In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 482 Persuasion and Provocation

This is the very famous bathroom culture in Baghdad.

What is most popular on the streets of Baghdad? Of course the bathroom.

Bathrooms became popular among Baghdad people during the Tang Dynasty. Various bathrooms were everywhere on the streets. At its peak, there were more than 3,000 bathhouses in Baghdad alone. It is estimated that the bathroom culture of later generations was learned from Baghdad.

This country bumpkin Luo Lei entered a bathhouse for the first time, but after entering, he still felt very comfortable.

Being soaked in hot water in a steaming bathhouse was an experience that Song Dynasty had never experienced at all.

Moreover, in Baghdad, even women can enter the bathroom on certain days, which shocked Luo Lei even more.

Luo Lei must not have known that his trip to Bagh would later have a considerable impact on Zhao Yurui.

Early the next morning, someone from the Abbas Palace summoned Luo Lei to meet the Caliph Mustansir.

The Abbas Palace, called the Eternal Palace, was built by Mansur in the suburbs at that time in 773. Later, Mansur built the Crown Prince's Palace on the east bank of the river. As the number of residents in Baghdad increased, the city area also expanded. , the Eternal Palace became the royal palace of the Abbasid Dynasty.

Three grams of silver in Baghdad can buy a sheep.

It is said that Mustasuimu died in two ways. One was that Hulagu wrapped him in a blanket and then let his horses trample him to death.

This kind of monarch was quite outstanding in peacetime, and Baghdad also became extremely prosperous under his construction.

Mustansir looks to be in his fifties or sixties, but has white hair. The Abbasid dynasty has become weaker and weaker in his hands, and the once world-famous food cavalry has also neglected to fight. At the beginning of his reign, As for the development of literature and economy, the world-famous Mustansiriye University was built, but it made almost no achievements in military and political affairs.

After the Mongols broke through, the last caliph first donated 10,000 gold vessels and countless gems to Hulagu. However, Hulagu was still not satisfied. The last caliph had no choice but to dig another reservoir. , inside is a mountain of gold treasures, each weighing more than a kilogram. The hundreds of years of savings of the entire Abbasid dynasty are in this vault, all of which belong to Hulagu.

This time, the entire Abbasid dynasty's silver income alone exceeded 10 million taels a year, not counting the rest of the food and tax. In terms of economy and culture, it was far ahead of the barbaric Mongolia.

The salary paid by Mansur was quite high, far higher than that of slave laborers in the Tang Dynasty.

Caliph Mustansir was keen on economic and cultural development, but neglected military affairs. He had also heard about the Song Dynasty thousands of miles away. He heard that it was a country of etiquette and had a developed economy. After seeing the silk, After ceramics, iron pots and sugar, Caliph Mustansir also yearned for the Song Dynasty and was willing to establish diplomatic relations with the Song Dynasty.

It is not known how much silver this dinar was worth at that time, but the annual treasury income of the Abbasid Dynasty during this period was 1.6 million silver coins, which was approximately equivalent to the 1540 million taels of silver in the Tang and Song Dynasties at that time. During the same period, the Tang and Song Dynasties mainly With copper coins, the annual silver income is less than a few hundred thousand taels.

Another way to die is that Hulagu locked him up with all his wealth and made him starve to death for his own wealth.

Therefore, the Abbasid dynasty was quite wealthy. Luo Lei could clearly feel it after walking into the imperial city. There were gold and silver products everywhere, and countless precious gems for embellishment.

So more than ten years later, not long after his death, his son, the last Haris Mustaisuimu, died tragically under the iron cavalry of the Mongolian army.

But this time the Mongols were nearby, and the Song Navy also occupied the Persian Gulf. Mustansir obviously did not realize the seriousness.

It was 773, and the Central Plains was still the Tang Dynasty.

How rich? As mentioned earlier, when Manraul built the capital and the Eternal Palace, he gathered hundreds of thousands of workers and gave each worker three grams of silver every day.

However, Zhao and Rui would plunder a country every time they captured it. As Luo Lei walked into the Eternal Palace, he was already mentally estimating how rich the city of Baghdad was. In the future, after the Song army defeated the Mongolian army, they would enter Baghdad sooner or later.

At this time, Luo Lei was already planning how much oil and water Baghdad could scrape.

Luo Lei obviously didn't know that without Emperor Zhao Yurui, everything here would be wiped out in a dozen years.

All the wealth will belong to the Mongols.

Baghdad is indeed quite wealthy.

When the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid died in 809, he left 9 million dinars for the treasury.

But it is a pity that Zhao Yurui is focusing all his energy on Mongolia at this time, and it is too far away from Baghdad. Luo Lei is not a regular envoy, and he did not bring formal credentials.

But Luo Lei expressed the Song Dynasty's desire to establish diplomatic relations with the Abbasid Dynasty, which made Caliph Mustansir quite satisfied and happy.

Then Luo Lei further stated that Zhao Yurui of the Song Dynasty had presented a hundred iron pots and five hundred pieces of exquisite silk products to His Majesty the Caliph Al-Mustansir, as well as a small number of other items as a token of appreciation. Good relations between the two countries.

Then Luo Lei finally saw the face of the nouveau riche in the Middle East, and he could understand why other small countries were willing to go to the former Song Dynasty.

The things Zhao Yurui gave were not worth much, because it was inconvenient for Luo Lei to bring not much supplies during the long trip to Baghdad.

But Caliph Mustansir was extremely excited when he heard this, and gave him countless wealth with a wave of his hand.

In return, he gave Emperor Zhao Yurui of the Song Dynasty one thousand gold products, two thousand silver products, other gems and spices, etc. In the end, Luo Lei had to load three ships.

Lei Luo introduced the enthusiasm of the Song Dynasty to Caliph Mustansir and was willing to increase trade between the Song Dynasty and the Abbasid Dynasty. The two parties agreed that in the future, large-scale transactions would be conducted at least five times near the port of Basra every year. The Song Dynasty A large amount of sugar, iron pots, silk and ceramics would be exchanged for silver and gold, jewelry and spices from Abbas.

Luo Lei also mentioned the threat of the Mongols intentionally or unintentionally, saying that they occupied Persia, attacked Bolan and Jiyali, and might attack Abbas at any time, but Caliph Mustansir obviously did not care. It has existed since the dynasty, and it has been nearly five hundred years since the founding of the country, which is older than the two Song Dynasties. It has experienced countless storms and dangers in the middle, and it has always existed. Caliph Mustansir did not think that the Mongols could threaten them at all.

Seeing that Ra could not disturb Abbas, Luo Lei had no choice but to ask for a way to Sarai City.

In mid-January of the 10th year of Yuanzhen, after Luo Lei stayed in Baghdad for a few days, he first arranged to transport the things given by Caliph Mustansir back to the Persian Gulf, and then took a small amount of goods under the escort of the Abbasid army. Get off and head to Salai City.

Abbas's army escorted Luo Lei to the Mosul area and left. Luo Lei took dozens of people and cavalry that he had paid for. Except for him, who was Han, the rest were Persians or Abbas. Si people, or other tribesmen.

This is the junction of the Mongolian army and the Ayyubid and Lubini dynasties. With Abbas, it is relatively chaotic, with the forces of all parties intertwined.

The Ayyubid dynasty ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen and northern Iraq. The Rubini dynasty, also known as Western Armenia, was founded by the nobles left over from the demise of the Seljuk dynasty in Armenia, plus the Mongolian army that later conquered Armenia. and Abbas in Iraq, which is at the junction of four forces.

Luo Lei successfully entered Armenia, but he didn't know that the Mongolian army's previous base camp here was on the banks of the Arras River (Tabriz) in Armenia. Choermahan had been stationed here for a long time. Now that the Mongolian army has fully retreated, , stationed Meng Ge in Rai City, and stationed Kuoduan in Tabriz.

Not long after Luo Lei's team arrived nearby, they were captured by the Mongolian army.

Fortunately, he was the only Han Chinese in Luo Lei's team, and the rest were Persians or Abbasids. Luo Lei paid a high price for an Abbasid to come forward, in the name of the envoy of the Abbasid Dynasty and Batu's trade. , asked to borrow a passage.

The Mongolian army did not pay attention to the only Han in the team and reported it directly to Kuo Duan. Kuo Duan was very angry after hearing this. The Great Khan of Mongolia was still his father Wokuotai.

The Abbasids turned to Batu.

He really wanted to have this wave of messengers killed, but after hesitation he still didn't dare to do it.

Once the news leaks out, it is likely to affect Batu's support for his father, Khan Ogedai.

So Luo Lei passed through the territory where Kuoduan was stationed without any danger.

In early February of the tenth year of Yuanzhen, Luo Lei's team headed north along the west bank of the Caspian Sea and officially entered Batu's territory, and soon saw the Volga River.

As a Jin Yiwei, Luo Lei walked slowly along the way, carving the terrain map secretly.

When he saw the Volga River, he thought of the Abbasids' advice.

If the Song army marches from east to west in the future, it will be difficult to attack and pull through the Volga River.

The Volga River is a natural line of defense, and the fight for the bridge across the river will become extremely fierce.

It will be easier to march from Persia, from south to north, and along the Caspian Sea.

The imperial court asked Liu Zheng to go to the Persian Gulf, and he may have the intention of marching from Persia in the future.

In mid-February, Luo Lei met Batu in Salai City, which was still under construction.

The city of Salai, like their peaceful city, was under construction. Batu recruited all the civilians around him who could be recruited to build his palace.

The Principality of Rus, the Kingdom of Kiev and other countries that were conquered by it sent a large amount of manpower and material resources to support, and there were construction sites everywhere.

While Luo Lei was waiting for Batu to be summoned, he also heard the news that Batu had built huge fortresses and forts where there were bridges on both sides of the Volga River, obviously to defend against enemies coming from the east.

It has to be said that although Batu did not want to act as an arrow and become enemies of Wo Kuotai and the Song people, he was still on guard against the Song people and was preparing for war.

Unlike most Mongolian kings who were slightly fat at this time, Batu maintained a very good figure. He led troops in battles all year round, took the lead and charged into battle, so his body was very strong and muscular.

At the same time, Wokuotai and Chagatai were pampered and did not go out in person for many years in their respective territories. If Zhao Yurui had not attacked Mongolia in the later period, these two people would not have to go out to fight until their death. They have gained a lot of weight now. .

Wo Kuotai never lived until this year in history. He died of illness last year. Because he indulged in alcohol and sex all the year round, Yelu Chucai repeatedly tried to dissuade him but failed, and he finally died of a stroke.

At this time, Zhao Yurui defeated Mongolia many times, and Wokuotai, who had always been a heavy drinker, didn't even think about drinking, but he was still alive and well.

Therefore, the threat that Zhao Yurui brought to Mongolia could be regarded as indirectly saving Ogedai's life.

"Kneel down." As soon as Luo Lei entered the hall, a soldier beside Batu ordered him to kneel down.

Batu looked at Luo Lei with a playful expression, murderous intent looming in his eyes.

Even though he was dissatisfied with Wo Kuotai, he was still a Mongolian. Zhao Yurui drove Wo Kuotai into his territory, and Batu was also very unhappy.

But seeing that Luo Lei's expression remained unchanged, he said loudly: "I came here all the way, and I heard everywhere that Batu was very heroic. He led his troops in the Western Expeditions, and was invincible in every attack. He was very generous to his generals and did not hesitate to reward them. , did not kill innocent people indiscriminately, and was called "Saiyin Khan". He laughed off Guyu's insults, and did not explain too much when he was blamed for releasing the enemy. He was the real man in the hearts of the Mongols. The Great Khan, the strongest leader.”

"Now, I, Luo Lei, am just a small household in the Song Dynasty. King Batu, are you sure you want to humiliate me, a household, in this way?"

If Luo Lei had said these words in front of Wo Kuotai, Chaghatai and others, he would probably have been chopped down immediately. However, Batu's expression changed slightly after hearing this.

It is obviously inappropriate for him to be ridiculed and humiliated by a small family like Batu.

Crucially, Luo Lei also talked about several things during the Western Expedition.

One is Guyou's insults to him, and the other is Guyou's reproach to him.

Historically, because Guyou had a very bad relationship with him, Ogodei had no choice but to transfer Guyou back to his country during the Western Expedition.

Batu had a very good attitude and was very tolerant, because he was the head coach at the time and could have fired Guyuk, but Batu didn't care about Guyuk.

Of course, the main reason must be that Ogedai was the cause of the profuse sweat.

These few words of Luo Lei remind Batu that there is no need to humiliate his own small household, and at the same time sow discord between Batu and Ogedai's father and son.

Batu decisively did not force Luo Lei to kneel down again.

But his tone was not very good, and he said coldly: "Meng Song is now the world's enemy. After you say what you want to say, I can let him die with dignity."

Luo Lei was not afraid either. Now that he was here, he was ready to die.

"Back then, the Song and Jin Dynasties were feuding. The Mongolian army conquered Xixia and suddenly led troops to attack our Song Dynasty, Sichuan——"

Luo Lei came up and talked about the towed thunderstorm that hit Sichuan.

The general meaning is that Song and Mongolia were originally good, but it was the Mongols who attacked the Song Dynasty first.

This was not nonsense on his part. Although Batu was still in his own territory at the time, he still knew about it afterwards.

You may not be able to reason with people like Ogedai and Chagatai, but you should be able to reason with Batu.

We, the Song Dynasty, and Mongolia were originally at peace with each other, but they were the ones who hit us first, and then we hit you later. Is it reasonable?
Then he said that in the early five years of the peace talks between Mongolia and Song Dynasty, everything had been peaceful and everyone had abided by the contract.

After that, the Song Dynasty originally wanted to continue negotiating peace with Mongolia. Emperor Zhao Yurui personally entered the Mongolian territory and wanted to go to Baoding to sign the peace treaty. His attitude was very sincere. As a result, the Mongolian army sneak attacked on the water outside Cangzhou City and wanted to kill the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. Zhao and Rui.

(End of this chapter)