Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 211 Fated Falling Leaves

Compared to the confidence of Master François, Master Stephen of the Knights Hospitaller next to him appeared much more stable.

The differences between the two great orders have always been this.

The Knights Templar were often passionate, while the Knights Hospitaller were as calm and reserved as their robes.

"So, what did the heretic say?"

Archbishop Olivier said bluntly: "That guy claimed to be the Saint of Jerusalem, claimed to be a child of the Father, and claimed that the plague and disease were not a punishment from the Lord."

"Besides, that guy practices witchcraft and medicine. It is said that he once cut open people's stomachs and took out their internal organs."

"Removing the internal organs of others?"

Both masters could not help but be shocked. This was because in this era, humans’ views on internal organs were different from those in later generations.

For example, in medieval Christian beliefs, the heart was viewed as the seat of the soul and emotions, symbolizing faith, will, and love.

The importance of the brain is grossly underestimated.

Even the dissection of an autopsy was often seen as a desecration of the dead and disrespect for God's creation.

Many Christian denominations believe that maintaining the integrity of the corpse is important for the resurrection of the dead, so there is a strong cultural and religious demand for the integrity of the corpse.

In this kind of cultural atmosphere, removing the internal organs of a living person is chilling.

Especially through word of mouth, what Gérice originally did to cure people became sorcery in the mouth of Archbishop Olivier.

"Moreover, that guy still has a great reputation among the Orthodox Christians. He even claims that the pus-soaked fluid from cows can be used to prevent smallpox!"

"But to me, this is clear evidence that he spread smallpox!"

The archbishop once again vividly described to the masters of the two knightly orders the story of Gillis's vaccination against smallpox.

To these people in the church, cowpox? Cow pox!

This, this...can cure diseases?

Pure witchcraft, pure sorcery, if this is not heresy, then what is heresy? !
This is using the abscesses on a cow to pollute the human soul!
Rather than treating smallpox, it would be more accurate to say that this was spreading smallpox!
Of course, the 12th century was actually an era of change. During this era, many parts of Europe were very conservative.

But in some cities, such as the Medical School of Salerno and later the University of Bologna in the 13th century, attempts at structured medical education began, gradually leading to the legalization of autopsy.

At this juncture, Gellis can be said to have taken just one step too far. Some people can accept it, but more people regard him as a madman, a heretic, a cultist, and a devil worshiper.

"Wait, you said smallpox?"

Compared to François, Stephen grasped the key point. He heard the word smallpox from Archbishop Olivier.

"Yes, that fellow, is currently using abscesses from cattle to spread smallpox to humans."

Stephen's expression changed. As a member of the Knights Hospitaller, he was actually skeptical about what Olivier said.

But no matter how suspicious we are, no matter whether it is the heretic who spread smallpox, it is certain that it is in the city of Tripoli...

It is possible that, indeed, there is smallpox.

At this moment, Stephen thought: Should I just leave quickly?

But Master François was fearless.

"Archbishop, do you mean that as long as we capture the heretic, judge and purify him, we can stop the spread of the plague?"

Archbishop Olivier did not give a positive answer, but his words seemed to imply this, which could be said to be a naked hint.

Unlike people in later generations, Archbishop Olivier and Master François did not believe from the bottom of their hearts that cowpox could cure human diseases.

To be precise, they have no interest in even verifying whether this is true, because the absolutely correct truth is written in the Bible, and the church, which holds the power to interpret the Bible, is the embodiment of truth on earth.

Why should we abandon the real sunlight and chase after the flickering lights?
The possibility that cowpox could cure diseases was rejected by the church from the beginning.

Then the effect of cowpox would be just a trick of the devil in their eyes.

Just when Stephen was about to make an excuse to slip away, François slapped Stephen's shoulder hard.

"Come! Let us clean up the filth in Tripoli together!"

……

Azrael has four faces, four thousand pairs of wings, and his entire body is made up of eyes and tongues, corresponding to the number of living people on Earth.

He is so huge that if the earth were placed on his shoulders, it would be as insignificant as a bean in the field.

Azrael wrote the true names of all people in the world on the leaves of the Tree of Life behind the throne of God. When a person is about to die, the leaves with their true names will wither in obedience to the will of Allah.

Each of Azrael's eyes gazed upon a living being, and each of his tongue uttered only one sound.

When Azrael picks up the fallen leaves and says his real name, he will close the corresponding eye after forty days.

As a result, the man died.

In Christian folk mythology, Death is a skeleton in a black robe, holding a sickle and swinging it at mortals to harvest their souls. Now in Tripoli, a city where panic is gradually growing, they have heard the hooves of Death's skeleton horses.

Azrael in space was also reciting the real names of mortals one after another.

There were fewer and fewer people on the streets, and the bustling and noisy atmosphere was replaced by doubts and rumors.

Rumors about smallpox became more and more intense and could no longer be contained.

Death rode into Tripoli on horseback, and he alone was not enough.

Therefore, death was divided into two, two into four, four into eight... and it continued like this eleven times before it stopped.

Something doesn't seem right? Why are there so few?

But death will never ask such questions. They just do their jobs and go to their respective designated positions.

As Death headed for his destined location, Gailis also arranged the positions of his subordinates.

These days, with the help of the Cyprus Church's influence on the city of Tripoli, more than half of the Greeks in Tripoli are now connected.

Knights like Joss were also ready for action.

Everything is ready, just waiting for an auspicious day.

The streets of Tripoli are crowded and narrow, with uneven cobblestone pavement.

The buildings on both sides were mostly made of stone bricks, with tattered linen hanging on the windows, blocking out the weak light.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the heavy clouds seemed to weigh down everyone. A gloomy atmosphere enveloped every corner of the city.

At a street corner, there stands a wooden platform that looks like a makeshift structure.

People gathered in groups of two or three around the wooden platform, looking up at the man on the platform.

He was a middle-aged man in a dark robe. His voice was loud and powerful, and even under the cloudy sky, it could still be clearly heard by the people around him.

“Saint Augustine once said: Do what you can, pray for what you cannot do, and God will give you the strength.”

St. Augustine, whose full name is Augustine of Hippo, was an important theologian and philosopher in early Christianity and is considered one of the founders of Western Christian thought.

While on stage, Archos borrowed words from St. Augustine, but he actually did not agree with many of St. Augustine's views.

But there's nothing I can do about it, that's how it is.

"But what is something that can be done with the best of one's ability, and what is something that cannot be done with human power?!"

"Our Lord, Jesus did not succumb to the cross of death, He defeated hatred and death with His forgiveness and love!"

"The Lord's calmness in walking toward the cross proved that nothing in the world is fatalistic, nothing is unforgivable, and nothing is completely hopeless. Everything can be renewed, and the destiny of the world lies in realizing the utopia of the Kingdom of God!"

“The only thing we ask of our Heavenly Father is not that death and suffering be eliminated, but that we be freed from the fear of death and suffering.”

"So it is with smallpox. Any supplication prayer must pay attention to two points: one is the confidence that it will be heard, and the other is to give up the idea that the Heavenly Father will answer according to your will or mine."

"Plague can be repelled, famine can be eliminated, war can be controlled...The grace and freedom God has given us are much greater than you and I can imagine!"

Aljos's loud cries were met with responses from the surrounding citizens, with occasional cries and coughs mixed in, making this already depressing scene even more desolate.

Nowadays, these days, the people represented by Aljos are constantly traveling around the city of Tripoli, taking in those patients.

People around can see it. At least, this is much better than leaving the patient at home to die.

But the invisible boundary was eventually cut into the city of Tripo.

Catholics and Orthodox Christians are like two unrelated groups, keeping to themselves.

Archos's preaching might receive some response from the Orthodox Christians, but it is stagnant among the Catholics.

Aljos himself had been stoned more than once.

Suddenly, the sound of orderly and powerful footsteps came from the street nearby.

A team of fully armed Templar Knights rushed towards the makeshift wooden platform.

Although the long swords in their hands were not unsheathed, the shields in their left hands also turned into weapons and rushed forward.

Innocent people screamed and fled in all directions, and the onlookers were suddenly thrown into chaos and panic, with cries, shouts for help and the sounds of shields colliding mixed together.

The leading knight swung his sword at Alchos, and a flash of lightning struck the sky, followed by a roar of thunder.

Then, the knight roared loudly: "This man is a heretic! He is against the church and spreads heresy. He must be punished!"

After saying that, he drew out his sword without hesitation and pointed it at Alchos.

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(End of this chapter)