I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 35

The Man Who Saved Rome (5)

* * *

“There are more than I thought.”

Aigh muttered.

We watched the prisoners being dragged along the walls.

The number was easily in the dozens.

All of them were followers of Andronikos.

“Did the Archangel Michael really tell the Young Lord about the traitors?”

I nodded instead of answering.

‘Archangel Michael told me directly!’

The commotion I caused drew everyone’s attention.

I immediately went around the walls and found the traitors.

Those who were suspiciously fearful or nervous when asked if they were traitors.

At first, most people were skeptical of my actions.

However, when evidence was found in the homes of those arrested, the atmosphere changed completely.

Alexios, as well as soldiers and citizens, flocked to me.

I can’t believe they believed me so easily.

I guess the way of thinking in this era is different from the 21st century.

In the 21st century where I lived, many things had been revealed.

The Earth is a round ball of dirt floating in space, electricity, the sea, tides, and so on.

Most natural phenomena could be explained by science.

But now it was different.

People took my words seriously that I had received a revelation from the archangel.

‘The Virgin Mary appeared directly on the walls in 626 and defeated the Persians!’

‘This time, Archangel Michael is protecting our city!’

‘Let’s defeat the forces of Satan!’

I tried to maintain a calm attitude in such a mess.

‘Thanks to this, I haven’t slept properly for two days.’

I guess I succeeded since I caught all the ‘potential’ traitors.

“Didn’t Archangel Michael say anything today?”

Wig asked as he approached.

He was also one of those who accepted my words without question.

“If there is anything he has revealed….”

“He promised that if our will is sufficient, we will win.”

“Then we will win.”

Wig smiled.

He pointed to the bottom of the wall.

Thousands of citizens, led by Patriarch Theodosius, marched below the walls.

“Mother of God, Victorious, Married Virgin, and Virgin….”

A hymn echoed.

What is that again?

I’m going crazy, I’m going crazy.

“The soldiers’ morale has soared at the rumor that Archangel Michael has promised victory.”

Wig said with a smile.

“On the contrary, the morale of the rebels has plummeted. Now that all the traitors have been caught, they won’t be able to get over the walls easily.”

“How is the Greek fire?”

“I installed everything right above the gate. But why specifically inside the gate and not outside….”

“If a battle breaks out and there is a breach, it will be the gate.”

I said.

The rebels didn’t have proper siege equipment.

Then there would be little risk of the walls collapsing.

The only dangerous thing is the gate.

“Greek fire will buy us time even if the gate is breached.”

Greek fire.

The famous secret liquid chemical weapon of the Eastern Roman Empire.

I never thought I’d use it like this.

At that moment, I heard the sound of armor clattering.

Alexios.

He approached, guarded by the Varangian Guard [elite Norse bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors].

The boy was wearing chain mail like me.

With shiny gold armor on top of that.

“Young Lord Baldwin. Did Archangel Michael say anything today….”

I repeated the answer I gave to Wig.

“If our will is sufficient. I see, if you are testing our faith….”

He looked at me and continued.

“Andronikos has sent an envoy. He wants to talk to me directly.”

“A direct conversation….”

Did he realize that all the spies had been caught?

Surrender? Or is he trying to negotiate?

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

“I will go with Your Majesty too.”

“I was going to ask you for that, Young Lord.”

He replied with a bright expression.

We met Andronikos on the eastern wall of the Theodosian Walls [massive defensive walls protecting Constantinople], right in front of the coast.

Andronikos was on top of a ship.

A position overlooking us.

I don’t know the customs of the empire well, but this certainly seems disrespectful.

Alexios frowned, thinking the same thing.

I glared at the man on the ship.

‘Is this the first time I’m seeing him in person?’

An old fox who has lived his whole life through plunder and rape.

The worst tyrant who ruined the Eastern Roman Empire at a crucial moment.

Andronikos Komnenos.

Alexios shouted at him.

“Andronikos, what on earth are you thinking, committing such treason?!

“Your Majesty, I have come to protect you from the treacherous subjects. Please calm your anger.”

He said.

“If you open the port, I will immediately lead the army and get rid of all the treacherous subjects. And return the power to the Emperor….”

I snorted without realizing it.

Who is telling whom to calm their suspicions?

He looked at me as if he heard my snort.

“Ah, you must be Baldwin of Jerusalem. I heard that the Theodosian Walls has been in chaos since you arrived.”

He shouted at Alexios again.

“Your Majesty, those Latin bastards are blinding you. They are plotting an assassination attempt with Princess Mani….”

“Enough!”

Alexios shouted.

I could feel his anger.

“As you can see! The Theodosian Walls is not in chaos at all. No one will open the gates and ports for you anymore.”

“Are you believing the absurd claims of that Latin bastard who received the revelation from the archangel? That bastard’s plan is to eliminate all the loyal subjects and then….”

I stared at Andronikos.

His emotions.

I had to read his emotions.

What is he planning?

“There is nothing more to discuss with you!”

Alexios shouted.

His cloak fluttered in the wind.

“So withdraw your troops right now. Otherwise, I will punish you for treason!”

“I understand. If that is Your Majesty’s will….”

Andronikos bowed his head.

All sorts of emotions dug into my body.

“I will obey the Emperor’s orders. I will withdraw the troops by the end of today.”

He turned his back and disappeared.

Alexios muttered with a blank expression.

“Andronikos is going to withdraw his troops, what on earth….”

“We must issue a state of alert right now. Deploy all the defenders on the walls.”

I whispered to him.

My heart was pounding.

The emotions I felt from Andronikos.

And even his words.

When I put everything together, there was only one conclusion.

“He will attack soon.”

* * *

Several hours later

The Theodosian Walls.

The soldiers’ shouts echoed along the walls.

Bolts and arrows flew through the air.

“They’re pouring everything they have into it.”

Wig muttered, looking beyond the walls.

He held a long sword in one hand.

“It must be that desperate.”

I said.

As I expected, Andronikos launched an attack immediately after the meeting.

An offensive that rushes in without any proper siege equipment or siege towers.

There must be only one reason for taking such unreasonable measures.

“The army cannot be maintained without food. He is trying to win somehow before the army scatters.”

No supplies, so it’s an all-out offensive.

It’s like seeing the Horns of Hattin [decisive battle where Saladin defeated the Crusader army in 1187].

Was it an inevitable choice since morale had also fallen?

I picked up the crossbow and aimed it forward.

We are on the inner wall.

Outside the outer wall, a moat blocked the enemy.

I took a breath and fired the crossbow.

A soldier running with a ladder fell into the moat.

As I was reloading, someone came panting.

It was Aigh.

A long bow slung over his back.

“I’ve checked all the other gates.”

Aigh said, gasping for breath.

“As expected, the most enemy troops are gathered at the Pegai Gate here. The other places were all distractions.”

“Then we only have to block here.”

How many troops are in front of me?

10,000? 20,000?

The rebel soldiers charged with crude ladders and battering rams.

Numerous emotions intertwined and wrapped around my body.

Fear, dread.

Sweat ran down my body and soaked my chain mail.

‘Focus on one thing.’

I focused only on my heartbeat.

After a few seconds, I finally felt more comfortable.

“Concentrate your attacks on the battering ram!”

“Keep shooting! Don’t stop!”

The enemy soldiers carrying the battering ram fell, hit by arrows and bolts.

But after that, a second and third battering ram appeared.

“Damn it! There are too many! We can’t stop them!”

“It would be better to give up the outer wall, Young Lord. The gate won’t last long.”

Wig said.

“Should we give up the walls altogether and move the defense line back….”

“Then the villages and citizens in the middle will be massacred.”

I said.

Starving and angry conscripts from the provinces.

It was clear what they would do if they got over the walls.

‘We have to stop them here.’

The conclusion was simple.

I said.

“Let’s do as planned.”

“……Understood. Everyone move to your positions!”

Wig shouted.

Soon after, the battering ram hit the gate, making a cracking sound.

“They’re breaking through!”

“Don’t do it too fast!”

I shouted, waving my hand.

The important thing is to wait until they come rushing in.

Soon after, I heard footsteps and shouts.

The enemy soldiers poured in through the gate.

Greeting them were the defenders with spears.

The defenders blocked the enemy soldiers pouring through the gate with a wall of spears.

Just as the defenders were being pushed back, Wig gave the order.

“Throw it! Throw it near the gate!”

The soldiers waiting on the wall above the gate threw pottery.

The pottery broke, scattering black liquid everywhere.

Some of the enemy soldiers who realized what the liquid was screamed, but it was already too late.

Greek fire.

“Arrows!”

Fire arrows flying towards the enemy soldiers.

And the next moment….

Flames engulfed everything.

“Aaaagh!”

“Run away! Retreat!”

“Water! Water!”

The enemy soldiers with fire on their bodies screamed and scattered.

The gate was instantly engulfed in flames.

The archers and crossbowmen on the inner wall fired arrows and bolts at the panicked enemy soldiers.

I shouted to Aigh and asked.

“What’s the damage on our side?”

“A few people accidentally caught fire, but we put it out right away with sand!”

I nodded.

Sand or vinegar was the only thing that could put out Greek fire.

Water was useless.

‘I didn’t know the effect would be this certain.’

I guess that’s why it’s called a secret weapon.

“Young Lord, we won!”

“It’s too early to be happy.”

I said to Aigh.

They kept coming even in the flames.

The fire won’t burn forever.

Was it impossible to block them completely?

“Now is the time!”

Wig shouted as he approached me.

He shouted in an excited tone.

“One charge will drive them out of the moat! We must strike now while they are panicked!”

“Lord Wig is right.”

I looked down.

What the enemy broke through was the outer wall.

There was a wide space between the outer and inner walls.

The optimal environment for a small cavalry to charge against concentrated infantry.

“They are soldiers conscripted from the provinces. They won’t be highly motivated to fight.”

I said.

Morale is a factor that determines the outcome of a battle in both games and reality.

The morale of conscripts who were forcibly dragged in couldn’t be high.

“Let’s stop them here.”

The three of us went down below the walls.

A winding spiral staircase.

Bult was waiting right in front of the gate.

He neighed and greeted me.

“Yes, yes. We’ll be running soon.”

“Gather quickly! You snails!”

At Wig’s shout, the waiting knights rushed in.

Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller, and even Knights of Lazarus [various Crusader military orders].

White, black, green.

Cloaks of all colors fluttered.

But they all had the same coat of arms.

A cross.

In addition, heavy cavalry belonging to the Imperial Army, Cataphracts [heavily armored Byzantine cavalry], stood together.

At that time, a knight belonging to the Knights Hospitaller approached.

A high-ranking knight with a lower rank than Wig.

He whispered in a small voice.

“Young Lord, we have no obligation to fight here. This is a fight for the Greeks.”

He said.

“If something happens to you….”

“Have you forgotten why we came all the way here?”

Wig shouted at him.

“Why do you think Archangel Michael spoke directly to the Young Lord?”

He shouted at the other knights.

“If the Eastern Roman Empire falls, Jerusalem will also fall. Why don’t you know that protecting this place is directly related to protecting the Holy City?!

“Lord Wig is right.”

I said.

“I promised to support the Emperor with my name and the honor of the kingdom at stake.”

I looked at the knights.

We had to protect this place to prevent the dominoes from falling.

Maybe even the tragedy of the Fourth Crusade [a disastrous event where Crusaders sacked Constantinople].

“But if any of you want to drop out, I will allow it.”

Silence flowed.

Then Wig shouted.

“I ask you. What is the role of a righteous knight?”

He raised his sword.

“To protect the holy church and its followers, to save the poor from injustice, to bring peace to their land, to shed blood for their brothers….”

Just before he finished speaking, the knights shouted.

“To give up their lives if necessary!”

Everyone shouted at the same time, regardless of affiliation.

Some people burst out laughing.

“I ask you again. What is the role of a righteous knight?”

“To give up their lives if necessary!”

“Yes, it is worth enough if it means saving Constantinople and the Christians from the disgusting traitors. Isn’t that right?”

Wig shouted.

“Everyone prepare your spears! We’ll end it with one charge! Just one!”

Wig turned to me and whispered.

“If we fail to drive them out in one blow, we must retreat immediately. So you must stay behind no matter what.”

Is it a shape that covers me with wings?

I nodded.

“Understood.”

The Jerusalem royal flag fluttered at the front.

Crusader knights fighting to protect Constantinople.

It’s somewhat ironic.

“I was a fool to think I could just go sightseeing and return.”

Aigh said, taking out his bow.

He was also riding a horse like me.

“I hope the Archangel will bless me too….”

“I’ll ask you directly, Aigh.”

I said with a smile.

At that moment, Wig’s shout echoed.

“Charge!”

Bult started moving.

I grabbed my spear.

Now was the time to use my intuition to the fullest.

When I removed the wall in my heart, all sorts of emotions poured in.

“Charge! Drive the bastards out of the walls!”

Numerous flags fluttered before my eyes.

The sound of horseshoes filling the surroundings.

The cold breath reflected in the helmet.

At this moment, I was a knight.

* * *

(The image used in this article is a work by Mark Cartwright and is permitted for commercial use and modification under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike.)