Chapter 1006 - 229: The Sassan Strategy

Chapter 1006: Chapter 229: The Sassan Strategy

The end, it’s not just Hades City.

When the news of Hades City’s fall came, Bahram’s face turned as black as the eunuch serving beside him: "How did the Franks get here, did they fly over with wings?"

"Assemble the army, immediately assemble the army, I’m going to fight these backstabbing Franks!"

The enraged King of Kings, smashing precious porcelain and furniture, but such anger only made him appear more like a paper tiger to the ministers.

Mustafa lowered his head, speaking in a weary voice: "Please think twice, Your Majesty. We are now besieged by both the Tatars and the Franks. The assembled army has not yet completed training; if we rashly attack, even if we win, we’ll pay a terrible price. How will we face the threat of the Tatars in the future?"

"What brilliant insights does the Grand Vizier have? Surely you’re not suggesting we sit and wait in Tarsus until the Frankish forces besiege us?"

Ali Atabeg snorted coldly.

He was the "Atabeg" of the Jezira region, originally a guardian role similar to "Grand Tutor," later evolving into a local governor with both military and political powers. The founder of the Zengi Dynasty was once a Sassanid prince’s guardian who later established the Zengi Dynasty after carving out his own territory.

"Or have you already secretly colluded with that rebel Kusru supported by the Franks?"

"This is slander!"

Mustafa’s face suddenly changed: "Hades and Rahab’s defenses were entirely your responsibility. His Majesty hasn’t even pursued your accountability, yet you turn to slander me."

"I was in Tarsus; how can I be blamed for the fall of the two cities?"

"Enough!"

With a stern face, Bahram VI said: "With a great enemy before us, you are still biting each other. Must we wait until the rebels supported by the Franks hang us from the gallows before you realize your regret?"

"Ali, you shouldn’t slander the Grand Vizier, apologize to him!"

Though Bahram generally disliked this powerful minister Mustafa, if there was anyone least likely to betray him, it would be Mustafa. Among the banners raised by the rebels was one proclaiming "cleansing the royal side," aiming to kill Mustafa as a sacrificial offering for the fallen of Persia.

Ali reluctantly apologized but couldn’t resist explaining: "But I still disagree with the Grand Vizier’s opinion. Indeed, our army hasn’t completed training, but the Franks are equally unstable. If we don’t seize this chance to eliminate their leading elite, we’ll face even graver danger when their main forces press in."

"Moreover, many generals currently in Tarsus have their Iqta territories fallen into the hands of the Franks. How can they feel secure fighting if we don’t repulse the enemy early?"

Mustafa smiled bitterly, as he too had many Iqta lands near Hades City, and he understood the feelings of these Iqta lords all too well.

But the problem is, the Franks are truly formidable.

"General Ali, even if you swallow the Frankish vanguard, are you confident against the main forces to follow? Even surpassing their main forces, how will you deal with the Eastern Tatars?"

"Your Excellency the Grand Vizier, though you’re known for your wisdom, I believe we should trust the professionals in matters of war."

Bahram couldn’t help but say.

These ministers might all negotiate with the enemy, but he was absolutely unlikely to forsake the throne of the King of Kings, even if it meant feeding all of Persia to the Tatar wolves, as long as he defeated the Franks, he could still secure his throne.

Mustafa bitterly smiled: "Your Majesty, although I am not versed in military affairs, I can perform simple arithmetic. The Sassanid military strength at its peak was equal to the Ayyubid. Now with only half left, how can we withstand the Frankish forces, reinforced by demon dragons and numerous powerful casters?"

General Ali couldn’t help but curse: "Nonsense, how can the Ayyubid usurper be compared with His Majesty? The Franks have demon dragons, and we have demon elephants. Our court mages won’t be inferior to them in the slightest."

Bahram waved his hand, knowing his own affairs best. When the Ayyubid first rose, the old hegemon Sassanid Dynasty exerted efforts to obstruct them, even triggering a major battle in the Mosul region, which ended in a Sassanid defeat.

If not for Saladin not pursuing victory, instead of swallowing Mosul, he proposed uniting with the Sassanid Dynasty against the Crusaders, leading to a truce where the Sassanid king was still recognized as the leader of the Zoroastrian World, the old dynasty Sassanid would have completely lost face.

Bahram spoke in a deep voice: "Grand Vizier, what exactly is your thought, just say it."

Mustafa was silent for a moment before firmly saying: "Please clear the room of irrelevant people, Your Majesty."

"Silence, I said you can’t trust those damned heretics, they"

Fighting the Franks, win or lose, even if we luckily win, the losses would be unimaginably tremendous.

What about the Eastern Tatars then?

Are we really going to let the Sassanid Dynasty’s birthplace Persia be trampled by those Tatars at will?

...

"Today, there’s something odd about the court’s atmosphere."

Bahram VI’s expression was heavy,

This is the Frankish proclamation...

Absurd, who has seen such a thing?

Everywhere, from the streets and alleys to the rural markets.

How could this be!

Bahram suddenly realized what the ministers at court planned. No wonder they were so opposed to dispatching troops against the Franks; they intended to use him as a sacrifice to negotiate with the Franks!

...

You have initiated an Empire-level campaign.

Campaign objective: Capture the Mesopotamian Plain, claim the Assyrian Empire in its entirety.

Reward: Hammurabi Code.

"Silence, I said you can’t trust those damned heretics, they"

Fighting the Franks, win or lose, even if we luckily win, the losses would be unimaginably tremendous.

What about the Eastern Tatars then?

Are we really going to let the Sassanid Dynasty’s birthplace Persia be trampled by those Tatars at will?

...

"Today, there’s something odd about the court’s atmosphere."

Bahram VI’s expression was heavy,

This is the Frankish proclamation...

Absurd, who has seen such a thing?

Everywhere, from the streets and alleys to the rural markets.

How could this be!

Bahram suddenly realized what the ministers at court planned. No wonder they were so opposed to dispatching troops against the Franks; they intended to use him as a sacrifice to negotiate with the Franks!

...

You have initiated an Empire-level campaign.

Campaign objective: Capture the Mesopotamian Plain, claim the Assyrian Empire in its entirety.

Reward: Hammurabi Code.