The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 27 Trading
On September 9, Malik Mahmoud Sistani, the governor of Thun and Tabas provinces of the Safavid Empire, led 22 cavalry to Gulnabad and stopped in the temporary camp where the Afghans had stayed.

On September 9, Mahmoud sent Nas Rula to negotiate with him.

In order to impress the other party, Nas Rullah prepared eight Arabian horses with gorgeous harnesses and four camels loaded with silk, coins and jewelry.He sincerely persuaded Malik that the Safavid dynasty was about to collapse and be destroyed, and that the Gilzai people would become the new rulers of Persia.If Malik is willing to cooperate, then in return the Afghans will help him become the new master of Khorasan.

Perhaps he had never thought about rescuing Isfahan. After hesitating for a moment, Malik followed Nas Rullah's persuasion and led his troops back to the northeastern region.He took out the property donated by the Afghans, recruited more soldiers on the road, and headed straight for Mashhad, the provincial capital of Khorasan.

After sending Malik away, the Afghans breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately, they mobilized more than ten thousand elites from the army surrounding the city and gathered near the Farahabad Palace in the southern suburbs of Isfahan, preparing to deal with the Qi army heading north.

It is reported that in addition to hundreds of fully armed musketeers, the Qi army from Bushehr also hired more than [-] tribal cavalry and drove straight to Isfahan.

This maritime hegemon in the Indian Ocean region has a powerful military, coupled with the prestigious reputation it has built over decades, the Afghans cannot help but be cautious in dealing with it.Last year, they launched a war against the Oman Empire. In an almost devastating manner, they annihilated the Omani army that occupied many bay islands, and forced the other side to actively seek peace. It ended with extremely humiliating conditions such as cession of territory, compensation, and trade. this war.

Now, when Isfahan is about to fall, they have mobilized thousands of military forces and are preparing to come to rescue the Persians. This makes Afghans both depressed and nervous.

Governors and generals across Persia have abandoned Isfahan, waiting for the situation to evolve, preparing to witness the change of dynasties in an empire.Why are you, a country thousands of miles away, rushing to save the Safavid dynasty that is about to collapse?
"We need to safely bring the merchants and goods stranded in Isfahan back to Bushehr Port." Yu Wanping looked at Mahmoud sitting high on the throne of the former Shah, with a huge turban on his head. There are also some beautiful feathers on it, trying to show a majestic aura.

Huh, it's just a crown jewel.

"You Qi people led your troops here just to pick up the stranded merchants and goods?" After listening to the interpreter's translation, Mahmoud showed a bit of surprise on his face.

"Yes." Yu Wanping nodded and said: "So, we hope that your army will open a channel so that all Qi people stranded in Isfahan can safely evacuate the city, and allow us to store our accumulated supplies in the trading station. The goods can also be transported back to Bushehr Port smoothly."

"..." After hearing this, Mahmoud couldn't help but hesitate a little about the Qi people's request. He turned to look at his closest partner and former army commander Amanullah Khan.

Amanullah Khan nodded slightly, indicating that Mahmud agreed to the conditions of the Qi people.

Although the Afghans have assembled a main force of [-] people and have a high probability of defeating the Qi people who are rushing in, they may have to pay a huge price based on the strong combat power displayed by the Qi people in the attack and defense of the trading station.Once their Afghan troops lose too much, it will probably have a big impact on the city of Isfahan, which is about to be completely controlled.

Moreover, compared to the huge city of Isfahan, the money and materials accumulated in Qi's trading station are just a drop in the bucket. There is no need to offend the people of Qi to death for this small amount of property.

"Okay, we will open a channel for you Qi people to pick up the merchants and goods stranded in Isfahan." Mahmoud said solemnly: "However, I want to solemnly warn you Qi people here. , Don’t play any tricks. Otherwise, our tens of thousands of brave Gilzai warriors will send all of you to hell!”
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Li Yanliang held the musket and looked at the place illuminated by the torches on the other side of the ditch. Several trading station personnel were bargaining with the Afghans, and their faces were red as they argued over the prices of the livestock and grains they wanted to purchase.

Since the Qi people reached a food purchase agreement with the Afghans who besieged the trading station a month ago, transactions like tonight have been carried out five times.Because both parties have their own needs, the entire transaction seems relatively peaceful.

The Afghans could easily pocket a large amount of money as long as they sold the cattle, sheep and grains they looted from everywhere to the Qi people at ten times higher than the original market price.Although the people of Qi State spent a lot of gold and silver, they completely said goodbye to the previous miserable days of starvation.

Since the Afghan leader Mahmoud has not yet issued an order to lift the blockade, more than [-] tribal troops are still "dutifully" continuing to besiege the trading station to ensure that the Qi people will not break out.Perhaps, in their view, this painless blockade would be best if it lasted longer.As a vassal force of Mahmoud, when Isfahan was about to fall at any time, it was assigned here to blockade and siege Qi Guo's trading station.At that time, once the city is broken, they will not even have the opportunity to enter the city to plunder. How can this not make them resentful.

Since you can easily get a lot of gold and silver by selling some food at a high price to the Qi people in the trading station, why bother fighting them to the death?It is better to quickly get more cattle, sheep and grain and sell them to the people of Qi, so that you can take out all the lovely gold and silver coins from their pockets and put them in your own purse.

Capturing Isfahan, seizing the power of the Safavid dynasty, and then establishing an empire belonging to the Afghans was what the big shots considered.As for the many tribal warriors who fought all the way from the barren mountains and rivers, deep down in their hearts, they probably only thought about getting some more gold and silver, adding more weapons and equipment, and then returning to their hometowns to live their lives peacefully.

"Are your muskets for sale?" A small leader of the tribal army stood on the other side of the trench and shouted in the direction of Li Yanliang.

"Not for sale!" After the interpreter translated the words, Li Yanliang immediately replied coldly.

"We are exchanging war horses, which are definitely the best Arabian war horses." The small tribal army leader continued without giving up: "If you need it, we can also exchange it with women... They are all dissatisfied and high-quality goods!"

"...Not for sale!" Li Yanliang refused even more angrily when he heard the other party mentioned women.

"Oh, that's such a pity." The other party couldn't help but smacked his lips and said with regret: "Actually, the conditions we have given are already very good. You should seriously consider it."

During the Battle of Gulnabad, the Afghans captured more than 2000 flintlock rifles produced in China, but all of them were assigned by Mahmud to his trusted guards to further strengthen their armaments and ensure the absolute power of his direct armed forces. Control.

Although the Persian army equipped with muskets did not cause much harm to the Afghans on the battlefield, many Afghan tribes in the Balu area still knew the power of firearms.The Kerat Khanate frequently invaded the border areas of Afghanistan with a small number of firearms. Often with a dozen or so cavalry, they could easily break through a tribe and village of more than a hundred people, plunder property and women, and make them suffer. Unspeakable.

Therefore, these tribal troops who besieged the Qi trading station tried to obtain some firearms from the Qi people.Lest in time, after they robbed a large amount of property and returned to their hometown, they would be robbed by a group of more vicious bandits and use it as wedding clothes for others.

"I will reveal some important news to you." The small leader of the tribal army slowly walked up to Li Yanliang and other army officers and soldiers, stared at the muskets in their hands for a while, and then said with a smile: "Three days ago, Thun Malik, the governor of Tabas Province, gave up the rescue of Isfahan and returned to Khorasan with [-] cavalry. ... In addition, according to the news from the north, the prince Tahmasp who escaped from the city was still there. Cowering in Qazvin, he did not dare to lead troops to rescue his father, nor did he try to integrate all forces to jointly deal with our Afghan attack. He drank himself drunk all day long. ... So, Is The Persians in Farhan are hopeless."

"Oh, by the way, the Russians north of the Caucasus, under the personal command of their Tsar (Peter I), invaded Darband from the sea (Caspian Sea) and overland. Well, they had few encounters along the way Any resistance soon reached Georgia and occupied a large area of ​​territory along the coast of Dagestan. The Persians' old rival, the Ottoman Empire, also began military mobilization in preparation for the invasion of the Caucasus and the western region. Under this situation, the Safavid dynasty It will face a catastrophe. Yes, this empire is going to end, and perhaps only we Afghans can save it..."

Li Yanliang just listened silently and did not respond.

"Well, let me tell you another piece of good news. ... You Qi people have sent a force that has arrived near Isfahan and is ready to pick you up."

"Huh?..." When Li Yanliang heard this, he immediately looked at the other party in shock.

"Since you are leaving here, can you sell us all the firearms you have before leaving?"

(End of this chapter)