Episode 96
A brief stint on the Mongolian steppes was enough to shift Alcide’s perspective.
Despite underestimating the Mongols, he was an Amir with experience in leading armies.
Temujin, as if to flaunt his prowess, took Alcide to several battlefields, allowing him to witness firsthand how Temujin’s men decimated their enemies.
A whirlwind of emotions surged through him, but what lingered was sheer astonishment.
The Khwarazmian army also relied heavily on elite cavalry.
Thus, he could tell.
These cavalrymen were on a different level.
Whether it was due to superior leadership or the individual skills of the cavalrymen, he couldn’t yet determine.
But one thing was clear: the Mongol cavalry, as seen through Alcide’s eyes, seemed to surpass the elite cavalry Khwarazm prided itself on.
Shocked, Alcide returned and reported everything he had seen to the Sultan.
He secretly hoped the Sultan would decide to sever ties with Temujin and seek another ally, but the response he received was not what he expected.
“Seems those Mongol savages are quite adept at fighting.”
“Your Majesty, what I witnessed goes beyond such simple explanations.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. It’s only natural for those who spend their days riding horses and killing on the steppes to be skilled. In fact, it’s beneficial for us.”
“The man leading the Mongols, Temujin, is no ordinary figure. And his subordinate, Jebe, is a demon on the battlefield. We should seriously reconsider using them.”
What if the hunting dog they raised suddenly turned on them?
It was a very real concern, but unfortunately, the Sultan dismissed Alcide’s advice as mere worry.
“It’s refreshing to see you so rattled, Alcide. I recall you didn’t think much of the Mongol savages either.”
“Yes, but seeing them in action, I realized they are not to be underestimated.”
“As I said, it’s better for us. If we’re going to use them as a weapon, it’s better if the sword is sharp. How can we cut down our enemies with a rusty, dull blade?”
“If they were just conveniently useful, I wouldn’t be saying this. But Temujin is dangerous. He’s kind and rational to his men but possesses a terrifying madness towards his enemies.”
The ruthlessness of ordering the death of any man taller than a cartwheel, and the unwavering execution of such orders by his men, showed they shared a similar nature.
Could such bloodthirsty demons truly be controlled?
But the Sultan’s thoughts differed slightly from Alcide’s.
“Harsh punishment of enemies is a tradition among savages, so there’s no need to take it too seriously. They won’t see us as enemies anyway, so what’s the problem?”
“True, but people’s minds can change as easily as stepping in and out of a restroom. Even after unifying the Mongolian steppes and invading the Western Xia, there’s no guarantee they’ll remain friendly towards us.”
“If that time comes, we’ll simply show them our strength. They have heads on their shoulders; they won’t throw eggs at a rock.”
No matter how strong the Mongols were, to Tekish, they remained within the realm of uncivilized savages.
Of course, he wasn’t underestimating them.
History had seen the pinnacle of civilization, Rome, fall to Germanic barbarians, and no civilized nation could withstand Attila the Hun.
But that was a tale from a time before technological advancement.
The current might of Khwarazm was not something that could be toppled by mere savages.
“Alcide, I know you’re a capable Amir and that you’re shocked, but you also know how many wars I’ve led to victory, right? And according to my philosophy, war is relative.”
“Relative?”
“Yes. If the opponent is weak, even a mediocre army can achieve overwhelming victory. It’s only natural to overestimate oneself in such cases.”
He understood the gist of it.
But was the level of the Mongol army led by Temujin really just that?
While battles are relative, the organic movement of troops can be objectively measured.
In that regard, the movements of the Mongol cavalry seemed to have reached an artistic level.
But if that was merely because their opponents were too weak?
“No matter how complex the thoughts, nothing is as certain as engaging in direct combat. Whether the Mongol forces are truly exceptional or just gilded will soon be revealed. Are you sure they said it wouldn’t take more than a few years to unify the steppes?”
“Yes. They said it wouldn’t take more than three years at the latest.”
“That’s much faster than Saladin anticipated. So, when they attack the Western Xia, we’ll gauge their true capabilities.”
No matter how past its prime, the Western Xia was still a descendant of a once-mighty empire that ruled the Central Plains.
Observing the outcome of their clash with the Mongols would make future strategies much clearer.
Tekish sensed that the day his ambitions would be realized was approaching faster than expected as he gazed at the map on the table.
“Once the Western Xia is dealt with, we’ll move straight to the Byzantine Empire. We need to prepare for that.”
Currently, remnants of the Seljuks lay between the Byzantine Empire and the Khwarazmian Empire.
And the Byzantine Empire, in the midst of recovering its strength, was steadily reclaiming Anatolia.
If left unchecked, the Byzantine Empire might regain its former glory.
In such a case, with Khwarazm’s main forces concentrated in the east, advancing north would become exceedingly difficult.
“For now, the Mongols will handle the Western Xia, so let’s focus on the bigger picture.”
Tekish envisioned himself as the ruler of a true empire, extending beyond the eastern Islamic world to Anatolia and Greece.
“Father has been sending a lot of letters lately.”
While leisurely sipping tea, Anna’s casual remark made me raise an eyebrow.
“Really? Perhaps His Majesty is feeling lonely after sending his beloved daughter abroad.”
“Not really. Lately, Father has been too busy restoring everything my uncle ruined. He probably doesn’t have time to feel lonely.”
“Then why is he sending so many letters?”
“He’s very concerned about the situation in Europe. I think he’s wary of any external factors interfering with his efforts to strengthen the empire.”
Indeed, if you’re repairing a house and a storm blows in from outside, everything could be for naught.
In the original timeline, it was the Crusaders from Europe that brought down the Byzantine Empire during its reconstruction.
It seems Alexios III hasn’t forgotten the advice I gave him before leaving Constantinople.
“One mustn’t make the mistake of ignoring external affairs while focusing solely on one’s own tasks. His Majesty is certainly keeping a steady hand on the helm.”
Even in strategy simulation games, it’s crucial to constantly scout what the opponent is doing.
The mindset of only focusing on one’s own tasks never leads to improvement beyond mediocrity.
Although there’s no immediate threat of a Crusade from Europe, Alexios III’s attitude is commendable.
I subtly probed Anna about what topic Alexios III was most concerned with.
“Was His Majesty most worried about the formation of the next Crusade?”
“That was part of it, but he also kept asking about how much influence you’re gaining in Europe.”
This was an unexpected turn.
Could it be that he’s suddenly curious about how well the man entrusted with his daughter is managing?
That seems unlikely, given that he claimed to be too busy with official matters to pay attention to anything else.
“So, what did you tell him?”
“I just wrote the truth. That you prevented a war between England and the Holy Roman Empire, mediated when King Richard was about to go on a rampage, and are now skillfully balancing between the king and the nobles.”
When you lay it all out like that, it seems I’m practically a power broker.
With England sorted, if I extend my reach to France or the Holy Roman Empire, my ideal scenario will be complete.
For an ordinary noble, wielding such cross-border influence would be impossible, but for me, it’s feasible.
Of course, until the picture is fully complete—and even after—it’s crucial not to let it show.
“And what did His Majesty say?”
“He was pleased, saying you deserve such recognition. He also urged me to support you more so you can expand your influence.”
“Hmm? Is there a particular reason I need to expand my influence further?”
“Father seems worried that the Islamic forces might provoke us soon. Facing them alone would be too costly, so he wants to ensure we have support from Europe.”
“Are you hoping for reinforcements?”
Where did that come from?
What on earth would provoke the Islamic forces to challenge the Byzantine Empire?
There’s a clear difference between neglecting to be vigilant and considering everything around you a threat… Have I overestimated Alexios III?
“Saladin, who leads the Islamic forces, would never attack the Byzantine Empire first. That seems like an excessive worry.”
“Oh, it’s not about Saladin. I must have skipped over some details. I’ll show you the letter later.”
“If it’s not Saladin, then the only ones left are the remnants of the Seljuks… which is even less likely.”
The remaining Seljuk forces are so diminished they’re barely worth mentioning, mere scraps at best.
If I were Alexios III, I’d focus on quickly resolving internal chaos and reclaiming lost territories.
Why do I feel my faith in Alexios III slipping away? Can I really trust him to the end?
Anna seemed to sense my incredulity, and her voice grew weaker.
“Well… the Seljuk remnants aren’t really a problem, you’re right. I think my father is worried about the Khwarazmian dynasty.”
“Khwarazm? You mean that Khwarazm way out east?”
Anna nodded slowly.
I blinked, momentarily at a loss for words in the face of this absurd situation.
What is this? Has Alexios III truly lost his mind, or is there something happening that I don’t know about?
Whatever it is, this definitely warrants further investigation.