The Sun and the Lion

Time flashed to October, and under the escort of officials from various places, this year's tax revenue was basically deposited into the national treasury. Just because the new coins have not yet become popular, most of what is sent in is physical objects and foreign coins. Gold and silver bars and foreign coins are all sent to the mint and become "archers", and these newly minted gold and silver coins have just been installed. The boxes were sent directly to the bazaar or military camp to pay for the huge expenses.

Ibrahim's military expansion plan caused huge financial difficulties for the Order, so much so that allotments to mosques were cut. Ibrahim also borrowed money from Jewish lenders for the first time, and even considered following the example of Muhammad II in frequently devaluing coins. , but Ibrahim decided not to devalue the currency.

Now, Ibrahim's army did not temporarily recruit soldiers from localities and tribes as in the past, let them bring their own weapons and equipment, and then promised them loot to make them obey the dispatch. After the war, they immediately disbanded and returned to their places.

Ibrahim turned all the troops under his command into a standing army. The soldiers and officers wore uniforms and uniforms, and used uniform equipment. All the expenses for the horses and mules and horses in the baggage camp were paid by Ibrahim. Xin paid - but because of the large amount of loot captured, this part of the expenditure was greatly reduced. Income from trophies is no longer the main source of income. In order to retain these fighters and prevent them from running away with their equipment, Ibrahim needs to pay attractive salaries to retain them.

Correspondingly, the overall quality of this standing army is also stronger than that of most temporarily recruited tribal cavalry. Military training once a day and half a day not only allows them to use their weapons proficiently, but also allows them to know what training, military law and military police are. Discipline - although they are still proud of their excellent personal combat abilities - on the training ground, veterans and recruits can coordinate various tactics, including retreat, and officers - whether they are former red heads or Recruits who are temporarily promoted because of their outstanding performance in training - most are also qualified.

In addition to the forty cavalry regiments, the number of bowmen also expanded from one thousand to three thousand. Calculated in this way, in addition to the personnel stationed at various inns to maintain road safety and the militia in various cities, Ibrahim had as many as 45,000 troops at his disposal, mostly cavalry.

On the morning of October 2, 1495, in Tabriz, the cavalry, including those with bows, gathered at the north gate, preparing to pass through the entire city from north to south, and then assemble at the camp near the south gate. Prepare for a long march. Ibrahim took the civil servants and generals on a high platform built in the square to watch the military parade, and there were a large number of onlookers on both sides.

"Your Majesty, it's time to start." Hashayar, who was standing aside, first looked up at the sun that was already hanging diagonally in the sky and was still rising slowly, and then reminded Ibrahim.

"Let's begin." The order was given, and everyone except Ibrahim went down to the street. Ibrahim first prayed with the civil and military officials, and those who were notified to come to watch the ceremony and Ibrahim The eponymous Armenian Archbishop Abraham observed the surrounding environment. When the service was over, the loyalists near the platform and the surrounding crowd all knelt down to the towering Ibrahim in accordance with tradition.

Ibrahim looked at the people kneeling around the high platform and announced loudly: "I, Sultan Ibrahim of the Safavid Order, a descendant of the seventh Imam Musa Kazim, today, I hereby declare that from now on, I am the king of all Iranians and non-Iranians. No matter now and in the future, I will be the king of kings who rules this plateau! I will definitely make all those who disobey fall. Go to Hell, and those who obey will ascend to Heaven!”

After saying that, the kneelers around him slowly stood up, and the senior officials who were supposed to watch the military parade on the high platform with Ibrahim also took their seats.

Following Ibrahim's order, trumpets and drums sounded immediately, and the sound of military music seemed to spread throughout the city. Many of the onlookers present were shocked, and the troops who received the order began to march along the Enter the city along the planned route.

At the forefront were the bow holders. These elite royal guards wore red hats with twelve horns - the twelve horns represented the Twelve Imams of Shiaism - and the armor on their bodies was polished. It looked gleaming in the sunlight, and the tip of the lance, which was also polished, stood diagonally upward, like a straight poplar tree. Then there are the ordinary cavalry. The clothes of ordinary cavalry are simpler. Most of them wear chain armor. Only officers and a small number of cavalry have a layer of chainmail. The armor and uniforms of officers are different according to their levels. Officers with more than 50 officers have separate flag officers. Depending on the level, the military flags of the officers have different specifications, but most of the styles are unified. Only generals like Mustafa, Muhammad, and Gholabery can have their own custom-made flags.

Huge cavalry teams continued to pass through the streets. Armenian Archbishop Abraham just held the rosary tightly in his hands, while in his heart he lamented the fate of the Armenians and silently recorded what he saw and heard in his heart. Find Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com

After three hours, the last centurion passed through the south gate of Tabriz, announcing the end of the military parade. Ibrahim and the other officials got off the platform and went to the military camp to attend the banquet accompanying the ceremony.

Because there were too many people attending, the banquet was not held in the big tent. Instead, the banquet was held on the large playground usually used for military training. It was noon, and waiters were carrying all kinds of delicacies, desserts and drinks through the venue. There were many kinds of drinks in gold and silver cups, including yogurt, grape juice, fruit juice, etc. In order to increase the fun, Ibrahim also hired many musicians and dancers to add to the fun. In short, this banquet cost Ibrahim a lot of money.

The officials gathered together in twos and threes according to their respective groups. The officers ate relatively roughly, eating mostly meat and gulping down drinks. However, the appetite of the civil servants seemed to be much smaller. King Khan They—Ibrahim called him the King of Kings and promoted all the begs of the big tribe to Khan—were gathered around Ibrahim, and those who wanted to curry favor with Ibrahim were introducing them to him. The unmarried women in his family, either daughters or sisters, wished to marry the King of Kings, but Ibrahim gave a vague answer and did not explicitly refuse.

After having enough wine and food, the people attending the banquet looked up and saw that the sun was still hanging slanting in the sky, but in the west. The dusk sunlight illuminated the venue, and the tables were intertwined. In addition to dancers and musicians, the officials present also performed other entertainment activities, but Ibrahim was not interested in this. The banquet finally ended. The civilian officials left the military camp and returned to the city of Tabriz. Abraham will also return to Armenia tomorrow. However, Ibrahim and the officers all drank too much and it will take some time to recover. , the departure date had to be postponed.