Alexandretta.
Zhao Ziliang's caravan of more than 230 people entered this large port city.
Qin Zipeng, the chief manager of the caravan, followed Zhao Ziliang on horseback and introduced the city: "Sir, Alexandretta is our largest border port in Western Qin.
There are islands everywhere in the Mediterranean, and pirates are entrenched everywhere.
These Pirate ships often appeared on various routes.
Because it was close to Karls Pass in the Eastern Roman Empire, it was also close to Cilicia and Cyprus has both our Western Qin fleet patrolling the north and south waters, and the Eastern Roman Empire's naval fleet patrolling the east and west.
Therefore, Cyprus has become the best landing port and entry port for merchants from various countries traveling between the east and west.
From the Mediterranean Sea More than half of the merchant ships that came here docked here, and the Western caravans heading to the Tianzhu Protectorate also docked here to unload their cargo."
"Your Majesty, look, this mountain range in the northeast runs north-south, and the port city here is located at the southern foot of the mountain range."
Zhang Ben, the commander of the Huya Army, was also wearing a protective uniform at this time.
He said: "This mountain is called Mount Armanos.
Because the southern section faces the sea to the west and the terrain is long and narrow, in order to defend against our army, the Eastern Roman Empire built forty mountains in the north.
Karls here built a pass and named it Karls Pass.
The pass is close to the mountains and the sea.
The rocks were dug out on the spot and built very solidly."
After entering the city, Zhao Ziliang saw many business travelers on the street.
There were restaurants, taverns, restaurants, hotels, carriage shops, cargo stations, and grocery stores with wine flags hanging everywhere.
Because this is a port city at the forefront of cultural and economic contact between the East and the West, the architecture, food, services and customs here have many different characteristics.
There is a constant flow of cars and horses on the street, people coming and going, and shouts in different languages.
Because there are many caravans and horses, horse dung, cow dung, and sheep dung can be seen on the ground of the street from time to time. , the stench of these livestock feces and urine filled the entire city, and it was this smell that showed the prosperity of this port city.
When the caravan passed by a large tavern, Zhao Ziliang saw that everywhere inside and outside the large tavern were large men with knives on their waists or swords on their backs, dressed in rough clothes.
There were people of all races among these people, including black people, blond hair and blue eyes.
Not uncommon, these people also have a variety of weapons.
Zhao Ziliang asked: "Who are these people, gathering here with weapons?"
Wan Qingming, the deputy governor of Dongchang, turned his head and looked at it, "Oh, sir, these are mercenaries, similar to our bodyguards in Western Qin and Tang Dynasty.
In the mainland, bodyguards generally live in escort agencies, and there are few who work alone. , but here is different from the West.
Although mercenaries also form mercenary groups, there are also many people who are unwilling to be subject to restrictions.
Free mercenaries are bound by strict rules and regulations.
Free mercenaries usually gather in fixed taverns in each city to take jobs.
For this reason, we in Dongchang usually gather any news in such taverns.
Directly control this kind of tavern or become one of the owners, so that you can find out information from all parties. " Zhao Ziliang frowned and asked: "In our Western Qin and the Tang Dynasty, what are the requirements for becoming a bodyguard?
Are there relevant yamen to manage these bodyguards or mercenaries?"
Qin Zipeng replied: "Sir, there are no conditions for being a bodyguard or a mercenary.
As long as you have the ability and the employer trusts you, that's all."
Zhao Ziliang shook his head and said to Dugujun, Liu Dan, Zhang Bi and Wan Qingming: "You also saw just now that there were at least thirty-four mercenaries gathered in the tavern.
There must be some who are not here.
Of course, this is a big city. , mercenaries looking for work It's much easier, so there are a lot of mercenaries here.
There may not be so many mercenaries or bodyguards in other small cities or remote cities, but they can't stand up to me.
The Western Qin and the Tang Dynasty have vast territories.
I'm afraid not all the mercenaries combined.
A small number, this is a force that cannot be ignored.
Once someone hires them to do something bad, it will cause big problems to public security.
The court and the royal court must set up relevant yamen to register and manage them.
If something goes wrong.
It is also easier to trace.
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From my point of view, if a special mercenary guild is established, whether it is a free mercenary, an escort, an escort agency, an escort bureau or a mercenary group, it must be registered with the mercenary guild.
This Yamen will Hang under the patrol department" Managing mercenaries and bodyguards is not a big deal for Hu Dugujun, Liu Dan and others, but the matter that attracted Zhao Ziliang's attention is not a trivial matter, so Dugujun said: "Young Master's concerns are all reasonable, then it's troublesome Mr.
Wan sent a special channel to convey the message to Xinjing and asked them to come up with a charter."
Wan Qingming cupped his hands and said, "I understand."
As the first and second shopkeepers of the caravan, Qin Zipeng and Liao Zhengkai couldn't help but feel infinite chills in their hearts after listening to the conversation between Zhao Ziliang and others.
These people decided the living environment of a large number of people in just a few words.
Even if these two people I am not a minister, but at this time I deeply feel that I am accompanying you like a tiger.
Zhao Ziliang looked around and found that these people were gathered around him.
You must know that he is just an ordinary escort now.
The first shopkeeper, the second shopkeeper and these so-called "stewards" are all gathered around him.
What's going on?
A discerning person You'll understand what he's like when you look at it Tong's escort was the person in charge, and he immediately said: "Please pay attention to your status, don't always gather here with me, I am just an escort, you are all the bosses and managers above me, and you all have your own things to be busy with." , it’s easy to spot clues when you stay around me.”
Everyone came back to their senses and silently rode their horses to their own seats.
Qin Zipeng, as the chief shopkeeper, sent a few people to go to the city to find a horse and carriage shop to check in and rest.
The caravan of more than two hundred people is definitely a large caravan, with more than fifty carriages alone.
Originally, the caravan only had the cargo of more than twenty carriages, but when they arrived in Damascus, the number doubled, making it possible to load more goods.
The number of carriages increased to fifty, among which more than twenty drivers were disguised as Dragon Guard soldiers.
The appearance of such a large caravan in Alexandretta naturally attracted the attention of all parties.
The large caravan meant that the goods were sufficient and varied.
Not only the merchants in the city noticed the caravan, but also all kinds of monsters and monsters.
Shortly after Zhao Ziliang and others settled in a carriage shop, in a room in a nearby hotel, an Ostrogoth with a thick braid, a burly figure, and a rough and savage appearance was wiping his hands with a rag.
There is a big sword in the middle, and there are two half-shirted Byzantines sitting at the table drinking soju.
One of them took a sip of shochu, threw a peanut into his mouth, and said: "Boss, don't tell me, the shochu of the people of Xiqin is very strong.
Expensive wine and sour-tasting beer are not the same."
Compared with this, I can only feed livestock.”
The Ostrogoth shook his head: "Everyone has his own taste.
If you like heavy flavors, how can you force others to be the same as you?"
"Hey, people who drink beer that tastes sour don't have a heavy taste?"
At this time, there was a knock on the door, and the three people in the room were shocked.
The two Byzantine men who had been drinking and eating peanuts immediately pulled out their scimitars and swords and walked quickly to both sides of the door, holding weapons.
With a look of vigilance and vigilance, the Ostrogoth walked to the door with a big sword and asked in a deep voice: "Who?"
"It's me, Keir" a voice came from outside the door.
The three people in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
No wonder the three of them were cautious.
They were gangsters hiding in the Armanos Mountains.
Not only were they wanted by the Eastern Roman Empire, but even the officials of the Western Qin Dynasty were also looking for them in Alexandretta and nearby areas.
Their wanted portraits were posted at the gates of several towns, simply because they had done several large business without capital in the border area in the past few years.
After the door was opened, a thin and agile Alan man stepped in.
This man was wearing a gray linen short coat.
Although there were no holes, it was already dirty, and he had an unpleasant and strange smell. .
"I'm so thirsty."
After the thin Alan man entered the room, he saw a jar of wine on the table.
His eyes suddenly lit up.
He immediately walked over and picked up the jar and drank a few big gulps.
When he wanted to drink more, he was kicked by the strong Ostrogoth.
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He snatched it away and said, "This thing is very strong.
Just take a few sips and don't get drunk."
Keir was still a little unfinished.
He raised his hand and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.
He sat down at the table, reached out and grabbed a handful of peanuts from the plate, threw one in his mouth and chewed it with relish.
The Ostrogoth sat across from him and asked, "Tell me, what's the news?"
Kil's expression became excited and he said: "Gatea, there is a big business, a big, big one."
Gaetia is the leader of this group of fierce bandits who have been entrenched in the Armanos Mountains for a long time.
He is a descendant of the Ostrogoths.
The Ostrogoths were originally defeated by the Huns and moved west to the Pannonian plain.
They even surrendered to the Huns.
Later, the Huns were defeated by the Western Roman Empire and the northern barbarians.
The Ostrogoths rebelled and completely destroyed the rule of the Huns.
They conquered Italy hundreds of years ago and established the Ostrogothic Kingdom.
The Ostrogoths have footprints all over Eastern Europe, southeastern Europe, the Balkans, Italy and the Mediterranean islands.
Therefore, the Ostrogoths are widely distributed throughout the West.
Gatea asked: "Oh, how big is it?"
"There are more than two hundred people in total, and there are fifty carriages carrying goods.
There are many kinds of goods, all of which are high-end goods shipped from the East.
Just the smooth silks and satins can be exchanged for gold directly.
Tsk tsk, I have found out clearly that this caravan from the East is just stopping here to rest.
Their goods are to be sold to Constantinople.
The carriages carrying the goods will return after unloading the goods.
Now they are There are carriages and coachmen rented in the city.
It seems that they are planning to take the land route."
A taller Byzantine next to him said: "Getea, this is definitely a big piece of fat meat.
It is also an opportunity for us.
The brothers on the mountain and the old, weak, sick and disabled have not eaten meat for a long time, and the food can only be eaten.
If there is no business in a month, we will all starve to death in the mountains."
The shorter Byzantine said: "Yeah, let's do it, we can't let this big piece of fat fall into other people's mouths."
Gatea said: "The defense strength of a large caravan of more than two hundred people cannot be ignored.
Let me take a look: