The Destiny of Egypt

[Quickening]

1084AD - 1085AD

The day that all of Egypt feared came at last. The great Sultan Al-Zahir died leaving the fate of his Kingdom officially with his son.
This news caused much grief amongst the people and a rabble rouser by the name of Shabana gave himself the title of captain and led a handful of like-minded souls in open rebellion against their own Kingdom of Egypt. They marched the desert menacingly around the ill-fortified castle of Gaza.
Preparations began in Gaza at once to form a host of horse-archers to stomp those traitors, who were mainly simple militia, out before their treachery spread like a cancer.


In the meantime Tamur Unujur reached the city of Antioch. He told the poisoner who accompanied him how he had heard tales of this city even as a child and often dreamed of leading a host through its gates and claiming it for his people.
He laughed as he remembered. The dreams of youth. How could he ever have guessed that his visit to Antioch would be as the greatest spy in all of Egypt? He regretted nothing he assured his silent companion.

[Quickening]

1086AD - 1087AD

The now Sultan Al-Mustansir received word from the Council of Nobles who "advised" that rebel Dongola be taken. Such news angered the Sultan. The Council knew he was marching to that very place. The Council had outlived its usefulness long ago as far as he was concerned and now existed purely as an irritant.
As it happened, Dongola lay before the Sultan.


Tamer reached the city of Edessa. From here he could best catch news of any Turkish advancement for their borders lay only a short trek to the east. Here he would wait for further orders and for news of Egyptian conquests along the path he had travelled from his home.


The Assault on Acre

The responcibilities near overwhelmed Mubarak at times. Not only did so much rest upon his ability as a general, but the crowning of Al-Mustansir as Sultan made him the heir to the throne of all Egypt.
But there had been no time for brooding or dreams of Empire. Preparations for the assault on Acre had been completed and he sat at the head of his force and gave the order to advance.


He ordered his archers in the main to push the rams. Men would die attemting to breach the gates of Acre and Mubarak would rather have his melee units alive for the inevitable skirmishes in the streets. Besides, firing volley after volley over the battlements would never cause sufficient casualties to the defenders and so this was the archers use for the present. And so three regiments of archers and one unit of spearmen (since Mubarak had no more archers), pushed the rams up the hill right in the face of the defenders fire arrows.


Wishing to avoid a mass battle within the southern gate when the breach was made, Mubarak ordered that two rams make their way to the eastern gate to make a second entry point. The rebel archers on the battlements were desperately trying to ignite the rams with their fire arrows and seeing two of them break away they followed them along the rim of the castle.


Mubarak cursed as one of the siege engines destined for the eastern gate went up in flames. The spearmen who had pushed it hurried along behind the other ram which still rolled onwards.


After what seemed like a lifetime to Mubarak, both rams had breached their target gates. Now the bloodshed could begin.
Three units of spearmen, two regiments of archers and his own bodyguard were to enter the southern gate. The eastern gate meanwhile, was only to be breached with the archer and spear regiments that had manouvered their rams there.
Mubarak did not feel comfortable splitting his force but he knew that it could pay well to have a flanking force no matter how small. And so, he gave the order and his warriors rushed through the gates shouting oaths for Allah.


To Mubarak's surprise, the rebels did not engage his troops at the gates as he had believed they would. Instead they all gathered around at the centre of the castle, evidently intending to stage a bloody last stand. Their archers came forth to shower Mubarak's army with death but Mubarak responded in kind with twice as many arrows from his own archers.


As the archers exchanged volleys the spearmen moved in close behind in case the rebel spearmen should decide to show themselves. Mubarak himself made his way through the dusty streets with the intention of leading a devastating charge to the rear of the distracted rebel archers which would surely break them.


However a regiment of rebel spearmen saw Mubarak's horsemen and moved to counter them. Sadly for those spearmen, three of Mubarak's own spear regiments were closeby. The rebel spearmen advanced upon Mubarak confidently unaware that they were about to be caught in a deadly vice from which none would survive.






After cutting down the last of the bold rebel spearmen, Mubarak was free to lead his lethal charge upon the rear of the archers who were still pinned down by his own.
Another rebel spear regiment stood and watched the event fearing to even move lest they suffer the same fate as their brethren.


As Mubarak had expected, the archers broke quickly but the only place they could run was right past Mubarak and his knights. They were slain to a man.
Now only one single regiment of spearmen stood between Mubarak and his victory. Of course he could easily just shower them with arrows until they were all dead or even send his own spearmen to finish them.
However even after the frenzy of combat Mubarak could think clearly. If he slaughtered Acres' defenders to the last man, his reputation for noble deeds may suffer. Besides this assault was done in the name of Allah who is merciful.
And so Mubarak ordered that these stubborn rebels be showered with fire arrows. He believed that if he could get them to run from the arrows, then he could deliver a single devastating charge which would break their spirit and make them surrender rather than battling to the death.


The plan took longer than Mubarak would have liked and many men died to his arrows but at last the spearmen fled from their position and as soon as Mubarak smashed into their flank, they surrendered.



And so the Jihad upon Acre was a success and Mubarak became knows as Crown Prince Mubarak the Holy Warrior and even gained a Chivalrous Knight for his retinue.





After the battle and after the death count had been taken, Mubarak realised that he had even surprised himself at how little life he had spent "purchasing" the city. But he was wise enough not to get overconfident. That first battle he had won and because of that had had many honours bestowed upon him.
But that battle was the first of many and now the people of Egypt expected great things of the man who they believed to be great.
Mubarak swore to Allah that he would fulfill his peoples' belief in him or he would die trying.

[valhalla89]

great fun to read.. keep it up ;)