The architectural style of the Arabs likes to use tall and dense minarets and huge open domes. When the Han people look at their city from a distance, in addition to the city wall on the horizon, there are at most a few pagodas towering inside. But Baghdad is different. On the city wall
Inside, there are still layers of buildings that keep raising the sight.
When everyone looked at the city, they were actually still a long way away from the city, and as they got closer to the city, the road began to wind and become rugged.
Because there are large areas of farmland, woods and gardens outside the city, they are maintained by a dotted irrigation system. The entire irrigation system consists of deep wells and underground and multi-layered channels on the ground. It also relies on complex water lifting facilities to fill the scattered pools and roads on the highlands.
It is necessary to bypass pools and channels, and in many places, fly bridges are used to overcome the obstacles of pools.
There were also dense checkpoints near these water conservancy facilities. The group either quickened their pace or urged their horses, and walked for nearly an hour before arriving outside Shenhao in the outer city. The weather was really hot, and many people had wiped their faces clean.
The child was covered with sand and dust again. The interpreter who was supposed to be at the front of the team jumped down to wash himself while passing by a pond, but was left behind by the team.
Fortunately, there is no need for an interpreter here. A few days ago, someone had already conveyed the news of the mission's arrival to Baghdad. After the officials at each checkpoint confirmed that the arrival was a mission from the East, they were very respectful. Not only did they not stop them, they also sent
Either his subordinates or himself lead the team forward.
By the time the soldiers guarding the city came up to inquire, there were already hundreds of people following the envoy, and they swarmed up to introduce them to the soldiers.
The soldiers looked at the members of the mission up and down. Their captain shouted to his subordinates to open the city gate as wide as possible and said in surprise: "The mission from China? Judging from their appearance, they look just like the Chinese businessmen in the city!"
Hurry into the city, cross the river along the road, and go to the Eternal Palace in the east... there is a palace dedicated to receiving distinguished guests!"
Yuan Haowen thanked him with a smile and led his team into the city slowly. The caravans on both sides of the road had already moved aside in advance to make way for them.
The road they want to take is not the avenue leading to the Golden Gate Palace in the center of Baghdad, but a side road that forms an arc along the outer city wall and extends from south to east. Follow the instructions and climb the bridge and cross the river at the end of the road. You can see
Eternal Palace.
Since the founding of Baghdad, its scale has continued to expand. About sixty years ago, foreigners invaded the city, and the Golden Gate Palace changed hands in an instant. At that time, the caliph led his soldiers and civilians to retreat to the east of the city, to the newly built Eternal Palace area on the other side of the Tigris River.
Hold on and repel the enemy through fierce battles, continuing the Abbasid dynasty.
From then on, the Caliphate had two residences, the east and the west. If we draw an analogy with the situation in Dazhou, we can regard the Golden Gate Palace in the center of the Round City in the old city to the west as the Daxing Palace; and the Eternal Palace in the New City to the east as the Daxing Palace.
It is Tianjin Prefecture. Although Daxing Prefecture is the capital of the country, Tianjin Prefecture is the military, economic and circulation center of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it is also the place where the emperor actually issues orders.
A group of people crossed the bridge and arrived at the palace area. They were greeted by a large number of officials wearing luxurious brocade robes and smiling faces, and there were also a lot of eunuchs mixed in. Some of these eunuchs had pure white skin, deep blue eyes, and some were covered in blood.
Dark, just like the Kunlun slaves that have been common in the Central Plains in recent years.
The eunuchs managed the continuous palaces on behalf of the caliph. They scolded other officials at every turn, but were very polite to the members of the envoy. They quickly led everyone to a palace built of white stone, bypassed the exquisite fountain outside the palace, and settled everyone down.
.
After everyone had settled down and their luggage had not been properly packed, a large number of maids came in. The maids all wore thin veils, and their faces could not be seen clearly, but they were dressed coolly, and everyone showed their slender white waists and
Her elastic lower abdomen, not to mention her waist and hips twisting and turning with each step, was extremely attractive and made several members of the mission blush.
They brought plates inlaid with gold and silver to the members of the mission. The plates contained various kinds of food.
Among the officials of the mission, Shi Tianze was still in the emperor's heart at a young age and had always been a little out of touch. He had been on the road today and was a little hungry. Without waiting for Yuan Hao to ask what he said, he stretched out his hand and took one, feeling the feeling in his hand.
It's loose and soft, so you can chew it.
"Delicious! This is deep-fried puff pastry and coated with honey!"
The maid who walked in front carrying the plate had a gorgeous gem belt wrapped around her waist. She was probably the head maid. The head maid smiled at him and whispered: "Zarabiye."
"Zarabiye? Is this thing called Zarabiye?"
Shi Tianze took another one in his hand and turned to look at the second plate. The food on this plate was crescent-shaped. It looked like soft tofu soaked in milk and decorated with colorful candies.
, nuts, bananas and raisins, scoop them up with a spoon and dangle, it is very cute.
Shi Tianze swallowed it in one gulp and felt the aroma of milk. It turned out that the base was some kind of moist cheese. Then he looked at the head maid. The head maid pointed and said: "Horse Kanaji."
When he became interested, he led the head maid to taste the food one by one and asked for the name of the food.
Although the interpreter did not know where he had gone, Shi Tianze had learned a lot of Arabic vocabulary on his own during his journey of tens of thousands of miles, and he could barely speak. As a result, there were originally merchants in the team who knew some Arabic. The guests and hosts were having a great time.
After half an hour, all the desserts and water brought by the maids were eaten and drank. Another eunuch came over and said that there would be a banquet in the evening, so the members of the envoy were asked to rest peacefully.
After the eunuchs and maids had all left the palace, everyone began to allocate specific residences and arrange the storage of gifts and merchandise. Amidst the commotion, several important officials in the mission gathered together and discussed in low voices.
Shi Tianze turned around and heard Yuan Haowen say in a deep voice: "The situation is not right."
"There is indeed something wrong." One person said: "We are here on behalf of the Celestial Empire. How grand is our status? As early as half a year ago, the Arabs confirmed that they would be greeted by their vizier, who is second only to the Caliph. Now we have arrived.
Where is the vizier in Baghdad? Not only the vizier, but also the caliph’s aides or the high-status sultan, we have not seen. Thinking about it carefully, since we entered the city, not a single official of sufficient importance has appeared."
Another person also said: "This is not the first time that envoys from the two countries have exchanged messages. Since four years ago, our maritime merchants have been entrusted by the court to come to Baghdad with letters of seal. The place where they were placed at that time was south of the old city of Baghdad.
Outside the Kufa Gate, it is close to the market where Han merchants gather. Since then, two more envoys have arrived and they were both placed there. I heard that the building was greatly expanded last year... Why were we led here?"
"If you want to go outside Kufa Gate, you have to take the south road of the city, but in fact, we were led to a small road. Now that I think about it, the merchants on that road moved too uniformly. Are they really merchants?
Is it possible that he is just pretending to deceive us?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know where the interpreters are now, and I didn't find a chance to inquire about it on the way..."
"The interpreter hasn't come back yet? This is even more wrong!"
Having said this, Shi Tianze left everyone and walked towards the entrance of the palace. There, there were more than a dozen chambermaids and maids waiting, as if they were ready to help. Shi Tianze chatted and gestured with them happily, and after a while
, came back with another plate of desserts.
"They didn't allow us to go out. They just kept saying that we can provide whatever we need."