Episode 94
Richard’s rise to prominence among the nobility was swift, thanks in no small part to my assistance.
Richard I, a name synonymous with terror, ruled unchallenged within his realm. Yet, I was the only one who could speak freely to him and extract concessions. This perception took root as Richard showed leniency to certain nobles he had been pressuring.
“Your Majesty, are you truly not going to revoke the title of the Count of La Marche?”
“That’s correct.”
“But hasn’t the Count of La Marche proven himself incapable of managing his lands? Some form of adjustment seems necessary.”
“I thought the same, so I investigated. There was no evidence of the Count colluding with France. It was a simple mistake. If we punish him too harshly for one error, won’t it unsettle the other nobles?”
The Count of Poitou, who had been eyeing La Marche’s lands, couldn’t hide his surprise at Richard’s sudden change of heart.
“Still, if we let this slide, what of the kingdom’s discipline…?”
“I understand your concerns. Of course, mistakes must have consequences. The County of La Marche will now be under my regular supervision. To ensure objectivity, the Marshal of the neighboring County of Auvergne will oversee this, and the Count of La Marche has agreed.”
The nobles weren’t foolish enough to miss why the king had changed his stance so abruptly. It was clear that after my private meeting with him, his position shifted.
The great purge that had heated the nation ended with the nobles bowing just enough to the king. No titles were stripped, and no lives were lost.
While it seemed like a victory for the king, the nobles and the church saw it differently. For the first time, Richard, who had never known compromise or forgiveness, had relented.
As a result, the counties of La Marche, Périgord, and even Limoges, whose lord had changed, fell under my influence. Though I wasn’t their lord, the local lords couldn’t defy me.
Combined, these territories rivaled the size of the Duchy of Brittany or Normandy. Anyone with a modicum of sense knew who the most powerful figure among the Angevin Empire’s nobility was.
Thus, the reputation of Edward Marshall, the empire’s mediator who outwardly showed no ambition for power, continued to rise.
My residence became a hub for nobles eager to align themselves with me, under the guise of seeking counsel.
Before the impending chaos arrives, I must expand my influence further. To do so, I need to exploit these nobles and extract every advantage.
I must also ensure the Vatican is well-greased through the Pope. Thanks to Anna, my connections with the Byzantine Empire are solid, and I continue to bring in scholars from the Middle East through Fatima and Nasr.
Though it’s a story for the distant future, I must plan how to efficiently acquire Middle Eastern assets when the time comes. Precious resources must be relocated here before they are lost.
“Prophet! Thank you for inviting us to today’s gathering!”
“We look forward to your continued guidance!”
“By the way, I have acquaintances in England who wish to pay their respects. May I bring them along?”
“Guests are always welcome. Though I’m not as grand as you make me out to be, it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“What are you saying? Many nobles are eager to join this gathering.”
Officially, it’s a social club, but in reality, it’s where nobles present their demands and negotiate with me. Occasionally, when Richard issues difficult orders, they come to me to plead their case.
In such instances, I pretend to mediate while securing my own benefits.
As this trend continued, nobles who didn’t attend began to feel left out. While the lords themselves couldn’t always attend, it became customary to send their heirs or representatives.
Naturally, requests to join the gathering increased, including from those close to the king.
“Prophet, do you know what will happen with the Crusades? The current Pope doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about them…”
“And wasn’t there a recent council? It seems there won’t be any Crusades for the time being…”
“As far as I know, there are no immediate plans. But international affairs rarely go as expected, so I can’t say for certain.”
I have no intention of engaging in the inefficient folly of a Crusade. The current Pope is under my control, so we should be safe for the next few years.
The issue is that the elderly Celestine III’s life will end before the 13th century. If Cardinal Lothaire becomes the next Pope, as history suggests, what then?
Though I’m working to win him over, it’s uncertain if he’ll be as compliant as the current Pope. Cardinal Lothaire was known for leading the medieval church to its peak, with the saying “the Pope is the sun, the Emperor the moon.”
However, the church’s power dynamics have shifted significantly from the original history, so perhaps they won’t repeat the folly of the Fourth Crusade.
The Byzantine Empire isn’t in the dire state it was in history, so it shouldn’t fall to the Fourth Crusade. But I can’t be entirely sure about relations with the Islamic world.
Though they’re doomed to fail eventually, that’s a concern for the distant future. How many variables I can control until then will shape the next hundred years of history.
While Europe was undergoing the growing pains of centralization, the Islamic world was also consolidating its foundations.
“Your Majesty, as you commanded, we have officially declared that we will not persecute pilgrims to Jerusalem.”
“Good. This will eliminate external threats for the time being.”
“But haven’t we never persecuted pilgrims to Jerusalem?”
The notion that Islam persecuted Christian pilgrims was a fabrication by Europe. In reality, aside from certain caliphs of the Fatimid dynasty, the Islamic world had no history of harshly treating pilgrims.
Thus, to Al-Adil, the Sultan’s declaration seemed of little practical use. Saladin, seeing through his brother’s doubts, shook his head and replied softly.
“Of course, nothing changes in practice. But as a political maneuver, it’s highly effective. Through the Council of Jerusalem, we’ve shown Europe that we’re ready to resolve conflicts through dialogue. By officially declaring that we won’t persecute pilgrims, Europe loses its pretext to challenge us.”
“Ah, I see. Their justification for raising armies was to free their holy sites.”
“Exactly. So, we must protect the pilgrimage routes even more securely than when the Kingdom of Jerusalem existed. Then, unless they resort to absurd excuses, they can’t attack Jerusalem.”
The Ayyubids never persecuted pilgrims, so nothing changes in practice. But by merely using words, they eliminate one of Europe’s justifications for war, making it a highly profitable move.
Al-Adil marveled at the Sultan’s meticulousness, his admiration evident.
“As long as Your Majesty is in power, the prosperity of the Ayyubids will continue.”
“It can’t just be while I’m alive. It must continue even after I’m gone.”
Saladin laughed heartily, but his gaze on his brother carried a subtle pressure.
“You’ve learned the hard way that the world doesn’t always go as we wish.”
“Yes.”
“Though I’m still here, I’m not young. My health could fail at any time. We must secure our surroundings while we can.”
“I will follow Your Majesty’s wishes.”
Al-Adil was ambitious, but after his failed attempt to assassinate the Prophet, his influence waned, and he couldn’t assert himself as he wished. Meanwhile, Saladin steadily strengthened the state’s foundations and solidified the Sultan’s power, stabilizing the succession.
On the surface, everything seemed fine, but Saladin knew a great wave would crash down once more.
“When the Khwarazmian Empire consolidates the East and pushes north, they’ll inevitably clash with Europe. Neither side will emerge unscathed, strengthening our position.”
The biggest concern had been the Byzantine Empire’s decline, but under a new emperor, it was regaining its former strength. In five to ten years, the Byzantines alone might be able to withstand Khwarazm’s pressure.
If Europe can be drawn into the conflict, mutual destruction isn’t out of the question.
Of course, if it came to that, Ayub might have to send troops as well, but such a move wouldn’t be a significant burden for them at the moment.
Khwarezm was currently trying to swallow up the Western Xia by leveraging the nomadic tribes of the East. It was Saladin himself who had suggested this strategy, so he had a rough idea of how things might unfold.
This was possible because they had gathered extensive information on the Eastern nomads from the pilgrims traveling to Mecca from the Western Xia.
“Even if Khwarezm supports a suitable nomadic tribe, unifying the steppes won’t be an easy task. That alone would take at least five to ten years, and they’d still need to consolidate the unified tribes. Considering the time needed to strike the Western Xia, even fifteen years might be optimistic… or perhaps that’s too short a timeframe.”
Still, when planning, it’s crucial to consider the worst-case scenarios. Being overly optimistic and waiting for the right moment could lead to unexpected setbacks.
“Fifteen to twenty years should be enough to take the lead in the political landscape. The real question is whether I’ll still be alive by then.”
This was assuming the tightest schedule possible, so realistically, there should be a bit more leeway.
After reviewing the plan dozens of times, there was no way things could progress any faster. Unless the nomads backed by Khwarezm were some mythical war gods destined to reshape history.
Even in the worst-case scenario, he wasn’t paranoid enough to entertain such far-fetched fantasies. The position of Sultan wasn’t so leisurely as to allow for such idle thoughts.