Mahmud Kelir had heard about the atrocities committed by the Theodoro Army on his journey, and along the way, he had recruited many Tatar nomads, some of whom had even been displaced by Theodoro's raids.
Now, the army under his command numbered over 2,500.
When Klier led his army to Keziyar, he was surprised to learn from his scouts that the enemy had already deployed in an orderly fashion west of the town's waterways.
"Give me detailed intelligence on the enemy's deployment," he said, without blinking.
Such well-ordered enemy formations were not uncommon in his years of military service, but ultimately, they all submitted to the Janissaries' scimitars.
As long as he knew the enemy's exact deployment, he was confident he could crush them all.
"This is what we Janissaries do best," Klier thought indifferently.
"Yes, General," the Tatar scout immediately revealed everything he had observed about the enemy's deployment, from the approximate ratio of infantry to cavalry, the equipment, the approximate number of cannons, and a new type of firearm they were using.
"Hmm? Are you saying these Christians have developed a new weapon?" Klier noticed the new firearm mentioned by the scout.
"Yes, General, it's very similar to the handheld firearms of the Janissaries under your command, but the barrel is thinner and longer, and the firing mechanism is very strange," the scout described, gesticulating.
"What are you saying?" Klier was confused.
"Never mind, we'll find out what it is on the battlefield." He waved his hand, indicating he would no longer listen to such nonsensical talk.
Meanwhile, on the west side of Keziyar's waterways, Manuel and his nearly one thousand Theodoro soldiers watched the approaching Crimean Khanate army with anxiety and vigilance, awaiting the official start of the battle.
About half an hour later, the Crimean Army officially arrived.
Before the battle, several Tatar messengers advanced to the front lines, attempting to persuade them to surrender, but they were met only with a volley of arrows.
This was roughly as Klier had expected.
Seeing the enemy deploy their main force on the other side of the waterway, he nodded inwardly.
"It seems the enemy commander has some brains.
But it's a pity; in the face of overwhelming superiority, these are merely futile struggles." He then turned and ordered, "Tatar warriors charge first, engineers follow to build pontoon bridges, and the cavalry on both flanks will advance immediately after the temporary fortifications are built to support the main army."
This order was fully executed, but some soldiers asked with dissatisfaction and confusion, "General, why are we Tatar warriors going first?"
Klier did not directly respond to these noisy soldiers but pointed in the direction of the Theodoro Army and said calmly, "Look over there, those are the Kafirs who have humiliated your wives, children, and compatriots.
As devout warriors of Allah, should you not strive to defeat these evil people?"
Soon, cheers and jeers for these "cowards" erupted from the Crimean Army.
But there were still some with unspoken grievances; most of them had been conscripted, either gently or forcefully, along the way, bearing no grudge against Theodoro, and their sense of belonging to the Khanate was not strong at the moment.
Perceiving their attitude, Klier began to recite scriptures and teachings, patiently guiding them: "Since our opponents are infidels, this is a holy war.
If it is for a holy war, then supreme glory granted by Allah will surely be attained, and ascending to paradise is inevitable.
At that time, for His warriors, Allah will surely bestow great rewards upon His warriors—such as seventy-two 'small raisins.'"
The soldiers finally completely accepted Klier's arrangements, and many fanatical and superstitious nomads even knelt on the spot, praying for Allah's protection.
However, precisely because of this, despite the urgency of the battle, the Crimean Army still performed a final prayer.
On the opposite side of the waterway, Manuel, seeing the enemy beginning to pray, grew tense.
Knowing the importance of the moment, he decided to launch an attack, hoping to repel the enemy.
However, he was told, "Your Highness, although these streams and ponds are not deep, crossing these waters now would only diminish our forces and provoke the enemy to attack us."
"Fair enough, indeed."
After pondering for a moment, Manuel abandoned the plan of having the army cross the waterway.
But this did not mean they would remain idle.
Less than half a second after his mind began to race, he immediately ordered the archers and musketeers in the army to advance and fire upon the Crimean Army.
"Especially target those wearing red felt wool and with a small wooden spoon on the brim of their turban!" he emphasized.
Soon, stray bullets and arrows flew everywhere in the Crimean Khanate army formation, but the objects Manuel had emphasized targeting—those soldiers in red felt wool uniforms—were almost completely unharmed, as they had already been specially looked after by Klier and positioned at the rear of the main army.
And after the Theodoro Army launched its attack, Klier's mouth curved slightly upward, and he then ordered, "The enemy has already launched their offensive, warriors of Allah, we can no longer be confined to verbal prayers, we must win victory for Allah with our scimitars! Charge, allah akbar!"
"allah akbar!"
As the Crimean Army roared thus, the battle began, and large numbers of Crescent Sect Tatars charged recklessly towards the Theodoro Army, until they were shot down by crossbow bolts or lead bullets.
Even so, the ferocity and disregard for life of these Tatars shocked Manuel.
Watching the engineers laying temporary fortifications behind these cannon fodder, he hastily ordered the musketeers to also target them.
However, due to the cover provided by the vanguard cannon fodder, the effect was minimal.
As a group of Tatar cavalry was about to approach the position, Manuel, now desperate, hastily ordered, "Deliver my personal command: right-flank musketeers move 42 Greek feet to 11 o'clock!"