Not long after, new visitors arrived outside the bewitching array.
Regent Lin Mo of the Great Xia Dynasty sat atop his warhorse, a smile on his face. "Interesting," he murmured to himself.
"My lord, these bastards have been trapped for a long time, haven't they?" Xu Chu said. "They all look like they're starving. How about I lead the troops in and give them a quick death?"
"Silly boy, are you sure you can come out alive after you go in?"
"No!" Xu Chu said, "But my lord, since this formation was set up by the people of Xuanhua Palace, why don't we have them accompany us inside?"
That makes sense, but the key issue is that Lin Mo doesn't know where the people from Xuanhua Palace are!
Oh, I have seen one before.
And he even slept with me for one night.
But Zhao Zhilan has not appeared since then!
"My lord, let them fend for themselves!" Yao Guangxiao suggested. "Even if they manage to escape this maze, without water supplies, they won't be able to leave this desert!"
If he could, Lin Mo would prefer to capture Amon alive!
"Very well! Qin Liangyu, you will lead three thousand light cavalry to guard this place," Lin Mo ordered. "I will provide you with ample supplies. You only need to hold the position for three days. Once you are certain that all the Qiuzi people have perished in this battle, you may leave!"
He believed that unless someone had a miracle, no one could survive for three more days in such an arid desert without water.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Qin Liangyu replied.
Then, Lin Mo waved his hand and led his men eastward.
~~~
Saladin's army, which retreated eastward, also faced difficulties.
To survive, they had to slaughter horses and camels for the meager amount of blood they could get to quench their thirst.
The Muslims who had previously mocked the Chuz people as beasts are now doing the same thing.
In moments of life and death, humanity is gradually eroded, while animalistic instincts are unleashed.
Just as they were about to leave the desert, news arrived that suffocated Saladin.
Fifty miles from the edge of the desert, traces of a large number of enemy troops were discovered.
Bai Qi, the garrison commander of Xichuan City in the Great Xia Dynasty, led his troops to set up defensive fortifications on the main road in the wasteland!
"Has he gone mad? He actually abandoned Xichuan City and came to this wilderness to intercept us?" Saladin's men nearly fainted from anger. "Isn't he afraid that Xichuan City will be..."
"By what?" Saladin demanded.
"The Byzantine army! Aren't they afraid Constantine will steal their stronghold?"
"Constantine was able to reach Xichuan City only if all the local forces of the Great Xia were completely undefended, allowing him to advance unimpeded!"
"That possibility isn't out of the question! Great Xia is truly in internal strife. That regent, Lin Mo, killed his monarch, and the entire Great Xia is turning against him!"
"But he also has supporters, such as the new emperor of Great Xia! And Huo Minggao, the first to rebel, has already been wiped out by Lin Mo!"
"Yes. Even if Constantine can provide timely support and capture Xichuan City, Bai Qi, the general defending the Great Xia, can still join forces with Lin Mo's main force to eliminate us, and then retake Xichuan City!"
Saladin was completely baffled by his subordinates' analysis!
In the current situation, they are being attacked from both sides by the Great Xia people!
Even worse, the troops responsible for covering the rear brought even more bad news.
Their allies, the Crusaders, have betrayed the sacred covenant and have now joined the Great Xia army, pursuing them with all their might!
It can be said that Saladin and his men are now in dire straits!
“Your Majesty the Sultan, please order your entire family to attack and defeat Bai Qi!” a Muslim general suggested.
"No, absolutely not! Time doesn't allow us to do that. Bai Qi is one of the most powerful generals in the Great Xia Dynasty. If we can't break through his defenses within three days, Lin Mo's main force will arrive."
"If we're attacked from both sides, we're doomed!"
Even more terrifying, Lin Mo also built a defensive line, surrounding the Muslims without attacking, letting them die of thirst!
"Stop arguing!" Saladin said. "That's enough for today, meeting adjourned!"
After saying that, he left without looking back.
Perhaps, with Saladin's words, the Muslim army has come to an end?
The next morning, before dawn, Saladin summoned a dozen or so light cavalrymen. “Warriors,” he said to them, “I need your help. Each of you should choose your own horses, the strongest and healthiest.”
They carried as much food and water as they could carry, and then went out of the city to explore.
One team headed southwest, one team headed due south, and the other team continued north.
“Your Majesty the Sultan, what do you want us to find?” asked a Muslim light cavalryman.
“Anything is fine,” Saladin replied. “Go find other cities, living or dead. Go find rivers, lakes and saltwater oceans. Discover other exits from the wasteland, and what lies beyond it.”
Is this some kind of desperate, ill-advised approach? Have they completely let themselves go?
In this desert, there are no cities or water sources!
But the order had already been given, so they had no choice but to obey and leave!
In three days, at most three days, Lin Mo's main force will catch up.
Saladin only had three days left!
Day and night alternate.
They set up camp fifty miles away from Bai Qi's defense line.
Muslim warriors repaired saddles, bridles, stirrups, and horseshoes, and sharpened their scimitars in preparation for the upcoming battle.
But everyone knows in their hearts that the next great war will be a massacre.
the next day.
The light cavalry from the southwest were the first to return.
According to his report, the red wasteland stretches southwestward, ending at a barren mountain ridge.
Between the ridge and this place, there are only rolling red sand, wind-eroded rocks, and plants covered with sharp thorns.
He swore that he found nothing else.
The second to return was a scout from the due south. He swore that the southwest was a scorching, barren desert, devoid of anything!
Despair spreads once again!
The light cavalry from the north had not returned for a long time, which made the soldiers' morale plummet.
Just when everyone had given up hope, the light cavalrymen rode back from the north.
The soldiers on the north side of the camp were the first to spot him and immediately shouted out.
Saladin immediately left the camp himself.
It's true, the light cavalry from the north has returned, but he is not alone.
Dozens of strangely dressed strangers followed behind him, riding camels, a mount that Saladin and his companions were very familiar with!
They stopped in front of the camp and dismounted. “Your Majesty the Sultan!” the light horseman saluted. “I went to the great city of Quel, and these men have come back with me; they wish to see you in person.”
Saladin looked at the newcomer and said, "I am right here. Feel free to look... but please state your name first!"
Even in dire straits, Saladin maintained his kingly demeanor.
The white-skinned, blue-lipped man spoke in rough Muslim: “Your Majesty Saladin, I am acting on the orders of my master to invite you and your army to the city of Quel for rest and recuperation!”
Saladin looked at the newcomer in astonishment. "Inviting us? To enter the city?"
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