Chapter 307: Langya Cultivation
Leaving Zhenla and heading southwest, within a few days they arrived at the Langyaxiu Kingdom.

Unexpectedly, Cai Jing had done his homework. When they got off the boat and went ashore to watch, he quickly told Zhao Xin all the information that was available in ancient books.

“Your Majesty, this Langya Xiu Kingdom is recorded in the Book of Liang. It is a country where Buddhism is quite prosperous.”

Zhao Xin also found their local officials and asked about the local situation.

I found someone who knew Chinese and asked him what this place was and what its specialties were.

After the officials of Langya Xiu Kingdom learned that Zhao Xin and his group were planning to go to Srivijaya, they immediately reported the news to the other king.

This time, Zhao Xin did not leave immediately, but stopped, wanting to learn as much information about this place as possible.

The main words…

For example, Chinese history books generally record the country’s name, its location, and its specialties.

But there was no mention of the country’s political system, population, or military strength.

How could Zhao Xin rashly attack Srivijaya before knowing the population of Srivijaya and the number of officials and troops in the country?

By the time……

You may hit someone and not even know who you hit.

Because most of the countries here are settled on the seaside or on land not far from the seaside.

Therefore, within half a day, the local officials said that their king wanted to see them.

I guess the officials of the Langya Xiu Kingdom thought he was here to do business.

It’s all business anyway, so let’s see if the Langya cultivators can get in on the action. That would be great.

In fact, if Zhao Xin was a monk, he would probably be more respected in the local area.

soon……

Zhao Xin then met the king of the Langya Xiu Kingdom.

With the help of the translator, the two sides soon began a friendly question-and-answer session.

“The guest is from the Song Dynasty?”

Zhao Xin also replied: “Exactly. Since this is our first time sailing, we don’t know much about the situation here. We had to stop and ask people everywhere.”

“Are you a businessman?”

Zhao Xin said, “No.”

The other party also frowned, “So what do you do?”

Zhao Xin replied: “I am an official from the Song Dynasty.”

When the other party heard this, he immediately showed a bit more respect.

And immediately asked the maid to pour wine.

“I wonder what you are going to do in Srivijaya?”

Zhao Xin did not answer either. Instead, he asked, “What is your relationship with Srivijaya? Are you friends?”

The king of Langyaxiu said, “We used to be their vassal state and had to pay tribute to them every year.”

Zhao Xin also asked: “Before?”

The king of Langyaxiu said, “Yes, it was once. It was because the Chola attacked Srivijaya about twenty years ago that we no longer had to obey them completely. My lord, are you friendly with Srivijaya?”

Zhao Xin signaled to the maid that it was all right, and said, “So… you must be very familiar with the situation in Srivijaya.”

The king of Langyaxiu Kingdom also looked at Zhao Xin with a scrutinizing expression.

Because he had a feeling that Zhao Xin’s trip seemed to have bad intentions.

Since Zhao Xin had heard that this place was once a vassal state of Srivijaya, he naturally had something to say, so he might as well express his position to the other party.

He said: “Since Srivijaya was a little disrespectful to the Song Dynasty, our officials asked me to come out and teach Srivijaya a lesson.”

When the king of Langyaxiu heard this, he was very happy!

So he asked, “What’s going on?”

Zhao Xin then told them how the King of Srivijaya had dared to forcibly collect taxes from their Song Dynasty merchant ships and even beat people.

To be honest, everyone here is an adult.

The king of Langyaxiu Kingdom naturally knew that taxes would be collected when passing through Srivijaya, and isn’t this very normal?

In the Song Dynasty, you pass through other people’s territory and don’t pay taxes. People there can’t stand it anymore.

but……

In the eyes of the King of Langyaxiu Kingdom, it was a good thing that there was someone who could deal with Srivijaya again.

Anyway…

It’s no big deal to watch the fun!

The king of Langya Xiu said: “If the Song Dynasty needs our help, we can provide assistance to the Song Dynasty.”

Zhao Xin also said: “It’s great to hear you say that. Since you said so, I would like to ask you to tell me who are the people in this Trivial Purana.”

“For example, what kind of officials are there in their country, what the officials are responsible for, the size of the country, the population size, etc. Tell me all about it.”

however……

Southeast Asia is so backward that there is no such thing as population statistics.

but……

Having said that, this is a rough estimate and there is nothing wrong with it.

soon……

Zhao Xin learned from the other party that the population of Srivijaya was actually quite large. Even though it was beaten badly by the Chola Kingdom in the past, there should still be about one million people.

The capital was Zhanbei, and the population should be no less than 500,000.

As for officials, their organizational structure was actually very primitive. To put it bluntly, the entire country of Srivijaya was divided into more than a dozen states, and then the princes and some ministers were assigned to manage them.

The prince is the governor, and there is another person in charge of military affairs. That’s about it.

In fact, it is a bit like giving them fiefdoms and letting them each control a place.

This is mainly because it rains frequently and the roads are flooded, making it very inconvenient to go out.

This is best done in situations where the information is not easily conveyed.

Then when the day comes to pay tribute and taxes, you just need to pay the tribute and taxes on time.

In the country, there is an army directly under the king, usually led by a prince sent by the king. When the king is about to die, all princes have the right of inheritance, even his daughters.

However, the prerequisite is that if you are a prince, you must be strong and sturdy, and have strong military strength, in order to have the possibility of inheriting the throne. As for daughters, it is estimated that daughters will only be allowed to succeed to the throne when there are no sons.

Then usually, there will be a man who marries into the wife’s family, and this man who marries into the wife’s family will usually become the new king.

In addition…

Of course, there are many levels of officials in the country, such as concubines, and the sons born to concubines are also divided into different levels.

only……

None of this is important anymore, it’s just something that everyone does.

After gaining a rough understanding of the official system and population of Srivijaya, the King of Langyaxiu told Zhao Xin the number of soldiers.

Srivijaya was roughly divided into the army and navy. The army probably had at least 30,000 to 40,000 people, and the navy had 10,000 to 20,000 people.

If we include vassal states like the former Langya Xiu and their military forces, Srivijaya’s strength is still quite strong, and it should be easy for it to gather 100,000 people.

If Zhao Xin had not learned about this from the King of Langyaxiu Kingdom in advance, he would never have known that Srivijaya was so powerful.

But just think about it, this is a tropical area!
The rice here can be harvested at least three times a year.

It’s not surprising at all that this country has a population of one million.

At last……

Since they were chatting so well, Zhao Xin simply asked the other party which countries were around here, which ones were vassal states of Srivijaya and which ones were not.

then……

By the way, please do them a favor. When they attack Srivijaya later, don’t help them.

Zhao Xin’s small request really put the King of Langya Xiu Kingdom in a difficult position. However…

It’s not that I can’t help with this.

At last……

Zhao Xin then said to the other party: “I am old and need a few maids to take care of me. I wonder if the king can give me a few young and beautiful ones?”

The King of Langyaxiu Kingdom had never seen anyone so proactive.

He just paused for a moment, and then agreed to Zhao Xin.

because……

Isn’t she just a maid?

There are plenty of them.

finally……

The king of Langyaxiu Kingdom gave Zhao Xin eight.

That night.

Since there was not enough time to return to the ship, Zhao Xin took Cai Jing to stay there.

I didn’t expect… that there is actually a bathing pool in this Langya Xiu Kingdom.

This made Zhao Xin think of a guy on Douyin and Kuaishou who actually dug his own swimming pool and played there.

like……

That guy is also from Southeast Asia, right?

Eight young and beautiful maids were waiting by the side.

Be reasonable!
Zhao Xin even felt like they were targeting her.

These young and beautiful maids, aged only about fifteen or sixteen, looked at…

Therefore, when Cai Jing mentioned this to Zhao Xin, “Your Majesty, is it not a good idea for you and I to go deep into the enemy’s territory alone? What if something unexpected happens… Moreover, we don’t know whether the Langya Xiu Kingdom is on good terms with Srivijaya. What if the other party leaks the news that we are going to attack Srivijaya… Wouldn’t you be in danger, Your Majesty?”

Zhao Xin replied, “Look, they have given us eight young and beautiful maids. Do you think they would give us such good things if they had bad intentions towards us? Do you want me to give you two?”

Cai Jing could only wave his hands and coughed before saying, “I think I don’t need it. Your Majesty, you can enjoy it yourself.”

Zhao Xin also said: “She doesn’t look bad, you are discriminating against her.”

This maid from the Langya Cultivation Kingdom looks somewhat like a hybrid of India and Southeast Asia.

in fact……

It’s not that dark.

Still looks a bit fair.

There are two or three of them, and some even look a little pink and tender.

of course!

If you compare her with the ladies of the Song Dynasty, there is really no comparison.

Especially her facial features, which were not at all those of women from the Central Plains of the Song Dynasty.

Cai Jing may not be seen often, so you may feel uncomfortable when you first see him.

But actually, once you get used to it, you won’t think it’s a big deal anymore.

Let the maid rub your back and massage your shoulders, I can only say it’s not too pleasant.

Cai Jing really doesn’t know how to enjoy life at all.

While Zhao Xin was resting, the king and ministers of Langyaxiu Kingdom were also wondering about Zhao Xin’s origins.

even……

They also sent people to the dock and port to observe Zhao Xin’s fleet from afar.

There is no need to say much about the two long chimneys.

Judging from the people on board, this is definitely not a merchant ship.

And if it is a merchant ship, once it arrives in their territory, they will try to do some business no matter what.

Thinking about it this way…

The Song Dynasty really wanted to teach Srivijaya a lesson.

only……

The other side only has these few people, is that enough?
of course!

In any case, whether it is enough or not is none of their business.

As long as they are not here to fight them.

The ministers in his country also asked: “Do we really need to inform other vassal states and ask them not to send troops?”

The king of Langya Xiu also replied: “Don’t worry about what you are telling me, just leave it as it is.”

Ok!

Then the minister had nothing to say.

the next day.

Zhao Xin also stayed there for another day.

Try to learn as much as possible about the local customs and culture.

Judging from the appearance of the locals, the king of Langyaxiu Kingdom should be a genuine Indian.

But it seems that most of these citizens are not like that, and more like they are from Southeast Asia.

If this is the case, then the king of Langyaxiu Kingdom might actually be an outsider.

can only say……

Since Indians can rule over the Southeast Asians, why can’t we, the people of the Central Plains, do the same?

While getting to know the local customs and culture, I also discovered that religion is very prosperous there. All the buildings, clothes and other elements have an Indian feel.

Zhao Xin was also discussing this with Cai Jing, and said, “What do you think if we ask the people not to believe in Buddhism?”

Cai Jing thought about it and replied: “Go back to your Majesty, that is their belief. I am afraid that this will not convince them, right?”

Zhao Xin said, “To be honest, I don’t really like this Buddhist flavor.”

Suspicion also said: “The Buddhism in this place seems to be different from the Buddhism in the Central Plains.”

Zhao Xin said, “Of course. After Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains, it was improved by the Central Plains. The Buddhism you and I see today is the Buddhism of its origin.”

“And the origin of Buddhism is probably to the west of us now.”

“If Tang Xuanzang had taken a boat to India, it would have been much faster than if he had walked from the Western Regions.”

It can only be said that Buddhism has been integrated into every aspect of this country at this time.

If you say now that all Buddhist elements are to be removed, logically speaking, as Cai Jing said, their faith will probably collapse.

and……

If you want others not to believe in Buddhism, then you should at least make them believe in something new.

It’s like Confucianism in the Central Plains.

But Confucianism seems to be treasured only in the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It doesn’t seem to have much advantage over Western Buddhism, Islam, or even Catholicism.

in fact……

These are tools specially used by rulers to rule the place.

When you need a centralized state, you’d better make everyone believe in Confucianism.

As for what you said about the specialness between Buddhism and Islam…

Zhao Xin could only say that he didn’t believe in this and was not familiar with it, so it was hard to say what was good about them.

Buddhism probably teaches people that if they endure hardships in this life, they will have a great chance of becoming a superior person after reincarnation?

(End of this chapter)