I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 34

The Man Who Saved Rome (4)

* * *

“So, the rumors from Constantinople are true?”

“Yes, the Genoese merchants delivered them directly.”

Valiang replied.

He glanced at the chessboard.

The king was playing chess alone, as always.

The last time he played chess with someone was when young Baldwin was around.

“At first, I thought it was just a baseless rumor, but more and more people are confirming it.”

Baldwin IV said nothing.

He closed his mouth and moved a chess piece.

“Baldwin stopping an assassination attempt on the young emperor. It’s like something out of a minstrel’s song [a song or poem recited by a traveling entertainer]. Don’t you think so?”

“The Roman Imperial Family may have exaggerated, but it’s certain that there was at least an assassination attempt.”

Valiang continued.

“And there are also stories of a rebellion, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet…”

“Andronikos Komnenos. He must be the one behind it.”

“Yes, that’s right. Your Majesty already suspected as much.”

“I’m not the only one who expected it. Baldwin was even more certain.”

“His Highness was certain of a rebellion? What do you mean…”

“Before he took on the Eilat matter, he told me this: ‘If we don’t intervene, the Eastern Roman Empire will soon collapse.’ Hasn’t he accurately predicted even the specific situation?”

Baldwin IV spoke slowly.

Valiang’s expression stiffened.

“Then His Highness is in great danger now…”

“That child must have already taken measures, like he did in Eilat.”

Baldwin IV turned his head.

“Or why else would he have taken so much money with him?”

“…”

“How many troops can we send to Constantinople right now?”

“Not many. Based on the direct knights, it’s at a level that won’t hinder the defense…”

“No, even if we send them now, the situation will already be over by the time they arrive. It would be faster to dispatch the knights from the port cities.”

“I’ll contact the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar [powerful medieval Catholic military orders]. The numbers won’t be large, but it will help.”

“Please do.”

Baldwin IV was silent for a moment before speaking.

“How is Saladin doing?”

“There hasn’t been any particular movement yet, but they must have heard the news from the Eastern Roman Empire by now. They’re watching how the situation unfolds.”

“Then everything depends on my nephew.”

Baldwin IV sighed.

His gaze turned out the window.

“Whatever happens in Constantinople, all we can do is pray that young Baldwin handles it well.”

* * *

Constantinople

The assassination attempt on the emperor and the subsequent arrest of Princess Mani shocked the capital.

The drinkers in the taverns who had been enjoying the festival, and the street performers, disappeared.

In a calm but tense atmosphere, another rumor spread.

“I just heard this directly from the sailors! Admiral Kontostephanos is leading a fleet to the capital!”

“What’s so strange about the imperial fleet coming to the capital?”

“That’s not what I mean! Andronikos is bringing Admiral Kontostephanos and the fleet…”

“No, then he’s starting a rebellion?!”

“That old fox should be chasing women; what on earth is he doing…”

The rumor turned out to be true just a few days later.

Andronikos’s fleet arrived shortly after the garrison completed the evacuation order near the capital.

“We have come to restore order to the capital! Open the port quickly!”

Andronikos shouted in front of the blockaded port.

But the port blockade was not lifted.

Several layers of chains.

Dozens of turrets blocked the sea like an iron wall.

After days of confrontation, Andronikos set up camp outside the Theodosian Walls [the series of defensive walls that protected the city of Constantinople].

That’s when the looting for military supplies began.

‘If you enter the capital, I will reward you handsomely! So give up all the food you have!’

‘We don’t even have anything to eat! If you take this away, my family…’

Andronikos’s army patrolled the surrounding houses and farmlands, looting the scraps left after the evacuation order.

As the news spread, the public sentiment in the capital seethed.

“The imperial army is besieging Constantinople; what on earth is going on?”

But the place that was really on fire was somewhere else.

Right, Andronikos himself.

“Didn’t I tell you repeatedly?”

Admiral Kontostephanos frowned.

He tapped the table nervously.

“Food and supplies are already running out. If this continues, the soldiers will start deserting in less than a week.”

“If there’s a shortage of food, shouldn’t we procure it from the surrounding area? I think I already gave such an order?”

Andronikos shouted irritably.

He slammed the elixir bottle he was drinking on the table.

An item he bought from a Venetian merchant at a high price.

“We’re already doing that. Thanks to that, the public sentiment in the capital has turned against us. The more time passes, the more unfavorable the battle is for us.”

“Just wait a little longer with patience, Admiral.”

Andronikos said.

“Because the guys locked the gates, I can’t contact my people well. When they step up, the walls will open wide.”

“But when will that be?”

Admiral Kontostephanos asked.

“I’m barely holding on by giving bonuses to the captains and soldiers who are trying to run away right now. If I had known the situation in the capital would be like this…”

He clicked his tongue.

It was too late to grasp the exact information.

Now he couldn’t retreat or move forward.

Then an officer came into the tent and approached Andronikos.

Andronikos burst out laughing after hearing his report.

He waved his hand at the admiral.

“Hey, Admiral. Three gates will open at the same time tomorrow.”

“Three gates will open, what does that…”

“It’s exactly as I said.”

Andronikos smirked.

“All we have to do is walk in.”

* * *

The Theodosian Walls.

“If we hadn’t issued the evacuation order, the damage to the people would have been even greater.”

Alexios said with a sigh.

He grabbed the wall with one hand.

“His Highness was right. I never thought Andronikos would really bring his army here so recklessly…”

“He must have believed he could easily enter the capital.”

I replied, looking out over the walls.

The rebel camp was visible in the distance.

Black smoke rose, perhaps from the troops who had looted the surrounding area returning.

Were they preparing food with the stolen supplies?

In the original history, Andronikos entered Constantinople without much resistance and seized power.

The citizens of the capital even welcomed him with open arms.

Now, it was the exact opposite.

His army, running low on supplies, looted the surrounding area, and public sentiment instantly turned to the emperor’s side.

‘There’s bound to be a supply problem.’

To maintain an army, the most important thing is food and supplies.

Armies in this era usually relied on local procurement.

So it was natural to raid the surrounding houses.

But there was no way the public sentiment in the capital would tolerate this.

‘An army marches on its stomach.’

Even Napoleon, who said this, was hampered by supplies during the Russian expedition, and the German army faced the same problem.

Even with advance preparation, supplies were endlessly difficult.

Then Alexios spoke.

“But they could be shipping food by boat.”

“To supply that many troops, they would have had to make meticulous plans in advance.”

I said.

Considering the time it takes to transport, it would be virtually impossible.

“Even if they start shipping by boat right now, it would take several more weeks.”

“I’m fortunate that His Highness is on my side.”

Alexios sighed.

The young emperor’s expression was stiff.

“If someone like Prince Baldwin had helped Andronikos…”

“I only gave advice; it was His Majesty who accepted it.”

I said.

Alexios and the regency council trusted me completely after the assassination attempt.

“No matter how much you advise someone like Andronikos, it would be useless.”

“…”

The emperor nodded silently.

The tense emotion was palpable.

“Just yesterday, we caught over twenty people trying to open the gates. But we can’t increase the number of Varangian Guards [the elite unit of the Byzantine army, composed of Norsemen] stationed at the gates any further.”

He said.

“If this continues, the gates will be opened someday.”

“There are more people who follow Andronikos than I thought. I’ve strengthened the defenses for now, but…”

I muttered, folding my arms.

As expected, the biggest problem wasn’t the walls, but the traitors inside.

Over a hundred have been caught so far.

There must be several times that number still hiding.

‘Those who believe they will succeed if Andronikos takes power.’

There were more than a few of those even within the garrison.

The only ones I could trust were the Knights of Jerusalem and the Varangian Guard.

To not be able to trust the insiders and only be able to trust the outsiders.

There couldn’t be a more ironic situation.

It would be nice if there was a way to catch the traitors all at once.

I stared intently at the wall.

Then a realization struck my head.

My whole body trembled as if struck by lightning.

Why haven’t I thought of this simple idea until now?

‘I can just go around and ferret out the traitors myself.’

I could use my intuition to feel other people’s emotions.

Then it should be possible to ferret out traitors like a lie detector.

I’ve caught everything other people have lied about so far.

All I needed to do was walk around the walls and interrogate the soldiers and officers one by one.

‘But what do I explain?’

I looked at the young emperor.

Even if I found out the traitors, I couldn’t just arrest them.

What I needed was evidence.

‘What crime have we committed?!’

‘Haha, I can use mind-reading. Seize him! Immediately strike down the demons in this guy’s head!’

I couldn’t say I used mind-reading like Gung Ye [a Korean king known for his tyrannical rule and claims of supernatural powers].

I couldn’t pretend it was a hunch.

There wasn’t enough time to create fake evidence.

In this case….

Do I have to channel Joan of Arc [the patron saint of France, who claimed to have divine visions]?

“I have a way to ferret out the traitors…”

I cautiously spoke.

“His Majesty must trust me completely.”

“His Highness saved my life and the Empress’s life; who else would I trust if not His Highness?”

Alexios smiled brightly.

He asked in an excited tone.

“A way to catch the traitors? Please tell me quickly.”

“Then that’s a relief. First, I’ll walk around the walls and talk to the soldiers.”

Alexios tilted his head after hearing my words.

I swallowed hard and continued.

Okay, then where should I start?

“Yesterday, Archangel Michael appeared in my dream and said…”