kingdom of nations

Chapter 111 Bethlehem (6)

As Jacques walked out of the mansion that had once belonged to him, he looked back and saw that the rooms upstairs were still brightly lit—it was hard to say whether having such an owner was a good thing or a bad thing for Bethlehem.

However, Jacques did not feel troubled about the task that César had given him, even if he could not say that he was confident. After all, this was something that "they" had agreed on from the beginning.

If Bethlehem's new master were a knight in the conventional sense—brutal, dull, and insensitive—they would never have brought their conflict with the Saracens to the forefront. But clearly, he was a thoughtful and quick-witted young man, worth a try.

Unlike knights, merchants rarely look down on a young man without reason.

Of course, older people are often respected and trusted because of their experience, but young people also have a decisiveness and keenness that older people do not possess.

For businessmen, this talent is quite important—they are like seagulls soaring over the sea, and war, plague, and famine are like cyclones and storms covering the sea. As soon as they smell the ominous atmosphere in the air, they must decide whether to flee, hide, or take the opportunity to plunder power and wealth in the storm.

Jacques returned to his current home, which was slightly smaller than his previous residence, but in terms of magnificence, refinement, comfort, and pleasantness, it was in no way inferior to the former. As soon as he entered the gate, servants brought him rose water to wipe his face, hands, and feet. He changed his clothes, put on slippers, and slowly walked into the dining room at the back of the courtyard.

Lego is having a meal in the restaurant.

He was the Isaac merchant who had recently bought the soap for three times the price, and also Jacques' father-in-law.

Contrary to popular belief, Le Gueuer was an active, agile, and somewhat short middle-aged man. When he saw Jacques, he didn't pay much attention to formalities, simply waving him over to sit down beside him. Servants quickly served Jacques his dinner: a duck stew, some figs, and bread.

Saffron was added to the stewed duck, and the expensive spice gave the broth a beautiful golden color. Ginger and onions were also added to the soup, making it very fragrant. However, Jacques had no appetite. He was eager to report to his father-in-law about the Knights of Bethlehem, but Lego interrupted him, "Let's talk about it after we finish eating. There's no need to rush. We still have time."

He then continued, “Although many of my people like to talk during meals, this not only diminishes the deliciousness of the food but also easily leads to indigestion. Moreover, when they are full, their sluggish brains can cause them to make wrong choices.”

We should heed the teachings of the sages. In everything we do, we should be focused and attentive. Now, let us enjoy this plate of duck.

They ate the entire dish in silence, and then casually ate some figs and bread.

Finally, they spoke of the Knights of Bethlehem, the new king of Alassane, Nur ad-Din of Apollo, and Shirku and Saladin of Egypt. “If others had heard what we were saying, they would have laughed and thought we had gone mad. We are just two humble merchants, I am an Isaac and you are my son-in-law. But how many things in the world grow from tiny roots, blossom, and bear fruit?”

"Sometimes, I look at them and find them just as ridiculous as they look at us, Jacques. You must remember, you can despise anyone, but you must never ignore them, especially the small, the lowly, the easily forgotten..."

Even if those high-ranking figures say they can't stir up any trouble, sometimes a nail can destroy a warhorse, a warhorse can kill a knight, the death of a knight may foreshadow the defeat of a war, and the defeat of a war may lead to the downfall of a kingdom... Hey!

Just like our great 'Light of Faith' (Nur ad-Din), he was a Sultan, a royal general, and an awe-inspiring dictator, but so what? He still couldn't escape the passage of time, the light God had bestowed upon him was fading, and now he couldn't even avoid the onslaught of the cold.

"Alright," Le Guay said, pulling himself back from his reverie, "Did he really say that?"

“Yes,” Jacques said, “the Knight of Bethlehem was very perceptive; he immediately gleaned the important message from the Saracens’ reaction.” “Such a young man, with such a background, and now the new King of Jerusalem is his close friend and brother, and thanks to the favor of the previous king, he also has Bethlehem. If you were to say that he has no ambition, no thought of making a name for himself, no one would believe it.”

“But I also see him as a cautious man,” Jacques said. “He wasn’t overjoyed or made any decisions immediately. He told me he needed more concrete information, and if I could get it, I should tell him—I said, ‘concrete’ information about Nourdin,” he emphasized the word “concrete.” “He could promise on behalf of the King that we could receive a fair and reasonable reward.”

“Ha. What a generous promise,” Lego said unhappily. “But do I not know them? When they need you, they always seem kind, generous, and understanding, as if they don’t care about your identity or beliefs at all. But once they no longer need you, or need a scapegoat, they’ll throw us out to those hungry wolves.”

However, he quickly calmed down and began to consider the veracity of the promise. He had heard of Baldwin and Cesar, the latter even having the title of Little Saint, and the former being known for his gentleness and justice.

That's the problem.

Could a gentle and approachable young man keep the unruly ministers and generals under his command in check?

Lego heard that the new king had a regent, who was his father's cousin, and that his sister was engaged to Abigail of Antioch.

If the newlyweds can have a healthy and lively heir, a boy, within the next year or two, then the existence of this new king will be dispensable.

Even though people say that he was blessed by saints, that the holy spear given to him by Saint George lasted for three days and three nights without dissipating, and that he fought bravely and relentlessly on the battlefield—which certainly earned him the support of knights—it was not a good thing for his ministers and generals.

But for Le Gucht and Jacques, it might be an opportunity.

“What we’re planning might be exactly what this new king needs,” Le Guau said. Jacques knew what he meant—how can a young man prove himself superior to his older, more experienced, and more well-known predecessors? Through achievements, of course.

As the king of Arathi Basin and the commander of the Crusades, what could be a better way to prove himself than through a war?
The fiercer their struggle and the more intense their infighting, the stronger our new king's desire for a great victory will become. As long as he can pave the way for the Christians and seize territory, those who love to point fingers will immediately be silenced.

Jacques's throat bobbed slightly; he longed for that future, yet he couldn't help feeling nervous.

Sitting in this mansion were only two merchants, the king's hyenas, the lord's moneybags, and the knight's stewards, yet they received no respect whatsoever, especially his father-in-law, an Isaac, whom the Bethlehem knights were always lenient with, otherwise they wouldn't have even spoken to him personally.

Even though he was wealthy, brave, and full of wisdom.

Therefore, he had to violate the laws of Isaac and marry his daughter to a Christian, Jacques, because he needed a spokesperson who could step into the limelight.

Although Jacques was a clever young man, he still couldn't compare to his father-in-law in terms of experience and decisiveness, and he admired his father-in-law wholeheartedly. Even though Le Guau's plan was simply outrageous, he joined without hesitation, without considering what would happen if the plan were leaked.

(End of this chapter)