And we're back!
By the end of the first term, we see that Balashi began to mobilize the troops to move to the Levant and Mesopotamia, and Alemayehu continuing the construction of a Trireme in Tell-Hisn. Now we will see what they have done as the terms have gone by.
In the second term, the Ethiopian King, obviously angry that the main rebel of the rebellion of Daradura is now a co-leader in the Muslim Community, is seeking to become more aggressive against us. the Ethiopians demanded our knowledge of Machinery. It was a tough decision, but Alemayehu decided to give his people that technology, if only so that they don't attack the lands of Islam for a little while:
Meanwhile, Iraq and the Levant became busy places as Balashi ordered troops to move into their positions:
Eventually, the naval fleet was completed in Tell-Hisn. The fleet would leave the Red Sea and head East, to search for more trading partners, under Alemayehu's command. In addition to the new fleet, Alemayehu reducing the research output to 30%, so as to halt deficit spending:
Once all the troops were positioned, Balashi declared war. Balashi will lead the regiment in Iraq, and once Nineveh has been captured, he will move to Anatolia to continue the Jihad:
Battle of Tyras:
The battle lasted several weeks. The first horde of camel regiments were catapulted into the city, with their main objective of killing every armed person in sight. It shocked the entire city, but eventually, the camel regiments encircled by infantry, and all of the soldiers butchered:
However, before the armed men were able to reorganize themselves, a huge platoon of foot infantry marched towards the roads leading to the city in superb formation. The resistance, knowing they had nothing at this point to resist, chose to surrender. They were all taken as captives. It was a major success for the Muslims, and they now control Tyras.
Battle of Nineveh:
This battle lasted months, with Muslim forces quickly crossing the river and capturing the city's only copper mine. As a result, the city could no longer produce the weapons it needs to equip its troops, though the city was still fortified with two menacing garrisons of archers.
The first assault was by the cavalry regiment that rode around the city in circles, picking off archers. The fortified archers, having a greater vantage point, were more accurate in their shots and decimated the regiment entirely:
the Muslims did not lose their morale though, because they know that one of their leaders are fighting with them in this war. Balashi gave a great speech that day.
"My brothers in Islam. Know that if I die, I die with you. On the battlefield, I will be on the front lines, shielding all of my brothers from the enemy. If I die, know that God is still alive, and he will never forsake you."
The Muslims prepared for a second assault, with Balashi at the head of the army. An entire garrison of archers were massacred in a single day:
The remaining garrison was so weak and so under-supplied that they began to carve their own wooden arrows, without any metal tips, to try to save themselves. The camp sites constructed a few siege towers, and while the camel archers were providing cover fire, the swordsmen were able to climb atop the walls. When the last garrison began to hear "Allahu Akbar" at the top of the walls, they gave up. Any resistors were taken captive, and the city of Nineveh, with all its glory, belongs now to the Muslim Community:
Meanwhile, an expedition of foot infantry were tasked to head east to Persia, but were quickly outnumbered by regiments of Byzantine pikes. The Mission in Persia would be stalled for a while:
Seeing the victory at Tyras and Nineveh, Balashi ordered the army to march deep into Anatolia
"Balashi, it appears that the city of Ankyra is home to the followers of Buddha. The followers of Buddha have been persecuted time and time again by the Byzantines, who dislike their religion. We should liberate them from Byzantine tyranny.":
The Byzantines, angry at their recent losses, decided to attack from sea. Two large naval fleets started to pillage and ransack the naval waters of the Muslim Community. Unfortunately, the Ummah does not have the ships to counter these attacks:
To break from the Byzantine-Muslim War, the Triremes that were sent around the second term finally met new trading partners, the Indians. In addition to opening our borders with us, they were willing to exchange to help us their Hindu Calendar and artistic designs for the knowledge of Islamic theology. Hindu art would later influence the buildings of Islamic Civilization
Indian ships were contacted off the coast of Gwadar, a city controlled by the Byzantines. The Hindus invited our naval fleet into their empire, and that was how the first Indian-Islamic relations began.:
Venturing further south of the Indian Peninsula, the peoples known as the Tamils were also contacted. They had knowledge of a sea navigation technique that they only keep to themselves. However, they were willing to open their borders with us so that our naval fleet can continue its journey east:
The Siege of Ankyra:
Often designated by Islamic historians as one of the worst defeats, the siege of Ankyra carried out for almost a year. By the time winter struck, the food supplies began running low and most of the Muslims experienced cold weather for the first time.
Camel regiments, one which included Balashi, camped on the hills east of Ankyra, while swordsmen camped in the south and the east. One night, the southern camp was caught completely off-guard by a rain of burning rocks launched by catapult fire. Most of the troops there were burned alive, and many had to return to Tyras to receive treatments for their wounds.
Regiment after regiment of camels fell to the defenders of the city, who were so keen on controlling it that they utilized Greek fire in their defences, and many received the burns of Hell-fire. Balashi, being fearless as he was, charged right into the defences of the city and ended up killing ten combatants until he was stabbed by a Byzantine blade, which nearly killed him.
He was then captured and subject to a cruel punishment in which the Byzantines tied him to a running horse, whereby his skin was torn, and he suffered a cruel and humiliating death. So much for the stories of his parents:
With Balashi dead, Alemayehu now stands as the sole ruler of the Muslim Community. The camps surrounding Ankyra halt and are now awaiting Alemayehu's command.
As I speak, we are on Term 9, and Alemayehu has five terms left before he dies. What should he do?
Avenge the death of Balashi and capture Ankyra.
Negotiate peace with Byzantium.
Capture Ankyra and extend the Byzantine war.