CHAPTER 1191: CHAPTER 752: AUTUMN OF 1489 AD, THE SIEGE, THE QUEEN’S LETTER

"How much longer can the siege camp outside the Baza fortress hold on?"

Light smoke curled around as the face of Thomas, the chief inquisitor, remained cold and solemn like the Pyrenees mountains.

Upon hearing this, King Fernando slightly raised his eyebrows, his expression subtly shifting. At this moment, his mind was filled with numerous thoughts, changing like the smoke. But eventually, when the smoke faced the mountains, all the myriad transformations gathered together, condensing into two low responses like cold, striking snow.

"Honorable black-robed monk, may the Almighty bless us! Before you arrived, the morale of the siege camp could only last for half a month. But now..."

King Fernando paused, his eyes indifferent and answered unemotionally.

"As long as the ’salvation’ inquisition can continue, I am confident the siege camp can hold on for another month!"

"One month..."

Thomas, the chief inquisitor, pondered slightly and then asked again.

"Then, Fernando, how much longer can the Moors’ Baza fortress hold out?"

"..."

Hearing this question, King Fernando pursed his lips. After a moment of silence, he replied.

"The Baza fortress is a strong and perilous mountain city. The dozens of mortars brought in find it difficult to bombard the city walls. The city has enough food stored for a whole year, and we have been besieging it for half a year... If the defending army’s morale remains steady, they can hold out for another six months."

"Of course, the morale of the Moorish garrison inside the city is also quite low. They have no reinforcements and cannot hold out to the end. At most... they can only hold for another three or four months! King Hab of Granada has an agreement with us and will not come to rescue the fortress. Meanwhile, another King Azar is on the Southern Coast, evading the blockade of the Aragon navy, contacting the Moorish Kingdoms of the Southern Continent, requesting reinforcements. However, he can hardly muster any troops..."

"Before the plague broke out, the Moorish Lord Hasan of the Baza fortress was already wavered. He once sent an envoy to tentatively ask about the terms of surrender, though without much sincerity. The Baza fortress could no longer remain under his control. After the plague broke out in the camp, he sent no more envoys..."

"Hmm... Fernando, promises made with heathens are not under the Almighty’s protection. As long as it benefits the cause of the Holy War, the Almighty will forgive you!"

Upon hearing this, Thomas, the chief inquisitor, maintained a calm expression, making a promise of absolution. Then he furrowed his brows, falling into deep thought.

"The besiegers can hold for one month... the defenders for three or four months... Fernando’s thoughts..."

After a long contemplation, Thomas, the chief inquisitor, looked at King Fernando, asking in a deep voice.

"Fernando, the Almighty grants us steadfast determination. We must capture the Baza fortress! The Moors’ hinterlands are desolate, unable to gather food supplies. Sixty thousand crusader knights split southward, and all supplies must come from the Northern Kingdom. To provide supplies for the army, Isabella has already brought the Castilian Court, traveling three hundred li northwest to Jaén, personally overseeing and ensuring supplies for the frontline!..."

"At the foot of Baza, there are thirty thousand men in the siege camp, requiring fifteen thousand mules to supply materials! The kingdom’s finances are depleted. To sustain such vast war consumption, Isabella has mortgaged her own royal estates to borrow from the Roman Church and the Republic of Venice... She even pawned her crown, jewelry, and scepter to merchants in Barcelona and Valencia..."

"And all this is for the Holy War! For you, to capture the Baza city in front of you! Fernando, you must not entertain any thoughts of retreat; you must fulfill your mission!"

At this point, Thomas, the chief inquisitor, for the first time expressed strong emotion in his stern words. He gazed intently into Fernando’s eyes. The King of Aragon slightly tilted his head, avoiding the severe gaze, and his expression betrayed a trace of unease.

A terrible new plague erupted in the camp, plummeting the army’s morale to the bottom. Crusader knights from various countries either had already withdrew or were clamoring to leave. Faced with the still-defiant Baza fortress, King Fernando indeed harbored thoughts of retreat. He had always been a cautious and rational person, calculating everything thoroughly before acting.

Considering the sudden outbreak of the dreadful plague, King Fernando rationally judged that the hope of winning the siege was diminishing. To preserve the crusader army and himself, the best choice was to stabilize military morale first, and then withdraw orderly in batches.

After all, once a plague spreads widely, destroying a tens-of-thousands army would only take a month or two. And before this terrible contagion, even though he is a noble king, he is no different from an ordinary guard; he would also get sick and die!

Seeing King Fernando’s hesitation, Thomas, the chief inquisitor, reached into his robe, took out a rolled letter, and handed it over.

"Fernando, this is a letter from Isabella to you. Take a look!"

King Fernando silently took the letter, unfolding it with both hands. Soon, the powerful and bold handwriting of the Queen, earnest and fearless words fell into his eyes, imbued with unyielding power.

"Fernando, my husband! Since God has promised you, leading your army to advance the Holy War this far, why do you despair of God’s protection!..."

"You must know! The Almighty blesses us, the Moors have never been this weak, and the Christians never this strong! So far, in this long campaign, your reputation has never waned; you have never once faced defeat! And you will never again act in such a favorable condition as you have now!..."

"My husband, muster your courage, continue the siege until you achieve your goal! I will ensure your logistic supplies! And if necessary, I will personally come over! Remember, the Almighty is watching us!"

Seeing the letter from the Queen, King Fernando was shaken, remaining speechless for a long time. Complex emotions surged in his chest, and a rare look of guilt appeared on his face. His wife, who modeled herself after the Saintess Joan of Arc, often displayed more masculinity than men! While in front of his resolute wife, he instead showed some feminine hesitation and timidity.

"Honorable black-robed monk... this letter... Isabella she..."

"When Isabella wrote this letter, she only knew that the mountain paths for logistics had been washed out by floods, the camp’s supplies were somewhat insufficient, and the soldiers’ morale was low. She did not know yet, of such a severe plague in the camp..."

Thomas, the chief inquisitor’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, discerning the unspoken meaning from King Fernando. He pondered slightly, then slowly spoke.

"The Almighty bears witness! Since the camp’s plague is so severe and the crusader army’s morale is so low... I will immediately write to Isabella and dispatch a messenger!"

Then, in King Fernando’s expectant gaze, Thomas, the chief inquisitor, lowered his eyes and made a rousing decision.

"I will tell Isabella that it’s time... to invite her to come over personally!"