Water Margin people

Damascus.

Outside the city, there was a sea of ​​cavalrymen wearing armor with Crusader insignia and holding various crosses and flags.

"King, we can start the siege!"

The commander of the Crusader Cavalry challenged Baldwin IV to a fight.

A few days ago, the army of Damascus raided the Kingdom of Jerusalem, hoping to capture the holy city while Baldwin IV was away.

But Baldwin IV had already arranged everything before he left. The Damascus army was ambushed at the rear of Jerusalem. In the chaos, the Jerusalem defenders rushed out and defeated the Damascus army in an instant.

The Jerusalem army pursued all the way to the outskirts of Damascus, and Baldwin IV also arrived with his army.

"and many more!"

Baldwin IV shook his head, but his eyes behind the metal mask were fixed on the city of Damascus.

"Report, Your Majesty, Saladin is here with his men!"

A knight rode up on horseback to report.

"Sure enough, it's here!"

Baldwin IV spoke calmly and said that the reason why he was not in a hurry to attack the city was to guard against Saladin. If they were halfway through the siege and Saladin arrived with his troops, they would be defeated.

In the Gobi Desert in the southeast, a large group of black cavalry appeared, almost occupying the entire horizon.

There were loud trumpet calls and cheers in Damascus. They also saw the reinforcements and their morale was greatly boosted.

Saladin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Damascus was safe and sound. Damascus was in a very important location, and if it was lost it would be a huge loss for their Ayyubid Kingdom.

The black cavalry soon reached the other side of Damascus.

Instead of ordering an attack, Saladin rode outside the city.

When Baldwin IV saw Saladin coming forward alone, he also rode forward. He knew that Saladin wanted to meet him.

"Your Majesty, I went to the Caspian Sea to look for you, and I didn't want to miss you!"

Saladin looked at Baldwin IV and spoke.

"Oh, you also went to the Caspian Sea? Maybe you met the Emperor of Qi!"

Baldwin IV smiled and said that the reason Saladin failed to catch up with him was probably because the Emperor of Qi took action.

"Have you reached some kind of agreement with Qi?"

Saladin asked directly.

"Yes, some kind of agreement was reached."

Baldwin IV did not deny it and nodded in acknowledgement.

"You submitted to Qi?"

Saladin looked at Baldwin IV in disbelief. Although the leper king was tortured by illness, he had a strong character and great talents. He was a rare wise ruler. He couldn't believe that such a man would actually surrender to the State of Qi.

Saladin stared at Baldwin IV. He was a devout believer, and Baldwin IV was also a devout believer. The State of Qi not only wanted to conquer this land, but also to spread the teachings of the East. It was impossible for them to convert to other doctrines.

"No, we just reached some agreements!"

Baldwin IV said that he could never agree to submit to Qi.

"Then I understand!"

Saladin looked at Baldwin IV and said, since Baldwin IV did not surrender to Qi, he must have cooperated with Qi, and the target of cooperation could only be the Arabs.

"You look much better!"

Saladin suddenly spoke up. The last time he saw Baldwin IV, he looked extremely weak even when riding a horse, and his hands were shaking unconsciously. But this time, the situation was completely different. Baldwin IV looked calm and composed, and he did not look seriously ill at all.

“Better than ever!”

Baldwin IV smiled rarely, looked at his linen-gloved hands and said that the medicine given to him by the Emperor of Qi was very effective. He even felt that he would not need to wear gloves and a mask after a while.

"Qi can actually cure leprosy!"

Saladin looked at Baldwin IV in disbelief. Leprosy was called God's punishment for sinners, which was what Western Christians said because leprosy could not be cured by mortals.

Leprosy also existed in the Arab world and was called a punishment from the gods.

The entire Arab world had already reached a consensus that they would capture Jerusalem as soon as Baldwin IV fell ill and died.

But now Baldwin IV's leprosy showed signs of improvement, which was simply a miracle.

Saladin felt a murderous intent in his heart. He had tolerated Baldwin IV before because he knew that he would not live for many years. The slow death of a wise king would actually be the biggest blow to the country.

But now Baldwin IV's illness is actually getting better, which is not good news for the entire Arab Empire. It is not so easy to take the Holy City.

"Sir, I haven't held a sword for several years!"

Baldwin IV also felt Saladin's murderous aura. He smiled and touched the hilt of the sword on the saddle. Since he was diagnosed with leprosy, he had never touched a sword again, but now he felt that he might as well give it a try.

Saladin watched Baldwin IV actually hold the sword, and finally confirmed that Baldwin IV's leprosy had improved and he was even able to pick up the sword.

Looking at the dark mass of Crusader cavalry in the distance, Saladin knew that there was no way he could take action against Baldwin IV today.

"You have murderous intentions! You must have suffered a loss in front of Sun Lei!"

Baldwin IV smiled. He felt the murderous intent in Saladin just now. The reason why Saladin, who was known for his rationality, behaved like this must be because of the emperor of Qi.

"I have talked with the Emperor of Qi twice. The most recent time, I proposed to use the two rivers as the boundary, but he refused. He called himself a conqueror! You should know what I mean."

Saladin looked at Baldwin IV and spoke.

"Conqueror! Is that so?"

Baldwin IV's tone was calm. He had known all this for a long time. Sun Lei's goal was by no means simple, and he was not so easy to convince.

"But so what? This is not something you and I can stop! Only he has the right to end this war!"

Baldwin IV said calmly that they had no ability to stop Qi from doing anything. Everything would end only when Qi had fought enough and was satisfied.

"Do you know how big his appetite is?"

  Saladin said, Sun Lei is not a person who is easily satisfied. Even if they give in, how long can they give in?

"It's nothing more than being swallowed whole. Then you go south and I go north!"

Baldwin IV said.

"Are you willing to give up everything?"

Saladin was a little anxious. Baldwin IV seemed to have accepted his fate. This was not the Leper King he knew.

"You mean we should unite against Qi and force it to compromise?"

Baldwin IV looked at Saladin and said.

"This will definitely stop Qi from expanding westwards, and it will also preserve our territory!"

Saladin nodded and said that there were only him and Baldwin IV here, and no third person would hear what they said.

"Haha, do you think this is feasible? What does it matter if you and I agree? Can you convince the high-ranking officials in your church, or can I convince the king and the pope over there?"

Baldwin IV looked at Saladin and asked. (End of this chapter)