Chapter 940 - 163: The Agitator
More and more Germanic people gathered beside the scaffold.
Many impoverished Germanic Crusaders wore tattered old robes, their beards unkempt, lips cracked, and faces sallow, as if they were carved from the same mold.
Those dressed a bit more brightly were mostly newcomers who had just arrived from Europe to the Holy Land, not yet ravaged by the prolonged siege.
At first, they just followed the Crusader from Bohemia, singing "Saint Rosalia’s Hymn," but soon became parched and had to stop.
A Germanic Knight brought a goatskin water sack to his mouth, only managing to squeeze out a few drops that fell onto his chapped lips and disappeared without needing him to swallow.
"The Gauls on the other side, they are enjoying fine wine while we don’t even have a cask of clean water!"
A high-pitched voice suddenly rang out.
"We’ve had enough of this unjust treatment!"
All the Germanic Crusaders turned their eyes to him. It was a young soldier in a worn coverall, a cross stained with blood on his chest. He pounded his chest and shouted:
"Our dead comrades have no place for burial, our afflicted friends have no one to heal them, those wealthy Gauls, born with fertile lands my Germanic brothers lack, live in comfort yet show no generosity or righteousness towards their Christian brothers."
"They only say, look, those lazy, impoverished Germanic rabble! Then shamelessly take our warhorses, depriving our knights of their glory, and boast that it’s the greatest contribution we can make to the holy war!"
The words echoed the thoughts of many German Knights.
During these times, even the Germanic nobles and Knights found life difficult, perhaps this was the moment they resonated most with the common Pilgrims, both sides began to shout.
"Well said!"
Unable to articulate such a logical argument themselves, they all momentarily saw this young man as their "spokesman," gathering around him to hear his impassioned rhetoric.
The young soldier continued: "Jesus once said: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of the Heavenly Lord."
"Can it be that to a Knight, living contently in poverty is no longer a virtue, but a flaw to be attacked?"
"No, certainly not! We Germans have the world’s most diligent farmers, and the bravest warriors, we destroyed the old Western Empire to build anew on its ruins, we’ve kept the heretics at bay in the Eastern, spreading the Heavenly Lord’s glory among the barbarians. While we fought the Vikings and Wends, the Gauls enjoyed leisure in the western continent."
"My Germanic comrades, we can no longer remain silent. A new king has been crowned in Jerusalem, His Majesty Losa will soon reign, we’re no longer lonely people without support, we should stand up and demand from the Gauls what is ours!"
Leopold listened quietly, not sharing much in the Germanic sense of ethnic identity, yet found the speech surprisingly agreeable.
"He’s a talent."
In the Middle Ages, where most didn’t even complete prenatal education, clearly expressing one’s views was no easy task.
The clergy often liked to pontificate, speaking incomprehensible proverbs in Latin at the drop of a hat.
Someone who could articulate such stirring words was definitely no ordinary person.
The Witch in the red robe snorted lightly: "He’s talented, indeed, yet hasn’t put the name on your head, aren’t you now the representative of Emperor Henry?"
"I’m not finished yet."
"I actually doubt this guy’s motives. Though I don’t like those Gauls either, if the Crusaders genuinely fall into division, the only beneficiaries would be the heretics."
Leopold scoffed,
To many Kings and great Nobles, the Eastern Expedition was a gilding journey, no one wanted to be a mere foil, it’s human nature.
"I heard there are many educated Germans at Saladin’s court."
"Do you think this young man is Saladin’s slave?"
The red-haired Witch pursed her thin lips: "Do you want me to expose him? A dose of truth serum, and he’ll spill everything."
Leopold shook his head, chuckled: "Regardless of whose man he is, at least he voiced the sentiments of our vast Germanic brothers, right?"
The situation was laid bare, merely silencing someone wouldn’t resolve the conflict between the two sides.
"Like Richard said, I’m not qualified to stand with them, so let those with the qualifications handle it."
Leopold’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, anyway, having just arrived at the Holy Land himself, even if an internal scandal broke out within the Crusaders, he wouldn’t be the one whose reputation suffered, but rather the "Tripartite Alliance" wielders of military and political power.
"His Majesty Losa!"
Thunderous cries erupted, many were even moved to tears.
As if with Losa’s arrival, the justice they longed for was also upon them.
To many Kings and great Nobles, the Eastern Expedition was a gilding journey, no one wanted to be a mere foil, it’s human nature.
"I heard there are many educated Germans at Saladin’s court."
"Do you think this young man is Saladin’s slave?"
The red-haired Witch pursed her thin lips: "Do you want me to expose him? A dose of truth serum, and he’ll spill everything."
Leopold shook his head, chuckled: "Regardless of whose man he is, at least he voiced the sentiments of our vast Germanic brothers, right?"
The situation was laid bare, merely silencing someone wouldn’t resolve the conflict between the two sides.
"Like Richard said, I’m not qualified to stand with them, so let those with the qualifications handle it."
Leopold’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, anyway, having just arrived at the Holy Land himself, even if an internal scandal broke out within the Crusaders, he wouldn’t be the one whose reputation suffered, but rather the "Tripartite Alliance" wielders of military and political power.
"His Majesty Losa!"
Thunderous cries erupted, many were even moved to tears.
As if with Losa’s arrival, the justice they longed for was also upon them.
To many Kings and great Nobles, the Eastern Expedition was a gilding journey, no one wanted to be a mere foil, it’s human nature.
"I heard there are many educated Germans at Saladin’s court."
"Do you think this young man is Saladin’s slave?"
The red-haired Witch pursed her thin lips: "Do you want me to expose him? A dose of truth serum, and he’ll spill everything."
Leopold shook his head, chuckled: "Regardless of whose man he is, at least he voiced the sentiments of our vast Germanic brothers, right?"
The situation was laid bare, merely silencing someone wouldn’t resolve the conflict between the two sides.
"Like Richard said, I’m not qualified to stand with them, so let those with the qualifications handle it."
Leopold’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, anyway, having just arrived at the Holy Land himself, even if an internal scandal broke out within the Crusaders, he wouldn’t be the one whose reputation suffered, but rather the "Tripartite Alliance" wielders of military and political power.
"His Majesty Losa!"
Thunderous cries erupted, many were even moved to tears.
As if with Losa’s arrival, the justice they longed for was also upon them.