The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 254 The gentle and charitable “pagan”

On May 1731, 5, Kerman, an important town located in the southwest of the Safavid Empire of Persia, seemed to have entered early summer. In the afternoon, the temperature would climb to 2 degrees, and the dry air made people feel unusually hot.

A full ten years have passed since the horrific massacre of this city by the Girzai people of Afghanistan. The once bloody city has once again regained its prosperity, like a weed. Countless crowds have appeared in the streets, and there are seas of people, Persians, Indians, Afghans, Europeans, and Qi people from Hanzhou, all kinds of people gathered here, from nobles to ordinary residents, from merchants to craftsmen, from soldiers to merchants, making this place a diverse and prosperous place. of the market.

On both sides of the street, there are various shops, some selling jewelry, some selling medicinal herbs, and some selling cloth. It is very lively. In the center of the market, there are rows of small stalls selling various snacks, such as kebabs, baked bread, grilled fish, etc. The aroma is fragrant and makes people salivate.

In a corner of the market, there is a small shop selling herbal medicine. The owner is a kind old pharmacist who is dispensing medicine for a patient.

On the other side of the street market, there is a silk shop owned by a beautiful young woman who is displaying the latest styles of oriental silk clothing.

At the end of the market, there is a small square. Some citizens are gathering in the square, some are communicating, some are dancing, and it is very lively. Here, people can feel the prosperity and vitality of the empire.

"Hey, this Qi people's stuff is made of solid materials and looks good!" In a hardware store, a strong man in a felt hat held up an iron pot and tapped the pot's edge with his fingers from time to time. At the edge, there was a dull buzzing sound, and the mouth was full of praise.

"Yes, yes." The owner of the shop agreed with a smile: "You are a person who knows the goods. Look at the thickness of this pot, and then look at the material of this pot. It is definitely made of solid materials and well-made. If you want to buy it back, , It will definitely not be damaged at all after ten or eight years of use.”

"But isn't your price a bit expensive?" The man gently put down the iron pot and began to bargain.

However, Qi's support and assistance to Persia was not without any purpose.

As early as decades ago, products made in China were synonymous with "high-end goods". In terms of materials, quality, and workmanship, they were much easier to use and more durable than similar products made in Persia.

Although, according to this treaty, when the empire encounters foreign invasion, Qi is obliged to provide necessary military and financial support to ensure the security and stability of the empire.

At the same time, the imperial market was also fully open to Chinese goods. Import and export tariffs were negotiated between Qi and Bo. The customs were also guided and managed by Qi people. Qi was allowed to build railways and highways, develop minerals, and allow merchants to pass freely within the empire. This important city also has many rights and interests such as the leased land of Qi State, and the people of Qi State enjoy absolute extraterritorial rights.

After they liberated Isfahan and expelled the Gilzai people, they couldn't wait to sign a very unequal "Qibo Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance" with the empire, thereby seizing countless political rights and economic benefits from the empire. .

Although the man was still hesitant, deep down he was convinced by the shop owner and agreed with his statement.

It was the people of Qi who rescued all the Persians from the clutches of the Gilzai people. When one city after another was recaptured by them, the humiliated Persian people all regarded the people of Qi as the incarnation of the great true god and the recipient of Allah's blessings. The messenger who is destined to come to the world to save all the suffering people of the true God.

It can be said that with the increasing political, economic and military influence of Qi in Persia, Qi's goods have almost dominated the entire Persia, squeezing out those goods from Europe, and with a branch of The traditional camel caravan traveled deep into the Caspian Sea coast and the hinterland of Central Asia, becoming the fourth largest single market after India, Qin, and Ottoman. Billions of wealth continued to flow from this ancient empire to Hanzhou.

Therefore, to a certain extent, the people of Qi are undoubtedly the saviors of tens of millions of people in the empire and the benefactors of the Safavid dynasty.

What is even more criticized by many Persians is that in order to maintain the friendship with Qi, the Safavid dynasty actually gave the Qi people extremely superior supra-national treatment, and even issued a separate decree to protect the Qi people. Residents of the country whose words or actions harm Chinese people will be severely punished.

In recent years, more and more Qi products have flooded the Persian market, ranging from large mechanical equipment, horse-drawn carriages, and steam locomotives to daily oils, spices, refined salt, sauces, tea, coffee, and There are all kinds of cotton textiles, hardware, utensils, agricultural tools that are in great demand by ordinary people, as well as jewelry, jade, ivory products, high-end porcelain, and exquisite clocks that are enjoyed by the royal family and nobles.

In the eyes of many knowledgeable people, the above-mentioned rights and interests obtained by Qi State have turned the empire into a vassal or subordinate state of Qi State.

And just when the empire was about to collapse and perish, the Qi State extended a helping hand in time, mobilized tens of thousands of troops and landed in Persia, driving the brutal and ferocious Gilzai people out of the empire, and trying to save the empire from the danger of collapse.

A few years ago, the Afghan rebels ravaged the entire Persia, slaughtering cities and land, brutally killing innocent Persian people, and looting civilian wealth. Later, they even broke through Isfahan, captured the Shah of the Empire, and wantonly humiliated and massacred those who had once The aloof princes and nobles trampled the once great and proud Safavid dynasty under their feet, and brought the empire to the edge of national subjugation.

The empire's politics, economy, military, and even culture and religion will inevitably be guided (restrained) and influenced (controlled) by the people of Qi, and it is no longer a completely independent country.

Regarding Qi, the Persians are full of contradictions deep in their hearts.

But people's livelihood is difficult. If the shop owner can reduce the price a little more, he can give his family a few more meals.

Of course, there are also products from Ottoman, India and Europe on the market, but they cannot be compared with Qi products in terms of price or quality.

Although most of the Qi people who came to Persia were modest and gentle people, there were always some "bastards" and "arrogant" Qi people mixed in, who would also cause some boiling public dissatisfaction.

"My friend, why do you think it's expensive?" the shop owner tried his best to sell. "Think about it this way, if you buy a locally produced iron pot, although the price is much cheaper, that thin-skinned iron pot won't last long. After a long time, cracks or damage will appear. At that time, if you repair it, won't you have to spend more money? You must know that all products from Qi Guo are definitely durable and have high quality. Excellent reputation. You won’t regret it if you buy it again. ”

However, the Qi people also relied on this treaty to officially acquire the land within 50 kilometers around the Port of Bushehr, as well as Hormuz Island, Kishm Island, Larak Island, Hengjam Island and many other islands located in the Strait area. islands, and the power to garrison troops within the empire.

However, the Persians who have been wronged often can only tolerate it and cannot do anything to "offend" the Qi people. Even if they are angry and resentful, they can only hope that the courts set up by the Qi people in Persia can give fair trials and give justice. The victim gives an explanation.

Although some people in Persia are wary and worried about Qi's tendency to increasingly influence (control) the empire, there is no doubt that the current state of the empire is inseparable from Qi's "support" and "help".

Not to mention that the Qi State came to seize the situation to save the empire from the invasion of its two powerful neighbors, Russia and the Ottomans. This was to gradually eliminate the various warlords' separatist forces in the country and prevent the barbaric and brutal Afghans from once again rushing into the empire to burn, kill and loot. The common people cannot leave the military support of Qi State for even a moment.

As an important town in the southwest, Kerman has long been a trade center between the Persian Gulf, Khorasan, and Makran (the coastal area at the junction of today's Pakistan and Iran). It is also one of the main producing areas of Persian carpets, attracting countless foreign businessmen. The arrival of the city restored the prosperity and hustle and bustle of the city in a short period of time.

Kerman is also one of the three cities where Qi troops are stationed. In addition, the area is rich in coal and copper mines, which attracts a large number of Qi businessmen and accompanying family members, further stimulating the prosperity of local business. Therefore, compared to the ordinary buyers who search and search, Kerman's merchants and shops prefer those Qi people who spend money lavishly.

In the past few days, the Logistics Department of the Qi Army stationed in Kerman suddenly increased the purchase of grain, cloth, and medicinal materials, triggering price changes in the entire market.

It is said that the Qi Garrison Command also sent a letter to the Governor-General's Mansion, requesting the local government to recruit more livestock and vehicles for the Qi Garrison, and there were faint signs of launching military operations.

This situation can't help but make countless Kerman residents and businessmen a little worried.

Everyone knows that Qi Bo's current relationship is extremely close. If the Qi garrison wants to organize military operations, it will naturally not be against the empire.

The reason why the Qi army can be bothered to dispatch must be that there is a huge crisis in a certain area of ​​the empire, which cannot be solved by the imperial army alone. It is necessary to rely on the people of Qi to "wipe the butt" of the empire and deal with the aftermath.

Could it be that the Afghan tribal armed forces in the Kandahar area are restless again?
Or maybe Nadir in the northeastern Khorasan region defeated the imperial army that came to quell the rebellion?
There is a magnificent true temple on the left side of the small square, which was severely damaged when the Gilzai massacred the city ten years ago. Later, the city of Kerman was recaptured by the Qibo Allied Forces. In order to comfort the victims who died in the war, the residents of the city and nearby tribal leaders donated some funds to repair the real temple one after another so that the faithful could pray for blessings after the disaster. .

By sunset, countless believers have gathered around the real temple, and they are about to perform the daily evening ritual under the auspices of the imam.

At this time, a group of businessmen from Qi Kingdom, probably inspired by Allah, also came to this sacred temple, attracting the attention of many believers.

The big mullah politely invited the people of Qi into the Zhenshen Temple.

The mosque in the evening exudes a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The pavilions of the Arabic-style spire roofs gather in rows and stretch along the central axis of the hall. Different from the hustle and bustle in the city, it is so quiet here that it is as if the air has been infused with the spirit. Standing in the solemn hall, everyone's mind seems to be captured by it.

"To start railway construction, we need to break ground on the ground. In this case, we should go to the land master. So, did we worship the wrong god and ask for the wrong sign?" Zuo Yanqing, deputy chief engineer of Persian Railway Survey, said in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter." Bai Shixian, the supervisor of the Persian Railway, smiled slightly and whispered: "They are all gods in the sky anyway. Let's worship here. Maybe he will bring our wishes to the father-in-law of the land."

"How about we Qi State also build a temple in Kerman to worship some of our gods." Yin Dakang, the captain of the Persian Railway Guard, muttered softly after hearing this.

"That's all nonsense." Bai Shixian heard this and glared at Yin Dakang, "You think you can act arbitrarily on Persian territory? Such a country with the True God Religion is extremely resistant to religions that do not belong to its own country. It might cause trouble. . When the time comes, it will not end well.”

Mullah Musa looked at the several Qi people in the palace who kept whispering to each other and showed no respect for the true God. He was very angry. However, because of the special status of the other party, he did not dare to scold them and could only look at them coldly.

Although Qi people would come to worship at this true temple from time to time, he knew very well that the Qi people had no intention of converting to the True God Religion. They were just out of reverence for "God" or wanting to pray for a certain private wish. Come and worship in a very utilitarian way.

It is said that the people of Qi have polytheistic beliefs, which contain practicality, compatibility and diversity.

They also have their own religions in the Eastern world, mainly Taoism and Buddhism, but most people seem to have no specific beliefs and worship many gods and goddesses, as well as their own ancestors.

In other words, there is basically no universal religion in Qi. In this belief system, no matter which religion it is, it has no right to obliterate other beliefs, nor does it have the right to completely cover all ethnic groups.

In other words, Qi is a purely secular country.

When they arrive in the world of True God Religion, they will go to the local True God Temple to "pray for blessings" and "make wishes."

And in Europe, they don't mind going to Catholic churches to pray.

The "weird" religious beliefs of the people of Qi are really unacceptable to countless believers with devout beliefs.

For the parishioners, faith should be specific and exclusive. Even if there is no fighting between believers with different beliefs and sects, they absolutely cannot worship and admire other religions without any psychological burden. or faction.

However, the way people in Qi treat religious beliefs makes many True God believers not close to them, but they cannot be said to be disgusting. At least they will not be hostile and blasphemous to the True God Religion like those Europeans, let alone easily offend the believers.

The people of Qi should be regarded as relatively gentle and charitable "heathens".

In addition, when these Qi people came to Persia, they not only made a lot of money from the Persians, they also spent their own money to continuously repair and improve the poor transportation facilities in the empire, which was a benefit to the Persian people.

Four years ago, the Qi people invested in the construction of two roads from Bushehr Port to Shiraz and Bandar Abbas Port to Sirjan, which greatly facilitated the exchange of personnel and materials.

Recently, the Qi people are preparing to build a railway from Bandar Abbas Port to Isfahan and extend a branch line to Kerman.

By then, the time from the coast to the imperial capital will be shortened from one month to three or four days.

Many Kerman residents were amazed when they heard about it.

This is simply a miracle bestowed by Allah on the human world!

(End of this chapter)