The capital of the Samanid Kingdom is located on the banks of the Zerafshan River delta, with the Shahkud Canal passing through the city. It is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.
As General Ghulam of the Samanid Kingdom, Haidar patrolled the palace city as usual. When the officials and clergy passing by, they all stopped and greeted them warmly, calling them "General Haidar" affectionately.
".
Haidar acted completely like a stranger, and only responded with a bit of indifference, but it did not hinder the other party's enthusiasm. He did not care at all that his hot face was pressed against Haidar's cold ass.
"General Haidar!"
Haidar suddenly stopped and forced a smile on his face.
The person who called him was a middle-aged man with a big beard, a shiny head, and the number of hair and beard was completely disproportionate.
The person who came was none other than Abu Ali Hussein bin Abdullah bin Hassan bin Ali Suleiman, the high priest of the Samanid Kingdom, also known as Suleiman for short.
As a country with supreme theocracy, Suleiman's status in the Samanid Kingdom was second only to the king, and his external influence even exceeded the king.
Haidar did not dare to neglect and respectfully called "Mullah."
The great mullah means protector, sheikh, and is the common name of the high priest.
Suleiman squinted his kind eyes and said in a friendly manner: "You just returned from the general's house. Your son has eaten something unclean and has a stomach bug. He has been prescribed medicine. As long as he recovers well, he will be fine within five days."
Recovery. During these five days, you should avoid eating spicy food."
Although Haidar knew that the other party had ulterior motives, he could not help but feel grateful. Suleiman was born in a medical family and was famous for his medical skills. However, since he became the high priest, he rarely treated patients.
His son ate something last night and was in unbearable pain. Today he sent someone to the Grand Mosque for medical treatment, but Suleiman unexpectedly took action himself.
Haidar thanked him profusely.
Suleiman said: "The general protects the good. The general's family is the most pious and peace-loving, so they deserve the protection of the general. I am just following the guidance of the general to give back to the general."
He said something meaningful, and left slowly without waiting for Haidar to reply.
Haidar didn't have time to say anything, but the other party left first, leaving him feeling stuck in his throat.
Haidar frowned as he looked at Suleiman's retreating back.
The internal situation of the Samanid Kingdom is very complicated. This Central Asian power has reached a state of twilight, with three internal powers separated: imperial power, religion, and nobility.
There is no doubt that the imperial power is naturally King Mansur I of the Samanid Kingdom, and the religious and nobles are the Dashifaji and the Diwan nobles headed by Suleiman respectively.
The Diwan nobles control finance, diplomacy, and household registration, while the Dashifajiao controls law, education, and medical care.
In response to the weakness of the Karakhan Kingdom, the religion wanted to expand the influence of the Great Food Law, and was willing to accept the Karakhan Kingdom. It agreed to launch a holy war to help the Karakhan Kingdom eliminate the pagans in the Western Regions and expand the Great Food Law to the Western Region. Diwan
The nobles are unwilling to sue for peace. War can consolidate their power. Only when there are external threats can they hold military power. Once peace comes, conflicts between them and the royal family will be directly triggered.
As a member of the Samanid imperial power faction, King Mansur I was neither willing to see the expansion of religious forces under his rule, nor was he willing to sit back and watch the Diwan noble family grow bigger and establish its own family. He had always tried hard to maintain a balance.
Now it was clear that it was unsustainable. King Mansour I could not weigh the pros and cons and could not give a decisive answer as to whether he favored religion or nobility.
Haidar was the person Mansur I trusted most, and his attitude was the easiest to influence Mansur I's final decision.
This is why Haidar became the target of both parties' efforts to win over.
I received such a great favor from Suleiman today, but I don’t know how to repay it.
"well!"
All worries finally merged into a sigh.
Haidar declined all invitations and went home early on the grounds that his son was sick. As soon as he arrived at the door, his body froze, and a kind of fear emerged from the bottom of his heart.
Someone drew a black cloud in the corner of the room. It was a special symbol of Manichaeism's request to meet him. After he lurked in the Gulam Guards, this was the first time he received a message from Manichaeism asking him to meet him.
.
His fists were clenched and his body was shaking slightly.
Although Manichaeism has a long history, it was first allowed to be taught by the Catholic Church and then defeated by the Great Diet. It has long since faded away and has no way out in the West.
It is true that Haidar was brainwashed by Manichaeism since he was a child. However, he was promoted step by step in the Samani Kingdom, started a family, and reached his current position. He has already changed his original thoughts and ideas in his heart. His recognition of the teachings of the Great Food Dharma even exceeds his recognition of the Ming Dynasty.
It’s just that some things can’t be erased. Just because he changes his mind and becomes a traitor doesn’t mean he can be a good person. Manichaeism has a handle on him. If he doesn’t work for Manichaeism, he will not be the only one who will die.
His wife, children, and children will also be affected.
Haidar has been deeply aware of the cruelty of the Great Food Law towards apostates over the years.
Haidar did not dare to hesitate and said: "The Great Mullah came here to treat my son today. I should go to the temple to fulfill my vow!" Yes, the secret stronghold agreed upon by Manichaeism was in the temple of the Great Recipe.
There are many people, the eyes are cluttered, and it is dark under the lamp.
Kashgar Royal Palace.
Musa Arslan Khan, the king of the Kara Khanate, received Parisa Russo, the emir of the envoy who returned from the east, in the main hall.
Emir is an official position in the West, which has many meanings in the West, but for the Karakhanate, it refers to the title of the highest-ranking noble, and its status is equivalent to that of the prime minister.
"Emir, you've had a hard journey! How have you experienced here?" Musa Arslan Khan asked with some eagerness. Parisa Russell shook his head slightly: "The situation in Dongtu is worse than the Khan imagined.
It's going to be worse."
Musa Arslan Khan's face was pale, with a trace of fear flashing in his eyes, and he said: "Is it even more powerful than the Liao Kingdom back then?"
Although the Karakhanate was westernized and fully accepted the culture brought by the Great Food Law, the bloodline they retained belonged to the eastern steppes. Their core tribes were still the Uighurs, Turks, Geluolu and Tiele people.
.
Therefore, the Karakhanate's contacts with the East have never been cut off. Compared with its neighbor, the Samanid Kingdom, the other party has always believed that the "Great Qin" that fought against the black-clad empire in Tamros in history was Li Shengtian's Khotan Kingdom. They called it
Li Shengtian is the "Emperor of China".
In the travel notes of their writers, it was even recorded that the Samanid Kingdom threatened the Chinese Emperor, who was so frightened that the Chinese Emperor converted to Dafa and became a Muslim.
The whole thing is Yelang's arrogant frog in the well.
The Kara Khanate was different. They had always maintained contacts with the East. Even during the civil strife in the Central Plains, the Kara Khanate still paid attention to the situation in the Central Plains, and started trade with the stable Liao Kingdom, and even married each other's children and in-laws.
, the two sides have always maintained close and friendly relations.
Historically, as soon as the Song Dynasty was unified, envoys from the Kara Khanate arrived, which shows that they attached great importance to the situation in the Central Plains.
After all, they are old rivals for hundreds of years, and they know everything about them. It is the same in this life. As soon as Dayu emerged, envoys from the Kara Khanate came to Bianjing. In addition to starting trade exchanges between the two sides, the Kara Khanate also treated them with the courtesy of a nephew.
Take a stand.
Dayu, the uncle-nephew ally of the Kara Khanate.
Parisa Russell smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty is talking about Yelu Abaoji, the Liao Kingdom during the reign of Yelu Deguang?"
Historically, the peak of the Liao Kingdom was during the period of Yelu Xian and Xiao Chuo supervising the country, but the peak of this era is undoubtedly the period of Yelu Abaoji and Yelu Deguang.
After getting the affirmative answer, Parisa Russell said with a wry smile: "The momentum of Dayu is far greater than that of the Li and Tang Dynasties in the past. The king of Khan underestimated the Emperor of the East."
A trace of fear flashed in Musa Arslan's eyes, thinking about the history of blood and tears of the Uighurs, Turks, and Geluolu. Although they could indeed occupy a certain advantage when the Central Plains was decadent, there is no doubt that as long as the Central Plains really
To rise, all they can do is press them to the ground and rub them.
Stronger than the Li Tang court?
How can it be?
Parisa Russell looked at the incredulous King Khan and said: "In the past, when Li Tang was at his peak, he had a population of
Insufficient shortcomings. The great turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty reduced the population of the East by 70%. The current Luo Yu court does not know why, but does not have this concern. They have enough manpower to develop the country, and the momentum is far stronger than during the Zhenguan period. This time
They went to their Bianjing and Luoyang as envoys to the East. The land of Gyeonggi has completely restored its vitality. No country in our Western Regions is qualified to be their opponent, unless we gather the power of the great Western food laws."
Musa Arslan did not doubt Parisa Russell's words. Ever since he received the news of the demise of the Liao Kingdom, he had a premonition that he would compromise with his old enemy in order to use the power of the West to attack Talos again.
battle to protect his position. But he didn't expect the situation to be more terrifying than he imagined.
Musa Arslan suppressed his anxiety, took a deep breath and said, "How much time do we have?"
Parisa Russell shook his head and said: "One year, or two years. King Khan, the Emperor of the East is a king no less powerful than Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. In their eyes, the Western Region is their territory, and sooner or later they will come to take it."
Yes, it’s just a matter of time.”
Musa Arslan took two steps back and forth and said: "One year, two years, there is still time. As long as we can capture Khotan and Gaochang, we can block the east from the sand moraine. Even if we only capture
In Khotan, we can also occupy a favorable position and wait for work. If anyone comes, please invite the big Mullah..."
The most urgent task is to let the stupid West know that the dragon in the East has taken off, and if they are not prepared, by the time they are prepared, it will be too late.
Before he could even have a cup of tea, he heard his servants calling for an audience with the Great Mullah Adolfo Jones.
"King Khan!" Adolphus Jones marched into the hall.
Musa Arslan hurriedly said: "Maulana, is there any news about the alliance's purge of infidels?"
Adolfo Jones said solemnly: "Saman agreed to the armistice, but he did not support the launch of jihad."