Volume 4 - Chapter 7 - Salty News ...

| Morning of January 12– 1249 - The provisional throne room of Acre Castle - Attila |

<< Bruno, tell me more! What do the invaders look like?! >>

Bruno, seeing me worried, said: << From what I understand talking to some of the refugees, these invaders come from the northern steppes. They are dressed in furs and all have moustaches and long beards. They are almost all on horseback and they are a lot. I mean they seem infinite. Wherever they go, they destroy entire villages and cities, make massacres and steal everything possible >>

<< Is there anyone who can do all this? >> said Mansour who was listening.

<< Yes. They are the Mongols >>

""The Mongols are the nomadic tribe of Asia with the largest territory that has ever truly existed. In fact, if the Mongol Empire still existed today, it would be the largest state in the world (almost three times the size of Russia today).

They originate from the territory north of China, what we now call Mongolia.

Under the leadership of Genghis Khan, all the Mongol tribes and parts of the Turkish tribes united to give life to the Mongol Empire.

His sons, especially Kublai Khan, increased the size of the empire to a mammoth level.

This empire was so extensive that it even reached Europe, although its expansion stopped in today's Ukraine.

The people, hitherto nomadic, boasted an overwhelming strength given the fact that every time the Mongols conquered a village or a nation, they not only enriched themselves with money, but also with new recruits who made the army numerically unbeatable. So unbeatable that it is called: The Golden Horde. ""

From the description, they are Mongols.

But why are they going this far?

Theoretically, they shouldn't be that strong yet. Also in their vast empire, there should be no Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The only explanation that comes to mind is that it is due to the difficulty of the game, it is certainly Nadia's fault.

The Mongols are coming to get me.

Their army is huge, I could never face it alone and they may be here in a few months.

<< Bruno! Give me ink and paper, I have to write a letter >>

| Afternoon of January 12–1249 - The provisional throne room of Acre Castle - Attila |

Although I have sent a letter to all the representatives of the neighbouring Arab states to ask for a meeting with me on the matter, I cannot get the Mongolian speech out of my head.

Usually, in war, it is not the number that prevails but the best strategy.

In fact, in history, there have been many battles where there was a great difference in the number and many of them were won by those with a numerical disadvantage, but with the Mongols, they are another story.

They are not simply many, they are infinity.

We may have the best strategies on the planet, but they will simply outnumber us.

That said, not only do I not have enough troops available, but I also don't have the money to support a war of that magnitude.

I've spent a lot of money on improving the kingdom's economic foundation, so the money won't come anytime soon.

I have to find another source of income.

While I was thinking about all this, my ministers stared at me worriedly, a sign of the fact that if I was worried, then the matter was really serious.

I had an idea!

Since we are a kingdom on the sea, perhaps we could build salt flats!

How did I not think about it before ?!

Salt is the white gold of the Middle Ages it is useful not only for giving flavour to dishes but also for preserving food.

By achieving this we could have a lot of income!

<< Bruno, send someone to find a good place for the salt flats, we have to earn a lot of money >>