Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 460: Roman Envoy (Special thanks to book friend Zuo Zuo Ming Bao for his 2 monthly tickets!)

On September 22, the 33rd year of Kaixi, a delegation of envoys from the Eastern Roman Empire, led by Duke Rick, arrived in Bianliang, the capital of the Great Zhou Empire, after a journey of more than four months.

Rick and his delegation set out from Constantinople in late May and took the northern route.

By mid-June, they had entered the territory of Khwarezm, which had recently been occupied by the Great Zhou.

At this time, the Eighth Corps of Yang Ye's Longxiang Army was still in power in Khwarezm, and military rule was implemented.

Duke Rick was worried that Yang Ye, who had sent troops to capture the five states of Donkovo ​​and expel the Eastern Roman legion, would do everything he could to obstruct the delegation from going to Bianliang.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the border of the Great Zhou, soldiers from the Dragon Guard came to meet them. After asking about the purpose of Duke Rick's mission, the Dragon Guard arranged food and accommodation for them along the way.

Rick was traveling through the land of Khwarezm. He had thought that since this place had just been conquered by the Great Zhou, the local people would certainly be in constant resistance, with riots and bandits. However, he saw that the people of Khwarezm in various places were living and working in an orderly manner, shops in all cities were open for business, and there was a constant stream of merchants and travelers on the roads.

After Rick inquired, he learned that once the Great Zhou army occupied various places, they announced new policies for agriculture, industry, and commerce:

The land tax was reduced from 50% to 60% in the Khwarezmian Empire to 30%;

Shops were exempt from all taxes and levies, and only collected 30% of their turnover; workshops collected 20% to 30% of their production in taxes.

After paying taxes, no government officials would harass them again. However, if there were civilians who bullied the weak and interfered with business or extorted money, they would report it to the authorities and the soldiers would investigate. They would quickly arrest the offenders, put them in jail, and sentence them according to the law.

After traveling in the land of Khwarezm for more than a month and entering the Jubu Province of the Great Zhou, Rick and other Eastern Roman people saw the legendary "Great Zhou Straight Road" for the first time.

The "Da Zhou Straight Road" was wide and flat, paved with thick concrete mixed with glutinous rice, clay, etc. When people and horses walked on it, the speed was three or four times faster than on gravel, and it was much easier.

After traveling along the national highway for a month and a half, they had traveled more than 12,000 miles from Zubu Prefecture and arrived outside the north gate of Bianjing.

After receiving the report, Emperor Chai Zongxun of the Great Zhou Dynasty sent Minister of Rites Kou Zhun to lead a guard of honor to welcome him five miles outside the city.

When Kou Zhun was on a diplomatic mission to the Eastern Roman Empire, he was hosted by Basil II in Constantinople for more than a month, and he also met Duke Rick, who was Basil II's confidant.

After the two sides exchanged greetings, Kou Zhun smiled and said:

"Our Great Zhou Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire are both great powers of the time, located at the eastern and western ends of the world respectively.

The two countries had previously formed an alliance to fight against the brutal and tyrannical Star Religion world, and had forged a deep friendship during years of war.

I am so happy to see my old friend today! Duke Rick has come from afar, so I will entertain the delegation on behalf of His Majesty to show my hospitality."

Under the guidance of Kou Zhun, a hundred-member Eastern Roman delegation entered Bianjing from the north gate Tongtian Gate.

That evening, the Ministry of Internal Affairs held a grand welcome banquet in the Lichen Hall in the front yard of the Imperial Palace, and the Minister of Rites Kou Zhun was in attendance.

Rick and other Eastern Roman people were the first to taste Chinese cuisine, which was the finest royal meal. They all found it delicious and bit their tongues several times as they tasted it greedily.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Rick gradually put down his chopsticks. He raised his glass to Kou Zhun and said:
“Sir Kou, I have never tasted such delicious food before. Chinese cuisine is truly as magical as the legend says.

Do the people of the Great Zhou Empire also eat such delicious and rich food on a daily basis?"

Kou Zhun raised his glass and drank with Rick, then placed the glass on the table and said with a smile:
“Duke Rick, this banquet is a “state banquet” granted by His Majesty to entertain your country’s envoys. It is prepared by the most skilled royal chef of our Great Zhou, using a variety of rare ingredients. Every dish is priceless.

The food of ordinary people is naturally not so rare and rich, but under the rule of Your Majesty, the people of our Great Zhou can now eat chicken, duck, fish and meat from time to time, and with the diligence and wisdom of the people of our Great Zhou, the dishes they make are also diverse and delicious. "

Rick thought of his own country, the Eastern Roman Empire, where the people lived in low stone and earth houses, often half of which were occupied by people and the other half were filled with cattle, sheep and poultry behind fences. The stench was overwhelming. How could this be compared to the tall, spacious and clean houses that the people of the Great Zhou Empire that he had seen along the way lived in?

When he heard Kou Zhun say that every family in the Great Zhou could often eat chicken, duck, fish and meat, he couldn't help but believe it.

Ruirui gave a thumbs-up repeatedly and said:
"The Great Zhou Empire is truly the most powerful and richest country in the world today! Your emperor is wise and powerful, and is truly an emperor who is even better than my Roman Emperor Caesar!"

When Kou Zhun was on a diplomatic mission to Rome, he did some research on the country's culture and history. After returning to China, he wrote a book specifically introducing the history, customs, and geography of the Roman Empire and other countries to the Chinese people. They knew that Caesar was the greatest monarch during the Roman Empire, and that the Eastern Roman Empire claimed to have inherited the mantle of the Roman Empire, which had been extinct for hundreds of years.

Kou Zhun bowed his hands and saluted towards the north, saying:
"Of course! The achievements of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty are unmatched by any other emperor in the history!
And the most precious thing is that Your Majesty is a great and benevolent monarch who puts the people first and treats the people with kindness, which is unmatched by any other monarch."

Rick nodded repeatedly and said:

"Sir Kou, since I entered your country, I have seen that the people of your country are all dressed in bright and elegant clothes, and everyone is full of energy and smiles. I know that your Majesty is a rare benevolent monarch in history!"

The banquet lasted for more than two hours. At 10 p.m. after dark, Kou Zhun personally escorted Duke Rick to the Purple Palace to rest.

After the two men sat down and chatted for a while in the side room, Kou Zhun was about to get up and say goodbye, but Rick quickly stopped him.

Rick laughed:

"Lord Kou, our two countries have been allies for many years, but there were some minor misunderstandings in the five western states of Khwarezm not long ago.

This time, our emperor sent an official to the Great Zhou in the hope that your emperor would be benevolent and righteous and return the five states of Donquevo, three of which are the former Roman territories, to our country.

If Sir Kou can accomplish this task in front of Your Majesty, our country's monarch and his subjects will all be grateful to you!

Here is a small gift, it is not a token of respect, I hope you will accept it."

Rick immediately reached into his arms, and when he took it out, there was a brocade bag in his hand. He poured it on the table, and dozens of huge rubies and sapphires scattered out.

Kou Zhun declined and said:
"Duke Rick, this is unacceptable!
All matters concerning the state and the people are decided by His Majesty the Emperor, and we, the ministers, dare not make suggestions on how to proceed."

Rick said quickly:
"Lord Kou, as long as you tell His Majesty that Rome is wholeheartedly seeking friendship between the two countries, and also tell us that the Roman Empire has played a significant role in the war against the Star Religion in recent years, our monarch and people will be grateful for your kindness!
"This is just a small gift, please accept it, Lord Kou!"

(End of this chapter)