The Restoration of Rome: In the Name of Augustus

Chapter 51 Reinard's Plan

The keels of the five galleys, like the spines of a giant beast, were deeply etched in the shadows cast by the torches. The already installed ribs stretched upwards like exposed ribs, awaiting to be covered by planks. Once fully assembled, the hulls, according to Balian, would likely be close to twenty meters long.

"So this is the plan that Reinald has been keeping secret all along?" Balian was filled with doubt. "But Transjordan is deep in the desert, not on the coast. What exactly does he want to do with a galley of this size?"

He involuntarily took a step forward, wanting to see more clearly. Just then, from the thick shadow cast by the ship, three figures suddenly emerged—two longswords and a crossbow—instantly locking onto Balian.

They are the guards here.

"Who are you? How did you find this place?!" the lead guard shouted, his voice sounding particularly tense in the empty cave.

Balian calmly lifted his hood, revealing his face, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Balian of Ibelin. The king, fearing Saladin might return, ordered me to patrol the city's defenses at night. I noticed something amiss here, so I came to investigate." His gaze swept over the unfinished hulls, finally settling on the guards' faces. "Gentlemen, would you be willing to answer my questions and satisfy my curiosity?"

The guards exchanged bewildered glances. Their opponent was a nobleman, and moreover, he was acting on the king's orders. They dared not offend a nobleman, nor disobey Lord Reynald's strict orders. For a moment, they froze, at a loss for what to do. One of the guards, sword in hand, lowered his voice and urgently said to his companion beside him, who was holding a crossbow, "Quick! Report to the Duke! Say... the man is Balian of Ibelin, but he's dressed like a thief!"

The guards with crossbows responded and fled, their footsteps echoing rapidly through the cave. In the dim light, only two uneasy guards remained, along with the ever-calm Balian.

Meanwhile, Reynald sat in his room, filled with suspicion and restless. King Baldwin IV sat opposite him, calmly sipping his mint tea. Reynald couldn't understand why the king had come to his room in the middle of the night just to drink this cup of tea.

"It tastes good." Baldwin gently set down the exquisite porcelain cup. "The cup is also very beautiful."

Reinald's lips twitched slightly, and he forced a smile: "If Your Majesty likes them, you may take some back with you."

"How generous! You must have plenty more of this kind of good stuff." Baldwin leaned forward, looking into Reynald's eyes. "Tell me, what good things have you gotten from the Muslim caravans?"

Reinald's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat: "Your Majesty, you know me... I only occasionally punished some merchants who violated the laws of the territory, and the fines I received were all used for the Lord's great cause. How could I dare to keep anything for myself..." He pointed to the teacups on the table, "These are just tolls voluntarily offered by the merchants..."

A very soft laugh came from behind the mask.

"Look at you," Baldwin said with a hint of amusement, "I was just asking casually. When did I say I was going to punish you?" He leaned back, his tone becoming distant. "My condition has stabilized a bit lately, and I'm in a better mood. I just wanted to talk to you. I still often reminisce about the days when we fought side by side in Montguiza. The future battles, and my brother Leon, will also require your support."

Reinald was taken aback. The king had never spoken to him so frankly before, and he was almost moved to tears: "Your Majesty, please take care of your health. Although I, Reinald, am usually careless, when it comes to fighting Saladin or the heretics, I will show no mercy! Wherever Your Majesty directs, I, Reinald, will fight! Prince Lyon is related to me, and if my son Humphry is fortunate enough to marry Princess Isabella, it will be a double blessing!"

"I am very pleased to hear you say that." Baldwin nodded, picked up the porcelain cup again, gently lifted a corner of his mask, and drank the tea.

Just then, an announcement came from outside the door: "Your Grace! There's an emergency!"

Reinald looked suspiciously towards the doorway: "Speak!"

The guard outside hesitated, saying, "Sir... the messenger said that you need to come in person..."

Reinald's expression shifted, and he cautiously glanced at Baldwin out of the corner of his eye. The king remained motionless, holding his teacup, unresponsive. As if sensing Reinald's gaze, he spoke calmly, "Do not worry about me, Duke. Go and attend to your affairs."

Reinald felt slightly relieved and quickly left the room, accompanied by a guard. He saw his trusted confidant, whom he had placed in the cave to oversee the work, pacing anxiously back and forth in the courtyard below. Reinald's heart sank, and before the man could even steady himself, he asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

The trusted aide hurriedly reported back: "My lord! A thief has broken into the cave! He claims to be from Ibelin..."

"Varian?"

Baldwin's voice, like a ghost, suddenly rang out behind Reinald. The king had silently strolled out, hands behind his back, his tone leisurely: "Duke, I know Balian well. He has no interest in ordinary pleasures. What interests him… I suppose I'd like to like as well." He paused, his gaze, through his mask, calmly landing on Reinald's face. "Mind if I come along?"

Reynald stared blankly at the king, and in a flash, he understood everything.

He felt neither rage nor despair, only a profound, overwhelming sense of powerlessness. When Baldwin ascended the throne at a young age, almost all the nobles were pessimistic about him, until the Battle of Montgis. Reynald, who was on the battlefield charging alongside the king, witnessed firsthand the young monarch's strategy and skill. From that moment on, this man, known to the world as a "madman" and a "traitor," became utterly devoted to Baldwin.

However, loyalty was loyalty, and political views were political views. He could never agree with Baldwin's strategy of long-term compromise with the Ayyubid dynasty and seeking stability by avoiding war due to his illness. Therefore, he courted Guy and Gerald, embezzled from the national treasury, and plundered caravans... but deep down he remained loyal to the king.

Two years ago, out of dissatisfaction with the outcome of previous battles and to avenge the humiliation of being imprisoned by Muslims for over a decade, he launched this insane plan. He secretly dug caves, recruited craftsmen, and built galleys in sections, intending to transport them by camel to the Muslim-controlled port of Aqaba in the south, assemble them, and launch them, before launching a surprise attack on the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

He had imagined Saladin's furious reaction countless times. But now, for some reason, Balian had thwarted his plan. The king would never allow him to carry out such an attack that violated the code of chivalry.

The unspoken power struggle between him and the king came to an end the moment the plan was exposed. Reinald felt as if all his strength had been drained away; he turned to the king, a bitter smile on his face.

"Your Majesty..." His voice carried a hint of resentment, "Your mask... it turns out it wasn't just worn on your face."