balian raised a finger.

He pointed to the siege towers that were under construction.

“So that’s where that foul smell was coming from.”

“It’s leather soaked in fermented urine. They say it can block the Greek fire [an early form of napalm] a little bit.”

Balian replied.

“I heard they used the same method in Kerak.”

“Either way, they’ll attack once the siege towers are complete. We need to finish preparing in advance….”

The Patriarch stopped talking at the sudden noise. A loud trumpet sound echoed across the walls.

The sound announcing the king’s arrival.

A huge palanquin came up onto the walls.

Lying on it was Henry II.

King Philip followed, holding onto the side of the palanquin.

As the two of them came up, all the soldiers on the walls knelt down.

England and France.

The flags of the two royal families were raised next to the flag of Jerusalem.

“I heard Henry II’s condition had worsened… I didn’t expect him to come to the walls himself.”

“I’m more surprised that Philip hasn’t run back to France yet.”

Balian shrugged.

He kept his mouth shut and watched Henry II and Philip inspect the soldiers.

The presence of the two was a great source of strength for the defenders.

“What about the Queen?”

“It seems like she’s about to give birth. Lady Sybilla is keeping watch, but….”

The Patriarch sighed as he said that.

“To think a baby is being born in times like these. The Lord always works in ways we can’t understand. Don’t you think?”

“To be honest, I prefer results that I can understand.”

Balian replied with a faint smile. Even then, Saladin’s soldiers were steadily building siege towers.

“It would be even better if Jerusalem is safe.”

* * *

Makkah

“As you all know, the atmosphere in the streets is getting worse day by day.”

Silence filled the meeting room.

No emir dared to open his mouth.

Two days after rejecting Baldwin’s offer of food, Makkah Square was crowded with angry citizens.

They wanted only one thing.

To accept the food that Baldwin was giving.

“To open the gates wide! It would take at least half a day to open the gates to move that much food!”

One emir shouted, his face red.

“What if the Franks attack during that time?!”

“Baldwin clearly made that offer to incite the citizens of Makkah.”

Qasim said, shaking the paper in his hand. A leaflet scattered by catapult.

“Why would he scatter these papers first instead of making the offer to us separately in the first place?”

“….”

“Whatever the situation, it’s hard to hold out any longer. If we accept the citizens’ demands and open the gates, Frankish soldiers will rush in….”

“If we don’t open them, we’ll be killed by the citizens.”

Qasim added.

The emirs, including him, all looked at each other.

Makkah is the most sacred city for Muslims. All Muslims pray towards Makkah every day.

No one readily offered to surrender to the Crusaders.

Qasim sighed and said.

“We have no choice left. Unless the Franks attack now, the citizens will open the gates themselves.”

“Watch your mouth, Qasim! Are you saying we should hand over Makkah to the Franks without a proper fight?!”

“Didn’t you deliberately hand over Medina in the first place?! What promise did you make with Baldwin….”

“Where did you hear such…!”

Qasim stood up, grabbing the scabbard at his waist. The soldiers around him did the same.

They drew their swords and gathered beside the emirs they each served.

“Aren’t you all ashamed?! We should be putting our heads together to figure this out, but instead, we’re fighting among ourselves!”

The emir of Taif shouted.

He stroked his white beard and looked around at the crowd.

“Let’s try to talk to Baldwin first.”

“If you’re saying we should hand over Makkah now….”

“I never said that. Baldwin promised that if we surrender, he will show as much leniency and mercy as possible.”

The emir of Taif said.

“Then why don’t we surrender in name only and receive the food? If we coax them well, we can get them to lift the siege.”

“So you’re saying we should use Baldwin’s words against him.”

Qasim muttered.

Surrender without disarming, and on the condition that the Crusaders do not enter Makkah.

It was virtually a surrender in name only.

“Baldwin promised leniency and mercy himself, so he won’t have any justification to refuse.”

“Even if Baldwin refuses, the citizens of Makkah will be able to see his true colors. Either way, it’s not a choice that will hurt us.”

“Then I will personally lead the delegation.”

Qasim said, looking around the meeting room. If he couldn’t stop the occupation of Makkah, he had to step forward and emphasize that he had negotiated with Baldwin.

[Prevented Makkah from being burned by the Franks!]

He would need this much reputation to reclaim Medina.

“Is there anyone who wants to come with me?”

* * *

“The game seems to be over.”

Richard said.

I passed through the walls of Makkah with him and the escort.

Even if we approached openly, no one shot arrows.

All I could feel was anxiety and fear.

I couldn’t feel any firm will at all.

Rather, I could feel a slightly excited emotion from Richard.

“I thought Your Grace would be disappointed again. There wasn’t even a proper fight, was there?”

“To get a city to surrender by throwing food at it. What could be more fun than this?”

Richard said with a laugh.

“I should try it sometime when I go back to Europe.”

“We haven’t received their surrender yet.”

As I pulled on the reins, Bolt let out a rough breath. The negotiation site proposed by the emirs was right in front of the gate.

The very place where Muhammad entered Makkah without shedding a drop of blood hundreds of years ago.

The emirs proposed surrender negotiations right there.

“What can they do now? If what you say is true, the city’s public sentiment is already wavering.”

Richard shrugged.

“The Saracen lords must have noticed that atmosphere and proposed negotiations.”

“….”

Instead of answering, I smiled and headed to the negotiation site. When I entered the tent, five men came into view.

All of them were wearing expensive silk clothes and armor.

Emirs.

‘The chain of command isn’t properly established….’

Usually, only a few people with authority participate in such negotiations. The fact that so many came means that there was no consensus.

They stood up with stiff expressions.

After a brief introduction, I went straight to the point.

“So, Makkah has decided to surrender?”

“Yes. But first, Your Majesty must agree to a few conditions.”

The man who identified himself as Qasim said. He said he was the emir of Medina.

He lost the city to me, but he has a calm tone.

“Conditions, you say. Tell me about them.”

“First of all, the disarmament of the Muslims in Makkah….”

He continued.

I tried hard to hold back the laughter that kept bursting out.

The defenders do not disarm, and the Crusaders cannot enter Makkah.

There was no talk of ransom or reparations separately.

In fact, it was a condition to just lift the siege and get out of here.

‘They’re really underestimating me.’

The emirs seemed to know that they were making excessive demands.

Qasim coughed and added.

“Your Majesty promised mercy and leniency to the citizens of Makkah. Then you must accept at least these conditions, mustn’t you? Either way, Your Majesty will gain the reputation of conquering Makkah.”

“Mercy and leniency, you say. Then let me tell you my conditions.”

What I wanted was simple.

First.

Crusaders will be stationed in Makkah and Medina until negotiations with Saladin are concluded. Instead, free commerce and pilgrimage are guaranteed.

The second is the disarmament of the defense forces.

They abandon their weapons and move to their respective regions. Only a small number of people who have been granted permission remain to maintain security.

“That cannot be called merciful. If Your Majesty accepts such conditions….”

Qasim continued. I could feel that he was nervous.

‘So that’s their intention.’

I couldn’t help but smile. What the emirs wanted now was not surrender.

It was to get me to refuse the negotiations.

That’s how they intend to turn the hearts of the citizens of Makkah.

[Baldwin only talks about peace, but he doesn’t accept surrender! He’s trying to burn Makkah!]

That’s probably what they’re trying to do.

That’s why they put forward such ridiculous conditions.

“….”

“Your Majesty?”

I looked at Qasim and his party with a faint smile. It’s not a bad trick in its own way….

But it won’t be enough with just this.

“To be honest, I want to accept your proposal. If it means that no more blood will be shed, there’s no reason to refuse.”

“Then….”

“But I didn’t come here to Makkah alone.”

As I said that, I looked back.

Richard, who was standing in the shadows, took a step forward.

It was like a villain revealing himself. The emirs flinched when they saw Richard.

“Shaitan…!” [Arabic for “devil” or “Satan”]

“Even so, calling me a demon is a bit harsh. I’m the Duke of Aquitaine. Not a demon.”

As he said that, Richard spat. I looked at him and winked.

Richard would notice what I was thinking.

Good cop, bad cop.

One soothes, and the other beats them up.

In this case, he’s a real bad cop.

“Is there any need to listen to these guys? Let’s cut off the food supply right now and prepare for an attack.”

Richard scoffed.

“It was a funny situation to throw food at the enemy city in the first place. Now it’s time to see blood.”

“….”

I didn’t say anything.

To be precise, I was participating in Richard’s acting.

A short silence flowed, and I opened my mouth again.

“If you continue to put forward unreasonable conditions, negotiations cannot be concluded. And you will be entirely responsible for that.”

I said.

“And I scattered new papers in Makkah just before I left.”

“New papers, you say….”

“It’s a text that contains the conditions I just presented to you. The citizens of Makkah are probably reading it by now.”

The emirs’ expressions hardened. It was a pretty good scheme in its own way.

But it’s not like I don’t have a way to deal with it.

The surrender conditions I presented were too generous by the standards of this era.

It would be stupid not to accept them.

The citizens of Makkah would probably think the same.

“If the negotiations don’t go well, Duke Richard and the English soldiers will be at the forefront of the offensive. Hostages and prisoners are meaningless once the battle begins.”

“I can guarantee that. After my army passes, all that will be left in Makkah is ashes and sand.”

Richard chuckled and chimed in.

“What kind of reaction will the citizens of Makkah show when the news that you rejected my generous offer gets out?”

You won’t be safe either. The emirs seemed to understand what I meant and turned pale.

“Let’s stop playing games. So….”

As I said that, I leaned forward.

“Will you surrender? Or not?”

A short silence flowed, and the emirs looked at each other. Soon, Qasim stood up from his seat and shouted.

“It’s not that simple! We are, after all, responsible for the order and peace of this Makkah….”

“It’s a simple question. Surrender? Or fight?”

“….”

This time, no one opened their mouth.

“Then you’re going to keep fighting. It was nice meeting you all. Then let’s meet again on the battlefield….”

“I will surrender. I will surrender according to the conditions Your Majesty promised.”

Qasim said, collapsing and spitting it out. He looked at the emirs around him.

All of them were just avoiding his gaze, and no one was resisting.

Looking at them sweating coldly, I smiled.

“That’s a wise choice.”

Now Makkah was in my hands.

A holy land that has never been conquered by infidels.

The final card to make the Third Crusade a success was prepared.

“You have saved Makkah today.”