Not to mention the empire's vast number of officials and numerous spies, the army alone was a very heavy burden: the entire country consisted of 9,000 elephants, 30,000 cavalry, 600,000 infantry, and a navy. In times of peace, 'when they are not in service, they spend their days loitering or drinking boisterously, supported by the expenses of the royal treasury'.

Although there are countless spies in the country who are constantly watching, there are still many people who evade taxes, and most of the officials are corrupt. The deterioration of finances meant that the empire could no longer afford to give as generously to the Buddhists as before, which is why the crown prince Ermati had to put his grandfather under house arrest: the empire could no longer afford to spend 400 million panas.

"I'll take care of this properly." Nemati hesitated for a moment before answering the question that the Chuni envoy wanted to see his grandfather, and then he asked, "When will the Chuni arrive in Fahrenheit?" ”

"At the third hour of the day." Titi replied. "If Your Highness needs ......"

"No, that's when I arrived." Demothi Road. "Remember, in the inn where they lived......"

Secret agents governing the country are the norm in the Peacock Empire, and the officials are not reliable. These agents could be hermits, householders, merchants, ascetics, students, beggar women, prostitutes, whatever the empire needed. When Erma sent a secret agent to the station, he said, "Your Highness, but we don't know the Chuni language. ”

"Don't know the Chuni language?" Ermati didn't understand, "How do the Chuni people communicate with the minister who went to greet them?" ”

"The Chuni people know Greek, and they found a Tamil who understands Greek in Arakan Kulam." Titi talked about the current state of communication between the two sides. What he didn't know was that the Chuni didn't actually know Greek, but they had a Greek-Chu dictionary in their hands (thanks to Wuji and his servant Gowara, who compiled one of his important jobs in the state of Chu).

"Even if you don't understand their language, send spies." Ermoti stood by his decision. In his cognition, there are too many people who cannot be trusted, and only secret agents can provide him with accurate information.

*

In early summer, the sky is always very early, and at the same time as the prince Erma lifts the bed, the wake-up bell on the mountain ghost has also struck, this is the ship's morning shift, according to the 24-hour system, this should be from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Unlike a few months ago on rough seas, the Mountain Ghost was moving smoothly backwards above the Ganges.

The monsoon turned last month, and the Mountain Ghost soon arrived at the mouth of the Ganges River under the guidance of the Arakan Kulan Recruiting Guide, and with the help of an interpreter also recruited from Arakan Kulan, the officials of the Peacock Empire gladly allowed the Mountain Ghost to enter. A thousand people from the eastern powers outside of Dian came to the city, which reminded them of the envoy sent by the Seleucid Empire more than sixty years ago, Magestinees, who also came to India by sea and arrived at Fahrenheit from the mouth of the Ganges River.

The coming of all nations was a cause for celebration, and within a few days two hundred small Indian boats were blowing drums to greet them. Of course, these Indian ships are not just here to play drums, they are here to delay the mountain ghost going upstream. Now the Mountain Ghost is sailing day and night to Fahrenheit City under the rowing of two hundred Indian ships.

"Doctor, Kajayan can go to the capital of India today." After breakfast, on the aft deck, Yi Yi, who was in charge of the written conversation with the interpreter Kajia, relayed Kajia's words to Lu Zhuo and Captain Shen Yinshang, and this was the twelfth day that the Mountain Ghost entered the Ganges.

"Is the gift ready?" Lu Zhuo asked. The fleet at this time only had the Mountain Ghost, which had rushed to the Persian Gulf the following winter under the command of the Commander. This was done in order to complete the voyage in the shortest possible time and return to Yingdu before the monsoon turns this autumn.

"Doctor, the gift is ready." The city order is not in a hurry. "Doctor, please see the gift list."

When you come to the door, you have to give gifts, and prepare different gifts according to the status of the other party. This was the practice of all Chinese countries except Qin, and this practice continued for thousands of years. The Mountain Ghost did not suffer any twists and turns along the way, and one of the main reasons was to give gifts along the way. However, some people return the salute in a very civilized manner, while others do not return the salute at all.

The gifts on the gift list are very different from those in China, and they are basically a large collection of foreign trade goods. In the face of an emperor like the Peacock King, a sword is indispensable. He heard that India also produced iron, which was the best in the 'known world' before the appearance of the Chu state. Since you have come to India, you naturally have to compete with the Indians whose iron is better.

"Doctor ......" Yi talked to the interpreter Kajia again and got a piece of information.

"Words." Lu Zhuo didn't look at him, he was looking at the gift list that he was not waiting for.

"It is rumored that the Peacock King has been imprisoned by the crown prince of his country." Yi was a little incredulous, but his communication with the interpreter Kajia was indeed correct.

Lu Zhuo, Shen Yinshang, and Bu Jian were all taken aback, and Lu Zhuo said, "Really?!" ”

"Exactly." Yi glanced at Kaga, a dark-faced interpreter who had been recommended by Queen Pandia. While waiting in Alakankulan, Lu Zhuo met with the Queen of Pandia, and on the way north from the port of Alakankulan, he met with the king of Choluo. The kings of both countries were hostile to the Peacock King, but that didn't stop Lu Zhuo from heading to Fahrenheit. When Yi looked at Kaja, Kaja made a gesture of bowing to the sky with both hands, indicating that he swore in the name of God, and his words were true.

"This Indian state affair has nothing to do with us." The surprise on Lu Zhuo's face dissipated after a while, and it wasn't a big deal. It's just that the crown prince imprisoned his grandfather, obviously because the political situation in India is unstable, and there will be a battle for the throne after the death of the Peacock King.

During his time in Pandia, Lu Zhuo was courteous to the Queen of Pandia. Queen Pandia once suggested that the merchant ships of Chu could call at the port of Arakan Kuran in the future and trade here. The Chula merchant ships and the Pandia merchant ships could help the Chu merchant ships transport rice, wheat, cotton cloth, cotton, sesame oil, and all the commodities needed by the Chu state.

Under normal circumstances, long-distance trade is all about precious stones, such as land and large value goods, but because the west coast of India has always been foreign to the Persian Gulf, Lu Zhuo's request to buy rice, wheat, cotton cloth, and cotton did not surprise the Pandians. Because of this trade in low-value goods, they have been doing it for hundreds of years. Since the merchants of the Chu State did not dislike such low-value goods, and were not afraid that they would occupy the valuable tonnage of merchant ships, they certainly would not dislike them.

The merchants of Pandia tried their best to make Lu Zhuo understand that although rice, wheat, cotton cloth, and cotton were all produced in India, the cost of buying these goods directly from India and adding customs duties was much higher than that of purchasing them in the port of Alakankuran. The same is true for selling goods, with goods entering the Mauryan Empire paying a toll of one-third of the value of the goods (i.e., customs duties, but only one-tenth of the value of silk), and one-quarter to one-fifth of the value of goods for export.

The vast majority of goods in Arakan Kuram are smuggled in, not only smuggling, but also a quarter of the domestic transaction tax. Lu Zhuo didn't believe it when he heard it, but according to Xiong Jing's arrangement, he had to go to Fahrenheit City to meet the Peacock King. If, as the Pandian merchant said, the price of direct purchase in India is higher than that of the port of Alakankuran, then after he returns to China, he will naturally suggest that domestic merchant ships dock at the port of Arakan Kuram for purchase.

Price is one consideration, and the political stability of the Peacock Empire is another. Once there is a struggle for the throne of a country, even if it does not weaken, it is very likely to lead to chaos. The state of Chu is preparing for war, and preparing for war requires a large amount of grain, and if India is really involved in the war, it will not be good news for the state of Chu.

The Mountain Ghost was slowly moving forward under the tow of the Indian ship, and by this time the lookout on the mast had seen the narrow city of Fahrenheit on the riverside. Lu Zhuo also held up Lu Lijing, and a small city within the horizon stood on the west bank of the Ganges. Seeing that the height of the city was only three zhang, he immediately felt that this capital city was too small and too short. When the Mountain Ghost turned a corner and saw the side of Fahrenheit, it realized that the city was not small, it was just too narrow.

"India has arrived, India has arrived." The sailors on deck were cheering, and after six months of sailing, the Mountain Ghost finally arrived at its destination.

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