In the span of half a month, the Ayyubid dynasty lost all its territories in Southern Europe and Western Asia. Even the holy city of Jerusalem, revered by the faithful, had fallen.
However, Saladin ordered his soldiers to hold fast in North Africa, abandoning Jerusalem without hesitation. His sole aim was to halt the invaders' relentless advance into Africa.
"Forgive me, brother, we truly cannot hold on..." Saladin's right-hand man and younger brother, Safadin, lay bleeding to death in Saladin's embrace.
Saladin, suppressing his grief, remained outwardly calm. Without even time to bury Safadin and the others, he drew his prized saber.
"The last battle! Ignore the British and Xiongnu soldiers, focus on eliminating the Heavenly Sun cavalry!!"
The dynasty's infantry and cavalry fought with their lives, cutting down hundreds of Heavenly Sun cavalrymen before falling in droves, their blood staining the earth.
The Heavenly Sun's ballistae and their new imitation trebuchets easily breached the walls of Cairo, the dynasty's capital. They had done all they could...
"Find Saladin! The Heavenly Sun King wants his head to fashion the finest wine vessel in all the world!"
Just as the Heavenly Sun cavalry prepared to storm the ruins, a troop of heavily armored Xiongnu horsemen swept in from the northeast, blocking the Heavenly Sun forces.
"Scourge of God! What is the meaning of this?" Caesar, the Heavenly Sun marshal, roared.
Attila sent a messenger to the front lines to retort, "What? Do the Heavenly Sun expect the Xiongnu Empire to fight the Great Gan with you without even the courtesy of yielding Cairo?"
Caesar replied with resignation, "I want to see Saladin's head. As for the rest, the Xiongnu Empire can do as it pleases!"
Attila then led the Xiongnu cavalry into the ravaged Cairo and was astonished to find a lone figure standing amidst countless corpses.
"As expected of you," Attila sighed for a moment before leading a contingent of his guards over.
Saladin stood alone at the city gate, his saber planted firmly before him, calmly observing the Xiongnu cavalry.
Attila dismounted and bowed to Saladin, saying, "Saladin, my troops merely skirmished on the periphery, going through the motions. They did not excessively kill your soldiers. This is my final respect to you."
At the end of his reign, Saladin remained composed, gazing at Attila.
"Attila, like Richard the Lionheart, you are a great monarch whom I respect. I have shared laughter and conversation with you, much like the chivalry practiced by Westerners. Even during my battles with the Lionheart, we reciprocated respect. We once believed our conflicts were merely religious disputes."
"But now... why can't even monarchs like yourselves see the true nature of the Heavenly Sun?"
Attila answered without hesitation, "Before our pact was dissolved, my men had already met with the Lionheart. The Lionheart also expressed his apprehension and concern regarding the Heavenly Sun. However, the will of his nation is not something he alone can control. The Heavenly Sun have propagated their influence in Britain for over a thousand years. Now, the entire military and populace of Britain believe themselves to be of the same origin and share common fortunes with the Heavenly Sun. He could only comply with public sentiment."
"And you? You have absolute authority in the Xiongnu Empire," Saladin asked, perplexed.
Attila replied without hesitation, "I must defeat the Great Gan, and you cannot help me. It would be a godsend if you didn't hinder me. I told you, my hatred for the Great Gan and Liang Xiao is irreconcilable. If the Xiongnu Empire cannot defeat the Great Gan and stand tall with its once-broken spine, it will never reign supreme in the world."
"Saladin, do you know, when I patrol the camp at night, I can hear my soldiers' fearful murmurs in their sleep: 'The Marquis of Anguo is here! Flee!' And I can do nothing but pretend not to hear. This is an unbearable shame for a king! Saladin, can you understand me!"
Saladin nodded and asked, "If the Great Gan and that Marquis of Anguo did not exist, what would you, having established the Xiongnu Empire, do?"
Attila pondered for a moment and said gravely, "Naturally, I would first unite with you and Liang Jing. I am also confident in persuading the Lionheart to suppress the Heavenly Sun, driving them back to the desolate northern lands. Then, we would establish a three-way balance with Britain, much like the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' from the Great Gan – a tripartite division of the world!"
Saladin nodded slightly.
"Thank you for confiding in me, Attila. But I still wish to remind you that the Heavenly Sun are far more terrifying, cunning, and deeply entrenched than you realize. Do not ever harbor the illusion that you can manipulate the Heavenly Sun King. Beware of backlash!"
"I am aware of the risks," Attila nodded, a hint of regret in his eyes as he looked at Saladin. "Do you have any unfulfilled wishes? I can do my best to help you achieve them."
Saladin then spoke, "Scatter my ashes in Cairo and Jerusalem. And have my eyes embedded in the north gates of both the Holy City and Cairo. One day, I am certain I will see that Eastern nation arrive here and annihilate the Heavenly Sun!"
Without waiting for Attila's reply, Saladin inverted the blade of his saber.
His proud Damascus blade sliced easily across his neck. The generation's great leader bled three feet, leaving Attila to gaze upon his corpse with deep melancholy.
After a long while, Attila personally buried Saladin with a shroud and ordered his subordinates, "Inform the Heavenly Sun and British forces that the Xiongnu cavalry will be responsible for pursuing any remnants. All others are forbidden from entering."
The Xiongnu Empire's cavalry occupied Cairo and dispatched troops to control key transportation routes, strictly prohibiting British and Heavenly Sun forces from advancing south.
The Heavenly Sun could do nothing about this, as they still relied on the Xiongnu cavalry to cooperate in their advance into the Great Gan.
The four marshals were dispatched to their respective locations. Lü Changhe was temporarily stationed in Yanzhou, responsible for mustering and selecting troops.
After the wedding, Liang Xiao's wives were recognized by the military and populace as Empresses Consort.
The nation did not stagnate after unifying the realm. On the contrary, reforms in taxation, household registration, and official systems were continuously implemented.
Nowadays, in the Great Gan, aside from those isolated in deep mountains and old forests, it was almost impossible to find unregistered or hidden households, as there was no need for concealment.
Quite the opposite, all former unregistered and hidden households were eager to report to the authorities and obtain household registration, thereby becoming true citizens of Gan.
The Gongsun family remained the wealthiest in the land, as Liang Xiao's wealth was now intrinsically linked to the nation's, and thus not counted among the richest individuals.
Liang Xiao currently possessed total assets equivalent to 160 million taels of silver. Yet, the populace harbored no resentment towards the wealthy.
Firstly, enterprises like Anguo Sugar Workshops, Anguo Bookstores, and Anguo Restaurants earned their profits honestly, benefiting both the nation and its people.
Secondly, Liang Xiao frequently used a substantial portion of his earnings to support various regions, with the primary objective of establishing granaries.
New crops had already been widely promoted across the nation. However, Liang Xiao was keenly aware that their per-mu yield in terms of heat energy did not significantly surpass traditional grains.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes, cultivated on marginal land, yielded only about a thousand catties per mu, while fertile land could produce around two thousand catties per mu.
Fertilizers and ancient agricultural techniques were significant limiting factors for yield.
Furthermore, Liang Xiao hoped that the nation would gradually improve rice cultivation.
Several more days passed, and the former Prefect of Jiaozhou, Li Xiuyun, finally arrived in the capital to assume the position of Prime Minister.