Chapter 372: The Imperial Treaty (Part 1)

The battle for Cyprus four months earlier finally convinced Byzantine Emperor Constantine V to form an alliance with the Tang Dynasty. The Arabs stationed on the island used a terrifying type of bow and arrow that inflicted heavy casualties on the Byzantine forces, leading to a crushing defeat. Yet just ten days later, Tang merchant caravans arrived in Byzantium’s capital, Constantinople, bringing with them a special type of bow and arrow used by the Tang, known as crossbows.

The immense power of these crossbows made the Byzantine emperor realize that the Arabs were using the same weapon, which left him deeply impressed. His brother Joseph also highly praised the sincerity of the Tang. When Tang envoy Pei Yu proposed an alliance between the two sides to jointly confront the Arabs, Constantine V agreed without hesitation. He even went to the city of Artaxata himself, willing to meet with Li Qing’an to sign the alliance treaty.

Artaxata, located north of Talas and on the northern branch of the Silk Road, was originally a small city controlled by the Turks. However, due to its strategic location, it gradually caught the attention of the Byzantine Empire. With the rise of the Abbasid Dynasty, the Byzantine Empire, in order to prevent its trade with the East from being controlled by the Arabs, exchanged three thousand Anatolian warhorses for the city from the Turks two years prior, turning it into a Byzantine enclave. The Byzantines expanded the city further, and it was destined to become the most important trade hub between Byzantium and the Tang Dynasty.

In June, Byzantine Emperor Constantine V arrived in Artaxata to meet with Li Qing’an, the governor of Anxi, and sign a military alliance treaty between the Tang and Byzantine Empires. It should be noted that although Li Qing’an was merely a governor, he had already been granted full authority by Emperor Li Longji to handle all matters related to battles against the Arabs even before the Battle of Talas. This authority was never revoked by Li Longji. After Li Yu ascended the throne, Li Qing’an’s powers were further strengthened; he was authorized to represent the Tang Dynasty in all matters related to Western countries, including war, culture, trade, diplomacy, and other aspects of state-to-state relations. In other words, he held a full mandate from Li Yu, requiring only subsequent reporting to the imperial court.

But for Constantine V, it didn’t matter whether Li Qing’an had such power or not; what mattered was that Li Qing’an could sell him what he wanted—three thousand crossbows. Those hundred Tang soldiers sent to give demonstrations became the best instructors for the Byzantine troops. Moreover, Constantine V discovered that the sabers worn by the Tang soldiers and their Mingguang armor were unparalleled weapons. The sabers could rival the Damascus swords, while the Mingguang armor was something noble generals dreamed of possessing. One noble officer even paid ten thousand gold coins to buy a Tang soldier’s Mingguang armor. These two treasures were beyond the reach of the Byzantine army. This was the real reason why Constantine V was willing to come to Attila’s city personally. It really didn’t matter whether Li Qing’an had the authority to represent the Tang Dynasty—as long as he could sell him armor and sabers.

“Father, I think you’ve overlooked another type of weapon used by the Tang people,” said Princess Eirene, who accompanied Constantine V. She held up the bow and arrows given to her by Li Qing’an. “You’ve ignored the Tang bows. Our long bows are bulky, and the arrows they shoot are weak. In contrast, the Tang bows are half the size of ours but far more powerful, allowing them to shoot arrows over long distances. As far as I know, the Turks learned to make bows from the Tangs, yet their bows still fall far short of those of the Tangs. Father, I suggest we purchase large quantities of Tang bows and form a deadly cavalry archery unit.”

Constantine V was a middle-aged man in his fifties, tall and robust, with thick black hair. However, he did not pass this trait on to his children. His two sons and one daughter all had blond hair, inheriting it from their mother, a Viking noblewoman who had died years ago. What impressed people about Constantine V wasn’t his hair but his eyes—gray eyes that sometimes flashed a cruel gaze, fierce like that of a wolf, terrifying to behold. Yet this fierceness was reserved only for enemies; he was extremely affectionate toward his daughter, even indulgent and biased in her favor. When Eirene killed her fiancé, the unfortunate Prince Mark, and fled back to her country, it caused a major diplomatic crisis between the two nations. But instead of blaming his daughter, he insisted that it was Prince Mark who had insulted the princess first, that he had brought this upon himself, and outright rejected Prince Mark’s demand to punish Eirene, nearly sparking war between the two countries.

Now that his daughter had proposed forming an archer-cavalry unit, it greatly intrigued Constantine V. The bows used by the Byzantines were simple bows, usually enormous in size, taller than a person, and had to be planted in the ground when shooting—making them extremely inconvenient for cavalry to carry. As a result, the Byzantine army had no archer-cavalry units. Constantine V certainly understood the advantages of such units; they would undoubtedly enhance the army’s long-range combat capabilities. He took the red bow, and Eirene handed him an arrow. He nocked the arrow and drew back the bow with all his strength. With a “snap!” the arrow flew straight into the air. The strength and accuracy of the shot earned Constantine V’s admiration. “Indeed, it’s a fine bow! Very good! I promise to talk to Li Qing’an again about purchasing bows.”

“No! I’ll go talk to him myself.”

Eirene smiled sweetly, a faint blush appearing on her face. Constantine V looked into his daughter’s eyes, filled with anticipation, and suddenly understood something.

……

June in Talas was also the hottest season of the year. The sweltering heat, like that of a steamer, hung over the Talas Valley. Even the slightest movement made one sweat profusely, making it unbearable. That evening, an army of 10,000 Tang cavalry arrived in Talas, with flags everywhere and the sound of horns echoing. It was Li Qing’an, the governor of Anxi and Prince of Zhao of the Tang Dynasty, who had arrived. Joseph, as an envoy, had gone to Suiye to convey the Byzantine emperor’s desire to meet with him in Artaxata. Li Qing’an agreed without hesitation. This was a formal diplomatic matter that allowed no room for joking. He also told Joseph that he had been authorized by the Tang emperor to sign any agreements on behalf of his sovereign and the Byzantine emperor.

“General, Talas seems different from the last time I was here.”

It was Joseph who spoke. Despite the oppressive heat, he was still dressed neatly and meticulously. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he wiped his face with a handkerchief from time to time, yet his speech and behavior remained polite.

After the Battle of Talas, Li Qing’an ordered the expansion of the city. By the time Joseph visited last time, construction was nearly complete. But just as a bride’s beauty is finalized by her final makeup, once Talas was fully restored, it had completely changed. Not only Joseph but even Li Qing’an couldn’t help but marvel at it.

Talas City would be the first city connecting the Tang Dynasty to Byzantium and would play a crucial role in trade with Byzantium. Its importance lay not only in its strategic geographical location but also in its significant strategic value. Talas City served as the entrance to the Northern Route throughShattered Leaf and also the gateway to the Stone Kingdom to the south. Controlling Talas City meant blocking the threat posed by northern nomadic tribes to the Transoxiana region.

The original Talas City was just a small town that could only accommodate a few thousand troops, but the new city was three times larger. It could not only house over ten thousand troops but also support thousands of residents. A moat three zhang wide surrounded the city, with walls that were tall and thick—reaching six zhang high—requiring ladders to climb, as ordinary ladders were insufficient. The walls were built from huge bluestones, making the entire city appear particularly magnificent in the setting sun. A suspension bridge hung high, and the walls emitted a faint blue glow.

Li Qing’an, full of enthusiasm, pointed at the city with his whip and said with a smile, “Talas City has just been renovated. In the future, it will become an important trade hub, alongside Atil City, forming two shining gems of trade in the grasslands.”

“Are there troops stationed here?” Jose asked anxiously.

“How could there be no troops? There are six thousand troops from my Tang Dynasty, and in Baishui City, dozens of miles to the south, there are ten thousand troops from the Stone Kingdom. If Atil City is in danger, you can come to Talas for help. Or we can set up beacon stations to maintain close communication between us. This is the advantage of signing a military alliance,” Li Qing’an said with a smile.

At that moment, the sound of horns echoed from atop Talas City, and dozens of cavalry rushed toward them. The leading general was He Lou Yurun, a veteran of the Anxi Army, now serving as the military commander of Talas.

“Saluting the great general!” He Lou Yurun bowed with clasped hands.

Li Qing’an returned the greeting with a smile, “General He Lou, you’ve worked hard.”

“Reporting to the great general, the journey north from Talas has been safe. I send scouts out daily, and there have been no abnormalities.”

Li Qing’an glanced at the sky. The sun was like blood, and dusk had arrived. He turned around and ordered, “Order the army to camp and rest here. We’ll set off again early tomorrow morning.”

The army began to set up camp. At that time, He Lou Yurun accompanied Li Qing’an into Talas City.

“Great general, is Anxi going to attack Toharistan?” Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, He Lou Yurun asked quietly.

“How did you know?” Li Qing’an looked at him with a smile.

“I think since the great general has formed an alliance with Byzantium, it must be to deal with the Arabs. So I guess the great general might be planning to attack Toharistan.”

“Hmm! There is some factor like that, but attacking Tocharistan has always been my plan. Even without an alliance with Byzantium, I would still attack. With an alliance with Byzantium, my chances of success increase.” At this point, Li Qing’an suddenly thought of something and turned to He Lou Yurun with a smile, asking, “Why do you ask about this?” Realizing Li Qing’an had seen through his thoughts, He Lou Yurun stepped forward and pleaded, “General, please give me a chance! I’m almost going crazy waiting in Talas.” “But if you leave, who will defend Talas?” Hearing that Li Qing’an’s tone had softened, He Lou Yurun quickly seized the opportunity and said, “Deputy general Zhao Jinpeng is capable of handling things on his own. He can replace me in defending Talas.” “Let me consider this. If needed, I’ll assign you.” The two walked while talking and soon entered Talas. The original old city had only a hundred households, but the expanded new city had nearly two thousand households, making it a large city. Most of these households were the families of the troops, and the vast majority were Han people. They owned large tracts of land around Talas, which was extremely fertile—seeds sown there would yield a good harvest the following year. Besides farming, most people had side jobs, such as trading or running inns and taverns. This time, with the Anxi caravan returning from Byzantium, the city’s residents made a fortune; even those selling tea earned over ten strings of coins. The city was well-ordered, with people coming and going. Various shops were filled with goods from Byzantium—furs, gold bottles, silverware, agate, and other exquisite handicrafts. Taverns, tea houses, and inns sprung up everywhere, with nothing old or dilapidated, presenting a vibrant scene everywhere. At that moment, several civil officials also arrived to pay their respects. They led Li Qing’an on a tour of the city. When they reached the city gates, a bodyguard rushed over to report that the Byzantine emperor’s envoy had arrived and was waiting in the military camp. Li Qing’an immediately returned to the camp. The envoy was already waiting for him in the tent. Upon entering, Li Qing’an was stunned. He saw a tall, blond beauty smiling at him. “Have you forgotten me so quickly?” “It’s Princess Eirwen. Your uncle Joseph told me you wouldn’t come this time, so your appearance really surprises me.” “Surprised? Do I surprise you?” Li Qing’an stepped forward and looked at her, saying, “It’s not surprise, but delight.”

Eleni smoothed her golden hair and smiled lazily. “Actually, I didn’t want to come at first, but I couldn’t bear to let you get away so easily, so I came back. I demand that you divorce your wives and marry me as your wife.”

Li Qing’an had no idea that Eleni had said the same thing to his wives. He had been kept in the dark about this, so when he heard such a claim, he was extremely surprised, as if it were some absurd tale.

“Your Highness, are you joking?”

Eleni shook her head and said seriously, “I am a Christian. I would never joke like that with you. My father wishes to strengthen the treaty between our two countries through our marriage. That’s why I came here specifically to get a clear answer from you. If you agree to marry me for the sake of our alliance, you must first convert to Christianity and marry only me for life. I will be a good wife and not harm the interests of the Tang Dynasty just because I am a Byzantine princess. General Li, perhaps my father has spoken to you about this, so I want you to give me a clear answer now—will you marry me for the sake of our alliance?”

Seeing her serious expression, Li Qing’an replied firmly, “If it’s for the sake of our alliance, I can marry you, but you must accept the customs of the Tang Dynasty and become one of my queens. I cannot divorce any of my current wives for you, nor will I convert to Christianity. Princess Eleni, do you understand what I mean?”

An indescribable sadness appeared in Eleni’s eyes. In fact, she had understood from the start that there would be no future between her and Li Qing’an. He wouldn’t give up his wives for her, and similarly, she wouldn’t give up her faith for him. She had gone to his house that night merely to vent her sorrow, and she left quietly without telling him anything.

“I understand what you mean. I’m more sober than ever. I was just speaking hypothetically. I am now the second heir to the Byzantine throne and command three legions. How could I give up all these powers just to marry you? I just wanted to hear you reject me in person.”

Eleni sighed, and a charming smile slowly appeared on her face again. “General Li, after all, we once had a relationship. I hope you’ll consider that affection and sell me ten thousand Tang bows. I can offer you a satisfactory price.”

“Then give me your offer!”

Li Qing’an sat down with a smile, using it to hide a hint of disappointment. This woman was extremely intelligent; she knew this meeting might involve discussions about political marriage, so she had come early to firmly reject him, explaining rationally that she could never give up her chance to inherit the throne and command three legions just to marry him.

But Eirwen’s clear refusal also relieved Li Qing’an slightly. He was well aware that marrying her would bring endless troubles. The huge cultural differences and religious differences made it difficult for her to get along with his family. He must not dig his own grave out of lust for beauty.

Since Eirwen had changed the subject, there was no need for him to dwell on it anymore. Li Qing’an picked up his teacup and said with a smile, “Since I’ve already sold you crossbows, bows are even easier. Fine, I can agree. The key is the price—twenty gold coins per bow, and that’s the lowest price.”

Ten thousand bows meant two hundred thousand gold coins, a truly astonishing amount. Eirwen was somewhat troubled. She had inherited her brother’s three legions, and all these weapons and equipment had to be paid for by her own money. Although she also inherited her brother’s vast wealth, two hundred thousand gold coins was still too much. Of course, she understood that Li Qing’an wasn’t setting an arbitrary price. In Byzantium, a long bow cost fifteen gold coins, and it took at least two years to make a Tang bow. Twenty gold coins wasn’t really expensive, but if she gave all two hundred thousand gold coins to Li Qing’an, she would really have no money left.

“General Li, can I pay you in installments? I can pay you one hundred thousand gold coins first, and the rest in installments. Would you accept that?”

“I can accept that, but I need you to use something as collateral. If you agree, I can extend the payment period to three years without charging you any interest.”

A glimmer of surprise appeared in Eirwen’s eyes as she quickly asked, “Then what do you want as collateral?”

Li Qing’an narrowed his eyes, looking at her snow-white and full figure, and smiled faintly. “Use yourself as collateral. I want you to be my mistress for three years. You can live in Byzantium, but when I send someone to deliver a message to you, you must rush to Talas City. How about that? That’s the only condition.”