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Chapter 1174 Jiangnan Water Village 2
In this huge swamp area lives a very special Arab ethnic group called Madans, which means swamp people in Arabic.

For generations, they have made a living by raising buffaloes and ducks, growing rice and catching fish. They live in huts built with reeds. From a distance, the cylindrical roofs look like dozens of pontoon boats docked together.

The Madan villages are all located deep in the swamp, where the water is relatively shallow. Not only can ocean-going ships not enter, but even Arab rowboats have difficulty passing through, so they can only enter and exit by small boats.

When Hong Tao led his army through here, he had no intention of visiting the Mardans, and he didn't even know that there was such a special group of Arabs. But the Basra tribal militia accompanying him on the shore reported that a group of war horses of the Ottoman army were found by the swamp.

In order to confirm whether there was an ambush, Hong Tao ordered the navy to lower the small boat and carry the Warrior Battalion into the swamp to investigate. As a result, they encountered a group of Madan people besieging a group of Sipahi cavalry.

The Madan people were very brave, rowing small boats woven with reeds to attack the island where the Sipahi cavalry was stationed. But the Sipahi cavalry was not to be trifled with, using bows and arrows from a distance and sabers and spears from close, firmly defending the island and constantly trying to break through.

The Warrior Battalion did not know the Madans, but they knew the Sipahi cavalry. Based on the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, they shot and defeated the Sipahi cavalry guarding the island, turning the originally evenly matched situation into a one-sided massacre.

The Madan people seemed to have some personal grudge against the Sipahi cavalry, so they really didn't leave a single piece of armor behind. Although they were poorly equipped and had no strict organization, they couldn't gain any advantage in a large-scale confrontation. Once they entered the swamp pursuit battle, they immediately took to the water and showed their power.

Especially their mounts, the big buffaloes that look cute on land, become all-terrain four-wheel drive off-road weapons in the swamp.

It can swim in the water while carrying people on its back, run in the mud while carrying people on its back, use its huge body to clear a path through the reeds, and use its huge horns as weapons to knock the Sipahi cavalry into a state of panic.

After learning about this, Hong Tao did not take it to heart. He asked the interpreter about the general situation. After learning that it was a local tribe and it did not hinder the passage of the main channel, he did not take it seriously.

As a result, they were awakened from their sleep that night. A large number of unidentified small boats appeared in the swamp area south of the base. Army soldiers were busy setting up positions on the river bank, and naval guns were set up, ready to go to war at any time.

After a long struggle, the small boat did not approach rashly. After questioning by the Basra tribal militia, it was learned that it was the Madan people who visited during the day.

They came to thank the Ming army. The group of Sipahi cavalrymen might have wanted to take advantage of the situation and captured a dozen Madan people who were fishing by the swamp, and forced them to lead the way to the village deep in the swamp.

By coincidence, or bad luck, among the captured Madan people there were two young men who were the children of the tribal leader. They took the Sipahi cavalry to a small island with the most complicated water conditions, and were then surrounded by the Madan people who came to rescue them after hearing the news.

The Sipahi cavalry lost their legs when they entered the swamp, and could not escape quickly. The Madans had outdated weapons, insufficient combat power, and no offensive tactics, and could not attack the island, so the two sides were in a stalemate.

In fact, even if the Warrior Battalion had not passed by and did not open fire, this group of Sipahi cavalrymen would still not be able to escape. As more and more Madans gathered, they would either be killed or starved to death.

But the Madan people were more straightforward, believing that the Warrior Battalion's firing disrupted the Sipahi cavalry's defense, which was a favor to them, and they must be thanked, and they must take actual actions, not just talk. They sent a basket of pearls, each as big as a marble, round and colorful, with dozens of them. If it weren't the 17th century, Hong Tao would immediately suspect that it was a resin-dyed product bought on Pinduoduo for 9 yuan.

Pearls of this quality would be difficult to find at one time, let alone in West Asia, even in the Ming Dynasty. And they come in all kinds of colors. Could it be that there is Alibaba's treasure house here?

To say this person, he is just greedy for money. Hong Tao originally had no idea about the Madan people, but after seeing Zhenzhu, an idea suddenly popped up in his mind: find out where Alibaba's treasure house is, what the formula is to open the door, and then send a large army to wipe it out!

Of course, the idea was only fleeting, and the Madan people did not have Alibaba's treasure house. This swamp not only produced fish, shrimps and crabs, but also river clams, and pearls were picked out from river clams.

You can't just pick a few clams and you'll find pearls. This basket is the result of the accumulation of generations of Madan people. They live a completely self-sufficient life and have little contact with the outside world. No matter how precious a pearl is, it's just a decoration and its value is not as high as a buffalo.

But they were not completely isolated from the outside world, and they knew what people outside the swamp liked. The Ming army rescued their leader's child, and the tribe couldn't give them anything that outsiders would like, so they gave pearls as a gift.

"It's too dangerous. They still don't understand the wickedness of human nature, and they have underestimated the world's desire for wealth. It's a crime to possess a treasure!" After listening to the interpreter's explanation, Hong Tao held up the small reed basket for the officers on the rear deck to see clearly, and spoke earnestly.

"If they have the protection of your majesty, they won't have to worry about being targeted."

Under the light, the pearls' luster and color became more brilliant, and the officers' eyes changed color. There were also those who were not greedy for money. Settle paid more attention to the Madan people who came on board to present gifts.

"Oh, you're already assigning work to me! Come on, tell me in detail why I want to protect them. If it makes sense, I'll give you credit. If it doesn't, it's an usurpation of power!"

People who gossip hate other people who gossip the most. These past few days, Hong Tao could not escape the harassment of this Mongolian gossip whenever he was on the flagship. He was worried that he could not find a chance to take revenge, and he dared to talk too much. Watch out!

"I don't dare! Your Majesty wants to open up the trade route between Fao Port and Beirut Port, most of which is by water. If they can participate in the escort, it will be a great help."

Setel was not pretending, he was a real chatterbox and he didn't care about letting others know that he was a chatterbox. He didn't restrain himself even in front of the emperor. As long as he thought something was right, he would say it regardless of the occasion.

"That makes sense! It's just a little hasty. Don't forget, this is an Islamic area, and religious factors must be taken into account before making any decision. Don't think too much about it for now, clear the deck and prepare more dishes, I want to entertain these guests!"

Hong Tao listened carefully to Settle's suggestion and gave it high praise. Then he changed the subject and made additional arrangements, actually planning to hold a banquet on the warship.

(End of this chapter)