The sun had barely risen the morning after the siege when Salahuddin gathered his commanders. They stood around him in the courtyard of Gaza's recently taken fortress, a place that had once echoed with the desperate cries of the Crusader defenders. Now, it was silent except for the soft shuffle of sandals against stone and the distant clink of armor as the victorious Ayyubid forces prepared to move on to their next tasks.
Salahuddin's eyes scanned the city before him. Gaza was theirs now, but it would need more than just a victory to secure it fully. The Crusaders had held it for too long, and there were many who would still be inclined to resist. The task before them was daunting, but Salahuddin was resolute.
"Nasir al-Din Muhammad," he began, his voice steady as he addressed his young cousin, "you are appointed the governor of Gaza."
Nasir, standing at attention, bowed deeply, his face glowing with pride. "By your will, my Sultan," he said, his voice firm. "I will ensure that Gaza remains secure. I will leave no stone unturned."
Salahuddin nodded, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "You will need more than just resolve. You will need men, supplies, and the support of the people. I am leaving 5,000 garrison troops under your command. That should be enough to maintain order for now. But you must see to it that Gaza is fortified and prepared for any retaliation."
Nasir al-Din nodded once more, his mind already turning to the next steps. "The forces you leave me will be more than sufficient, my Sultan. But I will need time to rebuild and strengthen Gaza."
"Indeed," Salahuddin replied. "You are to take full charge of the city's defenses. I will leave you with 1,000 Elite Kurdish cavalry, 1,000 Nubian lancers, 1,000 elite archers, and 2,000 marines. They will form the core of your garrison."
Nasir al-Din's eyes gleamed as he considered the men who would soon be under his command. The Kurdish cavalry were famed for their discipline and fierceness in battle, the Nubian lancers were swift and deadly, and the archers, handpicked from the best, could shoot down enemies with terrifying accuracy. The marines would be essential for defending the coast.
"I will make sure they are ready, Sultan," Nasir said, his voice full of confidence. "They will not fail you."
Salahuddin gave a final, approving nod. "See to it that the walls are reinforced. Repair the gatehouse. I want ballistae mounted on the city walls and cannons placed at strategic points—two on the city wall and two on the port. The fortifications must be impenetrable."
Nasir's face hardened with determination. "It will be done, my Sultan."
Salahuddin turned away, motioning for his personal entourage to fall in line behind him. "You have your orders. I will return to Damascus with the army, but Gaza's future is in your hands now. Do not disappoint me."
With that, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria departed, leaving Nasir al-Din Muhammad to assume control of Gaza.
In the days that followed, Nasir wasted no time. He began by meeting with the military engineers and the commanders of the various units left under his charge. He had made no secret of his intentions to make Gaza a fortress, capable of withstanding any assault.
The first task was the repair and reinforcement of the city's walls. The walls had withstood years of Crusader occupation, but the damage from the siege had been considerable. As Nasir surveyed the damage, he could see the cracks in the stonework, the sections that had been weakened by cannon fire, and the places where the Crusaders had attempted to breach.
"Bring me the best masons and stoneworkers from the surrounding villages," Nasir commanded, his voice as cold as steel. "I want these walls rebuilt, reinforced, and ready for any enemy who dares to come."
The engineers and laborers were set to work immediately. Under the supervision of skilled masons, the broken sections of the wall were repaired, while the more vulnerable areas were reinforced with layers of stone and iron bands. The gatehouse, which had been heavily damaged during the final assault, was also rebuilt, its heavy wooden doors replaced with reinforced iron.
Nasir had learned much from his experiences as a soldier, and he applied that knowledge with a keen eye. He had seen the power of siege engines, and he knew that Gaza's walls must be more than just strong—they must be deadly.
"I want ballistae mounted on the walls," Nasir told the engineers. "Two on the city walls and two on the port. Make sure they are angled to cover both approaches. And we will need cannons as well. If any Crusader ships dare to come close, I want them destroyed."
The ballistae were heavy, crossbow-like siege weapons capable of launching large bolts with terrifying force. The cannons, though not as powerful as the Ayyubid siege guns, would be a formidable deterrent against any ships attempting to approach Gaza's shores.
Once the walls were reinforced and the ballistae and cannons were positioned, Nasir turned his attention to the city's watch towers. He had seen firsthand the effectiveness of Greek fire, the terrifying incendiary weapon that could turn the tide of battle. The watch towers were soon armed with Greek-fire launchers, ready to rain death upon any attackers who thought to scale the walls or approach too closely.
"You'll need to keep the watch towers manned at all times," Nasir instructed the officers in charge of the city's defense. "The Greek fire will be a surprise to any who come too near. Make sure to always have men ready to operate the launchers. We will not be caught unprepared."
But Nasir did not stop there. He also ordered the installation of Zhuge Repeaters—ancient Chinese repeating crossbows that could fire a barrage of bolts in quick succession. These weapons, though not commonly used by the Ayyubid forces, would provide additional firepower, particularly against any large groups of enemy soldiers who tried to storm the walls.
"The Zhuge Repeaters will give us an advantage," Nasir said. "We can target the enemy from a distance, soften them up before they even reach the walls."
By the time the fortifications were complete, Gaza had become an impregnable stronghold. The city's walls were reinforced, the gatehouse was stronger than before, and the coastal defenses were lined with cannons and ballistae. The watch towers stood like sentinels, their Greek-fire launchers ready to unleash hell on any who dared to attack. And Nasir had made sure that the city was manned by the best and most loyal troops—his Kurdish cavalry, Nubian lancers, elite archers, and marines.
While the military preparations were underway, Nasir also ensured that the city itself was brought under control. The Sand Foxes, a shadowy network of spies and operatives, were dispatched throughout Gaza to root out any dissenters or hidden Crusader sympathizers.
Nasir had little tolerance for resistance. He had seen how dangerous a single traitor could be, and he had no intention of allowing any discontent to fester within Gaza's walls.
The Sand Foxes moved quickly, slipping through the city's crowded streets and alleys, gathering intelligence and rooting out pockets of resistance. In one of the city's districts, a small group of Crusader supporters had been planning a rebellion. They were discovered before they could strike, and their leaders were swiftly dealt with.
"We cannot allow dissent to weaken our hold on Gaza," Nasir said coldly to his officers as the last of the rebels were brought before him. "Make an example of them."
The prisoners were executed publicly, their bodies left hanging in the city square as a grim reminder to anyone who might be considering rebellion.
Within a month, Gaza was completely secured. The walls were reinforced, the port was protected, and any signs of resistance were crushed. The city had been transformed from a Crusader stronghold into an Ayyubid fortress, ready to repel any attack and prepared for whatever might come next.
As the last repairs were completed, Nasir stood at the city's gates, his eyes scanning the horizon. The work was done. Gaza was no longer a target for the Crusaders, nor a haven for their bandits. It was a vital part of the Ayyubid empire, a cornerstone of Salahuddin's control over the region.
Nasir knew that he had proven himself. But he also knew that Gaza was only one piece of the puzzle. There would be more battles, more sieges, and more challenges to face. But for now, Gaza was secure—and Nasir al-Din Muhammad had made sure that it would stay that way.