On July 6, the twelfth year of the Qingli period of the Great Song Dynasty, after noon, countless dark shadows came from the east on the Mesopotamian plains.
The horses galloped, stirring up the power of wind and thunder, and billowing smoke and dust formed a series of yellow sand storms.
Under the iron hoof of the Seljuks, no city in the Buyid Kingdom dared to resist.
Because the Turkic people's custom is to massacre the city if they resist, and if they don't resist, the most they will do is loot and rape, at least most people in the city can be spared.
The Persians in Shiraz had tried to resist stubbornly before, but after the city was finally captured, it was littered with broken corpses.
So all along the way, from Nihavin to Hamadan, from Huzis to Basra, there was not a city that did not open its gates to let them in.
Besides, the Buyid Dynasty has become rotten to the core. The Daylam people were once a barbaric tribe, but in front of the even more barbaric Turks, they were as obedient as sheep and had no ability to resist.
In the past, the Seljuks did not attack immediately after conquering Khorasan and Persia because they still cared about the attitude of the Caliph. Without the Caliph's order, they did not dare to attack rashly.
But now, facing the arrival of the Song people and worried that the Buyid Dynasty might have the threat of firearms, the Seljuks had to take the initiative.
At this moment, the city of Baghdad was in chaos, and many people who knew the news fled.
People fled with their families, looking terrified.
Many high-ranking officials and local dignitaries fled as soon as they heard the news that the border city of Nihawin had been captured.
Most of the remaining people were civilians who did not have time to escape.
In fact, it was not that the upper echelons deliberately blocked the news. When Nihawin was breached, many people already knew about it.
However, the cities along the way were conquered so quickly that it was impossible to react.
The border town of Horama is only over 300 kilometers away from Baghdad.
The Seljuks launched a surprise attack the day before yesterday, capturing three cities along the way. Yesterday they reached Balad, less than 100 kilometers away from Baghdad, and today they are already outside the city.
Such a fast speed made it seem as if the Seljuks were not attacking a country, but marching at high speed on the grassland.
"Hurry, hurry, the Seljuks are coming to kill us."
"Forget the stall, just run."
“Woo woo woo!”
"Dad, Aman, where are you?"
"Don't panic, Almighty Allah will protect us."
The streets were crowded with people, many of whom were carrying bags and running out of the city.
Camels were being led and people were walking quickly.
Whether it was the rich wearing luxurious silk or the poor wearing rags, there was no difference under the Seljuk's butcher knife.
The Baghdad dock was very busy a few days ago, but today it is very deserted.
The Song Dynasty envoys watched all these changes with their own eyes, but they were powerless to do anything. The only thing they could do was to protect some local Song Dynasty businessmen.
"Alas, with the outbreak of war, I wonder how many people will lose their families and homes."
Zhang Youwei stood at the bow, his hands behind his back, looking at the chaotic dock in the distance and sighed.
"Doctor, there is a child over there"
The Foreign Ministry official next to him pointed at a crying child on the dock who couldn't find his parents and said, "This..."
"Go and bring her here."
Zhang Youwei frowned slightly, glanced around, and seeing that Tan Wenxue was not there, he gave the order.
But just as Tan Wenxue came out of the cabin and came to the side of the ship, he happened to see the official giving an order to someone, and he shouted, "You are not allowed to go."
"Old Tan."
Zhang Youwei frowned and said, "It's just a child."
"I know that, too."
Tan Wenxue smiled bitterly and said, "But there are too many people. If we save one, a whole group will come immediately. We are lucky enough to take care of our own people. Can we really save them all?"
"Can"
Zhang Youwei wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only let out a long sigh.
Tan Wenxue knew that Zhang Youwei was too kind, or to put it bluntly, a little weak, which had already been reflected in the previous time in Long Port.
It was just that Zhang Youwei spoke a little softly, but he did not lose the demeanor of a great power like the Song Dynasty, which was why he was able to leave the city of Lenge safely.
If it were Tan Wenxue, he would definitely refute loudly and let the other party know the wrath of the Song Dynasty in Lenge City.
But isn't he also kind by nature?
Although he had a tough personality, he felt pity for the poor little girl when he saw her.
But Tan Wenxue was also very clear.
Once this loophole is opened, people from all over the city will come to seek refuge from the Song Dynasty.
The Song Dynasty's fleet could rescue hundreds or even thousands of people.
But as the largest city in the Middle East, Baghdad has a population of more than 100,000?
How can they save him?
So even though they knew this went against their conscience, they still had to grit their teeth and refuse for the safety of the fleet.
Tan Wenxue persuaded them again, saying, "You all know very well that we must intervene for the right reason and at the right time. We can't just rush in and start shooting indiscriminately. That would only make the situation even more chaotic once we're gone. So even if we intervene, we must leave behind a complete political system and institutions to help settle the people here. This is the overall consideration. We can't lose sight of the bigger picture."
"I see."
Zhang Youwei smiled bitterly and said nothing more.
What Tan Wenxue said makes sense.
The Seljuks were brutal and would certainly massacre people when they entered the city. They would shoot indiscriminately. Whether the Buyids retained power or the Seljuks took over the city, the situation here would not get better but would get worse.
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