Chapter 978 Lawrence of Arabia (fourth update, please subscribe)
Every day in London starts with the same scenery.
When most people were still sleeping soundly in their dreams, a rising sun jumped out of the distant horizon, coating the thick clouds covering the city with golden light, creating the illusion of clear weather, and then disappeared again. Without a trace.
Tying up the laces of his Nike running shoes, Sharif opened the door to his room. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day, as regularly as a clock. However, Sharif’s personal life is completely opposite to this unchanging pattern: chaotic. Disorganized, unpredictable, and all based on luck.
Luck!
It seemed like luck never favored him.
As a member of the Hashemite family, his status is distinguished. His great-grandfather was Hussein bin Ali, who led the Arab Revolt and was the founding king of the Hijaz Kingdom. His father was the first The son of the second king Ali bin Hussein, and he...if he is lucky, he will spend his life safely under the protection of the King of Jordan. The King of Jordan is his cousin and the founding king of Jordan and Iraq. He is the son of Hussein Ben Ali. They are all a family. The biggest difference is... they did not lose the throne.
“It all depends on luck!”
Sharif grinned.
He knows that "luck" has nothing to do with him. In contrast, his cousins were all very lucky.
After leaving the apartment, Sharif took off running and after entering the park, he looked up at the sky.
It was a charming moment: the morning light illuminated the sky to the east of Primrose Hill, then shed bright light to the west, and then it was all covered by a gray sky.
Suddenly, a thought came to Sharif's mind - the sky in Arabia must be very blue!
Although Sharif has never been to Hijaz, like his father, deep in his heart he has always longed to return there one day, to that land.
Of course, they do not return to that land as ordinary people, but as the owners of that land, because they themselves are the owners of that land.
"Just thinking about it..."
Thinking of his grandfather and father who were buried in Jerusalem after his death, Sharif quickened his pace. Some dreams really shouldn't be dreamed because everyone knows that they are unrealistic. of.
After running in the park for a while, he was out of breath and walked to the park bench and sat down.
Just as he sat down, a person sat next to him.
With a glance from the corner of his eye, Sharif realized that this man might be from the Middle East like him.
"Hello, Your Highness!"
The sudden greeting stunned Sharif and said instinctively.
“I am not.”
“In Hijaz, in the eyes of many people, you are still the only legitimate ruler there!”
Sitting next to him The man reminded him with a smile.
"Are you from Hijaz?"
Sherf looked at the man.
“No, I’m from Israel.”
Israel!
Jews!
Sharif instinctively wanted to stand up and leave, but unexpectedly, a voice deep in his heart told him to stay, telling him that he should listen to what the other party planned to say.
"Your Highness, I suggest that we should have breakfast together and talk about some things that may involve the interests of both parties. What do you think?"
His expression was completely kind, and he could see it on his face. There are no usual signs of intent to commit kidnapping or other acts.
Actually, apart from blood, what’s the point of kidnapping yourself? It will only arouse British dissatisfaction and anger.
“I’ll treat you to the best dish.”
He added,
"What do you think?" "I don't seem to have found a reason to refuse."
Soon, they arrived at a nearby restaurant , the breakfast was nothing excessive, just breakfast, but what attracted Sharif was what the other party said that involved the interests of both parties.
“Your Highness, we believe that you should return to Hijaz.”
The man said straight to the point:
“Besides, we are willing to provide all the help we can.”
After saying that, the man looked straight at Sharif, as if waiting for his answer. .
“I’m curious, what benefits will it bring to you by helping me return to Hijaz?”
The reason Sharif asked this was because of his two When both uncles were alive, they also rejected his father and grandfather's request for help. For them, the most important thing was to maintain their rule over their respective countries. After all, they were all outsiders, and they were able to become kings solely because of the Allied Powers. To "reward" his grandfather for the great uprising, of course, they also broke their promise - when they promised to support them in establishing a unified Arab state.
However, this is not important, the important thing is... they got the throne of three countries.
“After Your Highness returns to Hijaz, recognition of Israel at the appropriate time will be the best reward.”
Sure enough, there is never a free lunch in this world, Sharif After thinking for a while, he said.
“No, you have a longer-term purpose. If I return to Hijaz, there will inevitably be a conflict between the Saudi family, and by then, whether it is for interests or expansion needs, Jordan and Iraq will definitely send troops there, so..."
Looking at the other party, Sharif analyzed.
"At least they will not pose a threat to Israel for a long time in the future, right? And the so-called appropriate time to recognize Israel will divide the feelings of my cousins and me. After all, in the entire Arab world, Recognizing Israel is the biggest sin!"
Sharif figured everything out easily. After all, he graduated from Cambridge. He believed that he could expose the other party's conspiracy in one go.
Their conspiracy is very simple. It is nothing more than using this matter to disperse the power of Jordan and Iraq.
However, the person sitting opposite did not show the slightest embarrassment because the conspiracy was exposed. Instead, he wiped his lower lip with a handkerchief and said:
"Okay, like As you said, this is exactly our purpose. Our purpose of doing this is very obvious, which is to protect ourselves.”
The man looked at him and continued:
"Then, the only question is, Your Highness, will you refuse?"
The sudden rhetorical question made Sharif fall into silence; What comes to mind is not the price to be paid for recognizing Israel, but what he experienced when he was a student at Harrow School, where people would always only pay attention to his two cousins - they were the future kings, and They did become kingdoms, clearly inheriting the thrones of Jordan and Iraq.
And what about himself?
In the eyes of everyone, he, the prince, was just a prince who was not worthy of his name, a prince who lost his kingdom. If it weren't for his cousin's willingness to pay, he wouldn't even be able to make ends meet.
"So, what kind of help can you provide?"
After careful consideration, Sharif asked.
"Finance, weapons and intelligence support. At the same time, our people will operate in the tribe in the name of His Highness and provide them with funds and weapons. At the appropriate time, they will launch an uprising, and Prince you only need to When the time comes, it will be enough to take your people back to Hijaz, just like..."
Sharif said before the other party could finish.
“I know, just like my grandfather, father and uncles launched the great uprising against the Ottomans,”
At this moment, Sharif seemed to see the scene decades ago - that day, in the tent, Lawrence faced his grandfather, father and uncles, and extended an invitation to them there. How powerful Osman was at that time, However, in the end, they defeated the Ottomans.
And later they all had their own countries!
Thinking of this, Sharif said.
"It seems...I have no reason to refuse you, friend, can I know your name?"
"Lawrence!"
Sharif said as he picked up the coffee cup.
“You can call me Lawrence!”
(End of Chapter)