Rudolf I smiled and said, "You are right, Katarina, this is why I have faith in you, you always think more than others, and you are the bravest of all my daughters." ”

Caterina smiled with relief, "Thank you, father, I won't let you down." ”

Rudolf I nodded and said, "Okay, I trust you. The time I agreed with John Mendecovino was only three days, and you should prepare immediately. I give you five hundred of the best knights, and in case of danger, I will allow you to leave them to fight to the death and cover your departure, and wherever you are, always be vigilant, this is my only and most important admonition. ”

The three respectfully received their orders, and Albrecht sent his blessings. Time was tight, and Rudolf I's order was passed down immediately. When John Mendecovino heard that Rudolf I had sent a prince and two princesses with five hundred elite cavalry, he immediately understood Rudolf I's intentions. Faced with the possible opening up of new trade routes, the German emperor put on an inevitable posture to get a piece of the pie from the Pope!

At the same time, in Tabriz, the capital of the Ilkhanate, Abha was holding the mirror that Guo Shoujing had tried to make, and was ecstatic!

This mirror is almost the same as the mirror from the Southern Song Dynasty, Guo Shoujing's conditions are still the same, he is willing to share the profits of the mirror with Abaha, and all the money Guo Shoujing gets will be used for the construction of the canal, and Abaha immediately agreed.

Maria, the illegitimate daughter of the Eastern Roman Emperor Michael VIII of Abaha, looked curiously at the first mirror made in the Ilkhanate, knowing full well that this shining single-sided glass would bring great wealth to the Ilkhanate, just like all other goods made by Guo Shoujing.

Maria hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Khan, my father sent an envoy to discuss with Khan last month, hoping that Khan would hand over the right to sell all goods in Europe to him, I don't know what Khan wants?" ”

Abha smiled, put the mirror aside, and said, "Although new goods are constantly being manufactured, they are not enough to sell in the Ilkhanate and the neighboring countries, and there is no way to send them to Eastern Rome for the time being, but I promise you that when there are more and more goods in the future, I will definitely take care of your father's interests." ”

Abba was forty-three years old at this time, but unfortunately his health was far inferior to that of his father Hülegü, and he was harassed by some illnesses from time to time.

Maria has been a Kedon for twelve years, but she's not that old, only twenty-six years old. Since marrying Abbah, Maria had succeeded in maintaining a very harmonious relationship between the Ilkhanate and the Eastern Romans, and the two countries had never clashed, and Michael VIII had also benefited greatly from this peace and taking advantage of Constantinople's special position.

Aruhun interjected on the side: "Father Khan, can you use half of the benefits of the mirror to invest in the construction of the canal, speed up its process, and meet the army of the western expedition as soon as possible?" ”

Before Aruhun's words came out, Aruhun's younger brother Haihe immediately said disapprenously: "Brother, we have spent a lot of money to repair the canal, and on my father's birthday last month, even the birthday banquet was reduced by half compared with previous years, and if this continues, there will be complaints inside and outside the palace, so there is no need to be so frugal." ”

Haihedu has always been extravagant on weekdays, and Aruhun has long been dissatisfied with him, and immediately shot back: "The western expedition is a major event, in order to avenge the cowardice and not spend it, what is the reason why the birthday banquet of my father Khan is reduced by half?" Why can't you make it simpler when you do longevity? The benefits of mirrors must be great, can they all be squandered? ”

Haihe was not convinced, and was about to speak again, but Abaha's younger brother Tigu Dieer saw that the situation was not good, shook his head, and said, "Don't fight first, the khan did not speak." ”

Abha nodded approvingly, and both Aruhun and Kaihe glanced at each other, suppressing their anger.

Prime Minister Buhua smiled and said calmly: "Khan, there are three thousand seven hundred slaves this month, and their value has not been paid. ”

Abhahar thought for a moment and said, "Just according to Aruhun, take half of the proceeds from the mirror to build the canal first, and if it is not enough, you can add it at any time." The expenses of the local government will continue to be saved, and Cheng Yue has made such a great effort to conquer the west, and if we do not build the canal on time, the Great Khan will also blame. ”

Aruhun said with a smile: "The Mamluks really heard that we were going to build the canal, as the king of Zhennan expected, not only did they not harass them, but they actually gave up several places they had already occupied to feign defeat, and then sent us slaves along the Nile from the south, and when we repaired the canal, they would come and rob us." But unfortunately, they still don't know how powerful King Zhennan is! ”

Ah Baha said: "Speaking of this, Guo Shoujing and the craftsmen of the Southern Song Dynasty have been making explosives, I don't know how much? Can you make some? ”

Aluhun shook his head and said: "Alas, father Khan, this Guo Shoujing is really obedient, and the king of Zhennan will not give him the slightest discount on what he ordered before leaving." A few days ago, when I went to visit the camp, I was stopped by Wang Shiyuan's navy three miles away, and I was not allowed to advance, so I had to wait for Guo Shoujing to come out of the camp to talk to me. ”

Haihe couldn't help but say, "What's so difficult about this? Just send a few women in and let them inquire. ”

Aluhun shook his head and said, "You can't help but think too simply, how can Guo Shoujing and Wang Shiyuan not be wary of this kind of thing?" I had sent hundreds of women in, Guo Shoujing gathered them in one place, asked them to pick up four or five people each overnight, and then they were not allowed to stay, and they were sent out overnight, and there were still people standing outside to listen, plus few people understood what the Han people said, so they didn't get any news. ”

Haihe said dissatisfiedly: "Is the king of Zhennan doing this to beware of us Mongols?" We are not his minions, who does he think he is? It really doesn't make sense. ”

Ah Baha sighed: "King Zhennan's move, in fact, there is nothing wrong, if it were me, I would have to do this, don't say it again." ”

Buhua said: "Khan, the minister asked Guo Shoujing for 5,000 crossbows last year to defend the border, but Guo Shoujing refused on the pretext that there was no war. Yesterday, Guo Shoujing sent a letter to his minister, saying that he was willing to give the khanate 1,000 crossbows and 100,000 arrows, but asked the minister to find a way to get some pork for him. The Khan knew that most of the people in the khanate believed in Islam, and if they wanted to get pork, they had to transport it from the Christian places in the north, which made it very difficult for the ministers. 2k reading network