At night, Lin Ke did not rest. He just looked at the scene of Damascus from the upstairs window.
He knew very well that if he came here as the Holy Pharaoh, it would be impossible for him to see these scenes.
"Elder brother."
"Why didn't His Majesty Saladin ask for your help?"
"With your help, perhaps his condition can be cured, and the disadvantage faced by the Arabs can be reversed immediately."
"But he didn't mention this explicitly in his letter."
Lin Ke just took a deep breath.
"yes."
"Maybe, because he is Saladin."
"He is just that kind of person. I should have anticipated this earlier and taken measures earlier."
"Without Saladin, Arabia has lost half its soul."
Lin Ke knew that the wheel of history would not change because of anyone's subjective will.
Times will eventually change, and those great leaders will eventually disappear.
There was really only so much he could do about it.
So Lin Ke just stayed there until dawn the next day.
As dawn arrived, the whole of Damascus was shrouded in a solemn gray.
The streets were lined with black curtains.
There was a heavy atmosphere in the air, as if invisible shackles were binding everyone's heart.
After the early morning prayers, Saladin's funeral officially began.
Saladin's body was placed in a simple wooden coffin and carried slowly through the city's main streets by four loyal generals.
Behind the coffin were relatives of Saladin's family. They were dressed in black robes, their faces covered with white gauze, and their footsteps were heavy.
Fadhil walked at the front of the funeral procession. His face was haggard, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were tightly pressed into a line.
He had hardly slept since the news of Saladin's death.
His attire had been changed into the simplest white robe.
There were no decorations or symbols, as that would symbolize his mourning and respect for his brother.
"Your Majesty Fadhil..."
An elderly minister whispered, "You should take care of yourself. Our kingdom needs you."
Fadhil nodded slightly but did not respond.
His eyes were fixed on the coffin, and his thoughts had already drifted away.
"I have asked myself this question countless times in the past."
"What would happen to Damascus without Zhang Xiong? What would happen to Arabia?"
"And what can I do?"
"Will it disappoint my brother?"
“But now, I understand.”
"Those aren't my concerns. I just need to do what I should do. As for the rest, I'll leave it to future generations to judge."
The minister looked at Fadhil and leaned forward slightly, but said nothing more.
The team continued to move forward, and the people along the way spontaneously made way.
Some people knelt on the ground and prayed, some sobbed softly, and more stood silently, bidding farewell to their beloved leader with the most pious attitude.
Saladin was more than just a king.
He is a symbol of the unity of the Arab people, a banner of resistance to foreign invasion, and a protector in the hearts of countless people.
When the funeral procession arrived at the central square, flames were lit on the altar that had been set up long ago.
Fadhil stood on the podium, facing the dark crowd, and spoke slowly.
"Today, we gather here to bid farewell to a great leader and an outstanding strategist."
"And my most respected brother, His Majesty Saladin."
He paused, his voice a little hoarse.
“Many years ago, when I first stepped into the palace, it was His Majesty Saladin who gave me his trust and guidance.”
"From that moment on, I knew he would be a leader that we Arabs would remember for generations to come."
"He is not just a king of Arabia, but a visionary of the Arab world."
At this moment, there were murmurs of approval and sobs from the crowd.
"During the reign of His Majesty Saladin, we recaptured many cities, united the scattered Arab tribes, and established a powerful kingdom."
"He advocated tolerance and justice, accepted all his subjects regardless of their religious beliefs, and won the respect of all Arabs with his wisdom and strength."
Fadhil's voice began to choke.
"But now that he's gone, I have to be honest with you: we're facing unprecedented challenges."
"The threat from the rebels has not been completely eliminated, the unity of the Arab Kingdom is under threat, and external forces are still watching closely."
He took a deep breath and tried to control his emotions.
"However! His Majesty Saladin's spirit will not die!"
"The values he taught us will continue to guide us going forward!"
"Here, I promise all Arab people that in the days ahead, I will follow his example and do my utmost to maintain national unity and stability and defend our common homeland!"
As soon as the words fell, low mournful music sounded in the square.
Then, a minute-long silence ensued, broken only by the smell of burning spices and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
At the end of the team, Lin Ke and Ramses were mixed in the crowd, watching everything quietly.
Lin Ke looked at Fadhil from time to time, as if thinking about something.
What does the passing of a great leader mean?
It means uncertainty and turbulence.
When Saladin was in power, the surrounding countries did not dare to act rashly.
Now that he was gone, the rebels began to stir.
The strength of a country often depends on one or two people.
Obviously, this is why ancient emperors paid special attention to the training of heirs.
At this time, Lin Ke looked at Fadhil's figure on the stage.
This young king has a heavy burden on his shoulders.
The empire left by Saladin was like an exquisite palace, magnificent on the outside but with cracks on the inside.
Without sufficient vision and courage, it will be difficult to maintain it for a long time.
However, although Fadhil is young, he is not lacking in wisdom and courage.
His behavior at the funeral was also very decent, at least, it was very popular.
This is very important for a kingdom.
Lin Ke opened the civilization panel at this time, and the Arab leader on it had become "Fadhil" and no longer "Saladin".
He carefully examined Fadhil today.
In Lin Ke's opinion, at least he inherited some of Saladin's qualities.
At least the friendship between Arabia and Holy Egypt could continue.
This is good for Holy Egypt.
At this time, the ceremony continued.
The final part of the funeral is the burial ceremony.
Saladin's coffin was lowered into the tomb, and Fadil personally sprinkled the first handful of soil.
Afterwards, every important person present came forward to offer soil, symbolizing their collective farewell to this great monarch.
Of course, with Saul's previous communication with the other party, Lin Ke was able to step forward and offer the soil at this time.
"Your Majesty Saladin."
"Damascus is indeed a beautiful place, just as you said."
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