Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.
Chapter 1036 [1031 Expansions of the Ming Dynasty]
Chapter 1036 [The Ming Dynasty Expanding in All Directions]
Zhu Ming soon found out about what Yang Yao had done in Zhanbei - someone had reported him.
Zhu Song was ordered to move the Governor's Office to Zhanbi City. He knew what happened without much inquiry. Yang Yao even left him a share of the spoils.
Faced with the gold, silver and treasures, Zhu Song declined on the spot and sent someone back to the mainland to send a secret telegram to the emperor.
Zhu Ming’s approach is very interesting.
First, the contents of the secret telegram were not made public to prevent the court officials from knowing that Yang Yao was causing trouble.
Second, Yang Yao was conferred the title of Earl, but no material reward was given to any of the soldiers, including Yang Yao. Yang Yao himself was fined three months' salary and his military rank was demoted by two levels.
Third, Zhu Song’s official rank was promoted by one level, and he was awarded 100 gold yuan, 500 silver yuan, and a set of brocade clothes, and he continued to stay in Zhanbi as governor.
Fourth, imperial censors were sent to Jambi and Malacca to rectify civil and military discipline.
Fifth, he conferred titles on more than ten vassal states at once, except for Balinbang (Palebang), which was left unconferred, implying that Yang Yao could continue to attack there.
Sixth, he ordered the immediate construction of several warships to increase the number of gunboats under Yang Yao's command to twenty.
Seventh, reward the civil and military officials from Fujian and Guangdong who helped organize immigration.
Probably in midsummer, Yang Yao received the emperor's decision.
He was surprised, happy and angry. He was surprised because the emperor knew about it, happy that the emperor did not pursue it too much, and angry that Zhu Song actually impeached him secretly!
A huge contradiction arose between the two people who occupied the monument, one civil and one military.
In the days that followed, Yang Yao did not hide his dislike for Zhu Song. Even the soldiers and officials who had received benefits felt that Governor Zhu Song was too ignorant.
……
The destruction of Srivijaya not only brought about a dramatic change in the situation in Southeast Asia, but also had a profound impact on India, Arabia, Egypt and West Asia.
The Ming Dynasty now had the final say on maritime trade between the East and the West.
If Yang Yao had not embezzled money and property wantonly, Zhu Ming would even want to confer a title of nobility on him - although the intensity of the war was not great, the impact was extremely far-reaching, and he deserved the title of a marquis.
Srivijaya is just a weak fat man.
After a period of decline lasting more than a hundred years, Srivijaya's navy was the only thing that could suppress other countries. Its army was rotten to the core, and even when the neighboring palm-sized Java Kingdom was seeking independence, it was able to repel the Srivijaya army that went to suppress it many times.
It had long been divided internally; not only did each of its vassal states have independence tendencies, but even the homeland was controlled by its lords.
This overlord of Southeast Asia was actually destroyed by Yang Yao and more than a thousand sailors, which shocked countless people.
The court's support for Zhanbei's civil and military officials was limited to sending more warships, land forces and immigrants. Zhu Ming's eyes were now set on the Western Regions.
The news of Yelu Dashi's death had already reached Luoyang.
However, there were severe floods in the south last year, and Ningxia had only been recovered a few years ago, so human resources were relatively scarce. Zhu Ming decided to postpone sending troops for another year.
Military rations have been transported to the Hexi Corridor, and merchants are engaged in open trade - that is, private merchants organize people to transport grain to Shazhou and sell it to the government at a fair price. While making a small profit, they can also obtain a share of salt permits.
This method of transporting grain from the central government could only solve a part of the military food problem, and when a real war broke out, the imperial court would have to intervene.
Shazhou is frantically building military warehouses, waiting for food to be shipped in and stored there. It will serve as a logistics base for the conquest of the Western Regions.
The strategic plan formulated by the Privy Council was to first attack Yizhou (Hami) and then capture Gaochang (Turpan).
In the first stage, the farthest we can reach is Gaochang, otherwise the logistics will not be able to keep up.
After occupying Yizhou and Gaochang, it would take at least two years to settle down and consolidate the territory. A group of local nobles and peasants would also be left behind, and as long as they obeyed the rule, they would not be killed, and they would be asked to provide logistical supplies for the Ming army.
……
The situation in Western Liao was extremely tense.
Yelu Dashi's last words were to kill the King of Gaochang and his descendants to avoid a fire in the backyard when the two countries went to war.
Last spring, Empress Gantian of Western Liao, Xiao Tabuyan, ascended the throne and immediately sent Xiao Chala Abu to Gaochang. Xiao Tabuyan did not serve as regent queen mother, but became the monarch of Western Liao as queen, and would return the government to her son after he came of age.
Xiao Chalabu arrested and executed the King of Gaochang on charges of colluding with the Ming Dynasty and plotting rebellion. However, in order to stabilize the Gaochang nobles, he did not kill the King's descendants, but only detained the Gaochang royal family in Husihan'erduo (the capital of Western Liao).
The Gaochang Kingdom was completely destroyed and could not even become a vassal state of the Western Liao Dynasty.
Xiao Chala Abu was appointed as the Governor of Gaochang, directly in charge of Gaochang (Turpan) and Yizhou (Hami). He worked hard to strengthen the defense of Yizhou City, and sent more troops and food to Yizhou City. He also built several castles near Yizhou City in an attempt to stop the invasion of the Ming Dynasty.
At the same time, Xiao Tabuyan began to sort out the household registration.
It had been almost ten years since the establishment of Western Liao, and Yelu Dashi had been busy with expansion and had not even sorted out the basic household registration work.
Xiao Tabuyan could only check the capital area (Hu Sihan'erduo and surrounding areas) for the time being. After a household registration census, there were more than 84,000 households in the capital area of Western Liao. Based on this, the new tax system was strictly implemented to consolidate the basic foundation of Western Liao.
"Will the Ming Kingdom really send troops?" Xiao Tabuyan was worried.
Xiao Wulila said: "Since the late emperor left a will, the Ming Kingdom will most likely send troops, and it is estimated that it will be within three years. If three years have passed, Her Majesty the Queen will have stabilized the country, and it will be more difficult for the Ming Kingdom to attack again."
Xiao Tabuyan sighed, "Three years. Now it has been a year and a half. The Ming army may come next year. Are you sure you can stop the Ming army?"
Xiao Wulila knelt down immediately and expressed his stance: "We are all willing to fight to the death!"
"We, mother and son, rely on the general." Xiao Tabuyan felt unsure.
She had a private letter from Emperor Zhu in her hand. Yelu Dashi, on his deathbed, asked his wife to circulate it to all the generals when the front line was defeated. But Xiao Tabuyan was unwilling to surrender easily. She would not accept her fate until the Ming army broke through the mountain pass west of Yili and the Western Liao border was no longer safe.
Even if the entire territory of Gaochang was lost, Xiao Tabuyan still had to hold on.
No, we can also move the capital!
He abandoned Hu Sihan'erduo and moved to Hezhong Prefecture with all the officials and troops, relying on the Pamir Mountains to block the Ming army in the east.
……
The Ming Dynasty was expanding everywhere and was about to attack the Western Regions and capture Jambi in Southeast Asia.
In the direction of western Sichuan, two routes advanced simultaneously.
The southern army successfully captured the Xishanyechuan tribes (Dajinchuan and Xiaojinchuan). There were dozens of Tibetan tribes there, and the Ming army went all over them. The tribes were unable to unite, and some small tribes even took the initiative to lead the way.
The Northern Army successfully captured Songpan and also took over Jiuzhaigou.
In the next few years, the entire western Sichuan plateau was slowly eroded. Each time the Ming army sent out troops, they were not many, because they were all scattered Tibetan tribes, and there was not even a unified Tibetan regime. The logistics and supplies could be supported by only Sichuan Province.
In the past, Sichuan’s fiscal revenue was mostly used to recover iron coins.
Now that the iron coins have been recovered, Sichuan has a huge surplus of taxes, which can be kept in the province for military expansion.
Sichuan's military commanders did not have to fight big battles, but instead bullied the surrounding tribes and accumulated military merits through small battles. Civil officials also accumulated political achievements, raising money and food for the army, organizing immigration, and so on.
The western Sichuan Plateau had not yet been completely pacified, and the Sichuan civil and military officials even had new combat plans.
They reported this to the Cabinet and the Ministry of War, and have already obtained approval. They will march south again next year to completely wipe out the crippled Ma Hu tribe (Mabian, Suijiang, and Leibo counties).
As for the Shimen tribes further south (Yanjin, Daguan, Yiliang, Zhaotong, Ludian, Qiaojia, Huize, and Dongchuan), due to their remoteness and complex terrain and climate, Zhu Ming planned to appoint chieftains to govern them first. It would be best to destroy the Dali Kingdom and establish Yunnan Province, and then send troops from Yunnan to gradually expand northwards. It might take two or three hundred years to convert the chieftains into officials.
What is the current situation of Dali Kingdom?
The fight among the Eight Insects for the throne intensifies, and neither the King nor the Prime Minister can control it. Internal war may break out at any time.
Once civil strife broke out in Dali, forcing Duan Yu to become a monk, the Ming Dynasty would have an excuse to send troops. The reason for the expedition was: the officials and princes of Dali were disloyal and unfilial, so the court wanted to take back the Chinese homeland and govern it personally!
……
India has an overseas territory called the Andaman Islands, named after the Malay name for the Hindu monkey god.
During the Tang Dynasty, China called this place "the country of naked people". This means that they do not wear clothes. They do not want the clothes sold by merchants, but exchange all their supplies for ironware. The skin color of the islanders is not dark, and they are of medium build. They should refer specifically to the Malay race along the coast of the island.
During the Song Dynasty, China called this place "Yantuo Barbarian Country". The Malay islanders who came here were probably assimilated, their skin became darker, and their height was even lower than that of the Japanese. There are records of cannibalism, grinding shells into knives, and the staple food was bananas, yams, fish, shrimp, wild boars and jackfruit.
The Ming Dynasty built a port here, named Monkey Port, which was under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Malacca - now changed to the Governor of Jambi.
Merchant ships from various countries coming through the Strait of Malacca can replenish fresh water at Monkey Harbor and then cross the Bay of Bengal directly to Ceylon.
When the six second-generation officials landed on the island, Monkey Harbor Commander Lin Riyan was watching a wild boar baring its teeth.
Lin Riyan was a native of southern Fujian. When Li Bao recovered Fujian, he and his father led the navy to surrender to the Ming Dynasty.
He was working in the Ming navy, but he was convicted of smuggling with his superior. His superior was beheaded, so Lin Riyan could make up for his crime by serving as a commander in the remote Monkey Harbor.
Now he only has a small warship under his command, and all the soldiers and crew members have committed crimes.
There were no officials at the port, only a few clerks who had also been exiled.
"Commander, another ship is coming." A clerk came running to report.
Lin Riyan yawned and said, "Supply them with fresh water as usual, and buy some wine and drinks. You can do whatever you want."
Lin Riyan no longer had any hope of returning home. When he brought his wife over, he did not even bring his children with him, leaving them in his hometown to be taken care of by his brothers.
This shabby place makes people completely lose hope and just hope to return to their roots after death.
The supply ship comes once a year and brings enough rice and salt.
If you want to drink, you must buy it from passing ships. Therefore, Lin Ri strictly set the rules that if you want to replenish fresh water in this port, those merchant ships must sell him wine.
Lu You was shocked before he even stepped ashore: "Are all these Kunlun slaves working here?"
Fan Chengda muttered, "The Kunlun slaves here are so short."
There are still some places under construction in the port, and the workers are all pygmy blacks captured from the island. If we only talk about race, they are the same pygmy blacks as the mainstream Kunlun slaves in Guangzhou, but the pygmy blacks here are even shorter.
The average height is less than 1.2 meters, and a strong adult man does not exceed 1.5 meters.
Li Zuqia said with emotion: "This is the real dwarf country. There is no record of it in Arabian Nights. If I hadn't gone to sea myself, how would I know that there are such short black people in the world?"
Wang Lianqing had already taken out paper and pen, intending to draw the short black people.
They went to see Lin Riyan, and after chatting for a while, Lu You asked, "Commander Lin, why don't you give those Kunlun slaves clothes? Young women should wear clothes."
Lin Riyan sighed: "They don't wear the clothes they were given. Do you think I want to see two black lumps on their chests swinging around all day? It's really an eye-sore!"
Those short black women used leaves to make skirts to cover their modesty, but their upper bodies were completely uncovered.
It's really eye-catching.
(End of this chapter)
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