Crusdae, p.30
Crusdae, page 30
One question discussed at length in the council was that of the use of elephants in the course of such a battle. Opinions were divided: if the pachyderms panicked from the explosions and bums, would they not turn back against their masters? Taking everything into account, a solution was found: the elephants would be blanketed with salamander to protect their flanks and their ears would be plugged with wax.
It seemed that all tactical questions were resolved, and yet the great Khan remained undecided.
The reason was simple: his shamans had practiced their divinations by examining the scapulas of sheep and the results had not been at all favorable. He then called on magicians who, in a trance, communicated with the realm of the dead and their conclusions were unequivocally adverse. Some among them went so far as to claim that the Khan’s ancestors were waiting for Kubla’s imminent arrival....
Therefore, propitiatory rites were performed. Incense was burned before the ancestor images, while priests did complicated dances around them, grimacing and gnashing their teeth. Horses and slaves were sacrificed, but the dead did not change their views.
Saracen astrologers, highly expert in that art, were then called upon. They were extremely cautious, declaring that the position of the planets in the days to come could give victory to the Templars or to the Mongols.
Nevertheless, a decision must be made for, as the days went by, an increasing number of brawls flared among the warriors of this immense army gathered from vastly different regions.
Princes, Lords and Tumens therefore were asked to agree to a great sacrifice and to contribute either a beloved slave or a favorite horse. The influence of the Khan was such that no one protested: rivers of blood flowed during this holocaust. And finally the diviners declared with joy that the dead were appeased and promised success to the Mongol forces.
Thanks, in the form of sumptuous gifts to priests, were paid to Natigai, god of Earthly destinies.
All punishments, floggings, the yoke torture or the strappado were suspended. The legions began their march to the place chosen by the commanders of the army, the Noyans, to lie in wait for and destroy the army of insolent fools who dared to soil the empire of Cathay with their feet
Chapter IX
☆
The Grand Master had now recovered all his accustomed vigor. Because any retreat was next to impossible, the only reasonable solution was to fight—to win. He carefully studied the terrain between the two armies: the only favorable location was near Taichaohsiang. The caravans usually followed that route which passed between a swampy loop of the Hwang Ho (Yellow River) and the Hara Narin Ula Mountains. Since they would again, on this occasion, be facing an opponent superior in number, the wisest course was to position his fifty thousand knights and foot soldiers on high ground where the ballistae could be aimed with precision.
According to merchants traveling the route back to the west, Kubla had not yet left Chang-Chu. By setting out at once and pressing on in forced marches, the occupation of this key position would be feasible. However, before giving orders to break camp, William needed to consult Baphomet.
After a few seconds’ wait, the device came to life and Baphomet answered the call, "Well! It’s a long time since I last had the pleasure of talking with you, Earthly friend; can it be that you have encountered unexpected difficulties?”
“I certainly have had my share of troubles,” the Templar informed him stiffly. “My forces melted away while we were crossing the desert. We have known famine and, to complicate matters, I was the victim of a serious illness.”
“Oh? I tend to forget that your race is still subject to many maladies. Unfortunately I can do nothing for you in this area, for the small store of medications I possess would not do you any good at all. Besides, we are separated by a considerable distance and I have abandoned any hope of flying through the air again. Still, you seem to have recovered complete health?”
“I have indeed, for the Lord decreed that I should continue to lead our Crusade against the unbelievers, and that is what I want to consult you about. Our enemies number close to five hundred thousand, ten times our forces, and my stock of magic weapons is now sufficient. . .
“Here again, I regret to say, I cannot help you. You know that when my spacecraft met with this accident I kept an absolute minimum of necessities and I cannot give you any. But you have already proven your abilities as a strategist. Using my grenades judiciously should assure your victory.”
“May heaven hear you!” sighed the Grand Master. “You advise me then to seek out this encounter?”
“Most certainly! I promised your predecessors that I would give them the entire world as an empire, and you are nearing that goal. If you are victorious now, no one hereafter will be able to stand in your way."
“Have you consulted your magic devices that foretell the future?”
“Indeed I have, and you have a good chance of winning the day,” answered Baphomet, without committing himself.
This evasive response did not satisfy the Templar, but he was unable to extract any further information from the creature. The conversation ended in a rather surprising way.
Suddenly the eyes of the effigy were streaked with a thousand colors and a hypnotic music filled the tent William, transfixed, barely seemed to breathe.
Then Baphomet continued, “William of Beaujeu, are you prepared to obey me in all things?”
“Yes, Master....”
“You are to go forth and destroy this vermin that attempts to bar your way to the Empire of the World. Then you will govern, under my orders, for the greatest good of all Baphomets.”
“I understand.”
“Good. You will forget the end of our conversation.”
On these words the statue became inactive and the Templar, as though waking from a dream, stretched and yawned.
Some hours later the army formed its long column and set out for Yungchang, the first city on their way to Taichaohsiang. The Tholon brothers, since they already knew the terrain, were in the vanguard and as usual— talking their heads off.
“By dawn!” Clement swore. “I was beginning to rust I'm not at all sorry to go and give those savages a thrashing. How about you, Guiot?”
“Damned right! Let’s finish them off for good. All the same, I have an idea it’s not going to be easy. It seemed to me that Kubla was a foxy devil. “
“Foxy he may be, but that’s not going to save him from croaking just like the others. I swear to God, when that lightning goes off, there’ll be meat and guts all over the place. How about it, Garin?”
“I’m not, unfortunately, as optimistic as you, my dear brothers. .. . The great Khan has a well-trained army and his monstrous elephants will be the death of more than one good Christian.”
“Rubbish! Are you trying to make me believe their little beasties can stand up to the Archangel Gabriel’s lightning?”
“Perhaps you’re right,” the Templar brother admitted. “However, we’ll have to use a lot of the gray spheres to destroy those powerful brutes. Please God we have enough to sow death in the Mongol ranks!"
“What are you saying ... that the Grand Master doesn’t know what he’s doing?”
“Our venerable leader has certainly weighed every argument for and against it, but that doesn’t change the fact that this battle is going to be far more difficult to win than those before.”
“By damn!” said Clement dreamily. “When I remember that palace we visited, I get goose-bumps all over! They say Peking is even more stunning.”
“Don’t be so easily tempted by the vile pleasures of this world,” scolded the Templar. “You tend overmuch to forget that our only goal is to propagate the True Faith.
What kind of an example will you he for the pagans if you lie around in luxury and debauchery?”
“You’re right,” Guiot mumbled. “We didn’t behave very well in Kubla’s palace. But you have to admit that those poor girls were pretty upset at the thought that we didn’t want to ... take care of them....”
“Did I yield to temptation?” asked Garin sharply.
“No. Of course not. But you . . . you’re practically a saint; and me, I'm only a poor sinner...
“Well, say your prayers a little more often,” his brother snapped. “Wear a haircloth shirt to mortify your flesh if necessary.”
‘Til try... but it’s not my fault that I’m hot-blooded. ... Say, getting back to the subject of Kubla, is it true that we’re going to wait for him at Taichaohsiang?’
“So I’ve heard.”
“Not a bad spot they say. If we can dig in on the slopes, the Mongols will have a hard time driving us out”
“Provided we get there before they do. And the men are dragging their feet. Go and prod them a bit.”
Guiot the Red-Beard, obeyed and his gruff voice thundered at the laggards. He backed his words with some striking arguments and everyone was soon back in place.
And so the army came to Yungchang, where it stayed only long enough for the men to rest a little. Besides, this city too had been destroyed and had no strategic value.
The Crusaders’ forced marches brought them to the Hara Mountains before Kubla with time for hurried fortification. They dug trenches at the bottom of the slopes and set the most exposed areas with long, pointed wooden shafts.
The ballistae and mangonels were placed on hilly summits where they could command all sectors. Finally, the last night before the Mongols came in sight, William ordered that hearty rations of yak and game be distributed to all. It was of little importance now that supplies were dwindling: either they would be victorious or they would die. . . .
The great Khan took his ease and hurried nothing. Why should he, when his ancestors had assured him that he would be victorious? Certainly the multitude of his soldiers, his war chariots, his battle-trained elephants carrying archers in turrets, was an extraordinary spectacle. No one, not even his grandfather, Ghengis Khan, had ever commanded such an army. There was no doubt that the Christian dogs would be annihilated. There would, of course, be losses in the Mongol ranks, caused by their diabolical weapon but that mattered little. The empire of Cathay swarmed with people, and the death of one hundred—or even two hundred—thousand men would not be an irreplaceable loss.
Moreover, he—Kubla—had new and astonishing engines invented by the Chinese savants, whose talents he had stimulated with generous gifts so that their ingenuity had developed fantastic weapons. They were not, certainly, as powerful as those of the Templars; nevertheless, they were valuable assets. Not to mention subtle ruses he intended to use which would give the foreign dogs some difficulties....
The Khan passed that night preceding the battle in his palace at Linho while his troops took positions about the plateau, almost encircling the Crusaders.
He honored, because it pleased him, his favorite wife and in the morning—before daybreak—ate a hearty breakfast. Then, donning his most resplendent robes, he climbed to the tower carried by the strongest of his elephants. From there he could easily survey the battlefield and have an overview of all phases of die engagement.
The mahout started the enormous pachyderm, which— surrounded by the ten thousand men of the Khan’s personal guard—majestically took the road to the Hara Mountains. The Khan was exceedingly good-humored: his magicians had once more assured him of the success of this venture. It promised to be a beautiful, clear day. Who could ask for more? During the journey he constantly exchanged pleasantries with the princes who accompanied him.
When he reached the field, he had the satisfaction of seeing the many squadrons all in their planned positions, well beyond the reach of the enemy mangonels.
A small doubt still lurked in a comer of the Khan’s mind, however. He was reluctant to launch his troops in a decisive action unless under the most favorable omens. He therefore called a new Tibetan magus before him, a seer of great renown, and asked him if he thought the outcome of the battle would be favorable for him.
The old man did not resort to any of the usual trickery of charlatans. He was a small man with a skin as wrinkled as that of an old apple, and piercing eyes of astonishing acuity. It was said that he had the power to communicate by thought alone with the lamas in the faraway regions from which he came. He could also impose his will on whomever he wished, and make him perform actions of which the temporary slave had not the remembrance.
The Tibetan put himself into a trance: his eyes rolled up, his body was seized with a cataleptic rigidity, then he rose some distance above the ground and floated there, to the great astonishment of everyone present Presently he sank slowly to the ground, shuddered violently as though he had witnessed mysteries too frightening for the human mind, then said in a low voice:
“Mighty Khan of Khans, you put me to a formidable test My incorporate being plumbed the limitless spaces between universes and consulted our wise ancestors but it was almost impossible to communicate with the spirits who preside over the destinies of our enemies. A terrifying aura surrounds them. I felt the presence of a malefic creature who subjects them and whose power throws a cloud over the future. Nevertheless, I was vouchsafed a glimpse of this plain covered with dead bodies. ... I am unable to say which side will be victorious. One thing, however, is certain: your precious days are not in danger.”
“That means that we shall win,” Kubla exclaimed. “These Templars would certainly not allow me to live if they won the battle. Still, this aura intrigues me greatly. What, in your opinion, is it? Could it be produced perhaps by one of their gods?”
“Absolutely not! I have never encountered such a powerful and malignant spirit: I believe that the creature is a stranger to our world.”
“Is it serving them?”
“No indeed. This being serves only its own best interests.”
“Good. Why then should we fear it? Go. My Lord High Treasurer will give you twenty stallions from my own stables or, if you prefer, the equivalent in pure gold.”
The Tibetan bowed but without servility. Kubla climbed back into his palanquin, the elephants moved forward and the imperial standard was raised and lowered several times, a signal for the foot soldiers to begin the attack.
Each Tumen passed this order along to his own ten thousand man division, which rushed in a body toward the Christian positions. Like an army of ants, the sea of warriors swarmed up the slopes.
The bravest among the Crusaders felt their throats go dry at the sight of such a multitude. And a horrifying shock was in store. Using a trick common among the Mongols, Kubla had ordered his troops to drive all the Nestorian Christians captured in the destroyed cities before them.
Men, women and children, forced to advance for they were spurred on by the pikes of the foot soldiers, called out to their coreligionists to have pity on them, to save them. . . .
Immediately advised of this, William was faced with a te^ff^g dilemma. Should he refrain from launching the grenades to avoid killing these fellow creatures who, although considered heretics, were nevertheless Christians?
With bowed head, nervously clasping and unclasping his hands, he remained indecisive for seconds that seemed an eternity. Then, with a sigh, he ordered the mangonel tacticians to launch the projectiles, but behind the wretched flock which, with eyes streaming tears, advanced toward them uttering piteous cries.
At once the deadly mushrooms of smoke and dust rose from among the sea of Mongols, resulting in appalling carnage. In the midst of men so closely massed, the destructive force of the grenades was unbelievable. Fragments of human flesh flew in every direction; severed limbs were thrown with such force that they fell on the horsemen waiting some distance behind the advance line.
Salamander tunics, to some extent, staved off burns, but did not lessen the shock nor other effects of the explosions. When the smoke began to lift, the Crusaders saw all survivors running away at full speed, seized by uncontrollable panic. Some of them even ran past the last lines of reserves and disappeared from the plain, without anyone being able to stop them and bring them back to reason.
From the height of his tower Kubla saw everything. He had expected the enemy weapon to be spectacular, but its effect was far more horrifying than anything he had been able to imagine. The blinding bolts of lightning, the deafening explosions were something inhuman. Even the elephants trembled, despite the wax plugs in their ears and the mahouts calmed them with difficulty. As for the horses, they reared and bucked in terror, throwing the most expert riders.
Nevertheless, the unfortunate prisoners, almost all of them unhurt, except for a few bums and singed hair, rushed the Christian lines, causing great confusion. They were quickly led to the center of the defense formations where they fell prone with hands pressed to their temples. None of them felt strong enough to go through such an experience again.
For a long time the two adversaries remained alert and expectant. The Crusaders had no wish to abandon their fortified position; as for the Mongols, their ardor was definitely dampened.. .. The Jaghouns—officers commanding one hundred men—ran through the lines threatening and exhorting but with little result.
Kubla himself had to down several cups of wine to recover his self-control; then he consulted with his generals in order to determine whether or not there was still a reasonable chance of being victorious.
All declared unanimously that defeat was certain if the Templars had a large supply of the fiendish weapons. There was, however, one hope: by saturating the battlefield, .William of Beaujeu could have completely wiped out the assault waves, but he had launched a relatively small number of explosives. Wasn’t this a sign that he did not have many more?
Reassured, the Khan had his own fireworks technicians called to demonstrate to his followers that he, too, possessed powerful magic trickeries.
Powder, which had been known for some time, had been used by the astute philosophers to manufacture self-propelled weapons. Pressed into long bamboo tubes, it was lit at the rear, which had the effect of driving the long shafts forward. In theory, they were designed to reach the Crusaders’ positions, then the front part would explode, scattering iron pellets mixed with the powder in all directions. Preliminary tests had been relatively satisfactory except in the matter of length of the slow-burning fuse used for propulsion. Having no time for further experiments, they had to rely on the results already obtained.
