Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 133 The Old Man in the Mountain, the Assassin Assassin Organization!

But Jiyun City is not in Iraq, but a fortified city in northern Persia, south of the Caspian Sea.

The reason is very simple. The prime minister of Iraq suggested that Muhammad go to Iraq to avoid the Mongolian army because he wanted to return to his hometown Iraq.

But the Iraqi nobles don't want to do that!

Who would want to bring war to their hometown?
Although Khwarezm was powerful at this time, its internal control was very loose, especially in Iraq, the westernmost part of the empire.

Iraq's local forces ostensibly obeyed Muhammad's orders and, in most cases, accepted his call. However, they wielded military and political power within their own territories, acting like local tyrants, and Muhammad had to consider their attitudes.

If these local emperors were really pushed to the limit and turned against the Mongols, wouldn't that be the end of everything?
Even if Muhammad told them something like the truth that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, it would be of no use.

The Iraqis of this era didn't understand Eastern rule. They were used to being local emperors. When the Abbasids were strong, they submitted to the Caliph in Baghdad. When the Seljuks were powerful, they paid homage to them. Ten years ago, when the Khwarezmian Sultan became powerful, they pledged allegiance to Muhammad.

In their view, the Mongols came, so what? It was just a change of allegiance. What was the big deal?
Muhammad had no choice but to stop at Kejiyun, 500 miles away from Iraq, and ordered the Iraqi army to come to his aid.

His second son, Lukreddin, was obedient and brought all 30,000 Khwarezmian regular troops stationed in Iraq to the city of Kejiyun.

The Iraqi nobles scraped together 70,000 private soldiers to come to the rescue, which was considered a great respect for Muhammad.

However, the nobles in the areas near Jiyun also gathered an army of 30,000.

Therefore, there are now 130,000 troops stationed in Kejiyun City.

The 130,000-man army gave Muhammad no sense of security. After all, he had 110,000 men in Samarkand, but the Mongols had already broken through. But could Jiyun, no matter how strong it was, be as strong as Samarkand? Could the 130,000-man army here be as strong as the 110,000 elite soldiers in Samarkand?
However, if Jiyun cannot be defended, where can he escape to?

To put it bluntly, the Khwarezmian army was no match for the Mongol army. Although Khwarezm was a vast territory, as long as the Mongol army pursued Muhammad, no place would be safe.

By now, Muhammad regretted not listening to his son Jalaluddin's advice and holding the Amu Darya defense line. He had originally thought that the Mongols were after property and women, and that they would retreat after a good plunder. Now, it seemed that the Mongols' target was the entire Khwarezmian Empire, and Muhammad himself!

Running away will not solve the problem at all!

This is how to do?
Just when Mahmud was in great sorrow, someone suddenly came to report that Hehara Asibu wanted to see him.

Hehara Asibu was a nobleman who ruled the Luoer area near Kejiyun.

Not only did he lead 10,000 private soldiers to aid Muhammad, but he was also a famous wise man. Muhammad quickly ordered people to invite him in.

The greetings are over.

Hehara Asibu said, "Sultan, things are not going well. I have recently received intelligence that Zhao Shuo, 'God's scourge,' has conquered all of Khorasan in just three months. Further west of Khorasan is the province of Husada. Further west of Husada is the Kejiyun region."

"I already know."

Muhammad's face was filled with sorrow. He said, "Even Samarkand couldn't stop the Mongols, and Jiyun City is even less likely to stop them. What do you think I should do?"

Hehara Asibu said, "I have three plans for your consideration. First, the Sultan should lead several hundred cavalrymen and secretly leave Kejiyun City and head for Gejining. That is the fiefdom of Prince Jalaluddin. Prince Jalaluddin is a brave warrior and may be able to keep the Sultan safe."

"Tell me about your second plan."

Muhammad was not happy to hear this suggestion. He probably knew that his son Jalaluddin was stronger than he was, otherwise he would not have insisted on making him the crown prince. But could he be that much stronger? Even his 130,000-man army couldn't stop the Mongols. Jalaluddin's army was even smaller than his, so how could he stop the Mongols?
Could it be that in the eyes of Hekhara Asibu, Muhammad, the "Second Alexander", is far inferior to Jalaluddin, let alone the Mongols?
Hekhara Asibu said, "Secondly, the Sultan could take a dozen or so people and flee to an unknown island in the Caspian Sea, keeping a tight lid on any news. A dozen people wouldn't need much food, and there wouldn't be much evidence of their whereabouts. If the Mongols can't find the Sultan, wouldn't that save his life?"

Muhammad was even more reluctant to accept this suggestion.

He was the ruler of a powerful country, but he was hiding secretly on a small island, barely surviving. He had nothing but wine, delicious food, and beautiful women. It was not much better for him than being dead.

He then asked Hehara Asibu to come up with a third plan.

Hekhara Asibu was somewhat embarrassed and said, "The third plan is a bit risky. Could the Sultan consider an alliance with the Mulayi Kingdom to fight against the Mongols?"

"The Mulayi nation? The Ismain people? No! Absolutely not!"

Muhammad flatly refused.

The leader of the Mulayi Kingdom was the famous "Old Man in the Mountains".

This country is located in the Alborz Mountains, with fifty or sixty strong fortresses and a population of four to five hundred thousand.

The Alborz Mountains are located between the Iranian Plateau and the Caspian Sea coastal lowlands. It stretches for 1,800 miles in an arc shape, from the Turkmen border in the southwest of the Caspian Sea through the south of the Caspian Sea to Khorasan in the southeast of the Caspian Sea.

The strongest fortress of the Mulayim, Alamut Fort, also known as the "Eagle's Nest," lies nestled in the mountains 240 miles northeast of Khwarazm. Recently, the Mulayim, taking advantage of Khwarazm's decline, have seized the fortress of Lankusad, nestled in the mountains north of Khwarazm. This fortress is only 14 miles from Khwarazm, reaching it in less than half an hour on horseback. It was a major concern for Muhammad.

The most amazing thing about the "Old Man in the Mountain" is, of course, his terrifying assassination methods.

One hundred and thirty years ago, they assassinated Nefem, the famous prime minister of the Seljuk Empire.

A hundred years ago, the once-powerful Seljuk Empire attempted to attack the Mulayid Empire. However, the "Old Man of the Mountain" ordered an assassin to stab the Seljuk Sultan, Sinjar, in front of his bed. Sinjar was left with no choice but to never again speak of attacking the Mulayid Empire.

Eighty years ago, the situation was even more serious. Within three years, two Baghdad caliphs, Mustarshid and Rashid, were assassinated one after another. Since then, the Baghdad caliphs have never dared to appear in public again.

Since then, the "Old Man of the Mountain" has become famous and no one in Central Asia dares to be his enemy.

Even if Muhammad ruled the world, he would not be willing to provoke him.

However, Muhammad did not want to provoke the Kingdom of Murali, but it was the Kingdom of Murali that provoked him.

Nine years ago, a new generation of "Old Man of the Mountains" Zaleddin Hasa succeeded to the throne and announced that he would go to the "Caliphate" and regard the Caliph in Baghdad as his leader.

As a result, when Zal al-Din Hasa's mother passed through Baghdad on her pilgrimage to Mecca, the Caliph received her with great hospitality and seated her before Muhammad's messenger at the banquet.

What? In your eyes, my status as Mahmud is even lower than that of the "old man in the mountains"?
Muhammad did not dare to cause trouble for the "Old Man of the Mountain", but he hated the Caliph so much that he led his army to Baghdad. If it were not for a rare snowstorm on the way, which killed half of the army, the Caliph of Baghdad would probably have to be replaced by now.

Muhammad has been frustrated enough, now he has to ask for help from the "old man in the mountains"?

Hekhara Asib advised, "Sultan, please reconsider. The Mongol army is very powerful. Even if Khwarezm musters all its elite troops, it will be difficult to resist. We must find another way. If the old man in the mountains sends an assassin to kill that scourge of God, we can overcome the current crisis."

"What if they later tried to assassinate Genghis Khan? What if they tried to assassinate Genghis Khan's sons?"

"If we succeed a few more times, the Mongols will be leaderless and retreat without a fight, right?"

"It is not difficult to judge which is more important, the great cause of Khwarezm or the Sultan's reputation."

Hehara Asibu's words really convinced Muhammad.

Ultimately, Muhammad was the man who bridged the gaps between Khwarezmian factions and brought the kingdom to its peak. Even if his reputation as "the second Alexander" and "the shadow of the true God on Earth" is discounted, he is still considered one of the great heroes of his time.

His desire for power is no weaker than anyone else in the world.

As long as there is hope for Khwarezm, we are willing to give it a try.

He pondered and said, "Does the Mulaiyi nation want to be an enemy of the Mongols?"

"He should be willing," Hehara Asib said. "Zaleddin Hasa is willing to nominally submit to Baghdad in exchange for reconciliation with the people of the true God. I'm afraid he has bigger plans. If he wants to stay hidden in the mountains forever, why would he endure such an injustice in vain?"

"Okay, let's do it."

Muhammad finally made up his mind and said, "Send someone to contact the Mulayi Kingdom right now. If the old man in the mountains is willing to help me drive out the Mongols, I will grant him both the provinces of Kejiyun and Huzhada."

"Yes!"

"Not only that, I will also send an envoy to contact Caliph Nasr in Baghdad. Even if the Caliph is in decline, we can always mobilize 70,000 to 80,000 elite soldiers. As soon as Zhao Shuo dies, I will form an alliance with Nasr and march directly to Khorasan to revive Khwarezm. Do your best, and when you succeed, Khwarazm, you will be my Vizier."

Baghdad was the capital of Iraq in later generations.

But in this era, it was the territory of Caliph Nasr of the Abbasid Dynasty.

Although Nasr only controlled an area of ​​100 miles around Baghdad, there were 800,000 people in Baghdad alone.

In addition, Nasr is the recognized leader of the vast majority of the true God's people. He has plenty of money and still has a certain strength. It is not a problem for him to come up with 70,000 elite soldiers.

"Thank you, Sultan!"

Hehara Asibu received the big cake drawn by Muhammad and left excitedly.

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I'm a little stuck, I'll update one chapter first and make up another later

(End of this chapter)