I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 69

The Stroll in the Dark (4)

* * *

“So, you want to send this blueprint to Constantinople?”

Theodora asked, tilting her head. The splendid dress she wore sparkled with gems, reflecting the light. I stared, momentarily distracted by the sight. Byzantine clothes were increasingly extravagant the more you looked at them.

She tilted her head and continued, “I heard that members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre will be stationed at these towers this time.”

She smiled. “Some are even studying writing separately.”

“Frankly, I didn’t expect so many applicants.”

I nodded. The Knights weren’t the issue; most of the squires could read and write. What surprised me was the reaction of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. When I offered special allowances to those working at the signal towers, applicants flocked in droves. It was rather difficult to pick them out.

“If the Empire connects its border strongholds and Constantinople with these towers, it will gain an advantage against the Turks,” I said. The Anatolian region east of the Eastern Roman Empire, north of the Principality of Antioch, was ruled by the Islamic Sultanate of Rum [a Turkish state established in Anatolia]. The Turks had taken this land from the Eastern Roman Empire, and they had been in a tug-of-war for decades since then.

“If the East stabilizes, it will be easier for Constantinople to support Jerusalem.”

“Maybe so.”

I nodded, smiling. Well, it’s a win-win for both the Eastern Roman Empire and me. Give and take. I even received funding for Greek fire [an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire]. This is a small reward.

“By the way, such detailed drawings! The officials of the Imperial Record Office will be very pleased.”

Imperial Record Office?

I tilted my head, and she burst into laughter. “The Imperial Record Office in Constantinople is famous for collecting any documents fanatically. Even letters sent by foreign kings go through there.”

She continued, “First, the lower-ranking recorders examine the letters. If they judge it has no value, it goes to storage. If they judge it has value, it is sent to the director of the Record Office. He then forwards the letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Director of the Special Envoy Management Bureau.”

“…”

“Before that, you’ll need permission from the secretary. Only after all these procedures are completed can the letter reach the hands of the Basileus [Greek for Emperor].”

“It must take a long time for everything.”

I replied with a smile. The Eastern Roman Empire is a centuries-old empire. It’s not unreasonable to have so many bureaucratic procedures. All the benefits I received in Constantinople were enormous privileges. I could freely have an audience with the Emperor at any time, and various bureaucratic procedures could be omitted.

“So, it’s common to bribe officials in between. They say it’s like oiling rusty cartwheels with silver coins.”

“Then my letter…”

“Your letter, Lord, will go straight to His Majesty the Emperor. No official would want to take responsibility for delaying it.”

“I see.”

Well, if they know the Emperor and I are close, they won’t play tricks. A brief silence fell.

“By the way, this is the first time you’ve come to see me since you came to Jerusalem. I’ve heard you’ve been busy with various things…”

“It’s not that I ignored you, Princess. Above all, we haven’t even had the wedding ceremony yet.”

I waved my hand. It wasn’t that I ignored her on purpose. Did I seem aloof?

“If I make you uncomfortable…”

“Not at all.”

I said. It’s just that I couldn’t quite believe I was getting married. Even if I don’t care about the marriage itself… what if I succeed in saving Jerusalem? What will happen after I return to the 21st century? I’ll be separated from everyone I’ve met here. That included Theodora.

‘So, have I been unconsciously avoiding it?’

After organizing my thoughts, I slowly opened my mouth. “Sometimes I feel like this… that I am a temporary being here. I feel like I’m about to wake up as someone else, somewhere else.”

“…”

“Never mind. It was just my nonsense.”

It’s hard to explain in words. It’s not something you can explain in the first place.

“I feel the same way sometimes,” Theodora said. She looked me straight in the eye. “I feel like the candle will go out at any moment and everything will disappear. I feel like I’m going to wake up as someone else, somewhere else tomorrow morning.”

She continued, “But that doesn’t mean we have to be afraid of what’s in front of us now. Rather, we should enjoy it when we have the chance.”

“Enjoy when you have the chance. You’re right.”

I replied with a smile. Well, this kind of opportunity won’t come often. A member of the royal family of a Christian kingdom in the 12th century Levant [historical geographical area roughly equivalent to modern Middle East]. Who else but me would have this experience? Not many people would know that there was a Christian kingdom in the Middle East.

“This place, Jerusalem, seems much more comfortable than Constantinople.”

She smiled. “At least my relatives don’t hold knives and poison to my neck. There’s also the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. And there’s someone to talk to…”

Is she talking about Balian’s adopted daughter, Isabella?

I looked at Theodora. My marriage to her was the result of my actions. I can’t avoid it now by making excuses. You never know when the candle will go out. There was no need to tremble and fear the light going out.

“By the way, I…”

Theodora continued. I snapped out of my thoughts and focused on what she was saying.

“I’ve also done some research since coming to Jerusalem. The biggest problem seems to be the military force,” she said. “There are few Christian citizens who can be conscripted right now.”

“That’s one of the biggest problems.”

I nodded. The lack of population was the Achilles’ heel of the Crusader states. In this era, manpower was national power. As Saladin said, if Islam is the sea, we are pebbles.

There are many Muslim citizens, but it was difficult to conscript them. It’s okay to collect taxes, but it’s another matter to ask them to fight against their fellow Muslims. Of course, some mercenaries don’t care and fight well.

“Then how about receiving immigrants?”

“That’s also one of my plans. But we can’t get the number of immigrants we need from Europe right now,” I said. It’s the Middle Ages now. The serfs [agricultural laborers bound under the feudal system] belonging to the territory could not move as they pleased. So, most of the Europeans who immigrated to Jerusalem were urban dwellers such as artisans and merchants. There are pilgrims, but most of them returned to their hometowns after completing their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

“Then what about Constantinople?”

“Constantinople…”

“You must have seen it too, Lord. There are tens of thousands of people who make a living day by day in the relief centers and almshouses. The successive Basileuses gave them jobs through public works, but…”

Theodora said, “In the end, it was just a stopgap measure. They will do anything to get a job or land.”

“I’ve only been thinking about Europe.”

Why didn’t I think of the Eastern Roman Empire? The scene I saw in Constantinople came to mind: relief centers and almshouses, so huge that you could mistake them for a city within a city. It would cost a lot of money to accommodate, treat, and feed tens of thousands of poor people every meal. There will be no job training or job placement for the unemployed yet. It’s just giving them food and shelter. It’s amazing that they’re doing that in this era.

Theodora said, “There are quite a few abandoned orchards and pastures near Jerusalem. It’s no wonder that the war has continued for the past few decades.”

“If given the opportunity, there will be many new citizens who will immigrate here. There are already many Eastern Orthodox believers who speak Greek in the Levant, so there will be no problem adapting,” I said. In the first place, the entire Levant was Eastern Roman territory.

“Of course, we have to subsidize the fare so that they can come here…”

“First, we will subsidize the fare, and then we will receive it as taxes after they settle down. If we receive it in installments over time, it won’t be a big burden,” I said. I think it’s possible enough.

“First of all, we need the Emperor’s approval.”

“The Basileus will probably agree.”

Theodora smiled again. “The money going into the almshouse will decrease, so he will rather welcome it. The relationship between the Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Jerusalem can also become stronger.”

I fell into thought. That’s not all. We could also use this as leverage to pressure the Roman Pope. They would be wary of the closer relationship between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Eastern Roman Empire.

“Let’s talk more about it in detail next time, Princess,” I said with a smile. “I should go visit the Patriarch after a long time.”

* * *

Patriarch Heraclius was in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As I entered, the priests greeted me. “The Patriarch is now baptizing heretics.”

The inside was crowded with people. In the center was an altar filled with water. The Patriarch stood in front of it and waved his hand. “Have you rejected Satan and Satan’s empty promises?”

The ceremony didn’t take long. People scattered, and the Patriarch approached me. “Lord, welcome!” He came to me and took my hand. I felt it during the last inauguration ceremony, but it’s awkward.

“He has been waiting for you for the past few days. I will guide you to my office.”

“Thank you, Patriarch.”

This atmosphere is chilly. I followed his guidance and entered the office. The first thing I noticed was the gloominess. Unlike before, there were no fancy carpets or silk clothes, just an empty room with a desk.

“The room seems to have changed a lot from before.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Lord,” he said with a smile. “There will be no more blessed and glorious days than this. The Lord has shown me the right path through you, from the days full of sin of violating the color indigo…”

He added, “I am walking the path only for the Lord and His glory.”

“I see.”

I don’t know what to say. I was more comfortable when he was gay. There was something else that was the most uncomfortable: this is not an act to deceive me. His attitude was sincere from the heart. I sighed inwardly. Well, it won’t be a loss for me. It’s not like he hates me.

“I came to you today to ask you for one thing. It’s something that needs permission from the Roman Church…”

I cleared my throat and casually told him what I had said to Theodora: receiving immigrants from the Eastern Roman Empire. The Patriarch’s eyes shook slightly as he listened to my explanation.

“If a new crusade is not organized in Europe, we have no choice but to receive support from Eastern Rome.”

“His Holiness the Pope is working day and night to persuade nobles and kings,” he said. “But everyone is only interested in secular power and strife, and there are few who are willing to protect this holy city…”

There won’t be many. I recalled my memories. The current situation in Europe is probably… the Holy Roman Empire, the German Emperor, and the Roman Pope are in the midst of a war of nerves. Barbarossa, the Red Beard Emperor [Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor], was one of the most praised rulers in German history. At the same time, he was also an emperor who fought with the Roman Pope over every single thing by establishing an antipope.

The emperor has now reconciled with the Pope, but he has not completely abandoned Rome. We have to take advantage of this situation.

“It’s not that I need help right now. It’s not that I and His Majesty the King don’t know the situation in Rome,” I opened my mouth. “But it would be possible enough to recognize my authority. Isn’t that so?”

“Recognition…”

“I mean, I received a revelation from the Archangel Michael. Shouldn’t there be no rumors that this is false or heretical?”

“Heresy?!”

Heraclius shouted in a very excited tone. “No one will say such nonsense to you!”

“I’m relieved to hear you say that, Patriarch. But it would be of great help if His Holiness the Pope officially recognized it,” I said with a smile. I am now an important figure for both Rome and Constantinople. They can’t refuse my offer.

“The time will soon come when the Western Church and the Eastern Church will be united as one. It is only natural that fighting brothers should join hands again.”

“Are you saying…”

The Patriarch raised his eyebrows and asked back. Well, it’s not impossible. There was no major disaster like the 4th Crusade (Fall of Constantinople), so it’s not an impossible story. The only person who can do that now is me.

“I believe you understand what I mean, Patriarch.”

“…”

Heraclius, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth. “First of all, I will convey your opinion to His Holiness the Pope. His Holiness will also review it positively. Of course, there are various problems, but…”

“You don’t have to worry.”

I looked at him swallowing his saliva, a gaze as if there was a halo behind me. I feel like I have to say something plausible. I said with the softest expression I could make, “The Lord will help the Patriarch. I promise you.”

* * *

Gustave Doré – The Baptism of the Gentiles (Public Domain)