kingdom of nations

Chapter 120 First Battle (1)

For Philip, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, whether he stayed behind at Arrassa Road or accompanied King Baldwin IV on his travels, it was an easy and pleasant job—although the idea would have seemed blasphemous to him a few years ago.

All he could do now was smile, a smile filled with sarcasm and bitterness.

He was the most devout and steadfast knight, who had long ago sworn that after fulfilling his duties and obligations, he would set off for the Holy Land to serve God. There were many like him at that time. Although they had to marry and have children, govern their territories, or serve in the court for the sake of their families and the king, as soon as their heirs were ready to take over their earthly positions, they would not hesitate to give up their titles, property, territories, wives and children, and head straight for Allazar.

Philip was especially respected in the Knights Templar, not only for his personal character and courage, but also because he had donated the most important fortress in his territory to the Knights Templar. Amalric I had offered 15,000 gold coins for the fortress, but he refused. Although Amalric I was also the lord of the Holy Land, he preferred to entrust it to a more devout person—the Grand Master at the time.

Ironically, not long after he handed the fortress over to the Knights Templar—even though Amalric I had repeatedly instructed the Knights Templar to hold the stronghold—it was still captured by the Arabs.

If the Templars in that fortress had fought to the last moment, Philip might not have been so disappointed. But in fact, not long after the siege began, the knights inside surrendered to the Saracens. When Amalric I angrily hanged the twelve despicable cowards, someone had hinted that he should plead for their lives, but Philip remained silent throughout, expressing his stance through his silence.

Perhaps from that moment on, the Knights Templar lost their last luster in his eyes.

When did this behemoth finally reveal its naked flesh, writhing organs, and filthy veins? Probably the day he was elected as the next Grand Commander, with lists, ledgers, contracts, and documents laid out before him one by one.

This once impoverished organization, which required two knights to share a horse, has been transformed into a greedy beast under the indulgence of the church and the king. He cannot understand why the Templars, who are not allowed to own private property, are so greedy.

By that day, the Knights Templar's combined assets could buy an entire kingdom. Their castles were scattered not only throughout Syria, Arazari, and Egypt, but also throughout the Frankish and Apennine territories. Within their own domains, they were kings and popes, with their own laws and doctrines. They collected both secular poll taxes and sacred tithes. They owned mills, wells, and estates, and could appoint and dismiss city officials and clergy at will.

He felt a deep sense of disappointment and fear, but after reviewing all the documents, he didn't even dare to entertain the idea of ​​cleaning up this filth, as that would mean offending the entire Knights and the intricate web behind them. He didn't know how many lords, dukes, and bishops were involved, but he could also see that this snowball was growing larger and larger, rolling downhill at an unstoppable pace, until it rolled into the abyss or hell.

The young king may not have known that within the Knights Templar, Grand Master Philip was actually the one who supported him. However, to maintain peace and unity within the Templar Order, he didn't openly express this stance. But from the bottom of his heart, as someone willing to give everything for God, he would naturally prefer to fight against God's enemies, those heretics or cultists, rather than to wage war against the Murray for worldly wealth.

While the latter could also be attributed to safeguarding the pilgrimage route's accessibility and safety, this safety was originally one of the Knights Templar's largest and oldest sources of funding. Initially, the Knights Templar's founders established the order simply to ensure the safety of pilgrims who shared their piety and simplicity.

Before them, pilgrims often had no choice but to hire unreliable mercenaries or merchants. Along the pilgrimage route, it was common for mercenaries to rob pilgrims of everything, kill them, or abandon them in the wilderness, while merchants would lure them to a port and sell them directly to infidels.

This situation gradually decreased after the establishment of the Knights Templar.

People trust them and are grateful to them, so they are never stingy with their money and donations. But it seems that things in this world are always like this: money and power are inherently difficult monsters to subdue, and as long as humans develop greed, they will inevitably be devoured by them.

The more Philip knew, the more pained he became, but he couldn't bring himself to destroy the entire Knights Templar. Sometimes he even had to fight with Raymond and Bohemond—for the sake of the warriors in the order who still held onto their pure ideals.

While accompanying Amalric I on his expedition to Egypt, he even contemplated dying on the battlefield against the infidels. Sadly, although wounded, he survived. Until Amalric I was assassinated, Fustat was burned, and they were forced to retreat to Qasarafa, he still did not have the opportunity to dedicate himself to God.

He kept warning himself that this was a very terrible thought.

Suicide has always been a grave mistake that the Church has repeatedly declared must never be committed. It means betrayal of God, especially self-destruction in the name of martyrdom. Even if mortals cannot detect or judge it, no sin can be hidden before God. His soul will be cast into hell, where he will not be able to escape until the end of the world.

Therefore, when Count Raymond of Tripoli wanted him to stay on Arrassa Road, he simply accepted in silence, without feeling much displeasure.

Of course, even then, he still did not regard the young Baldwin IV, nor the dark-haired servant beside him, as equals.

Although he had heard of the black-haired squire's name, at least two senior knights in the Templar Order—Jofruy and Walter—had praised him and even wanted him to join the Templar Order—even though the Order only allowed nobles to become knights, they could always find a way to intervene if the boy was willing.

However, they were both rejected.

Based on Philip's observations over this period, the relationship between Baldwin IV and César can be described as pure and sincere. Baldwin IV trusted and cared for César deeply, and César did not betray this kindness. What surprised Philip the most was that they treated each other as equals.

This is a bit strange. They all know that Cesar comes from a humble background, and a kind superior might treat someone he approves of with humility, but a subordinate would find it difficult to accept such a gift with ease—some would be flattered, while others would feel a bit annoyed—arrogance born from inferiority is not uncommon.

But he hasn't yet found this kind of emotion in César.

Philip had heard of some people who were born with knowledge, as if they had received the teachings of saints before they were even born. Cesar seemed to be such a person. At his age, he could have been a good servant, a good squire, or a good knight. But when he came to Bethlehem to serve Baldwin IV, he found that he could do something that his peers could not do—the city remained as peaceful and serene as ever.

Don't underestimate this peace and tranquility. Even in Arrasar, during the period between Amalric I's death and Baldwin's ascension to the throne, the holy city was in turmoil for several months. The previous order was disrupted, and everyone was as flustered as beans boiling in a hot pan. They didn't know what to do or what not to do.

They scrambled around, trying to find out what the future held. Unable to predict what might happen, they could only imagine the worst and worry deeply. If that were all, they would do many foolish things, attracting even more unscrupulous people to extort, blackmail, and swindle them…

During that period, the Knights Templar, the Knights of the Good Church, and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre were quite busy, and the gallows outside the city were always packed with guests. Only after Baldwin completed the anointing and coronation ceremonies, and Princess Hibil married Abigail, the son of the Grand Duke of Antioch, did the people's emotions gradually calm down. Although Bethlehem was just a small city, it had Christians, Isaacs, Saracens, merchants, craftsmen, and officials, as well as Bishop Andrew, who had previously ruled the city on behalf of the king. The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre were still under his command. Whenever the new master of Bethlehem, a knight, could not suppress his youthful impulses and did even one reckless act, even if he meant well, Bethlehem would be in turmoil for a while.

To outsiders, the young man would only appear cowardly. Only Philip, who had also been a lord, knew how difficult it was to appease every faction in the city in such a short time.

If he could continue like this, Philip felt that the future of Arrassa Road might not be so bleak.

Especially when he accompanied Baldwin IV on his tour, and saw that the young couple did not treat the tour as a hunting or amusement, but instead seriously received their vassals from various places, inspected the knights, and checked the armor, weapons, and horses in the storehouses, a glimmer of hope rose in his heart.

Looking at them was like seeing his younger self, before he was battered by the harsh realities of life, with a pure and passionate heart.

What Arazarus needs now is perhaps just such a king and minister. Even though Baldwin is still plagued by chronic illness, so what? If Baldwin can have an heir in the future, or if his sister, Princess Hiberna, can have a child with Abigail, then this young attendant will become the most powerful, most devout, and most trustworthy regent, as long as he does not change his original intention.

“You’ve been watching us,” Baldwin said. “Is there something you want to say to us?”

Of course, Philip couldn't say that looking at them reminded him of his past self and his present self, "Don't you find it boring?"

Although Bethlehem was a small city, its wealth and prosperity were almost on par with Alaska Road. However, after leaving Bethlehem, other small cities and fortresses were not worth mentioning.

Especially those small castles used only for military purposes, when you stand on the tower or the city wall and look out, you can only see an endless expanse of yellowish-brown sand, or gray-green fields, and a clear blue sky.

The knights lived in the castle and saw only vulgar maids and washerwomen. There were not many of them, and most of them were very ugly. They were either as thin as a rake or thick-shouldered and burly. Because of the hardships of life, they were not much different from men, and sometimes even more vulgar and nasty than men.

Merchants rarely visited these castles except on a few fixed days, because they did not fight with the Saracens or anyone else, which meant they had no spoils or loot and no chance of receiving ransom.

In that case, even if merchants come to the door, they won't be able to make many deals, it's meaningless, and they'll just be wasting food and water.

In castles like this, supplies are rationed, food and water are very precious, and of course, they cannot afford to support dwarfs and musicians for entertainment.

If the knights stationed here weren't armed monastic organizations like the Knights Templar or the Knights of the Good Faith, they could at least pass the time with alcohol. But for these religiously affiliated knightly orders, aside from prayer and training, the knights would find it difficult to find any other pastime.

Moreover, traveling between these fortresses and castles was difficult, with sandstorms, dry air, scorching days and freezing nights, and the constant dangers of getting lost, lack of water, and disease, not to mention that Baldwin IV was a patient.

Philip was even prepared for Baldwin to suddenly collapse and for them to have to immediately turn back to Arrasa Road, but the worst-case scenario did not happen in the end, and they made their way all the way to this place, Macab Castle of Barnis.

The castle did not originally belong to the Crusaders; it was built by the local Saracens. It was later captured and expanded by the Crusaders.

It occupies a crucial strategic position, situated above the Sea of ​​Galilee, with Damascus to the north, overlooking the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, and on a clear day, the Road to Arazars can also be seen.

The comforting thing is that the Templars here did not neglect their duties like the twelve fools who were hanged. Although the conditions in this castle were harsh, there were no major oversights, and some minor issues were not worth worrying about.

“How could that be,” Baldwin said. “I saw these things… Grand Master, everything here makes sense.”

Although César was always taking care of him, the objective conditions meant that the young king still suffered from chapped lips and rough cheeks, and his red spots were becoming more noticeable again. But his eyes were so bright and full of vitality, and his words were filled with an excitement and pride that could not be faked.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar couldn't help but feel a surge of genuine joy. However, remembering his duty, he reminded him, "Well then, we should head back tomorrow."

Banirs's Macab Castle was already the northernmost defensive line on the Arrassa Road. Beyond that lay Saracen territory, and besides, they had been out for three whole weeks. Whatever their reasons, they were preparing to turn back.

“You’re right,” Baldwin said, with some regret, but knowing it was indeed time to return to Holy Cross Castle.

Although Patriarch Heraclius was in the Holy City, he could not suppress everyone.

"Who is that?"

Cesar, who was walking over, suddenly asked.

Macab Castle was just a small castle with only one wall. They were standing on the arrow tower on one side of the city gate. Looking out from the crenellation, they could see a lightly armed knight galloping towards them. Philip squinted and noticed that the knight looked flustered, his cloak was askew and stained with blood. His expression immediately changed!
Before he could even ask a question, the knight shouted, "Enemy attack!"

(End of this chapter)