Volume 6 – Chapter 5 – The enemy…
|Morning of October 10th - 1249 - Shores south of the Caspian Sea - Present-day Iran - Batu|
After five days of rest, and some fun (at least for me), the time has finally come to get back on the move and continue our journey full of massacres and plundering.
Yet I notice that my men are more "lazy than ever."
I mean that everyone is only doing the bare minimum to maintain the camp. They seize every moment to lie down and do nothing, perhaps the march has been too much for them.
Indeed, crossing that almost deserted territory with only mountains must have been hell for them.
But there is no time for their rest; they must resume marching, as we are less than a month away from the battlefield.
I gathered all my men; I decided it was time for a speech.
"Men! I know you are tired, I know you still need to recover. But, by the will of your Khan and the vast blue sky, WE MUST march. WE MUST reach our destination!"
My soldiers looked at me in silence, but from their faces, it was clear that their rest was over and they had to march again.
No dramatic reaction, but that's okay.
Jerusalem, I'm coming.
|Morning of September 25th - 1249 - Balcony of the castle of Acre - Acre - Attila|
After my visit to the Sultan, the time has come.
The time to move from words to actions.
"King Attila, the crowd is awaiting you. Good luck."
Bruno still hasn't realized who he's dealing with.
Once out on the balcony, I saw again a sea of people, there just to hear what I had to say.
By now, I am no longer intimidated by the situation, I have no stage fright.
This is a crucial moment in my story; the Mongols are a huge obstacle to overcome. The difference in numbers on the battlefield is hardly surmountable, so I must improve all the other aspects where I can gain an advantage:
- Weapons: I have had more long spears produced (suitable for killing horses) and bought as many as I could. Now, every soldier has a spear.
- Training: every soldier who has been recruited (or volunteered) has received at least a few months of training (mostly focused on the spear).
And last, but not least:
- Morale: I can say whatever I want, but in reality, I am sending people to die for a kingdom that for many is seen only as a puppet kingdom, subjugated by external realms and intruders in this territory. It's obvious that they don't have many reasons to do so, and this is where I shuffle the cards.
It's time to speak, but let's take it step by step.
First of all, we need to try to reassure the people as much as possible by providing the necessary information.
<<Good morning, people of the Kingdom Jerusalem! As you may have already understood, time for confrontation with Mongols is approaching. Those bastards are now very close. I'll be honest, they many, indeed, quite a lot. But thanks to my agreements Frederick II Swabia, Emperor Holy Roman Empire; John III Ducas Vatatzes, Byzantine Empire, and Sultan Al Kamil, we enough forces face those wretches!>>
Technically, I said a half-truth. The Mongols are indeed overwhelmingly superior to only my forces; saying otherwise would have been like lying. But the fact that I have allies, at least in the eyes of the people, reassures them significantly.
If they were to know the real condition of our armies, they would understand that even if we were to combine them, we are not as numerous as the Mongols. But obviously, this part will not be revealed.
Now, we must stoke the people's pride.
<<Even though not many months have passed, I know for certain that each of you has made the utmost effort to fulfil your duties. Starting from soldiers who: some honour, out duty, revenge decided take up arms and risk their lives defend families, homes, land. The blacksmiths used all time hammer iron finish weapons. And finally, others who, while risking lives, support those who do. Every job, everything is functional this huge mess called 'society,' 'Kingdom'>>
Now that everyone has felt involved, both soldiers and ordinary civilians, we must unleash their repressed anger.
<<Each of you lives a dignified life, at least in my eyes as King. But deep down, we all know that could live better, eat and feel better about ourselves. Yet can't, the constant Mongol threat prevents us. Who still remembers tales their atrocities on defenceless civilian population? peace shattered by arrival these loathsome beings? has memories family members dead before eyes? WHO CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS?! HAS NIGHTMARES?! SCREAMS FROM THE PAIN THESE VIVID MEMORIES?!>>
At this point, the crowd was already in turmoil; I heard many crying, and many others becoming agitated.
Now that the crowd is emotionally involved, I must channel this anger towards our enemies.
<<We all know who is to blame, those bastard beings! Those ruthless horse-riding swine! Almost demonic beings who, as a habit, DRINK THE BLOOD OF THOSE THEY KILL!>>
Create a clash of civilizations.
<<They, who have such a volatile and barbaric way, no, I say, animalistic! THEY ARE ANIMALS! NOT HUMAN AND CIVILIZED LIKE US! HAVE NO GOD! GUIDANCE! WILL NEVER BE NEVER!>>
Demonize the enemy.
<<WHO ARE THEY?! OTHER THAN CANNIBAL ANIMALS COMING FROM GOD KNOWS WHERE! LET THEM STAY THERE! WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY ENJOY KILLING INDISCRIMINATELY!>>
Close off all diplomatic avenues.
<<THEY ENJOY KILLING MEN AND RAPING THEIR WOMEN DAUGHTERS! HOW CAN WE EVEN THINK OF AGREEING WITH THEM AFTER ALL THEY HAVE DONE?!>>
Impose only one solution.
<<IF WE DECIDE TO SEND THEM AWAY, WILL THEY GO?! OF COURSE NOT! SO THE ONLY SOLUTION? I TELL YOU WHAT IT IS? IT'S REPAY IN KIND, EXTERMINATE TURN, MAKE EXPERIENCE HOW ALL FEEL AT THIS MOMENT! KILL THEM, NEVER HAVE FACE AGAIN! NO ONE EVER HAS A SIMILAR>>
Final rallying cry.
<<PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM! AND EVEN YOU REFUGEES CAN CONSIDER YOURSELVES AS SUCH! TAKE YOUR WEAPONS, PRIDE, MEMORIES, ANGER USE IT, TOGETHER WITH ME, TO ACCOMPLISH THIS FEAT THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY! BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS! WE NOT ONLY MAKE OURSELVES VALUED, WIN! FIRST FOR OURSELVES, THEN OUR FAMILY, FINALLY KINGDOM BOW ANIMALS, SURRENDER MONGOL HORROR! I FRONT LINE PERHAPS TOWARDS A CERTAIN DEATH! YOU?! COME ME?!>>
<<YES?! >> the whole crowd shouted.
<<THEN LET'S GO AND MASSACRE ALL THOSE DAMNED DEMONIC GODLESS BASTARDS?!>>
I am breathless; shouting for so long is not for me. Yet I could see that every single person within the crowd was in such euphoria that it broke the sound barrier.
People seem to have gone mad.
Very well.