Although the Champa officials could not restrict the freedom of the Song envoys, they knew that if Qianlong was going out, they would definitely send troops to protect him.

In order to avoid trouble, Qian Long simply disguised himself, looking like he was just an ordinary businessman's child, and then left Zhang's house with Su Liye in a car.

The Cham soldiers guarding nearby only thought that the car was still the head of the Pu family, so they did not notice that the 'key protection object' was out of the security range.

When he arrived on the street, Qianlong found that it was very lively, and groups of Cham people were singing and dancing, as if they were celebrating something.

Everyone was dressed in bright costumes, covered with decorations and flowers, and their faces were painted with color, cheering and praying.

Even the strong bulls and elephants that walk the streets are painted with unknown symbols of all sizes, and many of the elephants are carrying pairs of young men and women, as if receiving blessings from the people around them.

In some wide places, stacks of firewood were piled up, and bonfires were burning in broad daylight, and the air was filled with smoke and fire.

At many intersections in the streets and alleys, a group of children pulled ropes to block the way, and those who wanted to pass were not annoyed, but smiled and took out some coins and threw them at the children.

"Today is Shiva's birthday, and it is also one of the most important festivals in the country...... Suriya explained to Qian Long with a smile.

The three main gods of Brahmanism are Brahma, Vishwa, and Shiva, although Brahma is the creator, but there may not be many worshippers because he doesn't care about things.

Shiva is not only the god of destruction, but also the god of reproduction, music, and dance, and is very worshipped because of his different appearances, representing the power of life and death, change, decay, and regeneration.

The vast majority of the Brahmans in Champa believe in Shiva, and each king would erect a cylindrical 'Linga' statue in the royal temple and name the Linga after himself as a symbol of Lord Shiva.

Believers believe that worshipping on Shiva Day will lead to a long marriage and many children, so many people choose this day for their weddings.

After hearing this, Qian Long's face couldn't help but show strangeness, "This object of worship in your country is really... It's so straightforward...... Ahem, but it looks good, this kind of faith makes the people of your country live a very happy life. ”

Soulier laughed to himself, "Is it happy?" What the virtuous brother saw was that only a small number of people were happy, but many more were reduced to lowly Shudras, or even lower Chandras, who were not allowed to participate in religious ceremonies, read or listen to the Vedas, and were not allowed to acquire any knowledge, but were only enslaved and oppressed like the walking dead, and did not even have the right to look forward to future lives......"

"With such injustice and such oppression, is there no rebellion?" Qian Long was surprised.

Suriya's eyes showed helplessness, "No, because they are all used to it, they are numb, and when they get out of the city, the virtuous brother will understand it with his own eyes." ”

After going out from the west gate of the Buddha Oath City, and walking a short distance, Suriya asked the coachman to stop.

As soon as he got out of the car, Qian Long saw a large area of dense and low shacks, and couldn't help but feel strange, "Brother Su, this is where you want me to see?" ”

"Yes, it's only one-tenth the size of the Buddha's Oath City, but it is more than twice as populated as the city."

"Huh? Are you saying that this area of less than 500 acres is home to nearly 100,000 people? ”

"Only more, not less."

"Isn't that a man-to-man? So why don't these people separate and find other places to build houses? ”

"Because they have nothing, and are not allowed to occupy any land, they can only live in the places prescribed by the king."

Suriya said, walking slowly towards the shack area.

As the saying goes, the ugliness of the family should not be publicized, but now the prince deliberately brought foreign envoys to the slums, what is the purpose?

Qian Long was a little puzzled, and raised his heel to Su Liye, wanting to see what kind of medicine he was going to sell in his gourd.

Two of Qian Long's companions and six of Suriya's guards followed closely behind, but the guards did not seem to be worried about Suriya's safety.

Outside some shacks and in open spaces, there were men squatting in twos and threes, most of them looking very old, with only a rag at the waist and crotch barely covering their shame, and their naked bodies were dark and thin.

These people seemed to be basking in the sun, but their eyes were hollow and dark, and they were lifeless, like wooden clay sculptures.

When they noticed that Surier, Qian Long and the others were approaching, they hurriedly avoided the sides, and knelt down and pressed their foreheads against the ground, as if they were about to bury themselves in the mud, and their movements were extremely humble but extremely skillful.

You must know that Suriya did not identify himself, and the group was not dressed gorgeously, and if they were in the city, they would even look ordinary.

Qian Long asked in surprise, "They know you?" ”

Surier pursed his lips and shook his head, "I don't know." ”

"They don't even know who we are, so why are they so humble?" Qian Long was puzzled.

Suriya sneered softly, "It doesn't matter what kind of identity we are, anyway, they are already the lowest people in the world, and they are not even human ......"

"This ......" Qian Long didn't know what to say for a while.

As he continued to walk in silence, a foul smell came from him, and the scene in front of him became clearer.

Most of them are no more than a foot high, but they are also divided into two layers, and you don't need to go in to imagine how narrow and dim it is.

I don't know how many families put together each shack, there is no regularity and shape, and even if the necessary lanes are left, they are often very narrow, and it is difficult to even two people in parallel.

Suriya stopped, "The alleys here are so intricate and winding that even those who live here will lose their way if they deviate from the familiar route, so we won't go in." ”

Even if he didn't get lost, Qian Long didn't plan to go in, because in his opinion, these dark alleys were no different from stinky ditches, and the sewage floating on feces flowed everywhere, and there was no place to stay.

As far as the eye can see, almost all the alleys are littered with garbage and a strong rancid stench, mosquitoes and flies are flying in clumps, and wet rats are scurrying between the garbage heaps.

In many lanes, puppies and bare-bottomed babies are chasing and fighting, and they don't seem to feel how dirty the environment is, perhaps they think the world is like this......

This kind of place can also be lived!?

Qian Long frowned with disgust, in his opinion, even the dwellings of those wild people on Liuqiu Island were hundreds of times better than this, but they had occupied the city for a thousand years.

Turning his gaze back, Qian Long found that Suriya was fascinated by those children who were playing, and there was a lot of yearning and envy in his eyes.

A dignified prince envies a group of poor children? Not sick, right!?

Probably awakened by Qian Long's monster-like gaze, Suriya came back to his senses and smiled, "Do you think that I am very different from them, and they should envy me?" ”

"Actually, when I was a child, I was not much better off than them, and in some ways, even worse than them."

"My father is a noble Champa royal family, but my mother is just a lowly slave girl, according to the rules of Brahmanism, I belong to the evil race, and I am a pariah who is not even as good as a dog."

"My mother died when I was less than a year old, and I couldn't have survived, thanks to Aunt Ru, who was also a slave girl, who took over the care of me, and taught me Chinese and writing ......"

"My father's mansion is luxurious and magnificent, but Aunt Ru's cottage is dark and damp, cramped like a cage, I have lived in it for nearly ten years, and I never dare to step out of the door, because Aunt Ru is afraid that I will be trampled to death like an ant......"

"During those years, the hut was my whole world, and when Aunt Ru went to work, I could only silently endure loneliness and fear, and waited until Aunt Ru came back with her tired body, and in addition to food, she would often bring me some other things, small stones, flowers and leaves, puppets, clay statues, etc., and tell me some interesting things."

"Until one day, I waited and waited, waited and waited, and finally someone pushed open the door, but it was not Aunt Ru who came in, but another female slave."

"Aunt Ru will not come back, never again, just because she accidentally broke a vase, and then my so-called brother cut off her hands and bled to death."

"After hearing the bad news, I didn't cry, I didn't make trouble, I was surprisingly calm, and I asked carefully to understand that my brother was staying in the prescription place, and then I rushed out of the hut......"

"I found the brother who was more than a decade older than me, and pounced on him like a mad dog, biting him desperately, I thought I could kill him, but unfortunately, I was too weak and naïve after all, and I was subdued by just biting off a piece of flesh on his arm."

"Then I thought I was going to die, but I didn't have the slightest fear, I just regretted not being able to avenge Aunt Ru."

"Of course, I didn't die, because the commotion alarmed my father, I don't know who told him about my background, he remembered that there was such a son as me, in fact, he didn't care about this, but after staring at me for a long time, he actually decided to let me go, and assigned me a place to live, arranged for two servants to serve, and even found someone to teach me to read......"

"I didn't understand why he did this, and I didn't care, because I wanted to live until I fulfilled my vow."

When he said these words, Soulier's whole person was calm, and his tone did not fluctuate, as if he was talking about an irrelevant person, a very ordinary thing.

Qian Long stood beside him and listened quietly, his eyes gradually becoming solemn, "Why are you talking to me about this?" ”

Suriya smiled faintly and looked up into the distance, "What I want to do, I can never do it on my own, I have to find someone to help me, before, the right person in my mind was Sharihari Deva, but you came, I found you more suitable, so I want to gain your trust as soon as possible." ”

Qian Long was noncommittal, and he didn't ask what Suriyah wanted to do, but he was a little curious, "Sharihari Deva?" ”

"Yes, he is an ambitious guy and has been preparing for his goals, and although he has different goals than mine, the consequences of his goals are exactly what I want, at least some of them."

"And what is all you wish for?"

Suriya shrugged, "I can't tell...... Brother Xian, don't you think the world you see now is too dirty? If there's a chance to break it, I think I'd be happy to do it. ”

"Have you ever thought that even if you break all this as you wish, there will still be injustice and darkness." Qian Long asked with a wink.

Suriya stretched out his hands, "So what does it matter?" I don't want to be a saint, it's just that whoever hurts me, I'll fight back, whether it makes sense or not, but people have to find something to do in their lifetime. ”

Qianlong couldn't help but be happy, "Brother Su is really knowledgeable, maybe you and His Royal Highness King Yan will meet and fall in love, because he often says that if you don't have a dream, what's the difference between being a man and salted fish?" ”

"If you don't have a dream, what's the difference between it and salted fish...... Su Liye muttered, and then laughed heartily, "His Royal Highness King Yan said this, wonderful!" Wonderful! ”

In the middle of the joke, Surier and Qian Long reached some kind of consensus, although it was not specified, and no contract was signed, but they had already formed an alliance.

At this moment, festive drumming and noise could be heard not far away, and the children in the alleys laughed and hurried in the direction from which the sound came.

Qian Long was a little strange, "What happened?" Listening to this movement, it seems that the battle is not small, is there still a family here who can do a lot of happy events!? ”

With a look of disdain on his expression, Suriya explained, "This should be picking up the Holy Maiden." ”

"Holy Maiden!?" Qian Long was surprised.

Suriya pouted, "Brother Xian, come with me and have a look." ”