Ch.181Middle East (3)

“I am Gur Khan, ruler of the Ulus, rightful Khagan of the steppes, and Emperor of the Central Plains. Who are you?”

The elder trembled slightly at the thunderous voice that resonated as if multiple people were speaking at once.

His words roared like a dragon’s breath.

But unable to show weakness before an enemy, the elder composed himself and answered slowly.

“I am Abgail, the Iqta of Baghdad.”

After his words were interpreted, Yesugei, who understood them, nodded.

“Do you represent Baghdad?”

“Yes, Great One.”

Gur Khan nodded at the elder’s words.

Then, with arms spread wide, he addressed the elder.

“Surrender. This is my final offer.”

“I will surrender. But before that, I humbly request something from Gur Khan.”

“What is it?”

“I earnestly ask that you preserve the knowledge in Baghdad.”

At this, Gur Khan appeared to fall into contemplation for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“If you fulfill your obligations, I will accept your proposal.”

“What are these obligations?”

“Joining the Ulus expedition, providing water and food, and offering quarters for the Ulus soldiers.”

“That is entirely possible. However, I worry that soldiers might threaten the people or damage knowledge and property with ill intentions.”

“I give you my personal guarantee on this matter. My soldiers will not mistreat your people.”

Gur Khan made this promise while making the sign of the cross.

Though it was a pagan gesture, any act sworn before God was always sacred, so the elder nodded.

“I can only thank you for such a generous offer, as vast as Allah himself.”

With that, the elder declared surrender.

He gestured with his hand, ordering the city gates to be opened.

And so Baghdad fell into the hands of the Ulus.

* * *

I entered Baghdad without bloodshed.

As soon as I arrived, I couldn’t help but express my regret.

“If only they had resisted a little, I could have dismantled this whole place and moved it to the Great Capital.”

The House of Wisdom.

In the original history, the knowledge gathered here would completely disappear in the Mongol fires.

With such vast knowledge collected here, comparable to what the Islamic Empire had erased about Alexander, I couldn’t help but covet it.

“Moving all of this would be difficult.”

I nodded at Munglig’s words.

Then I asked him a question.

“Did you find what I ordered?”

“We searched throughout the Iranian region and interrogated the surrendered Atabegs, but no one knew anything.”

“I see.”

“It seems to be just a legend.”

I nodded at this.

It made sense, as what I had dispatched Munglig to investigate was none other than the Shia-affiliated Nizari Ismaili state Muslims.

While “Nizari Ismaili state” might be difficult to understand immediately, they were the ancestors of those known in modern times as Assassins.

They operated in both Syria and Persia and had left their mark in history.

In the original history, they even tried to assassinate Hulagu who invaded Iran, so they definitely existed.

However, as in the original history, during this era when Salah al-Din was in power, their influence had already significantly diminished.

This was because they had not only violated Islamic doctrine but also committed assassinations against Christians, Muslims, and Jews indiscriminately.

As a result, they could no longer act freely and were forced to live in their own communities.

I had heard their headquarters was in northern Iran, but it seemed to have disappeared.

This meant that only their last fortress recorded in history, Masyaf, likely remained.

“Syria… the European Crusaders should have arrived by now.”

Munglig tilted his head at my words.

I waved dismissively.

“Just talking to myself.”

“You seem to be talking to yourself more often these days.”

“It must be because I’m receiving divine revelations.”

“That can’t be…”

I smacked Munglig on the head.

Then I gave him orders.

“Strengthen the security where I’m staying, just in case. And enhance protection for all generals including Temujin, key personnel, and those who have surrendered.”

“When you say strengthen security, are you concerned about assassination?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t know how skilled the Nizari assassins were.

Judging by how they were completely annihilated by the Mongol army in the original history, they might not have been that threatening.

However, I couldn’t let my guard down.

They might harbor resentment against key figures who had surrendered to the Ulus and attempt assassination.

That would be most unwelcome in my position.

If those who surrendered to me died, the responsibility would naturally fall on me.

Having accepted their surrender, I was responsible for their lives.

“They’ll surely seek revenge for what happened in Hamadan.”

“Didn’t we completely burn down Hamadan?”

Munglig, still rubbing his head in pain, said this to me.

I nodded.

“You’re right. But grudges don’t disappear. Even if they don’t seek revenge for Hamadan, there might be those who resent Baghdad’s surrender.”

Even if many supported the surrender, not everyone would agree.

Just as in Hamadan, where the Atabegs were divided into war and peace factions.

In such situations, when the majority suppresses the minority opinion, resentment naturally arises.

Therefore, I had to approach this matter carefully.

As I mentioned earlier, if I failed to protect the Iqtas who surrendered to me, those snake-like individuals who resented the surrender would raise their heads.

* * *

In the chilly evening.

Stealthy movements continued between the tents illuminated by firelight.

He skillfully jumped over tents and gazed at the most magnificent-looking tent.

“That must be where the pagan, barbarian king stays.”

The man said this while drawing a well-sharpened knife from his chest.

Looking at the knife, he nodded.

“If I handle this job well, I can earn a lot of money.”

Originally, the Nizari Ismaili state was an assassination organization that operated according to doctrine.

But now it had degenerated into an organization that would assassinate anyone—Christian, Jewish, or fellow Muslim—as long as they were paid.

Because of this, the assassin was now attempting to kill the pagan king at the request of a Baghdad Iqta who offered a large sum of money.

“This is Allah’s will.”

After muttering this to himself, he rose.

Slowly crawling, he approached the tent where the king was staying.

Then, holding his breath, he observed the situation inside.

“…”

The assassin couldn’t say anything after seeing inside the tent.

Wondering if what he saw was real, he looked again.

“Huff… huff…!”

Inside was a massive bear-like figure, barely recognizable as human, exercising.

He was repeatedly sitting and standing while carrying an enormous weight of iron on his shoulders.

It was a sight the assassin had never seen before.

That’s why he couldn’t say anything.

Unlike the shocked assassin, the pagan king continued his exercise.

And after apparently reaching his target number, he stood up and threw the iron bar that had been resting on his neck vertebrae behind him.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The ground shook from the tremendous weight.

The assassin couldn’t help but flinch.

At this, the king seemed to notice something and tilted his head.

Seeing this, the assassin immediately moved away from the tent.

And he hid his presence while holding his breath.

“Haa… haa… that was dangerous.”

The assassin felt an indescribable fear.

The king had a body as sturdy as a warrior’s.

Like steel.

It seemed that even a poisoned knife might not kill such a king with muscles like armor.

So the assassin couldn’t help but be tense.

“No, get a grip. Everyone is equal before the blade.”

After saying this, the assassin took a deep breath.

Then he approached the tent again.

Once there, he crawled flat on his stomach into the tent.

He planned to kill the king when he showed an opening.

Contrary to his plan, the pagan king was calmly continuing his exercise.

He was doing a unique workout, bending his legs alternately while holding two iron weights in his hands.

“Huff… huff…”

The king was sweating profusely, suggesting it was hard work.

Seeing this, the assassin immediately recognized this was his opportunity.

But the barbarian king showed no openings.

In his mind, the assassin told himself the exercising king was full of openings, but his heart vehemently rejected this.

As if going now would mean death.

So his body was refusing his commands.

With his body and mind at odds, the assassin had to make a decision.

Having come this far, he had to kill the pagan king no matter what.

Retreat was not in his vocabulary.

The assassin steeled himself.

And he thrust his blade toward the seemingly defenseless king.

“Die! Pagan king! Allah desires your death!”

Saying this, he aimed for the pagan king’s back.

As if he had been expecting the attack, the king struck the assassin’s arm with the iron weight he was holding.

“Gack!”

“!@!@##*”

The assassin heard incomprehensible words.

But that wasn’t important right now.

What mattered was that he, who had mastered assassination techniques and possessed faster movements than anyone, had his sword arm shattered by the pagan king.

“Th-this… d-damn it…!”

The assassin gritted his teeth.

And he tried to strike with his still-functioning left hand.

At that moment, a hand the size of a pot lid approached his face.

It was of such enormous size that he instinctively knew being hit by it would knock him unconscious.

As such a large hand approached, the assassin tried to dodge.

But once again, the pagan king’s hand was faster.

“Guk!”

Hit by the pagan king’s palm, the assassin collapsed.

And he lost consciousness.