More than a month later

Mascat is the capital of the Kingdom of Oman

Muscat is located at the gateway of the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, surrounded by mountains on three sides, the Arabian Sea to the southeast and the Gulf of Oman to the northeast.

The city is located in a valley with beautiful topography and lush vegetation, and its geographical location is very important.

After arriving in Abu Dhabi by boat from Kuwait, Richard and his entourage stayed for several days to follow a camel caravan from Abu Dhabi through the desert Gobi at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula to Mascat, the capital of the Kingdom of Oman.

Abu Dhabi is now a Chinese town with a population of more than 80,000 people, whose main businesses are herding, smuggling and fishing, and it is also another important town where Chinese mercenaries gather in the Persian Gulf.

The mercenaries here mainly provide armed protection for caravans smuggled to the Kingdom of Iran, and are also the base camp for smuggling to the Kingdom of Oman.

Due to the weak force of the Kingdom of Oman, the economy of the entire kingdom was almost monopolized by Chinese smugglers.

When Richard and his entourage arrived here, they witnessed the Chinese caravan soaring, and although the goods brought by the camel caravan had not paid the border duties, they still swaggered into the city of Muscat.

The Omani Kingdom guards standing at the gate of the city were as if they had not seen it, allowing the camel caravan to enter, and even the interrogation was omitted.

The entire Kingdom of Oman originally had a population of just over 600,000, but after a large influx of Chinese immigrants, it exceeded the one million mark at the beginning of this century.

In Muscat, Chinese is the number one language spoken in the region, and local Arabs who don't know a few words of Chinese can't even buy anything.

In addition to the traditional Grand Mosque, various Chinese-style buildings with eaves and arches are visible, and the streets are in Chinese with a southern accent, as if you have come to a remote small city in the Tang Empire.

The Arab tribes in the state of primitive tribal life, after suddenly accepting the baptism of advanced Chinese civilization, developed a feeling of worship for the mountains.

The tribal elders and chieftains here are proud to be able to make friends with wealthy Chinese merchants, and intermarriage is a common phenomenon, and they are willing to hug their thighs.

The proliferation of fine porcelain, daily necessities and industrial goods from the Tang Empire was undoubtedly the basis for a better life.

Compared with migrating in the long yellow sand, nomadism, sitting in a beautiful courtyard drinking a cup of tea, writing a few calligraphy and paintings, and listening to the sound of a piano, isn't this kind of life desirable?

The complete crushing of backward civilizations by advanced civilizations has led to the flock of the upper princes and chieftains of the Oman Kingdom, and the Yu Tang faction has absolute strength and can influence the political situation of this country.

Coupled with the sharp increase in the proportion of ethnic Chinese and mixed-race Chinese, the Arab population has declined dramatically.

There are only so many Arab women, and the Arab herders at the bottom are destitute and have no meal. Of course, it is not as attractive as the wealthy Chinese, which is obvious.

When the heavily armed camel caravan arrived in Muscat, it was followed by a large group of children, who were elated as if they were a festival.

Arriving at the Chema Store, the team leader took out a packet of hard pieces of candy and gave each of these local children a piece of candy, and the children shouted excitedly;

"Thank you, sir, for the reward, long live the Tang Empire."

Hearing these strange Chinese, Richard walked over and asked the team leader, saying; "Boss Wang, did you teach the children to shout like this?"

"Oh, Your Excellency, this is the rule of Sir Zhang, the president of the Oman Chamber of Commerce, you might as well give a little favor on weekdays, but you must let the children often talk about it, and it will have a subtle influence."

"Huh...... Interesting. Richard smiled and answered.

At this time, the team leader said again;

"Our Sir Chang is a retired officer who fought in the Battle of Suez City, has business dealings in Yunzhong Province and Kuwait, and is one of the biggest bosses in the whole of Muscat.

Your Excellency, please wait a moment, I have sent someone to inform you.

Sir Zhang knew that there were dignitaries from the mainland of the empire arriving, and he would definitely come to greet him personally, and it would not take long. ”

"If that's the case, then wait." Richard is now a local and quite modest person.

Not for a while

I saw several carriages driving down the street, and there was a black sedan in the middle, surrounded by more than 30 Chinese guards on horseback and gun, all of whom looked fierce.

This huge pomp and circumstance made everyone in the market dodge.

This lineup out of the street made Richard a little speechless, the great nobles of the empire and the royal children would not engage in such a big battle.

After the convoy stopped

Out of the black car in the middle was a wealthy businessman who had already made some fortunes, with a gold chain pocket watch hanging on his satin coat, and several gemstone rings on his hands, and a smell of local tyrants came to his face.

The team leader hurriedly introduced this person as Sir Zhang, and then stepped forward and said so.

Richard stood still and did not move his nest, and Xu Jinxun came forward to greet him.

But this Sir Zhang is also a well-informed person, and from the moment he got out of the car, his eyes were fixed on Richard and he looked at him repeatedly, and he couldn't move away anymore.

Richard just stood there quietly with his hands in his hands, and his spontaneous aura was outstanding. There is not enough majesty and peace in Surrey to be high and not learnt anyway.

Vaguely

Sir Zhang seems to have seen the demeanor of His Royal Highness Tang Li Xin, the high-spirited King of Pingxi, who scolded Fang Xuan.

He was a young officer at the time and used to follow His Highness. I have engraved this scene deeply in my mind, and I can't forget it.

It is also a mistake, the emperor Richard, who relied on the immediate conquest of the world, has always been the idol worshiped by many princes, and he is imitating him in every move.

"Zhang Zhicheng, a foreigner from Fanwai, has met His Excellency Sir Li, and it is the greatest honor for you to be here in Muscat City." Sir Zhang looked extremely respectful, and clasped his hands into fists and bowed deeply.

Richard simply put his hand on his hand, didn't bend his waist, and said lightly; "Mr. Zhang is polite, Li is passing through your place, so I don't have to bother."

"Where, Sir Sir is serious, we grass people can meet the nobles from the empire and receive the lessons in person, which is a wonderful thing that we can't ask for."

Speaking of which

Zhang Zhicheng respectfully stretched out his hand and said; "Venerable Sir, this place is not suitable for a long talk, can you please move to the grass hut and talk slowly with a cup of tea?"

"That's very good."

Since the merchants here were in a hurry to greet him, Richard knew that this person had no malicious intent, so he nodded kindly, and walked naturally to the black sedan and stood still.

When Zhang Zhicheng saw this, he suddenly remembered something and walked up quickly, opened the car door with both hands, and made a "please" gesture.

Richard naturally sat in, Xu Jinxun looked at Zhang Zhicheng with a respectful expression speechlessly, sighed lightly and sat in.

These local merchants are as good as monkeys, and their eyesight is so strong that you have to admire them.

A security officer honestly and unceremoniously opened the co-pilot's door and sat inside.

One of the remaining officers gently patted Zhang Zhicheng on the shoulder and said; "Boss Zhang, don't look at it, let's sit in the carriage behind us together."

"Hey, good."

Zhang Zhicheng reacted at this time, followed the officer to the carriage behind, and pointed with his finger at the surrounding armed guards as he walked;

"You all give me a little alert, stupid as a stupid camel, I don't have any eyesight, my lord, I am unlucky, I raised a group of rice buckets for you."

The two of them got into the carriage one after the other, and the rest of the strong men loaded their luggage into the carriage with all their hands, and then under the escort of the armed cavalry, the carriage and horses drove towards the city.

Half an hour later

A splendid and spacious white Babylonian castle estate, surrounded by greenery and beautiful women holding trays in their hands, this building is not inferior to the royal palace, and the luxury is still surpassed.

Under the continuous dome of the outer hall, on a long arabesque table, all kinds of tropical fruits, grapes, cantaloupe, preserves, dried fruits are arranged as high as a hill.

We have a wide range of wines, whiskeys, martells, champagnes, and tea.

Richard sat in the center, with 12 beautiful Arab women dancing in front of him, and more than 10 musicians playing hard not far away.

This is what Sir Zhang Zhicheng said about "grass house" and "a cup of tea", and the gap is also wider.

Chinese people have never liked publicity, and the places they introduce themselves are humble words such as "three or five humble rooms", "one grass house" and "humble house".

Xu Jinxun looked a little helpless and teased; "Mr. Zhang, isn't your grass house a little too pompous? Even when I saw it, I was thrilled. ”

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, I can't stand on the stage, which makes Lord Xu smile." Zhang Zhicheng replied with a smile.

He didn't do this to everyone, but today, His Excellency Sir Li put great pressure on him, and his aura was too strong.

Suddenly, the yearning for the Celestial Empire in North America arose.

What is Muscat Count?

Not even a poor country in the empire, but Zhang Zhicheng was a proper citizen of the Tang Empire and was rated as a local gentry in Yunzhong Province, which is also something he has always been proud of.

But the competition in Yunzhong Province is too fierce, the involution is fierce, and his main base and market control are still in the Kingdom of Oman.

Here, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Oman is not as useful as he is, because he employs more than 30,000 people, owns more than 20,000 acres of vineyards and large farms, as well as more than 10 quarries and large grain and oil warehouses, and has the only flour mill in the Kingdom of Oman.

When it comes to business, nomadic Arabs don't have such a mind.

Twenty years ago

Zhang Zhicheng could exchange a plastic bucket with the desert tribe here for a camel, and an iron pot for ten sheep, and then transport them back to Yunzhong Province to make a lot of money, and gradually accumulated huge wealth.

Of course, there's no such thing anymore.

These stupid Arabs have suffered a lot and have become shrewd.

But no matter how shrewd, compared to the Chinese businessmen who bend one ring after another in their stomachs, they are still very good leeks to cut, and they are cut one stubble after another.

This is why the British are keeping an eye on it, and the Imperial Colonial Department does not support the subversion of the Kingdom of Oman, hoping to continue to preserve this original ecology.

Don't believe it, he really has the ability.

Otherwise, Zhang Zhicheng has long wanted to overthrow the regime of the Kingdom of Oman and have a good time being the king himself.

(End of chapter)