roccoschili Chapter 5398 The Amorites
Chapter 5398 The Amorites
Chapter 5398 The Amorites
Inside the government office in the foreign concession, Xin Mao and Xi Junmai looked at Elan, who had changed into clean clothes after being treated by a doctor and washed.
This person has a dark complexion and a tall stature. Even though he is weak after being seriously injured, he still exudes a strong physique. His long, narrow face has deep-set features, and his large, hooked nose gives him a cold and ruthless feeling. His black sideburns are curly and knotted.
Just by looking at his appearance and demeanor, one can tell that he must be a brave and skilled warrior.
“I am an Amorite, a descendant of the Babylonian Kingdom. I came to Ctesiphon on the orders of my chieftain to do business with the Chinese. However, I was discovered by the Arabs and chased when I infiltrated Ctesiphon. Fortunately, I met you.”
Elan felt uneasy being stared at by the two Han Chinese officials, so he quickly explained his purpose.
The Tang people are a legend that unfolded right before our eyes.
Since ancient times, countless tribes have lived on this fertile land of Mesopotamia. They drank the waters of the two rivers, cultivated the plains carved by the rivers, fought wars for living space on the vast land, and united to resist powerful enemies.
Over the past few years, we've become so intertwined that it's hard to distinguish one another from the other.
However, ever since the Romans invaded Mesopotamia, the tribes in this land began to suffer brutal slaughter. More importantly, their proud culture began to be suppressed and exterminated, which was even more heartbreaking than the loss of land and the sharp decline in population.
Then the Persians came.
Then, the Arabs arrived...
These once-powerful nations regarded this place as the "Promised Land," a blessing bestowed upon them by the gods, but who cared about the native inhabitants of Mesopotamia?
They lay in wait under the iron heel of the Persians and fled in panic under the scimitars of the Arabs, but they never gave up resisting.
However, the Arabs' extraordinary military strength left them powerless to resist. Because of the Arabs' genocide policy, they dared not even appear around the city, but could only hide in the deep mountains and deserts. They once believed that their bloodline and cultural heritage would be completely wiped out, and they would no longer be able to receive the protection of the gods.
Until the Tang Dynasty appeared.
The Tang army traversed the Persian Plateau and crossed the Zagros Mountains, appearing like divine soldiers in Mesopotamia to capture the city of Assyria. Their navy swept across the Persian Sea, sailed up the two rivers, and captured Ctesiphon in a single battle, ultimately forcing the Abbasid Caliphate to sign a humiliating treaty in exchange for peace.
At the most perilous time for the Amorites, when their fate seemed bleak, a ray of light pierced through the dark clouds and shone directly down.
Perhaps this is divine guidance!
The Tang army's formidable military strength inspired these tribes to worship it. If they could obtain the Tang people's sharp swords, sturdy armor, and indestructible firearms that seemed to burn with divine fire, they would surely be able to drive out the Arabs and restore their ancestral lands!
Xi Junmai and Xin Maojiang exchanged a glance. Although the other party's Arabic accent was strange, it was still barely understandable.
The former asked, "What kind of business are you doing?"
Ignoring his wounds, Elan straightened his back and said, "We need the Tang Dynasty's swords, armor, and those firearms that shoot fire and smoke!"
"Ah!"
Xin Mao chuckled and shook his head, saying, "That's impossible."
Elan said urgently, "Just name your price, we have the money!"
"This isn't about money. Although the Tang Dynasty and the Abbasid Caliphate were at war before, they have now concluded a treaty, ending the conflict and transforming from enemies into allies. How could we betray our allies for such a small amount of money?"
Elan's hooked nose was large, casting a shadow that obscured his upper lip, making him appear somewhat gloomy. His gaze was intense: "No, no, no, General, you don't need to use such words to fob me off. Everyone knows that the so-called contract is just an excuse for the next war. The Abbasid Caliphate will not allow the Tang people to establish concessions in Mesopotamia for long, and the Tang Dynasty will not be satisfied with mere concessions."
Xi Junmai sipped his tea, offering no comment and remaining aloof.
He doesn't understand these diplomatic tactics very well, nor will he get involved. As a military officer, he should just stick to his duties.
Xin Mao shook his head with a smile: "Your knowledge is indeed more profound than that of most natives, but precisely because of this, you should understand that the Tang Dynasty cannot risk turning against the Abbasid Caliphate for the sake of natives like you. It would be a losing proposition."
Elan's deep eyes flashed with urgency, and he said in a deep voice, "We have money!"
"Ok?"
Xin Mao was slightly surprised, as this was the second time Elan had emphasized "being rich".
The wealth of the Tang Dynasty is known throughout the world. Tang merchants traveled the world under the escort of warships, and the wealth they earned was as numerous and immeasurable as the rolling waves on the ocean. Since Elan dared to repeatedly emphasize that he was "rich" in front of him, a Tang official, his wealth must be considerable.
He asked curiously, "So how much money do you actually have?"
Elan was taken aback: "Shouldn't you be the ones setting the prices? Tell me, how much are you asking for for each of your weapons?"
Asking for an exorbitant price and then settling for a lower price—I have money, but I'm not afraid of you charging a high price. You can't just set your price based on how much money I have, can you?
How can you do business like this!
Xin Mao explained with a smile: "The price of something does not depend on its intrinsic value, but on the degree of demand for it by the buyer. For example, a dou of rice sometimes costs three copper coins in our Tang Dynasty, sometimes five copper coins, but during a famine, it may cost a thousand coins, a woman, or even a horse... Similarly, a single sword might be worth one gold coin to the Arabs, but to you, it could be worth ten or a hundred gold coins."
Elan was completely bewildered and confused, but he finally understood the core meaning of what was said—it was very expensive.
But he didn't know exactly how expensive it was.
Ugh, dealing with Chinese people is such a headache. Why can't these people just clearly state their prices?
People who insist on going around in circles are completely confused...
He scratched his messy hair and said frankly, "Four thousand pounds of gold, how much of your country's best weaponry could you buy?"
Xin Mao asked, "Is it the Great Food Pound?"
Elan shook his head: "Of course, it's the Roman pound! Although Rome was also an invader, it's been too long since then, and we absolutely cannot accept the Arabs!"
Xinmao will begin the conversion.
Merchants of the Tang Dynasty traveled throughout the world, trading with various regions, making currency exchange a natural necessity. Two Roman pounds were equivalent to one jin (斤) in the Tang system, or sixteen liang (两). Four thousand Roman pounds would be equivalent to two thousand jin (金), or thirty-two thousand liang (两)...
He was immediately taken aback: "You have that much money?"
It's no wonder he was suspicious.
Not to mention the ancient tribal conflicts and battles that severely damaged the Mesopotamian region, the subsequent invasions by the Romans, Persians, and Arabs, all of which imposed oppressive policies on the local tribes, have led to their decline and near extinction over hundreds and thousands of years. How could they possibly have so much money?
Elan was very cautious: "You just need to tell me how many swords and armors this money can buy. We'll do the transaction on a cash-on-delivery basis. Don't worry about me cheating you."
Xin Mao shook his head: "It's impossible for us to sell you the Tang army's standard equipment."
Elan was very shrewd. When he heard that he didn't say "not for sale," but only that he wouldn't sell "standard equipment," he quickly asked, "What do you mean by that?"
“We can sell you a batch of scimitars and plate armor, but the quality is no different from the standard equipment of the Tang army, only the style is different. You should know that we are willing to support you in resisting the tyranny of the Abbasid Caliphate and rebuilding your own country, but I also have to consider the diplomatic relations between the two countries. If the support of your weapons leads to a war between the two countries, I cannot bear that responsibility.”
Elan was very excited: "Are you sure the quality is the same?"
"You can inspect the goods during the transaction. If you think the quality is not good, you can cancel the transaction! Merchants of the Tang Dynasty travel the world and value the spirit of contracts the most. A promise is a promise, and we will not cheat the young or old!"
"Tell me, what's the quantity?"
Elan's eyes lit up.
Xin Mao carefully calculated and said, "One thousand finely crafted scimitars and two hundred sets of plate armor."
Elan was greatly disappointed: "Only this much? I brought out four thousand pounds of gold!"
Xin Mao scoffed: "Do you know how much risk I and the Tang Dynasty behind me are going to take for this? Buy it or don't!"
"This one……"
Elan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I need to go back and discuss this with the chief."
"It's natural."
Xin Mao said, "When you leave, go to the dock and board a merchant ship of the Great Tang. Disembark at any place along the way to avoid being chased by the Arabs. Next time you come, wait by the river. When you see a merchant ship flying the Great Tang dragon flag, climb on it and they will bring you here."
"Thank you!"
……
Elan left excitedly.
Inside the official residence, Xi Junmai laughed and said, "I was still worried about how to find these tribes to provide support, but I didn't expect them to come to me on their own initiative today. Good luck at the beginning of the new year, haha!"
How could the Tang Dynasty have established a concession here simply for trade between the two countries?
Supporting the indigenous tribes who opposed Arab rule was the keynote set as early as the planning of the "Mesopotamian Campaign." Arming those indigenous tribes who did not submit to Arab rule would cause war to break out in Mesopotamia, shake Arab rule, and make it unable to look eastward while maintaining its war with Byzantium and falling into internal strife. This was the true strategy of the Tang Dynasty.
Xin Mao, however, was still pondering another question: "How could the Amorites have so much money?"
According to the strategy of the Tang Dynasty, even if it meant losing money or giving it away, they would arm the tribes in Mesopotamia. However, the Amorites gave more than 30,000 taels of gold, which really surprised him.
Xi Jun laughed and said, "Isn't it great to make an extra fortune? Then we can live comfortably!"
Xin Mao shook his head and said, "What I'm thinking now is, since the Amorites are so rich, could those tribes that have suffered oppression and long-term slaughter also be able to come up with so much money? The Amorites, the Assyrians, the Akkadians... what was originally thought to be a losing proposition might actually turn out to be a huge profit!"
To accomplish the established strategy while also making a fortune is a great achievement!
(End of this chapter)