Episode 127
Timur, the commander of the special forces, had no doubts about the success of the current operation.
Victory was already a given; the real question was how to amplify it. How could they maximize the propaganda effect and infuriate the Crusaders to the greatest extent?
This was why he hadn’t rushed the assault on the fortress.
After all, the main Crusader forces were being held at bay by Muhammad’s main army, so there was no need to hurry.
In fact, it was crucial to avoid unnecessary losses by trying to capture the fortress too quickly.
Thus, Timur began by slowly driving the enemy out from the outskirts of the city, allowing looting and arson.
This was to boost his troops’ morale and instill fear in the enemy.
Though the enemy resisted more stubbornly than expected, their efforts were ultimately futile and even pitiful.
According to his calculations, they would soon capture the area with minimal losses.
Then, they could parade the prisoners back to the main camp in triumph.
At least, that was the plan…
“What the hell is going on? How many of them are there that our lines are breaking?”
“The enemy knights have breached our rear. There are about two to three hundred of them…”
“Two hundred? Are you joking? How did two hundred men break through to the fortress against our twenty thousand?”
Before he could reprimand his subordinates for their incompetence, Timur was struck by a more pressing question.
What kind of madman would charge a force of twenty thousand with just two hundred cavalry?
“Who is their leader? Which country’s knights are launching this suicidal attack? Are they out of their minds?”
“It seems…”
Timur didn’t have to wait long to see the answer with his own eyes.
Above the fortress, the Crusader flag fluttered alongside the banner announcing the arrival of the King of England.
“The King of England… So, it’s Richard?”
Before the war, Khwarezm had thoroughly researched the kings of each nation.
Each one was a formidable ruler, and Khwarezm had meticulously categorized their traits.
The Holy Roman Emperor, Heinrich VI, was known for his formidable military might.
The King of France, Philip II, was well-regarded and had many allies among the nobility.
Richard, on the other hand, was rumored to be so brave that no one in Europe was unaware of his reputation.
Recent intelligence even suggested he had crushed the Bulgarian army in a conflict with the Byzantine Empire.
‘Muhammad had asked for detailed information on him, and now I see why… But why is the King of England here?’
It was infuriating to gauge the enemy’s strength at the cost of his soldiers’ lives, but for now, all Timur could do was watch.
Of course, it wasn’t just Richard who was strong.
The elite knights following him were also demonstrating incredible breakthrough power.
It was just that Richard’s monstrous feats overshadowed them.
As Richard hacked through the Islamic soldiers with his axe, the knights followed, mercilessly wielding their spears and axes.
Thud! Crack! Crunch!
From afar, Timur watched as his troops were mercilessly cut down.
Surrounded by enemies, the monster seemed unfazed.
If anything, having enemies all around seemed to make it easier for him to swing his weapon with abandon.
Wherever he went, a path of slaughter opened up.
“General! What should we do?”
“The soldiers attacking the fortress are panicking.”
“The enemy king’s presence here is an opportunity. We should tighten the siege and attack until they weaken…”
Indeed.
One of the enemy kings was here.
That was the main reason Timur’s mind was in turmoil.
Logically, this shouldn’t happen.
While some rulers did lead from the front, charging recklessly into battle was not how a king should behave.
So, was Richard simply reckless and unable to discern the situation?
It’s possible.
But would the other two kings allow such recklessness?
If Richard were to die recklessly, it would be a huge loss for the Crusaders.
Logically, even if Richard wanted to charge in, Heinrich VI and Philip II should have stopped him.
This meant Richard’s charge with such a small force had the tacit approval of the other Crusaders.
‘There must be more to this. If I act rashly, it could lead to disaster…’
While Timur was lost in thought, Richard continued his rampage.
Even commanders confident in their martial skills couldn’t stop him.
One commander even lost his head, spear and all, trying to block him.
At this rate, the twenty thousand strong army would be pushed back by just two hundred men.
Just as Timur was about to make a decision, a subordinate rushed over, pointing to the rear.
“General! It seems additional enemy forces have arrived! A large number of cavalry is approaching!”
”…Of course. They wouldn’t charge in with just that force unless they were insane.”
Looking over, Timur saw a massive dust cloud approaching from afar.
Though the distance made it hard to see clearly, the size suggested a force of two to three thousand.
If they were all well-armed knights, it would be difficult to hold them off with the current forces.
‘If I had tried to capture Richard, the additional forces would have hit us from behind. They had a plan all along.’
Richard’s overwhelming power had momentarily clouded Timur’s judgment, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The operation relied on Muhammad’s main force holding the enemy in place.
It was frustrating to think they hadn’t noticed thousands of knights slipping away.
Though it was disappointing, staying and suffering greater losses could jeopardize future battles.
Having made his decision, Timur turned his horse around with a heavy sigh.
“Relay the order to the troops! Withdraw while maintaining formation!”
“Retreat! Retreat!”
“Maintain formation as you fall back!”
As Timur organized the retreat, he couldn’t help but notice Richard’s demonic figure, still cutting down his men.
“That devil… He’s no ordinary man. He must be a Shaitan.”
There was a Shaitan incarnate among the enemy, one they couldn’t face head-on.
Though it was a mere consolation, knowing this was a small victory.
Still half-dazed, Timur rode away without looking back.
His subordinates, equally stunned, rode silently beside him.
Thinking his own expression must be just as foolish, Timur felt a pang of melancholy.
“Whoa! The Muslims are retreating!”
“We’ve won!”
“Long live the Crusaders! Long live King Richard! Praise the Prophet!”
With just 500 cavalry, they had driven away an army of over twenty thousand—a miraculous victory.
The defenders, who had watched the battle with bated breath, emerged from the fortress, tears of joy in their eyes, to greet Richard.
Honestly, I expected some success, but not to this extent.
Later, Richard told me the enemy must have been convinced that the King of England wouldn’t charge into their midst without a backup plan.
That suspicion made the simple dust-raising ruse work perfectly.
It was a complete tactical victory, not just in terms of force but also in understanding the enemy commander’s psychology.
My faith in Richard grew even stronger.
Even Fatima, who had been critical, was now silent, looking at Richard and his weapon in awe.
She must be wondering if he was the same person.
The enemy had planned to capture the fortress and take prisoners to boost their morale, but that plan ended in failure.
Since they had put so much effort into it, it seemed only fair to use their plan for ourselves.
I walked among the defenders, meeting their eyes and patting their shoulders.
“This miraculous victory was possible because you all held firm.”
“We believed you would come. That’s why we fought with all our might.”
“Indeed. That faith! The Lord rejoices in that faith and has granted us this miraculous victory. Normally, such a thing would be impossible.”
“How on earth did His Majesty Richard manage to charge into the midst of thousands of enemies with just 200 knights? It’s because we had an unwavering belief in our inevitable victory!”
“Long live King Richard!”
“Long live the Crusaders!”
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, and Richard, standing beside me, waved with a satisfied smile.
“You all are the heroes who led us to victory in our first battle against the Islamic forces. I hope you’ll return with me to the camp and share today’s events with everyone. Your words will be an irreplaceable source of courage for our allies.”
“Of course! We’ll do as you say, Prophet.”
No man can resist recounting tales of his military exploits, especially when he’s been part of a victory that will go down in history.
It might be hard to believe, but with so many witnesses and the fact that the Islamic forces fled, there’s no one who can deny it.
Who else is eager to see the look on Tekish’s face when he hears about the Crusaders’ morale soaring to the skies?
I’ll raise my hand first.