As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Kara stood tall, his silhouette cast against the morning sky. Around him, the riders gathered in a tight circle, their faces a mix of anticipation and resolve. The weight of the upcoming battle hung heavy in the air, but Kara's presence brought a sense of calm and focus to the men.
Kara's voice rang out, steady and strong. "The enemy outnumbers us—this is true," he began, his gaze sweeping over the gathered warriors. "But numbers alone do not decide the outcome of a battle. There are ways to face such armies in an open field, and in truth, there is only one way to turn the odds in our favor."
He paused, letting his words sink in. The riders leaned in, eager to hear what their leader would say next.
"For those of you who have never been in a war, listen carefully," Kara continued, his tone becoming more serious. "I shall tell you about the time when we faced Keyhüsrev near Köse Dağ, a time when we were few, and our enemy was many. But we defeated them nonetheless."
Kara's eyes narrowed as he recalled the legendary battle, his voice taking on a more deliberate cadence. "It was Uluç who led us that day. The Seljuk Sultan Keyhüsrev thought his vast army would overwhelm us, that our small numbers would be crushed beneath the weight of his might. But Uluç was no fool. He knew that to face the Seljuks head-on would be suicide. So he devised a different plan—a plan that would turn the strength of the Seljuks into their downfall."
The riders listened intently, their minds picturing the events as Kara described them.
"Uluç ordered our forces to pretend to retreat," Kara continued, his voice steady and clear. "We feigned weakness, showed the Seljuks what they wanted to see—a scattered and frightened enemy. The Seljuk army, confident in their numbers, gave chase. They thought they had us on the run, that victory was within their grasp."
Kara's expression grew more intense as he spoke. "But what they didn't realize was that Uluç was leading them into a trap. As they pursued us, their ranks became stretched and disorganized. They lost the tight formations that made them strong, and soon, they were spread out across the battlefield, vulnerable and exposed."
He paused, his eyes locking onto those of his riders, making sure they understood the gravity of what he was saying.
"At the right moment, Uluç gave the signal," Kara said, his voice rising with excitement. "Our forces turned on the Seljuks with fury. The same men who had been fleeing moments before now charged with renewed strength, catching the Seljuks completely off guard. We attacked from all sides, and their disarray became their doom. Keyhüsrev's mighty army, so sure of its victory, was broken and scattered to the winds. The battlefield was ours, and it was the feigned retreat that won the day."
The riders were silent, the weight of the story pressing down on them. They could feel the echo of that ancient battle in their bones, the cunning of Uluç, and the terror of the Seljuks as they realized too late the trap they had fallen into.
Kara looked at his men, his expression fierce and determined. "Today, we face a similar challenge. The enemy outnumbers us, but if we fight with the same cunning, the same ferocity that Uluç showed at Köse Dağ, then we can turn their strength into weakness. We will lead them into the trap, and when the time is right, we will strike, just as Uluç did."
He took a deep breath, his voice carrying the weight of both past and present. "Remember this as you ride into battle. Numbers do not decide the victor—strategy does. We will fight smart, and we will fight hard. And by the end of this day, our enemy will know the fear that the Seljuks knew on that fateful day at Köse Dağ."
The riders nodded, their resolve steeled by Kara's words. They were ready to follow their leader into the battle, confident that with Kara's guidance, they could achieve the impossible.