I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 85

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 85

The Third Rome (5)

* * *

“Your Grace’s reputation precedes you, even in Europe. Bards sing of the Constantinople rebellion in every palace.”

Count Hartmann said with a smile.

He crossed his legs and continued.

“Speaking of the royalty of Jerusalem who personally quelled the rebellion…”

“If the young emperor hadn’t held me back, I would have achieved even more.”

I nodded.

“No sooner had I suppressed the rebellion than they were eager to be rid of me in Constantinople.”

“That’s how the Greek emperors are.”

I nodded again.

‘What am I even doing right now?’

Let’s just call it a simple charade.

The Holy Roman Empire’s delegation was here, and this was a charade to deceive Emperor Frederick.

After the wedding, I consistently engaged with the delegation.

I even went hunting with them.

The delegation tried to win me over to their side… and I pretended to fall for it.

I criticized the Eastern Roman Empire and Baldwin IV for being spineless and grumbled about being forced to marry Theodora.

‘They didn’t trust me from the start.’

But I dispelled their doubts and replaced them with certainty.

Delicacy was key, like a surgeon performing an operation.

Figuring out the other person’s true feelings with intuition and then manipulating them.

And I was doing it excellently.

‘It’s not easy pretending to be a fool.’

Meanwhile, Balian identified the delegation’s spies and fed them false information.

It was a grand play to deceive the Holy Roman Empire.

“I hear you’ve been training frequently outside Jerusalem lately. Is there another reason for that?”

“His Majesty ordered it himself. He says I must train constantly to be fit to lead the army.”

I sighed deeply, making sure to show how annoyed I was.

“Thanks to that, I’m being dragged around every day without rest.”

I continued.

“For me to go to Italy at a time like this… I don’t know what His Majesty is thinking. It’s a waste of time and manpower. Even with the Saracens [Muslims] right in front of us, he wants us to disperse our forces. It’s a foolish thing to do.”

“My thoughts align with yours and the Emperor’s, Your Grace.”

The Count said with a smile.

Now they’re openly looking down on me.

“The Kingdom of Jerusalem would be safer if someone as wise as Prince Baldwin were to ascend to the throne. It won’t be long now.”

I struggled to suppress the twisting in my gut.

“It’s comforting to hear you say that, Count.”

“Even if Your Grace were to go to Italy, the Emperor would fully understand. If you were to help the Empire instead of the Lombardy cities…”

He continued.

“Perhaps he would give Jerusalem donations and gifts that rival Constantinople, gifts solely for Your Grace.”

“I understand what you mean.”

I smirked.

A foolish, good-for-nothing royal.

This acting is quite fun.

I sensed the Count and the delegation’s feelings.

‘They don’t even suspect me anymore.’

Rather, they were close to ridiculing me. They even believed that all my achievements were propaganda orchestrated by Baldwin IV.

Count Hartmann smiled and continued.

“Anyone who has received outstanding knowledge and character from the Lord must willingly use and reveal it. Your Grace is the perfect person for this.”

I smiled instead of answering.

‘Yes, keep thinking that.’

‘You’ll be so surprised when you find out my true intentions.’

I could be an actor at this point.

I have something to add to my resume.

A 12th-century royal and knight.

Fluent in Medieval Latin and Romance languages.

Several years of acting experience.

“I hope to build a good relationship with Your Grace in the future.”

“I feel the same way, Count. But if we’re friends, shouldn’t there be a token of friendship?”

I said.

‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to squeeze some money out of them in advance.’

“Because I don’t know what will happen when I go to Italy.”

“Of course. We will prepare a suitable token before our delegation departs.”

We shook hands, mocking each other.

But the real winner was only one person.

Only me.

* * *

A few days later.

Before leaving Jerusalem, I visited the situation room with Sibylla.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this in my life.”

Sibylla muttered, looking around the situation room.

The situation room was more crowded than before.

With the increase in signal towers, the number of personnel had also increased.

“To think there are so many priests and scribes in one building.”

“Speed is the most important thing here. The more people there are, the faster we can process tasks.”

I replied with a smile.

Fortunately, the manpower shortage was somewhat resolved as the knightly orders went through the integration process.

“Did you really create all of this?”

“I merely suggested the direction.”

It was the knights and priests who implemented the system I proposed into reality.

They operated the signal towers more efficiently than I thought, regularly reporting the status of supplies and troops at each fortress.

Here in the Jerusalem situation room, all that information was collected, and new orders were sent out, transporting supplies from places with surpluses to places with shortages.

In this way, the signal towers swallowed not only the military but also the administrative aspects.

An information revolution like this in the 12th century.

I understand why everyone is surprised.

Baldwin IV didn’t show it, but he looked quite surprised when he first saw it.

“I’m worried about one thing. I’m afraid the Saracens will imitate us. If they build signal towers everywhere…”

“That’s possible.”

I nodded.

Saladin isn’t stupid.

By now, he must have realized what the signal towers are.

If he wanted to, he could try something similar.

“But the Saracens haven’t yet created telescopes, the eyes of angels.”

Fortunately, there were no leaked telescopes yet.

The knightly orders were almost fanatical about the security of the telescopes.

They were ready to burn anyone at the stake who lost one.

“Without telescopes, they would have to build more towers densely, costing twice as much money.”

That’s not all.

“There’s also the possibility of information being leaked.”

I checked the signalmen every month on a rotating basis.

It was a regular ideological check.

Even if a traitor leaked information, I could quickly notice it.

‘But Saladin is different.’

He didn’t have the intuition I possessed.

That meant he wouldn’t know who the traitor was, let alone that information was being leaked.

“Rather, it would be good for us if they built signal towers. We could steal information.”

“You may be right.”

Sibylla muttered with a thoughtful expression.

We passed through the crowded situation room.

“How is it going with Theodora?”

“It’s not bad.”

I replied with a smile.

“I feel like I’ve been nervous for nothing.”

“That’s a relief.”

Sibylla said with a firm expression.

She looked at me.

“Treat that child well, Baldwin. Once a flower is broken, it cannot be revived.”

“Of course.”

I nodded.

The marital life of royalty can also determine the fate of the kingdom.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, who inherited Aquitaine [a region in France], was a good example.

She married King Louis VII of France and divorced not long after.

And now she’s remarried to Henry II, the King of England.

She takes the vast land of southern France, the Aquitaine region, as her dowry.

This land later became the cause of the Hundred Years’ War.

Come to think of it, that bastard Guy tried to kidnap the divorced Eleanor.

“I’m thinking of entering a convent when you ascend to the throne.”

“… Are you serious?”

I looked at Sibylla.

Entering a convent or monastery is practically the same as retirement.

People usually go there right before they die or when they’ve been pushed out of power struggles.

Sibylla was serious.

She had no reason to lie to me in the first place.

“I’m tired of being dragged around by someone’s schemes. I’d rather rest comfortably in a convent.”

She smiled.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ll take care of Guy for sure. I have to help with your plans, too.”

“By the time I return from Europe, the Count Guy issue will be resolved.”

The trap has already been set.

By then, all the preparations will be complete.

“That’s why you need to return even more safely. Keep that in mind.”

“His Majesty said the same thing.”

It was hard to find anything more to say.

She smiled brightly.

“Go to Theodora now. You have to prepare for your honeymoon.”

“It’s hard to call going to the port a honeymoon.”

I smiled and shrugged.

Theodora was planning to accompany me to the port.

A honeymoon before leaving for the European expedition.

How romantic.

I looked around.

The preparations are complete.

It was time to take a step forward.

* * *

The Port of Venice

“Oh, Marco, my friend! You went to the Levant [historical region in the Middle East] and your face is nicely tanned. How long has it been since I’ve seen you like this!”

“I don’t know exactly either. Has it been about a year?”

Marco replied, hugging his colleague.

Behind them, dozens of ships were busily carrying supplies.

Workers shouted at the wooden cranes and ran across the deck.

Marco asked,

“Is business going well?”

“It couldn’t be better. Constantinople is overflowing with goods, and spices and silk are pouring in from the Levant. Everything that comes in is being sold. It’s hard to keep up.”

The man replied with a smile.

“By the way, everyone is saying this: Marco, you’ve become the most devout person ever.”

He poked Marco’s shoulder.

“Come on, tell me honestly. Is it all to look good to Prince Baldwin? You made a fortune with the elixir business…”

“I became a new person in Jerusalem.”

Marco shook his head.

He looked at his colleague and sighed.

“How I wish I could convey to you the sacredness, beauty, and joy that I felt.”

“You’re good at talking nonsense with a serious face. Did you have a glass of elixir?”

“I don’t have time to joke with you right now. Did you look into what I said?”

“I’ve calculated it, but there are things to consider…”

“Is it possible or not?”

“It’s possible for now. It’s possible.”

The man waved his hand.

“But to prepare food for thousands of people for several months… It will take more time.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you get it from Egypt, Sicily, or Constantinople. Just prepare it in Italy on time somehow.”

Marco frowned.

“Isn’t that why I came to you? The person with the most transport ships in Venice.”

“It’s true that I have many ships, but I’m not just letting them sit idle.”

The man shrugged.

“I already have contracts for a year. At least next year, I’ll be able to handle that amount of volume…”

“Then cancel all the contracts you’ve made so far. We’ll pay the penalty instead.”

“You’re really funny. We’re talking about tens of thousands of marks and dinars [historical currency] right now…”

Silence fell.

The man looked at Marco.

“You were serious.”

“I was serious from the beginning. It doesn’t matter what method you use.”

Marco said.

He grabbed his colleague’s shoulder and continued.

“If the food reaches Lombardy, you’ll make a fortune. You might even be able to create several new trading companies.”

“To that extent…”

The man swallowed.

“Does your patron have overflowing money?”

“Of course.”

Marco scoffed.

He rubbed his index finger and thumb together and whispered.

“This amount of money is pocket change to him. Pocket change.”