The Sun and the Lion

After receiving Abilard's promise, Francesco breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, can we talk about something more specific now?"

Abilard nodded, and then took out a document. Francesco couldn't understand the Persian spelled out in Arabic letters, so he could only wait for the other party to speak.

Over the past few centuries, the Republic of Venice, which has close ties with the Eastern Mediterranean, has been exporting military supplies to local Muslim rulers in its commercial activities. Although successive popes have issued repeated orders not to export military supplies and raw materials to infidels, many of the ordnance used by the Egyptian Maliks who fought against the Crusaders were either finished products, or the raw materials used in manufacturing came from trade with Italian merchants.

And this is also the reason why Ibrahim found the Venetians - the Venetians can provide Iran with the military and other technologies it needs so that the rule of the King of Kings can keep up with the trend of the times.

And Venice was directly threatened by the Ottomans in the eastern Mediterranean. She was also a future enemy of Iran rather than a close ally. The territory of the Lion of San Marco is being encroached on bit by bit, and they need someone who can contain the Ottoman military power.

After learning all of Iran's requests, Francesco responded: "I cannot decide on such a matter. I need to inform it to the Republic and let it be decided by the Senate and the Consuls."

Abilard expressed his understanding. After all, the other party was not a plenipotentiary: "This result is not unexpected. In this case, are you willing to provide assistance and let us go to Venice in person?"

The consul thought for a moment and said, "I need time, please wait a moment."

Immediately after the meeting, Francesco drafted several letters, including to the consul in Beirut, and a report to the government of the republic. Then he asked his attaché: "Are there any businessmen in Aleppo who are going to return home in the near future?"

The attaché who had just walked in took out the letter and said, "Sir, do you want to contact the returning ship? Please read this letter."

Francesco opened the envelope. This letter was sent from Beirut. The new Aleppo consul had already landed, and the ship responsible for picking him up was currently docked in Beirut and waiting.

He felt relieved, he didn't want to be in this place anymore. As an official, he cannot participate in business activities and must be cautious in every move he makes. The only advantage is that his income is stable and not low. Living surrounded by pagans was also a life of fear. I don’t know how many Italian diplomats were imprisoned in the prisons of local rulers.

However, he had no intention of handing over this special mission of Armenians and Jews to the next consul. There should be no official who would take the initiative to pass on their political achievements to the next person picking peaches.

"Very good." Francesco said happily, "Let the guests have a good night's rest. We will pack up and hit the road tomorrow."

The next day, at the hotel where the mission stayed, the consul's attaché knocked on the door of Abilard's room.

"Hello, Mr. Messenger, Mr. Consul invites you to come over."

The two met again in the living room of the consulate, and Francesco got straight to the point: "I will return to China soon to report my work. The ship responsible for pick-up and drop-off is docked in Beirut. You can take this ship to Venice, and I will introduce you to Archon.”

"We carry a lot of belongings. Is one ship enough for us?" Abilard asked.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency." The attaché on the side interjected at Francesco's signal: "Beirut is the most prosperous port in the Levant. There is a large number of merchant fleets gathered here. As long as you can pay enough money, you can Find merchant ships to help transport.”

The entire voyage started from Beirut, first arriving at the port of Limapur in Cyprus for resupply, then heading west across the Eastern Mediterranean, arriving at the port of Gandia in Crete, then going to the port of Modon in the Peloponnese for resupply, and finally Along the coastline, cross the Strait of Otranto and enter the Adriatic Sea, passing through coastal cities under the control of republican governments, and arrive in Venice. The trip will take several weeks to complete, but safety is guaranteed.

After negotiating other details, Abilad then went back to organize the envoy to leave the city with the consul. The governor of Aleppo sent cavalry to protect the team, which made the bandits who coveted the team's property no longer think about it. The governors of Aleppo and Damascus also avoided a possible diplomatic mishap.

About a week later, the group arrived at Beirut Port.

The most prosperous port in the Levant is home to a large number of merchant ships, some of which are galleys, responsible for transporting luxury goods such as spices and silk. Others were clarks with larger carrying capacity. Most of the flags of these sailing ships are flying the Lion of St. Mark holding the Gospel, and a small number of merchant ships are flying the flag of St. George of Genoa (a red cross on a white background).

Under the guidance of the attaché, they arrived at the galley responsible for transporting the consul back home.

"Mr. Francesco." The captain waiting here glanced at everyone: "Are these?"

"They are the envoys sent by the Shah of Persia..." Francesco subconsciously wanted to call him Sultan, but it felt wrong. When he suddenly remembered, he hurriedly changed his words.

"Sir," said the captain, "my galley cannot carry so many people and goods."

"Only Ambassador Abilard and I will be aboard the Republic's galley, and their belongings and entourage will be accompanied by an additional krack."

"Okay." After saying that, the captain turned and returned to the ship.

The attachés have taken care of the business of hiring merchant ships, and boxes of belongings are being loaded onto the ship by dock workers under the supervision of the attachés and officials. Because the goods were gifts from the diplomatic corps, the governor of Aleppo specifically greeted them, and customs officials did not come to cause trouble.

After his entourage and belongings were all on board, Abilard finally stepped onto the deck of the galley. Then he went down to his room.

This standard galley manufactured by the Venetian Arsenal is not superior in terms of living conditions. The cabin is narrow, with the kitchen on the upper floor and the bottom where the rowers work and live below. Moreover, the Mediterranean Sea is not calm. It is common for ships to encounter storms or no wind. It is difficult to imagine how the pilgrims who have lived in such cabins for several weeks can overcome the oil smoke from above and the filth emanating from below. The stinky flanking attack.

Outside the port, a whole fleet of Venetian military galleys was on standby. It was not just these two ships that they wanted to escort, but the entire state-owned spice trading fleet called "Muda". These huge merchant fleets were Just like the Spanish treasure fleet later, it was escorted by a powerful naval force, which could perfectly deal with all threats except the main force of the Ottoman navy and a whole fleet of Genoese military galleys.

After the initial excitement wore off, Abilard felt the boredom of life at sea and simply lay down on the bed, wishing he could sleep through the long voyage.