Chapter 437: A Vain Person

Chapter 437: Chapter 311: A Vain Person

“Friends?” Suleiman Shah chuckled and turned, walking up the steps back to his high throne. He sat down, leaning against the throne’s side. “I wonder what your Saint Peter would think if he heard the word you just used.

Tutush is nothing but an opportunistic, shortsighted fool. All his achievements weren’t won through his own wisdom and ability, but through the ‘pity’ of his brother, Malikshah.

Malikshah let him maintain a false sense of dignity only so the good-for-nothing wouldn’t disgrace the Seljuk Clan.

Now that Malikshah is tied down by wars in the East, Tutush is without his protection. He will soon pay the price for his arrogance and ignorance. No one will vouch for him forever; no one will always give him a second chance.”

“Perhaps your brother Mansur ought to be here to listen to your teachings. They are quite eye-opening,” Eric quipped.

“Though I wish it weren’t so, Mansur is not much better than Tutush. I hope you don’t have high expectations of him. Other than Nicaea and its small garrison, he has almost nothing.

Before I left, I only authorized him to handle the political affairs of Nicaea. The military matters in the region of Bithynia outside of Nicaea, I entrusted to my general, Abul Qasim. He has an unshakeable will.”

“The Emperor in Constantinople and the warriors of Christ will hand him a sword. Your general, Abul Qasim, has now retreated to Ankara and is under siege,” Eric said.

Eric had heard this news from Brinyos three days ago.

What surprised Eric, however, was that the siege of Ankara wasn’t being led by Emperor Henry of the Holy Roman Empire. The high-ranking nobles at the forefront were Welf, Duke of Bavaria; Rudolph, Duke of Swabia; the Count of Toulouse; and a host of Frankish and German nobles Eric didn’t recognize.

Eric also spotted a familiar name among them: his half-brother, Bohemond. He wondered what might happen if he was there.

As for Emperor Henry of the Holy Roman Empire, he had crossed the Bosphorus Strait shortly after Eric’s party left Constantinople, marching east along Anatolia’s Black Sea coast.

Clearly, Emperor Alexios had failed to persuade Emperor Henry. Among the Crusaders, Emperor Henry was the only one whose status was truly equal to Alexios’s. Having suffered the humiliation of Canossa three years prior, Emperor Henry would never allow himself to compromise with anyone, especially not the Greek Emperor, whom he had always looked down upon.

This was all within Eric’s expectations.

‘Emperor Henry must think that with the Greek Empire’s territory being less than a third of the Holy Roman Empire’s, and the entire Greek Empire on the verge of collapse, what right does the Greek Emperor have to order him around?’

Because of Henry’s status as an Emperor, Alexios certainly wouldn’t dare use any coercion against him; he could only try to persuade him.

Henry had no interest in the Greeks’ idea of retaking Anatolia. He seemed to have done his research beforehand, knowing that Ankara City was the center of the Rum Sultanate and a formidable fortress. Moreover, the Rum Sultanate did not occupy Jerusalem; another heretical nation did.

Attacking Ankara, coupled with his title as Emperor, would undoubtedly make him the number one enemy of the Rum Sultanate.

He was not a fanatic. Nor did he believe God would speak through the mouth of that fellow Gregory. His Eastern Expedition was entirely forced upon him.

Therefore, there was no need to waste his army on a heretical nation that had nothing to do with his Holy War’s objective. He decisively rejected Alexios’s plan. Furthermore, his earlier campaigns against the Hungarian Kingdom had made him quite familiar with the combat habits of these Grassland Tribes.

Marching through unfamiliar terrain, attacks from those fly-like Cavalry Archers would become a nightmare for his army. So, on Alexios’s map, he decisively chose a safer route: after crossing the Bosphorus Strait, he would march along the Black Sea coast to the last Byzantine stronghold of Trabzon, and from there, head south to Jerusalem.

“Nicaea was merely a sweet treat, obtained by chance through the grace of Allah. I am grateful for His gift, but that is all. The remaining Greeks in Anatolia are nothing to fear. Constantinople, with the strait as its barrier, is impregnable.

I have never been one for extravagant hopes, which is why I only stationed a small garrison in Nicaea. Fortunately, the Greeks built Nicaea’s walls to be just as strong, so a few well-trained soldiers are enough to defend the city.

The threat from the East is far more compelling. Malikshah is always hoping to bring this frontier, which lies beyond the Empire’s grasp, under his control. For me, Ankara is what’s eternal.

Ankara may not be as impregnable as Constantinople, but it should at least be formidable enough to make any besieger tremble.

We may not have the master craftsmen of the Greeks and Persians, but I know how to create a fear greater than walls as magnificent as mountains—hunger.” Suleiman Shah leaned against his throne, his fingers drumming restlessly on the armrest. “On the road from Nicaea to Ankara, you will not find a single village or town. I have turned it into a no-man’s-land. What breaks a soldier’s will more easily than hunger?

The only ones who can ride freely there are my Cavalry Archers. They will launch precise attacks the moment the enemy lets their guard down.

Imagine it: when your Knights are weary from hunger, when they lose their senses from thirst and lunge toward a river, Hell will be right before their eyes.

Do not see me as an ignorant fool. Do not think I know nothing of you…

And not just Ankara. Lift your gaze, guest from Normandy, and look at this city, Antioch. If not for Allah’s favor, the Greeks could have defended this city until they died of old age…” Suleiman Shah rambled on, trying to prove that he wasn’t at the end of his rope, but rather held all the advantages.

Eric said nothing in response to Suleiman Shah’s gloating speech. He knew the Sultan was trying to spin his current situation, to save face while also trying to force Eric into a compromise.

‘If Suleiman Shah’s situation were really as optimistic as he claimed, why would he need to raise so much gold in such a short time?’

Besides, Eric knew full well that Tutush was not the incompetent fool who relied on Malikshah’s might, as Suleiman Shah described. On the contrary, his military talent was likely superior to Suleiman Shah’s.

Because in established history, Suleiman Shah was defeated by Tutush and died under the curved sabers of Tutush’s army.

‘The Rum Sultanate is currently suffering from the rebellion of his brother Mansur and the onslaught of the Crusaders. How could he possibly still hold all the advantages, as he claims?’

‘If Suleiman Shah truly felt he held the advantage, rather than being in a precarious position, and wasn’t the least bit worried about the threat from Mansur and the Crusaders, then Eric wouldn’t have been invited here today, and this negotiation wouldn’t even be happening.’

But Eric had no intention of calling Suleiman Shah’s bluff. It would do him no good.

Whatever he could gain through diplomacy, Eric preferred to avoid obtaining through force.

From everything he had seen and heard so far, Eric could basically conclude that the Suleiman Shah before him was a vain man.

Suleiman Shah’s vanity wasn’t a desire for material things, but a thirst for honor. He sought to be an outstanding Monarch, yet he was unwilling or unable to accept criticism from anyone.

Eric knew exactly how to deal with such a man.

Eric then bowed to Suleiman Shah, suddenly adopting a humble demeanor, and said:

“Your words are beyond question. Your rule, your Empire, is unshakeable. Please forgive me for my earlier rash and arrogant judgment of your situation.

But I still beg you to hear me out. The request to become your friend comes from the will of my Lord.

My Lord has long heard of your great deeds and legends. He feels great respect for you and does not wish to be your enemy. All he seeks is to answer Saint Peter’s call and conquer Jerusalem.

He holds you in high esteem. This respect is not only reflected in the title I used for you just now, but also in his assessment of you. He specifically instructed me that I must speak with you with the utmost courtesy.” Eric raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Suleiman Shah’s eyes.

Suleiman Shah was surprised by Eric’s change in attitude. Hearing the words of praise, however, his brow relaxed slightly, though the stern expression on his face did not completely fade. He spoke with a hint of disdain, “Those flashy prefixes for your lord can hardly be called ‘utmost courtesy.’ They sounded rather rude.”

Eric said, “As for the flashy prefixes I used to describe my Lord, they were not my own invention but were specifically requested by my Lord. It was by no means an attempt to be rude to you. On the contrary, it is a testament to my Lord’s respect for you.

He calls himself the Son of the Conqueror, while you, like his father, possess the great title of Conqueror. In terms of glory, you have long surpassed his father. His father merely conquered an island, whereas you have conquered all of Anatolia. And in virtue, you are an even more brilliant figure than his father.

This was proven in my conversation with you just now. The great Suleiman Shah is truly great.”

Suleiman Shah finally revealed a hint of a smile, but it was mixed with a certain cold sarcasm. “And after that? What was there to praise in your subsequent words, besides offense?”

Eric bowed his head slightly, a hint of guilt in his voice. “I must confess, I was indeed testing you earlier. For that, I apologize. It was my own decision and had nothing to do with my Lord. But if I had the chance to do it over, I would do it again, for it is my duty as a vassal to serve my Lord faithfully.

Finally, I deeply regret that my Lord cannot become your friend and ally.”

Having said that, Eric turned, walked down the steps, and made as if to leave.

Suleiman Shah sat on his throne, his eyes narrowed slightly as if in thought.

His gaze was locked on Eric’s retreating back. He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his movements unhurried, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

“Stop, Count Eric.” Suleiman Shah’s voice was calm and majestic, yet it held a trace of amused banter. “I must say, your rhetoric is truly brilliant.”

Eric stopped and turned, bowing his head once more in a salute. “Great Suleiman Shah, I await your command.”

Suleiman Shah slowly rose from his throne and descended, walking toward Eric step by step. Each step seemed deliberate and unhurried, as if he were staging a grand performance.

“You said you apologize for testing me, but then you said that if you had the chance, you would do it again.” Suleiman Shah stopped, looking down at Eric from his superior height. “Your words have made me more interested in you and your Lord.”

Suleiman Shah chuckled, putting on an air of enlightenment. He continued, “I do not blame one for testing a hypocrite, but if one tests a great man, they must be exceptionally careful. You should be glad that I am a magnanimous ruler.”

Eric lowered his head again, his tone humble. “Your tolerance is admirable. I only hope that the great Suleiman Shah can understand that our sincerity has never wavered.”