After attending the banquet in the palace, Zhou Jun returned to the mission and explained the situation to everyone.
After hearing this, Huayue said: "Mansour refused to tell the whereabouts of the prisoners in Aleppo... It can be seen that those prisoners of the Tang Dynasty who were hidden must be very important to the Abbasids."
Mu Sheikh: "What the Protector did is correct. At this time, we should not alert the enemy. The best strategy is to act as if we don't know anything and then look for clues secretly."
Huayue nodded first and then said: "Fiong went to Damascus and planned to contact Yinmen to investigate the Aleppo fortress. I don't know what's going on now?"
Zhou Jun: "In the name of redeeming prisoners, I asked Mansour for a road guide. This means that the envoy can travel unhindered in Dashi."
Mushaykh: "Even so, the mission should avoid the province of Aleppo. If we appear near Aleppo, the Abbasids will be alert and may move the prisoners in advance, or even
Keep it secret and silence it.”
Zhou Jun nodded and said: "In the next few days, I plan to stay in Ajura City and discuss with the local nobles to redeem the prisoners. After the affairs here are completed, we will set off to the north."
Mushaykh: "Damascus?"
Zhou Jun: "It's exactly the old capital of the Dashi Empire, the gathering place of Wu Maiye, and the location of the Yinmen branch..."
Having said this, Zhou Jun looked at Huayue: "The city where your father is."
Half a month later, the Tang Dynasty envoy and the nobles in the city of Acura, with the help of the Dashi Court of Justice, reached an agreement on the redemption of slaves.
During the thirteenth year of Tianbao's reign, there were four largest slave markets in the Kingdom of Dashi, namely Ajura City, Damascus City, Kufa City and Aden City.
Among them, the nobles in Yajuluo City, either private individuals or families, purchased more than 900 Tang army prisoners in total.
Most of the nobles were willing to release the slaves after receiving certain compensation; a small number of buyers were reluctant at first. After the Emperor's Palace ordered the redemption in the name of the Caliph, they could only nod in agreement due to the situation.
At this point, the soldiers of Anxi who were incorporated into the large food slave army, the civil servants, craftsmen and servants of the Tang army who were recruited for the city building, plus the redeemed slaves in Yajuluo City, together, there were more than 7,000 Tang army prisoners in Zhou Dynasty.
With Jun's help, he was released.
According to the records of Kan, who accompanied the army of Dashi, in the first battle of Talos, excluding the Tang soldiers and those who died of illness and escaped on the way, Dashi captured a total of more than 11,000 Tang soldiers.
Subtracting the former from the latter, that means there are still more than 4,000 captives scattered within the territory of Dashi, unable to return home.
In the name of redeeming captives, Zhou Jun ordered the envoy to pack up and prepare to leave Yakult and go to Damascus, the ancient capital of food in the north.
In the Court of Justice, not only clerk Du Huan accompanied him, but Chief Justice Sayer also accompanied Zhou Jun on his way north.
It is unclear whether the latter is accompanying or monitoring.
After more than ten days of travel, the mission finally arrived outside Damascus.
The city of Damascus was founded in the 11th century BC. It experienced dynasty changes of Armenians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians, and Persians, and finally became the imperial capital under the Umayyad Dynasty, ushering in a new era.
The golden age of the Arab world.
But now, standing on the top of the mountain and looking at this ancient city, the outer walls can be seen collapsing everywhere. There are a large number of buildings in the city that have been repaired and repaired because they have been hit by stone throwing. They look shabby and dazzling.
Sayer was riding on a camel and said to Zhou Jun beside him: "Protector Zhou, Damascus is the most populous city in the food country. It has six urban districts and more than 300 streets. Among them, some
The area is an old city where poor people live. The public security is chaotic and there are dangers everywhere. If possible, it is best not to set foot there."
After listening to the translation, Zhou Jun looked into the distance and asked: "Where is the slave market in Damascus?"
Sayer: "In the southwest city, I have ordered in advance for the officials there to prepare records of slave transactions to ensure that every buyer of Tang people can be found."
Zhou Jun: "Negotiations have been completed in Ajura City, and we will follow up on Damascus City. As for other slave markets in Dashi, we have to ask the Legal Affairs Yuan to help track them down."
Sayer: "The Caliph has issued an order to assist Zhou Duhu as much as possible, so this is what we should do. The Court of Justice has sent officials to the cities of Kufa and Aden to trace the whereabouts of the Tang slaves.
I believe it won’t be long before news comes.”
Zhou Jun nodded slightly and said to Sun Aying behind him: "Let the envoy move forward and prepare to enter the city!"
The moment he walked into the city of Damascus, Zhou Jun suddenly felt like he was walking into Western classical history.
The street brick patterns from the Roman era, the water canal structure from the Assyrian period, and the architectural styles that mix different Western cultures create a heaviness of history that slowly but firmly presses on the hearts of any visitor.
I was in awe, even a little breathless.
Looking at this ancient city with a history of two thousand years in front of him, Zhou Jun found out the most impressive one from his little knowledge of Western history:
More than four hundred years later, Saladin, the "knight monarch" of the Ayyubid dynasty, gathered all his troops in this ancient city, set out to the west, defeated the Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin, and recaptured
The holy city of Jerusalem opened the "Holy Dynasty" belonging to the Arab world.
With such sighs and thoughts, Zhou Jun followed the officials of the Legal Affairs Yuan headed by Sayer and walked all the way to Dongcheng District, where rich people and officials live.
The Tang Dynasty mission settled in a house in Dongcheng District.
The tall courtyard walls, wide walkways, graceful fountains, and magnificent pillared halls all remind everyone of the noble status of the owner of this building.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Sayer originally wanted to transfer an army from the local military camp to be responsible for the security of the house.
After Zhou Jun heard this, he declined politely: "The Tang Dynasty's envoys came to feast, and their original intention was to negotiate in a low-key manner. If the army is called in with a big fanfare, it will attract unnecessary attention. If people with ulterior motives notice it, there will be even more trouble...
…Besides, there are 200 soldiers in my mission, and the Court of Justice has also brought a bodyguard, so the security is sufficient."
When Sayer heard this, he could only give up.
After the sun went down, the mission held a banquet.
As the host, Zhou Jun planned to entertain Sayer and the officials of the Court of Justice with food from the Tang Dynasty.
Among them are a variety of stir-fried vegetables, meat porridge, pastries and glutinous rice soup.
Sayer had never been to the Tang Dynasty. When he saw these colorful dishes, he was a little worried at first. After a few bites, he was completely immersed in them.
Zhou Jun saw Sayer devouring his food and said with a smile: "The banquet in the Tang Dynasty is about being lively, with the host and guest having a great time, drinking and drinking, singing and dancing all night long... In comparison, the banquet in the Tang Dynasty is too quiet.
A little boring."
Sayer swallowed the fried haggis in his mouth and said to Zhou Jun: "The customs are different. I think a banquet like this in the Tang Dynasty is also very good."
Zhou Jun nodded with a smile and winked behind him.
Sun Aying came up with a few soldiers and several large barrels of rice wine.
When Sayer saw Zhou Jun pouring a clear liquid from the bucket, he felt the aroma was fragrant and asked in confusion: "Is this... wine?"
Zhou Jun poured himself a drink, took a sip and said: "In the Tang Dynasty, this was called Li. It is made of sweet-scented osmanthus, malt sugar and glutinous rice. It has the aroma of wine, but the intensity is very low. It is only regarded as
A drink that even a child can drink several bowls of."
Sayer came closer, looked at it carefully, smelled it, and said: "This is very similar to the fermented wine of the Great Food Country. According to the teachings, we should not drink it."
Zhou Jun drank the sweet wine and said with a smile: "Of course I know the taboos of Da Shi, but the sweet wine in this bowl is not considered wine at all in the Tang Dynasty. It is somewhat similar to the spice soup that the big food country drinks every day.
, so it doesn’t count as breaking the precept. If you don’t believe it, just try it.”
Sayer looked suspicious, but couldn't hold back his curiosity. He took some wine in a bowl and took a small taste.
The liquid in the bowl is sweet and refreshing, and you can't taste the spiciness of the alcohol at all. Compared with the fermented wines from the big food countries, it is as bland as white water.
Sayer believed Zhou Jun's words at this time and slowly drank the liquid in the bowl. He only felt a sweet taste in his mouth without any discomfort from the spicy taste.
Zhou Jun: "Since you like it, why not drink a few more drinks. Besides, I am in charge today, so the customs of the banquet must be followed naturally in accordance with the Tang Dynasty."
After hearing this, Sayer looked at the sweet spring-like liquid in the bowl, swallowed, nodded and said, "That's right, you are the master of this place today, and I should follow the local customs."
After the banquet was over, Zhou Jun returned to his room. After waiting for a long time, Sun Aying knocked on the door to report.
Sun Aying: "Master, those big cannibals were drunk and fell asleep."
Zhou Jun: "Where are Mu Sheikh and the others?"
Sun Aying: "Waiting at the back door."
Zhou Jun put on his robe and said to Sun Aying: "Find some people and keep an eye on the food officials. You can bring some of your subordinates and go out with me."
