Chapter 333 Marakanda

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Chapter 333 Marakanda

The city of Malacanda was originally one of a series of castles built by the Greeks after they entered Central Asia.

The residents of the city are also mainly Greek immigrants and Hellenized Cypriots.

After the collapse of the Seleucid Empire, Malakanda followed the trend and became an independent city-state.

Because it happened to be at the junction of the three major kingdoms of Kangju, Daxia, and Parthia, it allowed it to maintain an independent status for a long time.

After the breakup of Daxia, the Da Yueshi people took over the original position of Daxia.

For nearly a hundred years, Maracanda has always maintained its independence thanks to its special location.

It was not conquered until seven years ago by the ambitious King Kangju at the time.

Unfortunately, Kangju's prosperity was short-lived, and he was soon beaten to pieces by the big men for venturing eastward.

Malakanda once again became a semi-independent city-state together with several neighboring city-states.

A year ago, the Parthian Governor of Sucia came with his troops. After resisting for several days, Malacanda reached an agreement with the Governor of Sucia and surrendered to the Parthian Empire.

Although the city of Malakanda is not large, it is considered a strong city in Central Asia.

He has an outer city and an inner city. The inner city is the original castle built by the Greeks. The outer city was later expanded.

Today's inner city is mainly occupied by royal palaces and nobles, while ordinary people and military camps are all in the outer city.

The city now has a population of over 10,000, including 1,200-1,300 troops.

Maracanda's commercial activities are mainly in the eastern part of the outer city.

The shops and warehouses owned by the great elder family of Dawan Kingdom are also in the east of the city.

That evening, a caravan from Dawan arrived outside the city of Malakanda.

"Who are you?" The city gate guard alertly led his men to block the way of the caravan.

"Karl, it's me!"

At this time, the great elder got out of the carriage.

"It turns out to be Elder Mas!"

Karl bowed respectfully and said, "How come there are so many people on Elder Mas's trip!"

The great elder smiled and said, "The situation in Dawan has been unstable recently, so I have to bring more guards!"

Karl understood and said, "That's it!"

As Karl spoke, he calculated the number of people in the caravan and the number of carriages.

After a while, he pretended to be difficult and said, "Elder Mas, you have more guards. If you enter the city, the city gate tax will probably be increased!"

The great elder smiled and said, "General Karl, I can be considered a native of Marakanda. When did the city gate tax change?"

Karl sighed, "Nowadays, Maracanda is different from the past...it still needs to pay a large sum of money to the Parthians every month!"

The great elder nodded and said, "I see, then how much do you think should be added?"

Karl thought for a moment and said, "Others are increasing it by one-tenth. Elder Mars, how about you increase it by one-fifteenth?"

The great elder looked at Karl and smiled and said, "No more than one-twentieth!"

Karl heard the words and said happily, "Since Elder Mars said so, then increase it by one-twentieth!"

After paying the city gate tax, the Great Elder and his party entered the city of Marakanda smoothly.

After the great elder and his party walked away, a follower beside Karl asked, "Why does General Karl only accept such a small amount?"

Karl chuckled and said, "Don't worry, sooner or later this old guy Mas's property will be ours?"

When the attendant heard this, his face showed doubts.

Karl smiled upon seeing this and said, "The King of Dawan will be replaced soon, and by then the old guy Mas will no longer be a piece of meat on the chopping board!"

…

After the great elder led the caravan into the city, he quickly arrived at his warehouse.

After the convoy entered the warehouse, everyone quickly took action and took out pieces of armor and weapons from the hidden compartments of the carriage.

Soon there were more than two hundred brave and skilled armored soldiers in the warehouse.

At the same time, an army of three thousand troops starting from the south of Dawan also secretly arrived outside the city of Malakanda.

In order to keep the secret along the way and prevent others from detecting the army's movements.

This army has been walking in the remote mountainous areas, slaughtering all the villages and pedestrians they encountered along the way.

…

In the Malakanda Palace, King Kandar was lying on his big bed in a happy mood.

He did not expect that after he took refuge in Anxi, the tax increase would go so smoothly.

Thinking that countless goods would soon enter his warehouse, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep.

Originally, he was worried that his tax increase order would be resisted by businessmen.

Unexpectedly, these caravans only made some verbal protests, and after they showed their signs of the Parthian Empire, they stopped and paid taxes obediently.

Today, the great elder of Dawan Kingdom actually paid the city entry tax obediently, which made him decide to firmly embrace the Parthian Empire.

…

Outside the South Gate of Malacanda, an army of nearly a thousand people was quietly approaching the city under the cover of night.

In the city, the Great Elder of Dayuan was also conducting secret operations with his people.

The great elder divided the soldiers and horses in his hands into two parts.

One group followed him to the south gate, intending to seize the south gate of Malacanda and lead the army into the city.

Others headed towards the inner city, intending to seize the west gate of the inner city with the fewest defenders.

Soon the great elder and his people arrived near the south gate.

"Who are you, stop!" the south gate defender shouted.

"Don't panic, it's me!"

At this time, the great elder took the initiative to come out with several guards.

"It turns out to be Elder Mas. Why is the elder here so late?"

The guard looked at the great elder warily.

Elder Mas smiled when he heard this and said, "I thought it was a nice night, so I went out for a walk, but it's a pity that this place is not the Luntai of Han Dynasty!"

He shook his head and sighed as he spoke.

The guard general heard the words and asked yearningly, "Elder Mas has actually been to Luntai, which is known as the city that never sleeps?"

The great elder nodded and said, "Hanzhi Luntai is truly a paradise on earth!"

The city gate guard also had a look of longing on his face when he heard this.

The two actually started talking about various legends about Qi Luntai.

The city gate guard gradually became reassured and wary, and at this moment, the sound of thunder suddenly came from outside the city.

"What's going on!"

The defenders at the city gate were all startled and turned their heads to look outside the city.

At this moment, the Great Elder of Dayuan suddenly burst into action, and the city gate guard was knocked to the ground by him before he could react.

The actions of the great elder are signals.

"Boohoo!"

The people brought by the great elder first fired crossbow arrows at the defenders.

Out of reach, the city gate guards fell into a pool of blood.

Then they pulled out their weapons and rushed towards the defenders.

At this time, the army outside the city was also roaring towards the city gate.

"Quick, open the city gate!"

The great elder stabbed the enemy in front of him with his sword, and then shouted loudly.

After the people on the left and right forced the defenders back, they immediately rushed towards the city gate.

"Crunch!"

The city gate was quickly opened by the people brought by Mas, and then the other soldiers in the city came to their senses.

"Take back the city gate!"

An armored warrior on the top of the city roared and led the soldiers on the top of the city to kill the great elder and others, intending to recapture the city gate.

Unfortunately, it was too late at this time, the troops outside the city had already rushed to the city gate.

"Kill!"
Chapter completed!