"I would like to know if I can send troops to Constantinople after agreeing to get married?" the young prince asked seriously.
Zhang Chengtian sat down, looked at him, and suddenly showed a meaningful smile, "Prince Fulin, you have been in Ming Dynasty for some time, don't you know some very simple things?"
The prince was stunned for a moment and asked: "What do you mean?"
"For example, our Ming Dynasty's territory, population, and our military strength?" Zhang Chengtian said with a smile: "If you could understand the power of the Ming Dynasty, you wouldn't ask such a simple question."
The prince was stunned for a moment, and then said in surprise: "You mean, the Ming Dynasty is fully capable of helping us?"
Zhang Chengtian chuckled, a little embarrassed, "I mean, why should the Ming Dynasty care about you? A country in turmoil!"
The interpreter tried his best to keep his tone as tactful as possible, but what he heard was still a thunderous shock in the prince's ears. His face became very ugly, and his whole body was even trembling.
Zhang Chengtian is so rude.
He was a distinguished prince of Byzantium, a true nobleman, and completely different from those Western European barbarians... But he did not explode. After a while, he even put away his anger and became calm.
"The Ming Dynasty is indeed extremely powerful, and Rome also has the dignity of Rome. If you cannot take measures as soon as possible, it is very possible to lose Rome. I hope you can take it seriously."
Zhang Chengtian was slightly surprised by the young prince's attitude. It was really surprising that he didn't explode.
However, if you have a little understanding of this prince's experience, you will understand that he has also experienced humiliation that is ten thousand times more severe than this.
First of all, this Eastern Roman prince is called Manuel. His father is the Eastern Roman Emperor, John V. When he was still a teenager, Manuel went to Western Europe and asked for assistance, and then he was sent there.
Osman, acting as proton.
Xiao Qin in Eastern Rome is a stranger.
It's a pity that he didn't meet Lu Buwei, nor gave birth to a powerful son... But Manuel still found a way to escape from Osman.
He accompanied a caravan, disguised as an ordinary person, and fled back to Constantinople.
It was from the mouths of these businessmen that Manuel learned something extraordinary, that is, news from the Ming Dynasty.
Due to the existence of the Mongol Empire, the connection between the East and the West was relatively smooth. At least in the History of the Yuan Dynasty revised by Zhang Ximeng, there is an article about Fulin Kingdom.
As for the West, they should pay more attention to the East. This does not mean that they are more eager to learn, but that the pressure of survival is really unbearable. The mountains are overwhelming and they have to do this.
At that time, Hulagu conquered the west and established the Ilkhanate. This was a huge empire. It started from the Amu Darya River and the Indus River in the east and extended to Asia Minor in the west. It was a neighbor of Eastern Rome.
If Mengge Khan had not died in Diaoyu City, it is almost certain that Hulagu would have gone to Egypt, and the Mamluk dynasty would have been unable to stop him. As for Eastern Rome, it was just a one-off affair.
Therefore, the culprit is Qiu Chuji...
The Mongols did not continue to fight west, but the Eastern Romans were not idle either. They did not want to fight the Mongols, but they wanted to find out why these barbarians were so powerful.
Could it be that God sent them to punish the entire West?
In the midst of trembling, they finally figured out that the Mongol Empire had unlimited territory, unlimited troops, and unlimited wealth... In short, it was an unparalleled super empire.
At its peak, the Roman Empire was perhaps only equivalent to one of the four great Mongol khanates.
This gap can simply make people despair.
Therefore, these people in Constantinople can only pray every day and God will appear.
Then it really happened!
That's right, the ferocious Ilkhanate collapsed. After all, Mongolia's ruling order was relatively loose. The Ilkhanate did not even establish a bureaucratic system and relied on force to maintain its existence.
But after the force retreated, they were doomed.
It's just that after the death of the Ilkhanate, Eastern Rome did not feel God's favor at all... because on the corpse of the Ilkhanate, two more difficult opponents emerged.
One is Ottoman in the west, and the other is Timur in the east.
The Ottomans were a very interesting country. They were full of martial virtues from the moment they were born. They fought everywhere and expanded their territory. They were not polite to the Eastern Romans at all.
Moreover, Osman also had a very terrifying inheritance model. If the old emperor had a hundred sons and one of them succeeded to the throne, he would kill the remaining ninety-nine to avoid future troubles.
Not only is there no one competing for the throne, but they can also control the size of the clan and save money... The only problem is that the prince is a bit useless!
Faced with such a terrifying country that was full of vitality and where everything was competing, everyone in the Eastern Roman Empire felt the breath of doom. It seemed that as soon as they woke up, they would be destroyed and completely wiped out.
Because Manuel had been a proton, his feelings were even more intense and he could not sleep at night.
He escaped by chance, and the first thing he did was to think about the future. Relying on their own strength alone, they would never be able to resist a strong enemy, and they must find allies.
Those who could become their allies were Europe in the west and Timur in the east.
Manuel's face turned dark when he thought of Europe.
These European barbarians are simply more hateful than the Ottomans!
They are just a bunch of bugs and bandits... They took advantage of the Crusades and even seized Constantinople, which they ruined for decades.
If it hadn't been for that fall, there wouldn't be so many people coveting Constantinople.
They are even more hateful than venomous snakes, they are a bunch of downright scoundrels.
No matter who you look for as an ally, you can't ask for help on their head.
Except for the one in the west, that is Timur.
It's just that Timur has recently risen, and the Eastern Romans don't know the situation and don't have much certainty.
At this embarrassing moment, Manuel received news from the Ming Dynasty... This is a very strange country. They were founded by a group of ordinary farmers, but they are exceptionally strong.
Expelled the Yuan army and captured the Mongol emperor. They had a vast territory, a large population, and abundant products... Those exquisite silks and crystal clear porcelain were all shipped from the East.
There is also magical tea. There is no doubt that the Ming Dynasty was paradise on earth, the richest and most powerful country.
Moreover, their emperor was kind and good at fighting, and his soldiers were invincible. It just so happened that the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia were enemies.
If the Ming army can be invited to help, it would definitely be a good choice to deal with the Ottomans who succeeded the Ilkhanate.
Manuel was also so obsessed that he actually decided to leave for the Ming Dynasty.
It’s just that the new route has not been opened. Is it really possible to go from Constantinople to the Ming Dynasty?
Don't tell me, there is definitely a way.
Manuel first went to Africa. There was a Marin Kingdom in Africa, which happened to be rich in rare things such as elephants and giraffes. At this time, the fleet dispatched by Zhu Ying had completed a circumnavigation of the world.
The ships of the Ming Dynasty were widely distributed in the Indian Ocean, conducting trade and trafficking rare items.
The sailing skills of these fleets were skillful, and the ships were large and very comfortable. Many monarchs from small countries went to Yingtian to pay tribute on the ships of the Ming Dynasty.
Manuel took this kind of ship and arrived in Ming Dynasty.
Only after arriving in person did Manuel understand that he was just wishful thinking in the past. You want Ming's help, but why should Ming help you?
It makes absolutely no sense!
What can you bring to Ming Dynasty?
Why do you have to work on an expedition for you?
Isn't this like a dream?
Manuel can only hope for marriage.
But the problem is that even if he asked his sister to marry him, the Ming Dynasty would not send troops immediately, which was really hurtful.
"I think the Ming Dynasty needs to expand its influence and establish an empire beyond Mongolia... You can't live without a foothold in the West! Rome, with its long history and splendid civilization, is your best choice!"
Manuel tried his best to persuade, but Zhang Chengtian opposite him refused to listen.
"As you can see, we need to do business. No country in the West can resist the charm of tea and silk. Even if the Ottomans captured Constantinople, we will still do business...and a powerful country can still do business.
If it can bring stable order, maybe we can make more money!"
Zhang Chengtian smiled and said: "So I think you need to show more sincerity. Just being a princess is definitely not enough. You need to find a way to impress the Ming Dynasty! At least, you have to impress me!"
Manuel stared at Zhang Chengtian and suddenly said angrily: "You are an ordinary young man, why should you let me impress you?"
"Just because my father is the Grand Master of the Ming Dynasty, His Royal Highness King Lu, just because my master is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, just because I am the commander of the Guards Division, and just because the powerful Ming Dynasty stands behind me!"
Manuel was shocked and finally did not dare to raise his voice. Zhang Chengtian's power was indeed extraordinary.
After a while, Manuel said: "I come from the distant Constantinople. It's hard for me to imagine what you want. Maybe you can set a price!"
Zhang Chengtian smiled, "Well, if you can accept the civilization of the Ming Dynasty and allow us to spread the doctrine in Constantinople and become the bridgehead for us to spread civilization to the West, this matter may be discussed!"
Manuel pondered for a moment, then his eyes widened and he breathed heavily: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! We can't give up our beliefs!"
"No!" Zhang Chengtian said: "We are not interested in taking care of those things... We just hope that you will learn the Ming Dynasty's way of governing the country and allow our Ming Dynasty ideas to spread in your country. We will do business, run schools, and exchange cultures... If these things
If it doesn't work, why do you let Ming Dynasty send troops? You should know that in our Ming Dynasty, people are the most precious, and we value everyone far more than God!"
Manuel's face was dark. He could realize that once he agreed, the consequences would be disastrous. It would be like opening a hole, and from now on, the country would no longer be a country.
But the problem is that if you don't agree, I'm afraid the country will be destroyed immediately...
Zhang Chengtian smiled and said: "You can consider this matter slowly... But if you are willing, I can provide your followers, businessmen and scholars from Eastern Rome, with a place to study, so that you can have a better understanding of the Ming Dynasty, and then
It’s not too late to make a choice!”
Manuel was stunned, and finally nodded helplessly, "Thank you!"
Let me tell you something... This book is indeed in its final phase, and should be over 3 million words long. It is difficult to write a small book, and I also have to prepare for a new book. The update may not be so timely. I apologize...
(End of chapter)
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