Chapter 234: Nearby Threats

It is now the second night, and it has become a war-ready Fortress Aden, and is about to face joint attacks from other cities in the Aden province. So how are these city lords prepared for the preparations of the Aden Fortress?

The Aden Fortress was a castle without people. The news arrived at the younger brother of Governor Ashleffer, the younger brother of Governor Ashleffer. He and his brother were also considered the so-called royal family of the Asul Dynasty. When night fell, the younger Ashleffer, who planned to discuss this matter with the representatives of other city lords, looked at the black night sky outside the city wall.

He was the twin brother of Governor Ashleffer, because his parents probably became little Governor Ashleffer for their slackness. Unlike his elder brother Governor, he was just a city lord.

In fact, there were many such city-states in the Middle East at this time, and the so-called Asul dynasty still needed to obey the orders of Mustashin of Baghdad. Compared with the unified Song Dynasty at this time, it was just something that was not like the Jiedushi.

In Zabid, the most famous ancient city in the Aden province, it also controls several towns such as Hodeida, Bajile, Hajj, Amran, and Sana in the northern part of the Aden province. However, compared with several cities such as Aden, Jayal, Ehvoor, and Rahdi in the south, the income is inevitably much worse.

"This is the result of being born a few minutes later than him. He owns the entire Aden, and I am the only one in this city!"

Zabid is an ancient city built on the Tikhami Plain in the 7th century AD. Of course, if compared with the cities of the Song Dynasty, it really tastes like a small rural town.

Standing on the wall of Zabid, who was controlling the road to Mecca, Little Ashleff sighed his destiny. Although his brother had died at this time, the richest city of Aden, the richest city of Aden, had fallen into the hands of others. It was Aden, the richest place in the Asul Dynasty.

But from a distance, there are four towering castles in the square, and dim lights are emitted from the windows. Even with the night wind from afar, people can hear the laughter and joy coming from the castle. The safe and rich city lord life will envy many people. But this is not worth anything in the heart of Little Ashleff, and he is just thinking about something repeatedly.

Looking back now, the cause of the incident was only because his brother Governor Ashleff imprisoned a Song Dynasty merchant from the province of Cote! This caused the city of Aden to fall into the hands of others, and he himself lost his life. According to the news, those people did not intend to leave easily.

"When did those guys become so warlike!"

Regarding the Song people, this is a question. It was not a matter of one or two days to deal with the Song people in the Aden province. When Little Ashleff and his brother were still young, there were often ships from the Song Dynasty. Generally speaking, they were people who were easy to deal with, or people who were easy to bully.

Although their silk, porcelain and other goods were pretty good, the Arabs looked at them, and they lacked blood. Often, just one word from an official can make them bow their heads.

"So, how will they change now!"

At night, although he could not see the sea or hear the sound of the sea on the walls of Zabid City, he could clearly smell the sea breeze. Just like here, he had to want to deal with the powerful sea power over there.

"Even Diadein and Fahard are not their opponents, so what are we going to deal with their ships at sea?"

This was what he heard from his brother's finance minister, and six ships, or even two of the big ships, had not moved. But that was the one that caused the sixty warships in the entire Aden province to defeat and surrender! This was what made him most worried.

Just as he was thinking, his close servant came to him and bent respectfully towards him.

"Governor, dinner has been prepared, so everyone is waiting for you!"

Thinking of these things that bothered him, Little Ashlever turned around and went down from the city wall. He also needed to face the people sent by other city lords. Politics was always a wonderful thing. Or for them, whether they could avenge the Governor Ashlever, what was important was who the province of Aden belonged to in the future.

Compared with his brother Governor Ashleff, his castle was smaller and he didn't have as many soldiers. The elite Mamluk cavalry were only about three thousand. Of course, if the other city lords were willing to send troops, the number of cavalry in his hands would be larger.

Beside him, the leader of the spies who had just returned from Aden. At this moment, he bent over slightly, raised his eyebrows with his eyes and looked forward to the news below that could bring good income to Little Ashlever. If he was happy because of his income, he might have a good income.

"The Aden Fortress is now an empty city. I saw with my own eyes that they took advantage of the darkness and the large group of people quietly left the fortress. There should be no many defenders in the fortress now!"

Little Ashlever looked at him suspiciously and expressed some distrust.

"Don't these guys plan to ask for the city of Aden? Did they just rob and leave? I heard that this was not the case last time. They seemed to have built a castle on Thira Island!"

The spy's leader laughed strangely.

"Of course, of course... you are completely correct. I think they are just using an empty castle to lure you so that you will not attack them. I think in a while, the people in the province of Cote will probably arrive. By then, there will be many people in the castle of Thira and the Fortress of Aden!"

The little city lord Ashleff curled his lips, knowing that the spy's leader was worried about his bounty. As for whether he could take down the Aden Fortress, it had nothing to do with him.

"Well, as you say that, you and your subordinates have really done their best! Take it my friend, I believe that these rewards will satisfy you and your subordinates!"

As he spoke, he took out a purse from his arms and threw it over. The purse was full and made a slight sound in the hands of the spy leader. Not only did he weigh it, he also opened it and looked at the gold coins inside.

Little Ashlever expressed contempt for his actions. He called Allah with his expression, and spoke with a mockery.

"I said, I am a nobleman and will inherit the future governor of the entire province of Aden. Believe me, I will not treat others badly in these matters!"

The spy's leader shrugged indifferently, indicating that he was not a noble, so it didn't matter what image and so on.

"Hisser Lord, if you cannot defeat the new owner of Aden City, I think you may not have the Aden tourism. I am just a civilian, and I am still very serious about money. In order to find me to do something next time, I will remind you, the city lords who cooperate with you...their identities are very noble, but their character is!"

Little Ashleff shook his head and said he had no interest in this matter. He knew that the other city lords might have such or such ideas, but he had already made a countermeasure.

After driving away the spy's leader, he continued to stay on the city wall. From here, you can see the army he summoned from outside the city, sent to the city lord under his command. If these people were added, he would have about seven thousand Mamluk cavalry on hand. There were three thousand including archers and people who operated stone throwers, transported food and grass, etc.

At this moment, they all lived in tents outside the city, and in their camp, they had prepared materials for making ladder trucks for the whole city. When they arrived outside the city of Aden, they just needed to assemble them.

If other cities in the Aden province, that is, cities directly under his brother's jurisdiction, if they were willing to send troops, then the two groups would have a minimum of 15,000 to 18,000 people.

Thinking of this in my heart, Little Ashleff entered the building with his servant. Before entering, he looked at the castle he had lived in many places, and still felt unsatisfied.

"I was born a few minutes later than him. Now after he dies, I still have to clean up this mess for him! I hope those guys are not so greedy and not so expensive!"

The candlesticks fixed on the walls of the hall are lit with dim light. On the long table with light-colored tabletops, candles are also lit. Above the head is an oil lamp hanging with iron chains. Despite this, the entire hall still gives people a dim feeling.

As for the "guests" sitting at the dining table, Little Ashlever always felt that these guys were grinding their teeth, and their target was not the food on the dining table. Despite this feeling, he cheered up and began to preach the results he had discussed with his brother's finance minister.

"Everyone, no matter what, we must keep the Aden province intact. I think this is your wish. I announce that after the important regaining of Aden City, the taxes paid by the lords of the entire province to the province will be greatly reduced. In addition, we are kind, so after we defeat them, we will let those people use money to redeem the prisoners. These fees will also be distributed to everyone according to your contributions. If there is no objection, I think we can make an appointment to take back our land at the Aden City together!"

Sure enough, if one-third of the tax cut was released, the representatives of the other city lords all showed joy. Little Ashleff was quite satisfied with the result. It seemed that the strategy he discussed with the Finance Minister had worked.

He was not worried that tax cuts would reduce his income. There was always a lot of money in his brother's vault. Compared to what he has now, there was already a lot of money.

As for taxes, can we still raise them again when we take back Aden in the future!
Chapter completed!