kingdom of nations

Chapter 275 The Sultan's Repayment (Part 1)
The Emir of Fayoum collapsed as soon as he returned to his tent. The two servants who came to help him were startled; they could clearly feel an unprecedented heaviness in his body. This indicated that their master had lost control of his own body.

To become an Emir, one's master must have been a prophet, and moreover, he must be one of the best among these warriors to stand out and become a high-ranking official of the Fatimid dynasty.

He managed his city well, and during several battles against the Crusaders, he developed a relationship with Saladin, a Kurd at the time, which, while not deep, was one of mutual trust.

Perhaps this is why Saladin was not immediately removed from office after he became Sultan.

But for the Emir of Fayoum, if Saladin were still the Grand Vizier, or a general sent by Nur ad-Din from Syria, they could still be friends, but that was no longer possible after Saladin became Sultan.

He lay heavily on the couch, sighing inwardly, tears streaming down his face. He disliked Saladin, but also harbored a sliver of hope: did they really need Saladin?

Maybe not...

Their previous Grand Vizier Shavart lacked the ability to command armies, yet Egypt still withstood several Crusader attacks. In the end, they cannot be said to have lost because of loyalty and bravery; rather, it can be said that the system initially established by the Fatimid Caliph was not perfect. When the Caliph had the approval of the people, no one could disobey his will, but when he was incompetent or cowardly, Egypt was a hollow and chaotic mess.

He kept trying to convince himself that perhaps the Caliph al-Aid wasn't so bad after all, and that his subjects weren't so ambitious and greedy.

They bowed before the same God, praying for the Prophet's blessings. They were two brothers in a tent, and even though they occasionally drew their knives against each other, they could still work together when invaded by foreign enemies.

But reality dealt him a heavy blow, especially after he returned to the camp. Emirs (governors), Fatahs (tribal chiefs), and Kayeds (centurions) swarmed around him to ask about the outcome of the negotiations. When he didn't give them the answer they wanted, they looked at him with disappointment and disdain. They had no intention of forming an envoy group. No one was willing to play this thankless role. They wanted the fruits of their labor but were unwilling to put in the hard work, even if it was just negotiating with the Christians.

Some others were eager to try, but the Emir of Fayoum knew they only wanted to take the opportunity to enrich themselves. Unfortunately, they could not compete with him in terms of seniority and military strength, so they had to give up.

Now their eyes are filled with schadenfreude, as if to say, "You think it's enough as long as you have a clear conscience?"
it's useless.

Even as they entered the Christian tent with him, watching and listening to his heated debate with the Christian messengers, the members of the mission cast suspicious glances at him, wondering if he was hiding something in his sharp words that they hadn't noticed—something for his own benefit.

The Emir of Fayoum was initially trying to explain, but then he realized that this was not a meeting about negotiations at all, but a public trial in which he was put in the position of the defendant, with everyone providing evidence or charges.

But the Emir of Fayoum was not the kind of coward who would willingly endure slander. He suddenly stood up, startling everyone, and placed his hand on his scimitar.

"If anyone is dissatisfied with the results I obtained, I can easily step down as the instigator. I came with the results of the negotiations, but I did not sign any documents. You can find anyone to replace me, even a camel."

After saying that, he strode out, leaving the crowd looking as if their tongues had been cut off—who wouldn't see that?

The Emir of Fayoum arguably secured the best terms for them. They could take their followers, armor, horses, weapons, and tents, but they had to leave behind most of their baggage and supplies, which was the biggest source of their discontent. They had long considered these things their private property, and they also had to pay ransoms for themselves and their laborers—three gold coins for ordinary laborers, ten gold coins for artisans, fifty gold coins for warriors, and one thousand gold coins for nobles.

Not every emir or Fatah member can afford this money, or even if they could, they are unwilling or reluctant to spend it.

When the Emir of Fayoum once again used Damascus to tempt and blackmail the Christians, the young envoy replied: “We have indeed come for Damascus, but even without Damascus, we can still gain a great profit, which is you.”

Of course, the price of ransom back then wouldn't be as cheap as it is now. "Perhaps that's exactly what we should do," he laughed, his green eyes gleaming with boundless killing intent, "that's how Saracen warriors value themselves, isn't it?"

He's right. The Emir of Fayoum certainly knew that any monarch would exercise due caution before launching an expedition. The resources, manpower, and lives required for such an expedition were simply too great, so much so that even with the entire nation's resources, it would take several years to accumulate enough.

Even if they fail to capture Damascus this time, the Crusaders can still obtain enough ransom from them to cover the costs of the expedition. For them, it is still a victory, just in a different form.

But it's different for them.

Everyone has already seen what happened to Fatah, who lost his warriors and slaves in the previous battles—the struggles in the desert have always been extremely cruel and direct.

Just as no one listens to a woman or a child, only the wisest elder or the bravest warrior in the tribe can speak—this is also true in this loose coalition, even if they are weakened because they sacrificed themselves for God in previous battles.

The Emir of Fayoum hadn't thought much of it before; he had always fought alongside Saladin (although he was the governor of the Fatimid dynasty), and he could even treat the disputes between these generals as a joke, adding a bit of fun to the tedious marching life.

But now that he's in the thick of it, he realizes how quickly such a vortex can drain a person's spirit and energy.

“My lord…” A servant brought him coffee. The coffee-making method that Cesar taught Baldwin had not yet been mass-produced. The Saracens were still drinking a thick soup made by crushing the pulp and seeds together.

To balance the bitter and sour taste, a lot of milk and sugar were added. "Please drink more," his servant urged. "There's a lot of rock sugar in it; it will invigorate you and restore your rosy complexion."

The mere mention of Fayoum gave Emil a headache, and the sweetness in his mouth turned bitter.

He put down his cup and waved his hand. "Would you like some hookah?" another servant asked solicitously, sensing that their master's weariness had not yet dissipated.

"Give me some, but don't add sugar," the Emir of Fayoum reminded him. Ever since rock sugar was brought to various parts of the Mediterranean by merchants, nobles have been keen to add it to all sorts of things: food, coffee, milk, hookah, and even spice burners.

They said this candy not only has a smooth texture and doesn't spoil easily, but also has an exceptionally refreshing sweetness and aroma, like a mountain spring. Some temples are already selling this rock candy as a medicinal ingredient, but he really doesn't want to see anything associated with that person anymore.

With the servants looking on with concern, the Emir of Fayoum fell into a deep sleep.

In reality, it was more like a coma. When he awoke, he felt pain all over his body and his mind was foggy. With the help of his servants, he knelt and prayed in the direction of the sacred place. Of course, the Saracen nobles did not actually expel him from the mission; no one was willing to do this troublesome and shameful work.

But the room for maneuver left for him was indeed too small. They wanted this and that—the Emir of Fayoum had an impulse to make peace with these Christians in his own name only, to throw all these bastards into the Jordan Valley, and to return to Egypt himself. But he held on because of his remaining sense of responsibility and his last loyalty to the Fatimid dynasty—most of these guys were his former colleagues.

Finally, the Crusaders reduced the ransom by half and allowed them to pay it off with slaves.

The young envoy also proposed a condition that greatly surprised the Emir of Fayoum: he said that prisoners could be exchanged.

From the perspective of later generations, exchanging prisoners, while not common, is not uncommon either. However, at that time, people usually only exchanged prisoners in another way.

In short, when two sides are at war, according to customary law, the captured person and the person who captured him naturally enter into a contractual state after the battle ends. The captive is no longer the enemy, but the collateral for his ransom, and the captor has an obligation to ensure the safety of the captured person.

If the captive is a lord or a king, he will be treated with even greater courtesy.

There was even a story of a lord who was insulted after being captured. He challenged the man who insulted him to a duel, but the man refused, saying he was unwilling to duel with a prisoner. How was this matter resolved?

His captors took his place in a duel with the enemy.

Therefore, although knights were fighting for their lords or kings, once they were captured, even if the king could pay the ransom to bring them back, more often than not, the king was either unable to do so or believed that the knight or his subject was not loyal enough to him and was not worth the price, so he might refuse the conditions proposed by the captives.

The situation of captured knights would change as a result—most of them would deteriorate. For example, William Marshall, who is still guarding King Alassa, was captured after falling from his horse while trying to rescue Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queen of England). However, for some time afterward, Henry never asked for his ransom.

His situation was extremely difficult, and it was only after Queen Eleanor paid his ransom that he was finally freed. This is why he no longer pledged allegiance to King Henry of England but instead turned to Queen Eleanor. In the previous battles, both Saracens and Christians suffered casualties and were taken prisoner.

The Saracens here included Christian captives with ranks ranging from counts to knights, as well as Cajed, Fatah, and an emir. Logically, the ransom for these men should have been paid by themselves or raised by their relatives or friends.

If not, I'm sorry, they may end up living out their lives in prison, or they may die quietly in obscurity after being caught up in a conspiracy.

Just like the Earl of Edessa, Josephine III, and his wife.

But now that Cesar has made such a request, even the Emir of Fayoum couldn't help but raise his head and look at him solemnly, "Is this your personal wish, or the will of your king?"

“The King’s will,” Cesar replied, adding that he would never act on his own without consulting Baldwin in such matters.

The King of Arrassa still had many prisoners in his hands; he was, after all, the Spear of St. George. Had it been a different monarch, even Amalric I, he might not have made such a decision—because if prisoners were exchanged, only the prisoners themselves would benefit—they wouldn't be ruined, nor would they suffer humiliation or the threat of death.

But for those who captured them, exchanging prisoners would bring them no benefit whatsoever, and even the king would lose a great deal of money.

But Baldwin agreed without the slightest hesitation.

This is not only because it was César who made the suggestion, but also because he had realized that people's hearts are more precious than gold.

In this battle, it can be said that without the credibility that Cesar had previously established as a guarantee, their plan would not have succeeded from the start.

Among the Crusaders, the one who suffered the most from this decision was probably David of Mersin, son of the Count of Tripoli. The Emir of Fayoum also realized the problem: "Do the others agree?"

“Agreed.” In fact, once David nodded, it would be difficult for the others to object.

Baldwin, Cesare, and David, the kings of Arathal, were undoubtedly the dominant figures in this battle; even if all the others were added together, they might not be able to match their achievements.

Their decisions were almost always written down on parchment, leaving little room for change.

Even Count Raymond of Tripoli didn't say anything this time.

In fact, he was content after hearing about Abigail's story.

"Perhaps we really shouldn't be too harsh on our children."

Although he used the word "we," everyone could understand the meaning behind his words.

Of course, Bohemond later whipped a horse—Abigail's mount—to death in the middle of the night, but that's another story.

When the Emir of Fayoum brought the news back to the camp, as he had expected, the Saracen nobles did not show any joy—they were happy that those who had become Christian prisoners would suffer losses because of it. Immediately, some people raised objections, but the Emir of Fayoum quickly dismissed their ridiculous idea.

“Those captured Saracens are not alone; they came with their tribes or their armies. Although these warriors and soldiers may be absorbed or bribed, can you guarantee that there isn’t a single loyal one among them—they could slit your throats at any moment?”

These words did convince some people, but he also knew that the criticism against him would not disappear as a result.

At this point, he didn't even want to enjoy hookah or coffee anymore. He missed his palace in Fayoum terribly; no, he even had the thought of leaving the court and the army—if his companions were still these same people.

He was lucky this time he wasn't taken prisoner. But what about next time, and the time after that, and the time after that?

He couldn't gamble; he wasn't willing to entrust his fate to these despicable people.

"grown ups……"

“I have said I do not want to be disturbed—unless it is the Sultan.”

“Yes, but sir, it is Fatah of Biba…”

The Emir of Fayoum looked at the man for a moment, then remembered that the servant was from the tribe of Biba. Thinking that the servant was no longer useful, he ordered him to bring in the Fatah.

Now that the negotiations have concluded and the war is over, the promised rewards for these tribal leaders should be given. If Damascus were obtained, these promises would be easily fulfilled, and even more could be given. However, he himself has suffered great losses, and even five years' worth of Fayoum's taxes might not be enough to compensate him.

The Fatah of Biba provided the Emir of Fayoum with fifty warriors, which was a considerable contribution for the tribe.

In the previous battles, these warriors had suffered heavy casualties—Fatah's goal was clear: he needed livestock, cloth, sugar, salt, barley, and everything else that could sustain the tribe for the next few years.

He was a tribal chief exactly as people imagined: lean, dark-skinned, wearing a turban, a wide black robe, and a scimitar hanging from his belt. He inexplicably reminded the Emir of Fayoum of Sultan Saladin.

Although he came to plead with Emir to keep his promise, he did not act humbly. He spoke in a plain tone about how many warriors they had lost, how many horses, camels and armor they had lost, and how their slaves had been almost entirely wiped out in the previous battles.

Then, like an innocent sinner falsely accused, he stood firmly in the center of the tent, awaiting Emil's judgment.

Their tribe was severely weakened and had almost nothing left to use as leverage. If the Emir of Fayoum wanted to renege on his promises, he could do so. He could even take the opportunity to annex the tribe and use its women, children, and meager assets as sustenance for himself.

But after a brief silence, the Emir of Fayoum nodded. “I will give you livestock, cloth and camels. Have any warriors from your tribe been captured?”
Don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming you. The Christians suggested to me earlier that we could exchange our Christian captives for theirs if we wanted.

Upon hearing this, the Fatah's eyes shone with immense joy: "God bless you!" He excitedly stepped forward, placed his hand on his chest, and prostrated himself on the ground, completely ignoring the wary stances of the two servants beside the Emir: "O God! You are the greatest, the most merciful, the most benevolent, the most loving!"

He prayed for a while before finally calming down, his joy gradually fading. "I only have three Christian prisoners in my hands, and only one of them is a knight, while the other two are squires."

The Emir of Fayoum counted on his fingers, “I can pay three for you. Go and discuss it with them—if there are indeed your warriors among the Christians, and they are not dead but captured.”

For the tribe, getting their warriors back was the most important thing, more important than livestock and gold. Just like adult wolves in a wolf pack, as long as they are there, the pack can continue to hunt. But if they lose their warriors, even if they have mountains of food, it may be taken away by others.

Emil thought that after hearing this, the Fatah would surely leave in a hurry with joy, but to his surprise, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood there, staring at him for a long time, and that look made him feel cold all over.

Emil didn't understand why he felt this way, but the other man simply bowed deeply to him with his hand on his chest. "You are just as he said, sir, you will be forgiven, by both God and him..."

He didn't finish speaking and calmly took his leave as usual. The unease in Fayoum's heart grew stronger. He didn't know where this unease came from, but he then went to see some friends and advised them to first go and appease the Fatah and Kayed under his command. Some listened, and some didn't.

(End of this chapter)