Eric believed Shansi's Identity could be greatly exploited, so he took him in, treated him with all due courtesy, and promised to help him return to his loyal Damascus.
Eric and his forces then rested in Hama for half a month, establishing their rule over the entire region. With the help of the Armenians and other Eastern Orthodox, the process went quite quickly.
Eric kept some of the Muslim artisans and merchants, expelled the more defiant Muslim citizens to the countryside, and moved the Armenians and Eastern Orthodox from the villages into the Hamah City District to become new citizens.
At the same time, he freed all the slaves in Hama and issued a decree banning the slave trade within its borders. Freed slaves who possessed Skills and were literate were given the right to remain in Hama City as new citizens. Those without special Skills were also permitted to stay in Hama City and earn a living until they could find somewhere else to go.
