"The city is large and beautiful. The gates of the palace all face the main square. The gates are very high, and above the gates are splendid rooms decorated with patterns.'
This is the description of Isfahan, the capital of Persia, by a Russian businessman who traveled in Persia twenty years ago.
The Persian Emperor Abbas II personally took the Prime Minister out of the palace and greeted the Chinese envoys in the square, paying much more attention to them than the Mughals did.
Abbas II is only 20 years old, but he has succeeded to the throne for more than ten years.
A young emperor is prone to produce powerful ministers, but he was very lucky and met two wise prime ministers in succession.
Due to Abbas I's long-term wars, the treasury was empty. The Prime Minister Sanu Thaqi, who assisted the young emperor, comprehensively reorganized the internal affairs and cracked down on corruption. After five years of assisting the emperor, he was assassinated by a nobleman.
The prime minister, who was both his teacher and father, was killed. The little emperor, who was only fourteen years old at the time, hated the powerful people in the country to his core.
The second prime minister was called Caliph Sultan. As soon as he heard his name, he knew he was a religious leader. He was a good friend of the previous prime minister. With his religious status and influence, he continued to assist the emperor in reorganizing his internal affairs, cracking down on corruption, and continuing to win over local governments.
Great power, constantly strengthening the emperor's centralization of power.
Under the training and guidance of the two prime ministers, Abbas II became wise and kind, and at the same time a knowledgeable monarch.
In addition, his generous character is also related to his family experiences.
His grandfather, Abbas I, was very talented and resourceful, but he was extremely suspicious. In order to prevent the prince from usurping the throne, he killed his eldest son, his second son, and made his youngest son blind. After his father succeeded to the throne, he did the same thing as his grandfather,
Almost all the members of the Safavid royal family were killed, as well as the outstanding civil and military ministers, and then he began to drink alcohol and take opium for a long time.
Born into such a family, Abbas II has been cautious since he was a child, has a delicate mind and is very sensitive.
"Teacher, what do Chinese people look like?" Abbas II asked.
The caliph said: "I haven't seen one either. Maybe they are similar to the Mongolians. But according to the news brought by the businessmen, the current Chinese emperor is a young and promising founding monarch. In recent years, our products have become more and more popular."
More and more goods are sold to China. And more and more Chinese goods come to Persia. Especially their cotton cloth, even across the ocean, is still as cheap and high-quality.
Abbas II asked again: "Which one is bigger, Persia or China?"
The Caliph said: "This... I don't know either. We merchants sent news from Banten that the Chinese navy has defeated the Netherlands. This is a very good thing. In the future, merchants will be safer when going to sea, and they can even directly communicate with China."
Contact. I think we should organize a fleet and send envoys to visit China.
"Your Majesty, the Chinese envoy is here!" A eunuch ran over to report.
Persia has always had the tradition of using eunuchs by lot, and its system of lot making is even older than China. The Greek use of people was learned from Persia.
Abbas II looked up and immediately saw the envoy approaching from a distance.
Most of the three thousand accompanying soldiers were left outside the city, and only two hundred soldiers were allowed to enter the city.
Lu Tianxiang rode a war horse bought from India and led the envoys forward slowly. She was wearing exquisite armor, and the two hundred soldiers behind her were all wearing plate armor, which made a clanging sound on the ground.
Abbas II smiled and said: "A very majestic army."
After getting closer, Abbas showed surprise that the leader of the Chinese delegation was actually a woman.
But I was just a little surprised. At this period, Persia was the most open-minded era. The Queen of Persia who was following Abbas stood there openly, without wearing a veil on her head at all.
Lu Tianxiang got off his horse and came forward with Zhang Ruifeng and other civil servants. He raised his hands and said, "Lu Tianxiang, the imperial concubine of China in Datong, together with the Chinese envoys, has met His Majesty the Emperor of Persia!"
Hearing the translation, Abbas II was shocked and said: "She is actually a Chinese princess. It is an honor to meet you. This is my wife Mareni. I think you can become good friends. This is my son Mirza,
He wants to meet the distinguished guests from afar."
The 20-year-old Persian emperor, his eldest son is already 6 years old...·
This prince named Safavid Mirza was the next Persian emperor Suleiman I, and it was in the hands of this man that the Safavid Persian Empire declined.
The Mughal royal family was extremely fond of Persian culture. Although the two countries often fought wars, the royal families had been intermarrying for a long time.
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had four sons, two of whom were married to Persian princesses. He even wanted to marry his granddaughter to his grandson in order to ease the conflict between the two princes.
The grandchildren are too young, so this marriage is probably a done deal.
The granddaughter named Zebunissa was proficient in Persian poetry and extremely beautiful. Her fame even spread to Persia. The Persian Emperor Abbas II sent an envoy to propose to his son, and Zebunissa asked to meet the man first.
On the one hand, she refused to marry a man she did not know. This Mughal princess had too high expectations and never married until her death.
Queen Marlene came forward with her son and greeted the Chinese envoy in a graceful manner.
The two sides introduced the main members to each other. Zhang Ruifeng took a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Respected
Dear His Majesty the Emperor of Persia, our Majesty has specially prepared a gift for you."
The gift was very simple, a telescope, a clock, some pieces of silk, and some pieces of porcelain.
In addition, there is a personal letter written by Zhao Han, which has also been translated into Persian.
Abbas II was very fond of table clocks, which were much smaller than European table clocks and had minute hands that kept time more accurately.
After reading Zhao Han's autographed letter, he learned that members of the royal family of the previous Persian dynasty fled to China after the country was destroyed.
Abbas II was very happy and immediately invited the envoys to enter the Palace of Forty Pillars.
The Forty-Column Palace of the Persian Palace actually only has twenty stone pillars, but when reflected in the water, they become forty. This palace is very beautiful and was just completed a few years ago.
The Persian emperor's guards were all tall and powerful, and their troops mainly came from the Caucasus region. In addition to cold weapons, they were also equipped with a large number of matchlocks, which they had learned through long-term battles with the Ottomans.
After entering the palace, the envoys were arranged to stay and have a short rest before going to the banquet in the evening.
Of course, no armor was allowed to be worn at the banquet. Everyone, including Lu Tianxiang, put on silk clothes that could represent China.
Abbas II and his wife, Lu Tianxiang and Zhang Ruifeng, the four of them sat down facing the table. There were no stools, they sat directly on the carpet, and the rest of the people sat behind them.
The singing and dancing started quickly, but the angle was a bit awkward and everyone had to turn around to enjoy the singing and dancing.
The secularization of the Safavid Persian Dynasty can be seen in its singing, dancing and food.
Not only was the dancer not covered with a veil, but she was also dressed in extremely revealing clothes.
The drinks are all fine wine, which is not allowed by the teachings, but the Persian nobles seem to be accustomed to it.
While enjoying the wine, enjoying the singing and dancing, and started chatting.
Abbas II seldom talked about military affairs and focused on poetry and art. Pan Wei, who came from a wealthy family, came in handy again. After communicating with the Indian crown prince, he now knows better how to talk nonsense with foreign nobles.
Gradually, the two sides talked about the calendar. The calendars of the two countries were surprisingly similar, and everyone even had twelve zodiac signs.
Zhang Ruifeng said: "The twelve zodiac animals in our country include rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog and pig.
Abbas II said: "The twelve zodiac animals of our country include rat, ox, leopard, rabbit, whale, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
"Hahahahaha!"
Members of both sides burst into laughter because it was such a coincidence. Except for a few different animals, even the order of the zodiac animals was the same. There must have been close exchanges between the two countries in history.
This made Abbas II more interested in China, and even suggested royal intermarriage. He said: "My eldest son is six years old this year, and my eldest daughter is four years old. I heard that the Chinese emperor is also very young, so why not let my son,
Marry his daughter as his wife, and his son marry my daughter as his wife. After the royal families of the two countries intermarry, the relationship between the two countries will definitely be closer.
Lu Tianxiang replied: "We cannot make the final decision on the intermarriage between the royal families of the two countries. We must return to the country to seek instructions from His Majesty the Emperor.
Abbas II said: "My children are still very young, and I am waiting to hear from the Chinese Emperor.
Lu Tianxiang said: "We still have to go to Europe, maybe it will be late to return to China.
Abbas II said: "It doesn't matter. Our businessmen often go to India to trade.
Yi can reach as far as Wandan in the east. I will send envoys to China on the ship to visit the emperor. I will also send scholars to China to study poetry and painting. Chinese poetry and painting must also be very exciting.
The Persian emperor was extremely hospitable and liked to marry foreign royal families and send envoys to each other for communication.
Moreover, some words do not go through the brain.
While talking, Abbas II asked: "Does the Chinese emperor have a sister?"
When Lu Tianxiang was asked this question, Zhang Ruifeng was a little confused and couldn't follow the other person's thinking at all.
Abbas II said: "If the Chinese emperor has a sister, I hope to marry a concubine, and I will love her very much.
Zhang Ruifeng replied: "I'm very sorry, our Majesty only has one sister, who got married a few years ago.
"Alas, what a pity," Abbas II said again, "my sisters are already married, otherwise they could marry the Chinese emperor as concubines. In this case, my son can only marry a
As a Chinese princess, the Safavid royal family has Chinese royal blood. It’s exciting to think about it. China is mysterious and ancient. After having Chinese royal blood, the Safavid royal family will definitely become even greater.”
Does this guy have a pedigree collecting habit?
Speaking of royal intermarriage in Persia, it is similar to that in Europe. In the past few decades, Persia has been fighting with the Mughals while intermarrying with the Mughal royal family, which has not affected their ability to fight on the battlefield.
In the next half month, Lu Tianxiang kept communicating with the Queen of Persia, while the King of Persia discussed art with the officials of the mission.
These were the most prosperous days for the mission. Although the Persian countryside was poor, the city was civilized and prosperous. Except for the unpalatable food, all other conditions were not inferior to those of Nanjing.
Even Cai Yuncheng, who was born as a poor peasant, had great interest in the country of Persia because of the warm hospitality of Abbas II and the prosperity and civilization of the city.
When leaving, Abbas II learned that they were going to Ottoman and immediately said: "The female sultan of Ottoman was assassinated last year. At this time, Ottoman is in the most chaotic time. If you go there, you will be safe all the way."
Be careful, because the Ottoman royal family can no longer control the local army."
"Female Sultan?" Zhang Ruifeng was extremely surprised.
Abbas II nodded and said: "In the past hundred years, there have been a large number of female sultans in the Ottoman Empire.
After repeated questioning, Zhang Ruifeng finally figured out that the so-called Ottoman female sultan was actually the Empress Dowager Bingzheng. Just like the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there were a lot of little emperors. The Empress Dowager had monopolized power for a long time and would not hand it over even after the emperor came of age.
that power.
Moreover, the origins of these female sultans can also be described as diverse.
For example, the very famous Hürrem Sultan was a Polish man who believed in Orthodox Christianity. He rose as a slave girl, emerged from fierce palace battles, and finally became the queen mother who monopolized power.
There is also Empress Safiye, a slave girl born into a Venetian noble. During her reign, the relationship between Ottoman and Venice was as good as wearing the same pants.
The empress dowager who was assassinated last year was called Kesem Sultan.
One of her sons reigned for seventeen years and the other for eight years, with the Empress Dowager controlling all the powers. After her grandson succeeded to the throne, the Empress Dowager ruled for several more years. The noble ministers finally couldn't bear it.
Killed the empress dowager.
After the death of the Empress Dowager and the young emperor, the Ottoman nobles began to fight for power, and now the country is in chaos.
The Ottoman Empire at this time was called the "Sudanese Feminist Era" and would last for more than a hundred years.
Even though the nobles killed a queen mother, a new queen mother would come to power next, and she would be a slave girl from Poland.
