People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Chapter 967 The Meeting of the Two Kings

Chapter 967 The Meeting of the Two Kings

Beneath the golden tent, Subutai sighed with some emotion:

"In just two days, the Sassanids' demeanor has changed."

The concept of "presence" may seem vague, but in reality, the difference is immediately apparent.

The difference between those standing on the city wall—whether they are cowards cowering in fear and trembling, or warriors standing tall, exuding murderous intent and eager for revenge—is enormous.

"Fulin Khan certainly has a method for training troops. But no matter how fierce a sheep is, baring its teeth, it can't become a wolf. If a surge of courage can withstand strong armor, martial arts honed through countless battles, and strict discipline, wouldn't that be a joke?"

Jochi was very disdainful.

As the Tatars marched westward, they slaughtered countless enemies, and all the hatred in their eyes eventually turned into fear.

Subutai, standing to the side, looked worried: "But in a siege, courage and bravery are the Sassanids' greatest asset. As long as they are not afraid of death and throw tens of thousands of lives onto the city walls, how much will it cost us, and how much time will it take, to take down this fortress?"

"Jochi Nayan, please don't forget that you have nearly 100,000 troops and hundreds of thousands of livestock under your command. How much food and fodder does such a huge army consume every day?"

Although they plundered villages around Hovezan, the supplies they obtained were a drop in the ocean for an army of 100,000.

At present, the Tatar army's supplies are mainly transported from Hamadan. All conquered Persian towns are subject to heavy taxes. Jochi has therefore stationed half a thousand-household unit in Hamadan to guard against the people of the city being unable to endure the heavy taxes and labor and rebelling again.

Subutai noticed the impatience on Jochi's face, but pretended not to see it and said, "It's not just about supplies. With Fulin Khan here, we are destined to become enemies. Judging from Howezan's attitude, the Sassanids are also happy to submit to him."

"It seems that Mesopotamia has likely already submitted to him, and no one can say for sure when his army will come to his aid."

"We fought our battles in Persia, only to benefit this Khan Fulin."

Jochi scoffed. He was unwilling to accept this. Although Persia was vast, places like Fars and Khorasan had plenty of fertile oases suitable for nomadic life and were the birthplace of the Sassanid dynasty.

However, Mesopotamia, with an area only one-fifth the size of the Persian Plateau, supported nearly half of the population of the entire Sasanian Empire.

In a horizontal comparison, the Persian Plateau is equivalent to the Asia Minor Plateau occupied by the Turks.

Mesopotamia, centered on Constantinople, encompassed the Balkan territories including the western coastal regions of Asia Minor.

Leaving aside its strategic significance, in terms of economy and population alone, Persia was completely incomparable to Mesopotamia.

Subutai corrected him, "That's not Fulin Khan, but the Frankish emperor. They are more warlike and more difficult to deal with. Even the Usun shaman treats Jochi Nayan as a formidable enemy. How can we underestimate him!"

Jochi raised an eyebrow: "What, are you afraid of A'tu'er, who is famous among the Tatars?"

Subutai took a deep breath and advised:

"Jochi Noyan, have you been blinded by the bustling city? For us steppe men, isn't the lush pastures of the Persian Plateau enough for us to roam freely? Even if you are still not satisfied, you can expand to the northwest. The fragmented Cumans there are easy to subdue and easy to incorporate into our army."

"Why bother fighting a powerful enemy like the Franks and trying to take down these fortified fortresses?"

Jochi stared at Subutai, his most powerful general, for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.

"You do not understand."

Although Subutai possessed exceptional tactical vision, he was still limited by the perspective of a nomadic people and failed to see the importance of wealth, population, and a developed industry and commerce for an empire.

If he doesn't conquer Mesopotamia, what will he use to support his planned eastern expedition after the elite troops his father sent to him are recalled? What will he use to bribe the princes and nobles of the Kurultai to switch their support to him?

Are we going to rely on Persia and the barren steppes?

“I have my reasons for taking Mesopotamia. Subutai, you are the eagle of the steppe, the most trusted arm of my father Khan. I am willing to treat you as my father Khan did, but you must never question my decision again.”

Although Subutai had made outstanding military achievements, he was ultimately just a retainer of the Golden Family. His repeated admonitions had made Jochi feel a little impatient.

"I understand."

Subutai sighed softly. He could vaguely understand Jochi's intentions, but that was precisely why he did not want to see that scene happen. Would Jochi, who had taken over Mesopotamia and the Persian Plateau, still be content to be a foreign lord as the Great Khan wished?

"Just watch the battle with peace of mind, Subutai. Ivan's conscripted soldiers are quite capable, but in critical moments, we still need our own people to step up."

Amidst the sound of bugles, the vanguard of Ivan's tribe, carrying ladders, approached the valley entrance.

They held up leather-covered shields to deflect the arrows fired by the defenders. Occasionally, an unlucky soul would be hit in a weak spot in his armor and let out a muffled groan, but due to their superior equipment, very few were killed on the spot.

Just then, a figure riding an incredibly strong horse leaped down from the highest point of the city wall in central Howezan, which was eight meters high, and landed in front of the conscripted soldiers who were carrying ladders and approaching the city wall.

"It really was him, that Frankish devil!"

"Damn it, has the Sassanid really fallen into Frankish hands?"

For a moment, the elite Ivan troops who were leading the vanguard all slowed down, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

Jochi Khan's expression changed slightly: "What a fierce general who can hold off the enemy alone! Is he Fulin Khan?"

This was the first time he had faced this hypothetical enemy face to face.

Subutai reminded them, "Most of the Ivan tribe were defeated by this man and driven to the Central Asian steppes, so it is understandable that they are terrified of him and are temporarily intimidated by him."

"It doesn't matter."

Jochi waved his hand: "Even the shaman Wusun found this enemy troublesome, so how could he be an ordinary person? You don't need to worry that I will act rashly. This person is cunning and probably wants to propose a duel to undermine our morale. I will definitely not allow him to do so."

He then told the kheshig standing beside him, "Go and inform the shamans Wusun and Kokochu that if a good opportunity arises, do not worry about any secret agreement, just kill this person directly."

Suddenly, a loud shout came from the other side.

"Where is Jochi Khan? I have made an agreement with your father that the Zagros Pass would be the boundary between us, and neither side would invade the other. Why are you crossing the border to raid my people? Do all Tatars have a tradition of disobeying their fathers?"

Even though they were speaking a different language and were far apart, he could hear every word clearly.

For a time, many Tatar centurions and chiliarchs turned pale.

Jochi kept the news under wraps, and they were unaware that the Great Khan had made a pact with the enemy. At this time, in the eyes of the Tatars, the Great Khan was their heaven, the embodiment of the Eternal Heaven. Jochi's disregard for the Great Khan's decree made them suspicious.

Jochi gritted his teeth and said, "What are you all standing there for? Are you letting this guy keep barking here? Send in some experts to surround and kill him!"

After he finished speaking, he explained, "My father has entrusted me with the entire western expedition. The agreement signed with the Fulin people is merely a temporary measure. You all know the principle that a general in the field should act expediently. How could you doubt me?"

The Tatar generals inside the tent quickly expressed their understanding.

Even the Great Khan could not possibly know the situation thousands of miles away. Unless the Great Khan personally ordered them to cease hostilities, they would certainly choose to obey the orders of Jochi, the marshal of the western expedition.

In the distance, the Khan of the Great Khan, riding a giant horse, burst into laughter: "I have heard that your Jochi Khan is not the son of your Great Khan at all, but the son of the Merkit. Is it because he is a bastard that he does not take the will of your Great Khan seriously?"

Jochi's face immediately turned ashen. These words struck his deepest sore spot. If Chagatai hadn't openly said those words, he would never have imagined that one day he would embark on a bloody path to the throne!