Zhao Xing tilted his head and thought for a moment, and suggested with a sincere smile: "Your Excellency, it's better to be like this: I know that there are many small islands outside Palembang, and my fleet simply buys one of them as a place for public trading......

Zhao Xing dragged his tone and waited for Uncle Wang to answer, and Uncle Wang thought for a while, and then asked, "Lord of the Song Kingdom, how much tax are you willing to pay for this transaction?" ”

The Sriwijaya man did not ask Zhao Xing how much transaction tax he was willing to pay for the purchase of the island, but how much tax Zhao Xing was willing to pay for the entire Song fleet.

In the 11th century, Sriwijaya was the center of the South Seas spice trade, and their country was rich in spices, but nothing else. Therefore, Sriwijaya stipulates that every ship entering the port for trading needs to pay taxes, and the tax amount is 1/3 of the goods. This percentage was slightly higher than the Song dynasty's trade tax on the city, but merchants were willing to pay the tax because of the huge profits from the spice trade.

Zhao Xing replied without hesitation: "I am here to inspect the trade routes, the laws of all countries must be obeyed, we can discuss how much tax should be paid, I think it is more reasonable to pay according to the tax rate of one out of ten in my Song Dynasty, what does Uncle Wang think?" ”

Uncle Wang's demeanor suddenly relaxed, and he muttered a few words in a low voice. The translator didn't pay attention, so he translated his words as well: "This uncle said that the three Buddhas are at war with the country where they are stationed, and their country's finances are tight, so I originally thought that the adults were here to take advantage of the fire to rob, but I didn't expect that the adults did come to the legendary gentleman's country, as long as you are willing to pay taxes, everything is easy to discuss." \ The tax rate of one percent and three percent is not much different from one percent, he did it, promised you, but ......"

That Uncle Wang was only whispering, but when he saw the translator unconsciously relay his words, he began to pick them up. Officially replied to Zhao Xing: "If the Lord of the Song Kingdom is willing to abide by the laws of our country and pay taxes according to the regulations, why do you need to stay on the small island outside, I heard that the sea area north is setting up a trade domain of the Song people, and our country is willing to imitate this example and set aside a piece of land for the Song merchants to live in, this suggestion"

Zhao Xing's eyes flashed, and he hurriedly pointed to the person in the cabin and ordered: "You go and discuss with him—since it is a ruling leader, its management should be dominated by the merchants." You inform the businessmen of this news and let the businessmen negotiate with him, and you must be present for all the negotiation and tell them that I am behind them and provide them with protection. ”

Zhao Xing originally wanted to handle this matter himself, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of an officer at the door of the cabin who wanted to speak and stopped, and hurriedly beat this uncle Wang away. Let the officer come forward and speak. The officer bowed down and reported: "My lord, General Huaiyuan and General Ning Yuan have boarded the ship to visit. ”

Zhao Xing raised his eyebrows in surprise. Chen Buqun's energy has been mainly in Nanyang in the past few years, and he knows a lot about it, so he quickly explained: "Teacher, these two titles are used by my Great Song Dynasty to reward foreign Yi!" ”

Zhao Xing let out an "oh" and asked strangely: "There is actually an official of my Great Song Dynasty in the local area, why don't I know?" ”

Chen Buqun bowed down and replied, "Teacher, the last time we went to sea, we just passed by outside Palembang. \ The teacher's purpose is to travel to Europe. So I didn't know much about the things here, but then I learned about the Srivijaya - Srivijaya. Arabic: Zabad, Javanese: samboja. The ancient books of the Tang Dynasty are also known as the death of Sri Buddha (Sanskrit sriVijay), the death of the Buddha, the old port, and Palembang. In the Han Dynasty, it would be called Ye Tiao or Ye Poti.

200 years ago, an Indian founded a Buddhist state, the Yue Emperor Dynasty (RA). Soon. Emperor Yue inherited the throne of Sriwijaya through marriage in the name of the king's mother being the princess of Srivijaya. The two Indian states became one and became a strait power, to which all ships passing through the strait had to pay taxes.

Song Shenzong) Yuanfeng two years (107 years) on July 3, the three Buddhas Qi Zhanbei envoy Qun Tuo Bi Luo, Tuo Pan Ya Li to pay tribute, His Majesty gave 1,500 taels of silver, Feng Qun Tuo Bi Luo for Ning Yuan general, Tuo Pan Ya Li for Bao Shun Lang general. (Song Zhezong) Yuanyou five years (1091) three Buddha Qi people leather socks and tribute, to be named Huaiyuan general.

Teacher, the last time I came, the Huaiyuan general leather socks had received me, the first emperor Shenzong rewarded the Baoshun Lang general Tuo Pan Yali has passed away, the Ningyuan general Qun Tuo Biluo is old, the Huaiyuan general leather socks were rewarded by the first emperor in the past, and the gold was given to buy three ships of porcelain, tea, and silk in Quanzhou, after returning to China, he became rich, and now he is leisurely and leisurely, enjoying the rich life. ”

Zhao Xing heard the clue from Chen Buqun's words, and he asked rhetorically: "You mean, this leather socks does not have any official title in the Srivijaya country, and he is also a businessman...... In other words, the credentials submitted by this guy were written by himself. \”

Chen Buqun showed a meaningful smile, and Zhao Xing said again: "In the fifth year of the Yuan Dynasty, I was a pusher in Hangzhou, how could I not know about this?" ”

Chen Buqun urged: "My lord, this leather stocking general has always taken care of Song Shang, don't let him wait for a long time." ”

Zhao Xing waved his hand: "Please!" These are two clever people, please, I want to meet. ”

In real history, the Three Buddhas have paid tribute to the Song Dynasty several times, however, the Three Buddhas have no record of sending diplomatic envoys to the Song State to deliver their credentials, so it is speculated that these tribute envoys may have been fakes. At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, some Song people vaguely mentioned these tribute envoys in the feudal system, but the words used were "Three Buddha Qi merchants came to pay tribute".

Leather stockings is a big fat man, Qun Tuo Biluo is an old fat man, the two of them panted into the Zhao Xing cabin, they were dressed in satin, ten fingers except for the thumb, the rest of the fingers are exaggerated and full of rings, there is a handsome little guy on the left and right to support, the appearance of these two little guys, even by the standards of the Song Dynasty, is also beautiful, the only regret is that the skin is too dark.

After some greetings, leather socks spoke first, this guy has probably been mixed with Song Shang for a long time, and he is also bold, in the face of Zhao Xing, a high-ranking official of the Song State with many terrifying titles, he is not timid at all, he smiled and said in an equal tone: "My lord, when I entered the door just now, I met Uncle Lidiehua Wang was discussing with the merchants and preparing for the establishment of a trade territory, do you need the help of the Three Buddhas?" The two of us are familiar with the affairs of the Three Buddhas, and we can provide great convenience to the Song merchants in the Three Buddhas. \”

Zhao Xing high-fived happily: "Great." I am worried that there is a shortage of one person in the Three Buddhas, and the two are willing to take the lead, but if I don't say it, you two will come forward to deal with the Three Buddhas with the titles of General Huaiyuan and General Ning Yuan...... By the way, the two of you hold the official title of the Great Song Dynasty, can I confirm it, are you Song officials? ”

Zhao Xing's interrogation is actually asking: When there is a dispute, these two Indian businessmen who served as Song officials are inclined to the Three Buddhas. It is still inclined to the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty, and the meaning is self-evident.

The old fat man, General Ning Yuan, Qun Tuo Bi Luo, coughed lightly, the leather socks quickly let go of his body, Qun Tuo Bi Luo hissed slowly, and did not see the translation action for a long time.

Zhao Xing was patient, and he knew that this way of speaking was a noble way of showing oneself that was unique to the Brahmins, the highest caste in India, and was called "elegant" in the country. This way of speaking dragged out every syllable very long, and it was often a long time to babble before a word could be finished, and the listener struggled. The locals are full of interest.

After a long time, the translator finally moved: "He said: For a long time. They all enjoyed the benefits brought to them by the Song Kingdom, and many Song merchants came here to trade, hoping to communicate with the local merchants through them. \ My lord led a powerful naval army to Palembang this time, and the two of them wanted to come and see what they could do to see what they could do.

The credibility of both of them has always been guaranteed, and I hope that the adults will continue to trust them......"

Zhao Xing waited impatiently, and he waved his hand. To the interpreter, he said, "I am a soldier. Like blunt words, you tell them. I ask because I want a clear statement — a commitment. And not vague metaphors. ”

After listening to the translation, the old man slowly replied a syllable. The interpreter explained: "He said, "The Buddha testified! They know where they stand. ”

"What position? The position of the Song people, or the position of the Srivijayaya? ”

This time, the interpreter replied quickly: "He agreed, and promised to deal with the relevant matters of the trade collar from the standpoint of the Song people." ”

Zhao Xing turned to Chen Buqun: "I know, after these two people went to the Song Kingdom, they returned to China to be a businessman, and they were specially used as intermediaries for Song Shang...... Translation, these words do not need to be translated...... I guess they used to hide a lot of commissions from them, but this time we ignored them, worried that we would dump them, so they came to the door. ”

Chen Buqun grinned: "Isn't this the logistics concept that the teacher said?" They control the local logistics network in Sriwijaya, and if I want to get the goods out as soon as possible, I have to find them, no matter how much handling fee they want, we can only admit it! ”

Zhao Xing nodded, agreeing with Chen Buqun's statement, he turned to the translator and asked: "You ask him, how is the war between the Three Buddhas and the garrison of the country-change General Huaiyuan's leather socks to answer, I am too tired to listen to the old gentleman's words." \”

This time the leather stockings replied quickly: "In the last battle, we were born in Pahang, we lost a gang of Shilan, and what is worse is that the country of East Java has also begun to fight with us, and our domestic and local army is in full strait, if you garrison Palembang, and place your Thor's weapon at the head of the city, the king must be very tall."

Shilan is another Song name for Sri Lanka, the island that is now ruled by the Khuruna dynasty. Zhao Xing glanced at the port, and did not answer the two people's statement about laying cannons at the head of Palembang City, he looked at Palembang with interest, and was a little eager to try: "So...... No wonder Palembang is so empty inside. ”

In the 11th century, Sriwijaya was an unimaginably powerful empire, relying on taxes from the Song merchants, and the influence of fine orchids extended to the Huruna dynasty (Ceylon) and the eastern coast of India. It has 15 vassal states, including Pahang, Kelantan, Ri Luo Ting, Teng Nong, Qianmai, Lan Wuli, Xilan and other countries, and can be described as the hegemon of China's maritime throat.

However, the power of the garrison is not bad, in order to compete for the right to tax the Song merchants, the garrison frequently engaged in large-scale wars, not long ago it had hit the gate of Palembang, burned part of the port facilities of Palembang, at this sensitive moment, Zhao Xing's huge fleet appeared at the gate of Palembang, and the Sriwijaya country just could not draw the strength to compete with it, you can imagine the panic of the Sriwijaya. \

Chen Buqun understood what Zhao Xing meant, beckoned an officer over, and ordered unabashedly: "Tell the merchants the news and tell them that when you bargain with Uncle Lidiehua, you might as well ask for a higher price." ”

The translator also has an eye, after this short period of training. He perfectly understood when to translate and when to remain silent. When Chen Buqun said this, Zhao Xing's eyes stared at the two Three Buddhas, and he saw that Lao Lao seemed unhurried, and his leather socks looked very anxious.

After Chen Buqun finished speaking, Zhao Xing's attention was now and he asked nervously: "The teacher thinks they know Song language?" ”

Zhao Xing replied slowly: "That old man doesn't think about it, the Brahmin race is said to be the most noble race in the world, and they can't learn other languages. As for the leather socks......"

Zhao Xing fixed his eyes on the wrists of these two people, both of whom had a bracelet of thread wrapped around their wrists, which became known as the "holy thread". One of the distinctive signs of the three highest caste males in India is the wearing of the "holy thread". The "holy thread" is made of 3 strands, with Brahmin boys wearing cotton thread, Kshatriya boys wearing flax thread, and Vaishya boys wearing woolen thread as a sign of high caste.

The leather socks were wrapped around the wrists of a ball of wool, and it appeared to be a high-caste nobleman. Zhao Xing turned his gaze to the two people who had brought to the ground, and their hands were wrapped with twine.

Zhao Xing said slowly: "I'm curious. \ The Vedishya caste traded in leather stockings because this class was originally a merchant. The attendant you bring with you is a Kshatriya of the warrior class. Why, you, a Brahmin, also go into business? ”

Zhao Xing asked the old and Ning Yuan generals Qun Tuo Biluo.

I didn't answer. Leather stockings was the first to explain: "My lord, the years of war have deprived our upper castes of provisions, and sometimes, we have to find a way to survive for ourselves - in these years, the noble also have to eat. ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "That's right!" The noble also eat...... It was thus decided, and I believed in the promise of a Brahman. ”

Chen Buqun took the opportunity to fan the flames: "You don't know, you are facing the ground as the first general of my Song Kingdom." All the soldiers who belong to my Great Song Dynasty. All are under the jurisdiction of Lord Taiwei, General Ning Yuan and General Huaiyuan. It happens to be under the control of adults. ”

Chen Buqun was fooling the two Srivijaya people, but he said so. The old man bowed and bowed, with a little humility on his face: "My lord." Can I go to the house for a few days so that I can entertain my esteemed adults? My Commander? ”

Zhao Xingyi waved his hand: "There is no need for hospitality, what I want to know most is that the war between the Three Buddhas and the country where they are stationed, now, how are the warring sides fighting, I seem to have heard just now that the Three Buddhas suffered a big loss?" ”

With a look of grief and indignation on his face, Leather Socks replied: "In previous years, no matter what the victory or defeat, our soldiers could redeem a part of it, but seven years ago, in the water war between the garrison country and us, more than 200,000 young people of our country died in the sea, and since then, we can only be tired of dealing with the crazy attack of the garrison country. \”

Zhao Xing interjected: "After losing 200,000 young people in World War I, it is no wonder that the national strength weakened so quickly...... You just said that the battle took place in Xilan, what was the situation between the two warring sides? ”

"We have dispatched 320,000 soldiers and horses, and seven subject countries have helped in the war, and the garrison country has sent 400,000 soldiers and horses, and the number of subject countries in the war has reached 19, this war is very unfavorable to us, and we have lost 22 of them in a total of 31 gangs."

The Brandy Gang is equivalent to a small village in the Great Song Dynasty.

Zhao Xing and Chen Buqun glanced at each other, and Chen Buqun said: "We went south this time because some time ago, the Song merchants were frequently plundered in the waters near Xilan, so we plan to go to the Xilan sea area to search for pirates, and maintain the right of our Great Song merchants to trade. ”

There is a loophole in Chen Buqun's words, these two obviously do not have the official position of the Three Buddhas, but Chen Buqun expresses his demands in a serious manner as he treats the king's envoys. After the interpreter translated his words, the two people on the opposite side agreed without blinking. Leather Socks said in a relaxed tone: "I see, we have been guessing what this powerful naval army is going to do when it comes to my gate in Palembang, so it is." Rest assured, my lordship, we will express your request to the king. ”

The old man opened his mouth to say a few more words, and the leather stockings immediately explained: "As a Song official, from your standpoint, I suspect that the king may ask you to help in the war in the form of an alliance - my lord, this is a good opportunity, anyway, you must always choose a side to go to war, with the support of the local people of Xilan, I think." \Your wishes will come true more smoothly. ”

Zhao Xing grinned: "The cannonballs of the Great Song Dynasty are not free, if the king asks us to help in the war, my answer is: give us a helper, he has fifteen vassal states under his name, give me one of the vassal states, let us Song Shang establish a trade zone, I can help him repel the attack of the garrison country, and maybe recapture a few subject states from the garrison state."

In this way, he will not suffer, but only give me a subject country. In exchange for a weakened feud, it is believed that he is willing to make the deal. ”

Chen Buqun interjected: "It's better to just call Luna, I prefer that island." ”

Zhao Xing also pretended to agree: "That's right, that small island, as long as a naval army is stationed, it can make Deng 6 completely desperate." ”

Leather stockings shook his head and sighed deeply: "Fine orchid is not good, it is too far away from Palembang, and its rise will affect the prosperity of Palembang." I'd rather a few look for land near Palembang. ”

Zhao Xing asked with a wicked smile: "You are not the king, how do you know that the king is willing to give us land near Palembang?" It's hard to say these things. It's better to have an estimate and then talk about it."

Leather socks smiled meaningfully...... The rest of the time is garbage time. Zhao Xing explained the system of territorial management, and the two sides exchanged views on the international situation under the principle of peaceful coexistence, friendship and mutual assistance, and reached agreement on some major international issues......

The two waited until sunset to leave, and after they left, Chen Buqun asked the teacher uneasily: "Teacher, they mentioned giving us a piece of land near Palembang. How likely do you think this is? ”

Zhao Xing smiled: "I guess this is their true wish." ”

"I can't. This is near the royal capital, Palembang. It was called Palembang by the Song merchants, which shows its prosperity and great ...... How so? ”

Zhao Xing remembered. It seems that the natives in the Nanyang area do not cherish the ownership of the land very much, and they want to be back then. When the Portuguese arrived in India, the king of the land of India also pointed to a piece of land by the sea, and the Portuguese established a trade area - that place was called Guao.

The same is true of the Srivijaya whose ruler is sacrificial, as long as the subject pays taxes on time and is willing to send soldiers to help in foreign wars, then it is a qualified subject king - this may be the common form of the island countries of the South Seas, the small islands are too far apart to be easy to rule, so it becomes such a loose appearance.

The Spaniards later came to Palembang, and it was on this land, near Palembang, that Kulompur appeared.

Sriwijaya is now running out of troops, but the terrain is so good that as long as the Song merchants continue to come and go, Sriwijaya's treasury will never return to emptiness. What they need most now is to breathe a sigh of relief, as long as they have a chance to breathe, they will not be able to recover their national strength in three or five years, and continue to compete with the country where they are stationed for the right to tax the Song merchant land.

In Zhao Xing's view, it is more conducive to the Song merchants to have two evenly balanced opponents in a region, and Zhao Xingneng, who came to modern times, will not engage in that set of pulling one to fight one wrist. And who forces to weigh whom, this is the old-fashioned method. The country where it is stationed is now in the ascending stage, and it is the land that hits the ground.

After discussing this issue for a while, Chen Buqun looked in the direction of the port and said, "Presumably, early tomorrow morning, the king will invite us into the port...... Teacher, but I'm worried, if we drive into the South Seas with such fanfare, will our opponents be prepared? The Art of War, the god of soldiers, we have been delayed here for too long, and I am afraid that there will be a delay......"

Zhao Xing knocked on the table and replied: "The most distinctive feature of a centralized state is that it is not easy to be conquered, but it is easy to rule. In a centralized state, the people of the country are accustomed to obeying the powerful, and in order to maintain their throne, the ruler will gather all his strength against the foreign enemy, but when they know that the foreign enemy is invincible, they will obey quickly.

Most of these small countries in the South Seas were slave countries, and the same was true for the Arabs, and we went all the way south with great fanfare, which was to gather all the best of the enemy, and then we would fight and defeat those enemies once and for all. ”