1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 409 Baghdad Agreement

On September 4, the weather was clear and the breeze was gentle.

It is believed that the first dawn of human civilization was born in the Middle East, a place with two oceans, three continents and five seas. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers washed out the fertile Mesopotamian plains, and the upright apes that walked out of the Great Rift Valley of Africa ignited the earliest spark of human civilization here.

Thousands of years seem to have passed in a flash. Many ethnic groups have taken root here, many cultures have grown here, and many beliefs have spread here. They came and went, and the former owners are nowhere to be found.

After the rise of Islam, the Mesopotamian Plain quickly became the core area of ​​the Arab Empire. The city of Baghdad, located on the banks of the Tigris River, was once the absolute royal city of the Abbasid Dynasty. The majesty of the Caliph was praised here, and the glory of the House of Wisdom was sung here. Baghdad was like a bright beacon, symbolizing the golden age of Islamic civilization.

The disputes and turmoil in the Arab world caused Baghdad to lose its absolute authority as the center of Islam, and the Mongol westward expedition completely extinguished the last bit of light. After Hulagu Khan led the coalition forces from various ethnic groups in the East to capture Baghdad and burn it down, this ancient city never recovered its former prosperity. It went around in the hands of various rulers for hundreds of years until today, at the end of the 15th century.

Thousands of years have passed. Although the Mesopotamian Plain is no longer as rich in land and water resources as before, and the East-West transit trade has gradually declined due to the Eastern Roman Empire's interception of the Indian Ocean, it is still a very important agricultural and pastoral area. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers continue to do their best to nourish their people.

After all, if Anatolia is excluded, it would be difficult to find such flat and fertile land in the Middle East.

Both the Euphrates and Tigris rivers originate from the Anatolian Plateau and the Armenian Plateau, wash out the Mesopotamian Plain to the southeast, meet near the estuary, and flow into the Indian Ocean from the Persian Gulf, flowing through the plateau mountains in the upper reaches, the semi-arid grasslands in the middle reaches, and the plains and swamps in the lower reaches. From northwest to southeast, the scenery changes again and again.

The large river formed by the confluence of the two rivers is called the Shatt al-Arab. The river valley is flat, the river surface is wide and the water flow is gentle. If the nearby swamps and wetlands can be utilized, the farming conditions in this delta can be further improved.

Basra is the largest city on the banks of the Arab River. It has been an important military town, trade hub and religious center since the Arab Empire era. It is a true Islamic city with almost no trace of other civilizations.

However, compared with other Islamic cities, Basra is very special. The city has a complex network of waterways. The wide Shatt al-Arab River and several tributaries separate the various urban areas. The streets are short and scattered, and citizens are accustomed to using small boats for transportation and trade. There are no high city walls, and it is impossible to build tall fortresses. It has a bit of the style of the water city of Venice.

For this reason, Basra is also known as the "Venice of the East".

Below the bustling neighborhood, in a gorgeously decorated basement filled with smoke and flickering candlelight, distinguished guests from the Islamic world are enjoying a good life.

This is a house built specifically for the rich and powerful. Here, Muslim nobles impatiently take off the mask of piety and violate the Islamic laws one after another. Here, they can find almost all the enjoyment they can imagine.

"Hmm...the quality is quite good, Malmush, you are really thoughtful..."

A drunken middle-aged man looked at the dazzling array of wine bottles with dazed eyes, pointed to one, and a maid came forward.

The wine bottle in the maid's hand was made of precious colored glass, which looked particularly attractive under the candlelight. The stickers on the glass were painted with intricate patterns surrounding a Barbary lion with its head held high and its eyes glaring.

"Tequila, a three-year-old tequila from the Royal Winery of Leptis Magna."

The middle-aged man recognized the origin of the wine at a glance, his eyes lit up, and then he frowned in pretended anger.

"During wartime, you are still entertaining guests like this. This is simply too much."

"I won't dare to do that next time. Please bear with me this time."

The skinny Malmush apologized with a smile, but there was a smug look between his eyebrows.

"In war, there are always people who can make money. Many of the slaves in front of you were bought by me from the refugee camp in the north."

"You are really good at making money. No wonder our Sheikh Sayyid thinks highly of you..."

The middle-aged man smacked his lips with some regret and took the wine glass handed to him by the girl.

"By the way, have those Yazidis who worship the devil been completely dealt with?"

"It is said that it is almost done. The nomadic tribes in the north want their pastures and food, and the mullahs hate their devil worship. They took advantage of the chaos to launch an attack, destroying their altars and the remains of the prophet."

Malmush shrugged nonchalantly.

"But, as you know, their gathering areas are very scattered, and there is no way to solve them completely."

“Just like that group of Christians, they’re everywhere.”

The middle-aged man grunted and rubbed his wine glass.

"We shouldn't have treated them so generously in the first place."

"Your Highness, this is different. The rights of people of the Book are stipulated by the Shariah."

Malmush disagrees.

"Whether it is the Greeks, Assyrians, Armenians, Copts or Lebanese Maronites, they are all equally inspired and we cannot treat them as idolaters."

"Humph, just a bunch of traitors with ruthless hearts and bad consciences."

The middle-aged man said this through gritted teeth.

"We should have adopted the same strategy as the Greek emperors from the beginning and forced them to share the same beliefs as us."

"In fact, this is all the fault of the Greek emperor. Before the Greek Empire was revived, those Christians were very honest."

"Maybe. There are relatively few Christians in this area, so we don't feel much threat from them."

Malmush changed the subject and called over a maid, who had a plate with lemon slices and sea salt on it.

"Your Highness, there are certain rules for drinking tequila. Salt and lemon are indispensable. That's how all Greek nobles drink it."

"These things are worthy of your status. The salt is Cyprus sea salt, and the lemon is locally produced, but it is also good stuff."

The middle-aged man nodded and tasted the precious tequila according to Marmush's method.

The atmosphere of the party gradually reached its climax. The dignitaries behaved in an unrestrained manner, while the middle-aged man talked in a low voice with Marmus. The two of them had the highest status and others could not squeeze into their circle.

"Bilinchi... I hate this city."

The middle-aged man pulled out a card with a picture of Billinge's Black Castle from his expensive cigarette box, frowned in disdain, and threw it aside.

Lighting a cigarette over a candle, the middle-aged man took a puff, pursed his lips, and looked at Malmush.

"Have you heard about what happened in Iskenderun?"

"Well, the mullahs are very angry."

Seeing that the middle-aged man had gotten to the point, Malmush also became serious.

"What is your father going to do?"

The middle-aged man continued smoking in silence.

His name is Farah, the eldest son of the current Mamluk Sultan Kaitbay. Due to the weak power of his mother's family, he has basically no possibility of inheriting the throne. This visit to the East is to discuss war.

"We will take action, but the main force can only be King Jacob."

Farah spoke up.

"The Greek navy is always patrolling the coast of Egypt and the Levant. There are also many soldiers stationed in Cyrenaica. The Maronites in Lebanon are fighting guerrilla warfare in the mountains. The Coptic community has also been infiltrated by Greek spies. Father must leave enough troops to deal with emergencies."

"My father had been in control of Cairo for only a few years. Merchants were secretly dissatisfied. The Christian community was funded by the Greeks. He hoped to use the refugees from the north to change the religious composition of some places. He then reorganized the country for a few years and tried to curb the Greek ambitions west of the Levant."

"I know that. Sheikh Sayyid told me."

Marmouche nodded.

"But you have to provide some food, weapons, and mercenaries. King Jacob also needs this help."

"This is natural. When it comes to life and death, we will not refuse."

Farah waved his hand.

"Has King Jacob made up his mind?"

"The war hasn't been officially declared yet, but it will be soon."

Malmush said firmly.

"The northern plateau had not yet grown new grass until April, and the winter pastures in the south were either scorched or eaten up by excessive livestock. After fighting for a winter, the nomadic tribes found that the other side's situation was just as bad. Now they just wanted to survive."

"If King Jacob sits back and does nothing about them, the dignity of Tabriz will be greatly compromised. King Jacob cannot just sit back and do nothing."

"Besides, the Greeks are advancing too fast. We have no idea how the Greek emperor raised so much war funds. It seems like there is an endless supply of them."

Marmouche sighed.

"If the Greeks really reach the Armenian Plateau, King Jacob will be very upset. The Armenians may not necessarily rebel for the Greek emperor, but they will definitely not fight to the death for King Jacob."

"One million Armenians, even if dispersed, is still a terrifying number."

"Also, the Safavid sect has been advocating a decisive battle. Haidar has gathered a lot of people and even allowed his followers to plunder Armenian villages. He has won the favor of many people. The power of the Safavids is continuing to grow."

As Marmush spoke, a sneer appeared on his face, and it was obvious that he was not interested in the Safavid Order.

"King Jacob had no choice. He could not sit back and watch the Safavids seize the prestige that should have belonged to him, nor could he be ruthless to the Safavids at this time. He had to fulfill his duty as a monarch and launch a jihad."

Upon hearing this, Farah nodded silently.

He knew very well that the Safavid sect had been gaining momentum in recent years. Although Haidar did not have a city, it had believers in half of the Islamic world. Safavid monks could even be seen in Cairo.

This phenomenon has a lot to do with the expansion of the Eastern Roman Empire. As a religious group with a strong military color, the deeper the hatred between Muslims and Christians, the stronger the jihad sentiment, and the more Safavid believers there are.

As for winning or losing the jihad, the Safavid sect has a self-consistent logic. If they win, their reputation will naturally soar. If they lose, they will make up some nonsense such as "seclusion", "adventure", "jihad" and so on to deceive believers and continue to prepare for the next military operation.

Moreover, even if the decisive battle was lost, the Safavid sect could privately shift the blame to Sunni heretics and other small Shiite groups. The Aq Qoyunlu would still be the one hit the hardest, and the number of Safavid followers might even increase.

"My father said that King Jacob was a wise man."

Farah put out his cigarette and looked at Malmush.

"I'm afraid that Haidar's tricks have angered him, but he is just forbearing because of the situation."

"It's natural, so he came to us."

Marmouche smiled.

"Sheikh Sayyid has decided to respond to the call, put aside his grudges and fight against the foreign enemies."

"Mushasha will join the war on the side of King Jacob."

Marmush comes from the Mushasha sect and is a close confidant of the current imam Sayyid.

Similar to the Safavid Order, the Mushasha Order is also a prestigious Islamic order that believes in Shia Islam and can be considered a branch of the Twelver Imams. Its founder, Ibn Farah, claimed to be from the Hashemite family. In the first half of the 15th century, he established a firm foothold in the southeastern Mesopotamian plain through missionary work, and then gradually expanded through a series of means such as military conquest, becoming a force that cannot be ignored on the Mesopotamian plain.

Although both are Shiites, there are still significant differences between the Mushasha Order and the Safavid Order in their religious creeds. Both orders are nominally subject to the Aq Qoyunlu, look down on each other, and have been competing for more believers.

During its expansion, the Mushasha Order had conflicts and reconciliations with the Black Sheep Dynasty and the White Sheep Dynasty in the north. In the previous White Sheep Civil War, Jacob used land and autonomy as inducements to induce the Mushasha Order to stand on his side.

"What terms did Jacob offer?"

Farah asked.

"I remember that a few months ago, you were planning to take advantage of their civil war to profit from it."

"The conditions are generous, and Sheikh Sayyid is very satisfied."

Malmush didn't say.

"We will provide King Jacob with food and troops. Last year's harvest was good, so there is enough food." "In addition to us, King Jacob will definitely contact other ministers. The Ottoman Sultan, Karaman Bey, Dulkadir, and even the Ayyubid family who occupy Hasankeyf are probably in contact."

"Can we win?"

Farah asked suddenly.

"My father said that the Greek emperor was very difficult to deal with."

"Not on the coast, for sure."

Marmus was silent for a while before speaking.

"However, the inland plateau is still our home ground. If the Greek emperor rashly enters, he will only see nomadic tribes that want to fight him to the death one after another. Even if he sends all the Greeks to build roads, he will definitely not be able to maintain the supply line. Completely abandoning the cavalry is an extremely serious mistake."

"We have an absolute advantage in numbers, cavalry and terrain. Artillery and muskets will be limited in plateaus and mountains. I don't even think the Greeks have the ability to transport heavy siege artillery to the plateau."

Malmush spread his hands.

"Forget it. I'm just a businessman and consultant. These matters still need to be considered by you bigwigs. King Jacob is going to hold a meeting in Baghdad, and everyone will go then."

"Is that so... I guess my father's letter will be sent to me soon, so I have to make another trip."

Farah pondered, smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"I don't like this plain. There are too many mosquitoes. It's hard to stay outdoors."

"Used to it!"

Marmush chuckled, ended the serious conversation and continued to enjoy himself.

In the smoke-filled basement, the Muslim nobles continued to enjoy themselves, perhaps because they felt that the impending war had nothing to do with them, or perhaps because they wanted to take advantage of the calm before the rainstorm to relax their bodies and minds.

Regardless, the storm is coming.

……

On the vast Indian Ocean, a huge fleet with sails hoisted high includes three-masted warships, armed merchant ships, supply transport ships, and Arab sailing ships, totaling more than 40 ships.

This was the East Indies Combined Fleet of the Eastern Roman Empire, which included all the main forces of several major governorates, with the flagship being the "Flower of the Sea", the flagship of the Governor-General of East Indies, Alfonso de Albuquerque.

Starting from February, the East India Fleet withdrew a part of its ships and began to loot along the Persian coast, bombarding fishing boats, burning fishing villages, and attacking merchant ships, monopolizing trade while helping the war. This is an old tradition of the East India Fleet. Every new ship added to the East India Fleet must prove itself by looting Muslims. Both Arabs and Persians have become accustomed to it.

Under this low-intensity but long-lasting coastal attack, the White Aqko Dynasty occupying Persia did not suffer much damage. Their southern coast had almost become a barren land due to the continuous attacks. The Persian people did not dare to establish settlements within the range of Eastern Roman artillery, and Persian merchants also preferred land transportation rather than the dangerous sea routes.

Merchants on the Arabian Peninsula suffered the greatest losses. The Indian Ocean commerce that had belonged to them entirely decades ago had been taken away by the Eastern Roman Empire. Several key nodes of maritime trade were controlled by the East India Fleet. The backwardness of Arab sailboats also meant that they had no ability to sail on the oceans, and they had to rely on a continuous chain of offshore ports for supplies, which they could not avoid.

Although the East India Fleet had become the uncrowned king of the Indian Ocean, it was still very difficult to completely control an entire ocean. Albuquerque also signed treaties with many Islamic commercial city-states that were willing to be friendly, allowing them to have a share of the Indian Ocean trade. The most famous of these was the Malindi city-state. This small city-state embarked on the road to prosperity because of the correct choice it made more than a decade ago, and the status of Malindi merchants in the Arabian Peninsula continued to rise.

"Sir, we are approaching the port of Hormuz!"

On the lookout of the Flower of the Sea, the sailor shouted loudly to Albuquerque on the deck.

"Do you want to anchor?"

"There are not enough berths. Small ships are docked for supplies. Three-masted sailing ships are parked offshore. Sailors take turns to go ashore for rest!"

Albuquerque raised his telescope and looked toward the port where the double-headed eagle flag was flying high.

"Pass my message to every captain through flag signals, and let them tell the sailors that after this war is over, I will treat them to the strongest wine and the most beautiful women!"

The sailors acted quickly. The Flower of the Sea changed its flag, and the other large ships also changed their flags to convey the message.

The fleet was getting closer and closer. Several small boats sailed out of the Port of Hormuz. This famous commercial port was opening its arms to welcome the arrival of the East India Combined Fleet.

The Port of Hormuz is located on Hormuz Island. It is the largest port and the strongest fortress of the East India Fleet on the Persian Gulf coast. The artillery here can effectively control the narrow Strait of Hormuz. As long as the East India Fleet is willing, no sailboat can pass through the strait without damage.

This port has been an important commercial hub since ancient times. After Albuquerque led a dozen ships to capture it, he continued to seize the remaining islands in the Strait of Hormuz, blocking both sides with artillery and fortresses to form a solid barrier.

In fact, although the Eastern Roman Empire was more powerful than the Kingdom of Portugal in the original time and space, and the Islamic world became weaker due to the decline of the Ottomans and the Mamluks, the expansion speed of the Eastern Roman Empire in the Indian Ocean was not even as fast as that of the Portuguese in the original time and space. From 1463 to 1479, a full 16 years, the important trade nodes in the Indian Ocean could only be barely occupied.

You know, in the original time and space, after the Kingdom of Portugal discovered India, it occupied Hormuz within nine years, Goa within twelve years, and then took the Strait of Malacca in less than half a year. There were countless cases of a few three-masted sailing ships defeating hundreds of Arab sailing ships. It can be said that the Arabs were directly defeated in a completely crushing manner.

Of course, under Isaac's instructions, several governors in the East spent a large part of their energy and time on deepening their rule. Whether it was signing an agreement with local forces or building a colonial government, it would take a long time.

The Eastern Roman Empire was not the short-sighted Portugal. It could not rely solely on transit trade to make quick money. It had to integrate the colonies and establish long-term and stable trade relations between them and the mainland. At the same time, it had to assimilate the language and religion, cultivate local compradors, and make sure the colonized people had little hope of turning the tables. This was what Isaac wanted.

Albuquerque looked up and saw that the trade in Hormuz was not prosperous at all. It seemed that the local garrison had received his order to blockade Hormuz and prohibit Muslim ships from entering and leaving at will.

After capturing the port of Hormuz, Albuquerque initially reached an agreement with local Arab forces. However, because it was located in the core area of ​​the Islamic world, it was easily influenced by other Islamic countries. Conflict and betrayal became commonplace in the first few years.

During the attack on the Malacca Sultanate, rebellion broke out again in the Hormuz Islands. After the war ended, the furious Albuquerque drove his fleet to block the entire archipelago and sent out armed sailors to carry out a massacre. Within half a year, only one in ten Arabs on the archipelago remained.

This is an island and there are no dense forests on the island, so the Arabs have nowhere to run.

Subsequently, Albuquerque sent people from New Thrace to recruit some immigrants to settle down in the archipelago. He also arranged for some sailors to garrison there and fortified Hormuz.

The Port of Hormuz sent out flag signals and small ships entered the port. However, the Fleur des Oceans did not enter the port but dropped anchor on the nearby coast.

Albuquerque gave a few instructions, and half an hour later, the remaining two of the three governors of the East came to his cabin.

Paulo da Gama, Governor-General of East Africa, and Bartolomeu Dias, Governor-General of Mozambique, bowed to Albuquerque in tribute of respect.

Neither of them could compare to Albuquerque in terms of either title or position. In the Indian Ocean, the Governor-General of the East India was in charge of the overall situation and his word was final.

After the expansion of the colonies, the number of governor positions will naturally increase. The Governors of Hormuz and Malacca are already on the way. By then, the three-member decision-making group will evolve into a five-member decision-making group. Without the emperor's highest instructions, they have the power to independently decide on most Indian Ocean affairs.

"Everyone, take a seat."

Albuquerque ordered the sailor to bring two stools, and the three of them sat around the navigation table.

"There is no time for tea and coffee, and alcohol was not allowed before the war, only cigarettes."

Albuquerque said briefly, dividing a fine Cuban cigar between the two.

"You have received the emperor's orders, right?"

"Well, I talked to Paul, and it's pretty much the same."

Bartolomeu nodded.

"Paul has also been asked to assist Agent Hades and now it's all set."

"Very good, let them handle Hades' affairs themselves, we are only responsible for completing His Majesty's mission."

Albuquerque exhaled a puff of smoke and said lightly.

"Your Majesty said that the Mushasha Cult, which controls the Mesopotamian Plain, is likely to provide assistance to King Jacob the Aries. Their soldiers have average combat effectiveness, but they should have no shortage of food. After we blockaded Hormuz, they will not be able to sell their food from the sea."

Albuquerque spread out a map that was already covered with markings.

"The majority of the Mushasha sect's population is distributed in large cities along the Shatt al-Arab River, such as Basra. We need to move north along the river and sweep all the way. We don't seek to capture important cities, but we must destroy farmland and burn granaries as much as possible to leave them without food."

Albuquerque directly explained his plan and handed a written plan to the two men for them to circulate.

"The Shatt al-Arab River is wide and gentle. It is neither the flood season nor the dry season, so the navigation conditions are just right."

"According to the intelligence I have gathered, the lower reaches of the Shatt al-Arab are wide enough for large ships to navigate, and the width of the estuary is more than half a Roman mile (750 meters), so it is impossible to intercept with iron chains or sink ships."

Albuquerque writes a few numbers at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab River.

"The Saracens' ships are extremely outdated. They can't defeat us. There's no need for any strategy. We can just charge forward."

Albuquerque looked at the two men.

"Any questions?"

"Well... sir, the Shatt al-Arab Delta is full of swamps and wetlands, which may cause considerable obstacles to our actions."

Bartolomeu pondered for a moment and then asked.

"Do you have any good ideas?"

"There's nothing I can do, but it doesn't matter."

Albuquerque said confidently.

"The swamp wetlands near the estuary are not the core ruling area of ​​the Mushasha sect. There is no big city there, and it is not our main target."

"Remember, this time is different. We are not going to plunder the coast, but to go upstream and plunder the river bank. The first target is the Venice of the East, the city of Basra."

"As for the swamp wetland, there are not many Arab nomadic tribes there, but there are many Mandaeans. They live in remote areas and have always been oppressed by the Saracens. This is our opportunity."

"Mandarian?"

Paul asked.

"A sect of Islam?"

"No, the Mandaeans are a Gnostic sect with a long history, and are neither Christian nor Muslim."

Albuquerque explained.

"Although the Mandaeans do not recognize Jesus Christ, they regard John the Baptist as the supreme saint. Perhaps their impression of us is slightly better than that of the Saracens."

At this point, Albuquerque shrugged.

"But it doesn't matter. We will run away after robbing and will not stay long. I have already assigned the Malindi merchants to find the leader of the Mandaeans to see if we can reach a cooperation and induce them to cause trouble for the Saracens."

"I brought so many weapons, I have to give them away."

Albuquerque laughed and threw his cigar aside.

"That's all. No more words to say. I'll give you three days."

"Three days later, troops will be dispatched to the two rivers!"

……

In early 1479, under powerful internal and external pressure, the pro-war faction in Tabriz finally defeated the pro-peace faction, and King Aries Jacob once again set foot on the plateau battlefield of Anatolia.

On April 1479, 4, at the call of King Jacob the White Aries, various Islamic forces in the Middle East sent envoys to hold talks in Baghdad to discuss sending troops, seek opportunities for survival, and resist the rapid expansion of the Eastern Roman Empire.

On April 4, the White Sheep Caliphate, the Ottoman Sultanate, the Karaman Bey State, the Dulkader Bey State, the Mamluk Caliphate, various religious orders, and nomadic alliances signed the Baghdad Agreement, launching a jihad against the Eastern Roman Empire in the name of survival. The various forces agreed on the dispatch of troops and food supplies, and the Islamic army began to assemble.

On the same day, the East India Fleet stationed in the port of Hormuz entered the Persian Gulf and headed towards the Mesopotamian Plain with great momentum, with the aim of looting the towns along the river, burning important granaries, and cutting off the hope of a protracted war for the army of King Jacob the Aries, forcing them onto the battlefield for a hasty decisive battle.

At the same time, several transport ships followed behind the East India Fleet. The transport ships were covered with thick black cloth with a dark red bird-headed staff painted on the black cloth, symbolizing the most mysterious intelligence department of the Eastern Roman Empire, Hades, the god of the underworld.

(End of this chapter)