noveltune Chapter 877 - 101: Journey to the Eastern Lands for Glory and Achievement
Chapter 877 - 101: Journey to the Eastern Lands for Glory and Achievement
Located on the Mesopotamian Plain in the Two River Basin, it is the essence of the entire Fertile Crescent and also the ruling center of Elanshahar, the Sassanid Dynasty.
Baron Fulk and Ivan, at this moment, are leading five thousand of Saladin’s "handpicked" elite forces, escorting a large delegation toward the capital of the Sassanid Dynasty, Tarsus.
Not long ago, they had just passed through Baghdad, where they rested for an entire week before receiving the Sassanid King’s summons, allowing them to proceed to the nearby Tarsus.
Along the way, they were dazzled by the magnificent Eastern scenery.
Baron Fulk felt quite sentimental: "The splendor of Baghdad is simply the most remarkable I have ever seen, neither Aleppo nor Alexandria compare to it, perhaps even the legendary Constantinople would be just like it."
"It’s only slightly stronger than Cairo."
Ivan chuckled lightly, his expression a bit complex: "You still have the mind to pay attention to these things."
"That old fellow Tugult, meeting numerous guests in Baghdad, running around, striving hard to advocate that all Fire Worshipers should unite and march against the Franks, this is probably not what the Sassanid King wants to see."
"Even if the Sassanid King is displeased with him, he will not act against him against his morals. The delegation will leave sooner or later, staying in Elanshahar, the only ones left to engage in a bloody battle with the Tatars will be us, and by then we might become the objects of the Sassanid King’s wrath."
Fulk smiled helplessly: "Things have come to this, what choice do we have? Among these five thousand ’elite’, I wonder how many eyes are watching us."
Ivan’s expression cooled slightly, he chuckled: "A priest from my homeland once said, even ants have the will to survive; I refuse to believe these five thousand troops, thrown out and abandoned, are willing to meet such an end. Fulk, all my trusted followers have been detained by Saladin, now, you’re the only person I can trust, but the question is, are you willing to trust me?"
He extended a hand.
Fulk understood and bumped fists with him: "Only death will come of this. But... what do you want me to trust you about?"
Ivan couldn’t help but laugh: "Trust that I can gather the hearts of these five thousand troops, and truly make them the foundation for us brothers, so that we can establish great achievements in Elanshahar?"
"Alright then."
Fulk shrugged: "To be honest, I don’t believe it, but I will help you."
Ivan cursed, "Such a wet blanket," then solemnly analyzed the situation:
"I’ve heard that the Tatars from the East are extremely fierce; they changed their previously weak nomadic offensive on the steppes, lacking iron and armor, they already conquered the capital of the Kara Khitay, forcing the Khan of Khitan, Yelv Zilu, to bow to the Sassanid King.
The Sassanid King sent troops for support, only for them to be easily slaughtered by the Tatars, their heads were cut off and formed into a tower of skulls, an act even more barbaric and cruel than the Kuman people."
The land of the Two River Basin is fertile, the cities are developed, and many famous silk and porcelain goods in Europe are actually produced here; although not as exquisite as those truly from the East, they have still fostered a fairly developed commerce and business, with endless traders coming and going, making it an area where news thrives.
As he traveled, listening to the legends from the East, he realized that the Tatars were not to be underestimated like the Kuman people, who are just mere nomadic tribes.
Fulk nodded and said: "The Tatars are fierce. Just relying on these five thousand ’elite’ given to us by Saladin, who can’t even gather a helmet for everyone, if they were truly on the battlefield, one round and they’d be crushed by the Tatars."
Ivan said seriously: "Exactly, if we follow Saladin’s arrangement, it’s a road to death. We need time to train them, to equip and arm them, to turn these ragtag remnants into a true elite force."
Fulk frowned: "But that needs a lot of money."
Ivan snorted coldly, looking at the delegation: "I know a place with plenty of money, and the Sassanid King would be more than happy to see those old geezers, buying off his subjects everywhere, suddenly fall ill and die suddenly."
...
The Three-headed Demon Dragon Ladon landed on the ground, breathing heavily.
He gently lowered a head, allowing the knight on his back to "step down" and descend onto the back of Eclipse waiting below. The horse glared at Ladon unwillingly but dared not act out.
Cairo City, at this time, had castles and towers everywhere engulfed in raging flames.
The siege towers, ladders, and hammers had neared the city walls.
As a siege cloud ladder was placed on the wall, its hooks embedded in the crevices of the bricks, several defending soldiers holding push rods smashed against the cloud ladder, watching as it was about to be pushed away, Venezia darted up to the top of the wall.
He grabbed a defending soldier, threw him like a weapon, causing several other defenders to retreat repeatedly, followed closely by several heavily armored Varangian Guards, charging forward in a group.
It’s hard to exert full force, Losa really did not put forth much effort, he’s now planning to become a Dragon Knight, a role both effortless and majestic.
The Three-headed Demon Dragon Ladon landed on the ground, breathing heavily.
He gently lowered a head, allowing the knight on his back to "step down" and descend onto the back of Eclipse waiting below. The horse glared at Ladon unwillingly but dared not act out.
Cairo City, at this time, had castles and towers everywhere engulfed in raging flames.
The siege towers, ladders, and hammers had neared the city walls.
As a siege cloud ladder was placed on the wall, its hooks embedded in the crevices of the bricks, several defending soldiers holding push rods smashed against the cloud ladder, watching as it was about to be pushed away, Venezia darted up to the top of the wall.
He grabbed a defending soldier, threw him like a weapon, causing several other defenders to retreat repeatedly, followed closely by several heavily armored Varangian Guards, charging forward in a group.
It’s hard to exert full force, Losa really did not put forth much effort, he’s now planning to become a Dragon Knight, a role both effortless and majestic.
The Three-headed Demon Dragon Ladon landed on the ground, breathing heavily.
He gently lowered a head, allowing the knight on his back to "step down" and descend onto the back of Eclipse waiting below. The horse glared at Ladon unwillingly but dared not act out.
Cairo City, at this time, had castles and towers everywhere engulfed in raging flames.
The siege towers, ladders, and hammers had neared the city walls.
As a siege cloud ladder was placed on the wall, its hooks embedded in the crevices of the bricks, several defending soldiers holding push rods smashed against the cloud ladder, watching as it was about to be pushed away, Venezia darted up to the top of the wall.
He grabbed a defending soldier, threw him like a weapon, causing several other defenders to retreat repeatedly, followed closely by several heavily armored Varangian Guards, charging forward in a group.
It’s hard to exert full force, Losa really did not put forth much effort, he’s now planning to become a Dragon Knight, a role both effortless and majestic.