Chapter 138: Golden Trade Route, Famous Horses from the Middle East, Subuchi Seeks Help
"Xinlu, meet the Prince Consort."

"No gift."

Zhao Shuo put down a scroll of documents, looked up, and asked, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Xin Lu bowed slightly and said, "Last night, our Black Ice Platform discovered a secret cell in Ke Jiyun's Governor's Mansion. Inside, a group of envoys from the Emir of Basra were imprisoned. These envoys came specifically to see you. Black Ice Platform dares not make a decision on its own, so I've come to consult the Prince Consort."

The Black Ice Platform formed by Xin Lu, even with the addition of eighty Night Owls, still had less than two hundred people and could not play a big role.

Therefore, although he, the intelligence chief, was theoretically one of Zhao Shuo's core members, he couldn't even get into the post-war summary meeting.

Can Xinru not be anxious to expand his strength?
Three days ago, Zhao Shuo allowed Xin Lu to absorb the outstanding talents of the Mulayi Kingdom into the Black Ice Platform.

That night he went to Zaluddin Hasa to collect it.

Seventeen master assassins and one hundred and twenty-six outstanding assassins joined the Black Ice Platform.

The first task Xin Ru gave these people was to search for any hidden men in Kejiyun City and execute them immediately upon discovery.

As of last night, this mission was still ongoing.

The purpose of Xinluo issuing this task was to assign some simple tasks to these newcomers of the Black Ice Platform, gradually test their loyalty, enhance their sense of belonging, and by the way, see the abilities of these Yimasin assassins.

Unexpectedly, I had an unexpected gain.

The assassins discovered a secret cell in the Governor-General's Mansion, also known as Mahmud's palace. Eleven prisoners were lying on the ground, starving for three days and three nights, without even the strength to cry out for help.

If they were ordinary prisoners, these assassins would have killed them without hesitation.

However, being held in such a secret place, they had to act with caution.

After feeding these people some food and restoring some strength, they learned that they were from the Basra Emir Kingdom and were envoys secretly sent by that country to Zhao Shuo. As a result, Ke Jiyun's identity was exposed and he was captured by Muhammad.

The assassins did not dare to delay and quickly reported to Xin Yu.

Xin Ru was unable to make the decision himself, so he hurriedly asked to see Zhao Shuo.

"The Emir of Basra? Where is it?" Zhao Shuo had never heard of this name.

Xin Yu said, "This is a small country south of Khwarezm, with a total population of only about 200,000. However, its geographical location is very crucial, being the fourth holiest place in the world of the True God (after Mecca, Jerusalem, Medina, and Basra)."

"Most importantly, this country is located northeast of Arabia. It serves as a hub connecting the Persian Gulf and Arabia's inland river system, earning it the nickname 'Venice of the East' by Westerners. Therefore, almost all of Arabia's foreign trade must pass through this country."

The so-called Arabia refers to the Arabian Peninsula.

At this time, the "Tianfang" mentioned in ancient Chinese books still specifically referred to Mecca. It was not until the Ming and Qing dynasties that it came to refer to the entire Arabian Peninsula.

The Persian Gulf has always been called the Persian Gulf, and is sometimes called the "Arabian Sea".

Xin Yu continued, "Basra's trading partners were numerous, including India, Rome, Egypt, and China. For example, trade between Arabia and China began in Basra. These goods could be transported overland through Balkh, Bukhara, and Samarkand to the Central Plains. Or they could be transported by sea through the Persian Gulf, around the Indian Ocean, and finally to Guangzhou in the Song Dynasty."

Basra belonged to Iraq in later generations and was located in the southern part of Iraq.

But during this era, Khwarezm controlled most of Iraq, excluding Basra in the south.

Geographically, Basra already belongs to the Arabian Peninsula and is nominally loyal to the Caliph in Baghdad.

"Hmm? A country that controls all of Arabia's foreign trade?" Zhao Shuo became interested and said, "Let them in."

"Yes."

Not long after, eleven merchants in white robes came to the big tent.

The leader looked to be under fifty, of medium build and slightly overweight. His silk robe was made of fine material, but now it was covered in dark brown blood and mud stains, indicating that he had endured considerable hardship in Mahmud's prison.

He prostrated himself and said, "Hassan ibn Ramadan, envoy of the Emir of Basra and chief judge of the Basra Spice Guild, greets the honorable Mongol consort! Thank you so much for rescuing us from the devil's prison. Your kindness shines brighter than the pearls of the Persian Gulf. May your banner of victory fly forever across the land!"

"Greetings, Prince Consort!" Ramed's ten followers followed closely behind.

"No need to be polite. I heard from Xinru that you came to see me specially?"

"Yes, Your Highness. As a token of respect, we prepared a gift of 10,000 taels of gold, 1,000 pearls, and 200 camels," Ramed sighed. "Unfortunately, this wealth aroused the greed of the officials of Kejiyun, and our identities were exposed. When the Khwarezmian Sultan, Muhammad, learned of this, he was furious and had us imprisoned."

Xin Yu nodded slightly and said, "What he said should be true. We found the letter from the Emir of Basra to the Prince Consort in the Governor's Palace, and the gift list is consistent with what he said."

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, these gifts have fallen into our hands."

Zhao Shuo looked at Ramadan and said, "Basra is a small country. Why are you sending me such a valuable gift? What do you want?"

Ramadan explained carefully, "Originally, our goods from Basra were exported to all corners of the world, either by land or sea. However, your army invaded Khwarezm, and land transportation was cut off, leaving only the sea route. Egypt's Ayyubid dynasty took advantage of the situation and raised port taxes to 80% of the cost of goods."

"In order to break even, merchants have to greatly increase the prices of goods. When prices are high, goods cannot be sold. Therefore, our tax revenue in Basra has been greatly affected and is only 30% of previous years. Therefore, please show mercy and allow merchants to continue trading by land." Ramed bowed deeply to Zhao Shuo and begged for his permission.

In fact, the Mongols' original intention was not to cut off Khwarezm's trade routes.

However, they had to travel thousands of miles to Khwarezm and must organize all the young and strong men they met along the way to attack the city. As a result, the caravans naturally dared not come, and the land Silk Road was completely cut off.

What Ramed meant was actually requesting the caravan to be protected from being plundered and to have the right to sign a military contract.

Zhao Shuo was of course happy to see this happen.

Why were the cities of Khwarezm so prosperous? It wasn't because the agriculture around them was so developed, but because they were key nodes on the Silk Road.

Khwarezm can reach India in the south, Europe and Africa in the west, and China in the east.

Whether Chinese and Indian products are to be sold to other parts of the world, or products from all over the world are to be sold to China and India, or even trade between China and India, all land routes must pass through Khwarezm.

Moreover, with the navigation technology of that era, sea routes were more difficult than land routes, and the East and the West mainly traded through the Silk Road.

It was later, with the rise of the Ottoman Empire, which exploited the vast resources and collected heavy taxes, that the land Silk Road was basically cut off, which gave rise to the great era of navigation.

Maintaining the Silk Road on the road to Khwarezm not only allowed the collection of a large amount of tolls, but also the various supplies of food, clothing, housing and transportation for these caravans could maintain the prosperity of major cities in Khwarezm.

Since the Mongols wanted to take Khwarezm into their possession, they would of course keep the trade routes open.

Massacre can only be carried out once, while collecting taxes is a stable income that comes in over the long term.

Moreover, all commodity trade in the world is subject to a tax in Khwarezm. If you think about it, you will understand that the description of it as "a steady stream" is not quite appropriate.

It’s simply a flowing sea of ​​gold and silver!
How could Zhao Shuo not be happy to see this happen?
Of course, while we would like to see it happen, we cannot miss such a good opportunity to blackmail someone.

"You should ask Genghis Khan for mercy on this matter, why are you looking for me?" Zhao Shuo said.

Ramadan quickly explained, "No, no, no. Although Basra is thousands of miles away from the East, we are well-informed by the flow of merchants. Genghis Khan always listens to his son-in-law's advice on tax matters. Our best option is to first ask his son-in-law for mercy, and then ask him to speak well of us to Genghis Khan."

"I see."

Zhao Shuo's expression was calm, showing no emotion. He said calmly, "Why should I help you?"

"The Mongol Empire can follow the old Khwarazmian rules and collect 20% of the commercial tax. Khwarazm prospered precisely because of these commercial taxes.

In addition to economic benefits, there were also military benefits. Goods from all over the world had to pass through Khwarezm for trade.

There are many commodities that are very helpful in improving the military capabilities of the Mongol Empire.

For example, our exports from the Port of Basra primarily consist of two spices: frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense can invigorate blood circulation, dissolve blood stasis, and relieve pain. For the exhausted soldiers of the expedition, applying frankincense oil to their bodies greatly alleviated their fatigue and joint pain.

"Also, when 'frankincense' is burned, it emits a strange fragrance that repels insects and can prevent the spread of plague among the prince consort's army."

"Myrrh is a precious ingredient, with anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, analgesic, swelling-reducing, and tissue-regenerating properties. When soldiers under the Prince Consort's command are injured, using myrrh can greatly alleviate their pain and accelerate wound healing."

"Since there are so many benefits, please show mercy and allow merchants to continue trading through Khwarezm!"

Ramed spoke these words fluently, obviously having rehearsed them countless times.

After saying this, he knelt down again and kowtowed to Zhao Shuo. 'Frankincense'? 'Myrrh'?
Of course Zhao Shuo had heard of the names of these two spices.

Frankincense is a precious medicinal material not only in this era but also in later generations. It is known as "food of God", "white gold" and "pearl of the desert".

This product has excellent effects on treating injuries from falls and broken bones.

In addition, this substance has the power to calm the mind and concentrate the spirit. It is believed by Christians and True God believers that it is a substance that can directly ascend to heaven.

Let’s put it this way, in modern society, the Arabian Peninsula relies on oil, the “black gold”, to maintain its economic prosperity.

But in ancient times, the economy of the Arabian Peninsula was mainly supported by "frankincense", a white gold.

Not to mention "myrrh", it is not only a natural antibiotic, but also has the effect of reducing swelling and promoting tissue regeneration.

There is a Persian proverb: "Merchants hoard frankincense, and generals grab myrrh."

Originally, Mongolian soldiers who suffered external injuries were first disinfected with alcohol, and then allicin was taken orally and applied externally.

However, allicin will oxidize and become ineffective after three to five hours of exposure to air, and must be constantly replenished.

It is too inconvenient during long-distance marches.

The antibacterial effect of 'myrrh' is not inferior to that of allicin, but it will not oxidize and can work for a long time.

What's more, this thing also has the functions of reducing swelling, promoting tissue regeneration and relieving pain?
The best option for the Mongolian army was to disinfect with alcohol first, then take allicin orally and apply myrrh externally.

However, both myrrh and frankincense were extremely expensive, and it was impossible for the Mongolian army to use them on a large scale.

Now the Mongols collect 20% of commercial taxes, which is equivalent to 20% of the "myrrh" and "frankincense" on the Silk Road being free.

Moreover, Khwarezm is close to its place of origin and its price is only 20% of that in the Central Plains.

In this way, there would be no problem in the large-scale use of these two precious medicines in the Mongolian army.

When soldiers were tired from a long expedition, they could apply frankincense oil to relieve muscle and joint discomfort. After an injury, they could apply myrrh externally.

It is of great help to both combat effectiveness and morale.

Zhao Shuo wanted his army to be strong in all aspects. Whether it was combat power, equipment, or even the medical treatment of injured soldiers, they had to be the best in the world!

Of course, since it is extortion, how can we only be satisfied with these apparent benefits?
Zhao Shuo sneered and said, "Frankincense and myrrh—these two commodities can be bought with money, so they're not rare. What I want is something that money can't buy, but that will be of great benefit to me. Do you understand?"

"Something that even a prince consort can't buy with money..."

Ramadan was both an envoy of the Emirate of Basra and the chief judge of the Spice Merchants' Association. The smooth flow of trade routes in Khwarezm was a matter of life and death for him.

Let’s put it this way, if Khwarezm’s trade routes are blocked, Basra, a small country with a population of only 200,000, will completely decline.

His position in Basra was worthless.

Their family's business in Basra will also plummet.

After struggling for half his life, this is the result. How can Ramed accept it?

Immediately, he frowned and focused, thinking carefully.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he said, "Have you heard of Saklavima, Prince Consort?"

"Saklavima?" Zhao Shuo frowned slightly.

Ramed explained carefully, "Arabian horses are also classified into different grades. The finest of these is the Sakrawi. Not only is this horse about fifteen hands tall at the shoulder, but it's also much faster than other war horses. It's the most majestic and valuable of Arabian horses, primarily used for sneak attacks, reconnaissance, and racing."

"This precious warhorse is in the hands of many great nobles in Arabia, and its transfer is strictly prohibited."

"When the Abbasid Caliphate was powerful, the great nobles of Arabia presented some geldings to the Abbasid Caliphate for use in their most elite cavalry."

"Later, the Abbasid dynasty declined, and now the great nobles of Arabia only pay tribute of thirteen geldings to the Caliph of Baghdad every year as ceremonial horses."

Fifteen hands is a Persian unit of measurement.

It is roughly equivalent to 150 centimeters in later generations.

In this era, it is indeed the most majestic warhorse.

Coupled with the advantage of its incredibly fast speed, Zhao Shuo was really excited.

Moreover, what kind of miracles will happen when this warhorse is crossed with the Baicha Iron-hoofed Horse in Zhang Yong's hands?
It's really exciting!
As I said before, Zhao Shuo wanted his army to be strong in all aspects, and the strength of his war horses was one of them.

The Mongols' tentacles have not yet reached the Arabian Peninsula, so they must first get the best war horses there.

Zhao Shuo's expression remained expressionless as he said, "So, can you get a stallion from Sacravema?"

"I can't get more than that. But with my connections, I can get ten stallions and ten mares each without any problem."

Zhao Shuo's eyes hardened, and he said firmly, "I want forty stallions each."

"My dear Prince Consort, listen to me. The Sacrave horses are rare and are kept under strict supervision. I risked my life to get ten of each, male and female. Even if you want eighty at once, I simply can't do it!"

Ramadan was so anxious that he was about to cry.

Zhao Shuo, however, ignored his grievances and continued to play the game, saying, "That's your business. Anyway, forty males and forty females, a total of eighty. When you deliver these eighty Rasaklavi horses, I will open the trade route to Khwarezm."

"Yes, yes, I understand. I will go back immediately and find eighty Lasaclavian horses for the prince consort, forty males and forty females."

Ramadan is the best businessman in Basra. Of course he understands that it is okay to pretend to be pitiful in front of a big shot like Zhao Shuo.

But it would be really stupid to bargain for it.

Immediately, he took the order and left.

Of course, Basra is 1,100 miles away from Baghdad and more than 2,000 miles away from Kejiyun City.

It would take at least half a year for him to return and collect eighty Lasaklavie horses, so he could not count on it at all now.

In the following days, Zhao Shuo waited for Temujin's new order while strictly training the five banners of Khwarezm.

The five banners of Khwarezm mainly came from the Khorasan region, and the quality of their soldiers was quite good.

However, they were influenced by Persian customs and were too lax, and their discipline was much worse than that of the Eight Banners of the Han Army.

Zhao Shuo wanted to rectify the lax style of the five banners of Khwarezm and strictly enforce orders.

Troublemakers in the army will be eliminated directly, even if their personal fighting power is too high.

Those from other regions will also be eliminated if they fail to keep up with the training plan for a long time.

Zhao Shuo does not want either useless people or disobedient black sheep in his Eight Banners.

What he wanted was an army of fierce and powerful soldiers that he could use as easily as his own arms.

In just half a month, Zhao Shuo cleared 867 people out of the five banners of Khwarezm.

The entire appearance of the five banners of Khwarezm was completely changed.

At this time, Temujin's order still had not arrived.

However, Jochi's envoys asking for help arrived.

"What? Jochi encountered a lot of trouble in the Caucasus region?" Zhao Shuo frowned, and there seemed to be a flash of cold light in his eyes, and murderous intent was looming.

(End of this chapter)