Mount and Blade Central Asia

A few minutes later, Tavel kicked open the door to the treasure house and entered the underground passage under the protection of several guards. Then he saw his money box that had been smashed open.

"I knew there was something wrong!" Tavel roared, brandishing his scimitar with fury. "Bring all the servants here. I want to interrogate them one by one!"

Chapter 636 I still have a chance!

Rufeng soon found out that his men did not ambush the defenseless Black Sheep Governor as agreed. The Governor suddenly turned around and ran back less than three kilometers after leaving Baghdad.

Li Rufeng's Mongolian cavalry had come up empty-handed, but the Golden Sword was even more embarrassed. The mercenaries were less than 70 kilometers from Baghdad, and it would take about five days to march there.

The regiment commander, Renzo Piano, was now like an ant on hot pot, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. He could only let the team stay where it was and wait for further orders from Li Rufeng's personal guards.

But they had already crossed Tikrit. Although the number of Black Sheep garrisons there was not large, they were not so blind as to not notice the Golden Arrow Mercenaries passing by them.

Here, the routes between cities are fixed and single. Small teams with a small number of people may be able to take other routes according to their wishes, but mercenary groups like the Golden Sword, which have hundreds of people, can only take the main road to obtain sufficient water.

So their whereabouts could not be hidden, and the Qara Qara of Tikrit must have discovered them and sent cavalry to Baghdad to report about their situation.

Renzo Piano could tell that the Black Sheep's troops were mainly rangers. In this semi-desert geographical environment, they were like lambs to be slaughtered.

"Captain, why don't we stop here? This horrible weather is not suitable for camping." Several infantry captains were sweating profusely. These people from the coastal cities were like fish out of water in such a dry environment. Even breathing was a pain.

Many people were asking for more money. If it weren't for the name of Baghdad City tempting them, these mercenaries might not have maintained their morale. After all, everyone knew that tax farming was a good job and there was money to be made from everyone from top to bottom.

"There's a problem with the route arrangement. Let's rest here for a while." Renzo Piano impatiently asked the captains to disperse. He was also very panicked at the moment.

It's probably like the feeling of having invested money in a merchant ship, hearing that the owner has secured a shipload of in-demand goods, only to be told the next moment that the ship has encountered a storm and its current safety is unknown.

For others, this is a metaphor, but for Renzo Piano, it is a tragedy repeated. He had already seen the shadow of becoming a member of the city, but life overturned him in the blink of an eye and stepped on him with ten thousand feet.

It took Renzo Piano five years to get back on his feet, and now he's faced this kind of thing again. He's so mad he looks like he's been bitten by a dog.

Of course, there is someone in this world who is more irritable than Renzo Piano, and that is Shaw Valard.

He almost didn't stop for a moment. After escaping from the Abbasid Palace, he jumped all the way out of Baghdad. It was not until he could no longer see the shadow of the majestic city walls that Shaw Walad finally breathed a sigh of relief and was able to calmly think about what went wrong.

The servants around him had already received accurate information at this time. Tavel turned back almost as soon as he left the city. It was said that he gave up the plan of leaving the city to quell the rebellion because he encountered an ominous sign.

Xiao Valard didn't care what omen the fat man encountered. He just wanted to know if there was a traitor around him.

"Only a few of us know the inside story." The loyal captain of the guards shook his head. He was very sure that all those who knew the truth were trustworthy.

They had considered the issue of leaks long before the plan was launched, so they selected only loyal candidates.

The captain of the guard shook his head at Xiao Valad. Their group was held together by loyalty and mutual trust. Without such a foundation, they would have fallen apart long ago. Therefore, it was meaningless to track down the leaker now.

Xiao Walad also realized this and remained silent on the rest of the journey. They soon arrived at a manor about five kilometers away from Baghdad.

Baghdad was once surrounded by lush green grasslands, but now even the riverside areas are rarely fertile.

Therefore, oasis estates of varying sizes, which relied on groundwater to maintain their size, became the main grain-producing areas, which to a great extent restricted the development and growth of civilization on this land.

The Galail Dynasty was once an extremely powerful dynasty, and even the Black Sheep People were their vassals, but all of this disappeared like smoke and dust.

"Mr. Surwan is dead." A few hours later, the captain of the guards walked into Shaw Valad's room and told him, "Our informant said he left no secrets before his death. The governor only knows that someone broke into his treasure vault."

"It's my treasure trove! Nothing in there belongs to him!" Xiao Valad roared, then calmed down and continued, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I regret Surwang's death..."

Surwan was the steward of the Abbasid Palace. He died like a hero. No, he was a hero. This old man guarded the last glory of the Jalair royal family.

No matter how many tricks Tavel used, he couldn't get Surwang to tell the truth about the daring intruder. Although he knew that keeping Shaw Valad's identity secret might be meaningless, he still did it.

Perhaps it was for his patriotism, or perhaps it was for something more noble, but he didn't utter a single name until Tawil was trampled to death by the cows he kept in the Abbasid Palace.

"Ms. Julis is dead too." The captain of the guards continued, but Xiao Valad didn't feel much of a ripple in his heart. Compared to someone as important as Surwang, Julis's death seemed so insignificant.

That pig kills the women around him every few days. Julis is just a ghost, isn't she?

"When our informant left, the killing in the palace was still going on, and all the servants were put under guard." The captain of the guards' tone revealed a hint of regret. "It's no longer safe here. We need to leave, my lord."

As one of the most trusted people around Shaw Walad, the WHO captain certainly knew that Shaw Walad's departure meant that he had completely given up all his ambitions towards Baghdad.

Although the property left by the Jalair royal family can still ensure that Xiao Valad will live a rich life for the rest of his life, that is all he can do. The dream of a dynasty will completely disappear with the loss of this opportunity.

Those who spontaneously gathered around Xiao Valad and insisted on fighting for their ideals and loyalty rather than for their own interests will gradually disperse.

The dynasties of the past will be like a dream, shattered with the arrival of reality.

Butler Surwang did isolate Xiao Walad's identity. Although the servants in the Abbasid Palace had seen him, they did not know his identity. Many people even thought that he was Butler Surwang's illegitimate son.

But no one could guarantee that there were any well-informed servants among them who would secretly find out Xiao Valad's true identity.

No one can guarantee that there are no smart people around Surwang who can detect something through clues. They were too reckless in the dawn before victory and left too much evidence that can be verified.

"No, I won't leave." Xiao Valad suddenly raised his head and looked at his captain with a firm gaze. "We haven't completely failed yet!"

"We just need that pig to leave Baghdad, the farther the better. He doesn't necessarily have to go and quell the rebellion!" Xiao Walad's expression grew increasingly agitated, as he shouted, "I'm the perfect bait now. I can lure him here!"

"But sir, this place is too close to Baghdad, and we can't guarantee your safety." The captain of the guard frowned, began to consider the feasibility of this new plan, and shook his head decisively. "Besides, how can those Mongolian cavalry obey our orders? There is simply no time..."

"It's still in time!" Although Xiao Valad didn't know what Li Rufeng's trump card was, he at least had a preliminary understanding of Li Rufeng.

He spent a lot of money to learn from a loudmouthed mercenary that the shaman had the ability to give orders from a distance, and his relatives were his minions who could convey his will at any time.

Xiao Valad happened to be accompanied by the personal guards sent by Li Rufeng, but because he wanted to move freely, he left the two personal guards behind and stayed in the manor.

Of course, he was very polite in every aspect, with plenty of wine, women and food, enough to satisfy the guards.

In fact, this was indeed the case. After getting Li Rufeng's approval, the two bodyguards enjoyed their rare vacation here with peace of mind, until Xiao Valad came to them for help.

The news was quickly passed to Li Rufeng through his personal guards. At this time, the cavalry of a thousand men that he sent to assist Xiao Valad in ambush the Black Sheep Governor was still stationed near the original target manor.

It is only 30 kilometers away from Baghdad. With the cavalry's speed, if they force a march, they can reach Xiao Walad's current location in two hours at most. From the perspective of time, it is barely an opportunity.

The only question is whether the governor will really come personally to arrest Xiao Valad and his men, and whether they can resist for so long until Li Rufeng's troops arrive.

"There are forty-six of us in total, and if we count the servants and slaves in the manor, we can mobilize a total of one hundred and fifty people. If we promise great profits and return the slaves' freedom..." The captain of the guards had actually made his choice, but because of his status, he could not directly persuade his loyal master to take risks.

Xiao Valard, whose eyes were already red with anger, hesitated for only a few seconds before deciding to take another gamble and waited for the governor's revenge in the manor.

"At least, they still have some courage." Li Rufeng, who was far away in Mosul, commented like this, and then issued new orders to the dormant cavalry team of a thousand men through his personal guards.

Chapter 637: Fight for credit!

"Huluchirjia, when will the master promote you to be a centurion? The brothers are all waiting." The cavalrymen running across the desert joked with each other.

This cavalry unit drawn from various parts was actually not entirely composed of Mongols. One third of them were Kurds, and the remaining two hundred men were from Li Rufeng's headquarters, led by Huluchirjia.

"How could I have that ability? I can't stand having to think about how the troops plan their routes and the logistics and meals every day." Hulucierjia said half-truthfully.

As an ordinary tribal warrior, Huluchirjia has been fighting in battles big and small with Li Rufeng for more than two years. He has accumulated a lot of military merits and experience. Even if he is promoted to a captain of a thousand men, no one can find any fault with it.

After all, Marcelino and Saib had both come to power. As a warrior of Li Rufeng's headquarters, Huluchirjia should also be promoted.

Up to now, the main reason why Huluchirjia is still a centurion is that he lacks ability, but he is very self-aware, or it should be said that he has no ambition.

Whenever Li Rufeng asked him to follow Badak and learn some knowledge that senior officers must master, Huluchirja would find various excuses to refuse.

Even now, his basic literacy is limited to less than ten words. Many of his brothers who fought with him knew more words than him.

The group of young warriors who surrounded Li Rufeng back then were not very old. Huluchirjia was only twenty-one years old now, but he looked a little older, like he was in his thirties.

However, Hulucijia has looked for wives many times. If Li Rufeng had not led his men out to fight and has not returned yet, Hulucijia would probably have children.

But many times, as people grow more mature, they bear more and more responsibilities. Hulucierjia, a young man who wants to ride horses happily on the grassland for the rest of his life, must also shoulder more burdens.

He is the leader among the newly grown warriors in the tribe, and now he must stand up to maintain the status of the tribe.

The Mongols under Li Rufeng are currently divided into three parts. Li Rufeng’s headquarters is one part, his direct lineage, and also the one with the smallest power.

Then there are the tribal warriors of the Qinggelinayan faction. This group is currently gradually squeezing out the position of Li Rufeng's headquarters as the war progresses. They are the strongest, but because Mengge is still alive, their thoughts are somewhat distracted.

Many nostalgic tribal chiefs still habitually follow Qinggelinayan as the leader and only regard Li Rufeng as a wartime leader.

Of course, as Qinggelinayan's disappointing younger brother caused so many troubles, Qinggelinayan's authority was seriously weakened.

The last part is the foreign Badak Thousand-Man Team, whose number is also slowly increasing. Many warriors who once served the Khanate on this land have chosen to join this team.

Especially after Li Rufeng occupied the city of Mosul, those Mosul people who had served in the army joined the team one after another.

Of course, the Badak Thousand-Man Team itself is in a state of division. The once relatively harmonious racial relations within the team are now divided because of the privileges of the Mongols in Li Rufeng's territory.

Although Li Rufeng tried his best to avoid all this from happening, he had little success.

"We have to charge ahead this time. Those black sheep people are not very capable, so we have to capture them alive! Do you understand?" Huluchirjia may not have any thoughts of fighting for power, but he was also sensitive to the fact that he still held the position of Minister Bai, blocking the way for many young people in the tribe.

If he doesn't move forward, it will be difficult for many people below him to move forward.

"Capture the Governor of Baghdad alive! Replace him with a centurion!" A group of people suddenly shouted excitedly.

When such cheers reached the ears of the friendly forces, the Mongolian cavalry belonging to the Badak Thousand Man Corps felt a little harsh.

In terms of origin, these talents are the regular army of the Khanate. In terms of seniority, even if we don't count the fact that these people have remained loyal to the Khanate in overseas enclaves over the years, the fact that they voluntarily chose to stay in the Smyrna area is itself an achievement.

After wandering outside for six or seven years, I came back without any chance to be rewarded, and I had to compete for fame and fortune with those young kids. This is a humiliation in itself.

Li Rufeng was well aware of the emotional dissatisfaction of many soldiers in the Rak Thousand Man Army, which was why he had been appearing in a high-profile manner with Princess Parisa recently.

Only when he is confirmed as the heir to the Khanate can these soldiers rest assured and know that their achievements will not disappear for no reason.

"Brothers! Let's speed up and capture that Black Sheep bastard alive before those boys do! Let them know who is the real master of this land!" The centurion in the team raised his saber high, boosting morale.

The two groups immediately entered into a fierce competition, leaving only the cautious Kurds following behind, intending to take on all the chores and help these Mongolian uncles.

At this time, Ahmed Taweel, the governor of the Black Sheep people, who was vowed to be captured alive by several parties, was carefully considering whether to encircle and suppress the daring "merchant".

By interrogating his servants, Tavel already knew who the madman was who broke into his treasure house.

What made him even more angry was that he had met Shaw Walad several times before. The other party behaved quite humbly in front of him and even organized other merchants in Baghdad to donate money and materials to express condolences to the Black Sheep garrison on many occasions.

Tawil even praised the young man in public, calling him a man of great talent and sensible of the current situation. He entrusted him with an important task and allowed him to take charge of the grain collection work in Baghdad.

As a result, he only now realized that Xiao Valad not only dared to break into his treasure room and steal his wealth, but also swaggered around his palace as if he was the master of the place, and also slept with his women and killed his sheep for meat!

This is like shitting on Tavel's head!

This fat black sheep man felt that he was so angry that he was about to smoke. After finding out the possible hiding place of the enemy, he immediately led his troops out of the city to encircle and suppress them.

But then Tavel thought again and remembered the omen when he left the city today.

This omen brought him back to Baghdad and made him discover the conspiracy. He couldn't imagine how much loss he would suffer if he fell for it.

So, should he leave the city?

When Tavel was lost in thought, a crow flew in from nowhere and landed on his shoulder in front of everyone, and began to whisper in human language that only Tavel could hear.

The fat man's eyes suddenly widened and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Chapter 638 Infighting

"The fat man didn't come out, sir, we failed." The captain of the guards finally confirmed the bad news two hours later.

Governor Tawil chose to stay indoors, not caring about how many rebellions there were outside the city, nor about the bold and reckless madman Xiao Walad. Not only that, he also issued an order requiring the Black Sheep defenders in several fortresses around Baghdad to withdraw back to Baghdad and abandon all defense nodes outside the city.

"Damn it, who leaked our plan?" Xiao Valad grabbed his hair and pulled it to both sides in anger. He really didn't take that pig Tavel seriously in the past.

As a ruler, the black sheep made almost all possible mistakes. He was greedy and lustful, promoted flatterers, levied heavy taxes on the rich in Baghdad, and killed ordinary people at will. No one in the entire city of Baghdad, from top to bottom, did not want him dead.

Even within the Qara ...

In order to obtain this information, Xiao Walad spent a lot of money. His original plan was to sow discord among other Black Sheep chiefs to kill Tawel, and then find an opportunity to arrange for a chief from a less powerful tribe to come to Baghdad to serve as governor.

Li Rufeng's sudden appearance undoubtedly saved Xiao Valad's plan a lot of troublesome steps, allowing him to fast forward to the step of killing Tavel in one step.

But he didn't expect that Tavel would suddenly become difficult to deal with.

Xiao Valad spent two years getting to know Tavel in depth, and he also took into account the latest situation before he found a way that would almost unconsciously lead him to lure Tavel out of the city.

Now everything is over. If that damn fat guy doesn't produce orange, how can I get rid of him?

The only good news for Xiao Walad now was that he had indeed successfully transported almost a quarter of the grain from the granary in Baghdad and handed it over to Li Rufeng. This created some friendship between him and the newly rising overlord, so that he would not be hated by the Mongols because of the failure of his plan.

"Sir, there is no chance. It's time to leave here." The captain of the guards made this suggestion again. He had even begun to consider where to go next.

With Shaw Walad's current power and reputation, if the Governor of Basra did not find an opportunity to kill him quietly, it would be considered that he was loyal to the Jalayat Dynasty. There was no need for him to continue to be tied to Shaw Walad and take risks with him.

All loyalty is based on interests, and even if I don't leave, His Royal Highness the Prince will probably demand my loyalty.

"We..." Xiao Valad hesitated for a long time before nodding dejectedly and accepting the fact.

From the beginning to the end, he was just a conspirator hiding in the shadows. When he was exposed and all his plans failed, he posed no threat to Tavel.

unless...

"Lord Rufeng asked you to wait here for now. We will take care of the rest." One of Li Rufeng's personal guards ignored the guards standing at the door and unceremoniously pushed the door open and barged in. "Lord Rufeng said that the agreement you agreed upon earlier is void. After everything is over, he will arrange a suitable position for you. At least you won't return empty-handed."

Xiao Walad's mind was a mess. He had no idea what Li Rufeng was planning to do, nor did he know what use he was to him. According to the intelligence he had obtained, Li Rufeng should not have more troops to attack Baghdad.

But now the confidence in the other party's words made Xiao Valad nod subconsciously, like a drowning man who had grabbed a straw.