The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 20 Siege of Isfahan ([-])

Every time he sees Princess Nasheed Mirza, Li Yanliang feels a heart-stopping beauty.Picturesque eyebrows, red lips and red teeth, exquisite three-dimensional facial features, and a pair of big green eyes like cat eyes, make her whole person seem to be emitting colorful light.He was lost in thought for a moment, then quickly turned his gaze to other places and took a deep breath secretly.

"I heard from Laxmi that you refused to allow another group of refugees to enter the trading station today."

Looking at the tall and shy oriental man in front of her, Princess Nacid felt an inexplicable closeness to him.I heard from my father that those who guarded their safety in the yard were all regular soldiers of Qi State.In more than a month of contact, although they sometimes peeked at me, their behavior was not as vulgar and rude as the Persian soldiers.What surprised her even more was that the young Qi officer in front of her could actually read. During his breaks in duty, he would occasionally hold a book and read it carefully.

Although, the officer was very embarrassed to explain that the books he read were just casual and entertaining novels, not profound books, just to pass the leisure and boring time.

But this still surprised Princess Nacid and was even more difficult to understand.You know, within the empire, priests and scholars with profound knowledge all agree that the profession of soldiers is dirty and cruel. After experiencing countless bloody killings, they are not worthy of having knowledge and writing at all.Naturally, in the imperial army, most of them, from generals who lead tens of thousands of troops to ordinary soldiers at the grassroots level, have no education.They are rude, greedy and cruel, and know nothing but war.Even combat orders require officers and generals to repeatedly emphasize them or take the lead in demonstrating them before they know how to fight.

The Qi State officer also told her that in Qi State, when the vast majority of citizens reach the age of six, they will receive eight years of free compulsory education from the state and master basic reading, literacy, calculation, and writing skills in school. , but also need to understand some simple scientific knowledge.And those students who have a certain talent for reading or are interested in further studies will pass the exam and advance to higher-level schools to continue their studies.In the dozens of universities in Qi State, the best and hardest-working students in the country have gathered. They will receive the most profound and cutting-edge scientific and cultural knowledge in the world, and eventually become the driving force for Qi State. Development and advancement of elite talents.

There is no doubt that Qi is not only a secular and tolerant country, but also a country with advanced civilization and splendid culture.In order to rid the people of ignorance and ignorance, we will use the power of the state to implement free education for all.

However, why do they, the Qi people who claim to be from a civilized country, helplessly watch the poor and helpless Persian refugees outside the trading station, exposed in the countryside without any protection, allowed to be robbed and slaughtered by the brutal Afghans, instead of Connect them to a business website with certain defense capabilities in a timely manner?
"Because we don't know if there are Afghan spies among the refugees." Li Yanliang avoided Princess Nasheed's pleading eyes and said softly: "We can't take the risk of putting the entire trading station at risk just to save those poor refugees. Dangerous situation.”

In fact, there is another more important factor in the commercial station's refusal to accept Persian refugees, and that is the fear that the increase in the number of refugees will overuse the accumulated food and other daily necessities.After all, in the current dangerous war situation, the first thing to do is to ensure your own safety, right?
Well, the so-called dead Taoist friends are not dead but poor Taoists!

After hearing Laxmi's translation, Princess Nasheed bit her lip tightly with a sad look on her face.

Now, the empire is facing a huge catastrophe. A group of barbaric and ignorant tribal armed forces from the east march straight in and invade the imperial capital.They defeated the hoped-for imperial army and besieged Isfahan.All people were shocked by the brutality and barbarity of the Afghans. The Shah of the Empire hid in the Ali Qapu Palace in fear, and the Imperial troops were trembling with fear and gathered inside the tall and strong city walls.They watched in fear and powerlessness as the Afghans slaughtered people and looted property outside the city.

In the entire Qi Guo Commercial Station, all the guards and young men combined totaled less than 400 people.Their power is too small and they can only ensure the safety of the trading station, but they cannot provide shelter for more fleeing people.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

At this time, a warning horn sound suddenly sounded outside, rapid and urgent.

An enemy is coming!

Li Yanliang took a deep look at Princess Nacid, then turned around and ran out of the courtyard.

"Lashmi, they can definitely protect the safety of all of us, right?" Princess Nasheed asked softly as she watched the young Qi officer leave the yard.

"Yes, Your Highness Princess." Laxmi nodded and said affirmatively: "Our Qi soldiers are always trustworthy, and they will definitely protect the safety of all of us." Laxmi is a mixed-race Qibo, He is only 13 years old this year. His mother is Persian and his father is from Qi. He is also a manager in the trading station.In addition to being able to speak fluent Persian, she can also communicate normally with people from Qi in Chinese.In order to take care of Princess Nacid, she was assigned by the trading station to act as her temporary maid and translator.

Laxmi also has a Qi name, Xia Yunzhu.She also has two brothers above her, who work at the Qi Guo Commercial Station in Bandar Abbas Port and Bushehr Port respectively.

At home, I often hear my father proudly declare that Qi is the richest and most powerful country in the world.Qi's territory is spread all over the world, Qi's warships swim in the depths of the ocean, Qi's army is invincible, the goods produced by Qi are rich and diverse, and its people are happy and peaceful.

Under the influence of her family and years of exposure, Laxmi naturally has a certain sense of belonging to Qi, her half-mother country, and at the same time, she also develops an inexplicable sense of pride.
-
Abdul Hakim was riding on his horse, looking at the fortress-like Qi Guo Commercial Station in front of him, and suddenly felt his scalp numb.

Great!
You shouldn't have boasted to Mahmud before leaving, but he attacked the Qi trading station in two days and captured all the Qi people.

Such a small fortress with tight defenses, without heavy siege weapons, may not be able to be conquered even if it is given 20 days, let alone two days.

"Inayatullah, how many defensive troops are there in this trading station?" Abdul turned to look at Inayatullah Hawalazami.

"I don't know." Inayatullah Hawarazami shook his head and said: "A few days ago, we just led the cavalry to the trading station and ordered them to leave the city and surrender, and then we were suddenly attacked by them. Only With two rounds of musket fire, we killed more than 30 tribal warriors. I estimate that there are at least two to three hundred defenders in the trading station. ... Well, there may be more."

"Without heavy siege artillery, I'm afraid we won't be able to break through this trading station." Abdul curled his lips and said with regret: "We need to report the true situation here to His Highness Mahmoud and ask him to send troops to support .”

"I have said it a long time ago. Without siege equipment, more than two thousand soldiers, and huge casualties, it is impossible to break through this trading station." Inayatullah glanced at Abdul with disdain. .

Huh, this horse bandit leader from Sistan, when he heard that there was a Qi State Trading Station here, he came hurriedly to take advantage of it.He also brazenly claimed to break through the trading station in two days and capture all the Qi people in front of Mahmud.Now that he saw the situation on the ground, he immediately gave in and became a coward, not daring to mobilize his tribal warriors to attack the city with ants.

"Can we persuade them to surrender?" Abdul asked: "When we came, the big leader asked not to harm their lives. We took this as a condition and let them open the door and surrender. This Persian army of tens of thousands They were all defeated by us, and they only dared to cower in Isfahan, watching us block all the entrances and exits outside the city. Do you think that such a small trading station will not have to resist to the end?"

"The people of Qi will not surrender." Inayatullah said bitterly: "A few days ago, when faced with our threat of force, in addition to launching a counterattack, they also declared that they would rather break their precious jade articles. Nor willing to keep the tiles safe.”

"What do you mean?"

"Probably... I would rather die than surrender!"

(End of this chapter)