Chapter 498 A Divided Abbas Is a Good Abbas

"What do you think of this caliph's request?"

Early July, Baghdad.

This is the fourteenth day since the mission arrived in Baghdad.

The Song envoy will stay in Baghdad for more than a month.

Because they needed to inform the Fatimid Dynasty in Cairo and the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople.

This task was given to Saladin.

Along the way, everything went smoothly with the mission plan, without too many delays or too many setbacks.

The only thing that was not planned was waiting for nine days in Lunge Port, which wasted at least seven days.

Fortunately, there is still plenty of time.

At the extreme end, they could even choose to leave in September.

In this case, we would only provide supplies along the way, without stopping in any country, and we would be able to return to the Song Dynasty in three months at most.

It was only the beginning of December at that time. It was more than enough to go from Guangzhou to Xiangyang and then take the train back to Bianliang. It was more than enough to rush back to resume my life at the end of the year.

During these eight days, they were warmly entertained by the Emir of the Buyid Dynasty, Abu Mansour Vlad Sodon, especially after he demonstrated artillery to him.

Regarding arms orders, the envoys accepted all comers and quickly signed the contract. Now they are just waiting for a reply from the Fatimid Dynasty and the Eastern Roman Empire.

Unexpectedly, just this morning, the Caliph Qayim of the Abbasid Dynasty sent his cronies over, hoping that they could help the other party recover.

"Strange, why does the Caliph ask us for help? Isn't he afraid that we will tell the Emir the news?"

"Yes, I heard that this caliph is a Sunni. He has always been unable to deal with the Shia sect of the Emir of Baiyi State, and is controlled by them. So he can't ask other people for help? Aren't there many Sunnis?"

"I guess he was ill and sought medical treatment. When Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was threatened by Cao Cao, wasn't he forced to find Liu Xuande and others to help eradicate Cao Cao?"

"I don't think so. I heard Saladin say that the largest Sunni country now is the Seljuk Kingdom. Think about it, if the Seljuk Kingdom is asked to help, wouldn't he still be the Han Emperor?"

"It makes sense. We are outsiders. If we help him recover, we cannot control him. He himself has a high reputation in the country. As long as he gets rid of Bai Yiguo's control and raises his arms, he will naturally respond. The Seljuks will also respond. Sunni, and the caliph is a Sunni leader, and his status is equivalent to the president of the Buddhist and Taoist Association of the Song Dynasty. Once the caliph comes to power, Seljuk will not dare to violate it, so that he can truly hold power. "

Tan Wenxue, Zhang Youwei and several foreign ministers from the Ministry of Rites and Foreign Affairs discussed matters together in the cabin after the Caliph's envoy left.

Everyone analyzed a lot of things through your words and my words.

If the ancients in the past did not have such knowledge, they would definitely not be able to come up with a solution.

However, Zhao Jun gave them the guidelines of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking them to not only analyze the customs and customs of the other country when they go on a mission, but also understand the other country's power structure and social system.

So after arriving in Baghdad, they often investigated the local situation, and from time to time went out to look for local things in the name of trade and recorded them one by one.

As outsiders, of course they could not understand the truth so quickly, but they could not bear to have Saladin, the second devil, to lead the way.

In addition, the local Arabs actually hated the rule of the Delam people and favored the religious leader Qayim in their religious beliefs. Naturally, they were not so disgusted when faced with the Song people's inquiries.

In this case, we can naturally analyze why the Caliph asked the Song people for help.

"It seems that as we have investigated, the emir's power has been greatly reduced and he is unable to resist the Seljuks. Otherwise, the caliph would not come to us."

Zhang Youwei said thoughtfully.

Tan Wenxue smiled and said: "We are not Liu Xuande. At that time, Liu Xuande and others had no soldiers, no power, and it was very difficult to help Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. Now it is very easy for us to help the caliph."

"The question is whether to help or not?"

Zhang Youwei looked at everyone and tortured his soul.

Everyone looked at each other for a moment.

Logically speaking, as envoys abroad, they should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Naturally, they should ignore such matters.

But the problem was that the caliphate gave too many.

Not only did he promise to open the port and actively develop trade with the Song Dynasty as long as the Song people helped him restore his country, he also placed a large arms order and was even willing to send envoys to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty. The conditions were extremely favorable.

The most important one is the one that sent envoys to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty.

You must know that the Abbasid Dynasty is the most powerful dynasty in the history of the Arab world, bar none.

Stronger than the previous Umayyad dynasty.

Although the territory of the Abbasid Dynasty was not as large as that of the Umayyad Dynasty, the Umayyad Dynasty was more similar to a feudal system, with only nominal territory, while the Abbasid Dynasty actually controlled the most territory.

Afterwards, the Abbasid dynasty declined and split, but the dynasty also lasted much longer than the Umayyad dynasty.

So up to now, the Abbasid Dynasty's status in the Arab world is equivalent to the Zhou Dynasty in the East, as the co-lord of many vassal states.

All Islamic countries, except for the Fatimid dynasty, which has proclaimed itself king and appointed itself the caliph, other countries, including the Buyid dynasty, which is also a Shia sect like the Fatimid, must openly respect the caliph.

Therefore, at least on the surface, the Abbasid Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were two equal empire levels, just like the Roman Empire. Although it was divided and both sides were fighting for legitimacy, they were still an empire.

As long as the Abbasid Dynasty was not completely destroyed, it would still be on par with the Song Dynasty by virtue of its religious status and the glory of the Arab Empire.

By doing this, Kaim was completely lowering his status.

However, Kaim also knew that the Abbasid Dynasty was too far away from the Song Dynasty, so far away that even if it nominally surrendered to the Song Dynasty, it would not matter.

Anyway, he sent envoys to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty, was canonized by the Song Dynasty, became a vassal state of the Song Dynasty, and gave the Song Dynasty a very high face, which was only a superficial matter, purely to satisfy the people of the Song Dynasty.

In his own country, he would inevitably choose to conceal this matter, but only declared to the outside that it was a normal cultural exchange with the Song Dynasty, and absolutely did not surrender to the Song Dynasty.

This situation is just like the previous Yue Dynasty and Goryeo, which were the king outside and the emperor inside.

It seems to be a cover-up, but in fact he has gained too much.

Just to make the Song Dynasty look good, place arms orders, and develop trade, which are things that they would have done anyway, let the Song Dynasty help him restore his country.

It was a great profit.

For the Song Dynasty, it was a great honor to let another empire that was once on par with the Tang Empire and even defeated the Tang Empire in the Battle of Talas pay tribute to it, even if it was only in name.

Later history will inevitably record that the Abbasid Dynasty was powerful in the early days of its establishment and defeated the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

As a result, during the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty rose and made the Abbasid Dynasty bow down!

If the status of the Abbasid Dynasty is not clear.

Then make an analogy, just like from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the beginning of the Three Kingdoms, although the various princes were almost fighting, they still had to follow Emperor Xian of Han Liu Xie on the surface, and the country was still called the Han Dynasty.

At this time, the Western Roman Empire suddenly became extremely powerful for no reason, and then ran to the East to invite the various princes in the East to send envoys to the West to participate in their celebrations.

The various princes found that the Roman Empire was powerful and had firearms, so they wanted to buy them and hoped to become vassal states of the Roman Empire.

Even Liu Xie wanted the Roman envoys to help him get rid of Cao Cao's control and help him revive the Han Dynasty. He was even willing to make the Han Dynasty a vassal of the Roman Empire.

So would the Roman Empire choose to make those vassal states their vassal states, or would it choose to make the Han Dynasty, even if it was already a vain Han Dynasty with only a name?

The answer is self-evident.

So although this example does not exist, this is the current situation.

Compared with the submission of various vassal states, it is naturally more historically significant and politically valuable for the Abbasid Dynasty represented by Kaim to submit to the Song Dynasty, even if it is only in name.

"Or, help them."

Fang Shouyi, a member of the Ministry of Rites, said: "Speaking of it, even if the Baiyi people are traitors, we helped the Caliph, which is also a rectification of chaos and not against morality."

"But we are just diplomatic envoys, and we follow diplomatic etiquette. Zhiyuan said that we should respect the fate of other countries and not interfere in their internal affairs."

Liu Zeng, a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, objected.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Abbasid Empire was also an empire. It is said that during its heyday, it had a vast territory and a large population. It also defeated the Tang Dynasty. It is of great significance to make such an empire bow down."

"That was because it was once powerful. Now it is just a name."

"Isn't this the name we want? The government governs the world and makes our Song Dynasty more than ten times stronger than before. This grand ceremony is to announce to the world that the country bows down and the universe submits, and it will prosper."

"I think we should think about it again. The Emir of the Buyid Kingdom is also very respectful to us. If we suddenly attack, it will be considered a violation of morality and inappropriate."

"Countries only care about interests, why should they care about etiquette? I wonder why you people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are so conservative?"

Unexpectedly, several senior officials accompanying the Ministry of Rites actually wanted to choose to fight.

And the people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't want to fight.

You must know that under normal circumstances, when it comes to foreign affairs, it should be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that negotiates. It is not polite for the Ministry of Rites to intervene.

As a result, just as the conservatives felt that the radicals were too conservative, the people in the Ministry of Rites felt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was too conservative.

This was also a strange thing.

"General Wang, you are the general leading the team this time, you have the final say, fight or not?"

Both Tan Wenxue and Zhang Youwei were in a dilemma, and finally put the problem aside to Wang Shining.

Wang Shining was dumbfounded, thinking that he was just eating melons, how could the matter of subverting a country's regime fall on him all of a sudden?

While he was hesitating, the door outside the cabin was suddenly knocked, which made Wang Shining relieved and asked hurriedly: "What happened?"

"General, Saladin is outside asking for an audience."

"Let him in."

"Yes."

"Creaky."

The door of the cabin reception room opened, and Saladin walked in, bowed and said: "Doctor Tan, Doctor Zhang, General Wang."

"What's wrong?"

Tan Wenxue asked.

"It's the Seljuks who are coming. The Emir just asked me for urgent help, hoping that I can persuade you to send troops to help him."

Saladin said.

"Well, the Seljuks have intervened again."

Zhang Youwei spread his hands and said, "What should we do now?"

"Who knows."

"On one side is the Abbasids, on the other side is the Buyids, and there is another Seljuk coming over there."

"What a headache, by the way, Saladin."

Tan Wenxue scratched his head, then suddenly thought of something, and suddenly looked at Saladin.

Saladin wondered: "What's wrong, doctor?"

"Your country is being attacked, but you don't seem to be in a hurry at all?"

Tan Wenxue is keenly aware of this.

The Song Dynasty did not divide people into three, six or nine classes like India.

Although they were foreigners, they were not very discriminatory. We had a good chat along the way and became friends.

Although Saladin came here to report the matter, Abu Mansour, the emir of the Buyi Dynasty, wanted his help in persuading the Song people to help.

Logically speaking, Saladin, as a Bai Yiguo, had friendship with several of their officials, so how could he not be in a hurry?

In the end, it was just a notification without any intention of persuasion. It seemed that they were allowed to make their own decisions. This was obviously a very strange thing.

Saladin smiled and said: "Mr. Sir, although I am a Baiyi, I am not a Delamite. In fact, I should be an Abbasid. It's just that the Baiyi captured our territory and turned us into theirs." Just the people.”

"So the Seljuks came and you Abbasids didn't want to help the Delamites?"

"Yes."

"What if the Seljuks come and rule you?"

"We don't want to help the Seljuks either."

"Why? I heard they are Sunnis too."

Tan Wenxue was puzzled.

These days, they are gradually understanding the dispute between Sunni and Shia Islam, but their understanding is still not that deep.

Although it is guessed that Bai Yiguo cannot be the opponent of the Seljuks, we still have to see what the specific situation is.

However, according to Saladin's wishes, I am afraid that most people in the Buyid Dynasty will not choose to help Abu Mansour. The only people Abu Mansour can trust are the Delam people of his own race.

"Because they are a foreign race. Although they are not heretics or heretics, we believe in the Caliphate more. It's just that they are stronger now."

Saladin said: "But compared to the Shia Delam people, the Seljuks are better. I think most people are willing to accept their rule. It's just that I have settled in the Song Dynasty, and I am a Song Dynasty person! "

He also emphasized at the end that he was already a subject of the Song Dynasty.

"I see."

Tan Wenxue nodded to express his understanding.

"Old Tan, what's the use of asking this?"

Zhang Youwei was puzzled.

Tan Wenxue smiled and said: "It's very useful. Doesn't this mean that both the Baiyi people and the Seljuk people are unpopular?"

"you mean?"

Zhang Youwei was still confused.

Tan Wenxue glanced at Saladin, and then said, "You go out first."

"Forehead."

Saladin also left confused.

"Old Tan, what kind of medicine are you selling in your gourd?"

Zhang Youwei asked quickly.

Tan Wenxue chuckled and said, "Let's wait and see what happens. When the situation reaches a certain level, we should take action."

"You should just talk about it."

Zhang Youwei refused to give up.

Tan Wenxue could only say: "The Seljuks must be strong."

"good."

"Based on what we have observed these days, the Baiyi people are not loyal to their emir at all, and they do not want to help the Delam people fight the war."

"Yeah, what does this mean?"

"It means that the Buyis will inevitably be unable to stop the Seljuk attack. It will be a matter of time for the Seljuks to destroy the Buyis."

"Then what?"

"I finally understand. In their struggle, the first mortal enemy is heresy, the second is paganism, and the third is alien race. Compared with heresy, alien race can be accepted by people. If the Seljuks conquer Baghdad, it will be so big. Some of the original Baiyi people will accept their rule."

"Well, yes, Saladin has made it obvious."

Zhang Youwei agreed.

The other officials nodded repeatedly.

Tan Wenxue smiled and said: "The Seljuks will definitely gain a lot of territory by then, and the Caliphate will just jump from one fire pit to another. Do you think it is better to have a strong Seljuk Empire or an Abbasid in the west?" , how about a Seljuk in the east?”

"you mean?"

Zhang Youwei opened his eyes wide.

"The Caliph doesn't know that he is just a puppet. At the critical moment, we can ask for more benefits. We can't just give him up and support him."

Tan Wenxue said calmly: "Anyway, we are already at odds with the Seljuks, so it would be best to show them some strength to scare them!"

For the Song Dynasty, a divided Abbasid dynasty was the best Abbasid dynasty, instead of a powerful Seljuq Empire suddenly appearing to confront the East and the West!