Section XVIII Alexandria

In fact, Cairo and Shanghai are almost on the same latitude, but the climate in Cairo and Shanghai is completely different. By the time Lao Luo had finished all his preparations and was ready to go to Alexandria, it was already the end of August, and there was still not much rain in places like Cairo. Despite being flanked by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the city seems to be more influenced by the desert climate of North Africa.

There is no pollution from later generations, and the sunshine is abundant every day, but Lao Luo has begun to get tired of the bright sun every day, so he didn't even ask Camille to see him off, just because he couldn't refuse, he came to a simple farewell banquet at the hotel, and the next day he left the city with three young boys, of course, under the pretext of hoping to see the northern sea as soon as possible.

It didn't matter whether Camille believed it or not, and it didn't matter what his uncle, the Minister of Commerce, Naifel, had other ideas, but the important thing was that Lao Luo had already begun to be a little impatient for the new journey. As a person born in the north, living in a place where there are no four seasons of the year is simply torture.

Fortunately, the vegetation of the Nile Plain in this era was still very luxuriant, and there were no car bandits and roadrage on the way from Cairo to Alexandria, perhaps because there were always patrols running back and forth, or perhaps because almost all the caravans traveling abroad in this era had escorts with them.

All the people dressed as merchants are not very eye-catching, of course, each of the four people in Lao Luo's party is strong and powerful, plus there are not many goods to carry, which may be the reason why everyone is not disturbed by bandits. You must know that in this era, no matter which country it is, basically out of the urban jurisdiction, there will always be people with unknown origins, especially the junction between countries is the most obvious.

It was not far from Cairo to Alexandria, and with horses along the way, it took just over three days to reach the outskirts of Alexandria.

Alexandria is an important port for maritime trade from the ancient Egyptian period, it is said that it was built during the Macedonian Kingdom, its monarch Alexander the Great ordered to build, there was a long time here to receive a general called Ptolemy to garrison, and then there was a period of time belonging to Rome, Octavian once used this city as the granary of the Roman Empire, the famous Roman tyrant Caracalla once caused a massacre in this city, and was later ruled by the Arabs, in the hundred years before the arrival of Lao Luo, The Byzantines and Arabs fought several times because of this city.

After the establishment of the capital of the Fatimid Kingdom in Cairo, its importance began to wane, but many Jews, Europeans, Berbers, and even North Africans still settled here.

Lao Luo came here at the same time as Alexandria began to decline, as many merchant ships began to turn to Cairo, but the city was still inhabited by a large number of foreign people, and the shops of the merchants who had been doing business here had not yet had time to relocate.

Because of the war and lack of attention, Alexandria's ruined walls and arrow towers have not been repaired, and the city seems a little bleak, but fortunately, there is still a tall lighthouse called one of the ten wonders of the island of Pharos, like a giant watching the chaos at his feet.

It was a city that began to fall into decay, and it has not been glorious since the pretentious ancient Greeks retreated from here, the Romans demanded food from here, the Byzantines thought it could be used as a stronghold, and the Arabs began to build their capital. So when Lao Luo entered the city, he saw a mixed and unordered city.

In addition to the inhabitants who settled here, the merchants who came and went, the dock workers, the shipbuilders and shipbuilders, the wandering warblers, there were many wanderers and rogue ruffians who tried to make a profit for nothing.

After driving away more than a dozen groups of beggars, gangsters, rogue warblers and even hooligans, Lao Luo led everyone to find a relatively open and quiet place to rest, a Jewish-run inn. It is said that the Jews are good at business, but since they were driven out of their ancestral land by the Romans, they have no homeland, and it has become their creed to make money to survive, because at least some of the time money can be used to buy freedom.

The same was true of the Jewish proprietor of the inn, an old fellow named Rumbusch, who even mixed a restaurant, inn, grocery store, and wholesale seafood, and hired people of his own clan to run it together and protect it, so that there was still a small piece of pure land in this chaotic Alexandria.

"Dear guest, I am the best hotel in Alexandria, clean, convenient, and guaranteed that no idlers will disturb you." Rum Busch, who led Lao Luo and the others to the hotel room, said. Fortunately, Rumbusch spoke Arabic, not Hebrew, otherwise Lao Luo really couldn't understand his words.

"Well, Rumbusch boss, is there a spare courtyard next to it? I also have a few companions who didn't come. "Lao Luo is going to simply book a place to stay for Al Hassen's arrival.

"Yes, distinguished guest, I wonder when your friend will arrive?" Rumbusch's beard was not always messy like the Arabs, but he was very neatly groomed and dressed in a very regular manner.

"It's probably going to take another four or five days, and I'm probably still on the way." Lao Luo encouraged to estimate the time, and estimated that Alhasan was also about to arrive at the port, and those of them who surveyed the port must have officially arranged accommodation for the Arabs.

The rooms of the hotel are very satisfying to Lao Luo, the simple white house, the blue doors and windows, and the clean beds, with the flowers and plants in the room, it is very much the feeling of a Mediterranean resort hotel in the later generations. In addition to looking at everyone in the room, Naga Namu Naqi Eighteen Lang had a satisfied expression, and Lao Luo said to Rumbus: "No problem, boss, it's just these rooms." ”

"Okay, guest, thank you for your choice." Rumbusch behaved much like the English butler of later generations, and he pointed to other houses not far away with the same white walls and said: "Your friend's accommodation can be arranged over there, and it is close to the coast, so that it is convenient to do whatever you want." ”

"Okay, thank you, Rumbusch boss." Lao Luo casually accosted, and then asked, "I need to find a boat to go to Athens, do you have any good recommendations?" ”

"Aha, you're asking the right person, the place where you came in just now turned left is a tavern, where many shippers and maritime merchants are discussing sea routes every day."

"That's your business, too, right? Mr. Rumbusch? Lao Luo asked in a somewhat mocking tone.

"That's right, including restaurants, you can find flavors from anywhere you want." Rumbusch showed a slight hint of self-satisfaction.

"Hehe, I've heard that Hebrews are born merchants, and it seems that this is the case." Lao Luo complimented casually, no matter what, nice words may bring unexpected convenience, who knows.

"Thank you for the compliment, if you have any needs, you can put them forward, and it is the responsibility of the businessman to solve the problem for the guest." Rumbusch's reply, though typical of a businessman's reply, could be heard in the words of joy - amiable and unruly guests are often the best source of profit.

Lao Luo, who hadn't drunk for a long time, decided to lead the three boys to fill his appetite, and then take a bath and rest.

The tavern was set up not far from the residence, the same simple white building, similar to the huge drinking table of later generations, and the various costumed merchants, captains, sailors, and of course, scholars and travelers who sat in all corners of the surrounding area.

Just like every time he went to a new place, Naga also learned Lao Luo's preference, slowly ate to his heart's content, and then slowly drank the drink or wine in the cup with the cup in his hand. Even a few young people were inadvertently imitating Lao Luo's actions when he drank - taste it first, then put it in his hand, look at the color of the wine, and then dry it in one gulp.

"Alexander is the greatest emperor, and there will be no more glorious monarch." An old man who was clearly Greek said this, and as for why he was Greek, it was clear from the white robe he was wearing.

"Octavian is the real emperor, and the area of his reign is even larger, and the Greeks have killed their own monarch!" A guy who couldn't tell the race, but he had short monk-style hair.

"Nonsense, Octavian was a hypocrite, a tyrant, he was not Caesar's son at all, and even killed Caesar the Younger, and Antony and Cleopatra......" The one who spoke was clearly a Semitic.

"Caliph Umar I was the greatest monarch, ruling the territory from the Far East to the Iberian Peninsula." The man was clearly a Berber, and his clothes and beard on his face clearly indicated his identity.

"Constantine the Great is the greatest king, and his empire has stood for seven hundred years!" The speaker was clearly inclined to the Byzantine Empire, and wore clothes that were a mix of East and West - basically Byzantine style.

Lao Luo heard it, and several people were obviously talking about the leaders of several Western empires, but unfortunately the Eastern Empire was not known at this time, and Qin Shi Huang Yingzheng was just the leader of the barbarians when he said it here, so he simply listened casually.

At this time, the owner of the tavern and inn, Rumbusch, spoke, "It's all nonsense, no matter what emperor is, it has nothing to do with greatness, it's all guys who play with people's hearts and people's lives, every empire is indispensable for bloodshed and sacrifice, what do those who sacrifice for the empire get?" ”

"Honor! Honor is the most precious and supreme! "This guy who spoke obviously had traces of the army, and he was still wearing half-shoulder armor in such a hot weather.

"Honor is the most precious thing a man has, but what do the families of those who get the honor of death get? Disease! Poor! Hunger! It was Rumbusch who spoke, and his voice made him look not at all like an old fellow in his fifties or sixties.

"Well, what Rumbusch boss said makes sense, none of us are soldiers, let alone pioneers of the empire, there is no need to argue about this, let's have a toast to the health of our families!" The one proposing was a red-faced guy who looked like he was supposed to be a guy who had been floating on the sea all year round, and this was supposed to be a captain.

With his words, some people who wanted to argue stopped talking, just raised their glasses and said "for the health of their families......"

The sound of "Cheers" came and went, and most of the people in the tavern were wandering outside, and their thoughts about their families were shared, including Lao Luo, Naga, Mnachi, and Cui Shibalang.

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