Episode 128
“What? We lost? How is that possible?”
Muhammad, who had been eagerly awaiting news of victory, was at a loss for words. Shock, disbelief, confusion, and outrage all swirled within him. As Timur’s detachment rejoined the main force, Muhammad greeted them with eyes blazing with anger.
“Did I overestimate you? How could you lead such a large force and fail to capture even a tiny fortress?”
Before dismissing him, Muhammad decided to at least hear the reason. Though he doubted there was any justification, he wanted to understand why they had lost.
To his surprise, Timur met his gaze with a look of frustration and sighed softly. “If you blame my incompetence, I have no defense. But when thousands of enemy knights attacked our rear, I judged that engaging them would result in unacceptable losses.”
“Thousands of knights attacked from behind? What nonsense is this? I had their main force pinned down. How could thousands of knights have attacked our rear?”
Unable to contain his anger, Muhammad shouted, but Timur protested, seemingly wronged. “If you don’t believe me, ask others. They’ll tell you the same.”
“Fine, let’s hear it.”
At Muhammad’s signal, two other amirs who had fought alongside Timur entered the tent. Muhammad questioned them in detail about the battle and their retreat. The amirs recounted their experiences without exaggeration.
”…That’s why we decided to retreat. We believe it was the right decision.”
“Indeed. Had we fought, our losses would have been too great.”
Muhammad listened to their explanations, but instead of clarity, he felt even more confused. What? The enemy king charged into the middle of their forces with just 200 men and wreaked havoc? Were they mocking him?
He felt the urge to shout, but the atmosphere suggested otherwise. ‘This is maddening. It doesn’t seem like they’re making this up.’
He wondered if they were fabricating stories to avoid blame. But if they were lying, surely they’d come up with something more plausible. To be sure, he had a random soldier brought in to testify, and the soldier’s account matched the amirs’.
“So, the King of England caused such chaos, and with reinforcements pouring in, you had no choice but to retreat… If that’s true, it was a sound decision. I acknowledge that.”
Unless every soldier had been coached, he had no choice but to believe them. Yet Muhammad’s rational mind refused to accept what he was hearing. How could he make sense of this? If thousands of knights had left the main force, he would have known.
‘Have we all been bewitched by Shaytan? Otherwise, this makes no sense.’
No matter how he considered it, nothing added up. Timur, watching Muhammad’s troubled expression, cautiously added, “From what we saw, that King of England is no mere human. He’s either Shaytan in human guise or someone who sold his soul to Shaytan.”
“Are you seriously suggesting such a creature exists outside of fairy tales?”
“We saw it with our own eyes. And it’s not so strange. The Crusaders have that false prophet, Marshal. Perhaps he’s the true Shaytan, and Richard is his servant.”
Though it was hard to take seriously, Muhammad wondered what could drive them to such claims. He leaned back, staring blankly at the ceiling. If all this were true, what would he report to his father?
“The Sultan was certain of our victory. Reporting this defeat could jeopardize not only our standing but also His Majesty’s strategy…”
“Perhaps he’ll be relieved to know the true enemy we face.”
“That’s a rather optimistic view.”
Like all Islamic dynasties, Khwarezm’s amirs weren’t particularly united. To keep them together required strength and success, and a crushing defeat in the first battle was a significant setback. Yet, if viewed differently, a defeat could also serve to unite their forces.
After some thought, Muhammad nodded and stood. “Alright, here’s what we’ll do. We’ll emphasize that Richard and Marshal are incarnations of Shaytan, sent to defile Allah’s glory. We’ll frame this war as a jihad, just as the Crusaders claim theirs is a holy war.”
“A jihad.”
“Yes, a jihad. If the Sultan persuades the Caliph to declare an official jihad, this minor defeat will be seen as a necessary sacrifice to unite our forces.”
Since the Crusaders had declared a holy war, they should have declared a jihad from the start. It was difficult to persuade the Caliph without a compelling reason, but reasons can always be crafted. Though the initial skirmish ended in defeat, Khwarezm’s strength remained intact. The young heir, preparing for another battle, wasn’t considering the possibility of defeat.
Throughout history, people have always been captivated by tales of heroes, especially those who perform extraordinary feats on the battlefield. The legend of King Arthur, which even Richard admired, spread across Europe for similar reasons. While there are many factors, the incredible exploits of King Arthur are a fundamental reason.
By the 12th century, Europe’s thirst for heroes had only grown stronger. Despite early successes, the Crusades ultimately ended in failure against the Islamic forces, and those who could have become heroes failed to meet expectations. King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire both met tragic ends, leaving people disillusioned.
Their deaths, from leprosy and drowning, were shocking. Had they died from illness or in battle, it might have been different. But these deaths left a deep impact. Coupled with the loss of the Holy Land to Islam, Europe was in shock. It seemed as if the light of Christ was fading, and the end times were near, with Islamic infidels running rampant.
Some even claimed that Saladin, the leader of the Islamic forces, was the Antichrist, heralding the end of the world. In this context, the importance of the unified Crusader force from Western Europe’s great powers couldn’t be overstated. A defeat here could mean the end of the papacy’s authority and the Christian era.
If religion fell, unprecedented chaos would engulf Europe, and the number of nations that might disappear and the blood that would be shed were unimaginable.
A messenger has arrived! King Richard has driven back the Islamic forces!
Victory! King Richard and the Prophet Marshal, with just 500 cavalry, have repelled an army of 30,000 and defended the fortress of Edessa!
30,000 against 500! Such an impossible disparity meant nothing before the true Crusaders! King Richard has proven himself a true knight of Christ!
As Richard’s messenger arrived, the Crusader camp buzzed with excitement. Even the French and Holy Roman nobles, who had criticized Richard’s recklessness, quickly changed their tune and praised him.
“King Richard, as expected!”
“I knew he would succeed!”
“The Prophet’s words were true. This war is destined for our victory!”
“Put me at the front in the next battle! I’ll cut down those Islamic dogs and bring the Sultan to his knees before the King!”
When Richard and I rejoined the main force, the camp was already celebrating the victory. Though the victory wasn’t as grand as it seemed, the birth of a hero who achieved the impossible was what mattered most. It was a testament to divine intervention.
Even in modern soccer, a single wonder goal can boost a team’s morale and intimidate the opposition. Such games are rarely lost. The same applies to war. If there’s a story to lift the troops’ spirits, it should be exploited to the fullest.
Richard, buoyed by everyone’s praise, stood confidently before Philip II, basking in the admiration. No one dared to criticize his demeanor.
“Well, I must say, I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve such enthusiasm from everyone,” Richard remarked with a modest grin.
“Not at all, Your Majesty. Who else could have achieved such a feat? I always believed you had a plan from the start,” someone replied earnestly.
“Hahaha! It’s a shame King Philip II and Emperor Henry VI couldn’t witness it. The sight of those half-dazed Islamic soldiers retreating was quite a spectacle,” Richard chuckled.
“Indeed, that is a bit of a pity. But we’ll see it soon enough, so we can save the enjoyment for next time. I trust I’ll witness your prowess firsthand again, Your Majesty?” Philip II responded smoothly, his expression unchanged.
“Of course! Make sure to watch as I crush those Islamic foes,” Richard laughed heartily.
Despite what he might have felt inside, Philip II maintained his composure, showering Richard with praise and boosting his spirits. Yet, if his words sounded like, “I’ll be safe while you do the fighting,” perhaps I was just being overly cynical.
Regardless, if this incident strengthened Richard’s influence in strategic discussions, it would only benefit the Crusaders.
As I observed the scene without interrupting, Fatima entered the tent, discreetly replacing a candle and tapping my shoulder.
“Apostle, there’s something urgent you need to know,” she whispered.
“What is it? Is it something we can’t discuss here?” I asked, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Given that she approached me in the presence of the kings, it was unlikely to be a trivial matter. Yet, her expression was oddly bewildered as she handed me a piece of paper.
The message read:
What on earth is this? Are those bastards planning another assassination?