Episode 115
Despite the rush to leave Constantinople, gathering some essential information was unavoidable.
First, it was crucial to understand the current state of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which was steadily eroding the Eastern Roman Empire.
“Your Excellency, I’ve brought all the documents you requested.”
“Let’s see… It seems there’s not much difference from what I already know.”
Peter IV and Ivan Asen I, who played pivotal roles in establishing the Second Bulgarian Empire, had already been assassinated due to internal conspiracies.
Kaloyan, who took control after them, was eager to have Bulgaria recognized as a legitimate state rather than a mere puppet.
This much was consistent with the original history.
However, with the deletion of the major event of the Fourth Crusade leading to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, the situation had changed.
Alexios III had seized power earlier than in the original timeline and had begun implementing effective governance.
“Declaring the imposition of excessive taxes and forced labor on Bulgarians illegal and even legislating it… It seems His Majesty Alexios III has already laid the groundwork.”
“Yes. While it doesn’t specifically target Bulgaria, formalizing that Eastern Romans who follow the Orthodox Church won’t face discrimination is significant. It appears His Majesty is using the Orthodox Church to consistently sow discord within Bulgaria.”
“That’s a smart move. The country is just finding its footing, so internal affairs are likely still unsettled.”
Peter IV, who laid the foundation for the Second Bulgarian Empire, was assassinated by a fellow noble just a few years ago.
Even if Kaloyan calls himself emperor, there are likely many nobles who don’t truly acknowledge him.
In such a situation, a few decisive defeats could quickly lead to the country’s collapse.
In the original history, Kaloyan incited Greek rebellions by defeating the Latin Empire, preventing such a collapse, but now, who knows?
‘Come to think of it, no one could rival Philip II when it came to sowing discord in a troubled nation… This might turn out to be a bigger deal than I thought.’
With the front lines in a stalemate, I had roughly devised a plan to keep Bulgaria tied down.
As the prophet of a united Christianity, a single word acknowledging the Bulgarian emperor’s authority would likely halt Kaloyan’s aggression.
What they desire most is recognition of their authority.
Having fully grasped the situation, I took the entourage assigned by Alexios III and followed the path Richard had taken north.
And what awaited me was a scene of massacre, swept by a storm.
Richard, Emperor of the Angevin Empire and King of England, was languishing in boredom.
“Your Majesty Richard, isn’t the English army advancing too quickly?”
“No, it’s you who are too slow. What have the French been doing all this time?”
“The Bulgarian army has defeated the Eastern Romans multiple times. Naturally, we should be cautious…”
“Meanwhile, our brothers are bleeding on the Anatolian front due to the Khwarazmians’ attacks. Aren’t we being too leisurely?”
When Richard arrived, the French, as expected, had set up a decent camp and were merely staring at the Bulgarian army.
As Marshal had pointed out, their intentions were transparent.
They had their excuses.
Philip II claimed he lacked the ability to directly command the army, so he appointed the Duke of Burgundy as the commander.
And the Duke of Burgundy, using the excuse of needing to secure supply lines, refused to advance beyond a certain point.
‘Lazy fools. Anyone would think the Bulgarian Empire’s territory lies beyond the Black Sea.’
Tarnovo, the capital of the Bulgarian Empire, was less than a week’s march away.
Of course, that didn’t diminish the importance of supplies, but they were preparing as if for a continental expedition, which was absurd.
“Let’s confirm this first. Did His Majesty Philip II order the Duke to defeat the Bulgarian army?”
“Yes, and I was preparing for that…”
“That’s a relief. We’ve already arranged with the Eastern Romans for the necessary supplies to advance on the enemy’s capital. As soon as our forces are ready, we’ll commence the battle.”
“What? But they’re formidable opponents, so we should fortify our defenses a bit more…”
“Then the French can just watch.”
If Richard fought without the French, all the glory of victory would be his.
This would make it easier to extract rewards from the Eastern Romans.
Conversely, the French would end up with nothing after all their posturing.
The Duke of Burgundy, pondering Philip II’s orders, discreetly assessed Richard and the large army accompanying him.
”…How could we just watch while our allies fight? Of course, we’ll stand by your side when the battle begins.”
“That’s reassuring. Then let’s send an envoy immediately.”
Richard hadn’t intended to crush Bulgaria from the start.
Naturally, if they agreed to the treaty, he planned to head to Anatolia without a fight.
Richard’s proposal to Bulgaria had two main conditions.
If they claimed to be an Orthodox state, they should fully cooperate with the Crusade and refrain from any military actions during the war.
At first glance, it seemed reasonable, but it was a difficult pill for Bulgaria to swallow.
If the Eastern Romans weren’t part of the Crusade, they might have agreed.
However, with the Eastern Romans as part of the Crusade, Richard’s words effectively meant full cooperation with the Eastern Romans and refraining from any military actions against them.
In a situation where Alexios III was recruiting pro-Roman nobles within Bulgaria, it was unreasonable to expect them to remain silent until the war ended.
What if the war dragged on for 10 or 20 years?
Richard might not have considered these points, but the Duke of Burgundy was convinced Richard had little intention of negotiating.
On the other hand, it was understandable from Richard’s perspective.
With a major war between Islam and Christianity unfolding in Anatolia, how could he tolerate those trying to profit from the rear?
Especially since Richard’s enthusiasm for this war was unmatched, far surpassing Philip II’s.
With negotiations predictably collapsing, both sides quickly engaged in battle.
Each side had around 10,000 troops.
Typically, when forces of similar size clash, it’s rare for one side to achieve a decisive victory.
Especially with the Crusaders facing the formidable Khwarazmians, they were likely to be cautious to minimize losses.
The Bulgarians planned to inflict moderate damage and then negotiate under more favorable terms.
The Duke of Burgundy also aimed to repel the enemy with minimal losses and use that as leverage to bring the enemy king to the negotiating table.
If ordinary commanders had been involved, the battle might have ended with only minor skirmishes.
However, for Richard, this fight was merely a prelude to the real battle against the Khwarazmians.
With an exciting battlefield against infidels ahead, he couldn’t afford to waste time here.
Having been bogged down with courtly administrative duties, Richard’s pent-up aggression had reached its peak.
The Lionheart, King Richard, finally let go of his last restraint the moment he saw the enemy.
Thus began the misfortune of the Bulgarian army.
Alarmed by the news of the battle, I rushed to the scene, only to find the camp surprisingly calm.
It didn’t seem like there hadn’t been a battle, but the atmosphere wasn’t chaotic, and the mood was light.
I wondered if only preliminary skirmishes had occurred, so I ventured inside and spotted an unexpected figure.
“Duke of Burgundy, it’s been a while. I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Oh, Prophet! I didn’t expect you to come all this way. What brings you here?”
“Naturally, to ensure our forces aren’t needlessly depleted. Could you send an envoy to the Bulgarians to propose a trilateral meeting? With me mediating, we might reach an agreement.”
“Ah… an agreement.”
The Duke of Burgundy’s eyes held an indescribable, subtle gleam.
“I should meet with His Majesty Richard first. Where is he?”
“His Majesty Richard is currently in discussions with our king, who just arrived today. They’re planning our next course of action…”
“In that case, I should join them.”
“Of course. I was about to head there myself. But it seems you might not be aware of the situation since you just arrived, so there’s something you should know.”
Oh no, why does this make me uneasy?
Did we engage in battle and suffer a major defeat or something? But the camp’s atmosphere seems too cheerful for that. Did the other side concede before I arrived?
“If there’s something I need to know before meeting His Majesty, please tell me. What is it?”
“Well, the battle itself ended yesterday.”
“Hmm?”
What on earth does that mean?
How could the camp be so calm if the battle had ended?
Counting the casualties, burying the dead, and tending to the wounded would inevitably lead to chaos.
“Did the scouts run into each other?”
“No, there was a battle. It’s over now.”
”…What?”
This isn’t working. The conversation is only adding to the confusion.
Sensing my bewilderment, the duke continued.
“Perhaps it’s best if I just show you. Follow me.”
I followed the Duke of Burgundy up a gentle hill, and when he pointed across the way, my jaw dropped.
Though the distance made it hard to see clearly, the shapes scattered everywhere were unmistakably human.
Even at a glance, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of bodies strewn across the field—a grotesque sight.
“What on earth is this? Surely not…”
“Yes. This is the aftermath of yesterday’s battle. There were so many enemy corpses that we only managed to gather their flags and usable weapons.”
“But it seems like we didn’t suffer much damage.”
“That’s correct. I don’t quite know how to describe it…”
The Duke of Burgundy’s face twisted, not just in irritation, but with a mix of fear and awe—a truly peculiar expression.
“To be honest, I always thought the biblical story of Gideon defeating thousands with just 300 men was a bit exaggerated. But after what I saw yesterday… it’s possible.”
Ah, I know who he’s talking about.
Still unable to tear my eyes away from the massacre in the distance, I asked, “So, this is all King Richard’s doing… is that right?”
The Duke nodded silently, hesitated, then leaned in to whisper cautiously in my ear.
“Yes. Prophet, if I may ask…”
“If you may?”
“Is he… really human?”
Even the history books I’ve read raised that question… Could he be?
Probably.