Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4841: Immediate Decision
"Don't say I didn't warn you. What does that mean?"

After Fu Yulong left, Abu Awal didn't care about being angry at the Tang people's arrogance and tyranny. He looked at the interpreter and asked curiously.

Although he did not understand Chinese, he could tell from Fu Yulong's expression and tone that this sentence was the one that the other party attached the most importance to and was also the most core one. It was very likely that the most important reason for this person to come today was to convey the meaning of this sentence.

The interpreter knew Chinese very well and had some knowledge of Chinese classics. He racked his brains to recall the origin of this sentence, but couldn't figure it out after a long time. He hesitated and said, "This sentence itself doesn't have any special meaning, but it has a strong warning connotation. To put it simply, it means 'I'll be frank with you. If there are any consequences in the future, don't say I didn't warn you in advance.' It's not only a warning, but also a threat, with the meaning of 'if you don't obey, we'll go to war.'"

"War if you don't obey?!"

Abu Awar was so angry that his mustache trembled and his face turned red. He slammed the table and cursed: "The Tang Dynasty is going too far! If the Caliph had not wanted to prepare for a war against the Eastern Roman Empire, I would have ordered a war against the Tang Dynasty right now!"

The interpreter didn't dare to say anything. Abu Awal was not exaggerating. Although the Caliph was the supreme leader of the Arab Empire, the governors of various places had great power. They legally owned their own armies and had the final say over the rule of their territories. The most important thing was that as long as the taxes were paid in full and on time, it was not impossible to go to war with foreign countries.

Of course you have to win the battle. Once you lose the battle and suffer heavy casualties, it will be easy for you to be replaced by someone else. It would be good for you to step down in disgrace. You may even be easily assassinated...

Abu Awal ordered the general beside him: "You must keep a close eye on the Tang Navy and report any unusual movements immediately!"

He did not think that the Tang army would launch an attack on the port of Shilof, because that would not only mean a war between the two great powers, but also mean that their navy, which had traveled a long distance, might be wiped out. No matter how confident the Tang army was, they would not think that they could defeat the navy of the Caliphate on its doorstep, right?

They still hope to rely on powerful military force to threaten and intimidate the Arab Empire. Compensation for dead merchants and soldiers and "most-favored-nation treatment" are all nonsense. The more likely goal is to let the Arab Empire open more ports and allow the Tang people to trade freely within the Arab Empire.

Abu Awal stood up and looked at the nautical chart hanging on the wall. His eyes fell on the Port of Mexun, and he felt as if his heart was pierced by a thorn.

The Strait of Hormuz is curved in shape, with fast-flowing water and reefs everywhere, making it difficult to speed up when sailing. The Port of Meisun is just outside the bay, tightly controlling Hormuz, which is equivalent to strangling the throat of the Persian Gulf. It is not known how the Tang Dynasty bribed or forced the local Azedis to lease the ancient seaport for expansion, resulting in merchant ships and even warships of the Arab Empire entering and leaving the bay being controlled by the Tang army.

As long as they have time, this seaport must be controlled by the Caliphate. Otherwise, the Caliphate's merchant ships and warships entering and leaving the Persian Gulf will be under its control, which will not only seriously damage the prestige of the empire, but also lead to the loss of more interests.

It would be fine if the Tang army behaved obediently. After all, the Arab Empire was currently devoting all its national strength to conquering the Eastern Roman Empire. Let the Tang army build up the Meixun Port well, and then pick up a ready-made port for free when the Arab Empire took over in the future.

If the Tang army rashly attacks Shilafu Port, they can destroy it and capture Meixun Port. This will not only remove the thorn in the side of the Tang Dynasty, but also allow them to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their influence into the wealthy coastal areas of the Aman Kingdom...

*****
Fu Yulong returned to Meixun Port and returned the two drowned slaves to the leader of the Azd tribe. He also compensated them with some money as agreed, and sent them away after instructing them to keep the secret and not leak anything. Then he returned to the office, saluted Yang Zhou, sat on a stool beside him, picked up a pot of cold tea, drank it in one gulp, wiped the water stains from his mouth, and let out a long breath.

"Comfortable!"

Not only does my body feel comfortable, but my mind is also extremely comfortable.

Although he was born in the royal family of Baekje, Baekje was sandwiched between Goguryeo and Silla, not to mention facing the Tang Dynasty. It is no exaggeration to say that it was a "small country with few people". Moreover, he had been suppressed and excluded by the Baekje Crown Prince Buyeo Feng. He was trembling and walking on thin ice all day long, and dared not speak loudly.

However, now that he had a Tang household registration, became a real Tang citizen and joined the Tang army, a mere naval captain could scold and show off his power in front of the governor of the province and the provincial governors of the Arab Empire. The pleasure of "borrowing the power of the tiger" made all the pores in his body open up and he cheered for joy.

I have no regrets about coming to China in this life, and I hope I will be born in a flower-growing family in the next life!
Yang Zhou found his expression amusing. Although he was of noble status and capable of handling matters, he was still a young man who had not seen much of the world. It was natural for him to be excited when he could represent the Tang Navy in negotiations with a country's provincial governor.

"What does Abu Awal say?"

Fu Yulong quickly repeated the meeting with Abu Awar and the conversation word for word, and finally said: "From my observation, Abu Awar is not afraid of the Tang Dynasty, but he endured my provocation. There are two possibilities. One is that he is afraid of destroying the Caliph's plan to conquer the Eastern Roman Empire, so he has to endure it. The other is that he is planning to attack us, so he keeps a straight face. But in my opinion, the former possibility is more likely. Muawiyah is notorious in the Arab Empire. He is considered cruel and violent. He even kills his close confidants at will. The people of the Arab Empire are afraid of him like a tiger, and no one dares to resist his orders."

Then he added: "Several speedboats have already set out from Shiraf to Uzbekistan. They must be messengers sent by Abu Awal. After arriving at Uzbekistan, they will land and rush to Damascus by land to consult the Caliph."

Yang Zhou hesitated for a moment and asked, "What decision do you think Muawiyah will make?"

Meixun Port is not only the Tang Navy's garrison and supply station in the Persian Gulf, but also has the responsibility to collect information from countries in the Persian Gulf. It can be regarded as an "intelligence station" affiliated with the navy, and is responsible for making recommendations to the navy's top brass on the local situation.

Fu Yulong smiled and said, "If it was a wise monarch, he would naturally choose to endure the humiliation and compromise with us so that he could go all out to conquer the Eastern Roman Empire. After all, that would be in the best interests of Muawiyah. If it was a foolish monarch, he would probably be furious and order a war against our Tang navy... But since the caliph is Muawiyah, in my opinion, he will fight two wars at the same time."

Yang Zhou raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise, "So stubborn and conceited?"

"He is even more stubborn and conceited than you think! The Caliph calls himself the 'Messenger of God', representing the will of this 'God'. He is the only one in the world who is supreme, and all opponents are aliens. They must be forced to convert with the sword, or be eliminated with the sword! Muawiyah is even more brutal and stubborn, and there is no way he will compromise with the Tang Dynasty. Moreover, the navy of the Arab Empire is actually mostly deployed in the Mediterranean. After all, their biggest enemy is the Eastern Roman Empire. Whether they win or lose in the Persian Gulf, it will not affect their conquest of the Eastern Roman Empire. Fighting a war with us will not really affect their strategy. At most, they will lose more soldiers and food."

After a pause, he asked Yang Zhou: "Are we determined to fight this battle?"

Yang Zhou laughed and said, "Do you think I asked you to drown the two natives just to scare Abu Awal?"

Fu Yulong understood Yang Zhou's intention. The death of the two natives who were dressed in Tang army uniforms was not only an excuse for the Tang navy to declare war on the port of Shilafu, but also an explanation to the navy's top brass - the Tang navy was known as "warships are the country", and their own soldiers died on their own country. This was an unavoidable shame that touched on principles. Either the Arab Empire would compensate the Tang for its losses, or the Tang would drive its warships to regain its lost dignity.

In the Tang Dynasty, no army was more "warlike" than the navy!
Fu Yulong was in high spirits, staring at Yang Zhou with burning eyes: "General, please allow me to be the vanguard of the army!"

Although Meixun Port is good and can be considered independent, after all, he does not have a fleet of his own to command - which naval commander does not dream of leading countless warships to sail on the ocean?
Yang Zhou smiled and said, "Why not?"

He returned to the desk, picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. He wrote a battle report on the spread paper, signed and sealed it at the end, and handed it to Fu Yulong: "Please check if there is any need to change it. If there is no need to change it, sign and seal it and send it back to Guangzhou by fast ship. I believe that by now the Guangzhou Navy Governor's Office has been built, and Governor Su should be in charge there."

The fact that Huating Town is the navy's base camp is unchangeable, but Guangzhou's geographical location is too advantageous. With the continuous development of Lingnan region, the growing population, the increasingly prosperous business, and the central government's political needs for infiltration and division of Lingnan region, Guangzhou has long become the center of Lingnan. Therefore, whether it is to open a Maritime Customs Office there or to increase the Naval Governor's Office, it is a natural and smooth process.

By then, the Huating Town Maritime Customs Office controlling the East Ocean and the Guangzhou Maritime Customs Office controlling the South and West Oceans will become the entire overseas trade of the Tang Dynasty.

"Here!"

Fu Yulong took the letter without even looking at it and signed his name casually.

Yang Zhou glanced at him and said teasingly, "You didn't even take a look. Aren't you afraid that I will say bad things about you in the battle report?"

"The general is broad-minded and talented. Even if I make a mistake, he will rebuke me in person. How could he complain behind my back? Even if the letter mentions my shortcomings, they are my shortcomings. I will accept the punishment from the Grand Commander without any complaints."

"Haha, you are young but quite clever. There are not many Baekje people as insightful as you. It is said that your father, King Uija, wanted to make you the crown prince. If that were true, Baekje might not have been destroyed. Look at Silla. The territory is still there, the family line will continue forever, and the Queen of Silla is enjoying wealth and glory in Chang'an. How happy she is."

Fu Yulong laughed twice and did not respond.

Isn't it because the Queen of Silla was committed to Fang Jun that she was able to enjoy the wealth and honor in the Tang Dynasty instead of becoming a plaything of the powerful? She gave her sister to Fang Jun as a concubine, and offered herself to him. How could a king of a fallen country have a good life?

Yang Zhou also felt that since the topic of the Queen of Silla would involve Fang Jun, he was his boss's boss. If the news got out, it would be bad. No one could stand Fang Jun's stubborn temper once it got out...

"Send someone to deliver the letter."

"Here."