I

  Chapter 747 744 [Accept slaves]

   "Master Hou, please take a seat!"

   "Don't dare, please, empress, please, Ambassador Zhang."

  Pride is pride, and demonstrations are demonstrations. In fact, Fan Chao was extremely compelled to sit in front of Lu Tianxiang and Zhang Ruifeng.

  After everyone was seated, Lu Tianxiang said: "Ambassador Zhang speak."

Zhang Ruifeng turned to Fan Chao with a smile on his face: "It's like this, General Fan. The local cavalry who defected on the battlefield learned that we would leave, and more than 20 people asked to follow, willing to bring their horses to help us fight. In addition, they are still in the city. More than 200 slaves were found in the village, and these slaves also asked to go with us. What is General Fan's opinion on whether to take these people in?"

Fan Chao said: "You can choose some good war horses to take away. You don't want people, and you don't want bad horses. It's a waste of food to stay on the boat. As for slaves, how can this small ruined city support hundreds of slaves? "

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "These slaves are one of the sources of wealth for this city. The lord of this city is called Zayed, and he will send cavalry from time to time, go out with pirates, and plunder people and goods along the nearby coast. Persia and The remote coast of the Mughals was also the target of their plunder. The population was plundered, divided into several classes, and sold at different prices to the Portuguese and sometimes to the Dutch."

   "It turned out that the people who beat up today were human traffickers." Fan Chao finally figured out why this big city was able to raise 300 cavalry.

Cai Yuncheng interjected: "Uncle, I think that the cavalry should not be taken in, but these slaves should be rescued. They are in a miserable situation. If they are not rescued, they will inevitably be sold into slavery. Even if they are released, they will not be able to go back to their hometown. Bring them on board. In order to ensure military discipline and prevent men and women from being dirty, those female slaves can be arranged to serve on the empress ship. Those eunuchs can also stay on the empress ship to serve."

  Cai Yuncheng was born in poverty, and he has great sympathy for these slaves.

  At the same time, he couldn't understand the imperial concubine going to sea. Just taking this opportunity, more women and eunuchs were stuffed on the imperial concubine's boat.

  Fan Chao was surprised: "There are eunuchs among those slaves?"

Zhang Ruifeng explained: "The slaves here are mainly sold to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Portugal. The three countries prefer to buy black slaves for working slaves, but white slaves can't be sold at a good price. Therefore, all young people have a slightly correct appearance. Yes, they will **** them and sell them again, and the price can be doubled immediately. These eunuchs were sold to India by Europeans, and the Mughals and other Indian states used to buy eunuchs to serve as eunuchs."

   This is completely treating people like animals, and how to make money.

   Moreover, the person in charge of castrating the slaves was actually the gelding officer in the city. If the master gelding and the part-time gelling die from infection and inflammation, it is a normal business loss.

  Fan Chao thought for a while and said, "Then let's stay. The women and eunuchs are all under the command of the empress. The rest of the men are assigned to be handymen on other ships, which can be regarded as replenishing the fleet in advance."

  The fleet has already begun to reduce its staff, because it is seriously ill and is not suitable for continuing to sail. Three stayed in India and one stayed in Persia. Arrangements have been made, and officials from both countries will take care of them and take them away when the fleet returns.

   It was lucky along the way, and there was no severe storm, otherwise the sailors would be killed and injured, and they would have to recruit halfway.

  Lu Tianxiang was forcibly charged on board, she had no objection to this, but asked: "How to deal with the prisoners of war?"

Fan Chao said: "This is overseas. Your Majesty let us decide for ourselves. The principle is not to slaughter wantonly. Those prisoners of war can cut off their thumbs so that they can no longer hold weapons. In this way, there will be no more killings, and it will also be possible. It has the effect of punishing and establishing prestige. As for the thief chief, his head must be beheaded!"

  The next day, prisoners of war one after another, including the infantry in the city, were lined up to cut off their thumbs.

   Most of the infantry were civilians in the city.

   After being cut down, the main young and strong laborers in the city can no longer do heavy physical work that requires hands. This city is almost abolished.

  Every family wailed, every household cried bitterly, their wives and children cried together.

   All the grain, gold and silver hoarded by Zayed were carried onto the ship by the Datong Army. Although he is a poor ghost, it is better than nothing. After all, selling slaves is quite profitable, and he will not be so poor that he runs rats in the warehouse.

   Of the captured Arabian horses, sixteen strong ones were selected and taken away, and the rest were given to the local cavalry who turned their backs and made meritorious service.

   Rest for a whole day, ready to leave.

   Most of the more than two hundred slaves who were rescued were Persians and Afghans, and there were also a small number of Arabs. They were suddenly free, and grateful to the Chinese, washed and went to work in new clothes.

  These slaves have no national concept.

   Even Persian slaves, because they came from the peasant class, have little sense of identity with the Persian royal family. Whoever feeds them, they will work for whom. With a little better treatment, the loyalty will increase gradually.

   "Da da da da!"

   Just as everyone was boarding the boat, four Arab cavalrymen caught up.

  Lu Tianxiang had already boarded the ship, and when she saw this, she said to the female officer beside her, "Go over and ask, what are they doing here?"

The female officer of the Imperial Horse Supervisor came back soon and reported: "These four riders said that they have no family members and asked to follow us to the sea. They are willing to swear allegiance in the name of God. General Zheng is willing to take in these foreign riders. Ambassador Zhang does not care, General Fan Tell me to ask your mother."

   "Since General Zheng is willing to accept it, let's accept it." Lu Tianxiang said.

  The road ahead at sea is unpredictable, and no one knows when they will be in danger. It is not a bad thing to accept a few who can fight.

  …

  The capital of Oman, Muscat.

  It is only five hundred miles away from Sohar, which has just finished a battle, and it is only a short journey by sea boat.

  Said I was very happy at this time, he was thinking about annexing Zayed. Unexpectedly, Zaid's cavalry, as well as the pirates attached to Zaid, came to take refuge in him.

   "It was the Chinese who attacked Sohar, not the **** Portuguese?" Saeed confirmed.

A cavalry leader replied: "Great Imam, the Chinese are very cruel. They come in big ships, have a strong army, rush into the city and kill everyone they see. Loot our property and burn our houses, please The Imam has avenged us!"

  The prestige of Said I has already spread all over the coast of Arabia.

   Whenever there is a Portuguese attack, the tribal leaders will come to ask for help, and Said will help whenever he can. The tribes that receive help will basically declare their allegiance, so Said's territory will grow rapidly.

   Facing these cavalry who came to seek refuge, Said did not fully believe it.

  He is not only the military leader of Oman, but also the most respected religious leader in the entire Arab region. He had read ancient notes and knew that the Chinese had come to Oman and that they were fair trade and not aggressive. Arab businessmen who came back from the East also said that China, Portugal and Holland were enemies, and that the enemy of an enemy should be a friend.

To appease the cavalry, Said called his confidant and told him: "Take a team of cavalry and go to Sohar to find out the news. Don't conflict with the Chinese and see if the situation there is true. If Zai If Germany takes the initiative to attack, but the Chinese only counterattack passively, then get in touch with the Chinese and invite them to visit Muscat.”

But the confidant said: "Regardless of the real situation, we can go to fight the Chinese. They come from afar, and there will not be too many troops. As long as we win the heathen, no matter what country the opponent is from, your prestige will increase again. Will you There are more and more tribes admiring your prestige and coming to serve you."

"madness!"

Saeed rebuked: "So many countries are hostile to us, only the UK is willing to be friends with us. How can we make enemies indiscriminately in such a bad situation? As long as they are willing to be friends and have goodwill towards us, no matter who Whatever religion you believe in, you can work together. A man’s heart must be as broad as the sea. From the Hajar Mountains, there are many rivers. No matter where they originate, no matter which direction they flow, they will eventually be To flow into the sea!"

  The left and right subordinates are all convinced by this, and they feel that their Imam is extremely wise.

   Before the person who inquired about the news came back, the Chinese envoy arrived. The Arab cavalry who had taken refuge, landed with the translator and entered Muscat to explain the situation.

  As soon as he heard that Zaid set up an ambush first, Said believed most of it, because he knew Zaid's style.

  He asked carefully: "Have you taken refuge with the Chinese?"

The leader of the four cavalry said: "The Chinese masters are merciful. After they won, they only killed Zaid. The rest of the captives just cut off their thumbs. They moved away Zaid's belongings, but did not loot the city, nor Burn down houses. They are different from Portuguese bandits, so we are willing to follow. A benevolent master will never treat his subordinates harshly, and deserves our swearing to the death."

Saeed nodded and said: "Don't loot the city, don't burn down the house, such a person is worth making friends, at least he won't stab you in the back. Have they all left? Didn't they stay to occupy Sohar? Build castles like in Portugal?"

  The returned cavalry said: "No, the Chinese masters are going to Europe. They are the envoys of the Chinese emperor and have no intention of occupying any cities."

   "Follow me out of town to meet guests!"

   Said has a very heroic personality. He went to the port to meet the Chinese mission in person without confirming the information, and he was not afraid of being hacked by the Datong Army on the spot.

  Lu Tianxiang learned the lesson from the previous time. When encountering such a small country, she simply refused to disembark and show up. All diplomatic tasks were assigned to Zhang Ruifeng.

   After the two sides greeted each other, Saeed asked: "Have China and Portugal ever fought?"

  Zhang Ruifeng replied: "A seaport city in China has been occupied by Portugal for nearly a hundred years. His Majesty the great emperor took back that seaport and expelled the disobedient Portuguese."

Saeed said happily: "Your emperor is the same as me. The Muscat castle here was built by the grape people, and I personally led the troops to take it back. But there is one bad thing, the Chinese emperor is too kind. , to deal with the ferocious Portuguese, they should all be killed, not just expelled."

   "Indeed." Zhang Ruifeng didn't bother to argue, and followed this person.

Saeed said again: "Guests, please come to the castle to enjoy delicious food. But your soldiers, I can't provide food, you need to buy food yourself. I have just recovered here for two years, and there is not enough food, so I can only neglect Chinese guests."

   "It's okay, we also brought a gift for you."

  The communication between the two sides was surprisingly smooth, and diplomatic results were quickly reached.

  Arab merchants from Oman will be able to trade freely in Palembang in the future, and they will have priority in replenishment relative to European merchants.

  And Seif I was willing to send envoys to accompany the Chinese mission all the way south. The Arabs along the coast of East Africa will give Saif face and receive the Chinese missions as distinguished guests-many black countries in later generations, the coastal areas were controlled by the Arabs, and at the same time they were colonized by Portugal.

  (end of this chapter)