The political upbringing, education and training of King Saud as mentioned previously, and what will be mentioned later, represents part of the history of his father, King Abdul Aziz who cared about his son's education and watched over it personally. Thus, he informed him about the several complex obstacles and difficulties, which his father was able to overcome through his experience and ability. At the same time,
King Abdul Aziz was confident in his son Saud's military skills and diplomacy with the tribes. Hence, he put him in charge of an independent army for the first time after the battle of Turba in the year (1337H / 1918), which was against the Sharifs' forces.
Saud demonstrated his military leadership. His military skills, were outstanding even when he was sixteen years old. Thus, he was determined to begin a new period in his life in which he wanted to prove to his father his abilities and to show him that he's worthy of his trust and of the responsibilities laid upon his shoulder. All these points add to the importance of the battle of Turba since it opened the way for King Abdul Aziz to Hijaz.
Saud played a role in the events after the battle of Turba. Thus, he attacked the rebels of the Atiba tribes that are under the leadership of al Khiras, who in turn is from the Sheikhs of Atiba, the supporters of the Sharif of Makkah, King Hussein Bin Ali. This attack was done in a place called Sharma near the wells of al Dafma. Among those who went with him on this assault, were Bin Rabiaan, Bin Mahia and others from the seniors of the Atiba tribe. Al Sharif Mansour Bin Ghaleb Bin Louaiy and the two Princes Salman and Saud Bin Abdallah also accompanied him from al Saud. And so, Saud vanquished them near the wells of Dafma in late Ramadan in the year (1338H/1919). However, after they scattered, he went after them again between Hijaz and Najd and he captured many of their leaders before returning to Riyadh where news of his Victory had preceded him. During this period, the events started to develop quickly. One of the most important events was the determination of Britain to hold a conference in Cairo, presided by Mr. Churchill, the statesman who is responsible of colonial matters. The conference had planned the future of the Middle East on the political front and had laid plans of action to be carried out. There was a decision among those taken during the conference which troubled King Abdul Aziz
politically because it was "relevant to the ascent of Al Sharif Faisal Bin Al Hussein to the throne in Iraq.
After learning about the ends of the Cairo conference and in order to be up-to-date with the developments and events, Abdul Aziz held a general conference in Riyadh to which he summoned the authorities, notables and Sheikhs to consider carefully the issue of the official title which he should give to himself and by which he should be called in the international assemblies, and so, all have chosen unanimously the title "Sultan of Najd".
When Abdul Aziz informed the British authorities in Iraq about this decision, he received congratulations from the officials who recognized his new title on the 22nd of Thul-Hijja 1339H/ 2nd of August 1921. From this date, King Abdul Aziz was officially called "Sultan of Najd". After the Cairo conference and the declaration of its decisions, among which, the ascent of Sharif Faisal to the throne of Iraq and the granting of Trans Jordan to his eldest brother Al Sharif Abdallah, Abdul Aziz felt the imminent danger from several sides. Hence, he decided to fortify his position inside the country and to destroy the governance of Al Rasheed. Thus, he started to prepare his army and it wasn't long before he found the good reasons to attack this principality after revoking the reconciliation with it.
When the necessary plan was made and the military operation began, Abdul Aziz sent his son Saud who was the head of a large group of forces to Shuaiba, which is situated in the southern part of the mountain (Aja) in the Shumar Mountains. And so, he attacked Rasheed and gained a large number of spoils but he found difficulty in advancing further to Hael because of the drought in the region that year. Then Abdul Aziz gave his orders to send a detachment near Baqiq whilehe himself moved forward to Ajfar.
But since there was no fighting, the forces retreated back to Riyadh in the year (l338H/1919).
"Sultan" Abdul Aziz continued to prepare more military equipments and plans for he was getting ready to conquer Hail. Thus, in the summer of the year (1340H-1921), accompanied by approximately ten thousands warriors, he laid a plan to surround Shumar from three sides. Moreover, he gave the leadership of one of the troops to his brother Muhammad to besiege Hail. As for the second troop, he chose his son Saud to be its head so that he may attack Shumar through the direct line while he stayed in Qassim in control of the third troop, which is a standby force.
The trust that King Abdul Aziz put at that time in his son Saud's ability to carry the burden alone was indisputable. Thus, Saud launched an attack on the desert of Shumar, went down to the town of Khasira on the eastern side of Hael vanquished the enemy and collected huge amounts of money from them. As for his uncle Muhammad, he went to the outskirts of Hael while the Sheikh of the Matir Tribe; Faisal al Douaish was assigned to launch a misleading attack from the south. When the military operation began, King Abdul Aziz decided to call on his brother Muhammad and to give the supreme command to Saud. The siege of Hail lasted for two months; however, it did not fear the restrictions. When Abdallah Bin Mataab Al Rasheed noticed that, he thought of bringing about reconciliation and he decided to give in to Saud's military camp especially since he had heard of his chivalry, courage and high moral standards. And so, Saud we1comed this initiative and he received him showing all the high esteem that Abdallah deserves as a ruler and guest. Moreover, he decided to go with him personally to Riyadh to present him to his father. This act strongly impressed Bin Al Rasheed who felt relieved together with the
others who desired to bring about reconciliation and peace because they feared further bloodshed and difficult living conditions.
King Abdul Aziz saw in his son Saud the characteristics of the art of dealing with people and the amiability, which made his most bitter enemies become his faithful friends such, is the case with Bin Al Rasheed. This fact made his father seek his assistance all throughout his life in dealing with the toughest issues especially those of the tribes.
Despite the fact that the Prince of the Shumar tribes desired to bring about reconciliation and give in to Saud, some of them were not pleased about their Prince Abdallah Bin Mataab Al Rasheed's initiative and thus they have chosen another prince, who is Muhammad Talal Bin Al Rasheed to fight against the forces of Abdul Aziz.
As a result, King Abdul Aziz ordered his son Saud to return to Haiil to lead the army there and to fight against the rebels. Also, when the fighting became fiercer between the forces of Al Rasheed and those of Faisal Al Douaish, King Abdul Aziz ordered Saud to support the forces of al Douaish. Saud did so until these forces won victory over Muhammad Tala! Bin Al Rasheed who retreated to Hail. All this took place when the Saudi forces continued to exert pressure through the attacks launched trom the north and the northeast under the leadership of King Abdul Aziz, while the forces lead by Saud stayed near the Aja Mountain. When Talal found that surrender is inevitable, he decided to accept the( fait accompli) It has been said that when the defeated shook hands with King Abdul Aziz, he demanded them to go to his son saud's tent to perform the same duty. In addition, the invasion of al Jaouf came after the end of these military operations. The great role that Saud played in the surrender of Hail made him more important in his father's eyes especially that he has seen in him several of his personal characteristics when he was his age.
After these events that ended up in the surrender of the capital of Bin AI Rasheed King Abdul Aziz married the widow of Bin AI Rasheed and adopted her children. As for Saud he wed a wife from the Rasheed family. King Abdul Aziz aimed at putting an end to the conflict between the two families and settling the dispute through his marriage and that of his son.
1918