Liu Ziqiu remembered clearly that there were rich gold and diamond mines in southern Africa. Although he did not know the specific locations of these mineral deposits, he could send troops to explore slowly. Of course, the Han army could not mobilize so many troops to go there at once.
Africa, but can recruit people from local indigenous tribes.
Those primitive tribes were quite backward and did not even have their own writing. The Han army could teach them writing and advanced farming techniques at the same time, thereby gaining their trust. As long as they had a good relationship with the local indigenous tribes, they could have a steady flow of money.
The land obtained a large amount of labor force. Unlike those colonists of later generations, Liu Ziqiu did not treat these indigenous people as slaves, but as workers. These indigenous people could get paid for their participation in labor.
In order to mine mineral deposits locally, the Han army also needed to build a base there, including a city suitable for Han people to live in, a warehouse to store ore, and a port for the fleet to berth. This is also a quite huge project, but it must be done. Because Liu Ziqiu's
The ultimate goal is to open a western route directly to Europe and establish a supply base in Africa, which can meet the needs of the fleet for long-term voyages and can also serve as a transfer station for delivering messages. As for South Asia, because there are many kingdoms there, the supply problem of the fleet is completely
It can be solved through trade, and there is no need to establish a special base.
In April of the seventh year of Zhongxing, Chen Leng's fleet left Lingnan and embarked on a journey to the west again. The entire fleet was composed of one hundred large ships, sailors, soldiers, accompanying doctors and servants, with a total number of more than
150,000, which is nearly ten times the scale of the last voyage. This time, Liu Ziqiu made great determination. Not only did he hope that Chen Leng could find the mineral deposits in southern Africa, but he also hoped that he could detach a fleet to reach distant Europe.
.Because Liu Ziqiu received news that changes had occurred in Persia, the plan to find new trade routes was urgent.
…
As the war between the Sassanid Dynasty and the Byzantine Empire gradually became more intense, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius finally couldn't hold himself back. At the end of the fifth year of ZTE, he organized a powerful army to declare war on the Sassanid Dynasty in an attempt to regain Syria and recapture Antioch.
At the foot of the city of Antioch, he was attacked by both Shahbalaz and Shaheen, and was defeated. After the battle, Khosrow II became more ambitious, and the Persian army was invincible. Within a year, it was defeated.
He successively captured Jerusalem and Alexandria, and then occupied all of Egypt.
At this time, the strength of the Sassanid Dynasty had reached its peak, and the total population had expanded to 19.7 million people. After several years of rest and recuperation, the total population of the Han Dynasty had only recovered to 2,330 people.
Millions of people. Of course, the population of the Han Dynasty does not include the millions of herdsmen commanded by the four great Khans of Mobei. Those herdsmen are also the subjects of the Han Dynasty, but they have a slightly higher degree of freedom.
There is no need to pay taxes to the court.
So far, the relationship between the Han Dynasty and the Sasanian Dynasty of Persia has been relatively peaceful. After the envoys of the Han Dynasty arrived at Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sassanid Dynasty, they were also warmly entertained by Khosrow II. The merchants of the Han Dynasty in Persia
The transaction was also protected by the local officials, and there was no sign of the Sassanid dynasty invading the Western Regions. The two huge empires were close together and could live in peace. On the one hand, it was because Khoslao's focus had turned to the west, and for the time being it was still possible.
There was no time to look eastward. On the other hand, the Sassanid Dynasty also obtained a large amount of supplies from trade with the Han Dynasty to supplement the losses caused by its foreign campaigns.
If history continues to develop step by step like this, this delicate balance will one day be broken. However, Liu Ziqiu is not worried that the Sasanian Dynasty will turn to the East. The Western Regions are the foundation of his career and the link between East and West trade.
The important passage, where Liu Ziqiu deployed heavy troops, built fortresses, and accumulated a large amount of supplies. If Kusilao II lost his mind and came to attack the Western Regions, Liu Ziqiu believed that he would be able to defeat him.
On the contrary, what Liu Ziqiu was worried about was the crisis lurking beneath the powerful appearance of the Sasanian dynasty. Although Khosrow II was successful on the surface, his successive campaigns consumed a lot of the country's wealth and military power. In order to satisfy
In order to meet the needs of the war, Khosrow II began to impose heavy taxes on various domestic industries three years ago, and now it has intensified, making the people miserable. The Byzantine Empire has been forced into a corner and is facing the crisis of national subjugation. The trapped beast still fights, Chirac
The strategy will definitely seize this opportunity to launch a final counterattack. If Khosrow II is defeated, the huge Sasanian dynasty will immediately fall apart and fall into turmoil, and the trade route connecting the East and the West will also follow.
of fracture.
In fact, Heraclius has already begun to do this. A few days ago, Stanislav reported the news that Heraclius sent envoys to the Western Turkic Royal Court and delivered a large amount of treasures and dozens of blond beauties.
It was hoped that the Western Turks could send troops to attack the Sassanid Dynasty from the east. But Heraclius did not know that the Western Turks were no longer an independent tribal alliance and had been reduced to a highly autonomous area in the territory of the Han Dynasty. Such foreign conquests
Of course, Shi Danai did not dare to act on his own initiative. While making excuses with the Byzantine envoy, he reported the news to Luoyang and even sent all the dozens of beauties there.
At this time, there were two problems before Liu Ziqiu. Once Heraclius launched a counterattack, would the Han Dynasty intervene in this war between the two major Western powers or remain neutral? If it intervened in this war, would it be to help Khosrow
II or help Heraclius?
…
These two problems have troubled Liu Ziqiu for many days, and it has always been difficult for him to make a decision. After all, it involves the lives and blood of countless strong soldiers, and it is not something that can be decided by just patting the head. When he returned to the harem with a frown,
But I heard a burst of laughter.
Hearing this burst of laughter, Liu Ziqiu couldn't help but shook his head. To be honest, he felt more and more that being an emperor was really not that easy. Of course, if he just wanted to be a faint emperor, this kind of life would still be very comfortable.
It's just that Liu Ziqiu didn't want to be a faint king. He even wanted to do better than those wise kings in history. Because he came from later generations and knew the development process of history and the sufferings the Chinese nation had endured. He wanted to use the power he had
and knowledge to change history. Therefore, the burden on his shoulders is particularly heavy.
In the imperial garden, the blond and blue-eyed girls sent by Shi Danai were learning the etiquette of the palace. After Liu Ziqiu unified the world, he deliberately improved the status of the Han people and prohibited the casual trade of Han slaves. However, whether it was the imperial palace or those aristocratic families,
It is inevitable to use some servants and maids, so many servants and maids must use foreigners, and the royal palace is no exception. In addition to the maids left in the past, the newly added maids are all tribute from Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla.
Liu Ziqiu unceremoniously used the girls sent by Shi Danai as palace maids.
These girls are all tall, and only Hua Yun in the harem can be as tall as them, so the task of training them is given to Hua Yun. Although the girls put on palace clothes, they can't speak clearly and walk crookedly.
Hua Yun couldn't bear it anymore, and he couldn't do anything after training for several days. Sister Gao Xiuer watched from the side, causing bursts of laughter.
Seeing Liu Ziqiu come in, Hua Yun pouted and said, "Your Majesty, they are too stupid. I can't train them. You'd better hire someone smarter."
Liu Ziqiu smiled and waved his hand and said: "It's not that they are stupid, it's that they don't understand what you say. Why not find some interpreters and teach them Chinese first."
Hua Yun couldn't help but said: "They are tall and strong. Why don't we just let them do chores? Why train them? There is also a blond girl in the concubine's palace. I use her to do chores. Even the chamberlains
No need."
Liu Ziqiu asked strangely: "There are blond and blue-eyed aliens in your palace? Why haven't I seen them?"
"Ah!" Hua Yun realized what he had said, but it was too late, so he could only mutter, "That maid looks like a goblin, and I was afraid that she would charm the emperor, so I kept hiding her behind.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Liu Ziqiu smiled and said: "How can I be so easily seduced by others? Why don't you call her over and let me see what kind of fairy she is."
This time, Hua Yun couldn't hide it anymore and gave a few instructions to the palace maid beside him. After a while, the palace maid led a slim girl over. The girl bowed to Liu Ziqiu and kowtowed:
"My slave Wang Yufeng has met Your Majesty."
Liu Ziqiu took a closer look and saw that this woman was about 20 years old, with blond hair and blue eyes, plump breasts, perky hips, a waist that could be grasped, and a really hot figure.
Seeing Liu Ziqiu looking at Wang Yufeng intently, Hua Yun said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, let her sleep with the Emperor tonight."
Liu Ziqiu laughed loudly and said: "My dear concubine, do you really think that I am a pervert? I am just curious about her origins."
Wang Yufeng was very obedient and said quickly: "Your Majesty, this slave is originally the daughter of Wang Shichong, the prime minister of Jiangdu County. When Jiangdu Palace was destroyed, she was captured by Empress Yun and she was adopted as a slave."
Hearing the words "Wang Shichong", Liu Ziqiu was suddenly shocked. The Han Dynasty had been in peace for a long time. Although Liu Ziqiu did not dare to relax at all, he only remembered the external troubles but forgot the internal ones. After unifying the world, he pardoned everyone except Li Yuan and his family.
In addition to Wang Bo's execution in Moling Town, there are two other important figures who are still on the run and whose whereabouts are unknown. One of these two important figures is Li Mi and the other is Wang Shichong.
Li Yuan and others were in the open, and Liu Ziqiu sent people to keep an eye on the movements of their father and son. As long as they made the slightest move, Liu Ziqiu would get the news. But Li Mi and Wang Shichong were in the dark. It would be fine if they lived their lives peacefully, but if their evil intentions persisted,
, I'm afraid it will add variables to the increasingly calm man.