Episode 211
When creating a common enemy to rally against, there’s a crucial point to keep in mind.
It’s fine to have an enemy, but if that enemy—be it a person or an organization—becomes a genuine threat, things can get complicated.
Conversely, if the enemy is too trivial, it won’t work either.
If the target is deemed too insignificant to bother with, no matter how much you attack, it won’t feel satisfying.
It sounds simple in theory, but maintaining this balance is surprisingly tricky.
And it’s not just about attacking through public opinion.
If you go too far and the target is truly destroyed, you’ll have to find a new one all over again.
Think of it like a punching bag; if you don’t handle it with care, it’ll burst and become unusable.
So, it’s important to control your strength to avoid breaking it.
Of course, there’s a catch here.
Continuously attacking without killing or letting live?
This isn’t something that can be achieved just by being good at it.
Frankly, the resilience of the one taking the hits is what matters most.
If the opponent lacks the tenacity and gives up easily, it doesn’t matter what you do.
In that sense, Judaism was praised as the perfect punching bag.
Even when it wasn’t necessary for them to play that role, they willingly stepped up, offering themselves as a target.
Thanks to this, Islam and Christianity could continue their discussions amicably on the second day, pushing forward with their unification efforts.
“As we discussed yesterday, we’ll nullify everything declared at the Council of Nicaea.”
“Understood. In return, we’ll remove all elements from Sharia that are seen as suppressing tolerance, love, and peace.”
“Christ truly came to save the world, demonstrating love and forgiveness…”
“Muhammad was indeed a messenger sent by God, advocating for faith and peace for humanity…”
Most of the verbal agreements made on the first day were smoothly documented.
The doctrines of Christianity and Islam that were incompatible were either revised or abolished.
The Gospels and the Quran would now be referred to as the Old Testament, and a new world was about to open with new doctrines.
Right at this moment.
“We cannot accept this! The only truth in this world is the Tanakh!”
“Haha, then how should we go about perfectly establishing the Old Testament?”
“Given the vastness of both scriptures, it’s unrealistic to conclude everything here, no matter how long the council lasts. How about asking the Apostle to gather more theologians to work on this?”
“Let’s do that. We agree.”
“Mixing lies with lies will never yield the truth…”
There were those who dissented, but no matter what they said, Christianity and Islam laughed it off, not even bothering to listen.
In fact, they went further.
“Representatives of Judaism, why not join us? After all, the foundation of all words is your Tanakh. Wouldn’t you like to help create a new order?”
“Haha, do you think they’ll listen?”
“No, there are open-minded individuals like Elazar who could certainly participate. We always welcome you.”
The disparity in power and justification was so great that it didn’t matter what Judaism said.
Except for occasional internal conflicts when younger members like Elazar voiced that Judaism should join this flow, Judaism failed to garner significant attention.
Nothing was obstructed, and even potentially contentious issues were resolved through discussion.
They discarded what needed to be discarded and embraced what was necessary, continually moving forward.
On the final day, Christianity and Islam, having taken the most significant step in religious history, looked at each other with eyes full of emotion.
Hassan stepped forward, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Facing him, Sinibaldo also walked forward, his eyes moist with emotion.
Just a few years ago, they had called each other infidels, enemies to be vanquished.
Hassan spoke with a trembling voice.
“Brother, thank you.”
Sinibaldo’s body shook.
He wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded vigorously.
“Brother, peace be upon you.”
With those words, they embraced each other tightly, without hesitation.
Initially awkward, the other delegates soon followed suit, shaking hands or hugging, marking the beginning of a great era.
At that moment, a thunderous cheer erupted, as if the world itself was roaring.
Jerusalem was no longer just a name; it stood tall as a true holy land.
The Jerusalem Council concluded successfully, but this was merely the beginning.
A new order that would influence the world for generations had been born, and it needed to be spread as quickly as possible.
In an era without smartphones, the internet, or even widespread postal services, the speed at which information spread was unimaginably slow.
While everyone in Jerusalem was filled with emotion and joy, in the rural corners of Europe, few even knew a council was taking place.
It might take years for today’s teachings to reach the priests in remote villages and for them to teach the people.
But since the Pope, the Sultan, and the kings of various nations had all agreed, it was only a matter of time before it spread everywhere.
However, how the political systems would be reorganized under this new order was something even I couldn’t fully predict.
The best I could do was expand the information network and respond flexibly to any events that arose.
So.
“You mean we need more people to be the Apostle’s eyes and ears. We’re already preparing as you mentioned last time.”
“Yes. For at least the next few years, we need to keep our ears wide open to prevent anyone from harboring other intentions.”
“There will always be those who try to exploit the Apostle’s name for personal gain. Shouldn’t we judge them immediately when they appear?”
“No, no. What did I say at the council? Love and peace are most important.”
“Ah! I’m sorry. It’s just become a habit…”
Nasr and Fatima, having been raised as Assassins from a young age, still tended to go to extremes.
But there were no better talents for building an information network, so there was no one else to entrust with the task.
I guess I have to keep a tight rein to ensure they don’t go too far.
“The first priority for reinforcing the organization is obvious, right? The countries that didn’t directly cooperate with us during the Crusades, like Hungary or those on the Iberian Peninsula.”
“Not France?”
Fatima, diligently taking notes, looked up and asked.
Ah… I had forgotten after talking with people like Saladin and Philip II for so long.
Humans need to be told things to understand.
“We’re already receiving enough information from France and England. And the kings who saw me during the Crusades won’t entertain foolish thoughts for a while.”
“But wasn’t King Philip II a person of interest?”
“Of course, he’s a person of interest. And he knows better than anyone that he’s seen that way, so he won’t play tricks behind the scenes. Whatever he does, he’ll do it openly.”
“Ah, I see. Surely, no one who witnessed the Apostle’s abilities firsthand would be foolish enough to plot behind the scenes.”
“And to reiterate, all I want is information. No surveillance, no force, no illegal activities.”
Seeing Fatima and Nasr resolutely determined, I felt the need to emphasize this whenever possible.
Considering their tendencies, it wouldn’t be surprising if they beheaded those exploiting my name for business.
“Let me say it again. Never, ever kill anyone, torture anyone, or use violence. If someone crosses the line, report to me first and wait for my decision.”
“Of course. When have I ever disobeyed the Apostle’s words?”
“You’ve never disobeyed. I’m just saying this because you tend to follow them too well, so please keep it in mind. Not just you, but make sure the informants know too. No, I should tell them myself.”
“Don’t worry too much. Everyone will be absolutely loyal to the Apostle’s words. And what fool would harbor other intentions when the Apostle has spoken so clearly? Nothing will happen, so why not take a break and spend some quality time with your wife?”
Guys, you should keep such thoughts to yourselves. Saying them out loud might lead to unexpected consequences, you know?
While Fatima’s words are logically sound, unfortunately, humans don’t always act rationally.
It’s a sad truth that hasn’t changed for a thousand years and won’t change for a thousand more.
I wonder who will demonstrate this truth this time. I’m a bit curious myself.
The French nobles and bishops returning to Europe were filled with the Holy Spirit and emotion.
“Oh! Ohhh!”
“When I return home, I’ll boast endlessly. I was right there at that historic moment.”
Returning in triumph, the fleet cut through the water, filled with songs of joy.
“Your Majesty! Is it true that Paris has been chosen as the final place to consolidate the Old Testament?”
“Yes. The Prophet himself approved it, so it must be true.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. With so many theologians expected to gather, it requires extensive preparation to ensure they can engage in discussions without any hindrance. No other nation is as well-prepared as ours for such an undertaking.”
“Exactly. That’s why I sent word that we had been preparing for this even before the war with the Mongols.”
Hosting the council in Paris would have been ideal, but realistically, it was challenging both symbolically and logistically.
Of course, a single council wouldn’t resolve everything, so additional venues for further discussions would be necessary. The nation that hosts these gatherings could bask in the glory of the Marshal’s influence.
Someone like Philip II wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity.
“We have much to prepare for, so things will only get busier once we return. If the Almohads collapse and chaos ensues, the balance of power on the Iberian Peninsula will shift dramatically. We must be ready to seize the maximum advantage. I should speak with Count Damartin as soon as we return. At the very least, we should aim to take control of all of Andalusia.”
“What? You think the Almohads will fall? But the Prophet spoke of an era of love and peace…”
“Of course, love and peace are paramount. That’s why obstacles to peace will have no place in this world. We won’t need to lift a finger. The battles ahead won’t be fought with swords or spears.”
Philip II gazed out at the endless expanse of the sea and smiled.
“After all, love conquers all, doesn’t it?”
He wasn’t expecting an answer.
No matter what anyone said, the era of love was coming.
Philip II’s belief in this was unshakeable.