kingdom of nations

Chapter 373 The Battle of Nablus
This battle, which later became known as the Battle of the Valley, lasted for three full days, or even longer.

Saladin brought not only his two thousand Mamluks with him on this expedition, but also two other trusted Emirs and their soldiers, as well as Kurdish and Bedouin mercenaries who were very skilled at reconnaissance, harassment, and repeated raids.

This tactic was learned from the Turks, especially the Bedouins. Their cavalry could quickly charge close to the main army, then draw their bows and fire arrows, raining down on the unsuspecting soldiers. This would both weaken the enemy and demoralize them.

By the time the enemy knights arrived at full speed, they had already fled.

This time, when they discovered the Crusader army, they used the same method, but the tactic that had worked quite well in the past was no longer effective.

"I have never seen such a luxurious team."

After returning to his tent, the Bedouin said to Sultan Saladin, “At first glance, both men and horses are covered in steel scales, even the most ordinary soldiers. The heavy infantry on the outer edge of the column are wearing helmets and carrying shields. Moreover, the quality of their armor far exceeds what I have ever seen before. Our arrows have no effect on them. One soldier was hit by ten arrows, yet he was still able to continue on his way as if nothing had happened.”

We had to close the distance, but behind these shield-bearing soldiers were a group of crossbowmen whose crossbows had a much longer range than our arrows. Once we got close, they shot us before we could even hit their soldiers.

Some of our brave young men drew their swords, intending to launch a surprise attack, but unexpectedly, the heavy infantry and archers on the outer perimeter suddenly moved aside with lightning speed, and the knights inside rushed out. They were all killed, not a single one spared.

Saladin closed his eyes slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "The dead will receive compensation. The wounded will also receive greater rewards... and the rest will receive their due rewards." The Bedouin chieftain immediately showed a relieved expression, and then the Sultan asked, "They must be moving very slowly, carrying such heavy armor. Where are they now?"

“We’re not far from Nablus.” The Bedouin chieftain sighed deeply. “You say their commander is a young man in his twenties? I can hardly believe it. He has the composure and prudence of a sixty-year-old.”

Their soldiers could see at night, so they would often travel very late, stopping to rest, eat, and sleep when the moon was high in the sky. But they would set off again about four hours later, before the dew had completely dried.

When the sun's rays became too bright to open their eyes, they stopped to rest again. Although their rest intervals had increased from once to twice a day, their soldiers seemed to have long been accustomed to this marching method, their steps light and their spirits high.

I did a quick calculation, and their marching speed was even faster than a normal march.

"So, did they follow the river the whole time?"

The Bedouin nodded: "Yes, they have been following the river. The Jordan River has become their best shield, so they can mainly protect their right flank—and they don't have to worry about water shortages."

“I understand,” Saladin said in his usual calm and composed manner. “Go down. This is a real battle, for both the King of Arazarus and for me.”

After the Bedouin leader left, Saladin came to the table, lifted a linen cloth, and under the cloth was a sand table. The sand table was a gift from Cesar to Baldwin, but after its shape and function became known, intelligent and experienced generals like Saladin immediately understood its meaning. He quickly made a sand table based on the map he had drawn earlier. Although it was still a bit crude, it was sufficient for use on the battlefield.

Nablus, known in the Bible as Shechem, is not a plain but a wide valley surrounded by two mountains—Mount Ebal to the north and Mount Gerizim to the south. It can also be considered a holy site, where Moses blessed the people of Isaac.

This place is almost a natural battlefield.

"Call Camar."

Kamal accepted the task assigned to him by Sultan Saladin—to deliver a declaration of war to the King of Arrassal. He was not afraid of this task, after all, the opposing commander was none other than the young knight Cesar, whom they were familiar with, and his master Baldwin. And the character of a follower—generally speaking—would be consistent with that of his master.

After all, a servant who is always at odds with his master cannot stay by his side for long.

Moreover, based on what Camar knew—in their relationship, Cesar, though a servant, was more like a master, and Baldwin never seemed to harbor any resentment over the reversal of their roles—this suggests that he was at least a tolerant monarch.

At dawn on the first day, Kamal saw that Sultan Saladin's tent was lit early and people were coming and going frequently. He guessed that King Arazarus's army must have already appeared in their sight.

This is true.

When Saladin saw Kamal enter, he merely gestured for him to sit down. Immediately, a servant brought him an inkwell, parchment, and a quill. Saladin greeted Kamal while deep in thought, and soon he had personally written a letter of challenge that was gentle in tone yet sharp in its intent. He waited until the ink dried before folding the paper and stamping it with his own wax seal.

Kamal took it and placed it against his chest—he could still feel the warmth of the wax. He mounted his horse, called two attendants, and headed towards the other side of the canyon. Soon he saw the densely packed camp.

Previously, this army had been ambushed by Mitshkin on the coast of Galilee and suffered a crushing defeat.

But now it seems that their morale has not been affected by the previous losses. The camp is still bustling with activity and orderly. The patrolling knights greeted Camar, and after explaining their purpose, the group of envoys was immediately led into the king's tent.

He certainly knew César; back in Apollo, Kamal had only escaped with César's protection—but this was the first time he had ever seen the king standing beside César.

The young king wore an exquisite silver mask, his eyes peering at Kamal through two holes in the mask, but there was little malice in them. Kamal then carefully examined the attendants in the tent and noticed that they were all wearing gloves and veils.

Has the king's leprosy progressed to an irreversible stage?
His heart skipped a beat, but he calmed down when he saw the man beside the king. He handed over the declaration of war and, entrusted by the king of Arrassal, conveyed his respect and request to Sultan Saladin. In fact, it was also a declaration of war.

The letter stated that, for the sake of peace between the Saracens and the Christians, Sultan Saladin should withdraw his forces and leave with his army as soon as possible. In return for this goodwill, he would present the Sultan with 100,000 gold coins as a gift.

Of course, this was just polite talk; everyone knew that Saladin wouldn't give up so easily after his arrival.

Moreover, Saladin, like them, did not have much desire for money, and his emirs and Fatahs could not be satisfied with 100,000 gold coins.

This letter expresses more of an attitude.

Cesare carried this letter of challenge and, as an envoy, traveled to the Saracen camp, where he met Saladin again.

The meeting with Saladin was eight years ago, but in Cesar's eyes, this wise elder had hardly changed. This might be due to the protection of their prophet, or it might be that Saladin had determined his goal since he was young and had been constantly striving towards it. His will had never changed, so even time could not shake this Saracen who was as strong as steel.

The envoys from both sides returned to their respective camps, and the sunlight began to dim.

Both Saladin and Baldwin sent out cavalry to scout out the enemy's troop numbers.

In terms of numbers, Saladin clearly had the upper hand over Baldwin. Baldwin had brought few knights and soldiers from Holmes to begin with, and after fighting the mad Mitshkin in the Sea of ​​Galilee, although he was victorious, it was a very poor victory. They lost at least one or two thousand men in that battle, and now they probably only had three or four thousand men left.

Saladin, on the other hand, had two thousand Mamluks, twice the number of soldiers of other Saracen nobles, not to mention more than a thousand mercenaries and hundreds of volunteers from other places.

These volunteers—simply put, warriors from neighboring tribes—would don their armor and carry their weapons to plead with the Saracen army leaders whenever war broke out.

Although they claimed it was for their faith, in reality they only wanted the chief's rewards and spoils of war. Even if the spoils were meager and the rewards were not generous, it would be enough for their tribe to live comfortably for the next few years.

These people are a motley crew in terms of combat strength and equipment, and they have no discipline whatsoever. However, if used properly, they can still be a force to be reckoned with.

Baldwin divided his army into five parts: the vanguard, the main force, the left and right flanks, and the rearguard. The vanguard was led by the Knights Templar, commanded by the knight Walter, while the main force, consisting of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knights of Bethlehem of Cesar, followed closely behind.

The left and right wings were respectively assigned to the Knights of the Good Hall and the Count of Blois, who came with Baldwin—he led the knights and soldiers transferred by Philip II and Frederick I, while Richard I's soldiers followed the Knights of Stephen as the rear guard and reserve, while also guarding the supplies.

The drums sounded, the bugles blared, and the battle began.

------

Meanwhile, the city of Arazarus, which had been besieged by Saladin's army for nearly two months, also seemed to be in turmoil.

The Saracens could see that unrest seemed to be constantly breaking out in the city, with smoke rising and flames rising everywhere. The secret reports delivered to them were also increasing. Although the daily siege was still going on, it was like a child reluctantly doing his homework with a grumble. After losing Saladin's suppression and rule, the emirs and Fatahs began to be perfunctory and procrastinating.

Every day, they would launch a barrage of attacks with catapults, fire with crossbows, and then have their soldiers charge with shouts. But they weren't in a hurry to conquer the city. Instead, they would retreat at the slightest setback and rest in their own tents. Although they said they were resting, if you looked, all the tents were empty.

The soldiers were unenthusiastic during the siege, but full of energy during the looting. The information from the greedy and shameless inside man was not always accurate, and sometimes they would come up empty-handed. When the Saracens asked, they said that sometimes the nobles and dignitaries in the city who wanted to escape would suddenly change their minds, which was also possible.

Although the Saracens pretended to be very angry, they were actually quite pleased with this mistake. After all, the other party was not a prophet who could see the future, so how could he be so accurate? If so, they would suspect that there was some mystery behind it.

On the very day that Saladin and Baldwin exchanged challenges, the "flock" faced its greatest challenge yet.

A group of beautiful women arrived at the military camp.

The leader was a famous beauty named Yasmin.

Although they were just passing through, everyone knew why they had come. Soon, many graceful figures appeared in the tents of the emirs and Fatah.

When Turansha heard about this, although he also longed to see the beautiful woman known for her captivating dance and singing voice, he had to suppress his unbearable desires. Saladin did not force him to achieve anything during this period, but if he knew that he was enjoying himself while attacking the city, he would definitely scold him severely.

But the beautiful servant soon brought news that they wished to see Saladin.

This is only natural; Qi Yan often uses such methods to elevate her own status. Regardless of the criticisms, Saladin is now the Sultan of Egypt, replacing the former Attima dynasty and ruling over such a vast territory.

After being told that Saladin was not in the camp, the beautiful woman did not give up, but instead asked, "Then where is the hero who is currently fighting against the Christians?"

She only wanted to see him; she needed nothing else.

The sounds of musical instruments, singing, and ambiguous noise coming from the surrounding tents had already made Turansha restless and unable to contain himself. So he thought that if it was just a meeting, it might not be such a big deal.

With this in mind, he allowed the beautiful woman into the tent. Upon seeing her, he completely forgot Saladin's earnest advice—Yasmin means jasmine in the Saracen language, and she was indeed like a jasmine flower, petite yet voluptuous, with skin so white it could almost illuminate the tent, and enveloped in waves of rich fragrance.

She walked around the tent curiously. "Is this a Sudanese tent? This is the first time I've ever seen one. Thank you so much!" Then she said regretfully, "It's just a pity we have to leave tomorrow."

"Aren't you going to stay a few more days?"

"No, we still need to go to Apollo."

"There's going to be war in Apollo soon, it's very dangerous there."

"Isn't there a war going on here too?"

Qi Yan said, letting out a hearty laugh. Her laughter was somewhat rough, completely at odds with her delicate appearance, yet it possessed an unimaginable charm.

Turansha took out the gold.

If it's just for one night, just for one night...

Before dawn, when Turansha's personal guards entered the tent, Qiyan had already left, and Turansha was lying on his back on the couch, snoring loudly.

The guards checked him over and found that he was only drunk and had not been poisoned or injured, so they withdrew.

Meanwhile, a message also spread secretly and quickly within the Saracen camp.

They said that Patriarch Heraclius of Arrassa, fearing the impending massacre, decided to flee with his priests. The priests took all the valuables and relics from the several cathedrals in Arrassa. By the time the news reached them, they had already left Arrassa and perhaps had already boarded a ship and left before sunset.

The soldiers immediately became agitated. If that were the case, what would they gain even if they captured the city?

The sultans and caliphs might reward them and give them some gifts, but would they give them gold equivalent to the city's value? No, they could take for granted the fruits of their blood and lives.

Almost without a second thought, soldiers rushed out of the camp.

Their companions or leaders initially tried to stop them, but they quickly returned with rolls of silk, carpets, and some heavy but exquisite utensils, along with camels and horses.

One warrior brought back a golden cup large enough to fit a fist.

When people asked him how he got it, he actually said that he saw a path to wealth, but he brought too few people with him and could only pick up so little.

Yes, perhaps because they were traveling late at night, or perhaps because they were flustered, there were quite a few items abandoned on the roadside along the route taken by Patriarch Heraclius and his priests.

These words immediately ignited the greed in people's hearts.

They swarmed out, and the warrior was not lying. They soon saw gold and silk gleaming in the dim light of day in the wilderness and on the road, and in the darkness further away, torches were leaping and flickering.

"Although Saladin promised that they could leave with their own property, it is not their private property, and the war is not over yet. There is still some time before morning. We will be back soon."

Such excuses kept coming from the leaders, but when they led their troops out of the camp, they were blocked by the Mamluks.

The Mamluks were pure and upright young men, and they were extremely loyal to Sultan Saladin. Someone immediately went to report to Turansha, but Turansha was only in a deep sleep and could not be woken up no matter what they did.

Meanwhile, the emirs and Fatahs in the camp had already rushed out despite the Mamluks' attempts to stop them. How could this be a trap? Who would use priceless jewels to set a trap? Besides, the main force of the Crusaders was still in Homs and Hama, while the army led by King Alassane was blocked by Sultan Saladin at Nablus.

What do they have to fear? Can a Christian saint send an army down from heaven before them?

Some of the more violent warriors even clashed with the Mamluks, and with Saladin absent, the Mamluks were completely unsure whether they should draw their swords against their former comrades.

Amidst this hesitation and uncertainty, nearly half of the camp was emptied in an instant.

The Saracen warriors galloped away, while those left behind were filled with hope.

Gradually, the bright dawn replaced the dim light, illuminating everything in the camp. At this time, there should have been smoke and noise everywhere, but today the camp was unusually quiet, so quiet that those who stayed behind were somewhat uneasy.

They kept comforting themselves while eagerly hoping that the raiding party would return soon. At this moment, Turansha, who was in a daze, was finally awakened by his attendants and Mamluks. He pressed his forehead, feeling as if it was about to split open from the pain.

Upon seeing the Mamluk's anxious gaze, he guiltily looked away.

"Why is the camp so quiet?"

Before the servant could even tell him what had happened the night before, they heard a panicked cry: "It's Christians! Christians have broken out of the city!"

Yes, the gates of Jaffa, facing the Saracen camp, suddenly swung open, and an army that had been waiting in the wings rushed out of the city, their bodies covered in holy white light—the vanguard were all blessed knights. Their numbers might not be many, only a few hundred, but they were enough to destroy the Saracen camp with overwhelming force.

The emirs and Fatahs, who had either gone out to plunder or had become accustomed to this numb, day-to-day siege life, never expected the Christians to launch an attack at this time. They hurriedly jumped up, took their swords, and ordered their servants to bring their horses.

But these knights did not rely solely on their swords; hanging from their saddles were round earthenware jars resembling bunches of grapes, each filled with Greek fire left by Cesare to the Count of Belion. Previously, during sieges, the defenders had also used Greek fire in these jars to throw at the Saracen siege engines or their soldiers, but after several attempts, the Saracens discovered that Greek fire was not as terrifying as legend had it, and could be blocked with shields or cowhide.

But now these Greek fires are clearly mixed with other things. They explode violently as soon as they touch the ground or tents. The explosives carry viscous grease and fly onto tents, timber, and haystacks. As soon as they land, they ignite in a thick smoke filled with the smell of sulfur. Every spark has the potential to start a huge fire that is impossible to extinguish.

These knights charged left and right through the camp, even directly threatening Turansha's main tent. Fortunately, the two thousand Mamluks played a crucial role at this moment. They steadily formed a second line of defense, wielding spears, shields, and swords. Some knights were stabbed off their horses, while others managed to retreat to a distance.

Meanwhile, a squad leader among the Mamluks was shouting, calling for other Mamluks to come to his side, and then launching another attack to drive out the Christians who had invaded their camp.

Just then, a group of soldiers came galloping from afar. A Mamluk saw them and was about to shout a warning, but then he shut his mouth. The people returning were none other than the Saracens who had gone out to plunder. Although he was very angry with them, what could he say at this moment?

Mamluks had already rushed forward and moved the fences and barricades. In that instant, however, Turansha felt a sense of foreboding and shouted, "Wait!"

It's too late.

The warriors, dressed in turbans and robes like Saracens, rushed in through the barely opened gap. They showed no sign of slowing down and quickly scattered the Saracens who had managed to gather.

Where did this army come from?

The Saracens had no idea what was going on. Fortunately, Turanshah displayed unusual courage at this moment, or perhaps to make amends for his mistake, he gathered the remaining warriors, soldiers, and Mamluks around him and established a third line of defense.

After all, they were numerous. The few hundred knights, plus the later ones disguised as Saracens, totaled only a little over a thousand, and for the time being, they could not pose any threat to the rest.

On the dusty battlefield, a knight suddenly spurred his horse forward and shouted that the Saracens should surrender.

This demand certainly sounded absurd. "You've only resorted to some underhanded tactics," a Fatah member shouted indignantly. "You can't destroy us; on the contrary, we will destroy you!"

"Are you sure?" The knight removed his helmet; he was none other than Count Berion, the guardian of Arrasa Road.

The count stood amidst the dust, calmly observing the Saracens: "Gashalafah and Darum have returned to the Crusaders, and your retreat and supplies have been cut off."

The Saracens' first reaction was absurdity: how could this be?

The Crusader army was limited in number, and they had no idea where these knights and soldiers had come from. The other side even claimed that they had more soldiers, had recaptured Gasharahfa and Darum, and had cut off their retreat.

Unless the armies of those Christian kings also withdrew here with the king of Arazarus, did they summon the devil to fight for them?

"Go see for yourselves." Count Berion said no more and led his knights and soldiers back to Arrassa Road.

Turanshah immediately sent men to investigate news of Gasarafa and Darum—the results they brought back were devastating.

Even though they still outnumbered the garrison in Arathi Basin, and Saladin had even intercepted the King of Arathi Basin and his army, Darrum and Gasarafa had indeed fallen, just as the Count of Belion had predicted, and returned to the hands of the Crusaders.

A Saracen general who had escaped from Gasarafa knelt at Turanshah's feet, covered in dust, and told him that the invaders were not the Crusaders, but the Byzantine navy.

The Byzantine Empire's navy was once extremely powerful, with virtually no rivals in the Mediterranean.

The Saracens still have a saying: when you see a golden sail, you must run away, or you will fall into the devil's mouth.

The golden sails here refer to the sails of the Byzantine Empire's fleet—because the emperor would always plate these sails with gold leaf or inlay them with gold thread for decoration, so that when the sails were raised, they could be seen from afar as a dazzling expanse of gold.

Before the Komnen family, this fleet had experienced a brief period of decline. During this time, the Byzantine Empire even began to utilize Venetian and Genoese ships and sailors. However, after the Komnen family came to power, several emperors tirelessly tried to revive the imperial navy's prestige—Manuel I was the most zealous, though he never imagined that his painstakingly crafted wedding dress would ultimately become a weapon of the Crusades.

Cesar borrowed the fleet for 150,000 gold coins. In addition to the 150,000 gold coins that Dukas received, everyone in the fleet, from the captain to the sailors, received gifts from Cyprus. They also received a promise from Cesar that if they could help the Crusaders recapture Darum and Gashalafa, they would receive a generous bounty.

Driven by such interests, the Byzantine navy indeed displayed extraordinary combat power. They inflicted a crushing defeat on the Saracen fleet and brought in even more Crusader soldiers and knights, leading to the recapture of the cities of Larum and Qasarafa, cutting off the Saracens' sea and land transportation.

When the news reached Arrassa, Count Berion decided to lead his army into battle. What terrified the Saracens in the camp even more was that the fall of Darum and Qasarafa not only cut off their retreat but also their supplies.

To make matters worse, during the fighting before dawn today, some people took advantage of the chaos to burn supplies and provisions. What was originally enough to sustain the Saracens in the camp for a month or even longer may now only last for a week.

Turansha stubbornly resisted the thought of surrendering that was urging him to do so, while fiercely guarding a corner of the camp.

This was their only camp, and the siege had reached a stalemate, as they could no longer send more soldiers to attack Arrasal.

Instead, they had to restrain themselves, like a hedgehog covered in sharp quills, desperately defending their lives and property. Now, Turansha's only hope lay with his brother Saladin.

If Saladin were to return victorious, with the King of Arrassa and the Cypriot lord in his hands, they would be able to begin another round of negotiations with the people of Arrassa.

He returned to his tent, which had never been so crowded. All the emirs and Fatahs who could return had come. Some had their heads down, some were looking at the ceiling, and some had resentment in their eyes.

Turanshah knew that those people looked down on him and never saw him as another Saladin, but what could he say at this point?

He shifted his bulky body and sat down among the remnants of the defeated army. A golden cup rolling on the carpet caught his eye. Turansha stretched out his foot and kicked it, watching the golden cup roll into the darkness. He smiled bitterly, "Are those things really that tempting?"

An emir didn't speak, but simply raised his eyes and glanced at it quickly—it was indeed very tempting.

They estimated that they had brought back tens of thousands of gold coins to the camp earlier.

And these things were obtained so easily—whether it was gold cups or silk, they were casually tossed aside by the roadside, shimmering alluringly in the grass and sand. Those who fled with their wealth were either merchants or priests, and the soldiers they hired didn't dare to fight them at all. As soon as they saw them, they immediately abandoned their carriages and camels and ran away, like an incredibly docile lamb that automatically walked up to them, waiting to have its throat cut, be skinned, and its blood drained and eaten. How could they resist taking action?
They just didn't expect that the Christians would pay such a high price for this victory.

"Are there still no survivors?" Turansha asked, but the men just hung their heads and remained silent. When the knights disguised as Saracens rushed in, they knew that Patriarch Heraclius, who had gone out to intercept the Christians, or rather, those carrying his money, were mostly dead and would never return.

Turanshah forced himself to cheer up and relayed Saladin's last words to these men who were just as unlucky as himself. He assured them that Saladin would surely win and that they were not without a chance—even if they failed to capture Arazarus this time, they could still get them to pay a hefty ransom to their king, so that their mission would not be in vain.

Such rhetoric did appeal to some people, but most people only had their own opinions.

Just when Turansha thought they would get a short rest, some troops left that night—Turansha initially thought they were going to fight the Christians or plunder food and water from the surrounding area.

But what no one expected was that these people went further and further away, until they finally reached a distance that even Turansha could no longer deceive himself about.

Turanshah sent Mamluks to inquire, and their answer was straightforward: they already had some wealth, enough to make up for their losses in this expedition, and most of their soldiers had been lost. If they continued, they would return to their tribes or cities empty-handed, which was absolutely unacceptable to them.

As for the crusaders of Darum and Gasarafa…

In the end, these people had to admit that they had received a promise from King Arrasar and Count Berion that neither the Gasharah nor the Crusaders of Darum would stop them if they were willing to leave.

Not only that, they also took most of the food from the camp. If Saladin were here, he might be able to deter them or offer a solution.

But Turansha didn't have that ability. He could only grit his teeth. After all, he didn't have the prestige and courage of Saladin. He could only angrily rebuke these people, but what good was that? Rebukes couldn't hurt anyone. They were less effective than a gentle breeze. A cold wind might chill someone, but rebukes did nothing but hurt their eardrums.

Besides, they have already gone quite far.

"Like sand, it will scatter in the wind." A poem that Saladin often recited came to Turansha's mind.

He slumped down and remained silent.

------

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to find Saladin finally arrived at the battlefield between King Baldwin of Arazarus and Sultan Saladin.

Their battle has reached a fever pitch.

On the first day of the battle, both sides were in a probing phase, with both Saladin and Baldwin maintaining a restrained attitude.

At this moment, the willpower and courage of the soldiers under his command are put to the test.

The Saracens were better at using light cavalry. When arrows rained down on their men, only the most seasoned and resolute soldiers could remain unmoved. At that moment, if even one person on the long battle line felt fear and wanted to flee, it could lead to the collapse of the entire front.

Unfortunately, this did not happen as the Saracens had hoped.

Whether they attack the forwards, the left wing, the right wing, or even the back—Stephen Cavaliers may not have outstanding military talent, but he is good at playing it safe and steady.

He knew his king didn't care about losses in the war, so he used some of the baggage as cover and fortifications. No matter how the enemy tried to break through, they couldn't get past those heavy wagons, logs, and sandbags. Even if the wagons were full of arrows, the horses fell, and the logs were burned, they were still an insurmountable obstacle for the cavalry.

Saladin repeatedly sent out elite cavalry to probe and try to break a crack in these solid shells, but all his efforts were in vain.

Meanwhile, the Knights Templar, acting as the vanguard of the Crusaders, had launched several attacks, killing some Bedouins and Kurds, but without achieving the desired results.

Just like them, the Saracens were not afraid of death, and Saladin, with his superior numbers, tried to surround them at all costs. Several times, it was Baldwin or Cesar who led the knights to their rescue that prevented the Templars from being completely annihilated.

They retreated to their respective camps at dusk, and some laborers came forward to collect the bodies. During this process, neither the Christians nor the Saracens launched an attack.

On the third and final day, both Saladin and Baldwin knew it was time for the decisive battle. Their armies began to move, and after each had traveled about half a mile, they stopped.

Walter of the Knights Templar roared and swung his sword, Saint Paul, slashing a gruesome wound through the enemy's light cavalry and infantry. Blood splattered and filled the air like a crimson mist.

The Saracen infantry quickly cleared a path, not out of fear, but to make way for their heavy cavalry, who then launched their first charge.

Their swords and axes gleamed with a terrifying light, like the bared fangs of a wild beast.

They charged towards the Knights Templar, and the two old rivals clashed.

Meanwhile, Baldwin's regular army began to move forward rapidly. The knights galloped, and the infantry followed closely behind. When the familiar holy light shone, everyone let out a hysterical roar.

They were greeted by Saladin—whose revelation was given to him by Job, a Catholic saint, but who was also recognized by the Saracens as Anyub, one of the twenty-four prophets.

But what stories are told about him? Most of them describe his generosity, kindness, and selflessness... But he was not a warrior, and therefore, in the beginning, many people questioned whether Saladin should have been a teacher in a school. Saladin responded to these people with his achievements—was Nur ad-Din so impressed with him simply because of his youth and good looks?
Of course not, he was one of Nur ad-Din's most capable generals.

The reason he didn't have a prominent reputation was simply because he didn't care much for it. Unlike many young people who were eager to publicize their victories, he preferred to spend more time in libraries and schools, listening to scholars' lectures or reading widely.

It's not surprising that his nephew had such a misunderstanding of him, but was he really a man who ascended to the Sultanate solely through kindness? Of course not.

If kindness alone could secure a place in the Saracen world, then Saladin, and even the former Zengi, would have had no chance of rising to prominence.

When the two surging waves collided, even Baldwin was surprised.

This was their first direct confrontation with Saladin. Baldwin and Cesar's knights were also encountering such a formidable opponent for the first time. In fact, during the first clash, some knights fell from their horses due to their own carelessness.

"Raise the alert!" Baldwin shouted. "Our enemy is Saladin!"

How could an opponent who fought Amalric I for so many years be a weak man?
Although the opposing side consisted of only young slave soldiers, the strength, decisiveness, and will they displayed were like those of seasoned veteran knights, with an added level of discipline and obedience that the latter lacked.

It's impossible that all of them received the prophet's revelation, but Baldwin and the knights under Cesar entangled and fought with them, but did not gain the upper hand. The brilliance of some knights began to dim in a short time.

Saladin, accompanied only by two knights, weaved through his army, shouting "Gibhad!"

The word means "to exert oneself, to do one's best" in the Saracen language, and he was inspiring his soldiers to fight bravely.

"God is with us!" Baldwin shouted in unison, his hand flashing with holy light as St. George's spear took shape. He leaped forward and thrust it at Saladin. The knights roared in unison, cheering for their commander.

Saladin faced the spear that was said to have never encountered any resistance without fear, and raised his shield. The seemingly ordinary shield also burst forth with a dazzling light that was too dazzling to look at directly.

The spear and shield clashed violently!
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, the spear broke, the shield shattered, and finally turned into a cloud of dust, indistinguishably mixed together.

Before the dust had even settled, Saladin's straight sword had already sliced ​​through the air, slashing at Baldwin, who drew his longsword to fight him. Cesar covered Baldwin with his shield while facing a Mamluk.

This Mamluk was older and more experienced than the others. He was not concerned with his reputation and led a group of Mamluks with fishing nets and grappling hooks to surround Cesare. They had obviously learned of Cesare's prowess from the bards and hardly confronted him directly, but instead constantly hindered his actions.

They have discovered that Cesar's protection is limited; only within a certain area can knights and soldiers receive his protection.

In such a chaotic battle, it is difficult for knights and soldiers to constantly pay attention and discern whether the light on their bodies is fading. If they become negligent because of this, it would be the perfect opportunity for the Mamluks who have not been protected by the prophet.

Cesar noticed this as well, and he brandished his shield and raised his longsword, instantly clearing a space around him.

He looked around and saw that Baldwin was still fighting Saladin. Saladin's Mamluks did not have the shortcomings of the previous Saracen generals. They stood closely together, forming a fairly solid defensive line.

Even when charging, one can maintain awareness of the distance between the front and rear ranks and one's own forces, avoiding both gaps and chaos.

But then César noticed something quite unusual. There, the Mamluks were surrounding a young general, who, even with a helmet on, clearly hadn't yet grown a beard.

He was also a brave warrior, but the problem was that he failed to notice his own soldiers.

This part of the Saracens and the left wing of the Crusaders became entangled, and some Saracen cavalrymen dismounted to fire in order to increase their gains, but the Saracen general failed to notice and stop them in time.

“Gian!” Cesar called out.

Gian knocked a Saracen off his horse and handed him over to his squire to deal with. He then quickly went to Cesar's side, covered in blood and panting heavily. "Do you still have the strength?" Cesar asked.

"More water than the Jordan River!"

Cesar simply pointed, and Gian looked over and immediately understood his meaning. He immediately rallied some knights and charged toward that spot. The Saracen cavalry, already dismounted, were caught off guard and were mingling with their infantry—the charge had inflicted heavy casualties on them. The cavalry were unable to mount their horses, and the infantry could not escape. The Christian knights charged through, leaving behind a scene of carnage.

Gian had already seen the young leader.

The best solution at this point is to back down—if the young man still remembers his identity, but clearly he has forgotten.

He was Saladin's eldest son, Efdal. Efdal's presence here was a test for Saladin—his position was not important, and he was surrounded by experienced warriors and loyal Mamluks. But it was this tiny loophole that gave the Crusaders an opportunity.

Gian rushed forward and saw the Saracen's silver-plated chainmail and gleaming helmet, as well as the Mamluks rushing towards him to save him. So instead of using the sharp blade of the axe directly, he used the blunt end to smash the man's chest—Efdardard immediately fainted and was grabbed by Gian.

The knights on either side of him quickly dispersed, forming an encirclement. Using Efdal as bait, they captured a large number of Mamluks and caused an imbalance in the army of Sultan Saladin.

Saladin had already discovered this, but he was not flustered. He sent his reserves to fill the gap on the right flank while continuing to order the drummers to play the drums without stopping.

Baldwin also noticed that the Mamluks beside him seemed to be under some kind of protection, or perhaps even guidance.

Their attack was like a tidal wave crashing in, while their retreat was like a rolling tide, orderly and not chaotic. Even he and his knights would find this difficult to achieve.

He certainly knew that the prophet Saladin followed was Anyub, a kind and good man, but just as Christians yearn for saints, even the same saint can manifest in different ways in different knights.

Saladin never explicitly explained the revelation he received from the prophet Amyub. When asked, he would simply give a vague answer. Only he knew that his revelation relied on the faith of others in him.

In short, the more confidence those around him have in him, the more strength and protection he can give them.

However, he did not dare to reveal this when he was under Nurdin's command.

To increase his power, he needs to win over more people's hearts, and winning over more people's hearts means he will have even greater power, which is a virtuous cycle.

But the inevitable consequence of this cycle was that he would have to replace his former master and king, becoming the leader of the Saracen world. How could Nur ad-Din possibly tolerate this?

He didn't even dare to tell his uncle or his father.

Although his uncle loved him, he was also a man who craved power and status.

Therefore, Saladin was only able to start cultivating loyal followers, the Mamluks, after he finally gained real power and possessed all of Egypt.

With the support of these two thousand Mamluks, his power was enhanced to an unprecedented degree, enabling him to face Baldwin's spear of St. George and Cesar's shield with unwavering resolve.

Although they are temporarily unable to defeat their opponents, they have given the Saracens a great deal of encouragement.

Efdar became Gian's prisoner. He placed the young man across his horse, rode back to his camp, threw the precious prisoner on the ground, and then sped back to Cesar.

This was when the military envoy from outside the city of Arrasar arrived. He dared not approach the battlefield. Was it a battlefield? No, it was a millstone of flesh and blood, a quagmire of hell, the highest climax that human slaughter could reach!

By this time, it was difficult to distinguish between Saracens and Christians. Even their robes and cloaks were stained and defiled with blood, making it impossible to tell their styles, let alone their patterns and colors.

A knight was knocked off his horse and immediately fought as an infantryman. He killed more than a dozen Saracens before dying from exhaustion. Several Mamluks were surrounded by knights. Their bodies were almost entirely covered in wounds, yet they still fought desperately, even lunging at the knights' horses in their final moments, tearing at the unarmored areas. Some were covered in blood, some witnessed the deaths of their loved ones, some shouted loudly, and some died silently.

The canyon, now a battlefield, is filled with blood, corpses, and has even buried the original vegetation. The sand and dust no longer rise; they have long since solidified with the flesh and blood.

The messenger was in tears. What could he say? How could he deliver such devastating news to Saladin?

However, he didn't need to say anything.

Another army had appeared from far behind Saladin's army. They may not be many in number, but the banners they flew sent a chill down the spines of the Saracens. Among their banners were not only the banners of Arazarus, but also the banners of Count Berion's knights. But wasn't Count Berion holding Arazarus?

How could he possibly spare troops to support the King of Arazarus?

At that moment, an even louder clamor arose from there, as they shouted, "We have held the road to Arrasa!"

Moreover, they also brought out the banners of the Saracens outside the city of Arrasar, and the armor and helmets of the Fatah or the Emir.

Upon seeing the military flags and armor, some Saracens immediately broke down. Saladin, however, remained solemn and showed no sign of panic despite the heavy blow. "Don't stop! Keep playing!" he shouted to the musicians around him.

But at this point, his left and right wings were already showing signs of disarray.

Saladin's Mamluks were still fighting desperately alongside him, but the Crusader knights had launched a second swift attack. Some even shouted that Saladin's eldest son, Efdal, had been captured. When the Saracens could not find him, they began to panic. Instead of trying to escape immediately, they wanted to approach Saladin and ask the Sultan if he wanted to continue fighting.
Just as they hesitated, the third charge began.

This time, Cesar followed closely behind Baldwin, and Belion's army also launched an attack at the same time. Saladin's army, which was attacked from both sides, seemed to be powerless to turn the tide. When the first soldier began to flee, the defeat seemed inevitable. Perhaps Saladin himself would also perish here.

Saladin remained remarkably calm. He did not rebuke the Saracens who had come to him without obeying his orders. Instead, he used his prestige and the Mamluks to gather them around him and retreat towards the foothills.

The foothills were covered with dense forests, which were always the most treacherous places for cavalrymen. They were worried that Saladin might be lying in ambush there, so they stopped in their tracks.

Baldwin and Cesar have also issued orders to withdraw their troops.

They encountered Berrian's troops on the battlefield. Amidst the blood and gore, the enemy removed their helmets, revealing that it was indeed Count Berrian. His presence here indicated that César's previous arrangements in Cyprus, Gasarafa, Jaffa, and various locations along the Arrassa Road had achieved their objectives.

Yalasa Road was held.

(End of this chapter)