"This is the Mughal Empire, and the emperor is Shah Jahan. The country has hundreds of princely states ruled by Indian princes, who are equivalent to princes."
Sha Dingzhou was explaining to the local officials on a map, "Although India is vast, it is fragmented. The Sikhs, Rajputs, and Maratha states have military power that rivals the Mughal Empire."
"Moreover, Shah Jahan's four sons are fighting for the throne. The second son has declared himself the emperor of Bengal. The third son is also challenging his father and the crown prince..."
"According to intelligence provided by the imperial court, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain have established strongholds in India, but their strength is very weak and they are not the main opponents. At least, according to the Ministry of War, there will be no conflict for the time being."
As people who personally went to India to investigate, Sha Dingzhou and others had a contemptuous and disdainful attitude towards the Mughal Empire.
The court's research and analysis of India was also quite correct. The religious, ethnic, caste, and regional conflicts in India could be used to defeat them one by one and divide and rule them.
When it comes to military strength, the Mughal Empire's army was huge in terms of numbers, but it was far behind in terms of weapons, equipment and tactics.
Sha Dingzhou and others also heard and saw this, and were full of confidence in expanding their business in Tianzhu.
The powerful imperial court and the general trend of reforming the chieftains forced the southwestern chieftains to seek a way out. They obviously did not have the courage to rebel.
Moreover, the imperial court had already put forward conditions to implement a governor system in the lands occupied by India, and the system would be hereditary.
Of course, while enjoying a high degree of autonomy, the imperial court also had some restrictions that prevented it from doing whatever it wanted. If it provoked war, it would be a global issue.
According to the Ministry of War's deduction, the army entering India for the first time would be no less than 20,000. Together with civilian laborers and other logistical support personnel, 30,000 to 40,000 people would be more appropriate.
The route of the advance was not through the Savage Mountains, but through the Burmese city of Bagan occupied by Siam, crossing the Alachin Mountains to the west and directly entering the Sultanate of Bengal.
This is the most densely populated and economically developed region in the subcontinent, and it was in danger of being annexed by the Mughal Empire. More importantly, it has the Bay of Bengal and an excellent port.
In view of the ravages of the subtropical rainy season, the emperor was worried that the troops and supplies entering India would be cut off and the army would become isolated.
Therefore, the emperor had been planning for several years. Occupying Temasek would be equivalent to controlling half of the Strait of Malacca. Crossing the Strait of Malacca would lead to the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
The rainy season lasts for almost half a year. With supplies from the sea, tens of thousands of troops can take root in the Sudan of Bengal and avoid being alone.
The emperor was cautious about advancing into the South Asian subcontinent and the navy entering the Indian Ocean.
Basically all the chieftains in the southwest were mobilized, and at least 20,000 to 30,000 troops were armed and trained, and then supplemented by the artillery of the Ming army. This expedition could be described as a heavy troop deployment, and it was another major operation after the conquest of Myanmar.
After suffering a major defeat, Myanmar was continuously invaded by the coalition of chieftains and the Siamese army, and has not yet recovered.
Coupled with the Mon people in southern Myanmar taking advantage of the situation, the division and civil strife of the Toungoo Dynasty became inevitable.
The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has sent people to contact the Mon people, hoping to provide them with weapons and equipment on the condition of renting Shalian to build a trading house.
Military strength is only one aspect. The emperor uses his historical knowledge to maneuver and seize every opportunity to continuously gain benefits for the Ming Empire.
While contacting the Mon people, the emperor also established contact with the Arakan Dynasty on the southwest coast of Myanmar through the Portuguese, seeking to gain coastal strongholds without fighting.
Some interests do not necessarily require war and can be obtained at the negotiating table.
The key is timing. The Arakan Dynasty was under pressure from the Mughal Empire and Myanmar. For them, it should be a good choice for the Ming Empire to lend a helping hand.
Change, transformation, is everywhere. It is the requirement of the times and the gradual sense of oppression caused by the emperor.
The Ming army became increasingly powerful, government affairs became increasingly clear, and the possibility of civil unrest became increasingly small.
For the chieftains in the southwest, it is inevitable to seek a wider living space outside.
The world outside is vast, the land outside is fertile, there is a lot of wealth outside, and the natives outside cannot defeat them...
If you want to branch out and expand your business, simply following the instructions of others is passive and uncertain. Only by seeing it with your own eyes and studying it yourself can you have a clear understanding.
Young people like Sha Dingzhou have broadened their horizons by going abroad, and their research and analysis have sharpened their minds. It is no exaggeration to say that they have opened their eyes to the world.
The same is true for officials in the court. The development of the country is becoming more and more closely connected with the outside world. If you still have old ideas and do not seek to enrich your knowledge and broaden your horizons, you will be surpassed by others.
At the very least, if you are completely clueless when the emperor asks you something, then there is no possibility of promotion, and you may even lose your original official position.
The Western Barbarians had long been divided into specific categories, rather than being used to describe all Europeans in general.
Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France, etc., their locations, national strengths, and even history can all be learned from books that you can read.
The Celestial Empire was just what the Ming Dynasty thought of itself and was touted by some small Asian countries.
Beyond the territory of the Ming Dynasty, there are more countries and more land; beyond the vast ocean, there are Western countries that can sail thousands of miles to the Ming Dynasty.
Knowledge and perspectives were changing the thinking of the Ming people. In the emperor's view, there would finally be no more strange sights like Westerners who couldn't bend their knees and would fall down with a single poke of a bamboo pole.
The ignorant will be bullied, the backward will be beaten. This is an immutable law. The world is big and wonderful, but also cruel.
Huduntu, who once aspired to unify the Mongolian tribes and restore the glory of his ancestors, finally reached the end of his road.
He launched a large-scale invasion of the border, hoping to force the Ming court to surrender and restore the market reward. However, he did not expect to be greeted by elite troops and generals, and besieged on three sides.
After a crushing defeat, Hu Duntu could only lead the remnants of his army back to Huacheng. However, God did not give him a chance to breathe. "Frost came early outside the Great Wall, the harvest was lost, and severe epidemics were rampant," which almost put him in a desperate situation.
A large number of tribesmen escaped from Huduntu's control and, suffering from hunger and cold, surrendered to the Ming Dynasty.
The governor of Sanbian, Sun Chuanting, and the governor of Xuanda, Zhu Tongmeng, summoned the taijis of various tribes to a meeting at the Xilamulun River to jointly attack Huduntu.
The Khorchin, Zhalut, Balin, Naiman, Aohan, Kharchin, Tumed, Ar Khorchin, Ongniud, Asut and other tribes sent troops to assist in the battle, with a total force of about 100,000.
Just the people of Huduntu were able to destroy him. It is sad and lamentable that the dignified Mongolian Khan fell into a situation where he was deserted by his friends and relatives.
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