Episode 142
The English army, now separated from the Crusader camp, is heading north alone, while the French seem to be considering a retreat as well.
It’s astonishing. I never imagined this plan would succeed so spectacularly.
The news that such a formidable enemy has splintered so quickly brings immense joy, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
“To think we struggled so much against foes who crumbled this easily.”
What was all the hardship for until now?
What were we doing against an enemy so disunited and prone to internal conflict?
“Europeans have always been decent fighters, but they lack in other areas. We were too straightforward in our approach,” his son consoled him, and Tekish nodded slowly in agreement.
Europe has always been like that. Their cultural and academic levels are low, and their medical knowledge is even worse. Yet, they are obsessed with bloodshed and war.
Perhaps it was a mistake to fight them honestly in the area they excel at, as his son suggested.
“Maybe the Assassins weren’t extraordinarily brilliant in executing their plans. Perhaps the enemy was just that sloppy.”
“That could be true. We might have been judging them by our standards. Is that why you spared the Assassins?”
“We had no choice. They claimed to have a way to divide the Crusaders. And now that it’s proven true, it was the right decision not to kill them then. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”
The plan to kill Nur al-Din and Nasr was because they had outlived their usefulness. Keeping them alive would only increase the risks.
But if keeping them alive could effectively lead to the Crusaders’ division, what difference would it make to let them live a little longer?
He still didn’t think this decision was wrong.
However, his son, who would succeed him and rule Khwarezm, seemed to have a different opinion.
“I don’t mean to question your wise decision, Your Majesty. But could it be that the Assassins anticipated even this situation?”
“What do you mean?”
“Despite Europe’s weaknesses, they assassinated a key enemy figure. They must be meticulous and possess significant judgment.”
Of course. That’s why they planned to kill Nur al-Din and Nasr. If they were incompetent fools, they wouldn’t have resorted to assassination.
“I understand what you’re getting at. It’s not about keeping them alive. Once the war is over, they must be eliminated. There will be plenty of excuses to summon them once the war ends.”
The Assassins’ contributions are undeniable, so inviting them to a victory celebration wouldn’t raise suspicions. Then, they could eliminate as many key figures as possible.
“Your Majesty, my concern isn’t their danger. Initially, I didn’t have time to think about it, but doesn’t something feel off?”
“What feels off?”
“Everything seems to fit too perfectly. It’s as if they knew we were going to kill them and gave us a reason to spare them.”
“Are you suggesting they saw through our intentions?”
He hadn’t considered that possibility, but it seemed plausible upon reflection. In fact, it was the most logical hypothesis.
“If they killed Marshal, they would naturally be wary, so they took out an insurance policy. That makes more sense. But even so, I couldn’t kill them then. The results are evident now.”
“You’re right, Your Majesty. Sparing the Assassins to crush the Crusaders was the right choice. But the idea of easily killing them after the war could backfire on us.”
It was a sharp observation. If they persistently summoned the Assassins, it might make them feel threatened, increasing the likelihood of them turning against them.
But keeping them alive for such a reason felt unsettling.
“We may need to revise our plan to deal with them after the war. We need a clever and foolproof method they won’t see coming.”
“Understood. I’ll discuss it with the advisors once the war ends.”
For now, the immediate threat wasn’t the Assassins but the Crusaders in front of them. Both Tekish and Muhammad knew that dealing with the already divided Crusaders wouldn’t be too difficult.
Their eyes were already set beyond the immediate enemy, looking further ahead.
While Marshal and Richard led the English army north, pretending to leave, they were actually maneuvering to attack the enemy’s flank.
If asked whether the remaining Crusaders were united in purpose, the answer would be no.
“Duke of Burgundy, what do you make of all this?”
“Isn’t everything going perfectly?”
It’s not that he didn’t know. Who wouldn’t recognize that the Crusaders were in an ideal position?
As he pretended to lead his troops back to Antioch, King Philip II felt his mind grow increasingly tangled.
In hindsight, he regretted not bringing Count Dammartin, who had been left in Paris due to health issues.
“You know I accompanied Marshal to Antioch, right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I thought it was only you who cared for the Prophet’s safety.”
“That’s not the point. Do you know how all this came to be?”
“I only know it was the Prophet’s plan. Didn’t Your Majesty know?”
Philip II’s expression darkened slightly at the Duke of Burgundy’s words.
“If I did, I wouldn’t be so troubled.”
“Troubled? Everything seems to be going perfectly…”
“Think about it. Aren’t you curious? What means did they use to make those Khwarezm puppets dance to our tune?”
He had accompanied Marshal to uncover that secret, but unfortunately, he hadn’t gained much.
In hindsight, he should have discreetly left a spy instead of returning to camp so readily.
“The Prophet hears God’s voice, so he must see their moves clearly.”
“No, it’s different. If it were just predicting their moves, I would have accepted it. We’ve seen such miracles before.”
Others seemed to accept Marshal’s words without question, given his past actions. Richard and Heinrich VI were so enraptured by their faith that they couldn’t have a proper conversation.
It was indeed impressive. Philip II wasn’t denying Marshal’s powers.
Knowing things that even the greatest geniuses couldn’t fathom was undeniable.
Logically, it made no sense, but Marshal was indeed favored by God.
And as far as they knew, Marshal’s ability was to foresee future events through divine revelation.
He had predicted the deaths of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope, and the defeat at the Battle of Hattin.
He had even anticipated Philip’s plans to provoke a war between the Holy Roman Empire and England and his attempt to withdraw from the Crusade.
But the miracle Marshal performed this time was different from past examples.
“Foreseeing an assassination attempt on himself is plausible. Given Marshal’s abilities, it’s expected. But how do we interpret his manipulation of Khwarezm’s actions?”
“Didn’t you hear about the scholars in Syria risking their lives to assist Marshal?”
“Yes, it made sense, and I accepted it. But now, in hindsight, I wonder if that alone could have created this situation.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what’s puzzling you…”
It was frustrating, but Philip II didn’t scold the Duke.
It was inevitable. Almost all European rulers and nobles were completely devoted to the great Prophet Marshal.
In fact, the Duke might find this conversation uncomfortable, given the religious implications.
Even the most loyal vassal or relative might react differently when it comes to matters of faith.
“Let me clarify, I’m not doubting Marshal. His abilities are extraordinary, and he’s undoubtedly a great Prophet favored by God. But I wonder if there’s another ability he hasn’t revealed to us.”
“Ah, you mean he might have received another gift from God besides foresight.”
“Right. Or maybe it’s not necessarily a divine gift.”
Even just showcasing Marshall’s foresight would be enough to make most people acknowledge his power.
So, couldn’t he attract not only Islamic scholars but others as well?
For instance…
“What if the assassins who tried to kill Marshall were actually his subordinates from the start, or he captured them and turned them into his followers?”
That would explain how Marshall managed to manipulate the movements of Khwarezm so effortlessly.
It was all a staged act, and the unsuspecting Khwarezm folks had no choice but to be deceived.
However, upon hearing Philip II’s hypothesis, the Duke of Burgundy let out a dry laugh and shook his head.
“Your Majesty, that’s quite a leap. The assassins targeting the Prophet are said to be those infamous Assassins, who are known to be uncontrollable madmen, not even tamed by the Sultan or the Caliph.”
”…Yes, that’s true. Logically speaking…”
Even Philip II had to admit that his theory was a bit far-fetched.
No matter how bizarre the world might be, such an absurd scenario was unlikely to occur.
Deciding to ponder this matter later, Philip II cleared his mind of distractions.
“Let’s encircle the Khwarezm forces and annihilate them. We need to achieve a greater victory than the Holy Roman Empire in this battle.”
Shaking off his implausible musings, the French army began to complete the final encirclement to trap Khwarezm.