"Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, Your Majesty Saladin, a soldier has brought urgent news!"
"It's the Mamluk cavalry."
The guard said, turning his gaze towards Saladin.
Upon hearing this, Saladin stood up suddenly.
At the same time, Lin Ke also looked in the direction the guard pointed.
To the west of Jerusalem, several black spots were approaching the city at an alarming speed.
With the help of moonlight and torches, they recognized that they were several cavalrymen on horseback, wearing the light chain mail unique to the Mamluks.
"It's my warrior."
Saladin frowned and identified it.
"They must have brought urgent intelligence. I've never seen them return at such a speed."
The cavalrymen were getting closer and closer, and I could already see the anxious expressions on their faces.
The rider in front fell off his horse before he even came to a complete stop.
After he said something briefly to the Holy Egyptian guards below, he quickened his pace and ran towards the platform.
After a while, he came to Saladin panting.
"Report! Respected father!"
"Emergency news from the border!"
After he said this, he just looked up and glanced in the direction of Lin Ke.
Obviously, he was not sure whether he could speak here.
Lin Ke was just about to find an excuse to get up, but Saladin just hurried forward and supported Lin Ke.
"Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, we are now brothers."
"You don't have to avoid suspicion."
After Saladin said this, his expression instantly became solemn.
"Tell me slowly, what happened?"
"Could it be those guys from the grassland again?"
When the Mamluk cavalry heard this, they just nodded their heads several times.
"Exactly, Father!"
"They say our border fighters have insulted their graves!"
"Here's their letter for you!"
Having said that, the Mamluk cavalryman took out a crumpled piece of paper from behind him, and even Lin Ke couldn't recognize what it was made of.
It looked strange, like some kind of mixture of animal leather and plants.
To be precise, it can hardly be called a piece of "paper".
Saladin even unfolded it without any hesitation, and even Lin Ke could clearly see the words on it.
The text above is written in the common language.
"Stop your useless patrols. If you don't want to fight us on your own land, please withdraw your soldiers ten miles immediately."
Saladin looked at the words above, and the wrinkles on his brow deepened a little.
Lin Ke realized that what Saladin was worried about was not the recipients of the letters.
Because, generally speaking, if a person receives a provocative letter from the enemy, he will immediately feel angry.
Normally, Saladin would have been furious and ordered his generals to gather the soldiers.
But he didn't.
On the contrary, he looked at the letter for a long time without saying a word.
"Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
"It seems that I can't stay here with you for long."
"Although I would like to share with you the prosperity of your reign, I still have things to do."
Saladin put the letter away and handed it back to the Mamluk cavalry.
"Your Majesty Saladin, if you need the help of Holy Egypt, I will be happy to lend you a hand."
"As you said before, we are brothers, aren't we?"
Lin Ke spoke slowly at this time. Somehow, the news that Saladin was leaving made him feel a little regretful.
A wise ruler like Saladin was rare among the rulers he met, and what was even rarer was that the two of them had a very pleasant conversation and felt like close friends.
He sincerely hopes to provide support within his ability and continue this precious and rare friendship between them.
However, Saladin just gave Lin Ke a meaningful smile.
He seemed neither to accept nor to reject the offer.
Saladin simply walked forward and gave Lin Ke a formal farewell.
"Thank you, Holy Pharaoh, for your generosity."
"But I have to face it alone. This is the fate of the Arab world and my choice."
Finally, Saladin raised his head and looked at the starry sky.
"Perhaps fate will bring us together again somewhere else, Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
"If you intend to visit my territory, I will prepare the most grand reception for His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
"We have the finest Arabic coffee, the sweetest dates, and the best singers and dancers."
"We welcome you at any time."
Seeing the other party politely refuse, Lin Ke could probably guess that the matter was not a simple invasion or something like that.
Perhaps there was some conflict in the Arab world.
So, Lin Ke didn't say anything more, he just responded with a smile.
"Thank you, His Majesty Saladin, for the invitation."
"Likewise, I look forward to hosting His Majesty Saladin on the banks of the Nile one day."
"The pyramids and temples of holy Egypt, and the organs we have built, will all open their doors to our distinguished guests."
"I also look forward to your visit to Holy Egypt, His Majesty Saladin."
The conversation between the two was full of diplomatic elegance, but also revealed a sincere friendship.
Saladin never explained to Lin Ke the message hidden behind the letter, and Lin Ke also knew when not to ask too many questions.
"May Allah bless you, Your Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
Saladin finally said, his voice full of sincere blessings.
"May your rule be like the eternal starlight, shining brightly on the world and never going out."
Lin Ke took a deep breath and responded politely, "Good luck to you too, Your Majesty Saladin."
“May your flag always fly high in the wind.”
"The sun's light will illuminate the direction you are heading."
The farewell ceremony was simple, but very grand for the two of them.
Soon, Saladin summoned his Mamluk cavalry and entourage, and set off on his journey home under the watchful eyes of Lin Ke and a group of Egyptian officials.
Saladin's departure was extremely hasty.
The entire evacuation operation began late at night and was completed before dawn.
When the first rays of dawn shone on Jerusalem, the Arab tents had disappeared, leaving only the empty camp and the bonfires that had not yet cooled down.
No one knows for sure what news prompted Saladin to end his visit so hastily.
There were rumors of remnants of the Hebrew Empire gathering on the border, others that tribal conflicts had broken out deep in the desert, and still more speculation that a power vacuum far away in Damascus had sparked internal divisions.
But in any case, Saladin left quietly, just as he had arrived in Jerusalem quietly.
He did not tell Lin Ke what had happened, nor did he explain why he was so anxious to return to his homeland.
Only the starry sky that night witnessed the last conversation between the two great rulers.
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