novelSusiti Chapter 191 Land Route or Sea Route?
Chapter 191 Land Route or Sea Route?
Chapter 191 Land Route or Sea Route? (Part 3)
The downpour gradually subsided before dawn, but the sky remained overcast with low-hanging leaden clouds.
When Lyon and Henry emerged from the mansion, the streets of Nicaea were already a muddy mess.
Water gushed from the cracks in the stone path, forming puddles of all sizes in the low-lying areas, reflecting the hazy sky.
The roads leading out of the city were extremely muddy, and the horses' hooves splashed up murky mud as they trod on them, making travel very difficult.
They refused the carriage offered by Isaac and insisted on riding horses. Accompanied by several soldiers, they trudged through the muddy city gate area and arrived at the military camp they had set up outside the city the day before.
The campsite looked somewhat messy after being soaked by a night of torrential rain.
The edges of the tents were covered in mud and water, the campfire had been extinguished, and the ground was muddy and difficult to walk on.
However, the soldiers had already begun their daily tidying and drying work, and order was still maintained.
Upon seeing Lyon and Henry arrive, the leaders immediately stepped forward to greet them.
Leon did not enter any tents. Instead, he ordered all centurions and representatives of mercenary leaders to gather in a relatively dry, elevated open area in the center of the camp.
Soon, the four men—Tholfin, the leader of the Danes; Catalonia, the leader of the Catalans; Fritz, the leader of the Bohemians; and an old centurion chosen as the representative of the Jerusalem crossbowmen—gathered before Lyon.
Although the soldiers were curious, discipline kept them at a distance and only watched from a distance.
Lyon stood on a large rock; he got straight to the point; in a voice that everyone could hear, he briefly explained the current situation and the two routes back to Constantinople, without concealing the fact that the sea voyage would have to be carried out in batches and that the ships might be different from the warships that had brought them there.
"That's the situation." Lyon's gaze swept over the diverse faces of the people before him, each with their own cultural background and experiences. "Two paths, each with its advantages and risks. By land, we might face difficulties from Bartolomaeus, the Nicomedia garrison commander, or even worse. By sea, we need to temporarily separate the group and travel on ships provided by the Empire that we are unfamiliar with. This matter concerns everyone's safety and return journey, and I cannot make a decision unilaterally. Therefore, I would like to hear your opinions. Any thoughts are welcome."
The leaders were silent for a moment, and the first to speak was Catalan, the leader of Catalonia.
The lean, dark-skinned man scratched his messy hair, his eyes gleaming, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the sea route sounds faster and less strenuous. We Catalans are used to climbing mountains and wading through rivers, so we're not afraid of traveling by boat. However—"
He paused, glancing at the expressions of the other leaders around him. "This splitting up—Your Highness, we've followed you from the Holy Land across the ocean to here, fighting and marching all the way. To be honest, besides the promised rewards, we trust you as a person. We feel that following you means fighting, making money, and not being used as cannon fodder. But if we're separated from you, if you leave on the first batch of ships, we'll have to wait for the second—on this vast ocean, there's always a sense of unease. It's not that we don't trust you, Your Highness, but in our line of work, the rules are that money and clients must be tangible and real. What if—I mean, what if—something changes at sea, or something changes in Constantinople? Who will we, the second group, turn to? What about the rewards—how will they be calculated then?"
The Danish leader, Thorfinn, nodded in agreement, then spoke in a low, booming voice, his massive frame like a wall and his voice like muffled thunder: "By boat? No problem! We Danes grew up on the waves! But Catalan is right, separate?"
"Oh no! Your Highness, you are our employer, the alpha wolf who led us to wealth. How can a pack be without its alpha? We're on a ship, but you're not on it. What if the Romans on board feed us moldy bread and give us watered-down sour wine? Who can we complain to? When we get to that Golden Horn, we're in an unfamiliar place. Where should we, a hundred brothers, stand? Who should we listen to? What if—uh, what if something happens to your ship? Wouldn't the rest of us be orphans? Who will we ask for our payment? Who will show us the way back to the Holy Land?"
The Bohemian leader Fritz, speaking in heavily accented Latin, cried out almost in despair, "Your Highness, Lord Henry—by sea, we—we really can't take it anymore."
His face was pale, as if simply mentioning the ship trip had triggered terrible memories: "The journey from the Holy Land was more grueling than fighting ten hard battles. We were vomiting uncontrollably, our limbs were weak, and our armor felt like torture instruments. Many brothers disembarked and didn't recover for days. To go through that again—and be separated again? Without Henry, our old comrade, encouraging us, without familiar brothers supporting each other—Your Highness, I'm afraid—we'd rather take our weapons and fight our way back to Constantinople by land than suffer that ordeal on a ship again!"
His words immediately drew loud agreement from the other Bohemian soldiers around him.
Lyon's expression turned grim. He exchanged a glance with Henry, then looked at the crossbow captain who had remained silent.
Seeing Lyon looking at him, the old captain stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed: "Your Highness, the crossbowmen will obey your orders."
Whether by land or sea, whether forces are divided or not, we will resolutely carry out our orders. We only have one point to make: whatever your decision, a portion of our police force must accompany you on board to provide your personal protection. This is our duty. As for other arrangements, we trust Your Highness's judgment.
The situation seems to have reached a stalemate.
Lyon and Henry walked aside and began to discuss in hushed tones.
They must come up with a solution that can balance the demands of all parties while minimizing the risks as much as possible.
About fifteen minutes later, Lyon walked back to the crowd.
His face was grave. This decision was difficult, but it was the best solution he and Henry could come up with.
"Gentlemen," he raised his voice, "I have heard your concerns and understand them. Without trust, an army is a disorganized mess. Ignoring the suffering of soldiers makes a commander incompetent. We must take the sea route; it is the lesser of two evils under the current circumstances. But we can discuss a more secure method for how to do it."
He paused to make sure everyone was focused, then continued, “First, regarding our brothers in Bohemia. I understand your seasickness, and since it's unbearable, I won't force you. But you can't travel overland alone either; the risk is too great. Here's what we'll do: five large panphilon ships, each carrying a hundred people. You three hundred will occupy three of them. You're all of the same kind, so you can look after each other and reduce your anxiety. Moreover, you'll be the first to depart.”
"Secondly, regarding our brothers in Catalonia. You two hundred men will occupy the remaining two large ships, setting sail right after our brothers in Bohemia. Are you worried I'll run away? No need." Lyon's gaze swept over Catalonia and Thorfinn. "Once you arrive at the Golden Horn, your first task will be to find our fleet left there, to find my captain, Zachary. I think you're already familiar with him; he's an old subordinate, and the fleet is my most important asset. You keep an eye on him and the fleet. That way, even if I wanted to run, where could I go? My ships and my trusted captain will be right under your noses. Even—I mean, even in the worst-case scenario, if I fail to reunite with you as scheduled—you can still have Captain Zachary, according to the contract, transport you back to Jerusalem with the fleet. I can give you a warrant beforehand, proving that your payment will continue to be paid by my brother, His Majesty King Baldwin of Jerusalem. In this way, your contract and payment will be doubly guaranteed."
"Thirdly, regarding the Danish warriors," Lyon said, looking at Thorfinn. "After the first five large ships have delivered the Bohemians and Catalans, they will return to pick you up. At that time, you one hundred men will immediately board the returning ships."
The time difference won't be too long, and when you arrive, your Bohemian and Catalan brothers, who arrived earlier, along with our fleet, will be there to meet you at the Golden Horn. The environment will be much more familiar.
"Fourth, regarding myself and the Jerusalem crossbowmen," Leon concluded. "Henry, along with four hundred crossbowmen, will depart as the last group aboard the remaining four ships. The remaining one hundred crossbowmen will be dispersed among other available small boats and merchant ships to accompany us."
After speaking, Lyon scanned the room: "This is an arrangement that Henry and I believe best balances security and the concerns of all parties under the current circumstances. Of course, it still requires everyone's agreement and cooperation. What do you think?"
The open space was silent. The leaders of the various branches of the military looked at each other and whispered their opinions to their deputies or comrades.
Fritz nodded first, his expression still not good, but noticeably more relaxed: "If we can stay together as a group, the first to leave—maybe, okay, we can barely hold on."
Catalan's eyes darted around, and he smiled as well: "The first batch to arrive—alright, Your Highness, we old folks have no objections to this arrangement. As long as we don't have to wait too long and the sea is calm, that's fine."
Thorfinn stroked his stubble-covered chin, spoke a few words in a deep voice to his Danish companion, then turned to Lyon: "Watching over the ships and the captain? That's a good job! As long as you clearly state the payment in writing, we Danes keep our word and guarantee to keep a close watch on your fleet!"
The Jerusalem crossbowmen centurions stepped forward, right hand on their breasts: "We obey Your Highness's orders!"
Seeing that everyone had basically accepted it, a huge weight was finally lifted off Lyon's shoulders.
"Alright." Lyon's voice became firm. "Since there are no major objections, let's begin preparations according to this plan. Henry, you are responsible for coordinating with General Isaac on ship allocation, batch times, and details of General Stephen's escort. All units, begin packing immediately, checking weapons, and especially ensuring waterproofing. We will likely depart for Kizicus port after the rain stops and weather permits."