Shating City, later known as Songkhla, is located on the Malaysian Peninsula, at the junction of Thailand and Malaysia, and is now the border between Chenla and Sriwijaya on the Malaysian Peninsula.

Shating City, of course, is named after the Central Plains people, and is now a coastal city-state, an independent city-state formed by the Sukhothai tribes, nominally a vassal to Chenla, and at the same time, also to the Sriviya Nagong.

The Sukhothai people spoken of today are the ancestors of the Thais in later generations.

Shating City, because it is a very important trade node, is, much higher than the civilization level of the surrounding indigenous tribes, and because of the wealth and various foreign commodities brought by the sea trade, they are much richer than the surrounding natives, while maintaining the relationship between the suzerainty of Zhenla and Srivijaya, Shating City also has to defend against the raids of the surrounding natives, and the Sukhothai people in the city have recruited many indigenous mercenaries, a bit similar to early Rome.

To the north of Songkhla, is the famous Kra Isthmus, that is, the narrowest part of the Malaysian peninsula, from the Western colonial period there was the intention of digging a canal here, to later generations is even more news often boiling, if the canal is dug here, the ships from the Chinese sea do not need to detour Singapore through the Strait of Malacca, can go less than 1,000 nautical miles.

Lu Ning even thought about whether to recruit slaves to dig the Grand Canal here, after all, digging the canal now is not as many factors as in later generations, just accumulate white bones.

More than 1,000 nautical miles in later generations is nothing, but now, it is a thoroughfare.

However, Lu Ning finally extinguished this idea.

However, this Shating City, later Songkhla, is a very important port, not to mention, it is the main distribution center of rubber and tin? It is also the most important export port for rubber and tin in the Malay Peninsula.

Needless to say, how important is rubber in modern times? I can't use it now, but I don't think about the future? This Shating City naturally has to be controlled in your hands.

In the past, the Great Qi Navy was obscure? Because the city-state of Shating survives in the gap between the two Southeast Asian powerhouses of Chenla and Sriwijaya, is it? At the same time, he called the two countries to pay tribute and received the protection of the two countries, and he came here with Qi merchants? And just trade with it.

Is it different now? The civil strife in Zhenla had begun, and Daqi had officially declared war on the Three Buddhas.

Regarding the war in Longmenya and Palembang, Lu Ning didn't want to get involved, so he came to Shating City with honeysuckle.

How close is it from Ha Sengang? And it happens that the wind is in good direction? The southeast wind, the gold and silver went straight southwest for 800 miles to reach Shating City, it only took more than two days, and even arrived at the port, there was no need to hire local slaves to dive to clean up the debris attached to the bottom of the ship? Such as shells, aquatic plants, and so on.

The fangs of the Gold and Silver are revealed, and two guns are launched on the deck? even claimed to be a military exercise, and fired a few shots at the distance? In the midst of an earth-shattering roar, the small boat that was the target fell apart and capsized? It shook the entire Shating City.

……

The owner of Shating City is called Bantai? How many Sukhothai people are in the city of Shating? The name has the pronunciation of Tai.

Bantai's mansion is actually a cluster of wooden houses that are taller than the grass huts in the city.

On the grass in front of the long wooden house, Ban Tai held a grand banquet to entertain Lu Ning and his party.

Now Lu Ning's identity has become the envoy of Beitianzhu again.

When Ban Tai heard the introduction of Lu Ning's side interpreter, his heart sank.

Bantai was in his early forties, in the prime of life, and looked very burly and powerful.

On the grass, Thai girls wearing garlands sing and dance.

Everyone sat on the ground, there were sumptuous dishes on the low bamboo table, and Lu Ning was not interested in those barbecued meats, grilled seafood, etc., but the local fruits tasted very good, and Lu Ning ate a few more.

Naturally, Liu Dafang and Dou Shenbao Hum Ha two eunuchs who followed Lu Ning to attend the banquet were indispensable, in addition to a translator who knew Thai brought from Hexian Port, who was a Sukhothai himself, and was born in this Shating City, but he followed the merchant ships to make a living outside very early, often dealt with Qi people, and had a talent for language, and soon spoke Bianjing official dialect.

His real name is more forgiving, and Lu Ning is too lazy to remember, the Central Plains name is Wang Kun, and he is a very clever young man.

Although Ban Tai is a local leader, but in the end he is different from the people of the Central Plains, what can not be hidden, while making his wife extremely enthusiastic to peel the fruit for Lu Ning with his own hands, he suddenly asked: "Wen Zhaofu, is Daqi going to use swords and soldiers in the Northern Tianzhu Land?" ”

Now that the Qi people are at war with the Three Buddhas, and there is such a famous official, the meaning is self-evident.

There is a powerful Chola Empire in Southern Tianzhu, but Northern Tianzhu is extremely divided, and the Qi people are sure to win the battle with the Three Buddhas? Or even already planning to find a foothold in North Tianzhu?

Lu Ning smiled and said, "I have always valued harmony. ”

Liu Dafang was beside him and said: "What my master means is that the Great Qi Kingdom and overseas countries have always sought a way to live in peace, coexistence and common prosperity, but there are many uncivilized barbarians overseas, and sometimes it is inevitable to deter and educate. ”

Wang Kun translated it to Ban Tai.

Ban Tai was even more panicked in his heart, and hesitated: "I have always been in Thailand, and I have always admired Daqi very much, and I have no intention of disobedience. ”

Sukhothai is just a small free city-state, and the place of jurisdiction is also Shating City and a small area around it, and the title of its leader "Shalu" is actually difficult to express in the Central Plains vocabulary.

Liu Dafang snorted, "A small barren land, I dare to call the country the king, but I still lost my education." ”

Lu Ning seemed to be handling all the things he negotiated by Liu Dafang, his eyes flickered, but his eyes were fixed on a girl singing and dancing in the audience, as if he was very interested in her.

Ban Tai listened to Wang Kun's translation of Liu Dafang's words, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, he coughed, and glanced at his wife again and again.

Bantai's wife, Hamiqi, eagerly helped Lu Ning peel off the peel, and at the same time, she also paid attention to Lu Ning's expression and actions all the time.

In fact, these fruits, many people from the Central Plains may not know how to eat them for the first time, but Lu Ning has no such problem.

At this time, Hami smiled and said, "My lord, she, a yin and yang person!" ”

Although the tone was strange, there was no doubt about the Central Plains language, Lu Ning was stunned and couldn't help but look at her.

Hami is a half-old, but maybe because she lives in the tropics, her skin is dark, but she doesn't show her age, and between her eyebrows, she is vaguely a very attractive woman.

Moreover, she obviously realized a long time ago that in the future rise and fall of Shating City, it may be that Daqi is the real master, because she started learning Chinese early, and now she can communicate with people roughly.

This is a powerful woman.

Lu Ning's heart sank, and at the same time, he looked at the girl who said that Hami was a yin and yang person, and shook his head funny, are Thai people now becoming popular with yin and yang people?

However, this shemale has a sharp weapon hidden on his body, but he doesn't know what he wants to do.

Is it Bantai who is preparing to assassinate himself? It's not quite like it, poisoning in the food is much more certain than this, but killing the envoy of the Qi State at the banquet, in addition to incurring the tragic revenge of the Qi warships outside, what is the benefit?

Was it an assassin arranged by Bantai's enemies? To lend your own hand and get rid of Bantai?

Or, the target is not himself, but Bantai, after all, looking at this ladyboy, he doesn't look too much at his side, and his real attention is in the direction of Bantai.