Firmament

Don't forget the gourd on a rainy day.

—Brown proverb

Ali followed the steppe army to bid farewell to Neshapur and came to Mulu City in the south.

Mulu, also known as Malu, is located in the east and Central Asia, West Asia between the trade route, handicrafts and commerce are very developed, is an important city on the Silk Road, one of the four famous cities in the Khorasan region. From the 11th century to the first half of the 12th century, Mulu was once the capital of the Seljuk Empire. In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, Mulu became the center of the southwestern Khorezm Empire.

The

army of the Grassland Country surrounded Mulu City and sent small forces to attack and harass Mulu City in turn. When the soldiers and civilians in the city were exhausted, they threw Greek fire into the city, and while the soldiers and civilians were busy fighting the fire, they broke through the wooden deer.

During these dark days, Ali witnessed the atrocities of war with his own eyes every day. He was puzzled: Where is the justice and conscience that the philosophers often say? Where are the gods who preside over justice and conscience? Is the peace and tranquility that we usually pray for in the hands of the gods or the army of the steppe country?

Ali's spirit is severely stimulated every day. His innocent heart was tormented and cast a thick shadow. He became reluctant to interact with other people or talk to others, and often hid alone in the dark corners of the military tent, in a daze for a long time.

The old horse on which Ali was riding died on the march. He returned to the carriage where the cooker was pulled.

The

Prairie Army destroyed the city of Mulu and continued to look west for King Aladdin Mahamad.

On this day, they walked quickly on the avenue outside Mulu City.

Suddenly, Ali spotted a group of steppe soldiers chasing a young Khorezm man on the side of the road.

Although the young people of Khorezm were surrounded by soldiers, they were undaunted and struggled with all their might. After all, he was too weak to outwit a squad of sword-wielding soldiers.

The soldiers grabbed the young man of Khorezm and tied him up to take him away.

A strange thought suddenly sprung up in Ali's lazy and numb heart: I must help this big brother.

Ali saw that Badr was arranging lunch for the cooks, and said eagerly, "Sir Badr, that person is my cousin. The pilaf he makes...... Much better than what I made. "

Badr looked at Ali suspiciously and asked, "Your cousin, why is he here?".

Ali replied in a hurry: "Back then, my aunt married far away to Mulu. He is the second son of my aunt. Please, Sir Badr, leave him in our kitchen!".

Badr may really need to increase the number of people in the kitchen, or perhaps in order to show his authority, he immediately let his horse go and negotiate with the soldiers.

The soldiers immediately untied the ropes of the Khorezm youth.

The young man of Khorezm followed Badr. He looked to be about 25 years old, with white skin and red skin, black eyes that flashed with panic, and a short beard on his thin lips. The white jacket was covered with dust and hay dust.

Ali asked him in Khorezm: "Big brother, what's your name, are you a local?".

The

young man of Khorezm replied, "My name is Abbas, and I am a native of Mulu. Are you ......?".

Ali was afraid that Badr would see their flaws, so he spoke very quickly: "My name is Ali, and I am a native of Samarkand. I have just told this chief that you are my aunt's second son, my cousin, and that he will cook many Khorezm-style meals, especially pilaf, and beg him to keep you in our kitchen. Thank him first. "

Abbas placed his right hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly, thanking Badr.

Badr had no expression on his face and waved his hand calmly, motioning for Abbas to follow the army.

Ali was relieved to see this, and hurriedly reached out and pulled Abbas into the carriage and sat him down beside him.

Abbas whispered to Ali: "I used to make gold and silver jewelry in the city, but when I heard that the steppe army was about to attack the city, I fled with my wife and two children to a relative's house in the countryside for shelter. On the way to the mosque just now, I happened to meet these soldiers. Where are you going?".

Ali shook his head blankly and replied in embarrassment, "This—I don't know either." Maybe it's the Qom ahead, maybe it's the ends of the earth. "

When Abbas heard this, he immediately panicked.

He hurriedly explained: "I still have a wife and children at home. How would they live without me?"

At this moment, Abbas saw an old man on the side of the road bowing his head to the army and shouting to him: "Uncle Muhammad, please tell my wife, Ayisha, that I have been captured by the soldiers of the steppe country. "

Hearing this, Badr quickly came to the carriage, waved the whip in his hand, and scolded Abbas: "Ali, forbid this Sartar to speak!".

Ali stabbed Abbas in the ribs.

Abbas reluctantly closed his mouth.

In this bloody and violent conquest, the steppe army swept across the vast land of Khorezm, razed one bustling city after another, and killed countless soldiers and rebellious civilians.

The remaining Khwarazmian people were terrified, struggling powerlessly on the ruins and struggling to survive, becoming the only remaining poor remnants of the Khwarazm Empire.