In the summer of the fourteenth year of the Jingkang era, the Emperor mobilized a million-strong army to the west to quell the rebellion. The Ghaznavids, Khwarazmians, and Karluks, among other nomadic tribes, had formed a rebellion and invaded China. Left-wing Marshal Wu Jie, traversing mountains and plains, led an army of 160,000, reaching the nomadic capital of Ghazni, where the chieftains were terrified. ———— *Jingkang Chronicles*
The powerful sound seemed to shake the white clouds in the sky apart.
This day will be unforgettable for everyone.
The civilians walking on the street, upon hearing the sounds of the Song army fighting, were so frightened that their legs went weak and they fled in panic.
The Ghaznean soldiers, who had been mobilized, all showed fear upon hearing the sounds from outside the city.
Abu Muzaffar was in the palace discussing with his favorite courtier, Yeri Jamshi, how many warriors should be conscripted from the villages and tribes in the west of the kingdom to the capital.
They were confident, as there was still a sufficient population in the western part of the kingdom.
Yeli Jamshi said with great confidence: "Great Sultan, the arrival of this Eastern army has not only not harmed us, but has helped us. Taking advantage of the invasion from other places, you have a good reason to conscript more soldiers from the western cities and villages. I believe that under the call of God, those governors who have their own armies will understand the benefits and risks involved."
"Yeli, you're right!"
The Ghaznavid Empire, which once coveted the Western Regions, lost most of its western territory and was annexed by the Seljuks. A significant reason for this was the loss of control over its central administrative mechanisms.
Under the control of the governors, a large number of warlords emerged in the vast territory of the empire, each with their own army and power.
The prestige of Ghazni is declining.
After losing the heartland of Transoxiana, Ghaznavid was still struggling to recover. The western territories of the kingdom were still nominally under the Sultan's name, but there was a serious loss of control over tax revenue and manpower.
"An army without faith has suddenly invaded the Kingdom of God. Every warrior in the Kingdom of God should take up arms to resist, otherwise it is a betrayal of God!"
Abu Muzaffar's eyes shone with confidence.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a sound like a tsunami or a torrent of water came into his ears, as if it were pressing down from the sky and threatening to crush the palace.
Abu Muzaffar and Yeli Zhamushi exchanged a glance.
An officer from the royal guard rushed in from outside the palace, shouting in a panic, "Sultan, something terrible has happened! The enemy is outside the city! An endless enemy force!"
"Sultan, the entire army now needs your personal command from the city walls!"
Upon hearing this, Abu Muzaffar immediately backed down.
Yeli Zhamushi said from the side, "Sultan, don't worry, Ghazni is impregnable. As long as we hold our ground, they can't break in. Now we need you to go to the city walls to boost morale!"
Abu Muzaffar calmed himself down slightly, then led his royal guards out of the palace and headed towards the city walls.
"Don't worry, everyone. Our army has assembled. We will defend Ghazni together. This is God's territory, and no one will be allowed to invade it!"
Someone shouted in the street.
But others said, "What we should do now is open the city gates. It's all the Khitans' fault that we've been dragged down. We shouldn't ally with the Khitans!"
"Warriors, take up your weapons and drive out these heretics!"
...
Besides panic, there was also unrest within the city.
Yeli Zhamushi said, “Great Sultan, there is something I am very worried about, and I don’t know whether I should say it or not.”
"Just tell me."
"General Sanil expressed his desire to negotiate peace with the enemy at the court meeting. I believe he is no longer suitable to command the Royal Guard. If the entire Royal Guard is under his command, and he were to act on his own initiative and open the city gates, you could be taken prisoner, and that would be..."
When Yeli Muzaxi said this, Abu Muzafar was shocked; he really hadn't expected this situation.
It is indeed possible that Sanil would do that.
"But now the enemy is already outside the city, what should we do?"
Yeli Zhamusi said, "Sultan, I suggest that General Sanir lead his men to arrest and execute all these treacherous elements in the city! Firstly, this will boost morale in the city, and secondly, it will temporarily remove General Sanir from the main army so that you can take command personally."
"You're right! I'll have him do it right now!"
Abu Muzaffar thought for a moment and then said, "How about this, Sanir will go and quell the rebellion in the city for the time being, and you will personally command the defense of the city!"
Upon hearing this, Yeli Zhamushi was overjoyed; military power was finally his turn.
He had long coveted the power of the Imperial Guard, but had never shown it. Even now, he feigned composure: "The enemy dares to offend the divine kingdom. As a child of God, I have an inescapable duty!"
"good!"
Abu Muzaffar arrived at the city gate with his men, and before Sanir could say anything, he shouted, "General Sanir, you must immediately take your men and arrest and execute all those who are spreading rumors in the city!"
“Sultan, I believe the chaos in the city has not yet reached the level of turmoil. It is all the work of some clowns. It is normal for some people to be panicked. If we execute them now, it will inevitably cause a backlash and a large-scale riot. The most important thing now is to concentrate our forces on the city's defenses. It will not be too late to deal with them after the city's defenses are stabilized!”
"Are you not going to listen to me anymore? Are you trying to rebel against me?!"
“Great Sultan, how could I dare disobey your will?” Sanir said respectfully to Abu Muzaffar, but in his heart he was filled with sorrow.
If someone had been sent to communicate with the enemy beforehand, to negotiate peace, to use delaying tactics, to organize everything within the city, and then to recruit warriors from the west, the situation would certainly not be as passive as it is now.
Now that we've decided to defend to the end, we should concentrate all our forces on guarding the city gates, instead of sending troops to deal with the petty squabbles and insults inside the city.
Yeli Zhamusi added from the side, "General Sannier, please go and arrest and execute the rebels in the city as soon as possible. This is a serious matter."
Sanil had no choice but to begin mustering his troops and lead a portion of them into the city.
Abu Muzaffar shouted, "I am your Sultan! From this moment forward, the defense of the city will be under the command of His Excellency Yeri Muzashi. All will be subject to his orders!"
"yes!"
"Let's go, great Sultan, let's ascend the city wall!"
When they climbed to the top of Ghazni's tall city wall, they saw the scene outside, the endless steel army, and heard the overwhelming sound.
Abu Muzaffar's face turned pale instantly.
Humans are visual creatures; they can never imagine a real scene without seeing it with their own eyes.
Upon seeing it with my own eyes, I was instantly overwhelmed by the oppressive force of 160,000 iron troops rushing towards me, and stood there, not daring to move.
Yeli Zhamushi, who was standing next to him, was also stunned.
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