kingdom of nations

Chapter 162 Longinus
“They’ll go back and spread the word that you got 100,000 gold coins from them for nothing,” Kamal said.

"It seems they know they are worthless."

Saladin's words made Kamal laugh out loud. He then walked to the box and began to look through the gold coins inside. After a moment, he let out a disdainful chuckle: "No wonder they only said 100,000 gold coins." He clutched a handful of gold coins in his hand; these were either Tripoli's or Antioch's.

In Arrassa and the surrounding areas, and even in Syria and Egypt, people preferred to use Roman gold coins. These Roman gold coins did not refer to the long-extinct Western Roman Empire, but rather to the gold coins minted by the Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire.

The gold coins they minted, measured in modern units of weight, each weighed approximately four grams and contained about 85% pure gold. What's most reassuring is that this figure has remained largely unchanged for decades.

However, the right to mint coins has always been decentralized to each king and lord. After the Crusaders arrived in Arathi Basin, they also began to mint coins separately. Then, the Saracen sultans and caliphs also had their own craftsmen and mints.

Therefore, the gold coins circulating in the market are often of varying quality. The smallest gold coins may weigh less than one gram each, while the largest gold coins weigh only eight or nine grams. The pure gold content also varies, and the names are so complicated that they can make an ordinary person dizzy—and these are just gold coins. This is why the Isaacs were able to make a fortune in the business of exchanging money.

These cunning Isaacs brought only the smallest and most valuable Antiochian gold coins, minted after Grand Duke Bohemond of Antioch returned to the kingdom. However, Antioch had by then been plunged into poverty and devastation by his mother and stepfather. His mother was still raising money to ransom his stepfather—though this effort was ultimately thwarted by the knights of Antioch.
However, Antiochus did not have much gold at the time, and Bohemond was eager to claim legitimacy, so when he ascended the throne, he minted as many gold coins as possible with his portrait on them.

These gold coins were the smallest and thinnest Kamal had ever seen, so thin that the portraits on them were almost invisible. He held them in his hand for a while, then disdainfully tossed them back into the box.

Although it is said to contain 100,000 gold coins, its actual value is only one-quarter or one-fifth of the claimed amount, and there are many damaged coins, that is, gold coins that have been worn or trimmed.

The Isaacs often did this: they would cut off a portion of a gold coin and then continue to circulate the coin to others at its original value, while the cut-off fragments would be recast, polished, and become their property.

This is what makes the Isaacs so puzzling: since they were already determined to take this gamble, why didn't they go all the way?

Did they really think that by shouting out 100,000 gold coins, someone like Saladin would be so infatuated that he would let them pass without any inspection?
Even if Saladin was the kind of greedy, unscrupulous man, he would still fly into a rage and teach them a lesson when he discovered the goods didn't match the description.

But they'll take the opportunity to play their little tricks.

Yes, that's how the Isaacs are; they always see themselves as the only wise men in the world, and everyone else as fools. Saladin wasn't too angry; why bother with a pack of homeless stray dogs? He kept them around to see Cesare's abilities; he hadn't yet witnessed the boy's potential as a ruler.

Will he indulge these Isaacs, or strictly control them, or even hang them?
Cesar was so wise and kind, but Saladin had never seen a lord who could completely rid himself of the Isaacs and keep a city running solely on himself and his people.

After all, the Isaacs have their own survival "wisdom" in managing things to this day. Although they would exploit, expel, or use even more cruel and despicable means against useless "infidels" or even their own kind.

But on the surface, they always put on a tolerant attitude. For example, those who believe in the religion of Isaac are all Isaacs; those who are born to Isaac women are also Isaacs; and those who become sons-in-law of Isaacs are even more Isaacs.

The slogan that once you become an Isaac, you should help every Isaac and receive help from every Isaac sounds wonderful to unsuspecting outsiders, especially the poor and helpless refugees.

As a result, they gathered a large group of people around them, so even though they were hated, looked down upon, and "persecuted" everywhere, they were always able to reappear in various places without anyone noticing.

There may be no Isaacs in one city, but there will definitely be Isaacs in another city.

When the Isaacs arrived in a new place, they would definitely seek out other Isaacs rather than dealing with Christians or Saracens first. Furthermore, some of the trades the Isaacs engaged in were indeed ones that neither of these groups wanted to handle.

Every city will have poor people, and even without borrowing, some will need to exchange money. Without the Isaacs, who will lend them money and exchange it?

Moreover, the Isaacs were well-informed—like these guys from Bethlehem, whose sources of information were undoubtedly their own kind in Damascus—they must have been keeping an eye on the war outside the city and trying to find out the identities of the prisoners.

Upon learning that one of the Christian knights was the master of Bethlehem, they immediately sent word to the Isaacs of Bethlehem—they were unaware of Saladin's connection to Cesare, and simply thought they had found a good opportunity for opportunism.

Although Saladin entered Damascus, he remained an observer at Kamal's urging and had no intention of taking Damascus for the time being. If he did, the other Fatah groups around him would surely attack him.

If he doesn't want to get bogged down in the Syrian quagmire right now, he'll eventually have to leave.

But before leaving, he glanced at the chest of gold coins and ordered, “Bring out those Isaacs who trade information and hang them outside the city walls.” Kamal accepted the order.

Given the abilities of this former Sultan's minister, those Isaacs will likely never see the sun rise again.

When Lego and the other Isaacs were driven out of Damascus, they lost their mules, 100,000 gold coins, their fine silk robes, their rings, belts, necklaces... even their shoes. Everything that Saladin's soldiers considered valuable was taken away.

They walked along the road in a pitiful state, wearing only a thin linen robe, but Saladin's soldiers did not remove the small caps from their heads, thus losing the opportunity to disguise themselves as Christians. Christians and Saracens passing by immediately avoided them with disgust, as if they carried the plague or excrement.

Lego was about to loudly denounce Saladin's greed and ruthlessness, but as soon as he looked up, he saw the dozen or so corpses hanging on the city wall. Even from a distance, he could still feel them staring at him with their white eyes. He recognized these faces; they were Isaac's merchants and their sages from this city.

Out of love for their fellow people, as soon as they discovered that Cesar, the Knight of Bethlehem, had become Saladin's prisoner, they immediately sent a message urging him to come to Damascus as soon as possible.

Saladin's prediction was correct. If it were any other lord, his people would not feel guilty even if they gave him all their money, food, or even their lives.

But anyone can see what kind of person César is.

Even when he was a lowly servant struggling to make ends meet, he distributed a vast fortune—a fortune that would move even a count—to all the poor people in Arrassa.

He remained steadfastly by the side of a leper because he was grateful for the care and love shown to him by Amalric I and Baldwin IV. In order to repay this kindness, he even lost several opportunities that others would have considered once in a century.

Interestingly, after his origins were proven, people changed their tune. They no longer said that the king should not have an unidentified servant of slave origin. Instead, they said that the Earl of Edessa's only heir should not be left with a leper.

This also falls under the category of sowing discord, yet it still garnered considerable support.

Many of these people were the children and their parents who had once surrounded Baldwin IV. Although they had now become knights and "chosen ones," their betrayal of their master, even if it could be explained—for example, lepers were indeed considered by the Church to have been "punished by God"—remained an indelible and vivid stain on their resumes.

Cesar's existence was like a blank sheet of paper that highlighted the stain, making them appear even more wretched. But if Cesar had also left Baldwin IV, their mistakes would no longer have been constantly remembered.

Would Cesar do that? He wouldn't; their despicable behavior is more like a helpless struggle.

After several encounters with this little saint, Le Guau discovered that his good reputation was not intentionally fabricated; he was indeed a good person.

He was quick-witted and didn't expect to receive the same reward as Amalric I. Although they had been rewarded for their previous actions (Nurdin's), he still felt that his family's influence in Bethlehem was not significant enough.

Lego even planned to marry his daughter, niece, or grandniece to a knight of Bethlehem, just like Jacques. Even though César did not openly betray his original faith, in the hearts of the Isaacs, he was an Isaac.

Think about it again, the kinship between Cesar and King Arazarus, who knows, they might have a King Isaac in the future.

Now that his ambitions were shattered, Isaac swallowed his curses and condemnations and moved on. Fortunately, Syria was no longer so cold, and he trudged along with difficulty.

His soles, long since worn out from a life of luxury, were no longer thick and were numb; every grain of sand and stone caused him immense pain.

Just then, a group of people came rushing towards them. His companions immediately pulled him to the side of the road and made him crawl down. Their attire clearly indicated that they were exiled Isaacs. Who knew if disturbing the riders would result in a whipping?
They are penniless now and cannot withstand the pain and high fever brought by this whip.

Fortunately, the Christian knights were indeed preoccupied. They didn't even notice the group of Isaacs crawling by the roadside. They went straight to the city gate, presented their identification and passes, and after being informed, were quickly brought before Saladin.

This time it was finally the messenger from Arazari.

“The leader of the mission is just a knight,” Kamal whispered.

Saladin allowed him to stay by his side, and they spent time together, experiencing occasional friction—a necessary adjustment period for the ruler and his subject. Fortunately, Saladin was not a demanding person, and Kamal was also pragmatic; they became familiar with each other much faster than they had expected.

Kamal thought Saladin was a frank and just monarch (the former being more rare than the latter), while Saladin thought Kamal was an understanding minister. Although Kamal often joked that he was just a prisoner, the power he held in Damascus had already subtly surpassed that of his puppet friend.

Kamal was taken aback to find that the leader of the Arrasar mission was merely a dark-skinned, thin, and tall knight without a fief or surname.

Given the importance that King Baldwin IV of Arrassal placed on Cesare, even if he did not come in person, he should have sent a Grand Duke or Earl.

“Longinus?” Saladin asked.

Longinus was surprised when he saw the Saracen man clearly. He remembered Saladin, of course. Although Saladin had not given his name, he had saved Saladin's life. Otherwise, he would have died at the hands of several Christian knights who were also "chosen".

He could never have imagined that the despicable man who had been cursed and condemned countless times by Christians, who had betrayed his monarch and faith (referring to his transformation from a general under Nur ad-Din to the Grand Vizier of Caliph al-Atid), was actually the Saracen who had once killed sinners and saved him under the moonlight.

Although Cesare already knew that it was Saladin who had saved Longinus outside the cathedral, after some thought, he decided not to tell Longinus for the time being. He was unsure how Longinus would react, and as his closest attendant, Longinus, who was unwilling to reclaim his name, was weak in power. Many people would try to find a way to break him down by targeting him.

Ultimately, this is still a matter between him and Saladin. Although Saladin would have rescued Longinus in the same way given his past actions, Saladin's identity is so sensitive that it's hard to say that someone wouldn't use this to stir up trouble.

What snapped Longinus out of his shock was the guard's low reprimand. He knelt down, his heart churning with turmoil.

He heard the man above speaking casually and with a smile about his identity. “He is Longinus,” Saladin said to Camar. “He followed Cesare when he was still a lowly squire. People called him a slave’s slave, but he didn’t care. He was a sharp-eyed and clear-headed man.”

Saladin praised him, saying, "Moreover, he is steadfast in his mind and will not be swayed by the gossip of others. Now I understand why King Baldwin IV of Arazarus summoned him; his ministers may not necessarily want Cesar to return to Arazarus."

Saladin's familiarity with the subject filled Longinus with a chilling sense of dread, mixed with disbelief and ecstasy.

Before he set off on the king's orders, some people were saying that it was just a Saracen trap. How could the Saracens treat a group of Christians so kindly? Even if he had treated the dead Sultan Nur ad-Din well, weren't there any other kind Christian knights who treated Saracen prisoners well?
They treated a living person kindly, not a dead one.

Indeed, Christians viewed the Saracens in a completely different way than the Saracens viewed Christians. They were more critical and narrow-minded. Even though they valued the Last Sacrament so highly, they did not believe that the Saracens would repay Cesar's good deed with such great generosity.

Not to mention that Saladin was not Nur ad-Din's son; he had even betrayed Nur ad-Din before this.

This rumor was rampant, and Baldwin IV knew their intentions. Part of it was indeed out of jealousy, but many were worried that he would go to Damascus in person out of concern for César's safety.

People did have concerns about his accession to the throne, but those concerns disappeared after the great victory at the Battle of Galilee.

They hoped he could become another Amalric I or even Saint George, and bring them more hope and victory in the years to come—as mentioned before, a short lifespan is not a big disadvantage for a king, there are still more than ten years left, aren't there?

But what if he risked his life for Cesare, and what if that Saracen shamelessly detained him? Wouldn't they have to pay a ransom for the king? Or even worse, if he were executed by the Saracens—that would be a major blow to the Crusaders and the entire Christian nation.

But they also knew how stubborn and arrogant this young king was.

If it weren't for Queen Mother Maria's dissuasion, Patriarch Heraclius's subtle persuasion, and the fact that Count Josephine III of Edessa was still alive—he might have already handed over an important position, such as the position of Grand Master, to Cesare.

This is indeed a position that should be held by a blood relative or close confidant of the king. But the problem is, a sixteen-year-old king is already astonishing enough, so why would they need a sixteen-year-old chief minister?

This was hard for the ministers, who were nearing fifty, to accept, especially Count Raymond of Tripoli and Grand Duke Bohemond of Antioch.

Hearing that Cesare had been captured, they were even prepared to gladly accept the king's command if he wanted to send them. However, after a night of deliberation, King Arrassa did not say that he would go to Damascus in person (which relieved many people), nor did he appoint any influential noble as the leader of the delegation. Instead, he appointed Longinus, a knight who was acting as the knight of Bethlehem in charge of the city, to lead a group of knights to Damascus immediately.

As for the enormous power the king granted him—almost to the point that he could make decisions and act on his behalf—that was a minor matter.

The adults had no reason to refuse, and could only watch helplessly as the anxious Longinus accepted the power, seal, and documents bestowed by the king without hesitation, and set off with his knights.

Before Longinus went in and saw the man, he was worried that it might really be a trap. He was not afraid of death, but he was worried that if the Saracens found out that their treacherous plot had failed, they would vent their anger on his master.

He had nearly 300,000 gold coins in his possession, as well as a promise made by King Arrasal. Don't forget, although Sultan Nur ad-Din's body had been returned, there were still several emirs and fatahs captured in the Battle of the Sea of ​​Galilee.

They were also waiting in the castle of Arrasal to be redeemed by their own people or king, but now Apollo was in complete chaos and no one cared about them. But if they could be exchanged for Cesar, Baldwin would not hesitate at all.

But the atmosphere in the hall was not as tense and sinister as Longinus had imagined, especially when facing Saladin, this Saracen—who, before Longinus knew his identity, had saved a Saracen girl, killed a dangerous enemy for him, and rescued him from that dry well.

Longinus then understood why Cesar had remained silent after he had spoken of this matter.

It turns out that this person already knew Cesar, and judging from his demeanor and tone, they had some dealings with each other. In particular, the other person's words made it seem as if he regarded Cesar as a cute junior.

He stood there, frozen, and began to feel grateful that Saladin had only allowed him to have an audience alone, and that there were no other people with him. Although the Christian knights were loyal to the king, not all of them were necessarily willing to vouch for Cesare.

If they knew this, it's hard to say they wouldn't make wild guesses upon returning, using it as ammunition to attack Cesar.

“What you fear will not happen,” Saladin said calmly, smiling as he looked into Longinus’s anxious and uncertain eyes. “Now you can go and see your master. He has been awake, but then fell asleep again, and then woke up two or three more times—his awakenings are gradually becoming longer, but he is still somewhat weak.”

Go and talk to him. He might not recover quickly enough to return to Arazari with you, but at least it will put your mind at ease. He also needs someone familiar to take care of him.

Longinus was deeply grateful. He did not take out the things Baldwin IV had given him. This Saracen had the same fine qualities as his master, and the words that came out of his mouth would not be much false, much less easily ignored or discarded in the future.

He could trust him, so he simply bowed deeply to Saladin with gratitude and left the room, where servants naturally led him to Cesare.

"Do you know him personally, or are you intimately familiar with everyone around César?"

It was unusual for Kamal to glance sideways at his future king, even though he knew he shouldn't say it, but in his opinion, Saladin's behavior was indeed somewhat... somewhat sleazy.

Saladin stretched his back with amusement. He did indeed remember Longinus; after all, Longinus's face was quite conspicuous and impressive among the many knights.

But what ultimately impressed him about the squire was the good deed he had performed outside the cathedral in Gasarafa, perhaps due to Cesare's teachings or simply the influence of what he had seen and heard. The knight's actions had indeed surprised him.

Kamal listened to Saladin's account and nodded repeatedly. They acknowledged that while there might be respectable individuals among the Crusaders, there were far more despicable bullies and traitors.

At that time, Longinus was just a wandering knight, and his master was just an ordinary squire who had not yet become a knight, not to mention that he did not know that he had been chosen.

Despite his frustration and setbacks, he still managed to muster the courage to save a Saracen girl and stand up for her against three chosen knights. This courage was truly commendable, and even though he was a Christian, he could still have a place in the Sultan's court.

“A lion will not be accompanied by a hyena, nor will a swan soar alongside a vulture,” Kamal said sincerely, but then he sighed, for he understood why Saladin had released Cesar back to Arrasar.

If he were to take Cesar away now, whether in Egypt or Al-Apollo, Cesar would not be willing to submit; he might even harbor resentment and hatred. Plunder and shelter are two completely different concepts.

This noble-minded child was destined not to survive in such a corrupt world. "Saladin, what if he had perished amidst those intrigues and schemes?"

Saladin looked at Kamal, still smiling, but the cold glint in his eyes seemed to say it all.

(End of this chapter)