Due to the great influence of the Tang Dynasty on overseas, in the Song Dynasty, "Tang" had already become the name of China in the southeastern overseas countries. Especially in Southeast Asia, China or things related to China have always been referred to as "Tang". Not only is "Tang" used as a synonym for the land of "China", but also Chinese are called "Tang people", Chinese surnames are "Tang surnames", Chinese clothing is "Tang clothes", Chinese merchant ships are called "Tang ships" or "Tang ships", and Chinese goods resold from sea ships are called "Tang goods".

Even the "Chinese language" that was commonly known in later generations was also called "Tang language" by overseas countries in the Song Dynasty, and those who stayed overseas for a year and did not return Chinese were called "living in Tibet", while foreigners who did not return to China for more than a year were called "living in the Tang Dynasty".

Chinatown was first called "Tang Street" and began in Japan during the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the Japanese used it to refer to the residential area of Chinese living in Japan. The Tang Dynasty was the most glorious period in Chinese history, leaving the deepest impression on the Japanese, so they called the Chinese Tang people, and the Chinese were proud of it, willing to accept such a title, often using self-designation, so it continued to later generations. In the Southern Song Dynasty, since the Great Song Dynasty was determined to open up overseas trade, Nanyang has also had a large number of Song people living in "Tang Street" and "Great Song City".

200 miles east of Cairo, the capital of the Ayyubid Dynasty, the Red Sea Harbor was unwittingly formed the "Great Song City" because thousands of Song people traded there.

"Great Song City" began in the Jiading period, the Song merchants who came to trade came to Egypt, because of the long distance, it took two years to go back and forth, they gathered in the port, and even bought real estate and built houses. Over time, restaurants, teahouses, cloth shops and other Song shops that were convenient for Song merchants also came into being, and gradually formed a gathering place for Song people. With the stimulation of exports by the Southern Song Dynasty, the scale and frequency of Song merchants are increasing day by day, and more and more Egyptian locals also often visit here, and call it "Great Song City", buy porcelain, tea, silk, etc. brought by Song merchants, and taste the meals of Song people's shops, so that "Great Song City" is prosperous and lively, reaching more than 100,000 people. The Chinese and Han are mixed, and the degree of prosperity is not inferior to that of Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Although it is winter, the port climate is mild and rainy, and the temperature is suitable, just like the spring in the south of the Great Song River, which makes people feel refreshed and happy.

"Da Song! Great Song! ”

In the harbor of the "Great Song City", dozens of warships of the Great Song Dynasty Navy Division came from afar, the guns on the tall ships were secluded, the officers and men of the Song Army Navy Division were holding guns, majestic, and did not move at all, and the high "Great Song Dynasty" dragon flag on the mast was waving in the wind, causing the Song people who came to the port to welcome them, and the mountains and tsunamis were roaring for a while.

Only when you are in a foreign country can you have that deep feeling for the motherland, just like a wanderer returning to his hometown and seeing his white-haired mother waiting in front of the house, the closeness arises spontaneously.

The warship is getting closer and closer, the Song soldiers on the warship are getting clearer and clearer, and the atmosphere on the port is also more enthusiastic.

"Salute!"

The warship slowly stopped, and the thousands of sailors and soldiers on the deck saluted together, and everyone was in awe.

"Long live the Great Song! Long live the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty! ”

The Song people waved their flags and shouted, and the locals in the port were also infected and shouted and cheered.

"It's finally here!"

On the deck, Zhao Chongxuan, the young general, had a black and red face and let out a sigh of relief.

It took more than seven months to sail from the Penghu seaport in March, passing through Longmen in the South Sea, Ceylon Island in the Indian Ocean, and then to Kulan and Zufar on the Arabian coast, and finally arriving at Suez City, the northern end of the Red Sea.

Although it was driven by the coast, there were supplies from the coastal garrison base of the Great Song Dynasty along the way, which almost exhausted Zhao Chongxuan's patience.

"Zhao Tongshi, run a few more times, you will get used to it!"

Nearly thirty years old, Pu Shouchen, a bearded man, a famous big food merchant in Quanzhou Port, is also one of the generals of the Song Army's sailors, and said with a smile.

Zhao Chongxuan, the second son of Zhao Rushi, the former prefect of Quanzhou, his father Zhao Rushi was the commander of Quanzhou Port City, knew the Chinese languages of the South and Indian Oceans, and wrote the book "Zhufan Zhi", Zhao Rushi has died of illness, and Zhao Chongxuan can also be regarded as a son inheriting his father's business.

"Your Majesty said that this river, which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, is the closest route from Europe to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and is also the border between Asia and Africa, and is the main passage between Asia and Africa and Europe. Pu Tongshi, do you think this is true? ”

Zhao Chongxuan quietly wiped his sweat and asked Pu Shouchen.

Although Pu Shouchen was a big food merchant, he lived in Quanzhou in the Great Song Dynasty for more than ten years, and his father was also a local official in the Great Song Dynasty. Speaking of which, he is already a complete Song Dynasty person.

If it weren't for this, he would not have been selected as the interpreter of the Great Song Sailor's trip.

"Your Majesty will never be wrong in what he said! Don't you see, the river really doesn't work! ”

Liu Quan, the chief general of the Great Song Dynasty Water Division, looked at the world map in his hand and was convinced of the emperor's statement.

"Pu Tongshi, did Your Majesty say that the opposite side of the Red Sea is the Mediterranean Sea, which is more than 300 miles?"

Liu Quan raised his head and turned his gaze to Pu Shouchen, a local snake who grew up in the Arabian Peninsula and traveled around the world.

"General, what Your Majesty said is very true. From here to the Mediterranean, about 350 miles. Unfortunately, I just don't know if the Red Sea is higher than the Mediterranean. If it is high, it will be difficult to open. ”

Pu Shouchen also admired Zhao Hong's five-body throw.

"Your Majesty said that if the canal can be dug through, the Red Sea will not be higher than the Mediterranean. When the time comes, you'll know! ”

Liu Cheng put it on the map. Now I just don't know if those monarchs and ministers of the Ayyubid Dynasty will give up this desert.

"General, what if the Red Sea level is high?"

Zhao Chongxuan subconsciously asked.

The Great Song Dynasty ships traveled southward, rounding the Cape of the Storm, and in the past few years, more than a dozen large and small ships have been overturned by the wind and waves intermittently, and hundreds of people have died. Although the soldiers of the Great Song Dynasty Navy Division basically mastered some of the wind and wave climate laws at the Storm Corner, accidents still occurred from time to time.

"Is there a time when Your Majesty is wrong? Besides, this place has been dug before, and it was finally clogged up before it was scrapped. Your Majesty can't be wrong! ”

Liu Quanyu said it quietly.

The reason for the opening of this section of the canal is not only to control the traffic arteries, but also to use foreign troops.

The Great Song Dynasty occupies this place, there must be people who are unwilling, and there will definitely be a scramble. But that's all for later.

"I just don't know, the slave owners of the Ayyubid Dynasty, will they agree?"

"Will definitely agree!"

Pu Shouchen followed Zhao Chongxuan's words and said, vibrating and eloquent.

"The Ayyubids are now suffering from internal and external troubles, and the country is fighting for it because of perennial wars and famines. There is also the Roman Empire outside, ready to attack. Sleep with pillows, ready-made cheap, they will never let go! ”

Pu Shouchen's words made Liu Cheng nod slightly.

Or these great cannibals know the same religion of the Ayyubids, these people serve as generalists, and they definitely get twice the result with half the effort.

"In the event of a war between the Roman Empire and the Ayyubids, what will I do with the Great Song Marine?"

An officer asked softly unconsciously.

Unbeknownst to the general, the Roman Emperor Frederick II was not willing to go to war with the Ayyubids, and that he had negotiated peace in exchange for Jerusalem. Frederick II re-established the Kingdom of Jerusalem and assumed the position of king, while marrying the daughter of the original king. Pope Gregory IX was so dissatisfied with him that he condemned Frederick for signing a contract with the infidels and sent an army to attack Sicily. Frederick II routed the papal army. The two sides ceased fighting last year, but remain wary of each other. ”

Pu Shouchen obviously knew a lot about the Roman Empire, and he analyzed it well.

"The affairs of the Pope of Rome and the Emperor of the Roman Empire have nothing to do with my Great Song Dynasty. What I want in the Great Song Dynasty is the canal, the canal through, and the interests of the canal. ”

According to the emperor's intentions, sooner or later he had to use troops against Europe, especially the island country called England, which, like Japan, seemed to be very disliked.

"General, even if the Ayyubids are willing to sell this section of the desert, even if the canal is dug up, the Roman Empire, or the Ayyubids want to recapture the canal and fight with my Great Song Dynasty, what should I do?"

Thousands of miles away, the army is weak, and Zhao Chongxuan is still a little uneasy.

In the face of interests, it is inevitable that outsiders will covet it, and it is inevitable that there will be wars because of interests.

"If no one offends me, I will not offend anyone. If anyone sins against me, I will offend. Do you think that if you get Camille and these people, the construction of the canal will be smooth sailing? ”

Liu Cheng shook his head. Without a strong army, if you want to do something quietly, don't even think about it.

"General, since the great expedition of the Tatar armies to the west, many steppe tribes have migrated to Egypt, and many have been sold into slavery due to famine. In the Ayyubid dynasty, there were many people of original Turkic descendants. ”

Pu Shouchen's words made Liu Cheng slightly stunned.

"Pu Tongshi, what do you mean ......"

"General, although my Great Song Dynasty is cultivating in Africa, the number of sailors and soldiers is still too small. In the future, my Great Song Dynasty will be stationed here, and I can also buy and sell a large number of slaves as assistants. These slaves fought bravely, and they could also go to the battlefield with training to alleviate the problem of insufficient strength in our army. ”

Liu Cheng nodded slightly, his eyes showing appreciation.

Mercenaries, maybe that's a good idea.

"General, what I'm worried about is that the river is being dug in the desert, the climate, the water, the food, the disease, etc., these things must be taken into account. Otherwise, the progress of the siege cannot be guaranteed, not to mention, excessive consumption, labor casualties, will be beyond imagination. ”

Pu Shouchen had another concern.

"Pu Tongshi, you are familiar with the local customs, and these things still require you to work hard. Together, let's do our best to fulfill Your Majesty's will. ”

Even digging the canal is a matter for the locals, and the Song people are just paying for food.

Now he has gold and grain from South Africa and West Africa, money and food, and he doesn't have to worry about it.

"General rest assured, the subordinate will do his best to facilitate this matter and live up to His Majesty's trust!"

Pu Shouchen said solemnly.

"General, the officials of Suez City have arrived!"

The sergeant came up to give a report, and a group of Arabs with white cloth wrapped around their heads and collarless white robes went up to the deck. The leader was about fifty men, with a dark complexion, a scarf inlaid with precious stones, and a colorful short knife hanging from his waist, and was obviously the leader of the group.

"General, this is Best, the chief officer of Suez City, and the imam of the territory around Suez City."

Zhao Chongxuan gave a brief introduction to both sides.

"Hello, Imam Best!"

"Hello, General!"

The two sides exchanged pleasantries, and Best looked at the guns on the warship in surprise, and the mighty and powerful soldiers of the Great Song Dynasty Navy Division made him feel a chill in his heart.

It is said that the Great Song Dynasty is a big country in the East, with strong soldiers and strong horses, and even the Tatar iron cavalry that dominates the world has to retreat by three points, which can be seen from these Great Song Dynasty soldiers.

"Respected Imam Best, what do you think of my Great Song Kingdom wanting to buy this section of the desert from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean?"

Liu Cheng made no secret of it and went straight to the point.

"Buy a section of the desert!"

Best was taken aback, then shook his head.

"General, even if I agree, I have to ask Sultan Camille what he means."

The Song people want to buy the desert of this barren land, is this serious?

The Great Song Dynasty was in the upper kingdom, and the Song people were rich, which should be a lot of income.

"Dear Best, please introduce me to Sultan Kamil. In the name of the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, I happen to meet Sultan Kamil to discuss some things in detail. ”

Liu Cheng solemnly said loudly.

Cairo, the capital of the Ayyubid Empire, looks like it's about to go.