kingdom of nations

Chapter 284 Broken Wings (2) (Two chapters combined)

"There are some unpleasant rumors circulating outside..."

"What kind of rumors?" Chirac asked without turning his head.

The monk who reported the church renovations to him hesitated for a while before cautiously saying, "They say that the Count of Edessa accepted a bribe from the Damascus-Sarasans to grant their request for peace, and that he used past friendships to persuade the king to make the wrong decision."

"them?"

"Yes, they say the king has been too lenient with the pagans in the city. They should be grateful to have been spared, instead of still being able to enjoy their property and homes in Damascus, and even their slaves—their scholars should all be put to death. What difference is there between simply expelling and exiling them and releasing wolves back into the wilderness? Once they leave, they will bring other Saracens to take back Damascus."

“Nonsense.” Heraclius finally looked up at him with a merciful glance: “The people of Damascus are not without the strength to fight. There are still 65,000 people in Damascus—not including women and children. Rather than calling them merchants, craftsmen and scholars, they are 65,000 warriors.”

Although he was puzzled by the governor of Damascus's decisive surrender, was Damascus the only one that was exhausted and on the verge of collapse?
As the Patriarch of Arrassa, an old man, he did not set out with the army this time, but arrived in Damascus just before the siege began. He had followed Amalric I through several sieges and knew by the fifth week that they did not have much time left to waste.

Moreover, unlike the road to Arazars, Damascus's economic significance far outweighs its political and religious significance. While the scriptures do mention its straight street and saints have resided there briefly, it is not the road to Arazars, nor even Bethlehem or Nalsatha.

If the attacking side insists on turning such a city into a bloody hell on earth, then it is no longer a paradise on earth, but a worthless liability.

In 1099, Crusaders stormed the road to Arathi Basin for the first time. Although the priests claimed it was a just and glorious judgment by God, and that the Temple should be stained with the blood of pagans—which they did—the streets were littered with piles of heads, feet, and hands, and even women and children were not spared.

What was the result? The result was that for twenty years after most of the Crusaders left (they had only come to participate in the holy war), Arathi Basin was practically a ghost town. It wasn't until the reign of Baldwin II that the holy city finally showed some signs of recovery, and it wasn't until Amalric I ascended the throne that it became prosperous and bustling again...

If the Crusaders' only goal this time was to plunder, then of course they wouldn't care about these things.

But if the king of Arazarus intended to use this place as a fortress and financial center against the Saracen army, he would not have burned it to the ground.

It is fair to say that even if Amalric I were here, he would have granted the request of Damascus Governor Lazis.

Of course, Lazis's threat did have some effect.

If Damascus didn't have such value, like the small town of Busla before, even if the governor of Busla threatened to burn his city to the ground, Amalric I might have been pleased—at least at night, there would be far fewer torches in the camp.

Therefore, those who spread rumors were simply talking nonsense—no one with a modicum of sense would believe them—Baldwin was willing to believe Cesar, but the other ministers and lords would not blindly follow the advice of a young knight.

However, it must be said that the position of Governor of Damascus did indeed arouse jealousy in some people.

Unlike Baldwin's sense of pride, Chirac felt that something was amiss.

No matter how moving Laches's words or how humble his demeanor, he was a Saracen, and both Baldwin and Cesar were their enemies.

Chirac even considered that perhaps he could stay in Damascus temporarily, using the pretext of rebuilding St. John's Cathedral to clear away some unwanted spies and noise for the two children.

Besides the matter in Damascus, there was another issue: his previous letters to Rome had vanished without a trace.

These letters are not currently related to Damascus; they are mainly about the canonization of Amalric I.

There are two core requirements for canonization. One is a standard of morality. If the person proposed for canonization died as a martyr, then he should have been violently killed for his faith.

Amalric I was satisfied with this, as he was murdered by infidels during his expedition, and died on the battlefield after being seriously wounded.

Furthermore, beating someone requires a posthumous miracle, and canonization requires a second miracle. This is not difficult and does not even need to be fabricated. Amalric I should thank his son and the companions he chose for his son.

The first miracle was the resurrection of Manuel I, the Byzantine emperor.

At that time, the emperor had been presumed dead by all the priests present, and they even performed last rites for him until two young men came to his rescue.

Some say that the young knight of Bethlehem breathed a holy and pure breath into him, and the young king of Allazarus knelt beside him, praying to God and the saints, and an invisible thunderbolt struck his chest, expelling the demon from his body, so that he could return to the world.

There were many witnesses to this miracle, and it was an effortless feat for Chirac.

The second miracle was presented to everyone—the bridge that Cesare had recently built with three hundred knights and squires, and a thousand craftsmen.

The bridge spanned eight hundred feet of water and was wide enough for twelve fully armed knights to walk on. Horses and vehicles could also pass through without any problem, and all of this was done in such a short time. This was something that no human could possibly accomplish.

More than one knight claimed to have seen the saints they had perceived in the water. They worked together to erect sturdy pillars in the turbulent river, something they could never normally do.

The craftsmen who participated in the construction of the bridge asserted with certainty that they had never worked so easily and smoothly, and that no one was injured during the entire process, which was simply unimaginable.

In the past, let alone building bridges, even logging would result in deaths.

Moreover, unlike other sacred sites, this one is not fleeting; anyone who wants to see it can do so within a few years.

At that time, the requirements for canonization were not as stringent as they would be in later generations. It was not required that the canonization could only be proposed five years after the death of the deceased, nor was it required that it be reviewed and approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Heraclius's attitude was more like a notification than a request for permission. However, in any case, the Pope should have given a response.

His current indifference suggests either he is on his deathbed and unable to care about external matters, or he is still resentful that Cesar rejected his marriage proposal to his niece, which would be problematic.

After Cesar became the ruler of Cyprus, Heraclius used his previous connections to bribe and promise the cardinals of Rome, hoping they would not take advantage of his misfortune.

He thought that as long as he could hold out until the death of Alexander III (that devil who clung to power and refused to relinquish it), Cesare's predicament would be resolved. But now it seemed that Alexander III was determined to make things difficult for them. He could control the priests and monks of Arrassa and the surrounding area, but he had a hard time controlling the priests who had come with the lords of the Franks, the Apennines, and the Holy Roman Empire, especially the Romans and Genoese.

In fact, after the establishment of the Crusades, due to the chaotic situation in the Holy Land, there were quite a few Christian lords who had dealings with or even allied with the Sultan, Caliph, and even Emir. The fact that some people were able to make a big deal out of this was simply a matter of age.

If Baldwin were already the age Amalric I was when he ascended the throne—in his thirties, or even his twenties—the opposition hidden in the shadows wouldn't be so loud.

As for Cesar, his students and his heirs faced far more hostility than Baldwin. In any case, Baldwin grew up in Holy Cross Castle, and from the moment he was born, Baldwin II had told him that he would one day own Arathal, and those who grew up with him were all heirs to the surrounding territories.

Although Cesar also came from a distinguished family, he was still an outsider to those young people. What troubled Chirac was that, as if by some cruel twist of fate, the boy was rising to prominence much faster than he had imagined.

Before Amalric I's expedition to Egypt, he was thinking that all he could do was secure a fief for Cesar before Baldwin died, and for this, they were even prepared to sacrifice Cesar's marriage.

But now, Cesar already has three territories: Cyprus, Bethlehem, and Damascus. If he can truly control these three regions, Heraclius could even say that in the future, even the King of Arrassa and the three great knightly orders will have to rely on him.

Nowadays, few people compare him to David or Abigail, who are still waiting to inherit their fathers' lands, while he is already on equal footing with them, both on the battlefield and in the court.

-----

"So you're going to endure it?" Bohemond asked.

Raymond didn't speak. He looked out the window at the sky, which was a clear, blue expanse, with flocks of birds flying by, resting on white towers and golden domes, and patches of green dome interspersed among the gray-yellow buildings.

Even now, he is still somewhat dazed. They actually obtained Damascus so easily, and this ease makes him feel even more unbalanced. He also participated in the Second Crusade. They were forced to retreat before they could even step into the gates of Damascus. The two most devout and brave kings presided over that crusade, and their knights were all resolute and deeply favored.

But they did not receive God's attention at that time; He did not grant them victory, but left Damascus to the two young men.

“You didn’t believe those rumors too, did you?” He forced down his resentment. “We all know that’s impossible. Count Edessa is also a member of the Flanders family, a descendant of Godfrey, the guardian of the Holy Sepulchre. He would never do anything to tarnish his name and faith.”

"He hasn't converted; he's still a Christian. He just traded our interests for his power."

"It was His Majesty who brought Damascus to its knees, and him as well."

“Then those Saracens should hate him, not love him, and talk about kindness and tolerance,” Bohemond flicked his fingernails. “We can do that too, can’t we?”
Didn't we also swear an oath under the True Cross to refrain from plunder, rape, and murder? We also have to discipline our knights. In that case, how are we any different from Count Edessa?

How can the outcome be the same whether one is forced to do something under the true cross or does it according to one's heart?
Raymond thought to himself, but out of his own selfishness, he did not refute Bohemond.

“If it were my son, I mean Abigail, then it would be fine.” Bohemond’s voice became somewhat sharp—and even Raymond couldn’t help but show a look of sympathy.

In the previous siege battles, Abigail was practically carried up the siege tower by his father, Bohemond. He was clearly a chosen one and had the protection of a saint, but for some reason, he was always the first to be injured, the first to retreat, and the first to show cowardice. The knights with him looked down on him, and the enemies showed contempt, regarding him as a useless thing and an exploitable weakness. Even Bohemond felt despair, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and drag this burden into battle.

What if someone asked what the princess's husband was doing during the attack on Damascus? Could he still say he was sleeping in his tent?

He knew that some knights had already given Abigail the title of "Lord of the Bed," and if things continued like this, even if Hibil had a son who eventually became the King of Arazarus, those tyrannical lords and knights would not allow Abigail to truly hold real power.

Bohemond's decades of hard work have ultimately yielded nothing.

“You are different. Your son is David, David of Melsin, David of Tripoli. I have heard that William Marshall speaks highly of him, and he has gathered a group of like-minded knights around him. He is not the kind of cruel, pleasure-loving scoundrel, not to mention that he is also a blood relative of the King.”

"It's already quite far."

"It's not much different from César," Bohemond said somewhat insincerely.

Baldwin's mother and Cesar's father were siblings, while David was a step further apart, as his maternal grandmother was the daughter of Baldwin II and Raymond was a cousin of Amalric I.

Raymond might be able to demand Damascus from Baldwin, but regardless of whether Baldwin would agree, he is unlikely to abandon his Tripoli.

“You don’t think Damascus is the last one, do you?” Bohemond said casually. “Our king, though seriously ill and young, is a rare and great ruler.”

Today it's Damascus, but what about tomorrow? Perhaps Holmes, or even Apollo, or maybe Asia Minor, or even Egypt. He has ambitions that neither his father nor his grandfather ever had.

St. George also bestowed upon him an unstoppable spear, making him invincible on the battlefield.

I don't know how long this situation can last, who knows? No matter where, west, north, south..."

As Bohemond spoke, he gestured repeatedly, unfolding a beautiful picture for Raymond.

"Unfortunately, there is no one else here except him and Cesar. There might have been Hibil, his sister, but unfortunately, he has not loved her much since that incident, and even banished her and her husband to Nal'azar, and he seems to have no intention of calling them back to his side except when absolutely necessary."

I don't know what the future holds. If Hibler has a son, perhaps he'll take the child in and raise him—I used to hope for that, but now I don't really care anymore. You see, I have a son like this, and I almost want to slap myself for it—just thinking about all the stupid things he's done.”

Upon hearing this, Raymond genuinely wanted to advise his colleague and political enemy.

But at this point, he didn't know what to say. Abigail was truly a rare guy who couldn't be found to have even the slightest redeeming quality.

"Perhaps my original plan was wrong. They still don't have children, not counting the one that hasn't been born yet—and I, I'm old, and so are you, but your David is in his prime. Haven't you ever thought about that?"

Raymond's throat trembled slightly, but he still didn't speak.

“Your David also has the blood of the Flanders family.”

Well, even if you don't want to think about your son, you should at least think about yourself. Baldwin never trusted us. After all, we were the ones who persuaded Amalric I to abandon him, send him to a monastery, and remarry and have children. Although what we did wasn't exactly wrong, as the person involved, he must hate us to the core.

He doesn't trust us, so he promotes trustworthy people from his own side, and Cesar is his most important pawn. He uses him to win over others and oppress us old ministers. Haven't you noticed?
How long has it been since people have mentioned our names? We used to regard that young man as our junior—I'm referring to César—but now he's on par with us, and his sword is not pointed at our sons, but at us.

Once he becomes the governor of Damascus—though we didn’t have this position before, but if he really has Damascus, Cyprus, and Bethlehem which is so close to Arrassa Road, guess who he will hand over his crown to ten years later when Baldwin finally collapses and lies in bed?

Should it be given to the sons of Hibern and Abigail?
Or should I give it to you, or to David?

Will he? He won't, he'll only…

"Enough, stop talking! These things will happen a long time from now..."

"How do you know so long later? Do you think Amalric I really guessed that he would go to see God in his forties? If so, he wouldn't have rushed to knight his son, give Bethlehem to his servants, appoint you as regent, and arrange the marriage between my son Abigail and Princess Hebil."

How ridiculous! He only gave you less than two years, and this marriage was just to push me out and fight you. He wanted his son Baldwin to get through this transition safely and smoothly seize power.

He succeeded, didn't he? If we had let things continue like this without taking any action…

"How do you intend to quell this? Rebellion? I will not do that, Bohemond. We have a king who even the first Godfrey might not be able to compare to. Although he has some annoying aspects, you have to admit that he is humble and tolerant enough."

"If it were Amalric I, we probably wouldn't be as relaxed as we are now."

"Unfortunately, I have no intention of eating his leftovers. We deserve the best, at least the best except for the king."

"But we face only one obstacle: do you know that Heraclius is currently preparing to canonize Amalric I and to publicize two miracles that occurred after his death?"

Bohemond leaned back, folding his hands over his stomach and casually placing his feet on the table. “I know, damn it—both of those holy sites are related to the Earl of Edessa. He has the king’s favor, the people’s support, the knights’ loyalty, and the patriarch’s patronage. His greatest shortcoming, his birth, has also been proven—even if Baldwin didn’t choose him in the end, he could still crown himself.”

"What other way can we bring him down?" Raymond also felt a pang of regret. Even after Amalric I's death, they had opportunities to take action, but he was always hesitant and dragged it out until now.

There's always a way.

Besides, do you think he can still garner so much goodwill now? Cyprus is one thing, Bethlehem is barely acceptable. But Damascus—I don't even know what those Saracens are thinking. Perhaps they think the same way we do: in this world, it's not just swords that can kill.

During the Holy Tribunal, a priest even choked to death on bread with salt added.

"You mean—they, those Saracens?"

"Why not? This method might not work on someone else. Most people have little virtue when it comes to infidels, but the Earl of Edessa's reputation comes more from the Saracens, from Sultan Nur ad-Din of Syria to Sultan Saladin of Egypt—his friendship with the Saracens is truly profound."

Bohemond mocked maliciously, "I don't really believe that someone who can become Sultan would allow an enemy to grow unchecked because of personal preference."

"Are you saying he can't get any real help from those Saracens?"

"That's how it always was. They just took advantage of the frivolity and recklessness of young people. Look at Damascus now. If it were anyone else, the Saracens here wouldn't be living in such peace. They even set up surveillance teams. Can you believe it? Sacrificing the interests of Christians for the sake of pagans."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

David was also a member of the inspection team, and Raymond was indeed close to being persuaded by his son.

"Then I'll say it again: can't we do this kind of thing?"
Even if we can't do it, can't David? Even if it were Abigail, if I gave him a few more whacks, he would obediently do as I say.

My worry is that in the end we'll still be doing all the work for someone else.

I don’t believe there are any truly good people. Even a monk who has spent fifty years in asceticism in the desert, isn’t he praying for God’s mercy, hoping to be closer to heaven than anyone else in the world?

No matter how devout, pure, or diligent he is, he always has a purpose—and this purpose is often greater than what others seek.

"You think Count Edsa is that kind of person too."

"Why not? Since he appeared on Arrasa Road, he hasn't lost money on any of his deals. It'll be time for him to collect his last profit soon."

Raymond, we either sit and wait to die, or we have to take action.

Have you already taken action?

"You're starting to get cunning, and it seems you've learned your lesson. Yes, I've already taken action; I've written two letters, one to Pope Alexander III in Rome, and the other to Emperor Manuel I of Constantinople."

Alexander III?

This is a holy place, and there are countless people who do not submit to the Roman Catholic Church. Moreover, Alexander III is already old and frail, and he no longer believes that this old man can do anything. Raymond shook his head uninterestedly.

"As for Manuel I... César was the man who saved him, and he seemed to value César highly, marrying his daughter to him and giving Cyprus as a dowry."

“His son, oh no, his illegitimate son Prince Alexius, was beheaded by Cesar, though the reason was that he instigated a rebellion in Cyprus,” Bohemond said with a grin. “Don’t make that face, do you think we don’t know the reason?”

How so? Raymond's father had fought many battles with his illegitimate uncle, and even sought help from Nur ad-Din and Unur, who was then the governor of Damascus—making peace with his former enemy to ask them to deal with his illegitimate uncle. Surprisingly, this alliance was actually fulfilled.

This shows that the struggle for inheritance rights and territory has always been bloody and naked, without regard to any morality, law or belief.

Before the assassination attempt on the bride Anna, some might have admired César's good fortune, but after the incident, anyone with a modicum of intelligence knew that Manuel I was repaying kindness with enmity and shifting the blame elsewhere.

For him, the best outcome would be for the Crusaders and his son to fight to a standstill in Cyprus, after which he could take the opportunity to declare the marriage invalid and effortlessly regain a clean Cyprus. However, things did not turn out as he wished.

“Forget it, it won’t do us any good.” Manuel’s goal, of course, was to get back the Cyprus he had inadvertently lost.

David was the lord of Mersin. Without the protection of Cyprus, Mersin, located between Armenia and Byzantium, would become dangerous, Christian maritime power and trade would be affected, and the pilgrimage route might even be interrupted.

Bohemond said only one sentence: "He is willing to exchange half a million gold coins for Cyprus, and Sifliche (a port city near Mersin) for your loyalty."

"What about you?"

"I might get a city in Cyprus."

What can Alexander III give us?

"Well, would you like the Pope's blessing?" Bohemond joked, then sighed, "Unfortunately, I only have one son."

"You mean David should marry his illegitimate daughter?"

"This would be a good deal."

"He himself doesn't know when he will go to meet God, and the marriage of the Pope's illegitimate daughter is worthless."

"Then Damascus? Even... the throne of King Alaszalu?"

"Baldwin is still alive; he has at least another decade or so to live."

"Who knows? Accidents can happen at any time."

"You're crazy."

"No, on the contrary, I am very rational. I am proposing reconciliation with you, and I have even sacrificed my own son for this."

Yes, I admit the reputation of the Spear and Shield of the Holy City is indeed compelling, but don't you know David won't become the Sword of the Holy City? Just as you don't know he won't be a good king?

Bohemond kept laughing as he said this, and Raymond laughed too, first with a slight smile, then with a gentle smile, and finally with a hearty laugh. Then he stopped laughing, stood up, and said, "No, no, I never knew you were such a funny person. But I'm sorry, I have to get to work. I'm sure you have a lot of work to do too, since we have Damascus."

He turned to the side, trying to slip past Bohemond, but Bohemond grabbed his sleeve. The other man was so strong that he almost fell backward. Raymond reached out and gripped the edge of the table tightly, without uttering a sound. But Bohemond, who had known him for decades, could easily see what he was thinking.

He suddenly jumped up, grabbed Raymond by the neck, and pushed him toward the window: "Look down."

What are you looking at? This is the Saracen castle, now belonging to the new victors. They hear the horns sound, the gates open, and the king and Count Edessa are entering side by side, dismounting with the help of their retinue.

The knights in the courtyard came up to them and bowed, including Sir William Marshall and Raymond's son David.

Seeing this scene, Raymond couldn't help but tremble. A cold voice rang out behind him: "Look, if you are still so cowardly, this scene will be repeated thousands of times in the last countless days and nights. Can you bear it? If you can bear it, you can walk out of here and remain silent for the sake of God and our past relationship. Say nothing."

I'm definitely going to do it. I can't stand having this bastard from who-knows-where climb all over me. Even if it costs me my life, I don't care. Whatever charges they give me, murder or treason, I'm going to fight to the death.

As for you… you can wait until that little slave wears the crown before you bow and scrape before him, and of course, your son David, and David’s children.”

(End of this chapter)