Episode 155

In most wars, the side that achieves an overwhelming victory is usually caught up in joy and euphoria, or too busy calculating the spoils to think of anything else.

But this Crusade was a perfect exception.

By all rights, it should have been celebrated as one of the greatest victories in the history of the Crusades, a triumph that would have brought unparalleled glory.

Though they hadn’t reclaimed Jerusalem, the Crusade’s goal from the start wasn’t the recapture of the Holy Land but the destruction of the forces opposing Christianity. In that sense, they had achieved everything they set out to do by crushing the Khwarazmian Empire, which had boasted of being the strongest Islamic power.

Constantinople was in a frenzy of joy, and Rome trembled with the thrill of this monumental victory.

It was a moment when the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches truly became one.

All that remained was to bring Khwarazm to its knees diplomatically and officially declare the Crusade’s great victory.

The Byzantine Empire would regain its former glory, and the Roman Papacy could finally erase the humiliation of losing Jerusalem.

What the Islamic world thought was of little concern; the age of Christianity was dawning once more.

The kings of the Crusade and the Pope were genuinely dreaming of such a rosy future.

Then, out of nowhere, strange riders appeared from the east, erasing Khwarazm from the map before they could even come to the negotiating table.

The Sultan of Khwarazm, who was supposed to acknowledge the Crusade’s victory, vanished from the world in an instant, along with his successor.

In such a situation, the usual course would be to march the army into Khwarazm’s territory and claim the spoils, but the Mongols had already taken over, making that impossible.

“Perhaps we should send an envoy to them and ask for our share. Surely they must realize that conquering Khwarazm so easily was thanks to us.”

“That’s just our perspective. If I were the king of those Mongols, I wouldn’t hand over the spoils so easily. They have no reason to.”

“But we must do something. Returning home with nothing but a sense of victory is unacceptable.”

The three kings representing the Crusade never imagined they’d face such a headache after winning the war.

Marshal seemed to have anticipated it, but honestly, his idea of a Crusader-Islamic alliance still felt like an unrealistic ideal.

Richard, who had the most faith in Marshal, was the only one who thought they should heed the prophet’s words.

“If we keep delaying, we’ll only suffer more losses. Let’s send an envoy and see what they say. If they keep refusing, we can follow Marshal’s suggestion and join forces with the Islamic forces to push into Khwarazm’s territory.”

“Your Majesty Richard, we’ve already concluded that an alliance is impossible. It’s a matter of sentiment. Even if we could accept it, the other knights and bishops never would.”

“Ugh… it’s frustrating. Just frustrating.”

Faced with Heinrich VI’s staunch opposition, Richard didn’t press his argument further.

He could guess why Heinrich was so resistant.

As someone who wanted to secure the perfect succession of the Holy Roman Empire, the idea of relying on Islamic power was naturally unappealing.

Having achieved an unparalleled feat by crushing Khwarazm, any alliance with the Ayyubids could tarnish that glory.

In contrast, Philip II didn’t seem as troubled as Heinrich or Richard. In fact, he seemed more energetic than during the previous war.

Eventually, Heinrich VI turned to Philip II, who was listening as if it were someone else’s problem.

“Don’t just sit there watching. Your Majesty, surely you have some wisdom to share. Weren’t you the most interested in this situation?”

“I wasn’t just interested; I still am. I was listening because I had nothing to add.”

“Does that mean you have a different idea, Your Majesty Philip II?”

“Of course. When an unexpected crisis arises, the worst thing to do is focus solely on fixing it. That’s not the way.”

What nonsense is this?

When a crisis hits, shouldn’t you do everything to resolve it? Is he suggesting they just stand by and watch?

Seeing the incredulous expressions on Heinrich and Richard’s faces, Philip II chuckled and added a few words.

“Let me clarify, I’m not saying we should stand by idly. The situation has already unfolded. Now we need to devise a plan to turn this absurd situation to our advantage.”

“What advantage could there be for us? The compensation we were supposed to extract from Khwarazm has vanished into thin air. Or do you have a plan to extract compensation from the Mongols, Your Majesty Philip II?”

“No.”

Is he joking?

Heinrich VI’s eyes twitched at the immediate, unhesitant response.

Richard, too, was starting to wonder if this man was mocking them, but knowing Philip II wasn’t one to make frivolous remarks in such situations, he held back his anger and asked.

“If you have something in mind, please share it with us. After all, we’re all in the same boat here.”

“Let me clarify, I’m not trying to mock you. I was giving you time to broaden your perspective. You’re too fixated on the lost compensation to see anything else.”

“Isn’t that what’s important to us right now? Or are you suggesting we should follow Marshal’s advice and ally with the Islamic forces to fight the Mongols? While that might allow us to extract more compensation, still…”

“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t be fixated on compensation. While it’s a reward for winning the war, it’s not the most important thing right now.”

While Marshal was the most active during the war, Philip II had also been quietly gathering information behind the scenes.

The unexpected Mongol invasion was alarming, but it also piqued his curiosity.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

In a way, this was an opportunity for him.

Among the countries involved in this war, which one gained the least?

It was none other than France.

The Byzantine Empire, having reclaimed Anatolia and quelled rebellions, was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary of the war.

The resources poured into the Crusade were significant, but they were negligible compared to the gains. In two to three years, they would recover all losses and experience explosive growth, leaving Alexios III feeling like he was walking on clouds every day.

England and the Holy Roman Empire also reaped considerable rewards.

Richard gained unmatched fame as the god of war in Europe. The accolades and glory awaiting him upon his return were obvious.

Heinrich VI, having fulfilled his role as the nominal commander-in-chief, could now pursue the exclusive succession of the Hohenstaufen dynasty.

Philip II, though a central figure in the Crusade, lacked something to confidently boast about.

In that sense, this unexpected crisis was an opportunity for Philip II to demonstrate his capabilities further.

“Let’s be honest. Has Marshal ever been wrong?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

“Never.”

“Marshal’s words always come true because they’re not his words but God’s. We mustn’t doubt them.”

“Well…”

“Hold on. I’m not finished.”

When did they start blindly believing Marshal’s words? Richard’s bewilderment was cut off by Philip II, who continued calmly.

“Remember Marshal’s prophecy that these Mongols are greater than Attila, who led the Huns. Doesn’t it make sense to ally with the Islamic forces? If we fight them alone, how much blood will we shed?”

“They crushed Khwarazm, but there’s no guarantee they’ll fight us.”

“Unless they’re mythical figures like Prester John, why would they be friendly only to us? Attila pushed into Italy. If these are greater than Attila, worse could happen.”

The range of nomadic movements far exceeds the imagination of settled peoples.

While Attila’s base in Hungary allowed him to push into Europe, one might argue the Mongols, having entered Islamic territory, are different.

However, European countries knew nothing about the Mongols.

They didn’t know if these were people from beyond Hungary moving south or if they were originally from the east pushing west. They didn’t even know if the forces that had arrived were the main army or just an advance party.

Considering their power in crushing the Western Xia and Khwarazm, it seemed unlikely they were just an advance party, but given Marshal’s prophecy, it was too early to make assumptions.

“So, in the end, Your Majesty Philip II, you’re saying we should follow Marshal’s advice. Why didn’t you just say so directly?”

“That’s not quite what I meant. What I’m suggesting is that we follow the plan, but make subtle adjustments to maximize our benefits. This way, when His Majesty Heinrich returns to his homeland, he can do so with pride. After all, we’re making the best choice for our own advantage.”

“Is there really such a way?”

“Well, it’s not exactly a groundbreaking idea. It’s a common strategy anyone might think of. As I mentioned earlier, the mere thought of demanding reparations and collaborating with the Islamic forces might have triggered an instinctive aversion, causing you to overlook it.”

Philip II chuckled softly and pointed to the map spread out on the table.

“Let’s first observe the Islamic response. The distance between Baghdad and Isfahan, where the Caliph, the supreme leader of Islam, resides, isn’t that far. It seems shorter than the distance from Regensburg to Rome. For nomadic cavalry, it’s a distance they can cover in no time.”

“But the Islamic side is confident they won’t attack immediately.”

“That’s their biggest mistake. Honestly, if it weren’t for Marshall’s prophecy, we might have thought the same. But since Marshall has declared that the Crusaders and Islam must unite, it’s inevitable that events will unfold accordingly. With that in mind, you can probably guess what will happen next.”

Somehow, the Mongols will continue their relentless push westward.

If Baghdad is attacked, a clash between Islam and the Mongols will be unavoidable.

Even if the Sultans pursue a different path from the Caliph, the symbolic leader of Islam, the fall of Baghdad to the barbarians is unthinkable.

“According to Marshall’s prophecy, Islam alone cannot withstand the Mongols. This means that even the great Saladin would struggle against their might. So, let’s consider this further. If the Ayyubids were to face the Mongols alone, could they truly defend Jerusalem?”

“Ah…!”

“So, Your Majesty is suggesting…”

The expressions of the two kings shifted dramatically as they finally grasped Philip II’s intentions.

“Yes. Cooperation is merely a facade. Our true aim, from start to finish, is right here.”

The very reason the Crusades were launched, the sacred promise land that all Christians still yearn for.

“Jerusalem will be the greatest prize we bring back to Europe this time.”

And the mastermind behind this grand plan is none other than King Philip II of France himself.

When an unstoppable wave approaches, you don’t resist it; you ride it.

The other two kings found themselves unable to argue against such a rational and prophetic strategy.

After all, there wasn’t a Christian alive whose heart didn’t quicken at the mention of Jerusalem.