"Master Hou, please take a seat!"

"Don't dare, Niangniang, Ambassador Zhang, please."

Smugness is proud, demonstrations are demonstrations, Fan Chao is actually very compelled in his heart, and he doesn't dare to sit in front of Lu Tianxiang and Zhang Ruifeng.

After everyone sat down, Lu Tianxiang said, "Ambassador Zhang, let's talk about it." ”

Zhang Ruifeng looked at Fan Chao with a smile: "That's the case, General Fan." When the local cavalry who had defected from the battlefield learned that we would leave, more than 20 people asked to follow us and were willing to take their horses to help us fight. In addition, more than 200 slaves were found in the city, and these slaves also asked to come with us. What is General Fan's opinion on whether to take these people in?

Fan Chao said: "You can choose some good war horses to take away, people don't want them, and you don't want bad horses, staying on the boat is a waste of food." As for slaves, how can this small ruined city afford to support hundreds of slaves? ”

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "These slaves are one of the city's financial resources. The lord of this city is called Zayd, and I will send cavalry from time to time to go out with pirates to plunder people and goods along the nearby coast. The remote coasts of Persia and Caowoer were also targets for their raids. The population was plundered, divided into several classes, and sold to the Portuguese and sometimes the Dutch at different prices. ”

"It turns out that today's beating is a human trafficker." Fan Chao finally figured out why this big city had the ability to raise three hundred cavalry.

Cai Yuncheng interjected: "Uncle, I think that the cavalry does not need to be taken in, but these slaves should be saved." They are in a miserable situation, and if they are not saved, they will inevitably be sold into slavery after all. Even if they were released, they would not be able to return to their hometowns, so they could only take them on the boat. In order to ensure military discipline and prevent sexual immorality, those female slaves can be arranged to be used on the mother's ship. Those slaves can also stay on the mother's boat to listen to them. ”

Cai Yuncheng was born in poverty and had great compassion for these slaves.

At the same time, he couldn't get used to seeing the imperial concubine go to sea. Just take this opportunity to stuff more women and lotters on the imperial concubine ship.

Fan Chao was surprised: "There are still casters among those slaves?" ”

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "The slaves here were mainly sold to the Dutch, British and Portuguese. The slaves used for work, the Three Kingdoms preferred to buy black slaves, but the hundred slaves could not be sold for a good price. Therefore, if they are young and have a slightly decent appearance, they will circle them and sell them again, and the price can be doubled immediately. These drowned slaves were sold to India by Europeans, and the Mughals and other Indian states used to buy lots to serve as eunuchs.

This is completely treating people as animals, how to make money.

Moreover, the person in charge of cutting slaves was actually a cheating horse official in the city. The main job cheats the horse, the part-time cheats people, if the infection is inflamed and dies, it is a normal business loss.

Fan Chao thought for a while and said, "Then let's stay, the woman and the cast are all used by the mother." The rest of the men, assigned to other ships to do odd jobs, can be regarded as replenishing the fleet in advance.

The fleet had already begun to be depleted, because it was too ill to continue sailing, three remained in India and one in Persia. All arrangements have been made, and officials from both countries will take care of them and take them away when the flotilla returns.

I was lucky not to encounter a violent storm along the way, otherwise the sailors would have suffered too many casualties and would have had to be recruited halfway through.

Lu Tianxiang was forcibly stuffed on the ship, and she had no objection to this, but just asked: "How to deal with the prisoners of war?"

Fan Chao said: "This is overseas, Your Majesty let us make our own decisions, and the principle is not to wantonly slaughter." Those prisoners of war can have their thumbs cut off so that they can no longer hold weapons. In this way, it will not add to the killing, but also have the effect of punishing and determining. As for the thief chieftain, his head must be cut off!

The next day, one prisoner after another, including the city's infantry, was lined up to have their thumbs cut off.

Most of those infantry were civilians in the city.

This was cut down, and the main young and strong laborers of the whole city could no longer do the heavy physical work that required the use of their hands. The city is almost abandoned.

Families wailed, every household wept bitterly, and their wives and children wept together.

All the grain, gold and silver that Zaid had hoarded were carried onto ships by the Datong army. Although he is a poor ghost, it is better than nothing, after all, the slave trade is very profitable, and he will not be so poor that he will run rats in the warehouse.

Of the captured Arabian horses, sixteen of them were selected to be taken away, and the rest were given to the local cavalry who had defected to them.

Rest for a few days and get ready to go.

Of the more than 200 slaves freed, most of them Persians and Afghans, but also a few Arabs. They were suddenly free, grateful to the Chinese, washed up, and went to work on the ship in new clothes.

These slaves did not have a concept of a state.

Even Persian slaves, because they came from the peasant class, did not identify with the Persian royal family. Whoever feeds them, they die for them. If you are treated a little better, your loyalty will increase.

"Dada-da-da!"

Just as the crowd was on board, four Arab cavalry caught up.

Lu Tianxiang had already boarded the boat, and when she saw this, she said to the female officer beside her: "Go over and ask, what are they chasing after you?"

The royal horse warden soon returned and reported: "These four riders, saying that they have no family, have asked to follow us to the sea, and they are willing to swear allegiance in the name of Allah." General Zheng was willing to take in these foreign riders. Ambassador Zhang didn't care, General Fan said to ask Niangniang. ’

"Since General Zheng is willing to accept it, then accept it." Lu Tianxiang said.

The sea is unpredictable, no one knows when to be in distress, and it is not a bad thing to collect a few who can fight.

The capital of Oman, Muscat.

It is only 500 miles away from Sohar, who has just finished a battle, and it is a short time to reach it by sea ship.

Saeed I was overjoyed at this time, and he was contemplating the annexation of Zaid. Unexpectedly, Zayd's cavalry, as well as the pirates who were attached to Zayed, actually took the initiative to come to him.

"It was the Chinese who attacked Sohar, not the damned Portuguese?" Said confirmed.

One of the cavalry leaders replied: "Great imams, the Chinese are very fierce. They came in large ships, with a strong army, and rushed to the city to kill people when they saw them. Loot our goods, burn down our houses, and ask the Imam to avenge us!

The prestige of Said I has long spread throughout the Arab coast.

Wherever the Portuguese attacked, the tribal leaders would come to ask for help, and Saeed would help if he could. The tribes that received the help would basically declare their allegiance, so that Said's territory grew rapidly.

Faced with these cavalrymen who came to take refuge, Said was not entirely convinced.

He was not only the military chief of Oman, but also the most respected religious leader in the entire Arab region. He had read ancient notes and knew that the Chinese had come to Oman and that fair trade was not aggressive. Arab merchants returning from the East

People also say that China, Portugal, and the Netherlands are enemies, and the enemies of the enemy should be friends.

After appeasing the cavalry, Saeed summoned his henchmen and ordered: "Take a group of cavalry and go to Sohar to find out the news." Don't get into conflict with the Chinese and see if that's true there. If Zaid takes the initiative to attack and the Chinese only passively counterattack, then get in touch with the Chinese and invite them to Muscat as guests.

The henchman said: "No matter what the truth is, we can go to war with the Chinese." They came from afar, and there won't be too many troops. As long as we defeat the infidels, your prestige will increase again, regardless of the nationality of the other party. There will be more and more tribes who admire your prestige and come to pay allegiance. ”

"Stupid!"

Said rebuked: "There are so many countries that have ill will towards us, and only Britain is willing to be our friend." In such a bad situation, how can you make enemies indiscriminately? As long as you are willing to be friends,

Seeing that with good intentions for us, no matter what religion he believes, we can work together. A man's heart should be broad, like the sea. From the Hajar mountains, many rivers flow. No matter where they originate, no matter which direction they flow, they will eventually merge into the sea! ”

They were all convinced by this, and they felt that their imam was extremely wise.

Before the inquirers returned, the Chinese envoys arrived. The Arab cavalry, who had taken refuge, landed ashore with the interpreter and entered the city of Muscat to explain the situation.

When he heard that Zeyd had set up an ambush first, Saeed had already believed most of it, because he knew Zeyd's style.

He asked carefully: "Have you defected to the Chinese?" ”

The leader of the four cavalry said: "The Chinese masters are merciful, and after their victory, they only killed Zaid." The rest of the captives, just cut off their thumbs. They moved Zaid's belongings, but they did not loot the city or burn the houses. They are not the same as the Portuguese bandits, so we are willing to follow. Merciful Master,

He will always not treat his subordinates harshly, and he is worthy of our allegiance. ”

Said nodded: "Don't loot cities, don't burn houses, such people deserve to make friends, at least they won't stab you in the back." Are they all gone? Didn't leave troops to occupy Sohar? Nor to build castles like in Portugal?

The surrendered cavalry said: "No, the Chinese masters are going to Europe, they are the emissaries of the Chinese emperor and have no intention of occupying any cities.

"Come with me out of town to greet guests!"

Said's personality was very heroic, and he didn't confirm this information, so he went to the port to meet the Chinese mission in person, and he was not afraid of being cut down on the spot by the Datong army.

Lu Tianxiang learned the lesson of the previous time, and when he encountered such a small country, he simply did not get off the ship to show up, and handed over all diplomatic tasks to Zhang Ruifeng.

After greeting each other, Said asked, "Have China and Portugal ever been at war?" ”

Zhang Ruifeng replied: "A seaport city in China that has been occupied by Portugal for nearly a hundred years. His Majesty, the Great Emperor, took back that harbor and expelled the disobedient Portuguese. ’

Said said happily: "Your emperor is the same as me. The Muscat Castle here was built by the Grape Man, and I personally led the troops to take it back. However, there is one bad thing, the Chinese emperor is too merciful to deal with the murderous Portuguese, and should kill them all, not just expel them. ’

"That's true." Zhang Ruifeng didn't bother to argue, so he followed this person.

Saeed also said, "Ladies and gentlemen, come and enjoy a meal in the castle." But your soldiers, I can't provide food, you need to buy your own food. I have just regained this place for less than two years, and there is not enough food, so I can only snub the Chinese guests. ”

"It's okay, we also have a gift for you."

The exchanges between the two sides were surprisingly smooth and diplomatic results were quickly reached.

Arab merchants from Oman will be able to trade freely in Palembang in the future, and will have priority over European merchants in supply.

And Saif I was willing to send an envoy to accompany the Chinese mission all the way south. The Arabs on the coast of East Africa would give Saif face and treat the Chinese mission as a distinguished guest - many black countries in later generations, the coastal areas were Arab

controlled by the people, and at the same time colonized by the Portuguese.