Chapter 160: The First to Arrive

Cesar's consciousness woke up earlier than his body.

He had already gone through such torture several times before. After overusing or even overdrawing the grace given by the saint, that kind of pain and emptiness could even make a person with insufficient willpower go crazy. And he was locked in this shell, only able to endure silently, just like every human being tortured by illness. He had also thought about whether to throw himself into the endless darkness to end this torture, but this thought just flashed by.

As a doctor, no one could understand the fragility and preciousness of life better than him. He didn't know how those who loved him in the other world would face his death, but at least in this world, he also had blood-related relatives and close friends he couldn't abandon.

He knew that many people had come to treat him, including Christian monks and Saracen scholars.

He knew so clearly because when they sat by his side, held his hands, and prayed to their gods to give them strength, they must recite scriptures, and their gods, even saints and prophets, actually pointed in one direction.

Sometimes Cesar wanted to smile helplessly. They clearly believed in one god, but regarded the other party as a mortal enemy. If they didn't slaughter the other party, it seemed they couldn't prove their devotion to the god. But is this really what the god wants to see?

Even though he had witnessed, felt, and possessed this power beyond the mundane, Cesar's heart would still have some thoughts that would shock his teachers and friends. Unless the god that Christians and Saracens currently believe in is a monster addicted to blood and slaughter, otherwise, how could he witness his believers constantly suffering in the city that belongs to him?

He could clearly change all this.

If it is said that when Christianity was first born, it did have an irreconcilable conflict with the polytheism of ancient Rome and ancient Egypt—this is normal. After all, that existence already said, you can only believe in me as one god—even if the ancient Romans at that time generously allowed Christians to place their statues in the Pantheon, Christians would inevitably fight to the death with them.

This is a scene that humans must face when competing for faith.

Human lifespan, resources, and energy are limited. Even in polytheism, they will distinguish according to their needs—couples should worship Juno, generals should worship Mars, kings should worship Jupiter... instead of throwing gold coins and sacrifices to the statues without limit all the time.

And if one god gets worship, another god will inevitably be ignored. If this continues for a long time, the god will also inevitably fall or be replaced.

But in this era, in this place, the purpose of war has completely become a struggle for interests that belongs only to humans.

Why did the Crusaders travel thousands of miles to come to this strange place that was full of hostility toward them?

Of course, because there are interests driving them, just like a whip whipping cattle and horses.

The Isaacites once called this place a land flowing with milk and honey. That was because the Jerusalem and surrounding areas in the past were indeed a rich and vast land of hills, woodlands, and plains. The water and grass were lush, plants were flourishing, and seeds could be scattered in the ground at will, and a rich return could be obtained the following year.

But gradually, with the expansion of the desert, oasis after oasis was swallowed, and the meaning of this region was reinterpreted. Money, as a new crop, grew from here again. They were like the roots of a big tree, firmly rooted here, and sent a steady stream of "milk and honey" to every Sultan and Caliph, and their countries.

If the Saracen civilization hadn't been born too late, the Crusades would have been nipped in the bud by the Saracens' sharp scimitars from the beginning. It can be said that Pope Urban II at the time chose the best time. When that loose sand hadn't yet condensed into a hard rock, he incited the kings and lords of Europe to set off toward this rich promised land—his idea was also very simple.

For the church, for the kings and lords' thirst for wealth, for the young people who were at a loss under the primogeniture system, and for those farmers who became "restless" under years of plague and famine...

"Holy relics" were also one of the reasons, but in the final analysis, it could also bring money and power.

Except for a few fanatical believers, they were almost all for land and money. And the beautiful prospects promised by the Pope were indeed realized in the first few decades. They established their own countries and possessed their own territories.

And such a narrow strip of land was enough to support the huge consumption of the Crusaders over the years.

As for King Amalric I of Jerusalem, the landless knights under his command already exceeded 300, and he was paying salaries with real gold, and every expedition had to pay all the expenses of other summoned knights, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, tournaments, rewards, and pensions.

Therefore, the conflict between the Crusaders and the Saracens could only become more and more acute.

After all, human nature is greedy.

Interests are right in front of them, why shouldn't they strive for them? Even if they want to negotiate, share, and give up, it should be their own blood relatives, friends, and allies—a group of pagans, ha, is he crazy?

Not to mention, those knights almost had no way out. If they returned to their homeland, they could only be stewards or craftsmen for their nephews. They had fought for God, so how could they endure the humiliation brought by this disparity?

But relatively speaking, the Saracens would not tolerate these outsiders running rampant on their land.

Not to mention, they had been killing each other for seventy years. The hatred created in seventy years had already been passed on to at least three generations. Such deep bloodstains could only be erased with more time—but such peace could not exist at all.

Even if God descended here, it couldn't be done.

Jesus once used two fish and five loaves to feed everyone, but this gift was too meager. Those poor commoners might accept it, but what about the nobles above them? Whether Christian or Saracen, the food, clothing, housing, and horses of the nobles could only be the most exquisite and gorgeous.

Human pursuit of pleasure is always endless. Even among the Saracens who strictly abide by the doctrine, there are many Emirs or Viziers who wear silk inside their clothes, smoke water pipes, drink "grape juice," and seek pleasure in the arms of "beautiful women."

What to do? Should they all be satisfied? Impossible.

The only thing that can destroy this thirst is another kind of emotion—fear.

Without the manifestation of power like the destruction of the entire city of Sodom by angels, humans will only indulge in the pleasure before them and forget the punishment afterward.

Yes, this is such a difficult road, Cesar heard someone say in his ear, no, it can't be said that it was all in his ear, this voice seemed to come from all directions, heaven, earth, and beside him, and this voice made him feel familiar for no reason, he even couldn't help but burst into tears, wanting to seek reliance so eagerly for the first time.

But the other party just stood quietly not far from him, but difficult to approach.

He seemed to be gazing at the person he loved most in this world, then the snow-white and bright environment slowly dimmed, and a sense of anxiety rose in Cesar's heart. He knew He was leaving, but he still had many questions, many troubles, many joys, or sad things he wanted to pour out to Him.

But the other party was so determined.

Just like when He came, He left so unexpectedly. In an instant, all the light disappeared, and Cesar fell back into the darkness. He let out a loud shout—he thought so himself. In fact, the person guarding beside him only heard a weak call. He leaned over to hear what the Christian knight was saying. Was he calling their god? Or was he praying for something?

But the Christian knight just called out like that, and then made no sound anymore, but his breathing was still steady, and his face was still rosy, and the servant was slightly relieved.

This young man was valued by their Grand Vizier Saladin, and he was indeed as handsome as if created by Allah himself. Even if he was a Saracen, he couldn't bear to see such a seedling die young.

He stood up, and outside the door were two doctors who were always guarding there. The doctors heard his story and walked in, checked Cesar's condition, and confirmed that he was about to wake up. This was good news.

"He might be weak for a long time afterward," one doctor said: "I don't know if he can receive the prophet's revelation again."

"He should be able to. His injuries are healing, and although he has suffered great torture, there is a force always protecting him." The other doctor said very implicitly. He had seen some scholars who used power excessively, and they were not so calm. Sometimes they even had to do "major ablution" (that is, full-body bathing) with the help of others, because they might struggle and roll in the sand, or be contaminated by excrement on their robes. This is a human physiological reaction that cannot be stopped by willpower.

And this young man either didn't have such serious sequelae, or the prophet watching him blocked this shame for him. Either way, it shows that he hasn't been abandoned, and he will still be able to become a brave knight and a troublesome enemy in the future.

They came to the Sultan's door, but saw a group of Isaacites wearing small hats and black robes leaving. A doctor reflexively took a step back and frowned. He didn't like these Isaacites.

Saracens were also very good at doing business, but they never cheated or deceived.

Moreover, Allah taught them that money cannot be made from money, but what Isaacites are best at is usury and exchanging money—they often commit deception in the latter.

"I heard that the Isaacites in Aleppo suffered."

"Where wouldn't the Isaacites suffer?" his companion replied to him, "There might be some good people among them, but the number is too small to shake the power of their high priests or elders."

"Even if they wanted to, the Sultan, Caliph, and those Christian kings wouldn't allow them to do so." A doctor saw it very clearly.

Why are Isaacites always killed and expelled, but can always reappear in every city? Of course, because while they are hated, they are also the best white gloves or black gloves for these rulers.

When they crave money and don't want to get a bad reputation, Isaacites are their best hunting dogs and falcons, letting them go and letting them use their sharp claws and fangs to tear apart low-status commoners, merchants, and even nobles and officials who hold certain power—and then squeeze gold and silver coins from these flesh and blood.

At the same time, their hatred will only be poured onto the Isaacites. When it really becomes impossible to clean up, they will kick the Isaacites out to appease the anger of the people.

"Then they can also choose not to."

"And then starve to death? It's a pity that their ancestors first betrayed the Egyptians, then the Romans, then the Saracens and Christians. They have nowhere to go, and if they really had such will and character, there might be no Isaacites in the world now."

The comments of the two doctors might be a bit too harsh, but it must be said that among other nations, whether it is Saracens against Christians, or Christians against Saracens or Christians against Christians, Saracens against Saracens—perhaps there are indeed a few guys who are greedy, selfish, and vicious by nature, willing to become a sharp blade in the hands of a king, but more people still have their own brains and positions.

Whether for themselves or for the people, they will refuse the conditions proposed by the kings, only Isaacites, even if there are countless lessons from the past, still firmly walked toward that most dangerous, but also easiest, most convenient, and most profitable road.

In this way, others really can't defend them.

"But why would Saladin see Isaacites?"

"Perhaps there is something he needs them to do."

The doctors guessed wrong.

If not necessary, Saladin would not condescend to meet a group of Isaacite merchants, but their identity and their request really made this future Sultan have some interest.

"You mean, you want to use 100,000 gold coins to redeem your master?" Saladin glanced down at the box that had been opened at his feet, inside which gold was shining—since the 10th century, Saracens began to use "notes," earlier than Christians and Isaacites, but undoubtedly, gold coins were definitely more convincing than notes.

"Cesar?" He looked at the Isaacites who were trembling all over but still gathered the courage.

"Yes, our master, the Knight of Bethlehem."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 161 =====