When Saladin arrived at the city gates of Quel, a clear, resonant gong suddenly rang out from the city walls, like the drumbeats of history, echoing in every corner.
At the same time, an ancient and peculiar horn sound drifted on the wind, the horn resembling a giant bronze serpent, winding and coiling, emitting a heart-stirring roar.
From within the city, a caravan of camel riders solemnly emerged; they would become Saladin's honorary bodyguards.
These riders, clad in bronze scale armor, resembled ancient war gods. Their helmets were inlaid with bronze teeth, and their long black feathers flowed like shooting stars, while their saddles were adorned with rubies and garnets, shimmering with dazzling light.
"Quar, a city that has been hailed as the greatest since ancient times," Saladin had heard of its renown from the messengers even before he set foot on its borders.
"They praise it as the heart of the world, a vital transportation route between the north and south, and a bridge connecting the east and west. Its history is profound and long, surpassing the limits of people's memory."
Saladin knew that the messenger's words often shone like stars, but even so, he could not deny the city's magnificence. The city was like an unfinished poem, its triple walls like triple movements of a musical score, surrounding it and displaying its solemnity and majesty.
Three thick walls surround Qarth, adorned with various exquisite carvings.
The outer wall, constructed of red sandstone, stands majestically, reaching a height of thirty feet. It is carved with various animals, resembling a vivid animal painting. Some snakes meander and crawl among them;
Some kites soared into the sky, while others glided and swam in the water. Interspersed among them were packs of wolves on the red wasteland, as well as zebras and giant elephants. Each animal was so lifelike that you could almost hear their breathing.
The central wall is even taller, reaching forty feet high, and is meticulously carved from gray granite.
The carvings on the walls depict vivid scenes of war: flashing swords, clashing conflicts, and raining arrows.
The interior walls are made of fifty-foot-high black marble, with several imposing warriors carved on them.
The messenger told Saladin that it was the war god they worshipped!
The outer city gate was inlaid with copper, the middle gate with iron, and the inner city gate was inlaid with many golden eyes.
The city gates opened one by one as Saladin approached.
He rode his warhorse into the city, where the inhabitants, the Qarthians, lined the streets or watched from their exquisite balconies—balconies so elaborate that one wondered if they could support a person's weight.
As Saladin rode by, his continuous journey had left him looking extremely haggard, which made him feel crude and barbaric.
The messenger then led Saladin and his generals onto a wide arcade street.
Along the streets, the heroic figures of this ancient city stand majestically, their towering forms supported by pristine white and vibrant green marble pillars, as if guarding the city's past and future.
Then, when Saladin and his men arrived at an incredibly tall palace, they finally met the master of the city.
The man was tall and wore a long white robe. His face was hidden under a hood, so his features were not clearly visible.
He said in an extremely deep voice, "From this moment on, you will obey my commands, mortals!"
Saladin was stunned. "Obey your commands? A mortal?"
~~~
"What the hell?" Xu Chu was utterly shocked. "That guy Bai Qi, he mobilized all his forces and set up a defensive line in the desert?"
"Yes, Your Highness Regent, that's what the scouts said!"
"Has this guy gone mad? If this is the case, then Xichuan City is practically undefended!" Xu Chu almost laughed in anger. "What Xichuan City means, I don't need to explain!"
"What does Xu Chu mean?" Lin Mo asked in return.
"What does that mean..." Xu Chu was speechless for a moment. "My lord, it is you who have been emphasizing the importance of Xichuan City!"
"Hehe, Xu Chu, Bai Qi's decision this time is fine!" Lin Mo continued, "Trapping the enemy in the desert is the best option! Subduing the enemy without fighting is the best strategy!"
As for the Byzantine army you're worried about, they won't be able to stop Xichuan City anytime soon!
“Yes. Our Emperor has now begun to wield power. As long as he is in power, the local lords will not dare to openly rebel!” Yao Guangxiao said. “Constantine’s journey to Xichuan City will not be easy!”
"Then all we need to do next is proceed cautiously and steadily, and we can annihilate the enemy!" Yue Fei said.
Thinking of this, Lin Mo's lips twitched slightly. "This damned war is finally coming to an end."
"Pass on my order: keep a close watch on Saladin's movements and do not attack rashly," he said. "Let's wear him down!"
However, just when Lin Mo thought he could rest easy and easily wipe out Saladin's army,
One piece of news almost shocked him to his core!
Saladin's army suddenly turned north.
According to the scouts, a huge city had appeared out of nowhere in the northern part of the wasteland.
Upon hearing this news, Lin Mo almost fainted.
"What's going on? A city? Are you sure it's a city? Not a mirage? Not one of Xuanhua Palace's illusions?"
"It's definitely a city!" the scout replied. "And this city is almost as big as the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty!"
With a sense of astonishment, Lin Mo mounted his warhorse and led his men on a rapid march north.
When he arrived at his destination and looked up, he was completely stunned.
City!
A real city!
Standing on high ground, Lin Mo could clearly see the city walls, the city gates, and the countless troops inside the city!
"No way! Can someone explain this to me? There's such a large city in the western part of Sichuan?"
What is the name of this city? What country does it belong to? What is its ethnicity?
"Who is their king? How do they survive in this desert?"
The most crucial question is: why is it that not a single person in Sichuan knows of the existence of this city?
No one could answer Lin Mo's question, because the generals of the Great Xia were in a state of extreme confusion.
At that very moment.
"What?" Lin Mo suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Zhao Wushi, what did you say?"
"My lord, what Zhao Wushi?" Xu Chu asked him.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't!" Lin Mo waved his hand impatiently. "Well, I want to be alone for a while, you all go back first!"
These words made the generals even more nervous.
"That's it, enough talk, I'm leaving!"
After saying that, Lin Mo turned his horse around and rode away.
"That's all. No one is allowed to follow. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
The reason Lin Mo made such a surprising move was because Zhao Wushi said to him: "The Supreme God has intervened!"
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