novelSusiti Chapter 161 Reinald's True Colors
Chapter 161 Reinald's True Colors
Chapter 161 Reinald's True Colors (Part 1)
Mid-June, 1183 in the Julian calendar, Jerusalem, royal council chamber.
The sweltering heat of midsummer was kept out by the thick stone walls, but it couldn't stop another kind of scorching restlessness from spreading in the hall, making the atmosphere unusually heavy.
Baldwin, despite his illness, sat upright on the throne with great effort, while Lyon sat slightly lower to his right.
Count Raymond stood in the hall holding a diplomatic interpellation document dictated by Saladin and written by Isfahani.
He had just read aloud, in a somber voice, the formal diplomatic inquiry from Sultan Saladin to all the core nobles of the kingdom gathered there—Duke Reinard of Transjordan, Treasurer Joslin, Acting Master of Stable Guy, Balian of Ibelin, Earl Reginald of Sidon, Hugh of Galilee, Acting Grand Master of the Knights Templar Jacob, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Roger, Archbishop William of Tyre, and Patriarch Heraclius of Latin.
Prior to this, the only rumors circulating among the Franks about the Red Sea incident were vague claims that "Raynard may have carried out some attacks in the south."
This document was the first to lay bare the horrifying details of the attack on Mecca and the burning of the Holy Mosque before all the nobles of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The hall fell into a deathly silence for a moment, then was broken by gasps of shock and suppressed exclamations.
"Rainna Erde"
Baldwin's weak voice came from behind the mask, every syllable imbued with utter despair and rage.
He raised his hand, whose deformity was still visible even when it was covered by a glove, and pointed to Reynald, who was sitting below him with his head held high.
"You—you wild boar who only knows how to think with your tusks!" Baldwin's chest heaved violently, as if each breath was draining his already dwindling life force. "I warned you—in the name of the King and the Knights, I explicitly forbade your insane plan! What did you think it was? A routine raid to make a fortune on the southern coast?"
His voice suddenly rose, anger breaking through his ailing weakness: "You attacked ports, plundered merchant ships, even clashed with the Egyptian navy—these, though foolish, though contrary to my policy of seeking rest, were still—still in the gray area of war! But you—what right do you have?! What right do you have to step into Mecca?! What right do you have to set fire to the holiest temple in the Islamic world?! What right do you have to—raise your sword and strike those unarmed priests and scholars who only know how to kneel and pray to their gods?!"
Between questioning Reynald, Baldwin's eyes would occasionally and unintentionally sweep over Lyon on his right.
His gaze was incredibly complex, as if questioning, "You really—were completely unaware? My clever brother."
Leon then lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and clenched his fist slightly on his knee, revealing an innocent expression.
Baldwin took a deep breath and turned his gaze to Raymond, indicating that he could speak.
Raymond's face remained ashen after reading Saladin's diplomatic documents; who could understand the embarrassment he felt when receiving Saladin's envoy in Tripoli!
Wang Guo was in the wrong, and he had no way to defend himself!
"Reinald!" Thinking this, Raymond stepped forward towards Reinald, his face contemptuously sternly rebuking him, "Your feat" has utterly destroyed the delicate balance that countless people had painstakingly maintained over the past few years, even at the cost of their lives! Saladin is focused entirely on the north; this is a golden opportunity for us to recuperate and build up our strength! And now, the fire you've ignited will mercilessly drag his gaze and all his anger back south, down upon each and every one of us! You've robbed the kingdom of precious breathing time, dragging us all to the brink of a full-scale war that could erupt at any moment! This is a betrayal of the entire kingdom!"
Reinald, legs crossed, said, "So what!"
Upon seeing this, Raymond's stepson, Hugh of Galilee, immediately chimed in his father's defense: "Father is right! You've always been a reckless madman! It's because of your greed and recklessness that the kingdom is about to face annihilation!"
Reinald: "So what!"
Earl Reginald of Seton shook his head and sighed, remaining silent.
Reinald: "————"
Jocelyn clutched his chest, his voice heavy with sorrow: "Years of war have already left the kingdom's finances in dire straits. Duke, your actions have only compounded our already impoverished situation. How are we to face another wave of conflict? How long has it been since our spring planting season ended? How can the kingdom's resources—its finances, its military strength, its food supplies—support a full-scale war against a thoroughly enraged Saladin?"
Reinald: "So what!"
Balian of Ibelin stood up, staring intently at Reynald: "Duke, even on the battlefield, we must adhere to basic principles! Slaughtering non-combatants, especially religious figures, and trampling on what they consider sacred ground—this is a grave violation of the knightly oath and spirit! We fight to defend our faith and our homeland, not to become thugs who burn, loot, and desecrate everything! Your actions have tarnished the honor of all Crusaders!"
"So what!"
Grand Master Roger of the Hospitallers said noncommittally, "Grand Master Gerald's ransom negotiations were already at a stalemate, and Saladin might have been able to treat him with chivalry. But now this has happened—Duke, your actions not only put the kingdom in danger, but may also endanger the Grand Master's life—"
"Well then—alright, but believe me, Saladin won't be willing to touch Gerald."
Roger's acting Templar Grand Master, Jacob, was dozing with his eyes closed. He was occasionally startled awake by a few loud rebukes. He lifted his eyelids and saw that they were all cursing Reinald. He was used to it, so he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
At this moment, Archbishop William of Tyre, who rarely discussed politics, suddenly stood up and exclaimed with great distress, "Foolishness! A terrible, irreparable folly! Mecca—it is more than just a mosque! For centuries, it has been one of the centers of Arabic scholarship, a gathering place for philosophical, medical, astronomical, and mathematical texts from Persia, India, and even further afield! It is a treasure trove of human wisdom, a crystallization of civilization regardless of faith!"
And you—you brute, for that despicable gold and empty glory, you actually set fire to it, letting priceless wisdom turn to ashes in the flames! You didn't just destroy a heretic's sanctuary; you destroyed the shared heritage of all humanity! This is a crime against knowledge, a trampling of civilization itself!
"So what!"
After speaking, William looked expectantly at the Latin Patriarch Heraclius sitting next to him, hoping that the Patriarch would also say a few words.
However, Chirac only moved his lips a few times, his face pale.
He wanted to speak, but when he caught a glimpse of Reinald's imposing figure and unrepentant profile, he remembered the rumors of how the duke had persecuted uncooperative bishops in Antioch, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He lowered his head heavily, toying with the power ring in his hand, and chose to remain silent.
At this moment, the acting head of the stables, Jui, felt the most complicated emotions. Once upon a time, he too was a representative of the warmongering faction.
But after taking the position of military commander and truly facing the pressure from Saladin, he deeply understood the gap in strength and the necessity of caution.
He did not agree with Reynard's advocacy of a full-scale war and was uneasy about such extreme provocation.
However, he had a past as a pro-war ally of Reinard, and he himself had a history of impulsive and reckless actions.
To kick Reynald while he was down now, just to curry favor with the king and his colleagues, would be utterly despicable and shameless.
His face was tense, his eyes fixed on the ground, and he too chose to remain silent.