kingdom of nations

Chapter 90: Fustat (Part )

This time, Grand Vizier kept his word.

Before the dawn of the second day, Shawar's guards suddenly came to the guards of the King's Gate and ordered them to drop their weapons immediately and walk down the city wall. In name only, they were asking them to rest and eat - they even brought cartloads of honey, bread and meat.

Many people were deceived, or they were too tired to think anymore. They obediently went down the city wall, ate and drank to their heart's content, and then threw themselves into a deep sleep from which they could never wake up again. Shawar's personal guards were not numerous, and to be on the safe side, they slit the throats of these people one by one after they fell asleep.

A few of the more vigilant ones cried out, but it did nothing to change the outcome. Once Chavar's guards had completely captured the gates and towers, they gave the signal to the Christians. Then, along with the Christians in Fustat, they removed the masonry that had been placed behind the Royal Gate, ready to fall if the gate was breached. Then, they lifted the heavy bolts and, together, opened the gate.

It seemed as if in an instant, Amalric I's knights had already rushed into the King's Gate.

As soon as they arrived in the city, they began to slaughter the enemies, both those who were asleep and those who were awake, and even some Christians who came to help them were kicked or trampled by the manic horses.

More Saracens were awakened, and when they heard someone shouting that the King's Gate had been breached, they immediately knew that the fall of the huge city was inevitable. They immediately dressed their weapons and went to kill those Christians they knew, and soon fierce battles broke out in many places in the city.

After the army led by Amalric I occupied the Royal Gate, they immediately rushed to the Victory Gate, responding to the Knights Templar outside the Victory Gate. Soon, when it was dawn, the Victory Gate was also breached. The hungry troops who had been entrenched outside the city like a colony of ants rushed in impatiently, their horses' hooves trampling through every street, and the knights and squires rushed into every residence. They killed men, women, and even children were not spared.

They spared no one. Once a knight entered a room or a residence, he became the master there. He would order his squires and servants to guard the door and not let anyone in, or he would place his shield in front of the door. Generally speaking, when other knights saw such a sign, they would turn around and look for their next target.

Gold coins, silver utensils, clothes, wine, olive oil, earthenware jars filled with wheat and barley... these were all considered their spoils of war. The merchants who followed the army would be eager to catch up. After negotiating the price with the knights, they would be quickly loaded onto carriages, transported to the port, and then sold in another city.

Of course, when it comes to wealth, the families of commoners or merchants can never compare with royal palaces or temples, especially the Saracens who are extremely keen on decorating their temples with gems, gold and silver. The knights deliberately avoided the Caliph's palace, although one look at the magnificent and tall building showed how much there was to plunder inside. But everyone knew that it should belong to King Amalric I.

But the gold, silver, gems, silk, and even large amounts of grain, oil, and wine looted from the Saracen temples were enough to make them ecstatic. They could hardly believe that there was such a rich place as Fustat, whose temple was exactly the Temple of Solomon described in the Bible.

All the wood was fragrant, and the marble walls were inlaid with silver or gold scriptures, and in some places there were hanging white and purple silks, which were later taken down by the knights and donated to the priests, so that they could quickly make them into vestments to be worn during the celebration of mass.

The priests were naturally pleased to accept the offer. The knights' destruction of the pagan temples could be seen as an act of piety, saving them a great deal of effort. After all, the two large temples in Fustat were to be converted into churches. The scriptures engraved on the marble walls, the exquisite shrines, the pulpits and other symbols of pagan worship were all to be taken away and destroyed.

Although there will inevitably be traces left on the walls and floors after these decorations are stripped away, they can be covered with silk carpets and curtains.

They lifted up the large cross they had brought with them and hung it on the west wall (facing the Alaska Road), which was the neatest and cleanest part of the Saracen's chapel. Then they brought the heavy oak altar (which they had also brought with them), covered it with white linen, and placed the scriptures and holy vessels on it.

After devout believers sent things such as altar paintings, portraits of saints, small crosses and candles, although this place still looked a bit out of place, it could become a place for kings and nobles to pray.

They were also the first to be cleared. The marks of swords, the bodies, and the blood had vanished by the next day. Patriarch Heraclius led the clergy in a grand mass. Amalric I, the Grand Master of the Grand Order, his vassals, and the lords who had participated in the crusade listened to the sermon, prayed, and received Holy Communion. Afterward, their procession traveled throughout Fustat.

How many people were there in Fustat? Eighty thousand, maybe a hundred thousand.

This place is different from Bilbais. Here, you can't see the crowds hiding in the alleys, looking at them with anger or indifference. The Saracens here seem to have disappeared in an instant, as if these people in turbans and robes have never existed. They seem to be walking in a dead city.

What will happen to this city in the future?

It should be like the former Alazarus. When Alazarus was first conquered, people were also killed regardless of their beliefs, identities, men, women, old and young. Just as Walter said, at that time, as long as they saw the pagans, they would let them taste the sword, even babies were no exception.

But are there any survivors in this massacre? Yes, as long as they can endure the initial period of hardship, and wait until the Christian King Amalric I enters the city and re-enacts laws, or restores order, they can leave, even if they will be expelled and not allowed to take anything with them - including those they once loved and those who loved them. The only things they can take away are hatred and their lives.

But so what? A city exists because it has a need to exist, either for military or economic reasons, or, like Alaska, for a combination of all three - military, economic and religious.

They are the golden apples, Helen, or the Garden of Eden. No one is willing to give them up or stay away from them. Slowly, people will gather here again, no matter whether the rulers are Saracens or Christians.

On the third day, Shawar dealt with the soldiers and servants guarding Caliph Atid in the palace. The fat traitor spread silk on the floor and knelt on both sides with other ministers and generals who were willing to serve the Christian king, welcoming Amalric I into his palace.

"I heard that Caliph Atid is about our age." Baldwin leaned over to Cesar while riding his horse and said, "He is also a young man."

"Will he be killed?"

"I don't know, but if possible, my father would not leave him here. He would be sent to another castle. It is said that the Saracens are very loyal, respect and love him. They say he is the incarnation of a god and can make the Nile flood."

"Hey, don't listen to that nonsense."

Cesar turned around and helplessly discovered that it was their old friend, Geoffrey. "Do all the Templars like to eavesdrop on other people's conversations in secret?"

Geoffrey squeezed between the two children without hesitation. "He's older than you, but he can't compare to you. He's just a playboy who lives among women."

"Women?" Cesar asked. If Caliph Atid was the same age as them, how old was he when Amalric I first attacked Egypt?

"You've seen him?" Baldwin asked. "Did you see him when your father first attacked Fustat? What's so strange about women? It's always like this at court, only here..." Geoffrey answered Baldwin's question first, then answered César's, and then said leisurely, "Chaval promised to pay two million gold coins if Amalric I could drive out and kill his enemies."

The Templar said maliciously, "At that time, your father was not as gullible as people thought. He sent me to see Shawar's master, the Caliph Atid, to ask if he would guarantee this contract. He also specifically instructed me to shake the Caliph's hand and make him swear an oath before returning."

"You did it? You did it," Baldwin said affirmatively.

"It wasn't a difficult matter," Geoffrey said nonchalantly. "I told you that without the caliph's crown and the ornate trappings of the supposed descendant of Muhammad, he was just an ordinary young man, even less so than the average person. I didn't bow to him or flatter him. I even asked him, almost as if it were an order, to shake my hand, and he actually agreed, even though it made his servants look indignant."

"You didn't tell us before."

"What is there to say? If their Caliph Atid were a strong warrior, inspired by their prophet, who could strangle a leopard with his bare hands and chop down a battering ram with a single blow of his axe, and if he rode on the battlefield and made his name known to all, I would be proud of it.

But he, a guy covered in brocade, like a woman... Oh," he glanced at Cesar, "I'm not talking about you - anyway, you will see him soon, and when you see him, you will understand what I mean."

Cesar had seen the Caliph's palace in Bilbais, but it was only a temporary palace after all and was in no way comparable to this huge complex.

The Caliph's palace at Fustat was like a new city.

They rode in through the towering archway, passing countless buildings, courtyards and dense forests along the way, before finally arriving at a city wall inlaid with green and blue mosaics. The gate opened to both sides, but what greeted them was not a bright courtyard or a luxurious hall, but a dark corridor with Saracen guards standing on both sides of the corridor.

The knights behind Amalric I straightened up subconsciously, forgetting that this place had long been occupied by the king's army. These Saracens were still wearing scimitars, but the scabbards were empty, just like Fustat now.

Sure enough, when the king dismounted and walked towards the corridor, these turbaned guards all half-knelt respectfully, without any presumptuous or disrespectful behavior. They walked together for a long distance, which was intentionally created to be particularly cold and long for some reason - "When those viziers and emirs (local administrative chiefs and military leaders) walked through here, they would definitely be extremely nervous and worried." Baldwin said to Cesar.

"Maybe it was so a hundred years ago." Cesar said bluntly. The Fatimid Dynasty and the Kingdom of Alazarus were completely different political systems. In the court of the former, the king had the power to decide life and death, while in the court of the latter, the king was more like a patriarch. He had more power than other members, but this did not mean that he could do whatever he wanted.

But having everything is not necessarily a good thing, just like the deaths of Caliph Atid's grandfather, father, and brother were not normal, and he himself was in danger.

At the end of the corridor, there is a huge lake. People need to cross a white marble bridge to reach the building opposite. On the left and right sides of the lake, between the drooping green branches, moving singing and birdsong can be faintly heard.

When they entered the Caliph's palace, dozens of eunuchs were still serving the young Caliph diligently. He was indeed as Geoffrey had said, a frail young man wearing a huge turban with a golden feather inlaid with gems, and a dark purple silk robe. His lips were pale, and it was not known whether it was due to his physical condition or his unpredictable fate.

When Shawar looked at him, there was surprisingly not much contempt in his eyes, but rather some pity. He still knelt on the ground with great humility, prostrated himself three times, kissed Caliph Atid's feet, and supported him, leading him to Amalric I. "Please have mercy on him," Shawar said. "He was once a monarch like you, and he is the same age as your son."

At Shawar's signal, Atid bowed to Amalric I and kissed his hand.

"I forgive you," Amalric I said, "as long as you don't do anything stupid."

Shawar breathed a sigh of relief, and he let go, and several knights still took Caliph Atid away.

"I have prepared a grand banquet for you," said Chavar. "Sire, you are the new master of this palace, this city, this country. You must entertain your guests here, so that they will know your power and generosity. I have also prepared gifts for them, which will not be included in the million gold coins."

Amalric I glanced at Shawar with a half-smile, but Shawar simply lowered his head and said: "I am very useful, Your Majesty, you will find that I am very useful."

No one knew what excuse Shawar had used, but no matter who saw it, the banquet was magnificent and flawless. He had successfully combined the entertainment and food that both the Saracens and Christians loved and were best at: large quantities of steaming meat, sweet wine and refreshing beer, soups and fruits sprinkled with precious spices, and stacks of candied fruits and cakes drenched in honey, turning them golden...

The poets sang the stories of Charlemagne, Aeneas (the founder of Rome), and King Arthur. The Saracen musicians also played their music. The eunuchs beside Shawar also brought several beautiful female slaves to dance. They may not be comparable to the Princess of Sibylle, but they also have a unique beauty. At least a few lords have whispered to each other, asking if there are slave traders who sell young Saracen women.

Because of Baldwin, Cesar was treated like a prince. This treatment was like a warm bath that could make a person feel soft and forgetful. However, he was not very interested in it, especially when the smell in the hall became more and more mixed and heavy. He wanted to leave even more. He whispered a few words to Baldwin, stood up and walked out the door alone.

It's not quite accurate to say it was outside the door, because they were holding the banquet in a multi-pillared hall facing the lake. From the seats, one could overlook the sparkling lake. On both sides were terraces that spread out like swan wings. The terraces were lush with flowers and plants, the moonlight was bright, and the air was as cool as a handful of ice water.

"Who?!"

Cesar had only been alone for a short while when he saw a shadow slowly appear beside him. He did not shout because the person had already revealed himself - a slender young man who immediately knelt on the ground when he saw him.

He was even younger than Cesar, with milky white skin, short brown hair, and blue eyes. Cesar was slightly startled and suddenly felt uncomfortable. That man... was a eunuch.

"Please don't cry out, sir," he pleaded. "I have been sent by someone to deliver a message to you."

"Who gave me this message?" Cesar didn't think anyone here needed to be given a message.

"He said he had mercy on the cow that passed by him. Did you?"

(End of this chapter)