"This is where the Mamluk Heavy Cavalry barracks, loyal to Allah, are located," Emir Jaqmaq, the general of Alexandria, said with a confident smile, introducing the Mamluk barracks under his management to his Roman friend.
After worshipping at St. Mark's orthodox Church, Manuel's pilgrimage was considered complete, and it was time to return.
However, before officially embarking on the journey back, he did not forget another main purpose of his special trip to Alexandria: to learn from the advanced experience of the Mamluk Heavy Cavalry.
In the past, the Roman Empire had world-renowned armored cavalry, but with the passage of time and the decline of the Empire, roughly after the Komnenos Dynasty, the Empire's heavy cavalry units basically ceased to exist, and the specific methods for training elite heavily armored soldiers naturally became impossible to discuss.
Although Manuel did indeed reorganize a small contingent of heavy cavalry within the Philaka Legion according to ancient military tactics and bestowed upon them the prestigious name "Ironclad Holy Cavalry," he was well aware that their combat power was probably not as strong as he had estimated.
Moreover, in the current 15th century, although heavy cavalry still held an important position, related tactics urgently needed innovation, rather than stubbornly clinging to military treatises from centuries ago.
At this time, it became necessary to draw upon the heavy cavalry training and organizational forms of other major powers.
In particular, the Mamluk Heavy Cavalry, which had once brutally defeated the Mongol Iron Cavalry, completely annihilated the remaining Crusader forces in the Levant, and fearlessly confronted the Ottoman army, became a very suitable choice in Manuel's eyes.
As for why not delve deeper into the Frankish-style Western European heavy cavalry?
What a joke, recently Western European heavy cavalry suffered crushing defeats from the Hussites against the Crusaders and the Nicopolis Crusaders, and further back, the French main force was almost completely annihilated at the Battle of Agincourt, and in the future, there might even be peasants of Dithmarschen slaughtering heavily armored mercenaries.
At least before the next century, Manuel would not adopt the Western Latin-style heavy cavalry before its self-reform.
Therefore, on the morning of the third day after the pilgrimage, Manuel, at Jaqmaq's invitation, came to visit his Mamluk barracks, and specially wore a set of excellent heavy armor prepared for him by his host, so that he could experience their training at any time.
Soon, accompanied by Badars and other guards who were also wearing heavy iron armor, he entered the first gate of the barracks.
To the right of the gate was a large building with many spacious rooms.
A glimpse inside revealed thirty-two instructors teaching them how to write, read, use spears for attack, shields for defense, shoot targets with bows and arrows, and various other skills.
However, none of this stirred any ripples in Manuel's heart.
What truly intrigued him was that in this building, there were over a hundred young Mamluk recruits, all in good physical condition, healthy, and full of energy, standing by the wall, stretching their arms as if they were about to climb the wall.
"Why make soldiers do such a foolish thing?" Manuel couldn't help but ask Jaqmaq, who also had elite soldiers attending him.
"This is to make their limbs flexible," the Emir replied.
As if seeing his confusion, he added, "These are all training methods of the Royal Mamluk of Cairo; I am merely replicating them here."
If he remembered correctly, these Mamluk cavalry training methods were originally taught and compiled by 'Lion' Baibars, weren't they?
Manuel tilted his head slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, understood its purpose: to train the soldiers' physical flexibility.
"Then why not make them do a seated forward bend?" After thinking this, he himself laughed: where would a seated forward bend come from in the Middle Ages…
Therefore, he did not dwell on it further but turned his head and told Jaqmaq that he wanted to visit the next area.
His host, with generous confidence, waved his hand and led the guests to the Mamluk training ground for martial arts.
Upon arriving at the training ground, Manuel, as a visitor, clearly saw how hundreds of Mamluk soldiers trained their combat skills.
The spear-training soldiers were divided into infantry combat groups and cavalry combat groups; the former, following the instructor's directions, practiced the most basic weapon handling, spear combat training with and without charging, and also simulated close-quarters combat between infantrymen; the latter practiced a complete set of horsemanship exercises and parrying opponents' charges, and some were also simulating battles between two individuals or two teams of cavalry with long spears in hand.
Watching these Mamluks training intensely under the scorching sun, Manuel, who had also studied horsemanship, suddenly felt the eager enthusiasm typical of youth.
Therefore, after humbly inquiring and receiving Jaqmaq's permission, he found several Mamluks on the training ground to serve as sparring partners and began to experience the Mamluk's daily training.
More than an hour later—
Despite being seasoned in battle and possessing a fairly solid foundation himself, Manuel was still exhausted by the high-intensity Mamluk training, relying solely on willpower to keep his legs standing.
"How long do you Mamluks train like this each day?" Manuel tried his best to keep his question fluent.
"At least four hours of horsemanship, I'd say," Jaqmaq told him with a smile.
"So, Your Excellency must have also undergone such rigorous training back then, right?" Manuel, exhausted and panting, suppressed his desire to collapse directly to the ground, and tried his best to fluently pose this question to the barracks' owner.
"Naturally," Jaqmaq said, closing his cunning eyes as he recalled his past as a Mamluk cavalryman, "It is through these countless trials and tribulations that I now possess the determination to strive for my rightful position."
It's ambition, isn't it?
Manuel looked at his expression, intoxicated by ambition, and felt an immense sense of familiarity.
They are all the same kind of people.
After this reflection, Jaqmaq returned to his usual demeanor, and after Manuel and his companions had a good rest, he took them to visit the Mamluk training grounds for archery, swordsmanship, and team combat.
During this time, Manuel diligently memorized everything he saw and heard today.
And at the end of the visit, a special idea came to him.
Three days later, when Manuel finished his discussion with Jaqmaq in the afternoon, arranging for a portion of the Bosporus merchant ships to specifically pass through Alexandria, which was under his jurisdiction, the Emir couldn't help but ask him a question that he was very concerned about.
"By the way, Your Excellency, why do you wish to purchase so much cane sugar?" Within the commercial agreement Manuel and Jaqmaq had settled, there was a clause that Bosporus would purchase a large quantity of medium to low-priced cane sugar from Alexandria.
"I like sweets, and everyone in our palace likes sweets," Caesar replied jokingly.
"How can one palace consume so much sugar?"
"Because sweets are good things, so I plan to distribute them to the common people."
"If you don't want to answer, then don't answer. You're even using 'I' (imperial we) now…"
Ultimately, Jaqmaq gave up pursuing the question and instead politely asked his close friend if he had any additional requests.
Manuel was waiting for that very question.
"I also wish to hire a Mamluk instructor to teach the Bosporus Filaka soldiers how to don heavy armor and fight on horseback.
For a minimum of five years, is that acceptable?" After personally experiencing the strength of the Mamluk Heavy Cavalry, he understood that to master the relevant tactics proficiently, it was best to have a true Mamluk to teach by example.
To his close friend's request, Jaqmaq narrowed his eyes meaningfully, "We Mamluks are all devout believers."
"Increase the Bosporus merchant ships passing through Alexandria by half a percent."
"Deal! A pleasure working with you, my friend."
"A pleasure working with you."