Expedition to Europe

"Fashir" means superior and proud in Persian.

The Fashir tribe is one of the largest tribes in northern Iraq. The entire tribe has about 4,000 people. They have lived in the Diana region in the northern mountainous area of ​​Iraq for hundreds of years.

Before the World War, there were more than 5,000 people in the Fashir tribe. During the World War, hundreds of young and strong men from the Fashir tribe were forcibly conscripted by the Ottoman Empire and sent to the battlefield. After the World War, only less than half of them returned to the Fashir tribe, and more than half of them were left with lifelong disabilities.

Originally, the chief of the Fashir tribe, Fedile, thought that the disaster had passed, but unexpectedly, the oil discovered in Syria once again involved the Fashir tribe in the war.

In fact, Syria's oil has nothing to do with the Fashir tribe. No matter who owns the oil field, the Fashir tribe will not gain any benefits. The reason why the men of the Fashir tribe joined the National Guard organized by the British is that enlisting in the army has a salary that is valuable to Iraqi civilians, so the men of the Fashir tribe can't resist the temptation.

At the beginning of the war, the situation was okay. The British never delayed wages, and the men who went out to fight would bring back some spoils from time to time, which made the Fashir tribe full of hope for a while.

Although people continued to die, death was a part of life. Fighting with the British was better than fighting with the Ottomans. Fedile was very satisfied.

The good times did not last long. After the army from Lanfang joined the war, the Iraqi army was defeated again and again. In the end, it could not even defend the border, allowing the Lanfang people to march straight in. This really made Fedile puzzled.

Aren’t the British the victors of the world war? Then how can the British be vulnerable? Isn’t Britain the number one power in the world? Then why do people dare to challenge Britain’s dignity? Lanfang, what kind of country is that country?

Fedile has a lot of questions, but no one gives Fedile answers.

After this defeat, few Fashir men returned. Even if there were any, they were missing some limbs. Those who could still fight had already retreated to the east of Baghdad with the main army. No one dared to return to the Fashir tribe, as they were afraid that it would bring disaster to the Fashir tribe.

This was due to the British propaganda against the Lanfangs. In the British population, the Lanfangs were loyal believers of Catholicism, even to the level of "fanatics". Generally speaking, the Lanfangs would force all Persians to convert to Catholicism. If they did not change their beliefs, the Lanfangs would burn all those disobedient guys alive. And once they converted to Catholicism, the Lanfangs would force everyone to drink, eat pork, and even force people to take drugs to increase government revenue. The management scope of the Lanfangs even involved the family life of ordinary believers. Polygamy was not allowed in Lanfangs, and a husband could only have one wife, otherwise Lanfangs would impose an astronomical fine on the person concerned.

All the rumors were unfavorable to Lan Fang. In the British propaganda, Lan Fang people would even kill people, pour their blood into the fuel tank of the car, and then use magic to turn the blood into gasoline to drive the car.

Under the influence of these rumors, ordinary Iraqis had a bad impression of Lan Fang people. Wherever the Lan Fang army went, they saw basically ruins and could not get any supplies. Some of them were residents who evacuated on their own initiative, and more of them were Iraqis who destroyed evidence.

Iraq was also a newly established country after the World War. After the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the British brought together the Kurds, Persian Shiites and Sunnis, and Iraq was born. It is conceivable that such a newly emerging country, without a strong central government, how complicated the domestic problems in Iraq would be.

Before the establishment of Iraq, the Iraqis faced the strong suppression of the Ottoman Empire, and the various ethnic groups could still maintain restraint. After the establishment of Iraq, the Kurds first proposed to establish a country headed by the Kurds, and then the Persian Shiites and Sunnis also had their own ideas. The newly established Faisal Dynasty had no control over the country, so Iraq was in chaos, and ethnic hatred and other things were not uncommon.

Against this background, it was normal for the Iraqi troops that were dispersed by the Lanfang to do some things that angered the heavens and the people during the retreat.

However, all this was put on the Lanfang people.

Since the defeat of Iraq, Fedile has heard rumors about this. Today, all the members of a certain tribe were slaughtered, even the camels were not spared. Tomorrow, a certain tribe took the initiative to move away to avoid war. The day after tomorrow, there were rumors that the Lanfang people were preparing to attack Diana, and so on.

Such days are torture for Fedile.

The Fashir tribe is in the Diana Mountains. If they want to get news outside the mountains, the only information channel is the traveling merchants.

Diana is located between Iraq and Turkey and is an important channel connecting Iraq and Turkey, so the Fashir tribe can often get some news from merchants traveling between Iraq and Turkey.

Of course, no one can guarantee the authenticity of these "news".

One day in early May, as usual, Fedile came to the village entrance with his grandson, waiting for his son to come back.

Fedile had six sons in total. The eldest and the third died before they reached adulthood, the second died in the World War, the fourth and fifth joined the Iraqi National Guard, and the sixth was not yet an adult.

When Lan Fang invaded Iraq, Fedile received bad news. His fifth son also died on the battlefield, and his fourth son retreated to Baghdad with the rebel army. Fedile is now holding the fifth son.

At Fedile's age, all his ambitions have been worn away by life. Fedile now only hopes that his fourth son can come back and the family can live together in peace. This is Fedile's biggest hope now.

Near noon, several figures finally appeared in the distant Shangliang Mountain, but they were not Fedile's sons, but merchants going to Turkey.

Meeting merchants means getting some news from outside the mountain. Fedile is still looking forward to it. When the people came, Fedile took the initiative to invite the two merchants to his home.

There were eight people in the merchant group, only two of them were merchants, and the others were guards hired by the merchants. These guards were also invited by Fedile. Perhaps they had news about Fedile's son.

In the eyes of the Lanfang people, Fedile's house did not look like a chief at all. It was just two stone houses built on the mountain with a thatched hut on top.

However, this was already the best house in the Fasher tribe. Other people's houses were not even as good as this one. Many people just dug a hole in the mountain and lived in the cave like wild animals.

After sitting down in the living room, Fedile still took out the remaining tea to entertain the two merchants. After the merchants thanked them, the topic naturally turned to the ongoing war outside the mountain.

"The Lanfang people are really too powerful. We Iraqis are vulnerable in front of the Lanfang people." The merchant named Labah sighed repeatedly when mentioning the Lanfang people.

Labah did not look very depressed, as if he was already accustomed to it, and did not feel much hatred for the enemy because of Iraq's defeat.

As a country that has been established for less than five years, Iraq's citizens have no sense of national honor, and naturally no sense of responsibility. These Iraqis have become accustomed to being ruled by others. In the past, it was the Ottomans, now it is the British, and in the future, it may be the Lanfang people--

Who cares?

Even they themselves do not care.

"The Lanfang people were able to defeat the Germans in the World War, and the Germans defeated the British, and the British defeated the Ottoman Empire. Our Iraq is part of the Ottoman Empire. With this calculation, isn't it natural for the Lanfang to win?" Another businessman named Zafir answered.

The original text is in the six # 9 @book/bar!

This is indeed a simple calculation, but the calculation process is a bit vague.

It doesn't matter. It is enough to fool chieftains like Fedile. This is not the parliamentary hall, and there is no need to be responsible for what you say.

"Isn't Britain the victor of the World War?" Fedile has his own doubts.

"That was after the Lanfang joined the war--" Zafir was a little disdainful, but for the sake of tea, Zafir still said a few more words: "Before the Lanfang joined the war, Britain and France combined could withstand the German attack. If Britain and Germany were pulled out to fight alone, it is not certain who would win or lose--"

It was a very strange tone. Judging from Zafir's meaning, he was a little indignant.

"Hmm--Anyway, we Iraqis can't beat the Lanfangs." Rabaha answered in time, looking at Zafir with a blaming look.

However, Fedile, who was immersed in shock, didn't notice these.

"The king of Lanfang is the head of the Knights Templar, so the state religion of Lanfang is Catholicism. This place will soon become the territory of Catholics. Maybe Catholic priests will come here in a few days. Now the situation is getting worse and worse. This is also our last time to return to Iraq. We won't come again in the future." Rabaha's tone was sad, and his expression was sad, which made people feel sympathetic.

"Aren't you Iraqis? Where can you go?" Fedile was a little surprised.

Although the current situation is not good, Fedile has also thought about moving, but if he waits for a while until the war subsides, Fedile is still ready to come back.

Not coming back?

Fedile has never thought about it.

"Go to Turkey, at least there I can keep my faith." Rabaha's purpose is clear, and he has no intention of hiding it.

"It's the same here, Father - humph, don't even think about going back if they come." Fedile still has the ferocity of the nomads.

"Don't be silly, the Father won't come alone, he will lead the Lan Fang soldiers dragging artillery, do you think your tribe can stop the Lan Fang soldiers?" Labaha's tone was mocking.

Fedile didn't notice Labaha's mockery, he was already immersed in shock.

Just relying on a tribe to stop the Lan Fang soldiers who were armed to the teeth?

This is really a mantis trying to stop a chariot.