Sorry guys, I had set it on timer. I don't know why it didn't work this time.
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Chapter 41: Surprise Attack
Building a stone castle in an oasis within the desert was an exceedingly difficult undertaking, especially since Kaukab's territory had no rivers passing through it to transport bricks and stones.
Abdullah sat on horseback, chatting with Lothar. "I know Kaukab. He is a cruel and ruthless, yet formidable opponent. The army directly under his command alone numbers several hundred elite cavalry. If given enough time, he can summon a massive army of several thousand from the clans and chieftains loyal to him."
Lothar frowned; this was a powerful lord whose strength surpassed even Baron Godfrey's. If his territory weren't located in this barren desert, unable to even afford the construction of a proper castle, Lothar would never have entertained any designs on him.
"But he won't have that time." Lothar's face was stern, appearing full of confidence. "We will take this wooden fort before the enemy can react. Abdullah, we can do this."
Abdullah placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded slightly. "I have never doubted that."
The Kurdish soldiers were rounding up scattered warhorses, stripping armor from the fallen, or selecting still-usable plates from it, discarding the heavier cuirasses.
In this era, scale armor, in terms of sheer defensive capability, was markedly inferior to chainmail. However, in aesthetic appeal, scale armor surpassed the dark gleam of chainmail by a significant margin.
Aside from aesthetics, the greatest advantages of scale armor were its simple craftsmanship, ease of mass production, and ease of maintenance—one only needed to remove and replace individual scales. It was suitable for establishing a production chain for large-scale manufacturing to equip armies.
This was why vast, relatively centralized states like the Eastern Empire, the Sasanian Empire, and the Ayyubid Dynasty favored scale armor. To this day, the Eastern Empire's cataphracts were still equipped with scale armor, though they also wore a chainmail shirt underneath for added protection.
Lothar's party changed out of their bloodstained clothes, disguised themselves as the Bedouin tribute caravan, brought over camels and mounts, and hid their blades and weapons under the carts. They then proceeded slowly towards the wooden fort within the oasis.
Kaukab's wooden fort was located in the very center of the oasis, beside a beautiful lake that was like a clear mirror. The guards stationed at the gate and on the walls saw them from afar and shouted for the caravan to halt.
Abdullah called out loudly, "We are under Lord Kaymun of Urd, presenting tribute to the esteemed Governor Kaukab!"
"Under Lord Kaymun?" A guard approached warily. "Isn't it usually Lord Aladdin who escorts the tribute? Who are you? Why haven't I seen you before?"
The Kurdish soldiers' bodies tensed slightly, their breathing becoming heavier. The atmosphere grew extremely tense. The guard sensed something was amiss and was about to speak when Fringilla urged her horse forward two steps. Her clear female voice rang out: "Are you sure you haven't seen me?"
"You people?" The guard's expression became somewhat dazed. Fringilla's eyes flickered with a dark red light, though it wasn't very noticeable under the glaring sun. The man, halfway through his sentence, seemed to forget what he had intended to say. He said thoughtfully, "That's right, I've seen you. You are under Lord Kaymun, that's correct. Open the gate! Let our guests who have come from afar enter the city!"
The wooden fort's gate was thus thrown open. Abdullah looked at Lothar with some confusion. Lothar, his face calm, said casually, "Let's enter. This time, the tribute includes exquisite porcelain from the Song Empire, spoils we obtained when we raided Saladin's merchant caravan. Handle it all with care. If anything is damaged, Lord Kaukab will not forgive you."
Lothar's expression was normal, but the sweat on his temples betrayed his true feelings. Fringilla's seduction only worked on those with weak minds. Against someone like Governor Sa'd al-Din, whom they had encountered previously, it had nearly backfired. Fortunately, Abdullah's quick thinking had smoothed things over then. It seemed, however, that people like Governor Sa'd al-Din were ultimately a minority.
The party thus entered the wooden fort. The guards didn't even ask them to disarm; only two of them lifted the felt cloth covering the tribute items, confirmed their contents, and then covered them again. Everything went unbelievably smoothly. The women and servants inside the fort gathered around, watching them with some curiosity.
Lothar surveyed the guards on the wooden fort's walls and saw that their vigilance was not strong; few were even willing to continue standing guard on the walls under the scorching sun. He waved his hand and said in a low voice, "Attack! Eliminate any enemy who takes up arms."
A servant noticed the group's furtive movements and was just about to shout a question when a flying axe whizzed past Lothar's ear and, with a thud, embedded itself in the servant's skull. The maidservant beside him was splattered with blood. Screams instantly echoed throughout the wooden fort.
Lothar picked up his hand-and-a-half sword, and he and the Kurdish soldiers surged forward, storming into the wooden fort. Their sturdy armor allowed them to ignore most ranged attacks. It had to be admitted, this Kurdish cavalry unit was an exceptionally elite force; whether in foot combat or mounted warfare, they were no less capable than a cavalry troop composed of twenty knights and their squires.
But although Lothar coveted them, he had no intention of poaching. Baron Godfrey had kindly lent him these troops; if he were to then steal them, what kind of person would that make him?
Cries of battle arose from all directions. Thick smoke billowed from a tower. Abdullah said urgently, "We must finish them quickly! Otherwise, when Kaukab's cavalry reinforcements arrive, we'll have nowhere to retreat!"
Lothar kicked an enemy before him flying, stepped on him, and thrust his hand-and-a-half sword into the man's throat. "I know, Abdullah! You take your men and deal with the garrison on the walls! I'll find Kaukab!"
A servant suddenly leaped up from the ground, grabbed Lothar's calf, and swung a hammer at his leg. Just then, the servant's eyes bulged. With a pop, his eyeballs burst, and blood gushed out. Lothar nodded slightly to Fringilla in acknowledgment, then, without looking back, led his soldiers into the manor protected by the wooden fort.
The manor's interior was exquisitely decorated. Intricate murals adorned the walls, and various exotic utensils and furniture were neatly arranged.
Scantily clad foreign maidservants shrieked, fearfully dodging the blood-soaked man before them, who seemed like the devil incarnate.
Lothar had no time to admire these things and walked straight in.
Passing through a doorway, a whistling gust of wind met him. A hammer smashed against Lothar's iron helmet, making his head ring.
He ignored the dizziness, raised his shield, and charged forward, knocking the man off balance. Behind him, a Kurdish soldier had already thrown a flying axe, which struck the man squarely between the eyes. It was a burly, shirtless man wielding a hammer.
Their attack had been too swift; many soldiers inside the manor hadn't even had time to don their armor, their combat effectiveness cut by at least half.
Lothar picked up the man's hammer; a two-handed sword was unwieldy in narrow rooms, making this hammer more suitable.
The group rapidly pressed forward. The further in they went, the quieter it became. The inside of the wooden fort was like a small maze, with far too many places to hide.
Just then, he twitched his nostrils slightly. The scent was familiar, like the fragrance of heather. Following the scent, he pulled open a cabinet door, revealing a naked woman behind it.
"Do you understand Kurdish?" The woman nodded repeatedly, her face terrified.
"Where is Kaukab?"
The woman pointed behind Lothar. The instant Lothar turned his head, she produced a dagger and thrust it viciously at his neck.
But at that moment, as if with foreknowledge, Lothar stepped back, dodging the dagger while his iron-like hand clamped around her throat. The woman's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Lothar frowned. "Your acting is too obvious. You're not scared at all. Are you one of Kaukab's death warriors?"
The woman didn't reply, her face full of venomous hatred.
"Speak. Kaukab trained you only to send you to an enemy lord in the future for an assassination attempt. By killing him, I am, in fact, setting you free." The woman still didn't reply, her expression stubborn and fierce, making one wonder what kind of entanglement she had with Kaukab. "But I don't have the time for this."
'Crack.'
Lothar released his grip on the woman's neck and looked at Fringilla. "She's not wearing clothes, and there are no bathtubs or similar items in the room. She most likely just finished being intimate with Kaukab. Can you track him?"
Fringilla sniffed the air and nodded. "Follow me."
They followed Fringilla through narrow corridors and gardens, arriving at a quiet room at the back of the wooden fort.
"Come out, Kaukab! Your woman has betrayed you!" Lothar shouted.
'Bang—' The door was kicked open, and a burly man in iron armor charged out, his face savage.
Lothar glanced at a Kurdish cavalryman beside him. The Kurd shook his head. "He's not Kaukab. Let me deal with him." Saying this, he drew his weapon and engaged.
Lothar bypassed the two fighting men and exchanged a look with Fringilla and Banu. He was just about to enter the room when he saw Banu had already gone in ahead of him.
'Bang—' A hammer whistled through the air. Banu's figure, however, was as steady as a mountain, unmoving. She didn't stop, charging forward like an unstoppable war chariot.
'Thump—' The heavily armed and armored man was sent sprawling to the ground.
Kaukab, wielding a mace in each hand, scrambled up from the floor and roared, "Who are you people?! How dare you attack me, the great Kaukab! My soldiers will arrive soon and slaughter you all!"
Lothar snorted coldly. "When you offended my lord Saladin, you should have expected this day! We are not the filthy Hashashins. I give you a chance for a fair fight."
Kaukab's expression changed. He shouted, "Fine!" He took a stance. Lothar waved his hand, and a blood spear immediately materialized in Fringilla's grasp.
Kaukab exclaimed in astonishment, "Demon! This is demonic power! You tricked me! You said you'd give me a fair fight!"
Lothar smiled. "This is already very fair."
'Thump—' The blood spear easily pierced Kaukab's armor, pinning him to the wall behind. Lothar swung his sword and decapitated Kaukab, then walked out of the room without a backward glance.
He helped the Kurdish cavalryman finish off his opponent, then ordered loudly, "Immediately take whatever spoils you can! Our time is limited; only take what is easily portable and of high value!"
Only then did a loud explosion sound from the room behind him. Blood splattered. It was the sound of Fringilla's blood spear detonating.
Lothar ascended the ramparts, held Kaukab's head high, and roared, "Your lord Kaukab is dead! Cease your resistance immediately! Those who surrender will not be killed!"
*****
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