A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

If the fervor was still localized before Clermont, then after Clermont, it swept through nearly every corner of the Christ World.

In some places, the name Jerusalem could be heard at nearly every moment.

Countless people sewed white cloth Crosses onto their clothing, ready to march toward the East without a moment’s delay. They completely ignored Pope Gregory’s emphasis in his speech that those without combat experience should remain at home and provide financial support for the battle-hardened Knights.

This caused considerable trouble for the Priests in various Parishes, as the Pope’s Decree they received was to do everything possible to stop these people and convert their enthusiasm into donations for the Holy War’s expenses.

For example, the Bishop of Toulouse spent a full week persuading a wealthy lady to abandon the idea of personally joining the expedition. She had been incredibly resolute, even wearing a Cross on her right shoulder and vowing to reach Jerusalem. The Bishop went to great lengths to convince her that perhaps founding an almshouse would be more welcome, and only then did she reluctantly agree not to go herself.

Of course, not every Priest in the Parishes who received the Pope’s Decree was as responsible as the Bishop of Toulouse; some were pure troublemakers.

The Knights were far more rational. They were no strangers to war and knew the ropes; preparation and waiting before an expedition were necessary.

A Frank Knight from Monmelle signed an agreement with the Cluny Monastery, mortgaging his lands in exchange for 2000 Gold Coins and four mules. Considering the long and expensive journey to Jerusalem, he told the Monastery’s Cultivators that if he died or did not intend to return, the land would belong to the Monastery.

The Monastery’s Cultivators were deeply moved and gifted him an additional 1000 Gold Coins and two donkeys free of charge. They also told him he could visit the Monastery once more before his departure, at which time they would give him the funds they had raised for the Holy War.

Many Knights took similar measures, mortgaging their lands and property for loans. However, the Holy War funds raised by the Church did indeed lessen their financial pressure significantly.

.....

「February, 1078」

It had been nearly three years since the Walk to Canossa and the initial promise of an Eastern Expedition.

In those three years, unlike the bustling European Continent, England itself remained peaceful and serene. This was due to King Robert’s strict blockade of news regarding the Eastern Expedition. The recruiting representative from Constantinople stationed in London was burning with anxiety, but he had no one to vent to, as Robert was never in court.

Eric was dedicated to managing his own domain. During these three years, he reached an agreement with the Earl of Hereford and Belem, the Earl of Shrewsbury, to dismantle most of the internal tariffs between their three Earl’s Domains.

That is, all subjects within the territories controlled by the three Earls, including those in Tuscan and the Tuscan-controlled Pisa and Genoa, would enjoy the privilege of low tariffs.

Only when the subjects of the three domains purchased goods from outside the three Earl’s Domains would the levied tariffs remain unchanged.

Encouraging exports, restricting imports.

He also demanded that the guilds in each city expand their membership, increase the number of artisans, and boost production output. The cities that performed the best would be granted more privileges.

Eric brought a group of craftsmen from Tuscan, as well as peasants willing to seek a new life in England.

Eric promised them that he would provide farming tools and some start-up capital. He encouraged them to cultivate the wastelands of England, promising they would be exempt from taxes for ten years and would not be burdened with any corvée labor. They would work only for themselves, enjoy a degree of autonomy, and be allowed to freely establish their own towns when the time was right.

The Earl of Hereford and Belem, the Earl of Shrewsbury, settled some of these peasants in the newly conquered regions of Wales.

Of course, these measures remained inefficient in the short term.

The most profitable business was still the shipping and transport industry.

Merchants from Tuscan, as well as those from Genoa and Pisa, transported goods from Eastern regions like Greece, Tunisia, and Sicily—such as spices, porcelain, silk, horses, ivory, and gems—to the three Earl’s Domains. From there, they sold the goods to other Earl’s Domains in England and Normandy, as well as to places like Brittany, Flanders, Scotland, and Wales.

Because many unnecessary internal tariffs had been eliminated, Eastern products sold from the three Earl’s Domains were relatively cheap. This prompted many merchants from other counties, as well as from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, to travel to the three Earls’ territories to purchase these goods.

In turn, merchants from Tuscan, Genoa, and Pisa could purchase English wool at a discount and sell it on their way back to Tuscan. English wool was the best in the Christ World; the second-best, Iberian wool, couldn’t even compare.

Since the three Earl’s Domains were mostly located in the west of England and Normandy and were contiguous, it effectively joined Western England with western Normandy.

It is worth mentioning that Eric obtained a Saracen paper-making artisan from his uncle, Roger, the Count of Sicily.

Eric brought him to England and opened a paper mill. However, paper sales were not as good as expected, as not many people were literate.

The main customers were booksellers, Monasteries, and the Royal Family’s court. Of course, King Robert’s court... uh... maybe they needed it. Eric hadn’t heard him mention it, though.

Booksellers didn’t purchase much paper either, because not many people bought books. Only some noble ladies and wives, bored and looking to pass the time, would buy them. Knights and male Nobility preferred attending tournaments to reading.

The biggest customers were the Monasteries, because Eric knew many Cultivators needed to practice their grammar and learn Latin by transcribing texts.

Eric specially sent a batch to Philip.

.....

「Gloucestershire, Bristol Castle.」

Today, the castle had a visitor. It wasn’t Hereford, nor was it Belem, but Edgar, the Earl of Somerset.

”Of course, I have no problem with it. For this alliance, the more, the merrier. But, and this might be a bit forward, Lord Somerset, can you control the people within your domain?” Eric said to Edgar in English.

Edgar intended to join the Three Earls’ Customs Union that Eric had formed. This was a good thing.

In fact, Eric’s Customs Union had run into some small problems. Robert, the Earl of Cornwall, and Odo, the Earl of Kent, were very dissatisfied with the alliance. The Earl of Cornwall had organized a fleet to attack merchant ships heading for the three Earl’s Domains, causing considerable trouble. At the same time, he imposed heavy taxes and openly extorted merchants who tried to stop in Cornwall on their way to the three Earls’ territories.

If Edgar’s Earl’s Domain of Somerset joined the Customs Union, things would be much easier.

Somerset is connected to Hampshire, and most of Hampshire is the Earl of Hereford’s territory. In the future, ships bound for the three Earl’s Domains could land in Hampshire, which was much closer than Cornwall.

But Eric knew that Edgar’s Duchy of Somerset had taken in too many landless Sains. They had taken a large portion of Edgar’s land, leaving him with little territory under his direct control.

Because Edgar was very young and had always been propped up by them, he lacked Reputation.

”Uh... I think things will be much better after the Eastern Expedition.” Edgar looked a little awkward and shrugged. ”Their desire to go is quite strong. Many of their kinsmen are serving as guards in Constantinople and are said to have received handsome rewards. A good number of them have managed to secure decent positions.”

”Are you planning to go?” Eric looked at Edgar.

This was a test. In fact, even if King Robert agreed to let Edgar remain in England, Eric wouldn’t have allowed it.

”Of course. Maybe I really do need to go on a pilgrimage. Honestly, looking back, it all feels like a dream. Three years ago, I almost thought I’d be stuck in that godforsaken place, Scotland, for the rest of my life.” Edgar scratched his head. ”If we’re going to the East and traveling by land, I might be able to offer some help. My mother is the cousin of the King of Hungary, and I used to live in Hungary with my father for a while. I’ve heard that Emperor Henry is planning to enter Hungary.”

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PS: The plot for the Eastern Expedition isn’t fully planned out yet, so updates are a bit slow. If there’s anything you all want to see, feel free to mention it in the comments.