Alhan Russell was a Persian from the Western Regions.
Ten years ago, he lived on the eastern frontier of the Seljuk Empire, where he built his own caravan and mercenaries, frequently traveling through the Karakhanid Khanate (a vassal state of the Seljuks) to the Gaochang Uyghurs to trade with the Eastern merchants there.
At that time, the situation in the Western Regions was even more complex than it is now.
The Liao Dynasty, a powerful state in the east, had just been destroyed by a rising tribe. The power on the grasslands was out of control, and some tribes there migrated westward to avoid attacks from the Jurchens.
The barbaric tribes put pressure on the Gaochang Uyghurs, and their caravans were also affected.
The weakened Gaochang Uyghurs had no choice but to borrow troops from the Karakhanid Khanate to quell the influence of the barbaric tribes of the steppe.
From that time on, all the countries in the Western Regions knew that the powerful Khitan in the East had been destroyed.
Merchants from the Western Regions longed to travel along the Silk Road of the Han and Tang dynasties to Chang'an and Luoyang in the Central Plains to transport goods to the East.
Unfortunately, although the Khitan were destroyed, the Tanguts still lingered in the Hexi Corridor.
It wasn't until the emperor destroyed the Xia state of the Tanguts that the trade routes from the Western Regions to the Central Plains were less obstructed.
That year, Alhan Russell originally thought that his caravan could frequently travel between Chang'an and Seljuk.
However, the Hexi Corridor was not peaceful, and his caravan and mercenary group suffered losses there.
That's why they were forced to move to the sea.
The maritime trade has been going on for six years. Although the sea route is far, the ship transportation is convenient, the cost is low, and the cargo can be loaded in abundance.
In addition, the Han Chinese court offered very favorable policies, so Alhan Russell made a fortune.
But he was not satisfied. Three years ago, he returned to China, gathered a group of people, and reorganized his mercenary group. Disguised as a businessman, he successfully passed through Lingya Gate, entered the South China Sea, and headed north to Guangzhou Port.
After landing in Guangzhou, these mercenaries quickly went into hiding in the city, spending their days doing shady things for him.
This time, his merchant ships carried more than 600 Han Chinese women, the oldest of whom were no more than twenty years old. They were all to be sent across the ocean to the Abbasid Caliphate to be sold to high-ranking officials and nobles.
I have hardly ever done this kind of thing before. Last year, a Han Chinese woman somehow arrived in the Arab world by sea and became very popular with the high-ranking officials and nobles.
When this reached his ears, he saw a huge business opportunity.
The Straits of Lingyamen (Singapore) is an important passage to the West, and it is now controlled by the Song army.
Alhan Russell was not worried. He had found another route, which was longer but enough to bypass the Song army and reach the Abbasid Caliphate.
Al-Han Russell personally led his fleet, intending to cross the sea via another route in the South China Sea.
Once the fleet was on track, he returned to Guangzhou.
Alhan Russell was drinking in his cabin, enjoying the graceful dance of the songstresses.
Alhan Russell thought to himself: The Han people's wine is delicious and their women are beautiful. This place is truly paradise. Fortunately, we have conquered it. Life will be much better from now on!
Just then, the guards outside rushed in, shouting, "Something terrible has happened!"
"What's all the fuss about?"
"Song Dynasty warships have been spotted outside!"
Alhan Russell laughed, "What a fuss! Faris landed in Hong Kong Village using Han Chinese warships. I didn't expect him to return so quickly. It's truly gratifying!"
"But more than a dozen ships have arrived outside!"
Alhan Russell's expression suddenly changed, and he almost fell off his seat: "What did you say!"
He hurriedly left the cabin, snatched the Thousand Miles Gazette from a guard, and looked at it anxiously.
The Royal Navy's First Fleet, in the South China Sea, had a large warship in the very center, resembling a giant ancient mythical beast, cutting through the azure sea as it sailed towards Guangzhou Port.
The Royal Cangming was named by the emperor himself, representing the heavens and the sea, as well as the emperor's ambition.
When Alhan Russell saw the majestic Song warships, his face turned ashen.
"Turn around! Turn around and go back now!"
Alhan Russell's legs buckled instantly, and he would have collapsed to the ground if someone hadn't caught him in time.
"Quick! Turn around! Turn around!" he roared.
The others were still in a daze, and only after they came to their senses did they rush to notify the ship's cockpit.
Li Bao put down the Qianliwang and said, "Xu Yunsheng, go and intercept the merchant ships ahead."
"yes!"
The bugle call of the Song army sounded, and three small warships received their mission and sped up to encircle the enemy.
The merchant ships ahead also increased their speed significantly, but they were no match for the small naval warships.
Soon the Song army caught up with the merchant ships and blocked their path.
On the Song army's warships, everyone raised their muskets.
Cannons peeked out from the cave entrance, seemingly ready to sink the ship opposite at any moment.
All the ships stopped, and both sides were armed with muskets.
It was very quiet; no one spoke.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze.
Xu Yunsheng stared at the other side for a long time before finally speaking: "Surrender and you won't die!"
Suddenly, the sound of a musket rang out, breaking the stalemate between the two sides.
In an instant, a series of banging sounds rang out.
At the same time, the Song soldiers fired their muskets, and countless bullets flew through the air.
Xu Yunsheng roared, "Board the ship!"
The Song army moved swiftly and nimbly. Squads of musketeers stood on the ship's side, while others jumped through the narrow gaps on the other side.
White blades and red hilts immediately appeared on the ship.
Before a barbarian mercenary could even dodge, a sharp dagger was plunged into his head.
The navy acted very quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly.
Aim for the neck, the chest, or the head.
In short, it's the kind of thing that kills you with a single stab.
When the two sides clashed, these barbarian mercenaries were clearly no match for the Song navy in terms of close combat skills.
In just one exchange, not only were their muskets suppressed, but their close-quarters combat was also overwhelmed.
Alhan Russell watched with trepidation.
More and more Song soldiers rushed over and began to kill people rapidly.
The foreign merchants and mercenaries on the ship were killed like chickens and ducks.
By the time Li Bao boarded the ship, all resistance had ended.
When the imprisoned women were released and saw that it was a Han Chinese army, they were all so moved that tears streamed down their faces.
Alhan Russell said, "Your Excellency, spare my life! I have a huge fortune in Guangzhou. As long as I live, I can give you half of it!"
"Do you think you still deserve to be alive?!"
“Sir, I am a friend of Aliben. If you spare me, I can persuade Aliben to stop massacring the civilians of Guangzhou.”
This Alhan Russell truly lives up to his reputation as someone who has spent many years dealing with border regions and other countries.
He understood very well what the Song army cared about.
For the emperors of the Song Dynasty, the life and death of the people were of paramount importance.
The army's duty was to protect the country, and in order to save the lives of the people, Song Dynasty officers would make concessions.
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