Episode 240
Just a few hours after Al-Adil had escorted An-Nasir away, Saladin found himself momentarily speechless at his brother’s unexpectedly early return.
“What’s this? Why are you back so soon?”
“Well…”
Upon hearing from Al-Adil about An-Nasir’s current state, Saladin’s eyes gleamed with intrigue.
“Has he regained his senses?”
“Not just his senses. He seems even more composed and intelligent than before.”
“Remarkable. I thought he was a complete madman.”
“Philip II of France seems to believe that you knew all along and deliberately arranged a private meeting with An-Nasir.”
“Naturally, he would think that. So, that was the plan all along.”
Without needing further explanation, Saladin could piece together the situation.
Al-Adil, watching him intently, couldn’t help but express his admiration.
“Just like Philip II. He also understood your intentions without a word, and it seems you’ve made the same prediction.”
“Is that so? I expected as much from him. Honestly, it’s a relief that Philip II is in far-off France. If he were a neighboring king, it would have been quite a headache.”
If such a king were nearby, it would be nothing but a threat. But France and the Ayyubids were distant lands. Even if France were to take Andalusia, it would only bring them closer to the Maghreb, not Egypt or Damascus.
Moreover, as France grows, it would inevitably clash with England or the Holy Roman Empire.
Saladin acknowledged Philip II as a formidable figure but did not see him as a threatening enemy. This allowed for the possibility of cooperation.
“So, has the Apostle returned to his quarters?”
“Yes. He said he would visit tomorrow since it was late. I came separately to update you on the current situation.”
“Thank you.”
“Shall I take my leave then?”
“No, since you’re here, let’s talk a bit more.”
Saladin poured some warm water and got straight to the point.
“What do the Amirs of the Almohads want?”
“They seem content with maintaining their current status. However, we’re unsure what to do with Abdallah, who betrayed An-Nasir and helped capture him.”
“Didn’t he want the position of the next Caliph?”
“He did. But with the Caliphate’s position now meaningless… Ah!”
Al-Adil’s eyes widened as if he had just realized something.
“Right. Abdallah can be naturally excluded.”
“Exactly. And those who coveted the Caliph’s position will also retreat. If we play this right, we can establish you as the new Sultan of the Almohads.”
How to absorb the Almohads had been a long-standing dilemma for Saladin. Simply annexing them into the Ayyubid realm was the first option he dismissed. The risk of absorbing such a vast territory at once was too high.
The best approach was to install a successor from their own bloodline as the next leader of the Ayyubids, but a convincing plan hadn’t materialized.
Sending Al-Adil as a conqueror to the Almohads was a good move, and unexpectedly, many Amirs cooperated. This allowed for the swift capture of the Caliph.
However, the problem was the number of contenders for the next Caliphate, especially since the current Caliph’s own bloodline had betrayed him.
Saladin had considered placing him as a nominal leader and gradually shifting power to his brother.
This seemed the best course of action, and he had intended to follow through with it.
But who would have thought such an opportunity would arise?
“Using the now-sane An-Nasir to demonstrate to everyone could mark the end of the Almohad rule.”
“Indeed. And the Apostle will likely appoint a new Sultan for the Almohads. If I recommend you as the right person, I doubt he would oppose.”
“Impressive. Honestly, weren’t you also pondering what to do with the Almohad throne? And now, it seems the solution has presented itself.”
The solution was so simple that it made Saladin and Al-Adil feel foolish for all their previous deliberations.
It wasn’t that Saladin lacked the intelligence to devise such a plan. He simply couldn’t envision a scenario where An-Nasir regained his sanity.
“No matter how wise a person is, before God, they are nothing. It should be disheartening, but instead, I feel a sense of awe.”
“Philip II said something similar.”
“When the Apostle arrives tomorrow, I’ll discuss it with him.”
Who would have thought that in the process of deposing a Caliph and a Pope, such a profound sense of faith would emerge?
Perhaps it was all predestined from the start.
No matter how skilled one is, they are still just a mortal being.
As he felt his life nearing its end, Saladin saw this as a divine reminder of humility.
After seeing his brother off with an excited demeanor, Saladin closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer.
The next morning, after the sun had risen, I headed to the palace where Saladin awaited.
It seemed he had already informed the guards, as they greeted me with utmost respect and led me to the Sultan.
“Welcome! You must have had a long journey.”
“Yes. I’m relieved to see you well, Your Majesty.”
“My body creaks, but my spirit is joyful.”
Saladin looked at me with eyes full of emotion, nodding repeatedly.
What’s this? Could it be because of what happened yesterday?
Well, Philip II also jumped to conclusions and made a fuss, so Saladin, being on the same level, must feel similarly.
Considering Al-Adil must have explained everything, his reaction made sense.
“I apologize for not visiting sooner. I thought it best to meet An-Nasir first to make sense of things, so I had to delay my visit by a day.”
“Of course, I understand. I was astonished by what Al-Adil told me yesterday. Learning a part of your grand plan left me in awe.”
This is why intelligent people tend to get ahead of themselves.
A mere stone falls before them, and they carve it into a piece of a puzzle, then shape the surrounding stones to fit, marveling at the grand plan they’ve uncovered.
Being too smart can be troublesome.
I wish they’d understand the burden of having to play along with their interpretations.
“It seems you’ve figured it out, Your Majesty. Did Al-Adil tell you?”
“No, my brother witnessed everything yesterday but didn’t grasp your true intentions. Of course, once I pointed it out, he quickly understood. He may be a bit slower than me, but he’s quite capable.”
“I agree. Finding talent like that isn’t easy.”
Yesterday, Philip II predicted Saladin’s proposals with ease, laying out his expectations before me.
I was impressed, though I praised him for acting exactly as I had anticipated.
This only encouraged Philip II further, and he detailed my supposed grand plan, which even I hadn’t fully realized.
“As you know, Sultan, everything was set in motion after the Council of Jerusalem.”
“Indeed… since then.”
“I was aware that both the Ayyubids and France had their eyes on the Maghreb and Andalusia. But I refrained from intervening, knowing it might complicate matters.”
This isn’t a lie. Thanks to Philip II’s candidness, I had a rough idea of his intentions.
“Of course, you knew. Your silence was taken as tacit approval. I’m sure Philip II felt the same.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“But with the Caliphate’s title and the next leader of the Maghreb at stake, you decided to step in. I was worried about how to resolve the Almohad issue, and your arrival seemed to complicate things further.”
“I see.”
It’s not entirely untrue.
Philip II’s original intent was likely to complicate matters.
But somehow, it turned out to simplify Saladin’s dilemma, making him feel as if blessed by divine intervention.
Philip II was also amazed that my supposed cooperation with his plan had improved the Ayyubid situation.
“I felt utterly foolish for even hesitating, if only for a moment, about your arrival, my lord. In the end, no matter how wise a sultan I might be, I realized once again that I am just a mere human, lacking in your presence.”
“Haha… hahaha. Even King Philip II felt the same, but that’s just excessive humility. How many people in this world can compare to the two of you?”
“I admit, I was a bit arrogant myself, but I was reminded once more.”
Saladin lowered his head.
This wasn’t an act; it was genuine.
Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I might have felt the same. For someone like Saladin, who truly believes I’m a divine emissary, even a fleeting hesitation about my visit must have felt like a grave sin.
“It’s alright. As humans, who can control every thought that crosses their mind? As long as it doesn’t show outwardly, it’s not such a grave offense.”
“Thank you for your forgiveness.”
“In fact, I wish to repay you, Sultan, for unburdening your heart. It’s not exactly a reward, but I hope to express my gratitude for your handling of this matter.”
“Thank you! Then, as expected?”
It’s always a relief to converse with intelligent people; there’s no need for lengthy explanations.
Having heard from Philip II what Saladin desired most, I decided to grant his wish.
“I will appoint your brother as the next Sultan of the Almohads. In return, I ask just one favor.”
Give and take, as they say.
Without even hearing my condition, Saladin nodded immediately.
Though the snowball had started rolling unexpectedly, all the pieces were now in place.
All that remains is to raise the curtain on this grand play.