Marco Polo's "World Views" clearly recorded all the great and strange things in the major regions of the East - Greater Armenia, Persia, Tartar, India and many other countries. He claimed that he
Everything recorded in the book is accurate and true, and was witnessed by him with his own eyes.
In this book, he records the palace of the Great Khan with its gardens and man-made lakes, elephants loaded with silver harnesses and precious stones. He also talks about various avenues, which are higher than the surrounding ground and easy to drain; on the Grand Canal, merchants
There was a constant flow of ships every year; in various ports, there were anchored ships larger than those known to Europeans, and there was talk of some places producing spices, silk, ginger, sugar, camphor, cotton, salt, saffron, sandalwood, and porcelain. Horses
But he also described all the fabled countries he visited and heard about when he escorted the Chinese princess to Persia - Singapore, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, India, Socotra, Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, and Zanzi.
Baal and Abyssinia.
He described a China full of gold, and a Spice Island where the fragrance of spices filled every breath. His book directly more than doubled people's knowledge of the world on that side of the earth.
Of course, whether the things written in this book are true or false is a topic of discussion among people, but the porcelain, silk and other oriental goods bought from Muslims, which are comparable to God's creations, cannot be faked.
Within a hundred or two hundred years after the birth of this book, there was a huge empire in the far East, behind the Muslims. This was already the consensus of Europeans.
After reaching a consensus, the lords, merchants, and navigators, who were stimulated by the expensive little things like gold, treasures, and spices, began to risk their lives and sail across the Atlantic Ocean, trying to bypass those greedy Arabs and reopen a new way to the East.
New trade routes emerged.
In the second half of the 15th century, the ambitious King Joao II of Portugal attempted to dominate the world and sent several fleets to inspect and explore a waterway to India. In 1486, he sent the famous navigator Bartolomeu to
, the expedition headed by Dias sailed along the west coast of Africa, determined to find a route to the East. When the fleet sailed to the waters near the Cape of Good Hope, a strong storm almost killed the fleet in the belly of the fish.
Dias was forced to return to Portugal.
The Cape of Good Hope was discovered.
In 1492, the Spanish fleet led by Columbus arrived in "India" and the New World of America was discovered. Poor Columbus thought that the New World of America he discovered was India until his death.
On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Gama, on the orders of King Manuel of Portugal, led four ships with a total of more than 140 sailors and set sail from the capital Lisbon, embarking on a voyage to explore India.
.
India was discovered.
In 1503, Vasco da Gama, laden with a large amount of valuable spices plundered from the southwestern coast of India, rode the northeast monsoon of the Indian Ocean and led 13 Portuguese ships back to Lisbon.
At this time, Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire could no longer sit still. The world was so beautiful, but why did his empire still have to endure the exploitation of the Ottoman Empire, including gold, silver, spices, porcelain, silk, etc.
Countless luxury goods beckoned to him in the east, but he lacked a channel through which to intervene.
At this time, a tribe that had been living in his territory for decades caught his attention. It is said that the ancestors of this tribe once crossed the territory of the Ottoman Empire and reached the magical ancient Eastern Empire from the land.
, and lived there for a long time. In their tribe, the inheritance of those ancient and mysterious oriental languages has never been cut off.
And this tribe has been squeezed and exploited by various lords, and their life is not very good. If we want to describe the situation in the future, the Liqian people are simply like the Gypsies in the Holy Roman Empire, wandering around.
, not even a fixed residence.
Go east!
With the will of Charles V, Princess Grisha contacted this tribe. After paying a series of conditions that the Lijiang people could not refuse, the Lijiang people finally embarked on the road back east. Of course, this Holy Rome
After the imperial army escorted them to the border of the Ottoman Empire, they had to rely on them to walk step by step towards the east for the rest of the journey.
In two years, two full years, Grisha went from a thirteen-year-old girl to a fifteen-year-old girl, and finally came to this legendary Eastern country, although she had not yet seen the legendary
The whole place is prosperous, but Grisha firmly believes that she will see it with her own eyes and conclude this golden trade route.
Once this great matter is negotiated with the Ming Emperor, the Mongols will leave it to the Ming Empire's army to settle the matter, while the Ottoman Empire will open up this trade route even if they use all their troops.
With her father Charles V's brilliant vision, he would not have seen how much wealth the opening of this trade route would bring to the empire, and with this steady stream of wealth, the empire would become Europe's money bag.
, becoming the most powerful presence in Europe.
Success is just around the corner.
…
There was a rare rain last night. Although it was not heavy, it rained for several hours. When I woke up early this morning, the dry and hot feeling in the air was suddenly replaced by a refreshing and moist feeling, which made Qian
Being free from illness is a great relief.
Walking out of the bedroom, he stretched his muscles and punched randomly. The energetic feeling all over his body was very good. Behind him, Zhu Ruoxi lay with her head buried in the thin brocade quilt, her long black hair stretching out from the quilt.
It came out and poured down the bed, like a piece of black satin that was trembling slightly in the wind.
Different from being quiet during the day, Zhu Ruoxi became very wild at night, and her demands for sexual intercourse far exceeded Qian Wubing's imagination. Qian Wubing was a martial arts practitioner, and his kung fu skills were also poor in daily life.
He didn't let go, otherwise, he really wouldn't be able to subdue this woman who looked like a little female leopard at night.
There was a long neigh of war horses in the distance, which was the scouts sent out in the morning having fun, and a louder noise also sounded from the north, which was when people in Li started to get up and work. For a moment,
Qian Wubing even had a feeling that this place was his home. Many years ago, in a certain vegetable market in his memory, the noise in the morning also woke him up from his dream.
He walked out of the gate. Yan Qi, who was walking out of his house, saw this and wanted to follow him. Qian Wubing waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to follow him. He was safer here than anywhere else, as long as these Li people didn't have a fever or burn out.
In terms of brains, he definitely cares about his safety more than anyone else. Currently, he gets more than half of the daily food and drink expenses of these thousands of people from Yang Yiqing.
On the road, people kept stopping what they were doing and bowing to salute him. Qian Wubing also nodded slightly. Someone brought some strange food in a basket. Qian Wubing smiled and took some from it.
I put it in my mouth and tasted it in small pieces. It tasted pretty good.
He wanted to take out a few pieces of silver from his arms, but the little girl carrying the basket came running over with a giggle. Qian Wubing smiled and shook his head and put his hand down again.
Beside the city wall, the soldiers who were on guard yesterday were eating breakfast. Some of them knew Qian Wubing and smiled at Qian Wubing. There were also some who didn't know him, chewing the food in their mouths and glancing at him.
He went back to his food again.
The whole town is a lively scene.
"Master Qian, would you like some mare's milk?"
Lu Fa, who was milking a mare, saw Qian Wubing strolling over. He pointed at the leather bucket in his hand with a smile. Qian Wubing's head was swayed like a windmill. This thing
He really couldn't stand it, the smell was so fishy that if he really wanted to drink a bowl, he wouldn't have to eat anything all day long.
Not far away from the door of the house, a little girl was sitting at the door combing her hair. Looking at the familiar dress, Qian Wubing even thought for a moment that the little girl was Zhu Yunniang.
"That's my granddaughter, Grisha!" Lufa followed his gaze and looked back, and said to him: "She's a very cute girl, isn't she? Many young men secretly like her!"
"Oh, Grisha, I've seen her before!" Qian Wubing nodded: "I'm very close to Yun Niang!"
"By the way, why don't you see the little noble? The white bread just delivered by the bread workshop this morning, paired with yogurt, the little noble will definitely like it!"
"Haha!" Qian Wubing smiled. At this time, Zhu Yunniang was probably still sleeping. He had seen Zhu Yunniang sleeping, with her arms and legs spread out, not honest at all. No one would have thought of such a quiet little person.
Son, sleeping is the virtue.
"Elder Lufa, are you talking about me!" A clear voice sounded from behind Qian Wubing. Qian Wubing was stunned. Zhu Yunniang's small body had already ran in front of him and squatted down to look.
It was time to milk the cow.
"Hey, Grisha!" She shouted in the direction: "Your grandpa said you have something delicious, why don't you bring it out quickly!"
Grisha, who was combing her hair over there, turned around and saw Zhu Yunniang's figure. She smiled and pointed towards the house, as if to say, the delicious food is in the house.
Zhu Yunniang jumped over and ran over. The two girls started babbling and gesticulating again. Then, Grisha took out a basket from the house as if she was offering a treasure. The two of them gesticulated and took the basket from the basket.
Put food in your mouth.
"These two girls have a really good relationship!" Qian Wubing shook his head and said to Lufa with a smile.
"Yes, yes, I heard Grisha say that the young nobleman even invited her to be a guest at the young nobleman's house. It is not Master Qian's current residence, but his home in the capital. But you also know, sir, we have just settled down, what are we doing?
There is nothing to get rid of, and Grisha is in trouble! The little girl is worried about the gift!"
"Haha, gifts or whatnot are not important, your thoughts are enough!"
"That's not possible. Now that we have arrived in the capital, we must meet His Majesty the Emperor. Grisha's visit as a guest represents the dignity of our eight thousand people. This cannot be careless!"