"But all this is just a cover for my real plan."
"A plan to secretly accumulate strength and wait for the perfect opportunity."
Lin Ke nodded, immediately responded, and made his own evaluation.
"Keeping a low profile and accumulating strength until the moment comes is, in my opinion, an extremely wise strategy, especially when facing a powerful enemy like the Hebrew Empire."
Saladin nodded in agreement. "Yes, because in Arab history, countless heroes failed because they challenged powerful forces too early and were not fully prepared."
"Many of them are braver and better fighters than I am, but they lack patience."
"And I always believe that true victory belongs to those who can persevere to the end."
Lin Ke's expression was filled with sincere admiration at this moment: "Bearing humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, that's exactly what it means!"
"Your Majesty Saladin, your ability to remain true to your original aspirations over the long years, refusing to be distracted by short-term gains or external interference, in itself demonstrates your extraordinary wisdom and character."
Saladin responded modestly: "Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh is too kind."
Then, he changed the subject: "Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, in fact, I have been preparing to fight against the Hebrew Empire for many years."
"My first step was to unite the scattered Arab tribes."
He drew a circle with his hands on the table: "From one end of our Arabian land to the other, from the nomadic tribes of the desert to the caravan cities of the coast, I personally visited each one, listened, negotiated, and persuaded."
"These tribes have complex blood ties, historical grievances and conflicts of interest. It is not easy to bring them together."
Saladin's expression became serious again when he said this: "Sometimes, a small conflict can destroy my efforts of several months."
"Even an inappropriate resolution could trigger a chain reaction."
“I had to renegotiate, mediate, compromise, and try again and again.”
After hearing these words, Lin Ke simply expressed his understanding.
“Yes, building an alliance is much more difficult than conquering a territory because it requires taking into account the dignity and interests of all parties.”
Saladin agreed, "Indeed."
“And the process is incredibly long.”
“Some people ask me why I spend so many years doing seemingly futile work, and I always have the same answer.”
"This is my only chance, and the only chance for Arabs."
"That's why I particularly admire His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh's current achievements!"
"As far as I know, it was you who took the lead in forming the alliance that defeated the Hebrew Empire, uniting many previously independent civilizations!"
When Saladin said this, he looked straight at Lin Ke, as if he wanted to see through his soul.
“How did you do that?”
"I heard that you not only organized this war, but also personally commanded the most crucial battles."
"I know you must have made sufficient preparations."
The Holy Pharaoh looked into the other person's eyes and felt as if he saw himself who formed the early Holy Egyptian Alliance.
He knew very well that it would not be easy.
"As you have done, Your Majesty Saladin."
"We all know that facing a strong enemy like the Hibernian, fighting alone is doomed to fail. Only by uniting all possible forces can we have a chance of victory."
Saladin nodded eagerly. "That's my belief, too."
“But putting it into practice is not easy.”
"What I want to ask is, Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, how long have you been preparing for this confrontation?"
"Your experience is very valuable to me."
"In my opinion, organizing a large-scale military operation usually requires years of careful planning."
"From food storage to weapons manufacturing, from troop mobilization to intelligence gathering, every step takes time."
"I have been striving for this for nearly ten years, but His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh has fulfilled my long-cherished wish in one fell swoop."
Lin Ke pursed his lips slightly, which meant he was thinking seriously about what Saladin said.
Although, Lin Ke's tone was much calmer than Saladin's.
"Saladin, tell the truth."
"We prepared for about half a month."
These eight words were like a bomb, shattering all the tiny sounds around them.
Saladin's expression froze instantly, his lips slightly opened, but he couldn't speak.
His eyes widened and his pupils contracted, obviously trying to digest this incredible answer.
In his opinion, the words of the Holy Pharaoh were a joke.
But Lin Ke's expression didn't look like he was joking at all.
He is very serious.
Silence soon spread between the two of them, with only the sound of the distant fountain and the occasional music filling the sudden silence.
Saladin's breathing became short and his fingers subconsciously clenched the arms of the chair.
"What?"
He finally found his voice, but it was noticeably higher in pitch than usual.
"Half a month?"
"Is it half of a full-term baby?"
Obviously, Saladin even began to suspect that the half month that Lin Ke mentioned might be a time unit that he did not know.
"Yes, Your Majesty Saladin."
Lin Ke answered calmly, as if he was discussing today's lunch menu.
"From the initial formation of the plan to the final battle, it took about half a month in total."
"Strictly speaking, it should be more than half a month."
Saladin's reaction was even more dramatic.
"Half a month, more than that?"
Although Saladin did not continue speaking, Lin Ke always felt that his next sentence would be about what the ten years of preparation meant.
But Lin Ke knew very well that this was the gap in strength.
After all, he is not an ordinary king.
Saladin stood up suddenly at this moment, then realized his impoliteness and quickly sat down again.
But he still couldn't help covering his face with his hands, and his furrowed brow could even be seen through his fingers.
"Forgive my gaffe, Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
He dropped his hands, his voice filled with confusion and shock.
“It’s incredible.”
"A war that changed the entire landscape of the Near East, an alliance spanning multiple countries and civilizations, was completed from conception to implementation in just two weeks?"
"Your Majesty, Holy Pharaoh, with all due respect, this goes against all the military and political common sense I know."
"Even organizing a small caravan to cross the desert would take at least two weeks to prepare, let alone a military operation of this scale."
Saladin's expression gradually changed from shock to a kind of awe, and even a little confusion.
"I don't know what to say."
"This kind of efficiency, this kind of execution, this kind of foresight...is beyond my comprehension."
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