Chapter 1004 - 227: Rumors

Chapter 1004: Chapter 227: Rumors

Mustafa walked out of the grand hall, and as he was about to leave the court, he couldn’t help but glance back at the majestic giant arch of the Tak Kistra Palace.

Beside him, his nephew, who served as his Sword Bearer, couldn’t help but ask, "What are you looking at?"

"Looking at this palace built by the late Kasru."

"Haven’t you looked at it half your life, aren’t you tired of it?"

Mustafa, originating from the Saracen nobility of Mesopotamia, was granted the "Iqta Territory" (similar to Pronia, both being legally non-hereditary territories, but in essence not much different from feudal benefices) which amounted to more than a hundred thousand hectares, equivalent to a regular European duke’s domain.

He had served as Grand Vizier for twenty-three years, spanning two generations of Sassanid Kings, and he was even more familiar with this palace than Bagram VI.

"I’m worried that I won’t be able to see it anymore if I want to in the future."

Mustafa shook his head and sighed, "Fadlur, if one day, the Tatars break through Tarsus and repeat the tragedies of Nishapur and Ray City on Tarsus, what would you do?"

The attendant was momentarily stunned before saying, "You must be joking."

But Mustafa’s expression was not at all like he was joking, and the smile on the attendant’s face quickly faded: "The Empire may have been heavily damaged in the Persian Region, but its main forces are still intact, its foundation unscathed, and we will soon organize a counterattack to recover lost ground."

The main foundation of their family was located in Mesopotamia, leading among the Saracen nobility, and to this group, the loss of the Empire’s territory in Persia was not necessarily a bad thing.

After all, the Persian nobility in the Sassanid Dynasty always overshadowed these latecomers from the Saracen nobility, even after the center of the Sassanid Dynasty shifted westward.

"Heh, the Empire’s six major cities, Nishapur entirely destroyed, Ray City more than half damaged, and Shiraz’s Atakba surrendered voluntarily, handing Shiraz over to the Tatars, now Isfahan is also surrounded by Tatars, is the situation not dire enough?"

Mustafa sighed lightly, "Who could have thought that the once mighty Ayyubid Dynasty would be wiped out by the Crusaders in just a year’s time?"

"Uncle, how can a parvenu like Saladin compare to the Empire?"

The attendant said in a deliberately relaxed manner, compared to the millennial Sassanid Dynasty, not to mention the Ayyubid Dynasty which was just twenty years old, even the relatively long-lived Fire Worship dynasties like Fatima and Umayyad, were merely new upstarts.

"Throughout its long history, the Empire has faced many challenges, even losing Tarsus at the most dangerous times, but didn’t the Empire endure? It was so then, and it will be so this time."

"Ha, you’re right."

Mustafa seemed truly comforted, and his tense expression also softened.

No one understood better than him the crisis now facing the Sassanid Dynasty, not only from the outside but also with turbulent undercurrents internally.

Recently, a very frightening narrative has been circulating in the twin cities of Tarsus and Baghdad.

"Bahram VI is an incapable ruler, achieving nothing since ascending the throne, first passively watching neighboring states swallowed by the Franks without a hint of support, then being beaten and disgraced by barbarians from the East, he is totally unfit to be King of Kings."

"If a new monarch were to take his place, all difficulties would be easily resolved."

Mustafa didn’t know where such a ridiculous notion came from, and despite several investigations, he had no results, which only made him more worried. The mastermind capable of such tactics was likely involved in royal family infighting.

At this time, the Sassanid Dynasty cannot afford an internal conflict.

...

What Mustafa did not know was that the ones secretly spreading rumors were not Bahram’s brothers or sons, but the espionage organization "Shadow of Darkness" under Kurs, which had grown to more than ten thousand members in the past three years.

Even those refugees who were crying about the horrors of the Tatars had the hidden hand of Shadow of Darkness fanning the flames.

Additionally, Shadow of Darkness subtly guided the common people of Mesopotamia, shaping a public opinion that life under Frankish rule was better than under the Fire Worship lords.

Moreover, Losa had never mistreated past pilgrims, and many Fire Worship pilgrims, after returning from the Overseas Empire, although not daring to speak it openly, inwardly longed for the stability and prosperity of the Overseas Empire’s people.

This led to instances along the border between the two countries where heretics, unable to bear the oppression of local feudal lords, sought refuge under the command of the Frankish lords, reaching numbers in the tens of thousands over the past three years.

This number may not seem large, but that’s because the Fire Worship lords of Mesopotamia also tightened their defenses.

Now, Losa wanted to create a new public discourse, which stated that the Sassanid King was utterly incapable of protecting his people and that the only way to avoid the Tatar scourge was to pledge allegiance to him, the Emperor of the Overseas Empire.

The seeds have already been sown, though still tender, but if the Sassanids suffer another significant defeat, these seeds will quickly grow into towering trees.

...

One month later.

Rahba Castle.

Losa Fortress, located in the Jezira Region, serves as the most crucial border fortification of Sassanid Persia, commanding the Euphrates River Valley as it enters from the Syria Region to the Mesopotamian Plain. Surrounded by desert, it’s akin to a vital artery for transportation.

Although constrained by sparse grasslands and vast deserts surrounding it, the castle cannot house a large garrison, it still boasts a permanent defense of three thousand Undead Army soldiers.

Add to that the high walls and strong fortifications, with smaller forts within the main fortress, and once under attack, as long as they hold out for a few days, reinforcements will continuously arrive.

Today, the Undead Army soldiers in the castle are sitting in the shade as usual, chatting idly.

As the "Court Guard" of the Sassanid Dynasty, the Undead Army is undoubtedly the elite among elites. Although in recent years they’ve faced challenges from the Gulam, also known as the Mamluks, their status has slightly wavered, but they remain an elite force.

However, compared to being stationed in the lush and fertile areas of Baghdad and Tarsus, being stationed at Rahba, the foremost city in the Western frontier, is no different from being exiled to an impoverished backwater.

"I heard the Franks on the opposite side have been making some big moves lately?"

A soldier named Mamun from the Undead Army said mysteriously.

"Could it be war? Who did you hear it from?"

"The caravans, their information is always the most up-to-date."

The captain next to him couldn’t help but sneer: "Every year it’s the same, it’s that tournament held by the Frankish King. To the Franks, it’s much like the Scripture Debate at the Wisdom Palace in Baghdad."

Mamun said somewhat disinterestedly: "So that’s what it is. I thought an opportunity for honor and glory was about to come."

The captain sneered: "It’s just that barbarians are barbarians. This kind of meaningless boasting of martial prowess can indeed keep them entertained endlessly."

Nearby, another Undead Army soldier chimed in: "But they are indeed formidable. Even a powerful Monarch like Saladin was defeated by them. It’s said the Frankish King even subdued a Demon Dragon. If a war truly breaks out, our castle might not hold."

The captain did not refute, even though Sassan has stationed some Court Mages at Rahba and equipped them with full sets of Demon-Blocking Gold arms, nobody so far has swelled with the arrogance to think they can kill a Demon Dragon.

"It’s merely relying on wicked Dark Magic; without Losa, the Holy City would have returned to the hands of the Fire Worship ages ago."

"Where is this tournament being held this time? Could it be Damascus again?"

"Could be Aleppo or Antioch... The Franks hold a tournament every year at different locations, summoning local Lords’ elite forces to join them each time. With each such event, who knows how much money is spent."

The first year the Overseas Empire was established, the tournament was held in Jerusalem, the second year moved to Damascus, and the third year to Cairo.

The captain wiped the sweat from his face and sipped a bit of fermented grape juice: "The year before last when they gathered troops at Damascus, the whole Empire was as if facing a great enemy. I just hope they behave themselves this year."

Compared to the mountainous Persian Region, Mesopotamia is a vast plain. The two biggest cities of Sassan, Baghdad and Tarsus, are located there. The threat from the Franks is far more significant in the Sassan people’s eyes than the Tatars, who have yet to fully unleash their fury.

It was precisely that campaign that tied up most of Sassan’s military forces, plus Bahram did not expect Kurs, who seemed to have quite a heroic demeanor, to fall so swiftly, leading to Sassan watching Western Liao get destroyed without sending support.

Nearby, a seasoned veteran finally spoke up: "Better safe than sorry; I’ve heard the Tatars from the East are fierce. Most of Persia has already fallen. If the Franks join forces with them, we’ll be in trouble."

Talking as they went, Mamun suddenly rubbed his eyes: "That’s strange, wasn’t that caravan just left this morning? Why have they returned?"

Far in the distance, a massive caravan comprising hundreds of people, seemed to have discovered some terrifying demon, frantically driving their mounts toward Rahba.

The captain straightened up and ordered: "Could be Bedouin raiders. To scare such a large caravan like this, their numbers must be substantial. Mamun, go report to General Iben, have the Hawk Trainer release some hunting falcons to scout around. The rest of you, follow me to seize mounts, prepare to leave the city to support the caravan. Eliminating these raiders will keep trade routes clear, that’d be a significant achievement for us."

Mamun received the order and quickly headed toward General Iben’s Inner Castle, although he wasn’t particularly nervous.

Situated along a major thoroughfare, at the end of the Empire Post Station, Rahba sees caravans and pilgrims passing by daily. Encountering Bedouin raiders is perfectly normal. These Saracens, who adhere to traditional nomadic ways, are seen by the settled Saracens like them as contemptible raiders.

However, the nature of nomads is akin to chives; no matter how much you harvest, they still grow wild from the vast deserts.

Saracen Monarchs can only adopt both "pacification" and "intimidation" strategies.

Nonetheless, when Mamun reported and entered General Iben’s residence, he found the general seated with his back to him, remaining silent all along.

He walked around to the opposite side and saw that his general’s neck was oozing crimson blood.

A powerful sense of fear choked his throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

"Attack..."

Before he could cry out the warning, the sound was swallowed back down his throat.

A girl with a veil, long blue-gray hair, gently supported his body, softly laid him to the ground, and on his neck, a blood mark slowly appeared, oozing fresh blood.

The Assassin sighed softly and muttered under her breath: "The next target will be their Casters."