1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 32 Sweep
In the arid land south of Sirte, a group of horses were galloping.

Judging from their clothes, the riders are all local Bedouin tribesmen.

The riders surrounded a Bedouin nobleman, shielding him with their bodies to block any arrows that might be shot at him.

"Ahmad! Is the caravan catching up?"

The young nobleman shouted at the rider beside him.

"No! They must have been caught up!"

The nobleman's eyes darkened.

This is to be expected. Camels are the main means of transportation in the desert. They can carry people and cargo, but they cannot run fast.

The cavalry rushed over a small hill and suddenly discovered a cavalry group on the road ahead.

There were about two hundred cavalrymen, wearing light armor and dark blue tunics with the Cross of Constantine painted on the tunics and cavalry shields.

They were mainly equipped with sabers, and some were equipped with maces and battle axes.

This cavalry was guarding the road they had to take, gathering their strength and obviously having been waiting for a long time.

It was the Oak Corps cavalry led by Knight Conti.

"Hussein of the Imran tribe! Surrender! We will spare your life!"

Conti ordered the guide to shout loudly.

Hussein and Ahmed looked at each other.

"Rush separately?"

Ahmed sighed.

"I just have to give it a try."

More than forty desert horses were divided into two teams under the whips of their masters and rushed to the left and right respectively.

The Orcs did not move, but watched with a sneer as they became trapped beasts in a deadly fight.

Before they had run a few dozen meters, the horses on both sides suddenly fell to the ground, neighing in pain.

The riders were thrown several meters away, some were unconscious, and some were dazed.

Tripwire!
"Damn it, Kafir..."

Hussein was lucky and fell on a meadow with only some scratches.

Before he could finish his curse, he was grabbed by the hair by Chevalier de Conti, and the soldiers around him rushed up and tied him up.

Then he saw Ahmed, who suffered the same disease as him.

Isaac rode out on his horse.

"Hussain from the Imran tribe, the eldest son of the current Grand Sheikh of the tribe."

Isaac whispered the information he had received from Urda.

"I was not favored by my father, and my position as heir was taken away by my half-brother."

"It seems that your father really doesn't like you, otherwise why would he let you go to the dangerous depths of the desert to do business?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, how pathetic."

Isaac shook his head.

"Shut up! Kafir!"

Ahmed snapped.

"Ahmad, the son of the former Grand Sheikh of the Imran tribe, the nephew of the current Grand Sheikh, Hussein's cousin, grew up with him."

Isaac continued reading.

"What are you? The Alliance of the Frustrated?"

"What do you want to do to us? Since you know he doesn't like me, you should know that he won't pay a penny for my ransom."

Hussein said.

"I'm going to give you a chance."

Isaac spoke slowly.

"You two are both capable. The camel caravan behind you has made a lot of gains. The base you have opened up in the small oasis in the desert is also very useful."

"Convert your faith and pledge allegiance to me, and I will promise that you will divide the Imran tribe equally, and everyone can become a new Sheikh."

"You will no longer have to endure the taunts of your younger brother or uncle. The tribal nobles who looked down on you yesterday will kneel down and cry in front of you tomorrow."

Isaac was patient and persuasive.

"Shut up! Kafir, we will not follow the devil's footsteps!"

Hussein shouted angrily.

Ahmed on the side remained silent.

He looked at the powerful army around him.

"Your Highness! I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you! As long as you can help me regain the tribe that I deserve!"

Ahmed exclaimed.

"You're crazy! Ahmed!"

Hussein yelled.

Ahmed ignored it.

Hussein twisted his body eagerly and crawled towards Ahmed.

Conte kicked him straight away.

Hussein fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

Before he could raise his head, a sword was pressed against his neck.

The cold touch slid gently over his skin, and Hussein couldn't help swallowing.

"Your father was so unfair to you, and you are still so unwise,"

Isaac squatted down and stared coldly at Hussein, who was sweating profusely.

"Anyway, your cousin has already pledged his allegiance to me, so I don't need you."

"But think carefully. If you die, the tribe will all belong to Ahmed."

Isaac looked at Hussein with regret.

"Conte..."

"grown ups……"

"Figured out?"

"After you conquer the tribe, please hand over my brother and his mother to me."

Hussein gritted his teeth.

Isaac remained noncommittal.

The soldiers came forward and untied Hussein.

Stand up and brush off the dirt on your body.

"Your Highness, I know a small path with a secret well for supplies, which leads directly to the tribe and can reduce your losses."

Hussein reported.

Ahmed glared at Hussein.

They discovered this trail together and were planning to use it to negotiate terms, but unexpectedly Hussein mentioned it directly.

"Okay, when the tribes are divided, you will have 100 more tents."

Hussein was overjoyed.

The soldiers untied the riders who had been tripped by the ropes and returned them to their horses which were not too seriously injured.

More than thirty people tacitly divided into two teams and stood next to Hussein and Ahmed respectively.

After a while, Mehmet arrived with the remaining troops, driving a camel caravan.

Isaac took a count of the men who had taken part in the battle.

There are 200 cavalrymen from the Oak Corps, 300 cavalrymen from the Purple Guards, and more than 700 tribal servants.

"How many people does your father have?"

"Normally there are only 100 standing guards. After you occupy the port, it will increase to 200. However, by rallying the various subordinate tribes, we can pull out up to 2000 cavalry and camel riders."

Ahmed rushed to speak.

“Is there anyone in the affiliated tribes who supports you?”

"Yes, but it can't compare to the Great Sheikh."

"Yes, as long as you can defeat Imran in one battle, the other subordinate small tribes will surrender."

"lead the way."

"Yes!"

The two were overjoyed.

……

Imran Oasis, southwest of Sirte.

It is located in a valley with several low hills nearby.

The topographical factors have formed a freshwater lake here, and along the lake is wet soil, which is rare in North Africa and can be used to grow crops.

There are several small woods next to the lake, where herders grow olive and fig trees as cash crops, which also serve as windbreaks and sand fixation.

The Imran tribe is located here and leads a semi-nomadic and semi-sedentary life. With Imran Oasis as the center, there are large and small subordinate tribes scattered around.

Normally, these subordinate tribes would gather in Imran during the peak season to trade, and the Imran tribe would transport them to the port of Surt in exchange for important means of production and handicrafts.

The best part of Imran Oasis belongs to the tribal sheikh, whose direct herders can graze on the richest pastures and drink the sweet lake water.

The entire tribe has a total of more than 7,000 people, and the maximum conscription can mobilize 1,000 strong riders.

"Hasn't that rebellious son come back yet?"

In the camp, Imran Sheikh angrily asked the young man below him.

"Father, maybe my dear brother has taken the caravan to seek refuge in another tribe?" the young man said sarcastically.

"Asshole..."

Imran Dashekh suddenly choked and started coughing loudly.

The young man handed a glass of wine to his father.

"Father, you should take care of your health. The entire tribe relies on you."

Imran Sheikh's expression softened slightly.

"Don't worry, I will clear the obstacles for you before I die..."

A guard burst in.

"Dashekh! The caravan is back!"

"It seems he brought back a lot of things!"

Everyone ran out quickly.

Isaac looked around. Fertile fields surrounded the lake, woods protected against the wind and sand, and low hills were suitable for grazing. The natural conditions were good. It was indeed a good place.

The tribe's defenses were pretty good, with trenches and outposts on the outside, and arrow towers and chevaux de frise inside. If they charged head-on, there would surely be heavy casualties.

In the distance, Ahmed and Hussein were negotiating with the tribal patrol cavalry, and it seemed that there should be no problem.

Behind Isaac, the cavalry hid behind a small hill, blocking the enemy's view.

Imran Sheikh rode up on a camel and looked coldly at his good-for-nothing eldest son.

Behind him was a guard of more than a dozen people.

"Why are you coming back now?"

"We had a lot of stuff to trade this time, so we went to a tribe farther away, so it took a while."

"Humph!"

Imran Dashekh looked away.

"Dear brother, you didn't go to Jufra's brothel to fool around, did you? Cold sweat is all over your face, hahahaha..."

"Buhachi, do you think everyone is like you? After all, your mother is a local there."

"Shut up! Don't talk to your brother like that!"

Imran was furious.

"Apologize to your brother!"

Imran thought that his weak son would obey his father's orders as before.

Until he saw Hussein's distorted face.

"I still had a little fantasy..."

"What did you say?"

"I said, have a nice journey."

Hussein drew his saber and cut off his father's head.

"kill!"

Isaac swung his sword, and groups of horsemen rushed over the hills and toward the Oasis of Imran.

Everyone was still obsessed with Hussein's father's murder and had not organized any effective defense.

"I am Imran's new Sheikh! Get down on your knees and surrender!"

Hussein shouted, holding up his bloody head.

The cavalry led by Knight Conti instantly broke through the enemy's hastily assembled defense line and charged into the tribe.

Hussein's younger brother Buhachi had just ridden a camel and was about to escape when Conte caught up with him and kicked him down, causing him to fall heavily to the ground.

Isaac and his guards stayed on the hill, watching Imran slowly raise his eagle flag.

Sentry post, granary, armory, big tent...

The enemy tribesmen still put up sporadic resistance, but they were just scattered guerrillas and could not constitute a significant force.

By the evening, Hussein and Ahmed had basically taken control of the tribe. They killed the nobles who were loyal to their father and brother, and took the tribal leaders who acquiesced to them to the hill to humbly invite Isaac to enter the oasis.

Isaac went straight into the camp, sat down in the main seat of Imran, and took the tribal scepter handed over by Knight Conti.

On the side were his own subordinates and Hussein's men.

"I am the new lord of the port of Surt, Isaac Palaiologos from the Roman Empire, and now I am the new owner of the Imran Oasis."

"The previous Sheikh committed atrocities and was beheaded by his own son. He deserved it."

"Drag Buhachi and a few other criminals up here."

Ghazi threw forward the bound Buhaci, his mother, and several nobles loyal to him.

Buhachi's mouth was blocked, and he shouted loudly with tears streaming down his face.

Isaac walked over, stepped on his neck, and stabbed him with the knife.

His mother fainted on the spot.

"You promised me to take care of him!"

Hussein shouted.

Isaac looked at him coldly.

Hussein was stared at by Isaac, cold sweat broke out on his head and he swallowed his saliva.

"I'm sorry, my Lord..."

"That woman is yours."

Isaac pointed at Buhachi's mother.

"Ahmad, kill the rest. Their families and servants will be my spoils of war."

Isaac decided the fate of the sinners with a wave of his hand.

Originally, they were planning to hand over the tribe to Hussein and Ahmed, but they didn't expect the conditions here to be so good. It would be a waste of resources to allow the Bedouins to graze.

Then, some changes to the plan will have to be made.

"Notify each subordinate tribe and ask them to come and meet the new lord."

"Yes!"

Isaac stayed in the Imran Oasis for a whole week, waiting for the subordinate tribes to arrive.

On September 1446, 9, Isaac met with the Sheikhs in the Imran tribe.

The number of people in these small tribes was not as large as Isaac's army, so they did not dare to think of resisting.

Everyone recognized Isaac's right to rule over Imran.

Isaac renamed Imran as Saint Josephran.

About half of the tribal shekhs announced that they would follow their lord and convert to Orthodox Christianity, while the rest made excuses and were unwilling to convert.

Isaac didn't have the energy to care about these little fry for the time being.

When it's over, I won't have to deal with you myself.

The tribal sheikhs came forward one by one and pledged allegiance to Isaac.

These people are pragmatic and will continue to obey as long as they continue to become stronger.

"Hussein, Ahmed, come forward."

The two men stepped forward in response.

"Hussein, I will give you 700 tribesmen from the original Imran tribe as a reward for your merit."

"You will graze on the grasslands west of Saint Joseph's in the future, pay taxes in your spare time, and provide soldiers in times of war."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

He was a little disappointed.

"Ahmad, I will give you 600 tribesmen from the original Imran tribe as a reward for your merit."

"You will graze your cattle in the southern part of St. Joseph's Land, and the oasis you have created will also be yours."

"All the pastureland you can take southwards as far as Jufra will be yours."

"Yes!"

Ahmed exclaimed.

Both of them and their followers were baptized and were, at least in name only, true Orthodox Christians.

"Ghazi!"

"exist!"

The Seljuk nobleman from Dobruja stepped forward and knelt respectfully before Isaac.

"I appoint you as the Archon of Saint Joselan. The 200 tents of the former sinners of the Imran tribe are granted to you. The 1000 people you originally had can migrate here and both herd and farm. The eastern grasslands are also your pastures."

"You need to reconcile the conflicts among the tribes, coordinate the allocation of resources and pastures among the tribes, and develop the usable land in the oasis."

"Pay taxes in peacetime and follow me into battle in times of war."

"It's my pleasure!"

Ghazi was thrilled.

Finally, with the grace of His Highness, we were able to obtain a place where the Dobruja people could settle down.

I guess there won’t be such a big objection to future migrations.

Isaac handed the scepter of the Archon to Ghazi and put the insignia on his head.

"I will continue to conquer those who refuse to obey. All the people, horses and livestock you brought with you will follow me."

Isaac gave his final command to the Shekhs.

In the following weeks, Isaac completed the sweep of the area around Surt, occupied several large wells and oases, eliminated dissidents, placed his confidants in positions of power, and spread the gospel of God.

At the same time, news came from Europe that the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg defeated the Ottoman army again in Ottonet, and both sides retreated and ceased fighting.

(End of this chapter)