Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 535 - 314: Night Raid

The river crossing battle was uneventful.

Iben, the governor of Damietta, seemed not to deploy the main force along the river defense line. The vanguard led by Hans, after crossing the river, hardly encountered any organized resistance and successfully set up an outpost camp.

More than half of the soldiers in the heavy infantry regiment took off their armor and began doing construction work with great enthusiasm.

Hans wielded a sledgehammer, driving a stake into the muddy ground, making preparations for building a pontoon bridge.

Later, they would connect the collected boats with ropes and lay wooden planks on top for the army to pass through.

"It seems that even by nightfall, at most only half of the people can successfully cross the river."

Hans looked somewhat grim.

The river water was too swift.

And the number of boats collected by the army on the other side was too few; even with max use, only three pontoon bridges could be built at most.

"Some defected Coptic soldiers said if it were two months earlier, just as autumn was entering, the river would be more turbulent, even overflowing its banks."

Picking up a pinch of black soil: "The lord said, once Lower Egypt is taken, its land can feed everyone in Germania."

Chelina just silently listened, without responding.

Upper Egypt (Nile River Valley), Lower Egypt (Nile Delta) are Egypt’s prime areas, and also the most densely populated.

When she was at Feilaimai Castle opposite, she could see the villages across densely packed together; if all those people were mobilized, she didn’t know what the lord was planning on doing? Surely not kill them all?

...

By noon, the pontoon bridges were completed.

Losa had also crossed the river.

Even while walking on the wobbly pontoon bridge, Eclipse walked steadily.

"Increase vigilance, Iben, the Saracen governor won’t let us cross so easily."

Losa looked up, and within the clouds, a falcon’s silhouette quickly hid away.

Just within this governor Iben’s territory in Damietta, there were probably hundreds of thousands of people.

At this point, he didn’t believe Iben, besides sending over ten thousand reinforcements to the opposite, couldn’t muster any mobile forces.

...

Capturing cities is no simple matter. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

No one would think Losa could capture Egypt in a month or two.

Half a year, or even longer, would be reasonable.

During the first Eastern Expedition, fifty thousand elite Crusaders besieged Antioch, and it took over six months, winning only with inside support from traitors among the defenders.

This was certainly related to Antioch’s solid defenses, but also indirectly indicated the difficulty of siege warfare.

And precisely because of this, European monarchs saw opportunities arise.

"How to handle these prisoners?"

"Among them, there are Coptic people as well as Saracens; some believe in the Coptic Church, some even believe in the old gods like Isis and Horus."

"Those Saracens haven’t banned such practices; some scholars even believe these old gods are saints of the Fire Worship."

Losa frowned.

It seems the Arab integration into Egypt cannot be said to have no effect at all.

If so, applying the one-size-fits-all approach towards heretics in his territory might provoke significant resistance.

He pondered for a while and said, "Follow the original approach: those willing to leave, strip them of armor and let them go; those notorious and full of evil, try them publicly after and execute them; those Coptic willing to join the Crusaders, let them join."

He paused and added, "Form a separate division, try not to let them suffer too much damage."

This wasn’t a woman’s compassion.

He wasn’t a robber, but a new conqueror.

For this land, one cannot just show an iron-fisted approach.

...

"Lord Governor, it’s already late, the Frankish barbarians have been busy all day, surely tired horses and exhausted men. Besides, the scouts have observed, only five thousand have crossed the river, the enemy can’t defend both ends, it’s a great opportunity for us to attack."

Governor Iben stands high above on a border tower, carefully observing the enemy camp.

He still hesitated: "But these Franks have orderly camps, and I’ve heard the enemy’s Losa Prince had once led a night raid on King Saladin’s camp, they should have some preparation."

"Lord Governor, this is the best moment, if delayed further, once all the Franks have crossed, we’ll only be left to besiege Damietta."

Nowadays, even the most arrogant Saracen commander wouldn’t hope to smash the Crusaders in a field battle.

This was something even King Saladin couldn’t achieve, yet think of them as a mere local governor.

"The secret potion requested from the Imam is effective, right?"

Governor Iben tightly grips the reins.

He was very tense, if indeed he could smash the enemy’s troops that crossed the river, even capturing Prince Losa, his fame in the Saracen world would catapult to an incredibly terrifying level.

But if he failed, he would completely bury his last main force, and by then, even Damietta, his base, might not be defendable.

"Already tested, confirmed effective; once put in the water jar, every soldier who drinks will temporarily gain night vision ability; those heretics absolutely can’t imagine we have such a secret weapon."

Iben nodded.

The Imam he mentioned wasn’t a Fire Worship priest but a priest who still devoutly believed in the old god Horus, reclusive even King Saladin couldn’t invite him out.

Thus, the enemy would never expect them to possess night vision capabilities.

This battle, they held great advantages.

"Then let’s deploy. Senmut, bring me the head of the Frankish prince; I’ll report your entire feat without any deductions to King Saladin!"

The general called Senmut promptly solemnly saluted with a chest hand: "I swear by the name of the Holy Fire, this battle will be fought with all my might, to the death!"

"Holy Fire Everlasting!"

"The Highest and Greatest!"

In the darkness, many ghostly figures rode war horses and dromedaries, trying their best to conceal their movements, heading towards the Crusader camp.

But before approaching, a sharp whistle was heard, then a brass bell rang out.

Arrows flew over their heads, illuminating those raiding figures approaching in the night.

"The Franks have been prepared!"

Senmut was shocked.

Yet now, the bow was drawn, no turning back; even if the enemy was prepared, they outnumbered them, and with massive night vision advantage, victory’s balance still leaned towards them.

"Charge, kill the chieftain of the Franks, win the name of Egypt’s first Faris, rewarded with a thousand gold coins!"

Senmut shouted loudly.