Empire Rising: Spain

Moreover, everyone here is an African native who believes in Islam, so distinguishing between the two sides is very difficult. This also means that the hope for the Sokoto Caliphate to resist through street battles has completely vanished, and they can only obediently become the fish on Spain’s chopping block, left to be slaughtered by the Spanish Army.

"Is our country really going to fall by my hands?" Omar Ben Ali showed despair, looking reluctantly at the state armies pursuing from afar.

"Great Caliph, perhaps we still have a final way to reverse the situation." Just as Omar Ben Ali was in despair, someone stood up, still attempting to save his country.

"Quickly, what is the method?" Hearing there was still a way to salvage the situation, a glimmer of hope appeared in Omar Ben Ali’s eyes, and he quickly looked towards the person who spoke.

"I have two methods to reverse the current situation." Seeing the Caliph’s eyes on him, the person was not nervous at all, steadily putting forth his suggestions: "Although the enemy has entered the city, these are all our state armies.

The reason for their opposition to the country is simple, mainly due to the previously harsh tributes. If Caliph you could personally order to reduce these states’ tributes by half, it might not be impossible to make them rebel against the Spanish Army.

Even if they can’t rebel against Spain, it will make the Spaniards more suspicious of them, thereby buying us more time and opportunities.

The second method is to seek external assistance to mediate this war. The British with whom we previously had trade relations, and the French who contacted us, can be our targets for seeking aid.

If we can gain their support, even if we lose some territory and population, at least we can ensure our country’s continued existence.

As long as we have some time to recuperate, it might not be impossible to fight back and regain our land."

"But... will reducing these states’ tributes by half affect our tax revenue?" Omar Ben Ali was still a bit hesitant; these Southern States’ tributes accounted for a significant portion of the Sokoto Caliphate’s financial revenue, and to just give them up like this was indeed difficult to accept.

"Great Caliph, this is not the time to worry about these tributes. If we cannot obtain external support, and these Southern States’ armies are unwilling to support us, we can only let the Spaniards slaughter us.

Given Spain’s attitude towards handling other countries, there’s a great chance our country will be divided into several parts, and your title as Caliph could be abolished by the Spaniards." Seeing the Caliph looking heartbroken, the person offering suggestions wished he were stronger and continued to persuade.

In the country’s life and death moment, anything can be abandoned. As long as the country and one’s position can be preserved, the opportunity to make a comeback remains possible.

Omar Ben Ali clearly understood this reasoning as well. After pondering for a few seconds, he painfully nodded and commanded: "Then let’s do as you suggest.

Contact those Southern States’ armies for me, and ask them how they ended up mingling with the Spaniards? Does their betrayal of their country do justice to Allah? To all Muslim compatriots?

Tell them, if they are willing to help us defend the city, I am willing to forgive their faults in this war.

But if they are still unwilling to sever ties with the Spaniards, they will be the country’s sinners, disgraceful apostates! If they don’t want to face Allah’s punishment, they should stop colluding with those damned Spaniards."

"Yes." Although surprised by the Caliph’s still somewhat tough stance, the one delivering the message is not the Caliph himself; hence, some adjustments can be made in the message conveyed.

Thus, the official who proposed the suggestion agreed readily. If they could gain the support of these state armies, defending Oyoibo before the Spanish Army enters the city wouldn’t be a problem.

This means they must hurry, needing to successfully turn these state armies before the Spanish Army arrives.

The numerous officials present were quite confident in turning the state armies. After all, compared to the outsider Spaniards, they with these states are the real insiders.

Despite the previous friction due to high tributes, solving the tribute issue and restoring relations between the states and the empire isn’t difficult.

As long as the capital Oyoibo can be defended, and the northern states’ reinforcements can arrive, this crisis can essentially be resolved.

They might not even need to seek aid from European countries like England and France; relying solely on their strength could also potentially repel the Spaniard’s attack.

After finalizing the plan, most officials of the Sokoto Caliphate, including Omar Ben Ali, visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and their faces regained some hope.

But soon, harsh reality slapped them in the face.

The official sent to turn the state armies never returned. It’s not that he betrayed the Caliph; the real reason was that he hadn’t even had time to turn the state armies before he was directly executed by the state armies’ commanders.