The Sun and the Lion

In the early summer of May, a large merchant ship docked at the port of Hormuz Island. Customs officials and attachés boarded the ship as usual to collect sails and rudders, count the goods, and collect customs duties and docking fees.

But this ship was different from other merchant ships. It was not carrying cargo, but an envoy composed of dozens of people and gifts for the court of Hormuz. The leader handed Ibrahim's personal letter to the customs officer, asking him to deliver it to the Shah, or Sultan, the ruler of Hormuz.

The official did not delay, he quickly reported the matter, and the court was soon informed of the envoy's arrival. Customs officials boarded the ship again, this time accompanied by a dignitary to receive them.

They asked about the details of the mission, including their number, the belongings they carried and their status in the Safavid court.

"The Shah of Hormuz welcomes guests and hopes that you come with good intentions."

At the island's court, Vizierwaga Atta, who actually held power, read the letter. He could see the arrogance and arrogance of the Safavid court in this diplomatic document - at the beginning, the title of Ibrahim and the title of Shah of Hormuz were written side by side, but the title of King of Kings was written side by side. Written in gold ink and a larger font.

"I, Ibrahim, Shah of Iran and non-Iranians, greet the Sultan of Hormuz..."

But the content of the text is very direct. Ibrahim asked Hormuz to become his vassal. In return, he would station a small force at the castle to protect the palace and bazaar.

Waqa Atta laughed when he saw these contents. Such vassalage and protection are just covetous tax revenue brought by the developed business here. But Hormuz's military strength is weak, so it's hard for him to refuse. What will happen if he angers the behemoth far away?

"Go and send over all the information sent by Basra's merchant ships in recent years." He decided to learn a little about this emerging power through limited information before meeting these envoys.

The servants brought documents, and he looked through the records quietly. The news from the merchants was very scattered. He could only roughly know that the Safavids replaced the Aries Dynasty and became the new master of Arab Iraq, with a strong military.

The delegation just arrived at the palace and were invited into the hall. As the nominal ruler, the Shah of Hormuz was already present to receive them at his behest, and as vizier, the Shah's advisers and assistants would appear later to hold actual talks with these Azerbaijanis.

In the hall, the Shah of Hormuz looked blankly at the dozen Safawi diplomats who poured in. They first bowed to him and saluted: "Dear Shah of Hormuz, on behalf of My Lord Ibrahim sends you my greetings. May Huda keep your rule stable and your country prosperous."

He nodded: "May Huda protect your country."

Waqa Atta walked into the hall and stood beside the main seat. He was dressed luxuriously, no less than Shah who was sitting on the main seat. The eunuch standing on the other side of the main seat introduced the envoys: "This is our country's vizier, the Shah's loyal servant."

"Dear Vizier, I wish you well." The envoy greeted him ceremonially.

"I also wish you good health." Waqa Atta also replied politely, and then began to ask: "What's the matter with your envoys sent to Hormuz?"

"My lord has sent us here to develop friendly relations with your country." After the envoy finished speaking, he motioned for his subordinates to present gifts. With the permission of the Shah and the Vizier, the envoy's attaché and the eunuchs of the palace carried the box up.

The seven carpets and tapestries that were first taken out for display were all woven by the royal workshop in Ardabil. They were blended with silk and wool and had complex and exquisite patterns. They would definitely be high-quality goods that would fetch high prices on the market.

Then came the books, the scriptures, the hadiths and the four pillars of poetry including the Book of Kings. The books that were given as gifts were all hardcover, and the handwritten calligraphy all used Nastali script. The painters who served the court used expensive paints and painting techniques to create exquisite miniature illustrations, and the covers were also decorated with expensive materials and techniques.

Next are glass crafts, gold and silver products produced by royal craftsmen, decorated with gemstones, precious leathers and precious metals, and swords, bows, silk dresses and Circassian slave women made of fine steel.

"As expected, your country came with goodwill." Waqa Atta compared the gift list and looked at the gifts. These expensive gifts are enough to be given to the monarch of a big country. This made him increasingly uneasy. These national gifts could not be given in vain, and Hormuz had nothing to give in return except its status as a commercial hub.

"Dear Shah and Vizier, have you read our Lord's letter? How do you want to respond to the content inside?" After the envoy finished delivering the gifts and blowing the rainbow fart, he started to get down to business.

"Go and get the letter. Find Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com" Wajia Atta ordered the eunuch to bring the letter, and then ordered him to read the content of the letter and show the letter to everyone present.

"Let's see! Everyone!" Vizier's loud voice echoed in the hall, "What does the so-called protection and goodwill mean? The Sultan on land wants to make us his with a piece of white paper and a few boxes of gold. slave?"

"What do you mean?" the envoy asked. The palace guards had already poured into the hall, and the dignitaries with swords present surrounded the officials of the mission.

"My answer is, go back." Waqa Atta said forcefully.

Seeing that the envoy had no intention of leaving, he waved his hand: "Catch them all and send them to the dungeon to calm down."

The envoys made no resistance and allowed the warriors to tie ropes and chains around themselves and then be escorted out of the palace.

The news soon reached the port, and the fifty men who escorted the mission were still on board. The palace guards came, handed the vizier's brief reply to the captain, returned the rudder and sails, and ordered the ship to leave. Report back to the port.

"So, our envoy was detained by your side just like this?" The leader of fifty men stared at the approaching officers with a gloomy expression.

"Yes, so go back and give your master a headache."

The rudder and sail were rerigged, the sailors were ready to sail away, and the boarding officers and escorts had disembarked and returned to the port in the boats.

The fifty-man captain was on the deck, drawing his bow and setting up an arrow. He was a little nervous. The rocking of the ship would seriously affect his shooting skills, but he still shot the arrow into the boat.

The arrow missed without any doubt and fell into the sea. But it also attracted the attention of the officer, but the distance between the boat and the sailboat was far away, so he had no choice but to let it go in the face of the red head's provocation.