Chapter 2346 - 2079: Are They Really Human?

When Serali and Salivi, part of a Roman diplomatic mission to the Han Empire, came to Fenggao in the Han Empire, and slipped around Ye City, they deeply felt the wealth and prosperity of the Han, and then returned to their homeland with the rewards from Liu Bei.

Speaking of it, at that time Liu Bei was somewhat dazzled by Chen Xi’s words, truly believing that Rome had defeated the Western Regions. In reality, that confrontation between Li Jue and Ganasis actually occurred in Taysi Sealed, which is in Western Asia, very far from the Han Empire.

After the Roman envoy arrived, Liu Bei, although displaying the appropriate demeanor, did not slight the Roman envoy, and even with the abundant gifts of silk, Serali and others became almost overly excited, not noticing the apprehension in Liu Bei’s eyes.

Once the Roman envoy took several carriages of Shu Brocade back to Rome, Liu Bei started contemplating organizing a diplomatic mission to Rome, following the principle of reciprocity.

Additionally, Chen Xi also had this idea, and the two immediately agreed, subsequently selecting a group of people within the country to form a diplomatic mission. Jian Yong, especially interested in the mission to Rome, joined, and Nangong Xue accompanied as well.

After all, it was a long journey; ensuring the safety of their compatriots wouldn’t be a problem.

Along the way, stopping and starting, Jian Yong, adopting the mindset that time was abundant, engaged with various states of the Western Regions, allowing them to experience the majesty of the Han Empire.

Back then, Li Jue had just made a commotion, and the various states of the Western Regions held the Han Empire in high regard. With Jian Yong following to provide reassurance, the states of the Western Regions firmly recognized the Han’s authority.

Traveling along this route, after interacting with the states of the Western Regions, Jian Yong had learned a variety of strange languages, and now, having become proficient in dozens of dialects, he felt he seemed to grasp some of the ways languages evolved, making learning even easier.

When crossing the Pamia Plateau, Jian Yong initially intended to communicate further with Li Jue and others, but not being very familiar, he simply notified them briefly.

Later, when passing through Parthia, Vologases V was tidying up the Sulun Family with considerable noise, so Jian Yong had no intention of lingering, and moved right along. Still, from what Jian Yong observed, the situation inside Parthia was rather ordinary—politically dark with numerous conflicts, though the potential for war was evident.

Moving eastward into the Syrian Province, due to Serali and others already having returned to Rome, and Ganasis having brought Serali to Rome, Jian Yong couldn’t see Ganasis.

He had to present his credentials and travel by ship to Italy, but by the time Jian Yong’s diplomatic team reached Italy, Severus had gone northward, naturally unable to receive Jian Yong.

However, due to the reports from Serali and others, the Han diplomatic mission received exceedingly courteous treatment. The Senate quickly arranged accommodations for the Han delegation, explaining that their emperor wasn’t in Italy and asking the Han delegation to wait for a time, while they were free to browse Italy during this period.

Alongside, the Senate allocated a substantial amount of money to Jian Yong, explaining that since their emperor was absent and he was a distinguished envoy representing the Han Empire, they were ill-fit to engage formally, hence they invited them to spend their time freely in Italy until His Majesty the Emperor returned.

Even though silk hadn’t yet reached the price of over two hundred gold coins per pound, it was roughly a weight comparison. After exchanging some silk, Jian Yong started wandering Rome City, and the Roman Empire, having experienced the governance of the Five Wise Emperors and strengthened militarily under Severus, deeply impressed Jian Yong.

Simply put, comparing horizontally, just from what Jian Yong saw, it was more than enough to make him give up any hope for Parthia. As for comparing with the Han Empire, after pondering for a long time, Jian Yong could only conclude that the current Han Empire could barely outstrip Rome—this was a powerful empire.

The elders of the Roman Parliament, regarding Jian Yong from the mythical realm of gold and silk, showed notable courtesy, allowing Jian Yong to freely roam within Rome City. Consequently, he observed the shortcomings and the sources of pride of the Han Empire.

Certainly, this was before the Parthia counterattack began. When it started, and it was known that the Han Empire had a hand in it, the Romans’ favor for the mythical golden silk kingdom abruptly declined.

It felt as though they had fallen from the mythological realm to the mortal realm. Even though silk remained luxurious, the myth transforming from book tales into reality and beginning to wage real battles wasn’t something considered favorable.

Especially since the Romans were immensely confident: even if myths unfolded before them, they would be the authors of those myths.

Thus, after the war between Parthia and Rome broke out, Jian Yong and his group’s treatment was somewhat reduced. After all, becoming a war enemy was quite abrupt; although Rome had no intention of a deadly confrontation with the Han Empire, they couldn’t take a hit without retaliating.

In this case, Jian Yong and his group experienced some surveillance. However, the Romans, in their imperial pride, refrained from actions unbecoming of their status, and did not place Jian Yong under house arrest.

It’s just that mobility became less simple than before, and outings with money weren’t as easily undertaken—there would typically be some Roman heavy infantry or escorts accompanying them.

Though these Roman heavy infantry accompanying the Han diplomatic mission had a very formal role of ensuring no accidents occurred to the Han delegation in Rome City due to the misunderstandings and regional conflicts between the Han and Rome.

In reality, everyone understood what it meant. Even though the heavy infantry never did anything extra, their attitude spoke volumes.

Hence, after the battle at the Two Rivers, the Han diplomatic mission quieted down; regarding the Kushan envoy, they too had arrived by then, but the Romans wisely housed both parties separately.

This is why neither the Kushan nor the Han envoy knew of another empire’s emissary in Rome City.

Of course, this was also due to Rome’s reliable state control: managing the country to this extent was something only the Han Empire and Rome could achieve in that era—no other country had such capacity.

Jian Yong’s character was rather easygoing, and since the Romans truly had no intention of breaking relations with the Han Empire, occasionally an elder would come to inform Jian Yong and ask about his recent condition.

Because compared to the Kushan, Rome was preparing to treat the Han Empire with the utmost courtesy—awaiting Severus’ personal reception—hence there wasn’t a formal reception until Severus returned, only an elder notifying them, ensuring the Han side didn’t develop any feelings of dissatisfaction.

Precisely because the sincerity from Rome was felt, Jian Yong didn’t take any special actions, just stayed quietly in the residence prepared by Rome and minimized outings.

"Why do you have that expression? Did something happen?" Jian Yong asked the accompanying doctor curiously upon returning from a bath, seeing Zhang Zhi’s face as if he had seen a ghost.

"I don’t even know what to say right now." Zhang Zhi looked at Jian Yong with wonder, then glanced towards the nearby heavy infantry.

"What’s the matter?" Jian Yong naturally stepped forward and walked towards the inner hall as the accompanying heavy infantry stood expressionlessly guarding their post.

In arranging Jian Yong’s official journey to Rome, this group was well-equipped—even two doctors were provided, including microscopes made of colorless crystal, making it quite a high-status diplomatic mission. Jian Yong’s identity allowed him to make decisions on many matters.

"I’m seriously doubting if the Romans are even human." Zhang Zhi said, looking at Jian Yong with a headache, "During this time, I didn’t go out with you, but in Rome, we saw many plants we hadn’t encountered before, so we conducted pharmacological analyses."

"You know, I specialize in pharmacology, so I have deep research into plants, animals, and anything medicinal. We modified formulations with local plants to create medicines and treated nearby Romans." Zhang Zhi said with a headache.

The reason Zhang Zhi, not considered an outstanding doctor in terms of medical skills, was chosen for the mission, was because of his high-level research into botany and pharmacology—meaning that without certain medications locally, his knowledge allowed formulation of medicines from local herbs according to their properties.

Of course, he ranked nowhere near the top ten in pharmaceuticals, so another doctor was assigned for medicinal harmonization, and even provided a microscope.

As a doctor, after observing more minute layers, it was habitually applied to broader areas. Zhang Zhi, a regular doctor, applied it to his activities, and during casual treatments for Romans, he discovered their differences.

In Rome City, Zhang Zhi noted a severe polarization among Romans—either appearing as if perpetually poisoned and about to die, or incredibly robust. Zhang Zhi had treated both, obtaining their flesh samples.

Under the microscope, differences appeared at the cellular level—those robust Romans possessed a skeletal structure within their cells. During Hua Tuo and others’ research into Zhou Tai, they noted the existence of cellular skeletons.

Hua Tuo and others estimated that normal humans should contain such structures, but they might be too thin to observe until one’s physical quality reached a certain level when these structures become visible.

Yet, in those strong Romans’ bodies, Zhang Zhi found these structures, and unlike Zhou Tai’s normal-looking cellular skeletons, the Romans’ cellular skeletons were a dark gray, resembling a metallic substance.