Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 934 Change of Hands
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The cries of hawkers echoed throughout the streets.

Gujar sat in the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and looked at the vendors on both sides of the road. Even in the war, the business activities in the city of Paratiba were still prosperous. Because it was located on a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides, and there were countless small tributaries on the lake connecting to the outside world, the besieging Javanese were unable to isolate the inside and the outside. He could even see someone selling fresh lotus seeds, which were obviously only available outside the city. Gujar lowered the curtain and thought to himself: "It seems that the Javanese will not be able to capture this place at least this time."

Gujar, who had already received half of the money from the Khmer, was thinking about how to get the remaining half. He had witnessed the fierce battle between the Tang and Javanese at sea and knew that the so-called "Thunder Power" was actually a weapon that made a loud noise when fired. After examining the bodies of the Javanese, he was more certain of one thing - the secret of the Tang people was not the deafening noise and the spurting flames, but the tiny lead-iron bullets. But how did these lead bullets kill the Javanese? He didn't know yet, but it didn't matter. After this expedition, his relationship with the Tang general named Jumong became much closer, and he had enough time to find out the truth.

"Master, we are here!"

The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and with the help of the servant, Gu Jiaer clumsily stepped out of the sedan chair and climbed the steps. Due to the outstanding performance of the Tang people in the naval battle, the Khmer people carefully arranged a residence for Jumong and his party, with a garden, fish pond, bathroom, bedroom, reception room, etc. Gu Jiaer walked through the corridor and came to the pavilion in the back garden. The lotus flowers blooming in the pond next to it were fragrant. Jumong was reclining on a recliner reading a book, and two maids beside him were gently waving feather fans to drive away mosquitoes.

"General!" Gugal stopped in front of the pavilion.

"Come in!" Jumong put down the book in his hand. Gu Jiaer saw a line of words on the cover of the book: "The Science of Victory". He did not dare to read it any more and bowed to Jumong: "The Khmer people have agreed. They are willing to allow Tang ships to enter the port tax-free!"

"Very good!" Jumong smiled and took a sip of the cup. "This drink tastes a bit strange, but it is quite refreshing. Gugal, sit down and have a drink too?"

"Thank you, General!" Gu Jiaer sat down on the low chair opposite Jumong, his fat butt almost filling the chair. "Baratipat City is the most important port and trading city in Water Chenla. The taxes it receives every year account for one-fifth of the total income of the Khmer king. The Khmer people have made great concessions on this matter!"

"We can't help it. Who told us to win? They can't win." Jumong laughed and said, "War is actually a very simple thing. The winner gets everything and the loser loses everything. Don't you think so?"

"You are right!" Gujar lowered his head: "So you agree to the Khmer's conditions?"

"Are you saying that we can keep a fleet in the city of Paratipat?" Jumong asked. "Yes, but the port, the shipyard, the soldiers' salaries, and the cost of the ships must be paid by the Khmer people!"

"I remember it!" Gujar wiped the sweat from his forehead. "There is one more thing. The Khmer people asked me when those Javanese captives and ships would be sent away!"

"I'm not too sure about this. It depends on what the Javanese say!" Jumong replied lazily, "Anyway, I've already received half of the money. If the Javanese refuse to pay the remaining half, I won't give up what I've received. So, you answer and I'll send someone to urge them. It should be within a few days!"

"Yes, yes, I remember it!" Gugar stood up, hesitated for a moment, and said, "General!"

"what's up?"

"Compared to the Khmers, the locals of Paratipat are a little tired of the long-lasting war with the Javanese!"

"What do you mean?" Jumong frowned. "Isn't Paratiba a Khmer city?"

"No, the Khmer people originated further inland, around the Tonle Sap Lake. After the Khmer people unified the inland areas, they expanded downstream along the Mekong River and conquered Water Chenla. The Khmer people are monks and warriors, while the locals are mainly merchants and farmers!"

"Oh!" Jumong nodded meaningfully. It was easy to understand what Gugal said by connecting the context. The biggest losses in the war between Java and Cambodia for Water Chenla were of course the local merchants and farmers. For these locals, whether the Cambodians or the Javanese won, as long as the war could be stopped, it was good. Gugal's words at this time were very meaningful.

As soon as Gugal left, Jumong walked out of the pavilion. He looked quietly at the lotus blooming in the pond in front of him. Suddenly, he put his hands together and bowed deeply to the lotus in the pond.

It was already dark. With the help of his attendants, Jumong put on his armor, tightened his belt, hung his sword, bow bag, and quiver around his waist, put on his gloves, and finally put on his helmet. When everything was ready, he walked into the yard. The soldiers had already dressed up. The moonlight shone on their armor and weapons, reflecting a quiet light. Jumong's eyes swept over the familiar faces. He could call out everyone's name, the hardships they had experienced, and the merits they had made. Now, it was finally time to reap the rewards.

"Don't open fire without my order!" Jumong said coldly, "Now, hold your weapons and set off! Target: Naga Temple."

Unlike the fantasy creatures on the Internet in later generations, in the hearts of ancient Southeast Asians, there really existed a kind of god or mythical beast called Naga, which is a giant dragon with horns. Legend has it that Naga lives at the bottom of the Mekong River, controls the river and rainfall, and is regarded as the patron saint of the Mekong River by the local indigenous people. Although with the continuous introduction of Buddhism and Hinduism, the local religion gradually declined, and the number of people who came to worship at the Naga Temple in the city of Paratipat gradually decreased, and it gradually declined. After Jumong defeated the Javanese in a naval battle, the Khmer people used the back part of the temple as a prison camp to guard Javanese captives.

Considering the ransom, the treatment of these Javanese captives was actually quite good: two meals a day, sleeping in a house with a roof, and even doctors visiting and diagnosing those who fell ill. Although the final bill was handed over to the Javanese king, there was nothing to complain about. Considering that the Javanese had already paid half of the ransom, the local guards who were watching over these captives became more relaxed - after all, they could leave after paying the money, so who would bother to try to escape from prison?

That night, almost no Javanese fell asleep. Everyone stayed quietly in the room, standing or sitting, with their eyes wide open, as if waiting for something.

"Here they come!" A young man ran in nervously.

"What's coming?" someone asked.

"The Tang people are already on the street, and they are all fully armed!" said the young man. Hearing what he said, the captives shouted happily and full of hope.

"Don't make any noise, damn it, just shut up!" a Javanese man shouted.

"Yes, shut up, now is not the time to talk!"

As people calmed down, several Javanese stood up. The leader said, "Come on, follow me out to take a look!" Then he said to the others in a loud voice, "For the sake of all gods and evil spirits, I order you not to make a sound!"

The gate of the courtyard was opened, and the light of the torch tore through the darkness and shone on Jumong's face, looking like a demon. He said to the Javanese messenger beside him: "Tell your people to come to the courtyard, distribute weapons, and then act according to the plan!" "Yes, sir!" The Javanese messenger knelt down to Jumong, then walked forward and gave orders to the Javanese captives who were coming towards him in a rapid voice, which immediately aroused a burst of ecstatic shouts, which were immediately interrupted by the messenger's dissatisfied scolding. The Javanese captives ran back quickly, and a moment later, groups of Javanese captives poured into the courtyard. They suppressed their ecstasy in their hearts and waited for the gift of fate.

"Is everyone here?" Jumong asked.

"Four hundred and thirty-seven in total, all here!" replied the Javanese messenger.

"Very good, distribute the weapons!" Jumong waved his hand behind him, and the soldiers brought in bundles of spears and sabers and threw them in the yard. The Javanese captives filed forward to receive their weapons, and those who got the weapons went to the other side of the yard and formed small squares according to the ships they were on. Taking this opportunity, Jumong said to the Javanese messenger: "Time is very tight. After distributing the weapons, follow the original plan. Half of the people will follow me to seize the city gate, and the other half will attack the arsenal and the Khmer barracks respectively! Do you understand?"

"understand!"

After a while, the two teams left the Naga Temple and headed towards their respective goals.

For most residents of Paratipat, their memories of the fall of their city were extremely confusing. Some said that the Tang people betrayed Paratipat, some said that the Javanese used witchcraft to open a hole in the city gate, and some said that the Javanese bribed a Khmer general with a large sum of money to open the city gate. These confusing memories undoubtedly influenced later history books. There are many different opinions on the records of this period of history, but one thing is certain: the Javanese captured Paratipat very easily this time, and the defenders did not even have time to put up a fierce resistance. Many residents of Paratipat did not even wake up until the next morning to find that the city had changed its owner. It may be for this reason that the terrible phenomena such as massacres, rapes, looting, and arson that are usually found when ancient cities fall rarely occur. The court historians of Java proudly declared in their history books: Under the protection of gods and Buddhas, the benevolent and brave king occupied Paratipat, and his sword was not even stained with the blood of sinners!

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"This is betrayal, the gods will curse you!" Bayon shouted viciously to Jumong.

"We Tang people usually call this the Art of War!" Zhu Meng laughed and said, "The Art of War says at the beginning that war is the art of deception!"

Bayon snorted coldly: "Well, even if you are right, one day, the Javanese will use this kind of military tactics against you!"

"I can understand this as a reminder!" Zhu Meng smiled and said, "Okay, my friend, don't be so angry. You can understand this as a game. You lost and I won. But it doesn't matter. The game is not over. There is still the next one!"

"What do you mean? You won't kill me?" Bayon looked at Jumong suspiciously.

"Of course! We didn't have any hatred before, at least I don't hate you!" Jumong said with a smile.

"How much ransom do you want to let me go?"

"No need!" Zhu Meng said with a smile: "To prove my sincerity, you don't have to pay a penny. You can leave at any time if you want!"

Bayon stared at Jumong for a long time, as if to confirm whether he was telling the truth, and finally nodded: "Very good, I will remember it. If you fall into my hands in the future, I will release you once, without ransom! And I have a question, why?"

"what why?"

"Why did you betray us? What did the Javanese give you?" Bayon asked.

"You should ask me what I asked from the Javanese!" asked Jumong.

"Well, what did you ask of the Javanese?"

"This city beneath your feet!"

"Baratiba City?" Bayon showed an expression of disbelief: "Are you crazy? The Javanese will never fulfill their promise. You only have two ships and two or three hundred people. They just need to kill you all and they won't have to give you anything!"

"Yes, this is a good reminder!" Jumong nodded: "My new friend is indeed likely to do this, so I won't give him the opportunity to betray me!"

"Then what can you do?" Bayon asked. "The Javanese have entered the city. They outnumber you by a hundred times, or even more!"

"It's very simple. I will board the ship and return to Jiaozhou. I will leave Gugar as my representative and the temporary lord of the city of Balatiba!" Jumong said, "I will be back with more ships and soldiers soon. If the Javanese dare to betray their oath, they will have to figure out how to deal with me and you Khmers at the same time!"

Bayon fell silent. After a few minutes, he raised his head and said, "You Tang people are all devils. That "Sun Tzu" is also a devil's book. Aren't you going to let me go? Where is the boat?"

"It's at the dock, all is up to you!" Jumong said with a smile.

On the evening of the second day after the fall of Paratipat, Jumong stepped onto the deck of his ship and left the city to the Javanese. According to the agreement between the two parties, the Javanese would temporarily manage the city until Jumong returned. During this period, the administrative affairs of Paratipat were managed by the acting lord Gugal, while the military affairs were managed by the Javanese.

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Jiaozhi City.

Cao Wenzong gazed at the city growing larger in the distance, not knowing what he should say.