Ch.172Crusader (5)

# Sindh

The Ghaznavid Dynasty, pushed into northern India by the Seljuk Dynasty, was dreaming of revival here.

Sultan Arslan Shah, who ruled the Ghaznavid Dynasty, was renowned as a wise king.

His subjects looked at the Sultan with hope that he could reclaim the territories lost to the Seljuks.

“Today, regarding the local lords…”

Just as Arslan Shah was about to speak, a guard urgently approached the Sultan.

After bowing, he immediately began his report.

“It’s… it’s an emergency, Your Majesty.”

“What’s happening? Don’t tell me the Seljuks are attacking?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“Then are the Turkmen invading?”

“We can’t be certain, but they appear to be nomads.”

The Seljuk Dynasty wasn’t originally from this land.

They were nomads who lived on the steppes.

Not far from the Ghaznavid Kingdom was a land ruled by people who shared the same culture as them.

This country was called Western Liao or the Liao Dynasty in their language.

“But I heard they recently fell, Your Majesty.”

“That’s correct. We heard they collapsed and were annexed by nomads rising from the east.”

Arslan nodded at his subjects’ words.

Then he looked back at the guard.

“The fallen wouldn’t attack us.”

The guard bowed and continued his explanation carefully.

“As you said, it doesn’t seem to be Western Liao. However…”

“However?”

“Their banners show a large moon and crescent, with a massive cross beside them.”

“A cross!”

“Could it be! Infidels!”

The subjects were greatly surprised.

This was understandable, as they had recently heard rumors that Christian nations were attacking Islamic territories, specifically those under Abbasid rule.

Christian nations had been causing trouble claiming to reclaim holy lands,

but the situation was rapidly changing as Salah al-Din, called the hero of the Arab world, was attacking the region.

Having heard this news, Arslan worried that the cross appearing behind them might indicate Crusaders.

“It’s strange that among nomads, there would be those who believe in the infidel faith…”

“It seems some Sogdian Nestorians must have converted these nomads.”

“Indeed. That’s the only way they could have become Christians.”

The Sultan waved his hand at this.

He calmed his subjects.

“Let’s not discuss that matter further. It doesn’t matter how they became infidels. The problem is that those who deny Allah’s teachings have appeared behind us.”

After saying this, the Sultan rose.

Then he looked at his subjects and continued.

“The appearance of infidels means they covet our land. I have no intention of letting infidels take the land Allah has given us.”

“The Sultan speaks truly.”

“We acted rashly.”

“It’s fine. Everyone, gather the soldiers. We will show these nomads the fearsome power of Allah.”

Arslan said this while boldly drawing his sword.

He was determined to teach these nomads, who were rushing in like puppies unafraid of tigers, a lesson.

* * *

“The enemy was easier than expected.”

Jebe said this while looking at the city called Lahore, which had been the capital of the Ghaznavid Dynasty.

To be precise, the city had become ruins with nothing left.

The reason was simple.

They had refused the Ulus’s offer of surrender.

The Ulus were warriors who knew how to show mercy.

But they didn’t extend that mercy to those who rejected it.

Arslan had refused the Ulus’s offer of surrender.

He even cut the beard of the envoy sent to suggest surrender, making it like a goat’s beard, and insulted the messenger by saying he wouldn’t submit to an infidel king.

At this, Temujin showed them no more mercy.

He dealt harsh punishment to those who opposed him, just as his father Yesugei had taught him.

This was because others would see this and not rebel.

For these reasons, the Ghaznavid Dynasty was conquered in just three days.

And their splendid culture that they had built up turned to ashes.

“Capture all the people living here. Then move them all to Western Liao.”

Western Liao, ruled by Temujin, boasted the largest territory within the Ulus.

But the number of people living there was fewer than in Bekhter’s Western Xia or Belgutei’s Liaodong.

So Temujin was thinking of capturing people from here and forcibly settling them in Western Liao.

“We’ve captured their king, called the Sultan.”

Jelme said this while dragging in a man wearing elaborate clothing.

The man looked up at Temujin with a vacant expression.

“I don’t like how he’s looking at me. Pluck out his eyes.”

Temujin said this in a cold tone.

The reason he spoke so harshly wasn’t actually to have the Sultan’s eyes plucked out.

It was just to create an atmosphere of fear to get what Temujin wanted.

In any case, as Temujin intended, a warrior with a sharp sword approached the Sultan.

He forced the Sultan’s head back and aimed the sword at his eyes.

Startled, Arslan immediately began wringing his hands.

Seeing this, Temujin asked the merchant acting as interpreter.

“What is he saying?”

“He’s begging for his life. He says he’ll swear loyalty if only you spare him.”

“I see.”

Temujin smiled with satisfaction.

He approached the man and spoke.

“Do you want to live?”

“Yes, please spare me. If you tell me to lick your feet, I’ll lick your feet. If you tell me to become a dog, I’ll become a dog. Please just spare my life.”

“That won’t be necessary. What I want is information about the geography of this place.”

“Geography… you say?”

“Yes. According to merchants who travel through here, the mountains curve in such a way that it’s difficult for outsiders to invade.”

In fact, the reason Temujin was able to quickly conquer the Ghaznavid Dynasty was because he had information about this place from locals.

As mentioned repeatedly, Sogdian merchants and Tibetan merchants were building wealth by traveling between the Ulus and northern India.

As a result, they knew the geography of this area thoroughly.

Thanks to this, Temujin was able to destroy the Ghaznavid Dynasty before the enemy could properly resist.

After conquering the Ghaznavid Dynasty, he couldn’t move faster because he lacked information about Persian lands.

For this reason, Temujin was trying to persuade Arslan to secure geographical information about Persia.

“May I humbly ask where Your Majesty intends to go?”

The Sultan asked Temujin with a respectful posture.

Temujin turned his head to look west.

“I came from where the sun rises. So I want to visit the land where the sun sets.”

Arslan couldn’t say anything.

He was overwhelmed by the aura emanating from this young king.

To be precise, he was greatly surprised by the king’s grand ambition.

Raising an army from where the sun rises to conquer where the sun sets.

It was a magnificent dream that made one’s heart pound just hearing it.

“So tell me the way. Then I will spare your life.”

Arslan immediately corrected his posture.

He bowed and pleaded with Temujin.

“Great king, your grand dream is something that even Allah, who governs the universe, would greatly admire.”

“What do you mean?”

“Would you grant me the honor of becoming your guide and participating in that great dream?”

Temujin fell into thought for a moment.

Arslan’s sudden change in attitude seemed suspicious.

But the Ghaznavid Dynasty had already fallen, and Lahore, where he had lived, had been reduced to ashes.

Additionally, all the people who had followed him had been taken to Western Liao.

So it was nonsense to think he would join the army and start a rebellion.

It was also impossible for him to attempt to take Temujin’s life.

Right now, armed warriors like Jebe and Jelme, who could subdue him in an instant, were thoroughly protecting Temujin.

Moreover, with Temujin’s anda Jamukha present, it was impossible for Arslan to do anything strange.

“Very well. I will grant you the honor of participating in this glorious expedition.”

“Thank you. Thank you, my king.”

Arslan bowed his head deeply in gratitude.

Once the king of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, he was now nothing, having lost everything.

However, he had always been good at reading the flow of the world.

From what he could see, the world was clearly going to be dominated by these nomads.

So if he joined them, he could gain benefits that would exceed what he had lost.

“Give this man a horse.”

The Mongol warriors gave Arslan a horse.

Arslan immediately mounted it and began guiding Temujin’s Western Liao army.

“I’m not sure if we can really trust him.”

At Jamukha’s words, Temujin looked at Jebe as if to say not to worry.

Understanding Temujin’s meaning, Jebe fingered his arrows.

“If that fellow does anything strange, Jebe’s arrow will pierce his head. So don’t worry too much, anda.”

Jamukha nodded at this.

Then he looked at Arslan.

“I’ve heard the land of Persia is rugged and its inhabitants are fierce.”

“That’s why I’ve already designated you as the commander for the next battle.”

Temujin looked at him with a smile.

Jamukha frowned at this.

“Do you want me to die?”

“I have no intention of making my sister a widow.”

“That’s quite reassuring.”

Jamukha spoke curtly and sighed.

Then he drew his sword and shouted to the Ulus warriors.

“Before Gurkhan illuminates the land of Persia, we must first clear the path. Brave warriors of God, Tengri, and our ancestors. Draw your swords. We will advance!”

The soldiers cheered at Jamukha’s cry.

And they began to move, following him.