Zhao Xing waved his hand to let the tired family members and servants rest, he beckoned the Xiao brothers into the living room, and then replied: "The Liao State has removed Yingzhou. Not long ago, news came from Liao: There was a heavy snowfall in the Yanshan area on March 25, and thousands of miles of snow covered everything. Not a single living person has been found in the ruins of Yingzhou, and I estimate that most of the living people have fled to nearby counties.

The officials of the Liao State could not find evidence from Yingzhou, and the Jinzhou side deliberately covered it up, so they finally concluded that Yingzhou was destroyed due to theft. So, your brothers can show up now, I plan to build a secret base on the ruins of Yingzhou, and hire some pure Liao people to smuggle and do business for me. I want to put your people in the caravan and pretend to be local guides to guide the caravan.

In this caravan, smuggling and doing business is a side business, and I need it most to bring me the dynamics of Liao. Now, with my family business, I can afford to support such a caravan, so your people's task is to monitor the caravan for me and pass the news back along the way. Remember: the news of the Liao State is the most important, and if there is a danger, it is better to abandon the caravan than to pass the news back. ”

Xiao Feng kowtowed. Zhao Xing was silent for a moment, and then added: "After the Yingzhou incident, I was planning this caravan, and I established a school on Tamna Island to study how to disguise my identity, investigate information without revealing it, and secretly transmit information. You pick a few clever clansmen to learn where to go for a few months, and in the future, if there are any new methods, let your clansmen teach them.

information, decides judgment. We are both in business and in dealing with people. You must have enough information to make a correct judgment, and your people will take on this job for me in the future......"

Zhao Xing carefully explained to the other party, and then he could ask about the situation at home in Hangzhou. To this, Xiao Feng replied: "Not good! Master, this year's Hangzhou is similar to last year, there has not been a snow since the beginning of spring, and it is estimated that this year is another dry year. Fortunately, there is no major construction in our house this year, and the people of Hangzhou cannot rely on us. But. In recent days, some people have discussed preparing to rebuild the pagoda and prepare for a town of drought. For this reason, I found the house, and I hope that our house can also have a part. ”

Zhao Xing didn't know: from this year. Earth's temperature plummeted, and in the entire history of the planet, with the exception of the Ice Age, the lowest low temperature peak in history occurred around 1192. For the next 200 years, the Earth's temperatures were colder than ever.

The cold also caused great changes in the earth's plants, during which many plants in the north of the Huai River froze to death. and began to migrate south of the Huai River. For example, plum blossoms and bamboo, since then, these two plants are rarely seen in Huaibei.

Zhao Xing vaguely knew about ancient Chinese history. The extinction of many dynasties was associated with the Xiaoice period. Judging by the information he obtained. It seems that this climate change is affecting the whole world, and there is currently news in Africa and Europe that there is a continuous famine. Zhao Xing didn't know how long this famine would last, he thought of the history of the land in his memory, and couldn't help but murmur in a low voice: "Could it be that the Xiaoice River period is coming again?" We are facing the death of our country again......

No, why didn't the Xiaoice period bring down dynasties in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and even South Asia? Their dynasty lasted for millennia. After experiencing several Xiaoice rivers, why are we so troubled? Every Xiaoice River. Inevitable...... Ah, since this phenomenon does not exist in other countries, it shows that this dynastic cycle can be avoided, and that the Xiaoice period did not cause the country to be destroyed, so what should we do to embark on the traditional road of national destruction? ”

After Xiao Feng finished chatting about the situation in Hangzhou, out of the loyalty of a domestic servant, he said again: "Master, now that Cheng's father-in-law has also come, there is no one in charge of housework in Hangzhou, and there is only one vassal left, in case something happens, there is not even a person who sees the county standing and talking, which is very disadvantageous." Master, do you want the Shuangshe people to go back and preside over the housework? ”

This is the first time Xiao Feng has spoken about Zhao Xingdi's housework, he stammered and didn't make sense, Zhao Xing heard the meaning of his words, and asked in surprise: "Could it be that they still want to make trouble?" ”

What Zhao Xing meant was that Hangzhou still wanted to make a fuss about last year's kind of thing - framing Zhao Xing for building a house that was harmful to feng shui?

Xiao Feng first shook his head, and then said: "There are too many Hu people coming and going in our courtyard, and none of them speak loudly, for fear of being bullied." For example: Pu Ye is becoming more and more domineering now, we can't interfere in the things on the dock, and my master is also complaining. The villain suggested that the master send someone in charge to go over so as to suppress the scene. ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "Understood." Master Pu doesn't have to worry about things, he must be a subordinate, and he himself doesn't know about it. Because I was a partner with his interests tied together, he would never dare to dominate in front of me—he was alone, and behind us was the entire Great Song Dynasty, which annoyed me, and he could drown him with a sea of people alone, so this old fox would not dare to make a move that angered me.

It's just that the subordinates are making trouble, find a tough manager, and wield a knife to cut a few rebellious people, who dares to make trouble again...... Okay, I know about this, I'll figure it out, thank you! ”

Xiao Feng saw that he was interjecting and talking nonsense, and he was not reproached by Zhao Xing, he kowtowed frequently in gratitude, respectfully handed the letters accumulated at home to Zhao Xing, and kowtowed to say goodbye.

Zhao Xing was not at home, but his family never dared to delay the delivery of the letter. All the letters that are consciously important will be forwarded to Mizhou by fast horse and boat, so the letters accumulated at home are some unimportant miscellaneous matters - except for one special, which is a letter from Ma Yi Liu San. Zhao Xing read the letters at a glance and ten lines, and finally picked up Liu San's letter, first skimmed through it roughly, and was taken aback in his heart, and after looking at it carefully, he was stunned at the letter.

While pondering, Banqiao Town sent a servant to report to Zhao Xingyu: "Lord Tongju, there are several strange sailing boats on the dock, and the boat operators are saying strange and incomprehensible things. They were pale and white-skinned, and even their hair was white, and they had blue eyes, and they had both gold and red heads. It is very human, and the tongue man said: The people of the Lumei country and the Sgari wild country recorded by the imperial court are similar to the people who came, and I heard that the general judge has traveled overseas, and the county respects you to go over and recognize it. ”

"The country of Lumei" is a transliteration of Rome. "Sgari Country" is Sicily (a transliteration of sici1y. This is the Song Dynasty way of referring to Rome and Sicily. But now that Africa is in flames, do anyone really come here through war-torn Africa? No, even if the whites crossed Africa, they would only go to Canton, and Mishu was the customs office for Japan and Goryeo, so how could they come here? The sea is vast. Who will lead them the way?

Zhao Xing stuffed Liu San's letter into his arms with his backhand and ordered: "Lead the way in front of your head!" …… No, take my orchid with you! ”

The official agreed: "My lord, they are discussing this matter in the Goryeo Pavilion. You come with me! ”

Zhao Xing rushed to the Goryeo Pavilion and heard several white people in the hall trying to communicate with the tongue man, and they changed several languages in a row, hoping that the two sides could find a language that could be understood by each other. Kasri heard the voices of several white people, leaned close to Zhao Xing's ear and whispered in Arabic: "They speak a Latin language, but the sound is very strange. Master. What should I do The court is equipped with a tongue man who can understand Arabic Kasri is asking Zhao Xing if he translated truthfully, Zhao Xing shook his head lightly. Answer: "Pay attention to yourself. I can understand this language, your purpose is to make the court officials understand, how to translate, be vigilant yourself...... You ask them, the emperors of Eastern Rome have been captured, from which Rome are they now? ”

The men spoke an Italian language, but with a strong Corsican flavor. But. If they are Corsicans. Rather, they could be considered Romans or Sicilians.

The Great Song Dynasty did not have much contact with the Sicilians, and these people basically went to Guangzhou. And they did not like to trade in tributary, because tributaries required bowing, and their religion taught them that mortal knees only bow to the gods, and that earthly kings, including the pope, are only worthy of curtshi. Only gods are worthy of mortal worship.

So, for the most part, they gave the goods to the Arabs, who ate them all and resold them to the Song. In the history of the Song Dynasty, there were only two or three records of white tribute. Like the white people who came to Michigan, most of them came from the African state, or "Axum," which is now known as Somalia.

This is the first time that Michigan has received merchants from such a distant country, which means that Michigan has entered the eyes of European merchants, but the question that arises is: from whose mouth did they hear about Michigan? Who will show them the way? Who introduced them to Michigan "Sir, may I call you sir?" The person on the other side replied in clear Latin: "We come from the four great maritime powers, Venice, Florence, Genoa, Pisa, these belong to Sicily, to Rome, to Europa, but it makes no sense to you to specify which country we come from." So, you can just call us Sicilians.

As for the capture of our emperor, that was a long time ago, and we are not here to talk about the emperor, Your Excellency, we are here to do business......"

The "sir" used by the other party is a medieval term for aristocrats, and it is now also translated as "gentleman", and when the word appears in Dickens's book, it is generally translated as "lord". The other side refers to the "four great maritime powers", and the accepted translation law is: the four maritime republics. Because the four kingdoms of Sicily only briefly dominated in the 11th century, they cannot yet be called the four great powers.

The tongue man listened to the white man's language, and nodded frequently on the side: "The language used by the feudal people is indeed from the Lumei country, I have heard people talk about it, but there is no one who understands this language in Mizhou, I need to go to Guangzhou to ask someone who understands this language......"

Kasli asked Zhao Xing with her eyes, Zhao Xing nodded slightly, and Kasli immediately asked in Latin: "How did you come here, merchants, and how can I trust you?" ”

The reply was quick: "We went from Route 6 to Palestine and then across Africa to the village of Kismaiyu in Somalia, where we received a rumor that a fast route had been made that could shorten the journey to Seris to fifteen days." We found a local to guide us and sailed to the port of Chai Stick.

In Shiba, we heard more exact rumors - yes, the route does exist. But it belongs to a business alliance that is at war with people in the South Seas, and they forbid others to participate in it. At that time, we were already convinced that this route existed, because it took us only 30 days to sail to the stick, and all thanks to a magical gadget, the compass.

We decided to venture to Canton to see the end of the course, but God didn't seem to want us to do so, and we were caught in a terrible storm on the way. The ship was lost at sea for more than thirty days, and it was not until five days ago that it found a large 6, which was replenished with fresh water. Sir, that Big 6 is made up of a few fishermen. The king of the Fisherman's Land guided us to this port, and I heard that there is a customs office here that allows us to trade, right? ”

When Kasri translated, she only talked about the origin of this group of feudal people and the reason why they found Michishi Boshi: Trek. In this way, the officials of Mizhou City were also surprised. Lin Ji heard too many new words here, and he hurriedly asked, "What does Europa mean?" Is this a new country? ”

Zhao Xing replied vaguely: "The word Europa comes from the Semitic people in ancient times. This people are said to have existed 30,000 years ago, and they called the land under their feet Elibu, which means the place of sunset or the land of the west, which later evolved into Europa. There are hundreds of countries in that big 6, and we are commonly known as Seris, which means the country of porcelain. Some people call us the land of the rising sun, the land of the East. ”

Zhao Xing finished answering. Beckoning Kasri to continue. Under Zhao Xing's hint, Kasri continued to ask, "What goods did you bring with you?" ”

"Ivory, tortoiseshell, dragon's brain, Suhexiang......"

Zhao Xing suddenly interrupted the other party's words. Let Kasri translate: "These are all Nanyang goods, not the specialties of Lumei country, I want to know, what have you brought from Europa, worthy of my heart?" ”

These white merchants apparently traveled to the east coast of Africa, and after hearing an inaccurate rumor, they raised the usual adventurous spirit of the Europeans, bought a ship locally, and bravely sailed to Asia, and then took their African goods in Arabia and the South Seas, and purchased a batch of local specialties on the spot, and took them to the Great Song Dynasty to fool people. It's a pity that they didn't expect that because of the prosperity of the Great Song Dynasty's maritime trade, the customs officials were not so easy to deceive.

After the scene of the scam was guessed, several white businessmen looked embarrassed, they discussed in a low voice, and replied: "My lord, we still have glass marbles, these things are very precious, and they are inlaid with flowers......"

Zhao Xing smiled, this group of Westerners like to use glass to coax people, remember that they used these glass beads to deceive the American natives, and then occupied the entire American 6. However, this kind of glass beads was not enough to coax the Song people, Zhao Xing said to Kasli: "Tell them: Sicilians, it is not enough to coax me with this kind of sand, unless it is a formula, clear and transparent - glass formula." ”

The last few words of Zhao Xing were also spoken in Latin, which was to prevent the Song Dynasty officials present from understanding them. The white men hesitated for a long time, then suddenly interjected and asked, "We are looking for a local official who was hit by a storm and drifted on a desert island, and the king of the desert island guided us to the neighborhood - he is now on the ship and controls our crew." Your Excellency, he said that there was a man here, a king, a nobleman, who knew our language, and he was said to be tall and a local official. The king of the desert island tells us that if we find this man, bring him a message. Sir, the man wrote us a note with the ......"

After the white man finished speaking, he took out a crumpled piece of paper from his bosom, spread it out, and wrote three words on it: "Zhao Liren."

The handwriting is ugly, and the pen is missing - in fact, it is a modern simplified Chinese character.

Lin Ji and the officials of Mizhou City saw these feudal people talking for a long time, and suddenly took out a note with Zhao Xing's name written on it—although it was written with typos, they were even more surprised, and Lin Ji hurriedly interjected and asked, "Lord Zhao, what's the matter?" How do the feudal people know about you? ”

Zhao Xing laughed and made up a few words about this foreigner: "They said: I once went to Jiaozhi in Nanyang, where I found an acquaintance, and under his guidance, I went all the way to Mizhou, but most of the goods they carried with them were sold in Nanyang, but they brought some Nanyang goods, such as ivory, tortoiseshell ......"

"Oh, it turned out that I didn't come to pay tribute", Lin Ji sighed in disappointment. Said lazily: "Since this is the case, then Lord Zhao will receive it." I'm waiting to say goodbye. ”

If it is an envoy who comes to pay tribute, the officials can take the opportunity to show up in front of the emperor and leave a good impression on the emperor, but if the other party is only a merchant and has no intention of paying tribute, then the official does not need to report, at most he will make a note in the local historical records. This is for officials. It doesn't make sense, and they lose their courtesy.

There is no shortage of goods from the South Seas in Michigan, and if the other side brings some strange Western goods, even if they are not here to pay tribute. Officials can also say that they are tributes to invite favors, and now, after listening to Zhao Xing's introduction to the goods, there is no hope at all. Lin Ji, who had lost interest, was not interested in asking Zhao Xing why he was so proficient in translation, he glanced at the official of the city department, and then got up happily. He said weakly: "In this case, just follow the example of the country and let them live in the Goryeo Pavilion...... Lord Zhao. There are no people in the area who are proficient in this language. I hope your orchid concubine will help me a lot. It's also a trust from your old Nanyang friends, isn't it? When the official looks back, he will not forget the friendship of Lord Zhao. ”

When Lin Ji and the officials of the city department went out, the local merchants and local merchants who rushed to the news were already around the official office, and when Zhao Xing led a few white people out of the official office, they asked to see the white people's goods samples, hoping to buy some goods. In this kind of matter, the tax collector of the city department needs to accompany the whole process. Kasli knew what Zhao Xingdi was thinking. She pointed to the note in Zhao Xing's hand that read "Zhao Liren" and asked a few white people: "What does the person who gave you the note look like?" What words does he have for you to deliver? ”

Several whites looked at the merchants. Knowing that he had to rely on Zhao Xing as a translator to sell his goods, one of the golden men replied: "That person is on the ship, but he said that it is inconvenient for him to show up, so he stays in the bilge, but he asked us to invite you to the ship to meet him......"

"Oh, where is the island you drifted to?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I don't know, Your Excellency, we are lost at sea, and we have no idea where we are. The king of the desert island led us all the way here...... Sir, why do you stand here and guess, you will see it when you get on board. ”

Also, Zhao Xing said happily: "My woman will translate for you, and you will leave a few people to trade with the merchants, and then send another person to lead me to the ship." ”

Although Kasli had been pretending not to understand the Song language, she couldn't pretend at this time, and frequently glanced at Zhao Xing, and couldn't help but blurt out and dissuade: "Master, let's bring a few entourages on the boat." ”

Zhao Xing smiled, and he replied in a low voice in Arabic: "This is my territory, there is still my fleet at the mouth of the bay, can they eat me?" Lead the way ahead...... No, Kasri, immediately inform our locals, these feudal merchants can break into the Great Song Dynasty based on a few rumors, it's not easy! The most precious goods they bring are their own...... You understand my words! ”

"Understood!" Kasli replied clearly.

"Take me on board", Zhao Xing turned around and ordered the white crew beside him.

In the cabin, Zhao Xing was greeted by a middle-aged man who was obviously accustomed to drifting at sea, barefoot, wearing a pair of shorts and an Indian bun wrapped around his head. Standing on deck, his toes were spread wide apart—a common physical feature of fishermen. Because they stand on the boat all year round, and a pair of big feet grow their toes like this in order to stand firm.

Zhao Xing was a little amused by the outfit who came, he pointed out the porthole and said, "Liu San, it's spring now, do you understand the cold of spring, don't you feel cold when you wear this dress?" ”

This person is Liu San, the master who followed Zhao Xing to Nanyang, who stayed in the Nanyang copper mining area and became the owner of Liuye Island.

Liu San twisted his body and replied: "Big official, why do you still call me Liu San, I am now a king, do you see my outfit, is it appropriate?" ”

Zhao Xing smiled, he found a chair and sat down, and looked at Liu San with Erlang's legs crossed.

The master is the master, and after the storm, he didn't know how to dress himself, and he put all the rare things he could find on his body. He was thinly dressed, and there was not much room for anything to put on his body, and the head of the bun wrapped around his head was inlaid with gold wires, which were decorated with countless large stones, and between the gold wires were a few pearls the size of pigeon's eggs...... The most conspicuous thing in the hat was a diamond, polished to resemble a modern pear-shaped gemstone — a gem-cutting technique that Zhao Xing had proposed, who found a sample from the female white-collar luggage of the crashed plane and had it polished.

Although the *** in the cabin is not bright, the diamond still has a beating flame, which is so bright that people can't help but pay attention.

There are many gems inlaid on the head of the bun, and the big pants are also decorated with gold and silver threads, which are very luxuriously decorated - pearls pick up big seams, gems pick bright inlays...... The only regret is that the inlaid thing is a little heavier, the big pants fall straight down, and Liu San has frequently lifted his pants several times when he speaks.

"Demon, really demon! But what are you going to do with this outfit? Playing the devil? Zhao Xing teased.

"O tribute, I intend to pay tribute to the court in the guise of the new king of Mayi, and I have brought ivory, pearls, embroidered gold and embroidered silk twists, variegated silk twists, jibei variegated twisted cloth, sandalwood, tortoiseshell betel nut plates, rhino swords, gold and silver swords, rattan weaving flowers, white parrots, and seven treasures ornamented with sandalwood pavilions. It makes the tortoiseshell, dipterocarp, cloves, and rattan flowers...... There are also 6,000 catties of pearls and 5,000 catties of incense, ready to pay tribute to the imperial court, what do the officials think? ”

The smile on Zhao Xing's face slowly subsided, he took a few deep breaths, and said calmly: "Liu San-no, King Liu, how can you have such thoughts?" Tribute, what are you going to do? ”

Liu San waited for this sentence, he pounced, knelt on the ground with a golden brilliance, and cried bitterly: "Daguan, I want to go home!" I'm going home! I've had enough of that place, I'm going home, please, let me go home! ”

Zhao Xing had a crying and laughing look on his face, looked at Liu San and asked curiously: "Liu San, you are guarding a mountain of gold, this is a foundation that will not fall for thousands of years, your children and grandchildren can earn millions of yuan every year, how many people have dreamed of it for ten lifetimes, and they can't earn so much money, are you a pie in the sky, you were hit and the pie hasn't killed you yet, it's still hot, and you can eat it fresh on the spot, such good luck - you have to give up after only four years?" I don't know how to describe you, you didn't take the wrong medicine, did you? ”

Liu San howled and cried, wiping his tears, and confided: "Big officials, people say that trees leave their hometowns and die, and people leave their hometowns to be cheap, and they say that wealth and nobility do not return to their hometowns, such as clothes and brocade at night, and also say that the leaves fall back to their roots, people return to their hometowns, and there are young people who leave their hometowns and the eldest returns, and the boss does not leave his hometown, and leaving his hometown makes people sad...... My current money is enough to spend in this life, and it is enough for three generations of children and grandchildren, but I stay on that desert island and miss home! Official, I want to go home! ”