Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 263: Balian in Akka

Ancestor worship, treating death as life, worrying about bloodline inheritance, dissatisfaction with social status...

All of these, in fact, to a certain extent, explain why the ancient Chinese had an "involutionary" tendency that is difficult for other nations to understand.

If you win the lottery, you won't have to worry about the worship for three generations. If you don't win the lottery but your son wins, the effect is actually the same.

It also explains why the Chinese have a dilemma about whether adopted sons or stepsons should inherit the family business, which is difficult to understand for other nations.

On the one hand, they have no biological children, so they have to find a son-in-law or stepson to inherit the family business. On the other hand, when facing their stepsons, they often feel particularly unhappy and have different worries.

After all, [stepson] also has his own ancestors.

The ancestors of two people are indeed different. Even if one adopts a brother's son, the "father" he has to worship may not be himself, so it is natural to be worried.

Even the emperor would encounter the problem of the "Nine Temples of the Son of Heaven". When the nine temples were full, even the emperor would be asked to leave.

Further extension leads to an even more bizarre phenomenon: the purpose of many Chinese families buying and selling children is not to make them slaves...

Instead, they expect the bought children to regard them as their biological parents and take care of them in their old age, see them to their grave, and even inherit the family business.

Indeed, child trafficking is a global phenomenon, but the purpose of trafficking is not to use them as slaves, which is something other nations cannot understand.

But in the Abrahamic religious systems, there is a different answer.

Biological fathers cannot be the same, but God can be the same. “Heavenly Father” is not only the Father of Jesus, but also the Father of all people.

In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, it is clearly mentioned that all people will become adopted sons of the Heavenly Father.

Once you go to heaven, you no longer need the help of your own blood descendants.

Then ensuring that you go to heaven after your death is more important than giving birth to children.

Eternal life after one's death is naturally more important than raising children.

This also means that although the European aristocracy cares about the extinction of their bloodline, they actually don't care as much as the Chinese.

In fact, in Garys's opinion.

If the upper class, whether it is the clergy or the aristocracy, could experience large-scale extinction, it would actually be a good thing for social stability.

A general's son will certainly be a general, but what if the general has no son at all?
Naturally, this leaves a channel for upward movement.

These similar questions have actually troubled Gellis for a long time, and he needs to give clear answers in his own sect.

Because he was still ambiguous, he actually tried deliberate natural contraception.

Gellis not only anointed Sibyl with oil of the sick, but also chatted with Sibyl for a long time as Isabella's fiancé.

Before parting, Sibilla said a few words to Gaillis.

"Gallis, can you help me take care of my daughters?"

Gellis hesitated.

"And Guy..."

After all, those children are actually Guy's bloodline.

Sibyl remained silent, her tired eyes revealing her thoughts.

"Stop talking, they are your nieces too."

……

Acre returned, meaning that the city's population in the Kingdom of Jerusalem doubled.

This is of great significance to the kingdom.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem, as a medium-sized country in the 12th century, its social model is actually unique in the world.

At the end of the 12th century, few regions in the world had an urban population ratio exceeding 10%. Of course, China exceeded that figure. During this era, the urban population ratio of the Southern Song Dynasty accounted for approximately 22.4% of the total population.

And what about the Crusader States?
Although the population of the Crusader States was less than one million when they flourished, later scholars speculated that the proportion of urban population may have reached an astonishing 30%.

There are many factors, the main ones are:

First, the Palestinian region, the Syrian region, and the Nile Delta are all grain-producing areas that can support a large urban population.

Second, there is a developed handicraft industry that has continued from the Roman era. Cities are able to produce goods by processing raw materials and obtain currency from surrounding areas to purchase food.

The third reason is that the town can provide excellent protection for the Franks who came from afar. The land under the rule of the Crusaders was not a friendly place. Conflicts and killings existed all the time. The walls of the town could often provide protection for the Franks, who were a minority group.

With such a large urban population, the Franks' control over the Holy Land was essentially radiating outward from the towns.

Rural areas that were difficult to control were granted autonomy to collect taxes.

The city's status is so important that even Gellis can't help but be cautious.

Acre had a unique position for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

This is the largest city in Palestine, with a large population and an economic center.

In the original history, even though only Acre was left, the Crusader Kingdom persisted in Palestine until 1291, when it was completely expelled.

The addition of a city of Acre actually meant that the financial revenue of the Kingdom of Jerusalem would double.

In this case, even if he did not govern the place personally, he appointed Balian to temporarily serve as the governor there.

Balian's daily work, in addition to communicating with the wealthy businessmen in the city to ensure that the trade between Acre and the Arabs would not be interrupted by the war, was to take people to patrol the city.

Eden went with him, and they first entered through the gate of the outer wall and into the gate of the inner wall.

Then they walked from the new city into the old city. The two men and their servants did not move in a hurry, showing the citizens of Acre a calmness that everything was under control.

This was certainly a show, but it did have the effect of calming the people.

This time, when they passed a crossroads, the two stopped.

In front of them, a German Crusader was pinned down by the soldiers from Gellis's side.

A Paladin wearing a knight's tunic with an equilateral red cross was arguing with another German knight.

When Balian and Eden arrived at this intersection, their argument stopped. Paladin saluted Balian, and Balian returned the salute, while the German knight quickly saluted Eden.

"What happened?" Balian asked.

"Sir, my men caught a soldier who was raping a woman. When we were about to enforce military law on him, his superiors came out to interfere." Paladin explained the whole process in just one sentence.

Balian looked at the soldier who was pinned down and saw that his pants were unbuttoned. He then glanced at the knight who was obstructing the execution of military law. A sense of pressure suddenly fell on the knight's shoulders.

"You should know about military law. The distribution of spoils does not include 'people'." Balian said to the knight.

As early as when Tyre was preparing for war, Gailis had agreed on some details with many nobles who would participate in the battle, and clarified the method of distributing the spoils.

One of the laws is that anyone who robs citizens of Acre or rapes women will be sentenced to death.

As compensation, every soldier who participated in the siege of Acre, regardless of whether he killed the enemy or not and regardless of which army he belonged to, could receive a combat allowance of five dinars.

The spoils taken from the city were also distributed according to the performance of the armies of each side, and a principle was established: no one in Acre would be sold into slavery.

It was precisely because of such policies and military laws that the Crusaders avoided much unrest after taking control of Acre and quickly stabilized the situation.

The lowest-ranking soldiers might not care enough about the agreement with the nobles to understand how strict it was.

But the knights must be aware of this. After all, the combat allowance that Garys gave to the knights was as high as 20 gold dinars, which was already quite a lot of money.

Because of this understanding, the knight's legs subconsciously went weak after hearing Balian's words.

Balian was not a kind person. Among the many things he did in Jerusalem, he robbed nobles and killed wealthy businessmen. His strict military discipline was not unfamiliar to the Crusaders.

Although from a third-party perspective, one would think that what Balian did was not particularly big.

But this German knight realized that he seemed to be in the position of a "victim".

Many knights and nobles always felt uncomfortable when dealing with Balian.

Balian looked at them as if he were looking at the dead bones in a grave. That indifference and a hint of ridicule made people feel uncomfortable.

Moreover, Balian often talked to himself and seemed to be communicating with inexplicable people, as if he was possessed by the devil.

This indifference and ridicule, coupled with rumors of being possessed, plus Balian's reputation as a noble massacre, brought a different kind of pressure. Moreover, Balian had killed people himself, and he had killed quite a few...

The oppression brought by such a person speaking to him in such an unfriendly tone made the knight unconsciously take two steps back.

But sometimes, one cannot just give up. At least this German knight does not want to lose face in front of his Royal Highness the Prince.

"It's just a Saracen woman!"

"But she is a citizen of our country." Franks or Saracens, the difference between the two actually involves national sentiment bias for Balian.

But from the Leper King to the present Garys, everyone has given an answer.

It is necessary to reconcile with the Saracens in the country, otherwise the Kingdom of Jerusalem will never be able to return to normal.

Garys had talked to him about this before.

[What do you think would happen if the Franks attacked the Muslim community? What would be the result if the trial was conducted in a fair and just manner?]

[The Franks would think that we were not pious enough, or even that we were going against God’s will.]

[What if we allow the Franks to attack the Muslims? The domestic Saracen community will unite to fight against them, and they may even seek help from the Saracen leader abroad, that is, Saladin.]

In the eyes of the Franks, the royal government is their own people. If they don't help their own people but help the pagans, they must be corrupted by the pagans. In the eyes of the Saracens, they are the victims, and their revenge is just and reasonable...

"Whether they are Saracens or Franks, they are all my people." Balian emphasized again.

Then, Balian looked at Eden beside him and continued:

"If you want to be the king of this land, remember one thing. If you regard Saracen civilians as enemies, then those Saracen people will also regard you as an enemy. Even if you can't treat them equally, you should not have no bottom line."

“The old Kingdom of Jerusalem certainly created a barrier between the Franks and the Saracens, but it would also protect the legitimate interests of the Saracens.”

"But we decided to go one step further. The Holy City will be a holy city for everyone, whether Saracens or Franks. On our land, they must bear corresponding responsibilities and obligations. I treat them fairly, and they treat me fairly."

Eden could actually understand this concept, because it was essentially what a universal empire needed to pursue in order to deal with conflicts among multiple ethnic groups within the country.

In fact, Eden's father, Barbarossa, also handled the problem in Shinra in this way.

Barbarossa sought to establish a universal "Roman Empire". He believed that the German "Rome" was not the real Rome.

In Barbarossa's view, whether Germans, Italians, or even Jews, they should all be loyal to his empire and be the subjects of his empire.

For this reason, Barbarossa specifically protected the Jews in his own country on the eve of the Crusade and prohibited the persecution of Jews who had paid taxes.

Since Barbarossa could obtain Jewish taxes and support by protecting the Jews.

Then he should follow suit when he ruled overseas in Eden.

Moreover, how could he restrain his own troops if they could satisfy their needs by plundering the Saracens without going through him?

Garys had already issued combat allowances before the war, and the soldiers had received what they deserved.

Although five dinars are not a lot of money, these soldiers are not required to fight bloody battles. They are just marching for dozens of kilometers and standing guard to defend the city walls. If this cannot satisfy them, it only proves that human greed is endless.

Eden didn't like greedy people. At least he didn't allow his subordinates to take things that didn't belong to them without his permission.

Looking at the soldier who couldn't control his lower body, Eden showed disgust. He drew his sword, took two steps forward, and cleanly cut off the offending soldier's head.

The German knight on the side wanted to say something, but when he saw the face of his prince, he understood his dissatisfaction with him.

"Tell the other soldiers and knights that all the troops of the German Crusaders who participated in the siege of Acre will receive an extra dinar allowance, while the knights will receive an extra five dinars. This is a generous gift from me, the Duke of Swabia, but any looters will be killed without mercy."

Eden looked at the pale-faced German knight.

Although his pockets were not as fat as those of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the military funds left to him by Barbarossa were actually sufficient.

Especially since most of the original 15,000 German Crusaders have now left, and only 6,000 are willing to follow him, so the use of military funds will be more abundant.

During the siege of Acre, Eden learned two qualities from Gellis, one was justice and the other was generosity.

Treat your people justly and treat your troops generously.

Of course, generosity does not mean unlimited indulgence. Only when there are rewards and punishments and it is combined with justice can generosity be meaningful. If one indulges blindly, he will only be implicated by the name of generosity and then backfire.

In fact, there is a clear discussion about the reputation of generosity in The Prince. Pursuing the reputation of generosity will inevitably lead to the reputation of greed, because in order to maintain his generosity, the monarch always has to make up for it from other places, and is often forced to harm the ordinary people who make up the majority of the country.

However, this is not absolute. When a monarch leads his troops to war, and supplies are obtained from looting, ransom, or a large amount of military funds accumulated in advance through frugality, generosity is very necessary, otherwise the soldiers will no longer follow him.

Right now, Eden is trying to win over those German Crusaders to his side through the name of generosity.

Balian nodded. He was happy to see Frederick's growth. It was always easier to work with smart people than with stupid ones.

Although he felt that what Eden did was a bit extreme, it was not a bad thing.

Just at this moment, Balian heard a voice coming from the side.

"Yes... that's right..."

A man wearing a white royal robe and a crown appeared beside him.

Although Balian was somewhat accustomed to it, he still sensed something unusual. This time, the figure of the "Leprosy King" seemed much more solid and no longer illusory.

Perhaps feeling his gaze, the "Leper King" turned his head and pushed his iron mask, allowing Balian to see a smile on the corner of his mouth.

Balian was stunned, because the face beneath the iron mask seemed completely different from what he remembered.

It was not the rotten skin that lepers usually have, but instead looked very rosy and lively.

Balian seemed to sense something and realized something.

Just as he opened his mouth slightly, the Leper King completely took off his mask.

Full of vitality and energy, handsome guys...

These adjectives, which should not appear on the Leper King, flashed in Balian's mind.

The Leper King he saw now was what a young man should look like.

"A few years ago, I was called by the Lord and ascended to heaven. After all the sins of the world were washed away, I was able to see the Heavenly Father. From then on, I knew that the Son of the Heavenly Father would come to the world carrying the Holy Word, and he would shoulder the destiny from birth."

"This desolate and broken land was once a mighty nation ruled by the Heavenly Father, but now a pheasant sits on the throne. The times are in disarray, and order has collapsed. The man who died from the wound was a messenger who returned to the world in order to make it right."

"Balyan, have you ever heard that the wrath of the Lord, the Father, is like a consuming fire, burning until the sins of all the nations are completely wiped out."

"In the past, the kings and nobles of Jerusalem sinned against the Lord because of their evil deeds. Their steps deviated from the right path, they were intoxicated with power, and they turned away from the destiny of God, which eventually aroused the wrath of the Lord. The destruction of old Jerusalem today is just like the wandering of the Jewish people in the wilderness in ancient times, and just like the collapse of the Kingdom of Israel, all of which are caused by the destiny of God."

"But the Father's will will eventually flow like a river. He has declared that a new nation will rise from the ashes of the people, like the dawn, shining upon all nations."

“And now that kingdom is coming.”

"But you don't have much time left..."

"I'll wait for you to come."

Balian tried to touch him, but the Leper King was blown away by the wind.

For a moment, Balian felt dizzy and gasping for breath. He could clearly feel that his body was not as strong as before.

Eden, who was standing by, hurried over to support Balian, but Balian did not push him away.

In fact, if it weren't for Eden, he might have collapsed just now.

Maybe, it's really coming to an end...

……

Saladin's army is currently gathering in the city of Tiberias west of the Sea of ​​Galilee. It is only 40 kilometers from Acre to Tiberias, and 100 kilometers from Tyre to Damascus.

The Second Kingdom was unable to conduct regular reconnaissance of Damascus, but based in Acre it could conduct round-the-clock surveillance of Tiberias.

Through the Tukopo soldiers recruited from Antioch, Acre received daily feedback on the situation in Tiberias.

In September 1189, a message was passed from the light cavalry on a reconnaissance mission in Tiberias to Acre, and then from Acre to Tyre.

"Saladin finally couldn't bear it anymore and decided to take action first," said Gailis at the meeting.

"Then he chose to go south?" The other people attending the meeting expressed great sympathy for Saladin's desperate behavior.

"He doesn't really think that Transjordan is a soft persimmon."

"I'm not sure whether they are a soft persimmon, but the developments in Transjordan are indeed quite radical and have begun to threaten Jerusalem," said Gellis.

In the past few days, whether it is Tyre or Transjordan, it is not to say that they have been doing nothing but repairs.

Tyre stepped up its efforts to build the Order of the Knights Templar, deepened its ties with Acre, and regularized many prospective Paladins. It then selected a large number of attendants from those who were actively trained and brave in combat, and carried out theoretical teaching and various trainings.

While Transjordan was preparing for war, it also stretched its claws outward.

The soldiers in Transjordan, relying on the human resources of the Arnon Valley, mobilized the masses to build an earthen fort near the small town of Madaba, and then stationed about one or two companies in it.

At first, the Ayyubid dynasty did not pay much attention to such a small earthen fort, but as time passed,
Due to the convenience of gunpowder in quarrying stones, the earthen fort began to expand and build stone walls at an astonishing speed.

(End of this chapter)