The Seljuk Empire, the once arrogant Turks, were still no match for the Khitan cavalry.
Yelu Dashi learned well from his two former rivals, the Jurchens and the Han.
He first learned the technology, official system and county system of the Han people. Then he learned the Jurchens' use of vassal armies, and efficiently and iron-bloodedly commanded vassal armies several times his own in combat.
Wherever he went, city lords from all over the country watched the wind blow. Even if the city lord wanted to resist, his men were not willing to die with him.
Because when the Khitans conquered the city, anyone who resisted would be massacred.
Those who voluntarily surrender can save their lives. In this case, the city lord does not trust his subordinates, and his subordinates are afraid that the city lord will harm everyone, making it more difficult to resist the Khitan army.
The city-state city-lord system is as fragile as a baby in front of the dynasty of the county system.
The dominance was not at the same level at all, and the Liao people quickly advanced to Damascus, the last fortress of the Seljuk Empire.
Outside this famous city, the sky is covered with yellow sand. The place that Europeans dreamed of conquering is now exposed to the Khitan's blade and trembling.
Behind it, there was also panic in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
A year ago, Baldwin I died, and his cousin, Baldwin II, Count of Edessa, inherited the throne. Although Baldwin II was captured many times by the Seljuks, he was still a very capable king. He reigned
During this period, the Kingdom of Jerusalem not only conquered almost all of Palestine, but also expanded to Tire, the central port of contemporary Lebanon.
Now that the Turks, who had brought endless suffering to Christians, were about to be destroyed, the Europeans in the Kingdom of Jerusalem did not look happy at all.
Their compatriots had already dealt with the Khitans, and the results were terrible.
The Byzantine Empire was reduced to ashes, the Allied Forces of the Hundred Nations were like paper, and their corpses fed the sharks in the Aegean Sea.
In the empty church, Baldwin II accepted the call for help from the desperate Turks, who were preparing to help the Seljuqs block the Khitan in a desperate fight.
Because everyone knows that the Khitans will not let go of Jerusalem. The truth of lips dying and teeth falling cold is very simple, and these people also understand it.
The people in the city gathered together. Baldwin II slowly climbed onto the high platform, and everyone looked at him.
The terror of the Khitans has become a dark cloud hanging over this land, making everyone feel like the end of the world.
“You who are listening to me, you who are true believers in God, you who have been endowed by God with power, strength and great souls, you whose ancestors were the pillars of Christendom and whose kings fought against the incursions of the pagans, I call you!
Clear away the dirt that covers the world and save your religion... Ah! Brave knights! Faithful believers! Descendants of the invincible ancestors! You must not ruin the illustrious reputation of your ancestors.
You must not be entangled in the personal affairs of your children. You must remember the Savior’s oracle. Those who love their parents more than me are not worthy of my blessing.
Those who abandon their property, parents, brothers, sisters, wives and children for my name will be rewarded a hundredfold and will receive eternal life!”
The people in the audience were extremely excited, and their religious fanaticism temporarily suppressed their fear of the Khitans.
Baldwin II, who did not take the fanatical religious people seriously and did not consider their IQ at all, continued to preach: "This is a war with ferocious enemies including giants and dragons, between heaven and hell.
A great contest. I hold the cross here and promise that all those who participate can shorten the time of suffering in purgatory, and those who lose their lives in this battle can gain eternal life."
These Crusaders, who had come from afar to conquer Palestine, rode on camels and horses, wrapped in thick clothes and armor, and gathered in large groups.
These warriors belong to different nobles and have little connection with each other. Naturally, there is no unified command.
In the far east, this type of armed force has an apt name: rabble.
In the Khitan camp, there are clear commands at all levels and strict military discipline.
Hanging the flag of the sun and moon is the tent of the Yelv Dashi where the Khitan emperor resides.
A spy came from a distance and entered the tent. He knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, an army has come from the south. The number is about 30,000. The formation is loose and the troops are not in order. I don't know where they are."
Yelu Dashi smiled and said: "Xu is the reinforcement brought by Seljuk. Send the order and let Xiao Baobao lead the right army to fight and wipe out the invading enemies."
Baldwin II, with his brilliant speech, stirred up the emotions of tens of thousands of people and rolled up the yellow sand all the way to the battlefield.
An hour and a half later, 30,000 people fell in the desert, waiting for vultures in the distance to come and peck.
Khitan general Xiao Baobao wiped the blood from the blade and said: "We can't even wait a few days. We will go after taking Damascus. We have to come here in advance to die."——
In Daming Mansion of Xia Dynasty, Yang Lin came out of Gyeonggi Province and stopped here first.
As a former important town in the north, Daming Mansion was mainly used to prepare for the Khitan's southward movement and to stockpile heavy troops.
But now, this place has long been far away from the threat of foreign races, and the atmosphere of many military towns is slowly fading away.
On the contrary, because it is located at the key transportation hub, the location becomes more and more important, and many products are transferred here.
After Yang Lin's guard of honor entered the city, all civil and military officials of Daming Mansion's sixth rank and above arrived to greet them.
The streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the people in the city were as happy as if they were celebrating the New Year.
After solving the problem of food and clothing, people cannot stay idle. In this era of lack of entertainment, an emperor's tour can make the locals talk about it for three generations.
That is to say, hundreds of years later, in the street restaurants of Daming Mansion, people will say from time to time: "My wife and great grandfather saw that scene with my own eyes when Taizu was on tour to the north."
Of course, this grand occasion was truly unforgettable. The entry into the city lasted for half a day. Yang Lin entered Daming Mansion at noon, and it was not until dusk that all the new troops at the rear entered the city.
The weather was getting warmer day by day, and Yang Lin was wearing very thin clothes. This year's defeat of the Jurchens made Yang Lin really relax.
His body has also grown a lot. He was still a little young at first, but now he is a heroic emperor and a little bit fatter.
The officials of the Daming Mansion were so excited that they could not speak when they saw the emperor sitting at the head.
Yang Lin waved his hand and said with a smile: "I just came here the year before last, why are you so so different from each other?"
All the officials in the hall secretly thought, how can it be the same? I was a young master at first, but now I am an official.
Yang Lin glanced around and asked: "I am here for a rare visit. What achievements have you made in the past year since you took charge of this famous mansion?"
The prefect Liu Zhiyuan came out, straightened his robes, and stepped forward and said: "Everyone in the Daming Mansion has received the emperor's grace and never forget that the military armament school in our mansion has developed a kind of fire gun, which is astonishingly powerful!"
Yang Lin's eyes lit up. He originally thought that these officials were a bit ungrateful, asking random questions and getting angry and swearing at others, but he didn't expect to find out.
Yang Lin couldn't help but feel excited as he worked diligently to change the academic style and ideological trend. Is he really going to reap the explosion of science and technology and usher in the first industrial revolution?
"Take me to see it!"
Half an hour later, Yang Lin had a dark look on his face, holding a blunderbuss in one hand, and stabbed Liu Zhiyuan again and again.