Chapter 5317 The Crown Prince

Chapter 5317 The Crown Prince
The Persian Plateau is characterized by undulating terrain and numerous mountains, with a severe lack of plains suitable for arable crops. Therefore, even though it was not located on the main Silk Road route, the narrow lowland north of the mountains and the Sea of ​​Leyte has always been a strategic stronghold for the Persian Empire.

The abundant moisture rising from the Sea of ​​Leyte is blown south by the north wind and then trapped by the towering Alborz Mountains, forcing the moisture to form abundant rainfall in the lowlands on the south bank. This results in a warm and humid region with numerous rivers and swamps, making it quite different from other parts of Persia in both climate and culture.

After the Abbasid Caliphate destroyed Persia, it amassed a large army and strengthened its defenses in this area, using the grain produced there to control the Persians on the plateau.

Tiberistan is located in the eastern part of this narrow strip of land. It was also referred to as "Tiberistan" by Chinese merchants who traveled there. Many travelogues also describe its terrain as "surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordering a small sea to the north".

The governor of Tiberistan was Dudullah, Mu'awiya's cousin and son of Uthman, the second Caliph of the empire.

……

The robust Dudumula was awakened by the noise outside. He pushed away the naked Persian beauty curled up in his arms, grabbed the greatsword placed on the bedside table, and leaped up, rushing out the door naked.

What's happening outside?

He had typical Arab features: curly hair, square face, aquiline nose, and deep-set eyes. He exuded a fierce aura like a tiger or leopard, and was tyrannical. His servants and subordinates all feared him like a tiger.

Seeing his fury, the servant replied tremblingly, "I heard that someone ordered the city gates to be opened and led a troop of soldiers into the city, which caused the panic."

Dudumula was startled: "Why haven't we heard any warning messages?"

When there is an invasion by a foreign enemy, alarm bells should ring, but why do we only hear noise and not warnings?
The servants were all inside the city lord's mansion, so how could they know what was happening outside? But if their answers did not satisfy Dudumula, they would surely be subjected to brutal punishment, so they trembled like leaves and dared not speak.

Just then, a soldier ran in from outside: "Reporting to the city lord, the Sheikh has ordered the city gates to be opened and his troops to enter the city with the seal issued by the Caliph."

"Who?"

Dudumula was unable to react for a moment.

"It is the Imperial Envoy, the Lord of Mulu City, Sheikh."

"Sheikh?"

Dudumullah thought for a moment before remembering who the Sheikh was, but he became even more confused: "Why isn't he honestly plundering money in Merv? Is he going back to Damascus to report to the Caliph when his term is up?"

The soldiers were somewhat flustered: "It doesn't look like it! Everyone looks disheveled and demoralized, like stray dogs!"

Dudumullah was somewhat surprised, but since it was a Sheikh, it had nothing to do with the enemy attack. He threw the greatsword aside, turned around and went back to his bedroom to have the Persian beauty help him get dressed, before coming out again to the main hall.

When he arrived at the main hall, the Sheikh was already waiting there.

Upon seeing Dudumula, Sheikh immediately stood up and respectfully greeted him: "I greet the city lord!"

Although both were city lords, and he also held the position of "Host Envoy," which placed him above Dudumula in rank, Dudumula was the son of Uthman, the second Caliph of the empire. After his father was assassinated by the "Prophet's" son-in-law, his cousin Mu'awiya led troops to kill the traitor and take control of the empire.

Although he had no chance of ascending to the throne of Caliph, Mu'awiyah had a very close relationship with his cousin Uthman and took great care of Dudumula, favoring him no less than Crown Prince Yazid.

Therefore, the difference in their social status was enormous...

Dudumullah, an arrogant man, gave a curt "hmm," sat down in the main seat, and looked Sheikh up and down before asking curiously, "Spring is coming soon, the ice and snow will melt, and business on the Silk Road will flourish again. Why aren't you in Mulu City collecting taxes? What are you doing here?"

Xie He didn't mind that there wasn't even tea. He sighed, sat down, wiped his face, and quickly recounted Ye Qide's defeat in his campaign against the Tang Dynasty, the fall of Mulu City, and Ye Qide's disappearance...

"How could this be?"

Dudumula was stunned and couldn't believe it.

If Ye Qide's campaign against the Tang Dynasty failed, he could accept it and had foreseen it. After all, he had never thought much of his cousin who had become the crown prince. He was neither good at literature nor martial arts and had no prestige whatsoever. If it weren't for his uncle Mu Aweiye's great efforts to cultivate him, he would have been a spoiled brat. Where would he have gotten even a fraction of the illustrious prestige of the crown prince of the empire?
But now I hear that not only has Ye Qide been defeated, but his entire army has been wiped out, and even Ye Qide himself has disappeared...

This is a bit appalling.

With 100,000 elite troops of the Caliph and nearly 100,000 allied troops from various ethnic groups, how could they be completely annihilated even if they couldn't win?

Even two hundred thousand lambs couldn't be annihilated by the Tang army in one fell swoop...

Sheikh hung his head in dejection: "But that's the truth. The prince fled to Mulv, and I naturally couldn't just leave him there. I helped him gather his defeated soldiers and reorganize his troops, intending to launch a counterattack on Suyab and turn the tide of the war. But unexpectedly, he even lost Mulv. His savings of many years were extorted by the Tang army using the prince's life as leverage, and in the end, even the prince disappeared..."

At this point, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

He lived a leisurely life as the lord of Mulu City, collecting taxes until his hands cramped every day. How happy and carefree he was!

What does Ye Qide's attack on the Tang Dynasty have to do with me?

As a result, I lost the city and territory, and all my savings were wiped out in one day. I was forced to flee for my life like a stray dog...

Dudumula listened with a sense of empathy and sympathy, but something seemed off.

He scratched his head, then suddenly realized something and hurriedly asked, "Where is the Tang army now?"

After Xie He finished his tearful explanation, he suddenly realized what had happened when asked: "Oh dear, I almost ruined everything! Lord, quickly order the city gates to be closed and gather the troops to prepare for battle! The Tang army has been chasing me all the way here and will be at the city gates soon!"

Dudumulla: "..."

He suddenly stood up and kicked over the table in front of him with a loud crash, scattering the fine porcelain from the Tang Dynasty all over the floor and smashing it to pieces.

His face flushed red, his brows furrowed, and he roared, "You damned bastard! It's one thing for you to be defeated by the Tang Dynasty and lose your city and territory, your life or death is none of my business. But now you've actually led the Tang army here? Guards, seize this traitor and drag him to the courtyard to be hanged!"

"Yes!"

Several strong soldiers rushed forward.

"City Lord, spare your life!"

Sheikh was terrified and immediately knelt on the ground, grabbing Dudumulla's leg and begging for mercy.

Others might try to scare him in a fit of rage, but Sheikh, who knew Dudumullah's character well, knew that this man was fierce, tyrannical, and a ruthless killer, and he wouldn't care who he was; he would kill him if he wanted to!
Enraged, Dudumula kicked him to the ground and cursed, "You coward who clings to life, you have disgraced the Great Abbasid Caliphate!"

"Guards! Ring the bell, beat the drum, ascend the hall, and assemble the generals!"

"Send out all the scouts, then close the city gates tightly and prepare for battle!"

"I will make sure the Tang army can't leave!"

As orders were issued, bells rang and drums beat throughout Tiberistan, and countless soldiers rushed out of their camps and ran to various parts of the city walls to stand ready.

Soon, messages were quickly relayed back.

"The Tang army has reached a point thirty li east of the city, but their speed has slowed down slightly."

"Report! The Tang army has set up camp by the river twenty miles away, and they do not appear to have any intention of attacking."

Inside the main hall of the city lord's mansion, Dudumula breathed a slight sigh of relief. He was not afraid of the Tang army, but rather that the Tang army's sudden and thunderous attack caught the entire city off guard. If the Tang army attacked immediately without pause, his side would likely suffer a great loss.

Now that the Tang army has set up camp, the city only needs to strengthen its defenses to be impregnable and invincible.

If we seize the opportunity to find weaknesses and loopholes in the Tang army, we could completely defeat them.

Glancing at the uneasy Sheikh, Dudumullah said irritably, "Has he been scared out of his wits by the Tang army? What a coward! Don't worry, this Tiberistan will be the burial ground for the Tang army!"

Xie He sighed and said, "Lord of the city, do not underestimate the enemy. The Tang army's weapons are superior to all others in the world, and their firearms are even more powerful and irresistible. No matter how high or thick the city walls are, they will be easily broken and pierced by the power of firearms."

Dudumula scoffed: "So what? The Tang army has marched straight in and covered thousands of miles. Their logistics and supplies simply cannot be replenished in time. I only need to hold the city and wait for their food supplies to run out and their morale to waver. Then we can strike them down in one fell swoop."

"Ah this..."

Sheikh was in a very awkward position. He wanted to keep it a secret, but he was afraid that Dudumula would make the wrong judgment if he did not know the truth. After all, Tiberistan was his last resort. If the city fell, even if he could escape, he would have to embark on the road of escape again.

So I had to explain the situation: "I hid in Nisa City for a winter. Knowing that I could not withstand the Tang army's fierce attack, I decided to retreat. I carried a large amount of food and fodder with me. On the way, the Tang army caught up with me and I had to cut off my tail to survive. So all that food and fodder was captured by the Tang army."

Dudumulla: "..."

Could you be any dumber?
He stared at Sheikh with suspicion: "You not only lured the Tang army to Tiberian, but also caused their supplies and provisions to be captured by them... Can I suspect that you have already surrendered to the Tang army and entered the city as an inside agent for them?"

Xie He quickly explained, "The loss of our supplies was unavoidable. How could our wagons outrun the Tang army's light cavalry? As for leading the Tang army here, that's a completely unfounded accusation!"

"Injustice? Tiberistan is not on the right track. The journey from Merv was difficult and roundabout. If you hadn't led them here, why would the Tang army, whose target was Damascus, have gone to such lengths? They should have crossed the mountains and traversed the plateau!"

Sheikh spread his hands with a bitter face: "That's what I thought too. Before setting off from Nisa, I even consulted the oracle and received instructions from the 'prophet' before taking this route. But who knew that the Tang army would do the opposite?"

Dudumullah sneered: "How could someone as foolish and incompetent as you possibly glimpse the 'Prophet's' instructions? You actually dare to dream of receiving the 'Prophet's' protection, ha!"

Although he criticized Xie He, it is believed that he was not bought off by the Tang people.

"There is a proverb from the Tang Dynasty that says, 'When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.' Now I will sit in the city and fight a great battle against the Tang Dynasty!"

Dudumula was extremely confident in the defenses of his city, which he had been building up over the years.

The thought of potentially crushing the Tang army once again filled him with an irrepressible surge of excitement…

(End of this chapter)