Chapter 41: Tianfang (IV)

In recent days, many unfamiliar faces have appeared around the palace of Buhana, which has made Sainel highly vigilant. As the captain of the palace guards, it is his responsibility to ensure the absolute safety of the king and royal family. Although these strangers could never approach the northern gate of the palace, he preferred to take precautions and nip any potential threats in the bud.

Many scouts reported that some agitated merchants had gathered to curse the newly enacted laws, even speaking disrespectfully to the great king. Suspecting that these strangers were among these emotionally unstable merchants, Sainel intensified patrols around the northern part of the palace.

There was a reason for the merchants’ agitation. Some time ago, at the instigation of the Persian Nasir, the king had introduced a new tax law—the zakat tax. Targeting only the wealthy, especially merchants, this tax was clearly highly unjust. To be fair, the merchants in Buhana were generally humble and honest. Aside from a few bad apples, almost no one hoarded goods or drove up prices.

Imposing such high taxes on them was unfair; after all, they earned their money through hard work. Why should they be deprived of it without reason?

Of course, from the perspective of the palace guard captain, he couldn’t sympathize with these unfortunate merchants. Faced with such potential threats, he could only use his sword to intimidate them.

However, after increasing patrols, the soldiers’ private complaints grew. With the monthly salary remaining unchanged while they were forced to work harder, it was natural for everyone to feel resentful. They were not warriors of Tianfang and couldn’t achieve the selflessness described by Nasir. The paradise he described seemed too distant and illusory, offering little appeal to ordinary people of all ages.

You have your dreams of paradise; I have my own comfortable life. You preach the sanctity of the Quran; I stay buried in piles of silver coins. You risk your life on the battlefield to spread Allah’s teachings; I struggle to survive in this chaotic world to feed my wife and children…

Everyone comes from different backgrounds, with different cultural environments, so their choices naturally vary. No one should look down on others!

“Captain Sainel, Captain Sainel! Tonight, we can finally take turns on duty. We’re all grateful for your guidance over the years and want to host a feast to thank you!”

A guard with a red goatee stepped forward on tiptoes and bowed with a smile beside Sainel.

“Oh? It’s rare to see you still caring about such things. Well, since it’s my turn to be on duty tonight, I’ll go and have some fun with you guys.”
Sainel narrowed his eyes slightly, stroked his beard, and nodded in agreement.
Goat Beard chuckled, “As you say. One should never forget those who helped them. Isn’t it all because of your support that we’re where we are today?”
Sainel was his direct superior. With his favor, his career could only go smoothly!
“I love hearing that!”
Sainel patted Goat Beard’s shoulder and said, “But we must go to Sabor’s place to drink. He has fine wine made from grapes from Gaochang. I’ve been so busy these days that I haven’t had a drop of alcohol, and my craving for it is getting stronger.”
“Wherever you say, we’ll go. The brothers all follow your lead!”
Goat Beard’s words were as sweet as honey, hitting right at Sainel’s heart and making him feel extremely pleased.
Just then, faint footsteps were heard nearby. Along with the creaking of wheels on the cobblestone road and the low mooing of an old ox, a middle-aged man wearing a brownish-yellow fur vest appeared in front of the guards.
“May Allah’s blessings be upon you!”
At this time, Sainel could guess the identity of the person in front of him without even looking up.
“May Allah’s blessings also be upon you! Udir, you’re late today!”
Sainel stepped forward and patted his old friend’s shoulder. “If you had come any later, you probably wouldn’t have seen me. These guys are inviting me to drink tonight, and I was just about to hand over my duties to the deputy.”
What he said was true. According to the palace’s schedule, he indeed didn’t need to be on duty that night. If Udir had arrived a little later, he might have left early.
“That’s true, that’s true. You’re a very busy man in Bahanna, with no time to waste!”
Udir was a businessman, so he was naturally good at reading people’s moods. Seeing that Sainel was in a good mood, he went along with him.
“Mm.”
Sainel walked over to the cart and lifted the cotton cloth. Although Udir had been delivering vegetables to the palace for over a decade and they had been old friends for many years, inspection couldn’t be skipped. After all, if there was an assassin hidden in the cart, his carelessness could lead to irreversible consequences.
After checking, no assassin was found—only a variety of colorful vegetables in the cart.
Sainel nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he casually glanced at a man wearing a headscarf behind the cart.

A Great Eater? Isn’t it always Nok who pushes the cart? Why suddenly a Great Eater?
“Who is he?”
Sainel frowned, immediately on guard.
“Hehe, Nok is seriously ill today, so I temporarily hired a worker to help deliver the food!”
Udil bent slightly and nodded at Sainel, subtly slipping a pack of Great Eater silver coins into Sainel’s waistband.
“Wait!”
Sainel pushed the coins back with one hand. “Are you sure this person’s identity is trustworthy?”
Sainel began to examine the man carefully. Judging from his clothes, he seemed to be a Great Eater. Normally, Udil hated Great Eaters the most—why would he hire one to deliver food?
“Hehe, as you say. I’ve been delivering food to the palace for so long—don’t I know the rules? Even if you gave me a mountain of gold, I wouldn’t bring an unknown person into the palace! It’s because of the strict city checkpoints and heavy taxes lately; many laborers have fled elsewhere in search of work. If I really couldn’t find anyone else, I wouldn’t have turned to a Great Eater!”
Udil pushed the coins at Sainel again, explaining with a sheepish smile.
That made sense! Upon further thought, Udil’s reasoning held some weight. Ever since the king imposed various new taxes, many able-bodied workers in Bakhna had gone out to find work. Those remaining in the city were either older merchants or shopkeepers relying on their businesses. If Udil really had to hire a Lakhshmi to deliver food, it would indeed be difficult.
Sainel snorted. “Hmm, you’re quite bold!”
“Never mind. Go in. Remember, don’t use strangers again—this is the palace, not the market next to your house!”
Though Sainel spoke indirectly, how could Udil not understand his meaning? Born and raised in Bakhna, everyone, though they didn’t say it outright, harbored deep resentment toward those foreign Great Eaters.
If not for them, he would be the ruler here—how comfortable his life would be!
“Ah, ah!”
Udil quickly bowed to Sainel, then shouted at the Great Eater, “Hurry up and push the cart! If we delay the palace’s meal preparation, neither of us can afford it!”
The creaking of wooden wheels sounded again as the cart loaded with vegetables was slowly pushed into the palace’s main gate under the watchful eyes of numerous guards。……
Upon reaching the entrance to the palace’s kitchen, Udil finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hey, old buddy, you scared me to death just now. If Sainel spots any flaw, we’ll both end up in prison! I almost lost my life for your two big bags of Sassanid silver coins!”
It’s no wonder he’s upset—Sainel is notorious for being heartless. Even though he’s an old friend, the first one to hand him over to the prison of Bahanna will definitely be him if he makes a mistake!
“Hehe, it’s not my first time pretending to be a cart driver. I lack experience, that’s why you got so scared!”
The Sassanid man bowed to Udir and apologized with a smile. Strangely, though he was dressed in Sassanid attire, he spoke in Turkic.
Udir had no patience to chat with him. He pointed at a simple house ahead and said, “Unload the vegetables there! I really can’t believe you spent two big bags of Sassanid silver coins just to visit the palace. The king is of high status; how would he come to such a place? If you did it to see his holy face, then that money was wasted!”
“Hehe… Oh, my stomach hurts! By the Eternal Heaven, I guess I ate something unclean at lunch and got diarrhea!”
As he spoke, the young man clutched his stomach and knelt down in pain.
“Ugh, I really messed up by dealing with you!”
Udir stamped his feet in frustration and pointed at a small hut to the north. “Go use the facilities there quickly. I’ll wait for you here.”
He still had to deliver vegetables to the general’s residence later, and time was tight. This guy’s diarrhea was only going to cause trouble for him!
Hearing this, the young man gritted his teeth and said, “No need. I… I think it will take longer than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. You don’t have to wait for me.”
Udir was almost furious. A stick of incense? It would take that long just to use the facilities…
“You…”
“It’s okay. It’s just the kitchen. I remember it. After I’m done, I’ll dump the vegetables there and push the cart back for you!”
The young man replied, trying to endure the pain in his stomach.
“Ugh!”
Udir shook his hand in anger and said, “Well, there’s nothing else to do. I’ll go back and arrange the vegetables for the general’s residence. You should come back right after unloading the goods. Don’t stay around the palace. If you cause trouble by wandering around, no one will be able to save you!”
“Okay, I know. Ouch…”
The young man staggered toward the small hut to the north, no longer caring to talk to Udir.
“Ugh!”
With a sigh, Udir walked away from the palace, complaining all the while.