xymnovel Chapter 160 Clashes and Mediation
Chapter 160 Clashes and Mediation
Chapter 160 Clashes and Mediation
Saladin's expression changed several times as he read the letter, but he eventually fell silent and passed it on to his generals.
After reading the letter, all the generals in the tent were filled with indignation.
Tajudin looked grave, while Farouk was furious, his face turning red with anger, and he cursed Izdin as "shameless."
The generals looked at the Sultan, awaiting his orders.
Saladin did not fly into a rage; instead, a smile that was almost mocking appeared on his lips.
He gently placed the letters that the generals had finished reading on the table and looked around at everyone.
"Look, this is our brother," Saladin laughed. "When the flames of evil might burn in the Holy Land, he didn't think of fighting together, but how to use those flames as a weapon to attack me. In his heart, did he ever have even a shred of genuine concern for the Holy Land? All he cared about was his position in Mosul."
He immediately dictated a reply, instructing his scribe to respond in the same formal, even more eloquent and magnificent style: "In the name of the Most Gracious and Merciful God, to His Excellency Izdin Masurd, who, though besieged in a lonely city, still does not forget to stir up trouble:
May God grant clear minds to those who have gone astray.
Your letter has been received. While your concern for the rumors circulating in the South is understandable, your intentions are despicable. Your ability to downplay the seriousness of the matter and distort the facts is truly astonishing.
The incidents in the Red Sea and the Holy Land are a deep sorrow for all Muslims; my heart aches, and I am restless day and night.
But what, if we trace it back to its source, gave the Frankish devil an opportunity?
If it weren't for the persistent separatist, defiant, and even covertly obstructive forces in northern Syria and Mesopotamia, preventing me from fully integrating resources, clearing the coast, and focusing on the southern endeavors, how could the Franks have dared to be so rampant?
For decades, the Zangi faction has been preoccupied with internal strife and neglected the truly powerful jihadists, resulting in the dispersal of Syrian forces and repeated border breaches—this is an indisputable fact!
My trip north is precisely to end this state of division and forge a truly unified and powerful sword of Islam!
Only in this way can we gather all our strength to deliver a fatal blow to the blasphemers and truly wash away the humiliation that the holy land may suffer!
Your Excellency speaks of jihad in vain, yet practices separatism; you talk of unity in vain, yet refuse the call for unification.
Your so-called "City of Brothers" is actually a barrier that divides Uma and hinders the Holy War!
God has clearly stated: You should strive truly for God.
My struggle today is precisely to break down barriers like yours!
Our army has come here not for personal gain, but for justice, to completely eliminate the long-standing threat and hindrance from the north, so that we can focus wholeheartedly on eradicating the Frankish problem, restoring all occupied holy lands, including Jerusalem! This is the truly long-term and fundamental jihadist plan!
Therefore, I declare once again to Your Excellency, and to all the former followers of Zangieh who still harbor illusions: if you truly care for Jihad and are truly willing to contribute to the good cause of the Holy Land's misfortune, then you should come to your senses and surrender with courtesy.
I, Saladin, swear in the name of Allah that I will treat you with respect, protect your life, property, and honor, and bestow upon you appropriate titles and rewards, so that you may join under the unified and powerful banner of the Ayyubid in the great cause of resisting the Frankish infidels and avenging the Holy Land. This is the path of light, and the greatest contribution you can make to Ummah.
If you remain obstinate and attempt to confuse the public with empty words and stubbornly resist, then you will bear the consequences! I urge you to carefully consider your options and not say you were not warned!
—Sultan Ayyubid, Lord of Egypt, Syria, and Hejaz, Servant of the Two Holy Lands, Practitioner of Jihad, Saladin Yusuf ibn Ayyubid, may God bless his work.
The exchange of letters between Saladin and Izdin filled Mesopotamia with tension, and the news quickly reached the court of Abbasid Caliph Nasser in Baghdad.
The Caliph, who is still nominally the spiritual leader of the entire Islamic world, can no longer sit comfortably in the palace in the face of such sharp internal conflicts and the serious incident of the attack on the Holy Land.
Although the Caliph's secular power had long since declined, he still had to exert himself in mediating major disputes among his subjects, especially those involving the Jihad and the Holy Land, in an attempt to maintain his authority and influence.
Another month passed, and Saladin remained unwilling to launch a difficult and bloody siege of Mosul, choosing to besiege it without attacking, attempting to undermine Izz ad-Din's and the defenders' will through letters and public opinion.
At this moment, a procession carrying the black Abbasid flag, with a simple entourage but representing the Caliph's authority, arrived at Saladin's camp.
The visitor was a senior civil servant and religious scholar trusted by Caliph Nasser. He brought with him a handwritten letter and oral instructions from the Caliph, aimed at "mediating the misunderstanding between the two Muslim monarchs and promoting unity in the face of a common external enemy."
The three parties met at an abandoned castle on the banks of a tributary of the Euphrates River, between Mosul and Saladin's camp.
The terrain here is relatively open, and it is not under the actual control of any party, so it can be considered a neutral place.
Saladin gave the Caliph's envoys the respect due to him, and led Tagudin, Farouk, and a few civil officials to the meeting.
Izdin emerged from Mosul, also accompanied by a small retinue.
The two sides sat separately in the ruined hall of the castle, the atmosphere stiff and subtle from the start.
The envoy, acting as the moderator, first gave a lengthy eulogy to God and the Prophet, and then, on behalf of Caliph Nasser, began to read his "mediation proposal" in a steady, comprehensive yet weak tone: "O Your Excellency Saladin, O Your Excellency Izdin, may the peace and mercy of God descend upon this meeting—"
The old envoy's voice echoed in the empty hall: "Supreme Caliph, Imam of Muslims, Nasser, O God, may His reign be prolonged, and He expresses His deep concern and worry about the many recent events."
"First, regarding the heartbreaking news from the south concerning the Holy Land," he carefully chose his words, "His Majesty the Caliph believes that, regardless of the specific circumstances, Sultan Saladin, as the head of the main Muslim regime in the Red Sea and Hejaz regions, bears an undeniable responsibility for governing and defending against such serious attacks by infidels. His Majesty hopes that the Sultan will deeply reflect on his actions, strengthen coastal defenses, conduct thorough investigations, and ensure that such incidents never happen again, in order to appease the hearts of millions of believers."
Saladin listened expressionlessly, secretly observing Izdin.
Izziddin agreed to ignore the old messenger's speech, his gaze meeting Saladin's in a silent contest.
"Secondly," the old envoy turned to Izdin, "regarding the current dispute and armed conflict between the two. His Majesty the Caliph emphasizes that Islamic brotherhood is paramount. Emir Izdin, in defending his city and resisting the call for unity, has also acted improperly. The current great enemy is the Franks, who have seized the holy city of Jerusalem and now dare to offend both holies. Muslims should unite to resist this external threat. His Majesty urges Sultan Izdin to prioritize the greater good and carefully consider the cooperation proposal put forward by Sultan Saladin."
Izdin snorted and turned his head away.
The old messenger continued to repeat the same old rhetoric, nothing more than grand but utterly impractical preaching such as "each side should take a step back," "peace is of utmost importance," "God does not like those who divide," and "jihad is a common obligation."
He criticized both sides equally, condemning Saladin for "inadequate defense" and Izziddin for "resisting unification."
It is hoped that both sides can reach some kind of compromise under the mediation of the Caliph, such as Saladin temporarily withdrawing his troops, Izziddin expressing some form of submission, and both sides issuing a joint statement condemning the Franks, and so on.
However, both Saladin and Izdin knew perfectly well that the era of the Caliph was long gone.
Nasser's authority in Baghdad was frequently challenged by local Turkic warlords, and his mediation lacked any real force or enticing bargaining chips.
All he could rely on were the fading religious symbolism and some ancient traditional rituals.
If the Caliph's messenger had said something useful, Saladin and Izdin might have given him some face, but this meaningless repetition? It was truly laughable.
Saladin listened patiently, or rather, with restraint, to the entire statement of the Caliph's envoy.
His last hope—that he could exert pressure through the highest religious authority to force Izziddin to comply—was also completely dashed.
Izzuddin scoffed in return. In his view, the crime of causing the Holy Land to be destroyed by infidels was far more serious than his secession. The envoy was clearly biased towards Saladin.
The two reached a consensus in their hearts with a rare tacit understanding: the Caliph's mediation was powerless and hollow, and could not shake the existing power structure and the deep-seated hostility between them.
They have to keep fighting; it's just a matter of who can't hold out any longer.